Here’s a simple way to think about fundraising from the fundraiser’s perspective: Get bored. My favorite example of this from a client was a $75,000 CGA gift from a donor who received messaging for three years before committing. They were the right person getting the right message and the donor decided when it was the right time. What does “boredom” sound like for planned giving fundraisers? Find out here: Continue reading Why You Should ‘Get Bored’ With Your Fundraising
Thirty percent of all annual giving occurs in December with 10% of that total happening within the last three days of the year, according to Nonprofits Source. Is your nonprofit ready for the holiday season? Here are 5 tips for magical donor outreach this holiday season. Continue reading 5 of the Best Ways to Make Your Holiday Donor Outreach Magical This Year
While most year-end giving campaigns are in place already, 2020 has felt like a year of firsts and flexibility. That’s why we’re checking in with other planned giving professionals about their year-end giving plans and perspectives—what’s different, what’s new and how they’re moving ahead. Thanks to Cris Lutz, Senior Director of Gift Planning at The Huntington, and Debra Kathman, Director, Gift Planning, at World Wildlife Fund, for sharing their thoughts with us today. Continue reading Advice From 2 Nonprofits: How to Maximize 2020 Year-end Giving
In 2019, Giving Tuesday raised $511 million online alone, and a total of $1.97 billion with offline donations—making it a monumental day for philanthropy, and for nonprofits. No matter what your position (or department), Giving Tuesday fundraising can be vital for programs and requires all hands on deck. The big day isn’t far away, so let’s dive right in to these 7 Giving Tuesday strategies that will help ensure campaign success. Continue reading Focus On These 7 Things for Giving Tuesday Success
No matter what’s happening in the world, we humans are wired to seek connection, continuation and control in our lives. So when clients or colleagues ask if it’s appropriate or “right” to continue talking about planned giving in light of the continued pandemic and societal unease, I say yes. Continue the conversations, but be completely in tune with what donors are saying, and not saying, with more sensitivity and empathy and less leaning toward gift acquisition. During your next planned giving conversation, remember these five wise estate planning approaches that are easy to implement, yet softly advance the gifting process. Continue reading Is Now the Right Time for a Planned Giving Conversation? Yes, and Here’s Why.
Going from point A (introductions) to point B (gift finalization) is not an aimless pursuit; follow the most direct route that gets all of you to the final mutual and rewarding destination. Here are 5 ways to stay on course. Continue reading Prospects Lost? Give Them a Road Map to the Gift
Almost 3/4ths of Americans use YouTube, according to Pew Research. Video is powerful marketing. Are you taking advantage of video to tell your nonprofit’s story? Continue reading The Indisputable Power of Video
As a planned giving marketing company, we field a lot of questions about how nonprofits can utilize social and how planned giving can fit into that social strategy—especially these days. Knowing that there are a lot of questions circling around the use of social in today’s environment, Stelter’s Marketing Communications Specialist, Aimee Menhusen, invited me and Stelter’s Creative Director and Marketing Director, Zach Christensen, to a little Zoom Q&A on social media best practices. We put our heads together to come up with this list of FAQs to share. Enjoy! Continue reading 7 of the Most Frequently Asked Questions on Social Media for Nonprofits
At almost 8 months into the novel coronavirus pandemic, many of us may be scratching our heads, wondering, “What’s next? When will it end? What do I need to do to keep our nonprofit above water and moving forward with our mission?” Continue reading Latest Research: Planned Giving’s Positive Impact on Annual Giving
How can your nonprofit continue to deliver content that sparks a feeling of connection, while still practicing social distancing for months on end? Before we dig into different strategies for quarantine marketing success, let’s start with the importance of planned giving during a crisis. Continue reading Engaging Donors During Quarantine: Tips for Successful Marketing & Messaging
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act shifted the way donors can support charities in 2020. The changes are unprecedented…and so is the confusion around it. Here’s a new way to explain the law: This free video, featuring attorney Lynn Gaumer, who has covered the charitable sector for 25+ years, is yours to use across your web and digital platforms.Continue reading FREE! CARES Act Video Tutorial for Your Donors
Donors opened 17% more messages from nonprofits in March 2020 than they did last March, according to The Chronicle of Philanthropy. Email activity is up. Inbox volume is down. This presents space to meaningfully talk with your planned giving donors through email. Here are 5 tips to stand out from the inbox crowd. Continue reading How to Stand Out in All That Email
Much like the plastic see-through barriers at store checkouts these days, virtual interactions with donors and prospects have added a new, sometimes foreign layer to the process. Can we see past it? Absolutely. Find out how to build a deeper connection with your supporters, virtually. Continue reading How to Get Real With Donors in This Virtual Age
The only constant is change. -Heraclitus I think we can all agree that this sentiment has never rung more true than it does today. Whether it’s change we plan for or change we don’t plan for, change is the only constant. The COVID-19 pandemic, corresponding economic impact and the sweeping national reflection on racial inequality haveContinue reading 3 Critical Factors Impacting Donor Mindset Today
Stories are how we share our culture, pass down our traditions and influence others. We are literally hardwired for storytelling. Perfect for fundraising, right? But if the formula is so simple—character + conflict + resourcefulness = resolution—then why don’t more stories resonate? Here are five mistakes that might be in the way. Continue reading 5 Storytelling Mistakes (And How to Avoid Them)
