Author Archives: rcummings1140

from The Weekend Briefing for November 4, 2018 The party was over.  Pizza, stories and a champagne toast celebrated the end of a successful campaign.  The president stopped in to thank the team, as did their wonderful campaign co-chairs.  Each fundraiser thought the same thing, “We were never going to let you down.” Now everyoneContinueContinue reading “Becoming a Major Gifts Officer”

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 aContinueContinue 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 theseContinueContinue 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 figureContinueContinue 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,ContinueContinue reading “The Bottom Line”