Real Talk for Real Fundraisers

Do you have a strategy to help you allocate your time per donor? The reality is, you only have so much time in a day. And you need to be a good steward of that time. So, while we value all donors as people, the impact they have is not equal. Some will give much more than others, and those donors need a bigger investment of your time and energy. On this episode, Jeff is joined by Lisa Robertson, ou...

What’s so great about mid-level? We’re so glad you asked! More and more organizations are discovering that mid-level is the key to retaining donors and donor value. When you have a mid-level program that’s focused on building relationships with donors and discovering their passions and interests, it allows you to qualify and move more donors to major gifts. And in addition to inspiring more donor...

Looking for inspiration to help you plan for the fall fundraising season? Look no further! Since we’re privileged to work with so many different non-profit organizations, we have a bird’s-eye view of the latest fundraising trends and themes. From year-end planning to giving trends to technology in the relational giving space – exciting things are happening. On this podcast episode, Jeff and Richar...

In this re-release of our all-time most popular episode, Richard and Jeff share 15 questions for you to use in conversation with your donors to help you better understand their passions, interests, and goals for their giving. No matter what you think you know about your donor, always stay curious about their story. Do you really know why they give to your organization? Your donors want to be known...

Talking about your mission with donors can sometimes feel challenging, especially if you’re an organization that provides indirect services. Do you know if you’re effectively communicating your mission and impact to your donors? It may seem pretty straightforward for organizations that provide direct services like housing, meals, or other tangible items. But what if your organization is an advocac...

Many non-profits have a membership model as a key part of their fundraising strategy. And while membership donors can be some of the most loyal and consistent in their giving, a membership model can also be limiting. Donors are going to give what you ask for. If you ask donors to give $120 a year (for a free tote bag!), that’s what people will give you. But your donors have the capacity and the de...

More and more non-profits are discovering that mid-level is the key to a healthy donor pipeline. If you’re wondering where to find more major donors, the answer is almost always: look to your mid-level donors. But how do you know if your mid-level program is working as it should? At Veritus, we evaluate mid-level programs based on three key objectives: Keep, Lift, and Move. When you measure each o...

Many non-profits feel that once they’ve secured a planned gift from a donor, their work is done. There may not be any plans for follow-up or intentional cultivation of legacy donors after the gift is committed. Yet, we know that impact reporting is essential to donor retention. And this is no different for planned gifts. Keep in mind that 50% of donors are going to change their wills in the final...

When people of color are not allowed to speak for themselves or their voices are not heard, there’s a psychological toll that often leads to burnout. Black and Brown fundraisers are leaving their organizations because they feel isolated and unwelcome. So, what’s the role of the non-profit sector in fighting systemic racism? How can leaders support Black and Brown staff? This is an important conver...

You know you need to move your non-profit from a transactional model to relationship-based fundraising, but maybe you’re not sure where to start, or how to get everyone on board and fully invested in this change. That’s exactly the challenge that the American Cancer Society faced three years ago, when they decided it was time to adopt a new approach to major and mid-level gifts. Since then, fundra...

Creating change in your organization can feel like a daunting task. Where should you start? How do you stay on track? In this podcast episode, Richard and Jeff interview a special guest, Ruth Ann Dailey, the Senior Vice President of Philanthropy at the American Cancer Society. Ruth Ann played a critical role in championing change in how ACS approached major gifts. And the result? They were able to...

When non-profit leaders decide there’s no room in the budget for a major gifts program, it’s counterproductive, because they’re missing out on a huge revenue opportunity. An investment in major gifts can have an ROI of 10:1, or even more. So let’s say you’re convinced that the investment in major gifts is worth it – now, how do you get a major gift program up and running, or make an existing progr...

If you’re at a smaller organization, you might be thinking: “The Veritus Way sounds great, but it won’t work for us. We just don’t have the resources.” Well, here’s the good news: whether you’re a one-person shop or a large-scale non-profit – our systems and processes can help you build more authentic relationships with your donors, whatever the size of your organization. In this podcast episode,...

Many non-profit leaders don’t believe in spending money on administrative support for fundraisers. But the truth is, the cost of admin support is a drop in the bucket compared to the revenue you’re losing if your fundraisers are focused on other things instead of engaging with your donors. In this podcast episode, Jeff and Richard offer up some numbers to help illustrate the economic impact of hir...

Does your organization need a legacy society? And how do you go about starting one? These programs can have a huge impact and will help you better serve your donors by giving them an opportunity to do even more for the causes they care about. In this podcast episode, Bob Shafis, our Director of Planned Giving Services at Veritus, talks with Richard and Jeff about what to consider when setting up a...

Fundraisers are leaving their organizations in record numbers, highlighting the costly impact of toxic workplace culture. Too many non-profits neglect or outright misuse their front-line fundraisers, even though they would probably agree that retaining hard-working, dedicated people is key to achieving any mission. In this podcast episode, Richard, Jeff, and Karen talk about why more than half of...

Partnership between capital campaign efforts and your major gifts strategy is absolutely vital for both to be successful. And creating a strong foundation for capital campaigns requires a structure that will create collaboration and communication throughout the organization. In today’s podcast episode, Jeff chats with Amy Eisenstein, CEO and Co-Founder of Capital Campaign Toolkit, and gets answers...

Often, we’re too quick to jump into the solution with our donors and we fail to connect the donor, meaningfully, to the problem we’re working to solve. When done properly, connecting your donor to the problem, in human and emotional terms, can have a massive impact for that donor and your organization. In today’s podcast episode, Richard and Jeff share why bringing donors close to the need is such...

As the year comes to a close and you wrap up your year-end fundraising efforts, there are a few strategies and tactics you can do to make an impact next week. This next week can be valuable time to do some follow-up, thank your donors, and prepare for the month to come. If you've done all five of these things, then you've truly done all you can do this season! If you’re looking for more inspiratio...

Does the idea of having a tough conversation with someone at work give you anxiety? You’re not alone. Most people prefer to steer clear of difficult topics and possible conflict, but the reality is that knowing how to have challenging conversations is critical in developing a cohesive and trusting team. In today’s podcast episode, Jeff Schreifels invites Karen Kendrick, our Senior Director of Lear...

How can you focus on being present when there is an endless list of things pulling your attention? Learning to be more present takes practice, time, and boundaries. It requires a change of mindset to stop seeing our value tied to what we produce. In today’s episode, Karen Kendrick does a podcast takeover to speak with Wes Avants and Janis Cooper about how to create boundaries, what activities can...

Gratitude feels great in the moment... but this feeling is fleeting. When it comes to celebrating the impact your donors are making, and being grateful for their support, you cannot thank them too much.  In today's episode, Richard and Jeff talk about why showing gratitude is so important in building meaningful donor relationships and in your own mental well-being. They also discuss ways to b...

What is it like to be a Black fundraiser in North America? Do you believe the experiences and challenges that Black fundraisers regularly live through and survive in the non-profit sector?  In today's podcast episode, Richard and Jeff talk with the editors of Collecting Courage, a collection of stories from Black fundraisers in the U.S. and Canada. Nneka Allen, Nicole Salmon, and Camila Perei...

There are some fundraising and donor horror stories out there that are startling... and some that are downright unbelievable. And there are many fundraisers in the non-profit sector who have had experiences that are truly bizarre and surprising.  In this episode, Richard and Jeff share some of the stories we've heard from fundraisers that will shock you. These stories are meant to help us all...

As a fundraiser or fundraising leader, it can be challenging to know where to go to get your questions answered. It can also be overwhelming to find the right answer with how much information is available through the Internet. When we reached out to our network and asked them to share their most pressing questions, there was an astounding response!  In today's episode, Richard and Jeff respon...