Development Department

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Noah Maier

Saying Thank You (Stewardship and Recognition)

No one is more famous for customer service than the Ritz-Carlton. The chain of hotels has built a reputation so stunning that I feel confident in shamelessly copying them to build my stewardship and recognition plans. Building these plans is important and almost always overlooked. They matter less if you&

Honoring Commitments

When someone makes a promise, it is essential for them to follow through. This is a matter of justice. As fundraisers, we sometimes make excuses for donors, especially if we feel uncomfortable asking for funds. However, it’s important to remember that what may be our top priority is likely

Myths About Asking for Money

Myth: Asking for money is rude or pushy. Truth: Fundraising is about inviting people to make a difference and be part of something meaningful. When done with respect and authenticity, asking for money becomes an opportunity for individuals to contribute to a cause they care about. Myth: People don’t

Asking

We have a prospect list. We’ve qualified it. We’ve decided on a strategy, and we’re moving forward with a list of people. Now is the time to ask. I’ve been on both ends of countless pitches from nonprofits. All (well, ok, most of them) were brilliant

Moves Management

Moves Management is, in the words of Bill Sturtevandt, “the seminal conceptual accomplishment in the field of major gifts fundraising”. It is the brainchild of Cornell’s Buck Smith, and was refined by the brilliant fundraisers David Dunlop and Jerry Panas. It is a framework for thinking about how to

501c3s, 501c4s, PACs, and SuperPACs

Understanding the nuances of different types of non-profit and political organizations in the United States, such as 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4), Political Action Committees (PACs), and Super PACs, can be a daunting task. These designations come from the Internal Revenue Code and they refer to the sections of

The Psychology of Giving

Giving, in its true essence, is an intricate dance between the giver and receiver, a relationship that goes beyond altruism and enters the realm of shared human experience and personal growth. The Display of Giving While altruism has its roots in selfless love, giving also entails an element of self

Qualifying

Before you read this, please read the page on prospecting. You now know more than enough to build a robust prospect list. Most folks now find themselves with a delightful problem — what do we do with all of our potential donors? How do we prioritize them? That process is called

Prospecting

I used to work at the ACLU, a prominent civil rights organization. Many people are “card-carrying” ACLU members all around the country, and because of the success of that campaign, we had a database full of prospects. Most people aren't so lucky. This post is for you. When

There are 7.5 Steps of Fundraising

All development processes boil down into seven simple steps. Anyone can quickly diagnose a fundraising shop problem by mapping the issue into one of these steps. They are as follows: Prospecting Qualifying Asking Strategizing (Optional) Getting Commitments Saying Thank You Following Up Upgrading When I ran my firm, we remembered