NonProfit Pro

Of course you should craft your appeals to resonate with the majority of your readers. But you should always allow for the possibility that something great could come from the most unexpected donors.

Without a close and cooperative relationship with your nonprofit organization's program person you, as a major gifts officer, cannot succeed. Program holds the key to information that is critical to the offers you construct for your donor.

Urologists noticed a bump in vasectomies at the start of March Madness, and they took action. Vas Madness was born. Urologists got a bit of data — wow, we do a lot of vasectomies during March Madness — and took advantage of the landscape represented by that data. Nonprofit income departments can do that too, if we don't get in our own way.

I know several fundraising directors who know for sure retention got worse after they introduced their loyalty programs. But they continue to run them. It would be funny if it wasn't tragic.

Recent tweets on social media for nonprofits (#SM4NP).

Statistically, more than one-third of all charitable dollars given annually in the United States is directed to religion, and research indicates that faith practitioners are the country's most generous donors.

A longtime sticking point for Washington, House Oversight and Government Reform Chairman Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) sent a letter late Wednesday to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell saying that the committee is reviewing the tax-exempt status enjoyed by the NFL and 10 other sports leagues and associations. Some of the other leagues that also received a letter include the NHL, various golf and tennis associations, and, yes, even the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association.

Tim Cook is planning to give away all of his near $800 million fortune before he dies, the Apple boss said in a surprisingly frank interview. Cook, 54, who took over as Apple chief executive from Steve Jobs in 2011, told Fortune magazine that he planned to donate all of his wealth to charity after providing for his 10-year-old nephew’s education.

The Council on Foundations has scrapped plans for a philanthropy challenge in which nonprofits would vie for $40,000 in grant money by answering "rapid-fire" questions about their programs. It had planned to hold the event at its annual meeting in San Francisco next month. The contest drew criticism from a number of nonprofit leaders who felt the format demeaned the charities. Participants would have responded to questions from several judges and received coaching from foundation experts on how to pitch their ideas. The winner was to be determined by an audience vote.

Here are four fundraising questions I can't answer that have been haunting me lately.