Just Ask - Rethinking Development

Development can be a grind. When you work for a non-profit, there will never be a time when your mission no longer needs funding. Add on a substantial campaign, and you’re already full schedule is about to expand. The grind can takes it toll. But as Father Henry Nouwen once said, “Fundraising is, first and foremost, a form of ministry.” That said, how can we as fundraisers not lose sight of the ul...

Have you ever spent considerable time convincing someone of an idea or a beneficial partnership? Chances are, if you’re a fundraiser, this is part of you’re job description. But, you can actually save yourself time and hassle by first asking the question: am I trying to convince the wrong person? Listen as Bryan shares why your proposals might be falling on deaf ears.

A common problem within the fundraising world is the attachment of donors to individuals rather than organizations. Greg highlights the problem a non-profit founder can face when all the best donors are their own direct contacts. How do you build better organizational relationships with donors that go beyond their friendship with any one individual? Listen as Greg shares tangible ways to address t...

Is diversity always a good thing? It depends upon your definition. Greg talks about what is the actual Catholic understanding of diversity as well as how the distorted modern view of diversity is affecting our Catholic institutions.

Greg and Bryan continue their conversation on the changing Catholic donor base and what this means for your non-profit.

What will happen to the Catholic donor base over the next 15-20 years? It is no secret that younger Americans are becoming less and less religiously affiliated. At the same time, the most supportive Catholic benefactors are getting older. In part one of a two part series, Greg and Bryan discuss why there is an imminent cash flow crisis coming to Catholic non-profits.

When a need to raise considerable funds comes up, you’ll most likely look to hire a consultant. The question then becomes, we do you trust? Before you blindly choose the big shiny firm, Bryan and Greg invite you to stop and ask a few common sense questions. It just might save your non-profit time and money.

How do you know when it’s time to cancel the event? You know the one. It’s the one that comes up annually and your organization has been doing it for years. But, is it really worth the time, energy, and resources to have the event? Bryan and Greg tackle the reasons why you should or should not have a fundraising event.

As fundraisers, we like to ask questions like, “how are we going to raise the money?” Unfortunately, we too often don’t ask a related question: should we raise the money? Bryan and Greg discuss what you need to do in order to be sure you are raising money for the right project.

This may be the most important topic ever covered on Just Ask. Why is asking for money so hard? If you’re in the field of fundraising, you will have to ask others for money. So why is that so hard? In this episode, you'll discover: The number one reason we don't ask for money What weight you, as fundraiser, should carry when making an ask A mindset for how you should approach asking for mo...

What's the difference between a major gift and the one you give from your car window? Using a recent donor experience, Greg tackles the psychology behind why major donors make major gifts. How do you give a donor hope that their gift will make a difference?

What factors are out of your control as a fundraiser? As the fiscal year end approaches, Greg discusses why you may be laying too much of the burden on yourself. In this episode you'll learn: - The number one factor affecting major gifts - Two solid points of encouragement to take to heart

Does your organization have any "major" donors? Where should you begin when seeking to solicit "major" gifts. This is a massive topic, but there are key steps you can take to jump start your major gifts program. Listen in as Bryan and Greg demystify the process.

What do you do if your donor is a diva? In a perfect world, you live in a drama free fundraising world. But inevitably, you will encounter at one time or another, the diva donor. Bryan discusses with Greg what a diva donor is and how to best navigate this delicate relationship.

Getting ahold of someone remains one of the greatest hurdles in fundraising. Leaving a voicemail and expecting a call back is often just wishful thinking. But, there is an increasingly effective medium for reaching people: texting. Greg explores ways to use texting to improve your development efforts.

Greg channels his 30 years of fundraising for Catholic schools and charities to highlight a changing demographic: Catholic parents. Greg has noticed the emergence of a new mindset among parents, and it may have significant consequences for your fundraising approach. We would love to hear from you on this topic and whether you agree or disagree. Email us your thoughts at justaskdevelopment@gmail.co...

This marks our 75th episode! We are taking time again answer some listener questions. Here is what we cover today: 1. What are traits of an ideal development professional? 2. What makes for a great working relationship between the lead fundraiser and executive director of a non-profit?

More listener questions! Today, Bryan and Greg answer: How do you know if it's time to expand your development office? Is it time to hire an outside company or more personnel?  What should you look for in an organization before entering into development with them?

Today we answer a few listener questions! 1. What does it look like to start a development operation from scratch? 2. Why aren't there many people who want to do development? 3. How do I know if I'm a good fit for development?

What does every great NFL team spend time on after a game? They watch the game tape. Greg argues today that this may be the single most important key to his growth as a 30 year fundraiser. After a solicitation is made, there are questions that should be asked and recorded. Greg shares a particularly important question to include.

Greg walks you through what to do when you find yourself in the position of doing business over a meal.  A meal by its nature is social. This can present a challenge when determining what is the right time to bring up the work of your non-profit. Specifically, how do you effectively bring up a proposal and make an ask? Greg navigates the nuances of having "dinner and an ask." This episode cov...

What separates great development professionals from mediocre fundraisers?  Follow-up. Tenacity and consistency in following up an ask made to a donor by you and your non-profit. Simple enough to do, and yet this skill is often done poorly by many. Not a few gifts have fallen apart because of a lack of follow-up. In this episode Bryan and Greg cover:  - when and how often you should be fo...

What do you think of when you hear the term endowments? They can be a perpetual source of funding to your non-profit, but often, we see it as something to tackle in the future. Greg advocates today for a new approach to establishing named endowments. What is the price point you should set for a such an endowment? You might be surprised. Listen and find out.

A common lament of Catholic schools and other private education institutions goes something like this: people just don't give. The question is then posed: "how do we create a culture of giving?" Greg provides an answer to this question, and it's simpler than you may think. 

What do the Seven Deadly Sins have to do with fundraising? Bryan takes you through this self-reflection on whether the seven deadly sins are affecting your fundraising approach. Don’t let these sins limit the potential of you or your non-profit.