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…ealthcare fundraising and other philanthropic sectors tend to release prospects sooner than the education sector, there is a clear need to shift our strategy. Once someone hits your definition of hardcore non-donor or lapsed donor by not giving — change strategies. Some organizations have effectively used, die-cut appeals to catch people’s attention, shock and awe approaches (a military academy once sent non-donors a “you are on report” s…
… this historic combination of the lowest discount rate with the highest gift tax exemption ($5 million, or $10 million for a couple) ever seen, means that charitable lead trusts are now among the best ways for your wealthiest donors to help you now and ensure that the maximum part of their estate passes to their heirs without taxation.Here’s how a charitable lead trust works. Your donor transfers assets (cash, stock, real estate, limited partners…
As online giving continues its yearly explosion in popularity, we’re starting to learn more about what Internet giving means to our fundraising efforts overall. One of the lessons seems to be that online is a great way to introduce new donors to your organization. First, have a look at this recent Blackbaud study on Internet and multichannel giving. Among the many findings in this study are the statistics that show a growing number of firs…
One truism in annual giving is knowing that it is usually less expensive to keep the donors you have than finding new ones each year. Yet, we often spend proportionally more in mailing to and calling non-donors or unlikely donors than in working hard to keep those who have made gifts, especially first-time donors. If we can increase renewal rates from first-, second- and third-year donors, we will increase the number of people for whom giving to…
There is no denying that the most generous donors tend to be older. As such, they should — and do — receive a lot of attention from fundraisers. Nonprofits cannot afford to neglect their best donors. That doesn’t make engaging the next generation of philanthropists any less vital, however. As you know, studies show that the longer a donor has been involved with an organization, the more loyal and valuable that donor is. Thus, fundrai…
Fidelity Charitable, which manages the nation’s largest donor-advised fund program and is one of the largest public charities in the country, announced record-breaking contribution and grant levels for the first half of the year and a new name as it celebrates its 20th anniversary. Fidelity Charitable, formerly known as the Fidelity® Charitable Gift Fund, reported a 30 percent increase in contribution volumes for the first six months of th…
…The obvious issue for you is to focus on those handfuls of companies and their shareholders in non-cyclical industries that are likely to do well in 2008, including utilities and household nondurables. Stay in touch For those donors with major holdings in stocks that are under pressure or whose year-end bonuses disappeared (see Wall Street Journal article), it is important for you to not expect the enormous gift that has, up until now, arrived ye…
…ality. I’m not referring to accuracy but instead volume of effective touches. So, as April 15th comes along this year, commit your team to this top-focused, tax tip: Use tax time to ensure that every major prospect and donor gets a spring-time touch–in-person, call, or mail, in that order of preference. Create lists of “last fiscal year” donors who deserve a call to ensure that they have everything to support their giving…
Katrina Klaproth is a senior associate at Bentz Whaley Flessner specializing in fundraising operations and systems. Katrina’s diverse and extensive background in donor management systems, organizational structures, online giving, direct fundraising, and donor relations enables her to provide nonprofits transformative infrastructure enhancement and decision support. Most recently, Katrina served the Director of Development Operations for the Geor…
…f the wealth destroyed over the past two years will begin to return. Since major gifts are asset based, not income based, the outlook for major gifts will improve. This will not happen overnight, and it will not happen to all donors at the same rate and levels; but the climate for extraordinary gifts will be brighter. Grassroots fundraising will struggle longer as the anticipated jobless recovery will impact the mood of not only those that lose t…
