What Should My Focus Be as I Build Relationships with My Donors?
Have you ever caught yourself not really listening to what your donor is saying on the phone because you’re so busy thinking about how you can get them to meet with you? Or have you ever asked a donor to meet with you, saying you want to get their input, but you...
The Stories We Tell About Donor Phone Calls
From a young age, my mother impressed upon me the importance of the stories we tell ourselves. She’d had a hard life and had overcome much difficulty simply by changing her outlook, or the story she told herself about what she’d been through. It’s a trait I’ve taken...
The Worst Way to Start a Conversation with a Donor
The worst way to start a conversation with a qualified donor on your caseload is to bring up any topic related to money. Like… After a gift: “We received your gift of X yesterday. Wow, that was an amazing and generous gift! Thank you.” Before an ask or leading into an...
How to Face Your Fears About Cold Calling a Donor
When you’re calling a donor for the first time, what does that feel like? Terrifying? Well, this might make you feel better: did you know that 48% of sales people say they’re afraid to pick up the phone and make a cold call? This came up on a live Veritus Group...
Fake Relationships and How to Avoid Them
It’s a difficult thing to manage. You really want to care about your donor and help them fulfill their passions and interests, but you also want the money. You have goals to meet, and the pressure is increasing. So, without really intending to, you run the risk of...TOP RATED PODCAST
Twice monthly, Richard and Jeff address current topics and classic problems in major gift fundraising.
