Author Archives: rcummings1140

What do donors say when they wake up in the morning? “Honey, let’s give the school a million bucks! Bet they’ll be surprised!” “For what?” “Who cares!” Do donors say that? No, they don’t. What DO donors say? “I can’t stop thinking about what we read yesterday. Women in Africa walk 3 miles to aContinue reading “Never Ask for Money”

Once upon a time, in a land far away, the fundraising community was in a tizzy. “One of the steepest declines in giving on record!” screamed the headlines. “An even sharper drop from everyday donors.” “Trouble for nonprofits.” At a midsize organization, a major gifts officer read this and was puzzled. “We don’t see theseContinue reading “The Eight Rules”

(Excerpted from Major and Planned Gifts Unmasked, available here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BQX4ZBTT It was 7:30 in the morning and I was walking down the main hall of the hospital. Heading straight toward me in their scrubs were two cardiovascular surgeons. One was whispering to the other. They were about to bust my chops. “What we can’t figureContinue reading “The Board”

Development is helping donors do the great things they want to do. But are those just empty words? Then this appeared in my Inbox: “I was visiting with a prospect the other day. She asked what projects or funding I was looking for. “I explained that my goal is to get to know her interests,Continue reading “The Bottom Line”

“Rob, I wonder if you could talk about development folks making a move to a new organization. What should we consider before signing on to support a mission?” Before you think about making a move, count “one Mississippi, two Mississippi…”  Has your current position really run its course?  Many have hurt their careers by movingContinue reading “When It’s Time to Move On”