Just Ask - Rethinking Development: Recent Episodes
Just Ask Development
How do you fundraise? Why do some strategies work while others don't? Raise more money than you ever thought possible as you journey with Greg and Bryan through the professional world of development. They share their insights and best practices gleaned through years of experience fundraising for Catholic non-profits.
After the Campaign. You’ve reached the top of the mountain. So what happens now? Bryan and Greg discuss 3 things you need to do when the capital campaign wraps up.
After the Campaign. Bryan and Greg discuss 3 things you need to do when the capital campaign wraps up.
Silent Phase? Advance Phase? What should one call the first solicitation phase of a campaign? It matters because it changes how you think about the task at hand. Bryan and Greg walk through the ins and outs of how to approach the Leadership phase of a campaign.
When it comes to making great marketing and fundraising copy, we feel it’s all on us to create something amazing. This especially true for Catholic nonprofits, as they seek to lean on 2000 years of faith and tradition. As the saying goes, “worry smarter not harder.” Greg talks about the inspirational language of our Church documents. Familiarity with them will give your school marketing the aspirational language needed to inspire enrollment growth.
“Get stuff done.” How many times has this been your mindset to start the day, only to be derailed by the multitude of tasks faced at a nonprofit. Greg shares three tips to become incredibly more efficient in your work.
Alumni Participation in the Annual Fund. Why do so few graduates support their alma mater? What can be done? Greg and Bryan brainstorm ideas for building alumni participation.
The President’s Role. Formerly a teacher and principal, you’ve just accepted a job as president of a Catholic high school. What does this new job entail? How is it different than principal? Greg leads a discussion about how to take on this key role.
Are foundation appeals just another beauty contest? Bryan shares his take regarding the return on investment of pursuing grant dollars.
Bryan explores a question with Greg: why do so many development professionals leave the non-profit world or turn to consulting jobs? Listen as they diagnose what is causing fundraisers to “get out or sell out.”
Why do people give? On a basic level, most people of us know the answer. Because you asked! But in practice, how many nonprofits ask and ask well? Bryan shares a success story that highlights the fine art of asking.
If your non-profit is out to change the world, just about the last thing you want your cause to be referred to as is “nice.” Bryan discuss with Greg how you can avoid being just another “nice” charity.
A common pitfall non-profits fall into is the tendency to confuse money with relationships. What do we mean? When searching for A Team volunteers, don’t default to the ones you know will say yes. Greg explains why nonprofits often get this wrong and how they might better approach volunteer recruitment.
How do you attract “A level talent” as volunteers? What would it mean for your charity to have the right benefactors involved on a high level? Greg shares five things you need to know for building the A Team.
Have you ever found yourself in the “Friendzone?” How about the “Fundraising Friendzone”. This is where a fundraiser has the perfect person to partner with their mission, but they somehow never get around to asking for support. They’re stuck in the Friendzone. Bryan and Greg discuss 3 ways you can fight your way out of the Friendzone and start partnering with the benefactors your cause needs.
Welcome back to the Mission Effectiveness finale! In part four of a four part series, Greg and Bryan tackle the concept of Wise Stewardship. Stewardship is a term we hear often in the non-profit world. Greg and Bryan break down what constitutes good stewardship. The inspiration for this series came from an article by Jake Stanley from the Amazing Parish that was featured in the October 2023 issue of Catechetical Review. The article dealt with Ministry Burnout.
Welcome back to part three of a four part series on Mission Effectiveness! There is one element to Mission Effectiveness that often gets overlooked: Courage.
Welcome back to part two of a four part series on Mission Effectiveness! In this episode, Greg takes us into the importance of organization having a strategy. Strategic is a word that gets thrown around. What makes a decision truly strategic? Once you have that, how do you ensure it gets implemented? Greg shares how strategy can elevate your team.
Welcome to part one of a four part series on Mission Effectiveness! The inspiration for this series came from an article by Jake Stanley from the Amazing Parish that was featured in the October 2023 issue of Catechetical Review. The article deals with Ministry Burnout. This begs the question: why do good employees in the non-profit world burnout so frequently? In this episode, Greg and Bryan discuss what it takes for an organization to be Smart and Healthy.
Battling the unseen. When you are trying to do something beautiful for God, understand the forces against you. Greg dives into an exploration of the mystical encounter, both good and bad, and shares what this means for you as a fundraiser.
The Startup – Choosing Database Software. Your parish decided to start a development program to support the parish and school. Greg offers advice on step one-setting up a development database.
The Startup – Finding Your First Donors. You’ve just started a non-profit, and you don’t even have a prospect list. Here’s ideas on how to get started.
With the new year upon us, the time to set a solid fundraising strategy is here. One of the challenges non-profits face is too many “good” things to focus our time on. So what are the most essential tasks for you to focus on for fundraising? Bryan shares five things you can do to kickstart your fundraising in 2024.
Greg recounts how a donor recently told him, “Asking is the easy part.” Listen in on why that transformed his thinking about fundraising.
What can motivate individuals to give beyond what seems possible?Today Greg talks about the relationship between God and Money. Specifically, he shares a real life study on Warsaw, the Dentist and the Great Flood of ’97.
Bryan and Greg share perhaps the most important skill a development officer can master: the art of listening. In this episode, you’ll learn about listening on a deeper level and uncover what it takes to really get to know someone.
There’s a saying in show biz, “No one wants you ‘til everyone wants you.” Bryan explains how that principle applies to non-profits, as he recounts the growth of St. Paul’s Newman Center in Fargo, ND.
Why is the first campaign the most difficult?
Greg shares some words of encouragement to those launching their first capital campaign. Odds are it will be the most difficult campaign your non-profit will undertake. Greg shares why that is and why you can take heart in the major groundwork your efforts will produce.
Is there any replacement for a firsthand experience? Some of the most loyal donors of your non-profit had their own firsthand experiences with your cause. So how can you give a firsthand experience to donors who are new to your charity? Greg and Bryan share practical ways to bring donors closer to the mission.
Every campaign will face challenges and setbacks. So what do you do when these challenges cause your campaign to stall? Bryan and Greg continue their conversation on how you can break out of a stall in your fundraising efforts. This is part two of a two part series.
In every campaign, you encounter challenges and setbacks. So what do you do when these challenges cause your campaign to stall? Bryan shares what steps helped his non-profit to overcome a stall of a goal rising by over $10 million. This is part one of a two part series.
Despite your best efforts in fundraising, you will inevitably be met with a hard truth: some donors just aren’t that into you. Given this reality, what can you do to still build organizational trust? Bryan discusses how to navigate a donor relationship even if you, as the fundraiser, are not their cup of tea.
You asked, you waited. Still no decision. What could be holding up a major donor’s decision? Perhaps you need to suggest a ‘contingent pledge.’ Here’s how it works.
Development can be a grind. When you work for a non-profit, there will never be a time when your mission no longer needs funding. Add on a substantial campaign, and you’re already full schedule is about to expand. The grind can takes it toll. But as Father Henry Nouwen once said, “Fundraising is, first and foremost, a form of ministry.” That said, how can we as fundraisers not lose sight of the ultimate end? How can we fundraise without losing our soul?
Have you ever spent considerable time convincing someone of an idea or a beneficial partnership? Chances are, if you’re a fundraiser, this is part of you’re job description. But, you can actually save yourself time and hassle by first asking the question: am I trying to convince the wrong person? Listen as Bryan shares why your proposals might be falling on deaf ears.
A common problem within the fundraising world is the attachment of donors to individuals rather than organizations. Greg highlights the problem a non-profit founder can face when all the best donors are their own direct contacts. How do you build better organizational relationships with donors that go beyond their friendship with any one individual? Listen as Greg shares tangible ways to address this dilemma.
Is diversity always a good thing? It depends upon your definition. Greg talks about what is the actual Catholic understanding of diversity as well as how the distorted modern view of diversity is affecting our Catholic institutions.
Greg and Bryan continue their conversation on the changing Catholic donor base and what this means for your non-profit.
What will happen to the Catholic donor base over the next 15-20 years? It is no secret that younger Americans are becoming less and less religiously affiliated. At the same time, the most supportive Catholic benefactors are getting older. In part one of a two part series, Greg and Bryan discuss why there is an imminent cash flow crisis coming to Catholic non-profits.
When a need to raise considerable funds comes up, you’ll most likely look to hire a consultant. The question then becomes, we do you trust? Before you blindly choose the big shiny firm, Bryan and Greg invite you to stop and ask a few common sense questions. It just might save your non-profit time and money.
How do you know when it’s time to cancel the event? You know the one. It’s the one that comes up annually and your organization has been doing it for years. But, is it really worth the time, energy, and resources to have the event? Bryan and Greg tackle the reasons why you should or should not have a fundraising event.
As fundraisers, we like to ask questions like, “how are we going to raise the money?” Unfortunately, we too often don’t ask a related question: should we raise the money? Bryan and Greg discuss what you need to do in order to be sure you are raising money for the right project.
This may be the most important topic ever covered on Just Ask. Why is asking for money so hard? If you’re in the field of fundraising, you will have to ask others for money. So why is that so hard? In this episode, you'll discover:
- The number one reason we don't ask for money
- What weight you, as fundraiser, should carry when making an ask
- A mindset for how you should approach asking for money
What's the difference between a major gift and the one you give from your car window?
Using a recent donor experience, Greg tackles the psychology behind why major donors make major gifts. How do you give a donor hope that their gift will make a difference?
What factors are out of your control as a fundraiser?
As the fiscal year end approaches, Greg discusses why you may laying to much of the burden on yourself.
In this episode you'll learn:
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The number one factor affecting major gifts
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Two solid points of encouragement to take to heart
Does your organization have any "major" donors?
Where should you begin when seeking to solicit "major" gifts. This is a massive topic, but there are key steps you can take to jump start your major gifts program.
Listen in as Bryan and Greg demystify the process.
What do you do if your donor is a diva?
In a perfect world, you live in a drama free fundraising world.
But inevitably, you will encounter at one time or another, the diva donor. Bryan discusses with Greg what a diva donor is and how to best navigate this delicate relationship.
Getting ahold of someone remains one of the greatest hurdles in fundraising. Leaving a voicemail and expecting a call back is often just wishful thinking. But, there is an increasingly effective medium for reaching people: texting. Greg explores ways to use texting to improve your development efforts.
Greg channels his 30 years of fundraising for Catholic schools and charities to highlight a changing demographic: Catholic parents. Greg has noticed the emergence of a new mindset among parents, and it may have significant consequences for your fundraising approach. We would love to hear from you on this topic and whether you agree or disagree. Email us your thoughts at justaskdevelopment@gmail.com
This marks our 75th episode!We are taking time again answer some listener questions. Here is what we cover today:1. What are traits of an ideal development professional?2. What makes for a great working relationship between the lead fundraiser and executive director of a non-profit?
More listener questions!
Today, Bryan and Greg answer:
- How do you know if it's time to expand your development office?
- Is it time to hire an outside company or more personnel?
- What should you look for in an organization before entering into development with them?
Today we answer a few listener questions!
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What does it look like to start a development operation from scratch?
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Why aren't there many people who want to do development?
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How do I know if I'm a good fit for development?
What does every great NFL team spend time on after a game? They watch the game tape. Greg argues today that this may be the single most important key to his growth as a 30 year fundraiser. After a solicitation is made, there are questions that should be asked and recorded. Greg shares a particularly important question to include.
Greg walks you through what to do when you find yourself in the position of doing business over a meal.
A meal by its nature is social. This can present a challenge when determining what is the right time to bring up the work of your non-profit.
Specifically, how do you effectively bring up a proposal and make an ask? Greg navigates the nuances of having "dinner and an ask." This episode covers:
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what is the best meal setting for an ask?
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when should you bring out your proposal?
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how do you minimize interruptions?
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how to eliminate the elephant in the room?
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what is "recovery time" and why is it important in a meeting?
What separates great development professionals from mediocre fundraisers?
Follow-up. Tenacity and consistency in following up an ask made to a donor by you and your non-profit.
Simple enough to do, and yet this skill is often done poorly by many. Not a few gifts have fallen apart because of a lack of follow-up.
In this episode Bryan and Greg cover:
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when and how often you should be following up after an ask
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who should be making the follow-up
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the best method of follow-up
Want to take your fundraising to the next level? It's all about the follow-up.
What do you think of when you hear the term endowments? They can be a perpetual source of funding to your non-profit, but often, we see it as something to tackle in the future. Greg advocates today for a new approach to establishing named endowments. What is the price point you should set for a such an endowment? You might be surprised. Listen and find out.
A common lament of Catholic schools and other private education institutions goes something like this: people just don't give.
The question is then posed: "how do we create a culture of giving?" Greg provides an answer to this question, and it's simpler than you may think.
What do the Seven Deadly Sins have to do with fundraising? Bryan takes you through this self-reflection on whether the seven deadly sins are affecting your fundraising approach. Don’t let these sins limit the potential of you or your non-profit.
How do you cordially say no to a donor who has a good idea, but it’s currently not a top priority for the organization? This is a question posed to us by one of our listeners! Bryan and Greg provide an answer, and as a bonus tackle a related question: what do you do when a donor gives you a bad fundraising idea? Find out how to say no to bad ideas.
Does your organization have a unified message when raising funds? Specifically, we mean a message highlighting the need your non-profit seeks to meet and why you’re best equipped to address it. You should! This is called the ‘Case for Support’. Without a Case, you will be ill equipped as a fundraiser to go ask for support. Bryan and Greg discuss why your organization needs a Case for Support and how to get started.
You only have so many hours in the day, days in a week, and weeks in a year as a fundraiser. If you are in a mid to large size non-profit, there's a good chance you have a database with more households than you could ever meet. Deciding who are the best prospects to go see can feel like finding a needle in a haystack. So how do you find the best prospects for greater involvement and giving?
Today, Bryan discusses how to reduce your massive "haystack" by focusing on three key areas: passion, involvement, and capacity.
Using these areas as a guide, you can channel your fundraising efforts to get in front of the best potential partners for your non-profit.
How often to you take your daily truth serum? Greg highlights the need to reflect each day on whether you did or did not do the best development activities. If you’re willing to take your daily serum, you’ll find the needle moves on your fundraising goals. Listen as Greg gives specific examples of what you should be focused on as a fundraiser.
“What in the world does that mean?” How many times have you said this looking at a record someone else made in your non-profit’s database? Over time, there is a tendency for a database to acquire all kinds of words and symbols which means something to the recorder at the time. However, future database users are left puzzled. Is there a better way to decipher jargon? Greg highlights how you can create an organizational “Rosetta Stone” to end the confusion.
Thank. Your. Donors. Almost any fundraiser will tell you it’s important to thank your donors, and yet, many nonprofits still fail to do this well. Bryan lays out why you should thank your donors, who is worth thanking, and some practical advice on how to implement better thank you protocols.
Over 30 years in consulting, Greg has noticed a common trait in all great Development Directors: they’re really good at getting stuff done. Unproductive or inefficient meetings can often be a roadblock to get things done. This week, Greg highlights how to get more stuff done in meetings.
Over 30 years in consulting, Greg has noticed a common trait in all great Development Directors: they’re really good at getting stuff done. So how do they execute their daily to-dos so well? Greg reveals how to get stuff done in development.
Running a campaign is hard enough, but what do you do when your goal goes up? Do you have to cut the vision or can the new number be met? Drawing from his own experience of a $21.5 million campaign that rose to over $31.5 million, Bryan shares steps you should take to address a higher goal. This is part two of a two part series. Greg and Bryan cover strong practicals in this episode.
Running a campaign is hard enough, but what do you do when your goal goes up? Do you have to cut the vision or can the new number be met? Drawing from his own experience of a $21.5 million campaign that rose to over $31.5 million, Bryan shares steps you should take to address a higher goal. This is part one of a two part series.
How do you effectively create or grow an endowment? More specifically, Greg dives into how to build up a Catholic school endowment. He argues for a broader approach to building your endowment than just asking the ultra wealthy “needle in the haystack” benefactor to make a transformative donation. Get out your pen and paper as Greg breaks down a specific strategy to build out your endowment.
We continue our discussion on whether you should make pursue a do-it-yourself (DIY) campaign rather than hire a consultant. You won’t want to miss this episode as Greg and Bryan share the 5 criteria to know you’re ready for a DIY campaign. As a consultant for over 30 years, Greg brings tried and true wisdom to this topic.
You need to build a new school, hire another staff member, or do a renovation. Whatever the need, you find yourself in a position to start a campaign. The big question: should you do-it-yourself (DIY) or hire a consultant? Bryan discusses with Greg why you might just be better off doing it yourself. This is part one of a two-part discussion.
How can you secure major gifts for your non-profit? Are great major gift officers born with a certain “pedigree?” Bryan delves into the critical factors necessary for major gifts.
Greg dives further into the implications of what he terms the “Catholic Black Market”. This episode covers the implications of the Catholic Church charging less than they should for the services they offer. Conversely, Greg advocates for a simple solution: pricing services fairly makes great programming and staff possible.
The less we charge, the more the service costs. This is the premise behind “The Catholic Black Market,” which Greg defines in todays show. The free or steeply discounted model people have come to expect from Catholic Churches comes at a cost.
The idea of a perfect time to call someone is an illusion. Too often, fundraisers project our own predispositions and fears onto a potential donor to justify why we shouldn’t call them. Don’t do this! Bryan and Greg give encourage and practical tips to stop waiting for the “perfect” time to call.
One of the most terrifying terms in development is the “cold call”. How do you take the cold out of this crucial step in donor relationships? There can be no relationship or support for your cause without making the discovery call. Today Bryan breaks down the steps to master this skill and get more appointments.
Bryan and Greg bring three more reasons every parish needs development. Learn what benefits come by taking a more professional development approach to raising funds and building relationships in your own parish.
Are parishes too comfortable with the status quo of the weekend collection supporting the parish? Will aging congregations face challenges relying solely on this method of giving? Yes!!Bryan and Greg make the case for why every parish needs development. This is part one of a two part series.
You get in front of a benefactor and ask for a gift, and they say yes! But, your the gift is not “closed” at that point. When you get back to the office, do you know when and how the benefactor intends to make their gift? These are just examples of information a good development officer needs to record. Greg and Bryan discuss the 5 key details you must get for a gift to truly be valid and closed.
How do you best direct your time to bring value to your organization? Any given day, there are numerous ways a fundraiser can spend their time. Greg explains how your activities fall into one of two categories: income or expense. The income producing tasks are short and simple. The expense producing tasks are many and should be exercised judiciously. Find out whether the tasks you do are making or spending money for your non-profit.
You should always tell the truth. For as the saying goes, “the truth will set you free.” In this episode, Greg sheds light on why that donor isn’t getting back to you with the answer you want. Simply put: you aren’t asking right question. Don’t beat around the bush with donors. Ask the question you want answered.
In the pursuit for building a sustainable funding model for your non-profit, you can’t forget the mid-tier support. Bryan lists 3 reasons mid-tier support should be valued more highly by every fundraiser.
What makes a great development professional? There are some key qualities and traits which make all the difference. It just so happens women tend to be stronger than men in these areas. That’s right! We said it! Listen in as Greg discusses what he believes makes women great in the field of development.
Working for a non-profit, there will inevitably come a time when you will apply for a grant. But a questions needs to be answered: are they worth the effort? Will the amount of time and energy to secure the grant be worth the donation received? Find out what factors you should be looking for to determine if a grant is right for you organization. Greg and Bryan discuss: are grants worth it?
What stops you as a fundraiser from making more calls? Most people would agree that if you make more calls you increase your odds of meeting more people and raising more money. And yet, many individuals don’t make nearly enough calls to have success. Why? Call reluctance is one of the biggest obstacles fundraisers and fundraising volunteers face. Greg and Bryan provide help to get out of the rut and overcome this fear.
What drives you in your fundraising efforts? Greg tackles this topic and proposes a simple but true answer: when you find your deepest motivation, it’s then that you’ll have your greatest success.
What is a Fast Food Fundraiser? We aren’t talking McDonald’s or Chick-Fil-A today. In the philanthropy profession, a fundraiser stays at a non-profit on average for only 16 - 18 months. A Fast Food Fundraiser is someone who comes into an organization and leaves fast before ever really making a dent. Bryan talks about three reasons you should avoid this, and as a bonus, Greg shares questions to ask a future employer before taking the job. Don’t miss this one.
Can you, as a fundraiser, honestly say the phrase “it’s not about the money” in any benefactor relationship and mean it? Isn’t the point of fundraising to raise money? Can you say its not about the money and still serve the best interests of both donors and your charity? Bryan shares three arguments for why not only can hold this view, but you’ll paradoxically raise more funds when you do.
We’ve all been there before. You meet someone and present a great proposal. Multiple calls and emails later, you realize that the gift potential has fizzled out. Was it something you said or didn’t say? Stop the self condemnation and listen up. Greg has 3 solid tips for you to “close the gift”.
Bryan is joined by a special guest to talk about The Spirituality of Fundraising by Henri Nouwen: Evan Baker! Evan is the Mission Advancement Officer at the University of Mary. This episode covers: fundraising as a ministry, how to bring a more authentic spiritual approach to fundraising, and why fundraising doesn’t have to mean begging.
Can there be a less time and labor consuming way to raise money than a bake sale? Yes! Bryan discusses why non-profits and churches should put aside this archaic fundraising method and approach fundraising with a more relational approach.
When asking for gifts, there is something to be said for bare bones sincerity. Greg and Bryan take a deep dive into how to make an honest ask.
Greg dives deeper into the question of Catholic identity. You may have encountered donors who ask about the Catholic identity of your school. What is prompting that question? What is it they really want to know? What is their underlying concern? How might you receive and answer the question? With degrees in both business and theology, Greg helps development directors understand the perspective of these donors.
Can an attack dog thwart your fundraising? Greg and Bryan take you down a journey of absurd moments they have had in their fundraising careers.
Every great appeal, ask, invitation, and opportunity has one thing in common: urgency. You cannot undervalue what this one element can do for your fundraising. Bryan and Greg share practical tools and insights on how to make your fundraising more urgent.
One of the hardest parts of fundraising is determining how much to ask someone for. Bryan and Greg take on this topic today and discuss the process and best practices they take to determine: how much should you ask for?
In this episode, Greg presents a solution to how Catholic schools can avoid mission drift while still benefitting from modern fundraising. Also, Greg eats a little bit of crow pie from his arguments in part one.
Have Catholic schools changed? Greg suspects they have. He channels his 30+ years fundraising for Catholic education to navigate the difference he sees occurring in the schools of old with the schools of today. Greg ends with a question for you the listener. You won’t want to miss this first discussion on why Catholic schools are now “all grown up.”
Why can’t you raise money behind a desk? Major fundraising happens when you get out and see people. How many visits should you aim to make? Should you be asking for a gift every time? Bryan leads this topic as he and Greg discuss the logic and best practices to highlight this truth: you can’t raise money behind a desk.
Transparent fundraising should sound a bit redundant. Yet non-profits face frequent decisions of how transparent to be with donors. How much do they need to know? Bryan discusses his approach to this topic.
Competition can be a great motivating force. But, one of the traps fundraisers face is to see competition in an unhealthy way: an “us vs them” outlook regarding other charities. Today, Bryan talks with Greg about how competition can be healthy and unhealthy. They discuss who(or what) your real competition is in fundraising.
What is the number 1 cause of campaigns stalling out? Execution. Without effective organization of solicitation tracking, every charity will watch what could be major gifts slip through the cracks or be left like unharvested fruit on the vine.
Greg leads this discussion on the 5 fields every database should have in place to avoid this trap and execute for success.
One of the biggest mistakes in development is to assume the person you need to see will say no. Professionals and volunteers will often do this before they ever even pick up the phone! Greg shares his 10th and final Principle of Development Strategy. Listen as he and Bryan discuss how to avoid this kind of “Stinkin Thinkin”.
What exactly did Little Jane teach Greg on her first birthday? The simple but true principle of development: the more personal the appeal, the more likely the person will say yes, and the bigger the gift. When you take the time and care to personalize your approach, greater results for your charity and cause will follow. Listen in as Greg and Bryan discuss this 9th of 10 principles.
In this episode, Bryan eats crow pie in regards to fundraising events. In a prior episode, Bryan shared his dislike for events as an effective way to fundraise. However, his organization just put on an event which raised $500,000. How? Bryan discusses with Greg the keys to making an event a major opportunity.
So you work at a nonprofit. Your technical job description doesn’t mention soliciting gifts. But - do you actually fundraise and not know it? Bryan and Greg discuss how you might be more involved in fundraising than you actually realize.
What do Ben Franklin and your current donors have in common? Human nature. Find out why you can use this truth to your charity’s benefit when approaching individuals for support. In this episode, Greg leads the discussion on why the motives for a person to get involved remain relatively stable.
Do you feel like your fundraising has come to a standstill or you’re not moving as fast as you would like to reach your financial goals? Bryan and Greg cover four key ways you may be stalling out your fundraising efforts. This episode will address:
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why you need organized data
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whether events are the best way to fundraise
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the benefit of having more than one development employee
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how good preparation alone won't bring in the funds
Have you ever had someone you wanted to approach for support but felt like you couldn’t get past the door? You are not alone! Every fundraiser encounters this. The principal today is that everybody has someone to whom they can’t say no. If you can master this principle, benefactors who may have been untouchable before, will be open to you. This episode, Bryan hosts Greg‘s discussion on the science behind why this principle works.
Asking volunteers to help fundraise takes time, especially the first time you ask, but it ultimately pays off. If you’ve ever wondered whether involving volunteers is worth the effort, this one’s for you. Greg makes a strong case for involving volunteers in your fundraising efforts.
Have you ever found yourself in the “Friendzone?” How about the “Fundraising Friendzone”. This is where a fundraiser has the perfect person to partner with their mission, but they somehow never get around to asking for support. They’re stuck in the Friendzone. Bryan and Greg discuss 3 ways you can fight your way out of the Friendzone and start partnering with the benefactors your cause needs.
Where is your time best spent? Every fundraiser must answer this question day in and day out. Greg shares why you should invest limited resources into prospects with the greatest potential for return. Learn how to reduce low value fundraising efforts and maximize the limited time you have. Greg outlines how execute this latest Principle of Development Strategy and avoid pitfalls along the way.
No, we’re not talking about taking pride in your work. This week Bryan and Greg dive into the philosophical depths of how the ancient sin of pride slips into our field of fundraising. In this episode you’ll learn: why fundraisers use so many arbitrary titles, how pride enters fundraising from a fundraiser and donor perspective, and why fundraisers can be honest about what we do and still be proud of our profession.
Greg reminds us all of a golden rule in fundraising: your current donors are your best future donors. Why? Find out as Bryan hosts Greg’s discussion on this tried and and true method to raising greater support.
You want to raise funds? How do you know if you can raise the money to reach your goal? Greg shares how you need two types of estimates before you begin: income and expense. Bryan hosts the discussion on Greg’s third principle of development strategy.
Bryan and Greg continue the discussion on what makes an "Ask" for support good. This episode focuses on effective strategies for when and how to make the right ask.
How much should you ask someone to give to your cause? What constitutes a major gift? What are the elements that separate a bad proposal from a good one? Listen to part one of a two part conversation on this critical fundraising topic. Bryan dives into the hallmarks of a good "ask" as Greg hosts the discussion.
Today we cover the 2nd of 8 Principles of Development Strategy: in every fundraising initiative, first identify you best prospects. Greg breaks this down into the impact for annual and campaign drives as Bryan hosts.
Greg highlights the 1st of 8 Principles of Development Strategy: people support what they help to create. These are principles Greg has gleaned from his 30+ years working in development. Bryan hosts the discussion as Greg breaks down why your work with benefactors will bear greater fruit when you use this approach.
Can someone be a fund-raiser on the side? Why does it seem so hard to balance your development duties with your non-fundraising tasks? Bryan and Greg make the case for why you can't approach development with a 50/50 attitude.
Bryan breaks down 3 reasons people fail to ask for the support they need.
Anyone raising funds can relate to this feeling. You make a great presentation to a potential supporter and the moment arrives to ask for a gift... but then you don't. What holds us back from taking advantage of the God given opportunities we find before us? Find out as Bryan and Greg discuss this topic.
For any fundraising endeavor to succeed, you need the right benefactors to invest. The old saying in development goes, “involvement precedes investment.” Greg lays out tangible examples of the “why and how” to involve the benefactors you need most as Bryan hosts the discussion.
Have you talked to {insert untouchable major sports player} about your project? Did you see that {Blank} sold their business for $$$ ? Many people believe fundraising is as easy as reading the paper for the latest millionaire. Bryan breaks down the actual steps to find the best prospects for your fundraising endeavor as Greg hosts the discussion.
Listen as co-hosts, Greg Jeffrey and Bryan Wilburn pull back the veil on fundraising. This episode lays out a roadmap for this podcast series.