by Karen Kendrick | Apr 7, 2023 | Cold Call, Donor Communication, Fear, Relationship Building, Risk-Taking | Communication, Donor Conversation, Professional Development, Stress
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...
by Richard Perry and Jeff Schreifels | Mar 24, 2023 | Donor Communication, Donor Motivation, Impact, Making a Difference, Philanthropy | Curiousity, Donor Conversation, Giving, Impact, Meaningful Connections, Mission, Motivation, Passions and Interests
Every human being on the face of the earth – no matter what race or gender, no matter what country or culture – every human being wants to know that they matter to someone else, to the group they are in, to their place and standing on the planet. Ask yourself the...
by Robert Shafis | Mar 22, 2023 | Asking, Donor Conversations, Donor Relations, Philanthropy, Planned Giving, Planned Giving Officer | Asking, Communication, Cultivation, Curiousity, Donor Conversation, Permission-Based Asking, Philanthropy, Planned giving
“How many of your donors have made a planned gift?” A question like this, or really anything related to “planned giving,” strikes terror into your heart and the hearts of every other fundraiser I know, especially those who are not planned giving officers. The concept...
by Karen Kendrick | Mar 6, 2023 | Donor Communication, Giving, Joy, Meaningful Connection, Relationships | Communication, Donor Conversation, Donor Retention, Meaningful Connections, Personal Development, Professional Development, Relationships, The Veritus Way
Have you experienced how it feels to give your money to a mission you care deeply about, but then you never hear back about the difference it made? It can make you feel invisible and not connected meaningfully to that organization. I recently wrote a blog about...
by Guest Contributor | Feb 27, 2023 | Donor Communication, Donor Relations, Fundraising, Relationships | Communication, Curiousity, Donor Conversation, Fundraising, Meaningful Connections, Professional Development, Relationships
One of the best things we can do for ourselves is look at how someone else is doing their work and explore how to apply it to what we do in fundraising. Take asking questions, for example. Most fundraisers consider themselves able to have a congenial conversation with...
by Richard Perry and Jeff Schreifels | Jan 23, 2023 | Asking, Communication Preferences, Donor Communication, Following Up | Asking, Donor Conversation, Facilitation, Fundraising, Meaningful Connections
I’m going to go out on a limb and say that most frontline fundraisers don’t know their donor’s communication preferences, and they don’t like reaching out to donors personally. I know, I know… you probably think I’m losing it, but from all the years of working with...