|
Article:
Capital Campaigns in Challenging Times
Article:
Smart Moves in Turbulent Times
Raising Friends
Tip 1: Communicate often. Keep it brief and personal.
- Handwritten notes and correspondence.
- Thank you calls from board members and senior staff.
- Personalized reports on how their gift was used and what was accomplished.
- And, of course, newsletters, press clippings, articles, notices of media coverage.
Tip 2: Offer opportunities to:
- Join a special, targeted working group.
- Attend a small, invitation-only talk, tour, class, rehearsal, opening...
- Be a member of an action-oriented advisory/affinity group.
Raising Money…The Smart Way
Tip 1: Identify and analyze your competition. Then…
- Sharpen your story. Separate your organization from the pack.
- Dramatize your special strengths and accomplishments.
- Be specific about actions and outcomes.
Tip 2: Strive for perfection.
- Thank donors within 48 hours.
- Update donor records immediately.
- Regularly check the internet and newspapers for career promotions, charitable donations, board memberships, and obituaries.
- Don't settle for letter/newsletter relationships. Ensure personal contact with major donors and prospects a minimum of twice a year - calls, events, private meetings, tours, briefings.
- Don't settle for reworking last year's letters and proposals.
- Proofread.
Firing Up Your Board
Tip 1: Make It Stick.
- Before presenting prospects for election, be certain they fully understand and accept the financial and other requirements.
- Facilitate a lively discussion of board responsibilities and expectations. Formally adopt a statement. Ask board members to sign it. Review the statement every two or three years.
- Lead by example. First, the board chair and the officers must give generously. And then, personally ask the other members for their annual and event gifts.
Tip 2: Facilitate Effectiveness.
- Train and coach. Hold at least one solicitation training a year. Ask experienced members to help train. Provide solicitation strategy and coaching, as requested, before every phone and in-person solicitation.
- Provide outstanding staff support to volunteers — letters, donor/prospect histories and research, appeal notes and mailings, talking points, and reminders.
Tip 3: Get them to attend meetings.
- Send materials well in advance.
- Have a program participant or staff member present at every meeting.
- Call everyone two or three days in advance to confirm attendance. Email a reminder the day of the meeting.
Tip 4: Build a working team.
- Pair new board members with enthusiastic, productive veterans.
- Put every trustee to work on a committee or task force that can use their particular skills, expertise, and interests. Assign issues and tasks that are challenging and vital.
- Define milestones and work products. Set high standards of performance.
- Never stop saying thank you individually, and publicly recognizing the team's work.
Visit the Washburn Carmichael website regularly for more tips and myths.
Send us your questions. We just might have a hot tip that will help.
Send us your tips, too. info@washburncarmichael.com We will pass them along.
top of page
HOME
|
|
