Just Ask - Rethinking Development

Greg asks a sincere question: how do you engage more millennials in philanthropy?

Are mailed appeals effective? Greg takes Bryan on journey through his daily fundraising mail. He shares insights into the world of mailed appeals from the person who matters most: the donor!

Greg explains the history behind the term “development.” Understanding the history makes all the difference in how you approach your work.

Instead of answering more frequently asked questions, Greg flips the script and shares some Frequently Stated Assumptions about fundraising. These are assumptions people who are not fundraisers make about fundraising, and they are notoriously untrue. Greg even shares his #1 false assumption.

Bryan and Greg continue their answers for the Frequently Asked Fundraising Questions. Find out: - how many appeals are too many appeals? - did we hire the right fundraiser? - what excuses can a fundraiser never make? - are we ready for a capital campaign? This is part 2 of a 2 part series.

Bryan and Greg discuss and answer some of the Frequently Asked Fundraising Questions they receive. Today you’ll find the answers to: ​Why won’t donors return my calls? ​How many times should I call for an appointment? ​How much should I ask for? ​What’s the deciding factors in setting the ask amount? This is part one of a two part series.

Did I ask for too much? Fundraisers often grapple with after this thought after presenting proposal. But is there merit to this line of thinking? Can you really ask for too much? Listen as Bryan and Greg discuss how to be confident in the ask you put before a donor. In this episode you’ll discover: - why its difficult to ask for too much - how people tend to think in their own league - the questio...

Bryan discusses his recent experience making it to the Semi-finals of the World Championship of Public Speaking hosted by Toastmasters International. Fresh off this experience, Bryan shares with Greg why public speaking can be an invaluable skill for any fundraiser to develop.

Can a school or non-profit leader really lead successfully and yet be ignorant of fundraising? Isn’t there someone else we can hire to do the fundraising? These are the questions Bryan and Greg tackle in today episode about the relationship between leadership and fundraising.

Greg and Bryan answer a question from a listener: How do you go about finding your first donors? Put another way, how do you build a donor base when you work at a new nonprofit or school? What you’ll learn in this episode: Is having an event a good idea to start ​Why you should set big goals ​How to involve volunteers in the process

New episodes coming in September! [Original release June 2022] One of the most terrifying terms in development is the “cold call”. How can you take the “cold” out of the critical discovery call in relationships. There can be no relationship or support for your cause without making the discovery call. Today, Bryan breaks down the steps to master this skill and get more appointments.

After the Campaign. You’ve reached the top of the mountain. So what happens now? Bryan and Greg discuss 3 things you need to do when the capital campaign wraps up.

Silent Phase? Advance Phase? What should one call the first solicitation phase of a campaign? It matters because it changes how you think about the task at hand. Bryan and Greg walk through the ins and outs of how to approach the Leadership phase of a campaign.

When it comes to making great marketing and fundraising copy, we feel it’s all on us to create something amazing. This especially true for Catholic nonprofits, as they seek to lean on 2000 years of faith and tradition. As the saying goes, “worry smarter not harder.” Greg talks about the inspirational language of our Church documents. Familiarity with them will give your school marketing the aspira...

“Get stuff done.” How many times has this been your mindset to start the day, only to be derailed by the multitude of tasks faced at a nonprofit. Greg shares three tips to become incredibly more efficient in your work.

Alumni Participation in the Annual Fund. Why do so few graduates support their alma mater? What can be done? Greg and Bryan brainstorm ideas for building alumni participation.

The President’s Role. Formerly a teacher and principal, you’ve just accepted a job as president of a Catholic high school. What does this new job entail? How is it different than principal? Greg leads a discussion about how to take on this key role.

Are foundation appeals just another beauty contest? Bryan shares his take regarding the return on investment of pursuing grant dollars.

Bryan explores a question with Greg: why do so many development professionals leave the non-profit world or turn to consulting jobs? Listen as they diagnose what is causing fundraisers to “get out or sell out.”

Why do people give? On a basic level, most people of us know the answer. Because you asked! But in practice, how many nonprofits ask and ask well? Bryan shares a success story that highlights the fine art of asking.

If your non-profit is out to change the world, just about the last thing you want your cause to be referred to as is “nice.” Bryan discuss with Greg how you can avoid being just another “nice” charity.

A common pitfall non-profits fall into is the tendency to confuse money with relationships. What do we mean? When searching for A Team volunteers, don’t default to the ones you know will say yes. Greg explains why nonprofits often get this wrong and how they might better approach volunteer recruitment.

How do you attract “A level talent” as volunteers? What would it mean for your charity to have the right benefactors involved on a high level? Greg shares five things you need to know for building the A Team.

Have you ever found yourself in the “Friendzone?” How about the “Fundraising Friendzone”. This is where a fundraiser has the perfect person to partner with their mission, but they somehow never get around to asking for support. They’re stuck in the Friendzone. Bryan and Greg discuss 3 ways you can fight your way out of the Friendzone and start partnering with the benefactors your cause needs.

Welcome back to the Mission Effectiveness finale! In part four of a four part series, Greg and Bryan tackle the concept of Wise Stewardship. Stewardship is a term we hear often in the non-profit world. Greg and Bryan break down what constitutes good stewardship. The inspiration for this series came from an article by Jake Stanley from the Amazing Parish that was featured in the October 2023 issue...