OPTIMISM: The Essential Ingredient in Desperate Times

by Eddie Thompson | Apr 29, 2020 | Development Management, Donor Communications

Over the last few weeks, I’ve presented a dozen or more webinars for our clients and other organizations on fundraising in a pandemic. Make-A-Wish Foundation, Adventist West, and Texas Community College Foundations were among the participating organizations the last...

FUNDRAISING OBJECTIVES IN A PANDEMIC: Great Challenges and Great Opportunities

by Eddie Thompson | Mar 23, 2020 | Donor Communications

Several months ago, I posted two articles; the first listed five strategies that would prepare nonprofits for difficult times—how to harden your organizations against storms that will eventually come your way. The topic of the second article was what to do when the...

EFFECTIVE DONOR COMMUNICATIONS: How Warren Buffet Makes Less Become More

by Eddie Thompson | Feb 10, 2020 | Donor Communications

Written communications in the form of newsletters, emails, or social media posts have become standard practice for all nonprofits. The assumption that seems to drive some organizations is that if some is good, then the more the better. There is, however, a diminishing...

IN THIS TOGETHER: Creating a Sense of “We-ness” Among Donors

by Eddie Thompson | Dec 25, 2019 | Donor Communications

Persuasion researchers note that people are highly motivated to favor individuals when convinced that those persons are truly for or with them—not merely like them. The same thing is true for organizations, and as a consequence, nonprofits typically refer to donors as...

IN HONOR OF: The Best Predictors for Memorial Gifts

by Eddie Thompson | Nov 18, 2019 | Charitable Estate Planning, Donor Communications

Recently, I scheduled a conversation with Dr. Russell N. James III for our podcast series on Conversations with Industry Icons. Russell is Professor & Director of Graduate Studies in Charitable Financial Planning at Texas Tech University, a diligent researcher...