We know that the best way to raise money for our organizations is through face-to-face relationships with our prospects. Like any relationship, we must put in time and effort. But sometimes, you need more than a company biography or what is in your organization’s database to establish that connection and maintain it. Knowing how to find the right information can be a struggle.
Imagine that you board a plane and just when you have reached altitude, the pilot comes on over the microphone and tells you that although you are scheduled to land in two hours, there is no fuel gauge. The pilot tells you they are optimistic and determined to arrive on time anyway. Would you believe me if I told you this is the way many organizations start their capital campaigns? It’s true!
Asking for a major or transformative gift is a little bit like asking someone to marry you. You’ve (likely) been dating one another for a while and know quite a bit about your respective interests. Maybe you’ve discussed marriage; perhaps you haven’t. Ideally, you have an idea that the other person will actually say “yes.”
For some prospects, it’s easy to know how they made their money. For instance, if they are a CEO or some part of the C-suite at publicly traded firm, there will be information about their salary, stock and other types of equity (like stock options and restricted stock units).
Remember the first time you got behind the wheel of a car? Maybe you had taken your learner’s permit test or not; maybe you had watched your parents closely as they drove. But when facing the wheel, pedals, and all those buttons for the first time, it might have been really daunting. I was frustrated the first time I got behind the wheel; no matter what I did, I could not get the car to go. I soon realized that no one had told me to push the brake while starting the car!
It happens. You get that profile and say to yourself, “Well, I knew all THAT,” or you take one look… Read More »How to Unlock the Major Gift Magic in Profiles and Capacity Ratings
Aspire Research Group LLC released Disruptive Philanthropy: A Guide to Donor Advised Funds written by Research Consultant, Elisa Shoenberger. This book was born out of a desire to examine both sides of the donor advised fund – the advantages and the disadvantages.
Just in case you are not experiencing soaring temperatures outside, let me remind you that it is officially summertime. And… Read More »Off the Shelf: The Best of Aspire…and Beyond
In business school, most of my classes required group projects for the final. While it was a new experience to work in a team setting, I learned there were really three kinds of experiences. The first was magical; the group worked together harmoniously with each person bringing their expertise to the table. Ultimately, the final project was greater than the sum of its parts.
But while there are lots of questions about the future of cryptocurrencies, there’s no question that people are making money… and donating the proceeds to charity.