blog
Simple Major Gift Math – K.I.S.S.! – How Many Prospects Can You Manage?
by Brian Saber
Cultivating and soliciting major gifts is time intensive. It takes time because no two donors are identical, and no two donor relationships are identical. No matter how similar two donors may seem on the surface, their histories, their personalities, and their desires will vary. This means every major gift donor needs to be uniquely considered.
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Major Gifts = NO Copying & Pasting…Ever!
by Brian Saber
Cultivating and soliciting major gifts is time intensive. It takes time because no two donors are identical, and no two donor relationships are identical. No matter how similar two donors may seem on the surface, their histories, their personalities, and their desires will vary. This means every major gift donor needs to be uniquely considered.
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What’s the Deal With Donor Birthday Wishes?
by Brian Saber
Yesterday was my birthday. Along with heartfelt wishes from dear friends and family, a number of charities reached out to wish me a happy birthday — almost to a one with generic, impersonal greeting cards.
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Jerry Panas: THE Guru of Our Field
by Brian Saber
In remembrance of Jerry Panas, the master of fundraising. The field has lost our guru, but his impact will last forever. I will miss Jerry but will cherish our chats, his generosity, and everything I’ve learned from him.
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Top 5 Things to Do Before Asking for a Meeting
by Brian Saber
While being prepared for the solicitation meeting itself is important, preparation has to start before you reach out to set up the meeting. There are two reasons for this.
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Board Giving and My Tendency to Exceed the Speed Limit
by Brian Saber
For most of us, the speed limit is a minimum. While you might not be as crazy as I am, chances are you go at least a few miles over the speed limit. However, when your organization sets a minimum gift for board giving, that’s not a signal to your board to give at least that and possibly a bit more.
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Ask Short Questions…and Hope for Long Answers: The Key to Donor Success
by Brian Saber
We’ve all been in a class or at a conference when someone got up to ask a question and delivered a soliloquy. When they finished we might even have wondered if there was a question! If you do that in fundraising, you’ll be dead in the water.
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Top 5 Ways to Start the Year Asking Face-to-Face
by Brian Saber
With the new year comes all our New Year’s resolutions. Those of us in the fundraising profession invariably resolve to “get out and make more asks face-to-face.” Here are my top 5 ways to start 2018 asking. . . which I will be applying to diet and exercise!
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Case for Support and the Lousy Admissions Tour
by Brian Saber
35 years ago I was one of those college students who perfected the art of walking backward while giving tours of my alma mater. I readily admit that while perfecting the art of walking backward I know now that I gave a really pathetic tour.
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The 4 Most Important Things to Do Right Now to Get Out Asking
by Brian Saber
The list of things that can keep us from getting out to ask is really long. Not enough time. Fear of rejection. Not thinking our donors are ready. Not wanting to step on relationships. Are any of these on your top ten list?
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