Wealthy Donors

The fun thing about working in major gifts is that you have an opportunity to loosen money’s hold on people by encouraging them to give it away. When people give away their money, they short-circuit its negative influence. As a major-gift fundraiser, you perform a powerful and unique service to donors...

A dollar bill’s value is very different depending on the state where it is being used. So, are charities getting the most bang for their donor-contributed bucks? Because of the variability of the dollar, and the always-increasing need for programs and services by charities, one obvious solution is to stay ahead of the curve by continuing to increase donor gift size...

Richard Branson, founder of Virgin and the 286th richest person in the world, is an accomplished philanthropist. And he's never been shy about sharing his philanthropic vision. But at last week's Coupa Inspire '16 conference, Branson hinted at a new approach to his philanthropy, one that appears to rely less on the nonprofit sector and more on the business world...

How did the board meeting go? “Great,” said my client. “Actually, I was so relieved! The budget passed in like 15 minutes. There were two or three minor questions, but nothing substantive.” Um, I’ve got some bad news. This is not what I consider a great budget discussion. Executive directors, like my client, are afraid…

In most cases, the question of who benefits from your nonprofit is directed at the end-user: What are your program’s outcomes? How does your nonprofit benefit society? But that question is not often directed toward the for-profit businesses that also benefit from your positive outcomes. By digging deep into this question, you will be able to find new funders for your nonprofit...

Taking steps to reduce your donor attrition actually is the least expensive strategy for increasing your fundraising income. In fact, if you’re looking to save money on your fundraising costs, focusing on retention is the smart thing to do. What are you doing to reach out and touch your donors—you know, those wonderful people who make your work possible?...

T. Denny Sanford, the 80-year-old businessman who has appeared on numerous "top philanthropists" lists and whose net worth is an estimated $1.4 billion, has given away more than $1 billion and developed a reputation for philanthropy. Now, he wants to give more than just money. He wants to tell fundraisers exactly how to separate major donors from their dollars...

As Seattle struggles to respond to a growing homelessness crisis, a local nonprofit is closing 15 overnight shelters due to a funding shortage, leaving about 300 people looking for somewhere else to sleep. Representatives from the nonprofit SHARE/WHEEL said they're $75,000 in debt and unable to sustain the homeless shelters they operate in church basements…

What motivates the ultra wealthy to give? Wealth-X conducted an Attitudes Survey in conjunction with Knight Frank to gain insights into the perspectives and behaviors of the ultra wealthy around wealth management, philanthropy, wealth transfer and more. The survey was based on the views of around 400 of the world’s leading private bankers and wealth…

Here’s a great article from Matt Collins, who makes the totally sensible statement that charities “need to think carefully about how resources are allocated.” With such dismal response rates on social media, Collins argued that we should shift our time and money to places that’ll give a better return. “It’s time to step away from…