By Kimberly Jetton Ragone As development professionals, we spend enormous amounts of time and energy cultivating new donors. We celebrate that first gift. We create mailings, emails, social media posts, events, and campaigns, all designed to tell our story, communicate our mission, and demonstrate our impact. But what happens when a donor actually tries to take you up on the invitation to give? We have countless ways to reach them, but how do they reach you? I invite you to t

By Andy Ragone, CGPP Every charitable organization wants donors to think about the future. Many encourage supporters to create a will, use a free online will service, or include a charitable bequest in their estate plans. These are valuable first steps. Yet a first step should lead somewhere. For a charitable organization, the real measure of estate planning outreach is the number of charitable intentions that eventually become materialized gifts. A donor may sincerely intend

Using the FIRP Method By Andy Ragone Robert leaned back in his chair and smiled as he talked about his grandchildren. What began as a simple conversation over coffee had gradually unfolded into something much deeper. Over the course of an hour, he shared stories about growing up on a farm in Kansas, building a manufacturing company from scratch, raising a family, and navigating the challenges that inevitably accompany a long life. Across the table sat Jimmy, a fundraiser whos

By Kimberly Jetton Planned giving programs often find themselves in a precarious position. When budgets tighten or staffing becomes strained, gift planning is frequently among the first areas considered for reduction. The irony is that many organizations make these decisions without fully understanding the program's impact because they have never measured it. For many gift planning professionals, the program's future is tied to results the organization may not even be trackin

From transactional sales representatives to trusted philanthropic guides By Andy Ragone The strongest fundraisers I have known were never really selling anything. They listened longer than most people. They noticed details others missed. They carried a different kind of patience, the patience you find in trial lawyers, counselors, old detectives, or physicians who have spent decades delivering difficult news with steady hands. They listened carefully. They watched closely. Th

Once donors stop asking, “What can we spare from income?” and begin asking, “What resources have been entrusted to us?” their vision changes. Their confidence changes. Their generosity changes.

By Kimberly Jetton, CFRE, MNM These largest gifts... Who Will Receive Them? For over a decade, Planned Giving advisors have been heralding the call for nonprofits to implement an official planned giving program. The echoes of “the greatest transfer of wealth is coming” have been our battle cry. For some nonprofits, the notice was enough to put plans in place. But far too many Executive Directors, boards, and even some development officers have ignored the calls to implem

By Andy Ragone A fundraiser told me a story not long ago. She'd sent a simple invitation to a longtime donor—coffee, nothing more. The kind of meeting that should have slipped neatly into a morning. Instead, the donor sent back an emoji, a tight little grimace that said everything without saying a word. It wasn't personal. It rarely is. At least that donor replied! Most donors don't wake up hoping to slip into a corner booth and talk through another pitch. They don't crave fo

By Andy Ragone The world of fundraising is changing. Fast. It's no longer enough to be the person who asks for gifts. Donors today want to do more than give — they want to belong . They want to see their values reflected in the causes they support. After all, they got involved with your organization because they knew they couldn't do it by themselves. And they want someone who can help them make a difference in a smart, lasting way. That's where the role of philanthropic adv

By Kimberly Jetton, CFRE, MNM I met a donor a few years ago at a little coffee shop on a chilly morning. She ambled in, looking tired and...

Sometimes the Best Help Is Knowing When to Get Out of the Way By Kimberly Jetton, MNM, CFRE One of the biggest myths in nonprofit work is...

When you listen, everything changes In Part 1, I wrote about how I used to approach major gift fundraising: armed with a campaign plan, a...

...plus bonus material from the museum of my former mistakes. By Kimberly Jetton, CFRE, MNM It's Not About Your Pitch—it's About Their...

Add these seven smarter "asks" to your fundraising toolkit: By Andy Ragone, CGPP Most nonprofits ask for cash because it’s simple. But simple isn’t always best, especially since cash giving is the most expensive way to give. As philanthropic advisors, our job is to guide generosity that is aligned, strategic, and resonates with the financial needs of our donors. When we limit the conversation to cash, we ignore the full palette of a donor’s potential. But when we ask better q

What Every Board Member Needs to Know By Andy Ragone, CGPP Most fundraising programs stick to the familiar—annual appeals, galas, and...

By Kimberly Jetton, CFRE, MNM Are You Pushing Your Donors Away? Do you truly value your donors? Not just in theory, not just in the...

By Javier Reyes, Cassandra Reyes, and Andy Ragone We may think we know this relationship stuff. We might be relational people. But do we...

By Andy Ragone Planned giving isn’t just a line item in a fundraising campaign. It’s something far deeper, richer—a relational journey....

By Wayne Olson After I published the video, "How to Lose $1 Million," I received many calls and emails from people asking about losing...

By Wayne Olson An organization I am familiar with is about to lose a major donation. As fundraisers (or in business, too), we are always...