by Eddie Thompson | Nov 15, 2011 | Donor Communications
Many non-profit organizations are very strict about their terminologies. Some of them never make reference to donors, contributors, or supporters. “Partners” is the only term allowed. It’s a good communications policy because it is the relationship concept they are...
by Eddie Thompson | Oct 11, 2011 | Donor Communications
The long-term sustainability of non-profit organizations at their current levels is going to largely depend on their ability to secure planned or testamentary gifts from donors’ accumulated net worth. We’ve known this for some time because of the increasing average...
by Eddie Thompson | Sep 28, 2011 | Donor Communications
There are scores of giving methods, each one addressing a particular need of the organization and/or the donor — gifts to annual funds, capital campaigns, program initiatives; gifts from income, assets, or advised funds; gifts of cash, property, or time. There are a...
by Eddie Thompson | Aug 31, 2011 | Donor Communications
No one works in a non-profit development office very long before being confronted with the pyramid. First-time or occasional gifts at the bottom, regular gifts to the annual fund up a little higher, then major gifts, and finally estate gifts on top. The labels vary...
by Eddie Thompson | Aug 2, 2011 | Development Management, Donor Communications
I started my career in non-profit development at the bottom, determined to do whatever it took to work my way up. The organization gracious enough to give me a shot located their development office in a large old house. And since I was the new guy, my workspace was in...
by Eddie Thompson | Jul 14, 2011 | Donor Communications
It has been many years since my first tenure as the Director of Planned Giving. The goal then (as it generally is today) was to go out, promote the organization, present planned gifting possibilities, and secure the gift. Since we assumed that long-time donors already...
