Give and Take

Like dating, you have an ongoing relationship with your donors, and there is a right way and a wrong way to treat a donor— to keep them happy; to show you truly appreciate them; to “keep the romance alive.” Here's how to treat your donors the right way to make sure they keep giving again and again!

Did you hear that former Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh died intestate? Now his family, friends, and business associates are apparently fighting over a bunch of deals and agreements that were scribbled on thousands of sticky notes plastered all over the walls of his Utah mansion. Don't make the same mistake. Don't die without an estate plan that keeps your legacy intact!

Loyal donors are more likely to make a planned giving. Nurture your loyal donors who give once or twice, and they will give lifetime. In order to nurture your loyal donors, you need to thank them, recognize them, and steward them the right way!

One of the most important concepts in fundraising is return on investment (ROI). You need to know the ROI of every activity to carry out in your development program. Use the tips in this article to learn the basics of calculating the planned giving ROI for your organization's planned gift program!

Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage. If you want to conquer fear, do not sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy. There's a very real cost to failing to take action - it directly impacts your fundraising return on investment (your fundraising ROI). Learn more and see how to combat inaction today!

Many people think of last century as the golden age of philanthropy. They think of the huge bequests and foundations (Pew, Carnegie, Mellon, etc.) - but the truth is that today - right now - we are just entering the true golden age of philanthropy. Is your organization prepared to adjust for the new era?

Do you have any resolutions for the new year? Your non-profit does great work and needs to raise more money in order to do more good in the world. Maybe it's time to create some new year's resolutions to help you think big - and dream big - at your non-profit this year!

Fact: More than 60% of Americans do not have a will. That means they’ll have no say in how their estate is distributed. It also means they won’t have an opportunity to establish their legacy by leaving your nonprofit a transformative planned gift. But you have the power to change all that. Learn how, using the power of our LegacyPlanner tool!

If you feel your prospects are “really different,” chances are you’re hanging out with a few sophisticated (and detail-oriented) donors and making assumptions about the rest. My hunch is that you are alienating a majority with financial advice and high-brow messaging. Most donor prospects want simple, down-to-earth messaging that makes them want to get involved with your nonprofit!

Your donor's financial advisor can play a key role in determining when (and if) your donor gives to your organization. An advisor-centric approach in your non-profit can also pave the road for prospective donors. Is your nonprofit doing enough to build a network of financial advisors?

Don’t let gift planning misconceptions get in your way.  They’re just an opportunity for a conversation about what gift planning can really do for your nonprofit. Here are the most common misconceptions about charitable gift planning, and how you can handle them quickly and effectively with your donors.

This is a unique time for nonprofit organizations. Generational wealth transfer is in full swing. Is your organization prepared to make changes to accommodate the sudden influx of millennial wealth? If you're prepared, this could be a momentous time for your nonprofit.

As nonprofits grow and improve their fundraising capacity, they may enter into the stage of considering endowments. While investments may seem intimidating for new organizations, experienced nonprofits know that their longevity depends on them. How strong is your nonprofit's endowment fundraising system?

Now more than ever, effective marketing is critical for a nonprofit to survive and grow its mission. Learn the fundamentals of nonprofit marketing, including branding, market research, finding your target audience, developing criteria to measure a campaign’s success, and earning your donors’ trust.

Now that the SECURE Act is law, donors are (or should be!) reviewing their estate plans, retirement strategies and philanthropic strategies to see if they should make changes. But what advice are they getting from their financial advisors — and how could it affect your charity? Here's how to be prepared for the new reality.

Which would you choose: buying yourself a pair of Jimmy Choos, or the opportunity to help someone else buy much-needed shoes? In this article, we discuss women and wealth... and in particular, how your non-profit can raise more money from the women, who statistically outlive men and thus control the wealth of most families during prime planned giving years.

My father hated estate planning. The words conjured up technical mumbo-jumbo he preferred not to think about. This was a big mistake, as he left his family with an estate plan. Here's why estate planning is so important for you, your family, and the causes you care about.

The tone of your voice matters. That's true in business, in life, and in fundraising. Have you given much though to how you sound to other people, and how they perceive the tone of your voice? If not, now is the time to start.

Did you hear about the $20 million dollar gift that went elsewhere? All it took was one misguided sentence: “We don’t accept those things, ma’am.” Don't let fear of complicated gifts prevent your non-profit from thriving. It's time to put a plan in place to accept gifts of real estate, and so much more!

Most smaller charities and almost all Americans do not understand the importance of a Community Foundation and how it serves the public. Here's why community foundations are so important, and how they can help your non-profit thrive.

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Bequests are up, cash is down. Empower your donors to plan their will and invest their legacy in the cause they support the most.

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