Author: Viken Mikaelian

multi channel marketing
Planned Giving Marketing
Viken Mikaelian

Online Will Planning Does Not Replace Planned Giving Websites

Online will planning is the latest tool in fundraisers’ arsenal—and it’s taking over the internet by storm as more nonprofits realize its potential. But online will planning tools can not replace your planned giving website. Instead, focus on using both tools as part of an integrated planned gift strategy for your non-profit.

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Importance of Estate Planning
Planned Giving Marketing
Viken Mikaelian

The Importance of Estate Planning

Do you have an estate plan? Many people think estate planning is unnecessarily complicated – but it doesn’t need to be. A qualified estate attorney or easily accessible online tools can help you create a will that will make things easier on your heirs and ensure that your wishes are known to those who follow you.

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Fundraising Image with Growing Plant and Money
Planned Giving Marketing
Viken Mikaelian

The Most Frightening Words in Nonprofit Fundraising — and What We Do so You Don’t Say Them

I’ve written before about the dangers of the DIY (do-it-yourself) mentality in nonprofit fundraising. The most frightening thing is the amount of time you’ll spend doing everything but meeting with donor prospects. Here’s how you can make your fundraising more successful by outsourcing some of your development needs to outside fundraising experts.

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Workus Interruptus
Self Improvement & Career
Viken Mikaelian

Workus Interruptus

Endless texts, tweets, emails, calls, chats, IMs, Facebook updates… What do all these things have in common? They’re all fundraising work interruptions! When it comes to development, you need to put the hours in. Here’s how to avoid all the interruptions that are stopping you from raising the money your nonprofit needs to thrive!

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Human-Centered Fundraising
Planned Giving Marketing
Viken Mikaelian

The Human Moment: Why Human-Centered Fundraising Matters

Today, fundraisers are faced with a battery of e-marketing tools. They are tempted to put their hands on everything they can get. “I can contact 2000 prospects with the push of a send key. And it’s cheap!” Well, not quite that cheap. Too much reliance on fundraising technology can hurt your development program. That’s why you need to focus on human-centered fundraising!

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Strike While the Iron Is Hot
Sustainability
Viken Mikaelian

Planned Giving is “Hot” These Days

As more uncertainty rattles the markets and the economic downturn deepens, donations will dry up. Even your most consistent donors will reevaluate their charitable giving as the threat of a recession looms. And the Wall Street roller-coaster will affect stocks as well as cash.

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A photo of a glamorous woman surrounded by photographers, to illustrate a plannedgiving.com post about celebrities who died without a will. Dying without a will is also called dying intestate.
Bequests
Viken Mikaelian

Celebrities Who Died Without A Will: A Study in Poor Estate Planning

Why do only rich people have wills? Because they have the luxury to afford it. NOT. I think you’ll be surprised at the number of rich and famous people who died without a will —or didn’t have an updated will—when they left this earth. Each eventually left behind a fortune, but millions (and millions!) of dollars was wasted on lawyers, avoidable taxes, and lawsuits.

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Planned Gift Donor
Bequests
Viken Mikaelian

Does a Planned Gift Donor Need a Lawyer to Draft a Will?

One of the most frequently asked questions in planned giving is whether or not a planned gift donor needs a lawyer to write their will. In this article, we answer the question, and give some important fundraising tips for your non-profit.

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Trust is The Most Important Element of Fundraising
Stewardship and Relationships
Viken Mikaelian

Trust is The Most Important Element of Fundraising

Achieving trust doesn’t happen overnight. Yet it is the most important element of fundraising for your nonprofit organization. Building trust takes time, persistence, consistency, and dedication. It also takes audience awareness of your “brand.” And creating that awareness means consistent marketing — an investment far too many nonprofits are afraid to make.

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The Major Gift Metrics You Need to Track
Major Gifts
Viken Mikaelian

The Major Gift Metrics You Need to Track

On average, 88% of a nonprofit’s revenue comes from the top 12% of its donors. This shows how crucial major gifts are to an organization’s overall fundraising strategy. Additionally, major donors not only provide nonprofits with sustained financial security but are often co-creators of many programs and initiatives. Learn how to track major gift metrics to succeed with your major donor program.

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