Free Webinar on Prospecting for Major Gift Donors

One of the wonderful aspects of being in a large consulting firm is the talent of my colleagues. Campbell & Company is offering a free webinar on September 11th on prospecting for major gift donors. This is a critically important issue for your annual fund, for capital campaign fundraising, and to help you work smarter, not harder. The presenters, Shawn and Rickie really know their stuff. Be sure to sign up.

Click here for the link on how to register for this free webinar.

TomWilsonMajorGiftsGuru@gmail.com

Permanent Link: Free Webinar on Prospecting for Major Gift Donors

http://majorgiftsguru.com/2008/08/free-webinar-on-prospecting-for-major.html

Next Gen Philanthropists

Transfering Their Interest As Well As Their Money

An article in The New York Times reflected on Arts Patrons The Next Generation. It focused on several families who were passing down philanthropic traditions from grandmother to grandaughter, from mother to daughter. "Not many people have a foundation in the family. But the journey ahead of them poses some interesting questions. It is one thing to pass on a casual appreciation of the arts, but can one also passon a lifetime commitment."

Virginia Esposito, president of the National Center for Family Philanthropy was quoted in the article, "Arts organizations are seeing more young people who want to be involved in and respect family histories."

Some families are creating a children's board at the advice of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors.

Mary Galeti, 25-year-old vice chairwoman of the Tecovas Foundation noted, "I think a lot of folks are struggling with legacy. The thing about my generation is that we are more directly interested in leaving our mark, building something that will create a lasting impact, whatever that may be."

It's great to read articles like this to gain perspective on how people of wealth think through these issues of family legacy. You may want to interview some of your donors to see what they are thinking on these issues. They may thank you for connecting them with some of the organizations listed in this article.

TomWilsonMajorGiftsGuru@gmail.com

Permanent Link: Next Gen Philanthropists

http://majorgiftsguru.com/2008/08/next-gen-philanthropists.html

Another Internet Fundraising Innovation

What Can Major Gift Fundraising Learn from this Idea?

I just read a fascinating article in Forbes: Saving Lives, One Rent Check at a Time on Internet philanthropy. As a major gift officer with 30 years of experience, I am still trying to figure out how this new wide web world will impact our fundraising. I’ll tracking these articles for all of us. Please give me feedback if you’re applying some of these strategies

In 2002 Keith Taylor took a website he was using to offer to help out people with small gifts from his $33,000 yearly salary. Now 41, he helps people with their rent by sending a $100 her and there — not to the requester but to their bank or landlord. Last year, ModestNeeds.org, gave away $884,990 a big increase from the $250,000 donated in 2005. Modest Needs has a staff of 5 and gets 2,000 requests a month. They fund 20%. The Herb Alpert Foundation got wind of the project and has matched $1.4 million of gifts so far. It’s interesting to note that only 10% of ModestNeeds.org recipients ask again.

Other related sites include GlobalGiving.com, DonorsChoose.org.

The article notes: “Contributing to a specific project gives donors a sense of control, says Arthur Brooks, a professor at Syracuse University who studies philanthropy, activating what he calls ‘the happy part’ of the brain’s cerebral cortex. ‘It makes giving money a lot more like volunteering.’ Brooks says. ‘Organizations that understand this are going to prosper.’”

Related articles from Brooks: "Can Money Buy Happiness" in The American, "Why Giving Makes You Happy" in The New York Sun, and "Giving Makes Your Rich" in Conde' Nest Portfolio.com.

One implication for major gift officers is setting up a donor selection website for your organization. Let your faculty and staff at your university or physicians and nurses at your hospital write up their needs. Have your staff package them quickly on your donor selection website and encourage people to go shopping for their interests. Let me know what you think.

TomWilsonMajorGiftsGuru@gmail.com

Permanent Link: Another Internet Fundraising Innovation

http://majorgiftsguru.com/2008/08/another-internet-fundraising-innovation.html

Obstacles to the Win Win Ask

AFP San Diego August Meeting

Tom recently presented to nearly 100 people in San Diego on Winning Gifts concepts with emphasis on making your case, the win win ask, and particularly obstacles to the win win ask. These 14 obstacles are described in Tom's book and outlined in the presentation from the session which can be found at this link: AFP San Diego. After arriving on their site, click on the PDF form to get a copy of the presentation.

One thing emphasized during the session is don't let the economy stop you from making the ask. Giving may be flat this year, it may dip slightly but hundreds of billions of dollars will still be given away. Work smarter, be strategic, and qualify your donors to see how they view the world and their giving priorities.

Permanent Link: Obstacles to the Win Win Ask

http://majorgiftsguru.com/2008/08/obstacles-to-win-win-ask.html