INTEGRATED FUNDRAISING OPERATION

KEY THOUGHT #2

Do not create a plan for your planned-giving program without considering the big picture and the opportunities presented. Planned-giving cultivation begins in your annual-fund program because most planned giving prospects are likely to be loyal , small (cash) donors to your organization. With this in mind, your annual fund and planned giving activities should be discussed and coordinated. Some of the questions that need to be asked include:

1) How many contacts from the organization will typical donors receive within one year?

2) Of these contacts how many will specifically ask donors to make another gift? Keep in mind that research has shown that asking frequently, particularly more than six times annually, may decrease the likelihood of your organizations receiving planned gifts.

3) Do you provide a check-off box on the annual fund reply card asking donors to identify their interest in or prior commitments to making a planned gift to your organization?

4) Finally, do your donor recognition programs include identification of loyal donors, regardless of gift amount history? Remember, these are often your best planned-giving prospects!


Stay tuned for Key Element #3

Integrated Fundraising Operation

4 KEY THOUGHTS.....

KEY THOUGHT #1

You and your colleagues - in fact, the entire non-profit organization you serve-work together to make the organization prosper. The organization is powered by the energy of your donors and volunteers and the strength of your mission and your staff. All of these elements should be brought to bear if you wish to maximize your fundraising potential. Take a Big-Picture view of fundraising, looking at all potential forms of communication with your external constituencies.

Stay tuned for Key Thought #2.......

HOW TO CREATE GOOD DONOR EXPERIENCE

Introducing the 6 Laws of Customer Experience:

1) Every Interaction creates a personal reaction.
2) People are instinctively self centered.
3) Customer Familiarity breeds alignment
4) Unengaged employees don't create engaged customers.
5) You can't fake it.

This list is not aimed at the non-profit sector. Nevertheless, it would be smart to pay attention to these things. BECAUSE

6) DONOR EXPERIENCE REALLY DOES MATTER!!!!!

GOOD SEARCH - SEARCH AND RAISE MONEY FOR YOUR CAUSE

I recently discovered a great way to search the Internet (thanks to my co-worker Chelsea) AND raise money for my favorite cause - THE BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF MANATEE COUNTY!!

Thanks to the folks at YAHOO, you can simply and easily download their tool bar, designate your cause and then search search search.

Here's a new and easy way to raise money. Just start using GoodSearch.com as your search engine and online mall. Every time you search the Internet or make an online purchase at one of their partner merchants, GoodSearch makes a donation to your favorite nonprofit or school and it's powered by YAHOO! so you get great search results!

It is really simple. Go to www.goodsearch.com type in Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee County then click verify and begin searching! Its that easy!

If you want to take it a step further click on the "Spread the Word" icon to get some great ideas like adding the GoodSeach toolbar to your browser or making GoodSearch your homepage.

The more people who convert from Google searchers to GoodSearch searchers the more funds your charity will receive. In fact, Yahoo designates 50% of its proceeds to the charity designated by the searcher.

It couldn't be any easier to raise money for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee County. The hardest part is remembering not to type in "Google" but "GoodSearch.com" instead.