12% of all charitable giving takes place in the last three days of the year, which is why your donors need to be able to reach a live gift officer on the phone and why your online giving portal needs to be humming like a Maserati. In the first two weeks of the year, successfulContinue reading “The Only 3 Fundraising Resolutions You’ll Need for the New Year”
Author Archives: rcummings1140
A “Can’t Miss”
We were cultivating our board chair for a seven-figure gift and I realized his spouse’s birthday was right around the corner. I also happened to know this nice lady was bonkers for cranberry nut muffins. Go figure. On the day, at 7:30AM I gently placed a wicker basket on their front doorstep with a prettyContinue reading “A “Can’t Miss””
The Two Magic Words
“Rob, you’ve seen so many Decembers in your career, so many year-ends. We’re bombarded with messages of ‘good cheer’ but for fundraisers it can be just the opposite! Every day brings stress, a new problem and a looming deadline. “Is there a secret to making it through these weeks without feeling overwhelmed? If there is,Continue reading “The Two Magic Words”
Chasing Windmills
Helen looked around the university’s Phonathon Center. It was in the basement of the administration building; tucked away, but spacious enough for their needs. Campus security was great about stopping by and making them feel safe, even late in the evening when the rest of the building was deserted. There were 20 caller cubicles butContinue reading “Chasing Windmills”
Fixing Bad Communication
Why do most Messages from the President – and donor communication in general – stink? From “Winning: The Five Truths of Fundraising:” The single best piece of advice I received in my entire career was when a young colleague had the nerve and the courage to remind me, “Rob, it’s not always about you.” ItContinue reading “Fixing Bad Communication”