New paradigm in philanthropic relationship building

STOP FISHING. START ENGAGING.

Remember the old days? You’d cold call a donor to set up a meeting at breakfast, lunch or dinner by saying, “I’d like to update you on…” this or that.

Oops!  I think that’s still going on in fundraising isn’t it?

I call those meetings “fishing expeditions”. I also call them “tremendous time sucks”!

There IS a better way. Take a look at the old model of selling in the commercial space versus the new model.

Isn’t it time for fundraisers to catch up and “live in the now”? 

Isn’t it time fundraisers use technology to dramatically drive down the cost of fundraising while exponentially increasing results?

Stop cold-calling. Stop fishing. Instead, provide your major donors and legacy donors (and prospects) with awesome educational information, easy social networking access, and inspirational engagement opportunities.

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Posted byGreg Warner

April 10, 2014

Communication forever...

From the LeadingAge Philanthropy listserv:

True story why communication is important:  

A long time fundraising mentor and friend of mine gave $100,000 to a Richmond area (VA) organization during a campaign and named it after her late husband.  About 5 years later, the organization failed to talk to her about their new expansion plans and the garden disappeared without her knowing in advance.  She discovered it on a visit …

She was not only insulted, but she never gave them another dime, plus she talks about them to her friends (people of means)!  Had they picked up the phone and shared their expansion plans, she would not only have not been insulted, she would have probably given them another $100K to the new campaign.  

What a loss for both the donor and the organization.

Patricia S. Morris, MPA, CFRE

Vice President

Virginia Baptist Homes Foundation

1900 Lauderdale Drive | Richmond, VA 23238

Office: (804) 521-9229 | Cell: (804) 873-0918

pmorris@vbh.org  | www.vbh.org/foundation

Words that Work..

Check out the downloadable webinar by Dr. Russell James, called "Words that Work: The Phrase that Encourage Planned Giving."  down load - start here - click here .

James says philanthropy is a "synthetic family" - a social act using the mechanisms of family bonding.

I have also heard that by encouraging estate gifts for endowments is elevating the status of a charity to the status of being a family member.

Interesting to think about.

Obama signs IRA legislation

American Council on Gift Annuities - 19 Decemeber 2014
from an email newsletter they sent out.

Today, President Barack Obama signed legislation to reinstate retroactively the IRA charitable rollover. While the timeline for making IRA charitable rollover gifts is tight (the reinstatement expires January 1, 2015), it is not too late to let your donors know that they still have time to take advantage of this gifting opportunity. The provision allows each IRA owner who is 70 1/2 or older to make direct transfers of up to a total of $100,000 per year to one or more qualified charities. The IRA charitable rollover is tax-free and not included in adjusted gross income. For more information and planning thoughts, please watch the video presentation from Emanuel J. Kallina II, J.D., LL.M., Managing Member of Kallina & Associates, LLC and ACGA Board member.

As a reminder, the IRA rollover provision excludes IRA transfers to fund charitable gift annuities.