Just Ask - Rethinking Development

Running a campaign is hard enough, but what do you do when your goal goes up? Do you have to cut the vision or can the new number be met? Drawing from his own experience of a $21.5 million campaign that rose to over $31.5 million, Bryan shares steps you should take to address a higher goal. This is part two of a two part series. Greg and Bryan cover strong practicals in this episode.

Running a campaign is hard enough, but what do you do when your goal goes up? Do you have to cut the vision or can the new number be met? Drawing from his own experience of a $21.5 million campaign that rose to over $31.5 million, Bryan shares steps you should take to address a higher goal. This is part one of a two part series.

How do you effectively create or grow an endowment? More specifically, Greg dives into how to build up a Catholic school endowment. He argues for a broader approach to building your endowment than just asking the ultra wealthy “needle in the haystack” benefactor to make a transformative donation. Get out your pen and paper as Greg breaks down a specific strategy to build out your endowment.

We continue our discussion on whether you should make pursue a do-it-yourself (DIY) campaign rather than hire a consultant. You won’t want to miss this episode as Greg and Bryan share the 5 criteria to know you’re ready for a DIY campaign. As a consultant for over 30 years, Greg brings tried and true wisdom to this topic.

You need to build a new school, hire another staff member, or do a renovation. Whatever the need, you find yourself in a position to start a campaign. The big question: should you do-it-yourself (DIY) or hire a consultant? Bryan discusses with Greg why you might just be better off doing it yourself. This is part one of a two-part discussion.

How can you secure major gifts for your non-profit? Are great major gift officers born with a certain “pedigree?” Bryan delves into the critical factors necessary for major gifts.

Greg dives further into the implications of what he terms the “Catholic Black Market”. This episode covers the implications of the Catholic Church charging less than they should for the services they offer. Conversely, Greg advocates for a simple solution: pricing services fairly makes great programming and staff possible.

The less we charge, the more the service costs. This is the premise behind “The Catholic Black Market,” which Greg defines in todays show. The free or steeply discounted model people have come to expect from Catholic Churches comes at a cost.

The idea of a perfect time to call someone is an illusion. Too often, fundraisers project our own predispositions and fears onto a potential donor to justify why we shouldn’t call them. Don’t do this! Bryan and Greg give encourage and practical tips to stop waiting for the “perfect” time to call.

One of the most terrifying terms in development is the “cold call”. How do you take the cold out of this crucial step in donor 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.

Bryan and Greg bring three more reasons every parish needs development. Learn what benefits come by taking a more professional development approach to raising funds and building relationships in your own parish.

Are parishes too comfortable with the status quo of the weekend collection supporting the parish? Will aging congregations face challenges relying solely on this method of giving? Yes!!Bryan and Greg make the case for why every parish needs development. This is part one of a two part series.

You get in front of a benefactor and ask for a gift, and they say yes! But, your the gift is not “closed” at that point. When you get back to the office, do you know when and how the benefactor intends to make their gift? These are just examples of information a good development officer needs to record. Greg and Bryan discuss the 5 key details you must get for a gift to truly be valid and closed.

How do you best direct your time to bring value to your organization? Any given day, there are numerous ways a fundraiser can spend their time. Greg explains how your activities fall into one of two categories: income or expense. The income producing tasks are short and simple. The expense producing tasks are many and should be exercised judiciously. Find out whether the tasks you do are making or...

You should always tell the truth. For as the saying goes, “the truth will set you free.” In this episode, Greg sheds light on why that donor isn’t getting back to you with the answer you want. Simply put: you aren’t asking right question. Don’t beat around the bush with donors. Ask the question you want answered.

In the pursuit for building a sustainable funding model for your non-profit, you can’t forget the mid-tier support. Bryan lists 3 reasons mid-tier support should be valued more highly by every fundraiser.

What makes a great development professional? There are some key qualities and traits which make all the difference. It just so happens women tend to be stronger than men in these areas. That’s right! We said it! Listen in as Greg discusses what he believes makes women great in the field of development.

Working for a non-profit, there will inevitably come a time when you will apply for a grant. But a questions needs to be answered: are they worth the effort? Will the amount of time and energy to secure the grant be worth the donation received? Find out what factors you should be looking for to determine if a grant is right for you organization. Greg and Bryan discuss: are grants worth it?

What stops you as a fundraiser from making more calls? Most people would agree that if you make more calls you increase your odds of meeting more people and raising more money. And yet, many individuals don’t make nearly enough calls to have success. Why? Call reluctance is one of the biggest obstacles fundraisers and fundraising volunteers face. Greg and Bryan provide help to get out of the rut a...

What drives you in your fundraising efforts? Greg tackles this topic and proposes a simple but true answer: when you find your deepest motivation, it’s then that you’ll have your greatest success.

What is a Fast Food Fundraiser? We aren’t talking McDonald’s or Chick-Fil-A today. In the philanthropy profession, a fundraiser stays at a non-profit on average for only 16 - 18 months. A Fast Food Fundraiser is someone who comes into an organization and leaves fast before ever really making a dent. Bryan talks about three reasons you should avoid this, and as a bonus, Greg shares questions to ask...

Can you, as a fundraiser, honestly say the phrase “it’s not about the money” in any benefactor relationship and mean it? Isn’t the point of fundraising to raise money? Can you say its not about the money and still serve the best interests of both donors and your charity? Bryan shares three arguments for why not only can hold this view, but you’ll paradoxically raise more funds when you do.

We’ve all been there before. You meet someone and present a great proposal. Multiple calls and emails later, you realize that the gift potential has fizzled out. Was it something you said or didn’t say? Stop the self condemnation and listen up. Greg has 3 solid tips for you to “close the gift”.

Bryan is joined by a special guest to talk about The Spirituality of Fundraising by Henri Nouwen: Evan Baker! Evan is the Mission Advancement Officer at the University of Mary. This episode covers: fundraising as a ministry, how to bring a more authentic spiritual approach to fundraising, and why fundraising doesn’t have to mean begging.

Can there be a less time and labor consuming way to raise money than a bake sale? Yes! Bryan discusses why non-profits and churches should put aside this archaic fundraising method and approach fundraising with a more relational approach.