“That was one of the most painful interviews I have ever participated in.” That’s what our CEO said after the candidate left our building. We had really wanted to like her. She came from the search firm and looked great on paper. But it truly was bad. And our frustration was mounting. A key major gift officer position had been open for about six months at that point and there were no prospects on the horizon. The story ends well, … [Read more...] about Interviewing for Fundraising Jobs
Solicitation – What to Say
Not all asks are the same. And you know that. But it means that what you say when asking depends on the type of ask you’re making. And what you’re asking for, how much you’re asking for, etc. … [Read more...] about Solicitation – What to Say
Preparing for the Ask
The ask didn’t happen. It should have. It was supposed to happen. But it didn’t. You’ve been there, right? Now, the meeting happened. I set it up so a prospect I’d been cultivating could meet the Dean of our school. And we’d ask him for a gift. Except, the ask didn’t happen. Great lunch, great conversation. And at the end…no ask. … [Read more...] about Preparing for the Ask
Email Essentials for Gift Officers (Use These Word-for-Word Templates!)
The world runs on email. Any guess how many emails are sent worldwide in a given day? Over 215 billion, according to the Radicati Group. That’s more than 149 million emails sent per minute. These numbers hurt my head a little bit. Now, yes, a lot of that is spam. But, spam aside, think about the amount of email you receive compared to the amount that actually gets your attention. Now think about your donors and prospects. They’re busy, … [Read more...] about Email Essentials for Gift Officers (Use These Word-for-Word Templates!)
Fearless Major Donor Solicitation
You’re ready to solicit your prospect—congratulations! Getting to this stage is often the culmination of many months, years even, of work. Let’s talk about how to make the most of the opportunity. … [Read more...] about Fearless Major Donor Solicitation