by Eddie Thompson | Oct 23, 2023 | Development Management, Donor Communications, Professional Development
As a rookie fundraiser at a small liberal arts college, Si Seymour’s 1966 book, Design for Fundraising, had an extraordinary impact on me, so much so that it has been the primary inspiration throughout my 45-year career. Every page of Seymour’s little book resonated...
by Eddie Thompson | Sep 25, 2023 | Development Management, Donor Communications, Professional Development
Almost all worthwhile advice about fundraising can be traced back to one ground-breaking publication: Harold (Si) Seymour’s Designs for Fundraising: Principles, Patterns, and Techniques. First published in 1966, this book continues to be regarded as the essential...
by Eddie Thompson | Jul 19, 2023 | Development Management, Professional Development
Focusing on person-to-person donor relations is essential for long-term, sustainable fund development. However, many nonprofits are understaffed or lack basic infrastructure upgrades. Consequently, experienced fundraising professionals are often tasked with a host of...
by Eddie Thompson | Oct 18, 2021 | Donor Communications, Professional Development
I’m continuing this month with a few more thoughts about the chosen career of a professional fundraiser—a life of never-ending appeals for donations of time and money for worthy causes. With regard to the fine art of asking, below are some of my favorite “tools of...
by Eddie Thompson | Jun 7, 2021 | Development Management, Professional Development
Last month’s article was about donors’ decisions to invest their social capital (contributions to community and society) by means of estate gifts to charity rather than the government in the form of taxes. It’s not that all government-funded programs are hopelessly...
by Eddie Thompson | Dec 28, 2020 | Professional Development
In my many discussions with fundraisers over the last nine months, one of the most frequent comments has been: “We’re so weary of talking about the Covid-19 pandemic and its ongoing impact on charitable giving.” That underlying anxiety (spoken or not) is magnified not...
