iMarketSmart

FEBRUARY 26, 2021

Sure, it’s true that donors need to have belief and confidence in your organization to help them achieve their philanthropic outcomes. But VIPs don’t want to be beleaguered with how great you and your organization are. In Jim Langley’s new book titled The Future of Fundraising , he calls them ‘portals of purpose.’

Education 52

Education Education Fundraising Fundraising 52

Bloomerang

FEBRUARY 1, 2022

Elizabeth Abel will explore the role of the board in elevating fundraising activity and discuss effective strategies to recruit, engage, and deploy diverse board members as fundraising ambassadors. Full Transcript: Steven: All right, Elizabeth, I’ve got 2:30 Eastern officially. Steven: All right. Elizabeth: Yes.

Leadership 60

Leadership Fundraising Fundraising Philanthropy 60

Selfish Giving

APRIL 10, 2019

I have a hard time finding out what my salary should be, my peers aren't going to tell me and doing a google search just gives me a wide range! TAKE OUR ANONYMOUS SALARY SURVEY Second: I've just finished writing up case studies for three organizations and am accepting new assignments.

Retail 100

Retail Food Associations Recruitment 100

Bloomerang

MAY 24, 2021

This was capped by massive social divisiveness and upheaval and a civil rights movement. What must your organization do now to position your mission to thrive, not just survive, once the threat from the current pandemic has been vanquished? Please read my article linked above; let’s then explore further. . — Brian Solis.

Nonprofits 135

Nonprofits Values Environmental Culture 135

iMarketSmart

MARCH 29, 2023

There are two languages in fundraising – donorese, and organizationish. The research you’re about to see comes from Dr. Russell James, who in 2021 was named to the National Association of Charitable Gift Planners Hall of Fame for his lifetime of work researching major gifts fundraising, including planned giving. But ‘legacy gift’?

Insurance 52

Insurance Fundraising Fundraising Associations 52

Selfish Giving

FEBRUARY 29, 2020

This is the third-part of a four-part series on the four key legal issues you - my readers! requested guidance on in the Selfish Giving / Accelerist Partnership Law Survey you completed last spring. Advertising Disclosures [Released 10/02/19] Registration & Reporting Requirements [Released 12/4/19] Contracts UBIT [Coming Soon!]

Law 147

Law Advertising Activism Charitable Organizations 147

Bloomerang

JUNE 14, 2021

To adapt and thrive, says Solis, businesses and organizations must take a more profound and humanistic approach to transformation. This is the first post in a 3-part series. Stay tuned for part 2 and part 3. . Alarmed at how unprepared they were, they sped up their digital transformation. Timetables were compressed from years into months.

Technology 118

Technology Nonprofits Culture Production 118

iMarketSmart

JANUARY 4, 2023

That’s the nature of major gifts fundraising. You get it immediately and can use it right away. You can’t use it right away. But they feel great about writing a $25,000 check, and they hand it to you right there. But rarely can you have both. What are we talking about here? It’s easier. It’s simpler. It’s faster.

Insurance 52

Insurance Nonprofits Philanthropy Fundraising 52

iMarketSmart

JUNE 18, 2021

In my previous post I outlined the 3 types of marketing automation tools fundraising operations really should understand. In this post I’ll detail how automation technology helps people like you win big in the era of Fundraising Climate Change. . Quick review. Plus, I said it can help you move your mid-level donors up.

Marketing 97

Marketing Marketing Values Nonprofits 97

iMarketSmart

OCTOBER 10, 2022

In major gifts fundraising, this works. It works for the fundraiser. The fundraiser is the guiding sage. But a nonprofit is not just a fundraising organization. It’s also an operational organization. Embracing the donor-hero story inspires fundraising. It works for the donor. The donor is the hero.

Nonprofit Administration and Development 52

Nonprofit Administration and Development Nonprofit governance and management Culture Public and Nonprofit Management 52

iMarketSmart

AUGUST 9, 2023

Are the people working as major gift officers at your organization in the right role? If your organization is going to continue to deliver a consistent flow of major gifts in the coming decades, you need to ramp up your ability to hire the right people for major gifts positions. How would you know if they do or don’t?

Race and Ethnicity 52

Race and Ethnicity Universities Philanthropy Education 52

iMarketSmart

JUNE 9, 2021

SPOILER ALERT: You can’t afford not to automate your fundraising operations. In my previous post , I promised to examine whether or not you can afford to invest in automating your team’s more mundane tasks. First, consider why major gifts fundraisers fire their employers. So let’s jump in! . Stay with me on this.

Nonprofit Organizations 52

Nonprofit Organizations Nonprofit Organizations Marketing Marketing 52

iMarketSmart

AUGUST 12, 2015

If you do it right, they’ll talk at least twice as much as you. People can sense how you feel right through the phone line. Let others in your organization know what you are doing (especially if you are outsourcing the calls to a vendor). My next blog post will include the don’t’s. Like this blog post?

Fundraising 74

Fundraising Fundraising Energy Technology 74

iMarketSmart

JUNE 1, 2018

” I’ve had fundraisers approach me this way. It’s all about them and their organization. I guess they figure they’ll ‘wow’ donor prospects into giving because they and their organization are so awesome. Does this align with my values, my life story, and my interests?”

Fundraising 64

Fundraising Fundraising Values Philanthropy 64

iMarketSmart

NOVEMBER 9, 2021

I’m not talking about Fundraising Climate Change. That’s the term I assigned to the worldwide growing distrust of charitable organizations , along with a collection of other issues I believe will negatively affect charitable giving over the next decade and beyond. Here’s my big fear. After all, I’m no economist.

Fundraising 52

Fundraising Fundraising Technology Philanthropy 52

Nonprofit Marketing Blog

AUGUST 17, 2012

Many people wrote to say they agreed, and that the advice offered reflected their own experiences as fundraisers. This is good advice and recommended reading for all fundraisers! I should be upfront about my areas of expertise, as well as my gaps: I lead the country’s largest event fundraising firm.

Altruism and Helping 86

Altruism and Helping Participation and motivation Psychology Recruitment 86

iMarketSmart

OCTOBER 23, 2017

Here are a dozen ways engagement fundraising helps nonprofits all around the world. Why each supporter cares about your organization’s mission. Optimize your staff structure to put the right people in the right roles for success. My simplest explanation of how engagement fundraising works.

Fundraising 49

Fundraising Fundraising Children Values 49

iMarketSmart

JUNE 16, 2021

Major gifts (including legacy gifts) fundraising depends more on personalization, relevance, relationship, and timeliness than any other type of fundraising. In this previous post we discussed the fact that lower-level, basic automation works better for raising low-dollar donors. . But I’m getting ahead of myself.

Marketing 52

Marketing Marketing Fundraising Fundraising 52

iMarketSmart

MAY 24, 2017

Both of my parents died in their 60’s. One of my best friends died last year at 54. I think the fundraising sector needs to change, now! Today could be my last day. When it’s leveraged properly, it can make almost anything more effective— including fundraising. Here’s why I am the way I am: 1.

Technology 70

Technology Retention Production Non-Profits 70

Bloomerang

APRIL 1, 2021

This simple act saves your organization a lot of funds that would’ve otherwise been spent on replacing you. You hold a lot of value for the organization and they want to keep you around for the long haul. . Starting a career in the nonprofit sector is an admirable achievement. Actively look for new learning opportunities. .

Nonprofit Administration and Development 93

Nonprofit Administration and Development Public and Nonprofit Management Nonprofit Leadership Nonprofits 93

iMarketSmart

APRIL 27, 2018

A wonderful fundraiser had been buying from us (MarketSmart) when finally, one day she exclaimed, “Hold on… you guys are doing with me exactly what you’ve been telling me to do with my donors!” My LinkedIn posts (connect with me and you’ll see them). My Twitter. LIKE THIS BLOG POST?

Education 40

Education Education Food Technology 40

Getting Attention

OCTOBER 22, 2014

It’s the ONLY way to ensure our marketing and fundraising content is relevant, while fueling our personal satisfaction. It’s the ONLY way to ensure our marketing and fundraising content is relevant, while fueling our personal satisfaction. My call to action for all of us fundraisers and nonprofit communicators?

Leadership 81

Leadership Marketing Marketing Communication 81

iMarketSmart

SEPTEMBER 3, 2014

My client wanted me to present some data about the results we’ve been attaining together. My recommendations to the Board were as follows: Focus on major gifts. At the end of my presentation, predictably, the same question came up that I’ve heard over and over at these kinds of meetings. Less is more. The 80/20 rule.

Technology 56

Technology Fundraising Fundraising Marketing 56

iMarketSmart

JANUARY 9, 2019

If you have been following our past posts, you should have a deep understanding of Engagement Fundraising and its fundamental concepts by now. If you agree with me that fundraising is broken, I hope I’ve also shown you how we can fix it. Engagement Fundraising is not only fair to you, but it’s also fair to donors.

Technology 40

Technology Fundraising Fundraising Communication 40

iMarketSmart

JUNE 11, 2021

Too many nonprofits mistakenly assume that the best way to increase major gifts fundraising is to hire more major gifts officers. . Sadly, too many nonprofit leaders don’t understand what’s involved with major gifts fundraising or how to get the best out of their people—even the all-stars. To a point, this might be true.

Recruitment 52

Recruitment Technology Insurance Energy 52

iMarketSmart

APRIL 23, 2018

If you’ve been in fundraising for any length of time you probably already know that turnover is a problem in the sector. According to the Chronicle of Philanthropy , the average turnover rate of nonprofit fundraisers is sixteen months. Right side – What I don’t want in my next position.

Fundraising 40

Fundraising Fundraising Philanthropy Nonprofits 40

Kivi's Nonprofit Communications Blog

AUGUST 3, 2017

Done right, it drives clicks and conversions better than text alone. Al Franken’s fundraising confirmation page. It was unexpected and brought a huge smile to my face. So, the scope of this post expanded to 4 Smart Ways to Use Thank You Videos in Nonprofit Fundraising. We launched it right before Thanksgiving 2015.

Non-Profits 67

Non-Profits Fundraising Fundraising Nonprofits 67

iMarketSmart

FEBRUARY 15, 2016

When I was just a donor, I was frustrated with the letters, newsletters, and emails I received from my beloved charities. They broke my heart. So I turned my ship in another direction. I used my marketing expertise to invent new ways of doing things. There you go, that’s the future of fundraising. .

Technology 49

Technology Retention Foundations Activism 49

iMarketSmart

JANUARY 20, 2016

Fundraising IS marketing and selling. Yet some fundraisers think it’s different from other forms of marketing and sales when it isn’t. Somehow the altruistic aspects of fundraising get in the way and muck up the process. Fundraising is sales. He was so right but here’s more proof. Seth has it right.

Marketing 45

Marketing Marketing Non-Profits Fundraising 45

iMarketSmart

JUNE 1, 2021

Fundraising is getting harder. If you’re like most nonprofit leaders and fundraisers, you’re a bit worried that it can’t. If you’re like most nonprofit leaders and fundraisers, you’re a bit worried that it can’t. To do fundraising well, it requires significant increases in staff, money, and time. You don’t just feel it.

Marketing 52

Marketing Marketing Fundraising Fundraising 52

iMarketSmart

OCTOBER 25, 2017

A few weeks ago one of my employees (Nicole) forwarded the following email to me from her beloved alma mater. Next, he lamented that Nicole clearly is not “in the know” and is apparently not proud of her school because she, and so many others like her, are not giving as much as their peers at other schools. Impressive!

Universities 45

Universities Fundraising Fundraising Philanthropy 45

iMarketSmart

MARCH 3, 2023

Did they ask gift officers how many fundraising prospects they can realistically work with at one time? It comes from Dunbar’s number, a quaint figure arrived at by Oxford anthropologist – not fundraiser – Robin Dunbar, who postulated that the human brain cannot manage more than 150 stable social relationships at once. It’s wrong.

Nonprofit Administration and Development 52

Nonprofit Administration and Development Universities Management Values 52

iMarketSmart

OCTOBER 9, 2017

Wikipedia says , “moves are the actions an organization takes to bring in donors, establish relationships, and renew contributions.” ” So, moves are what the fundraiser does. Fundraisers achieve their goals if they develop plans for their activities. Moves are activities. Persuasion? ” Structure and process.

Management 61

Management Activism Values Universities 61

iMarketSmart

FEBRUARY 24, 2017

The goal for legacy gift fundraising is to raise money right? Yet, unfortunately, way too many nonprofits (leaders and staff) focus mostly on getting supporters to say that the organization is in their plan (thereby increasing the size of the Legacy Society). Counting Legacy Society members is counting points. For instance: 1.

Values 55

Values Fundraising Fundraising Nonprofits 55

iMarketSmart

JANUARY 26, 2018

She had been working for an organization for almost two and a half years and she said, “You know, I think over time I must have met with about 100 people. So, she spent a lot of time—A LOT OF TIME—with people that she adored and who adored her and her organization. Sorry but fundraising is not mostly about making friends.

Fundraising 45

Fundraising Fundraising Philanthropy 45

iMarketSmart

AUGUST 20, 2018

Weird, right? So, I thwart their attempt to facilitate the buying process and continue thinking on my own, gathering information and weighing my options, with no pressure or discomfort whatsoever. Here’s how many fundraisers make the same mistake as the sales clerk at the store. If you’re like me, you hate being sold.

Law 56

Law Values Universities Education 56

iMarketSmart

MAY 31, 2017

” Here’s my answer: First, if you are uncomfortable with asking, it’s probably for one or all of 3 reasons. You don’t passionately believe in your organization’s mission and its ability to accomplish great things with donations. How can I become more comfortable with it?” ” 1- No passion.

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Education Education Fundraising Fundraising 66