A Special Appeal allows your organization to invite donors with a specific, timely, and important reason to consider an additional gift. New donors will appreciate the specificity of the request. Many of your regular donors will get excited about the appeal and take part. In this series, GSB Partner Pete Reuss walks through four steps fo special appeals.

GSB always recommends a feasibility or pre-campaign study prior to a campaign. In this video, we discuss what a feasibility study is, what we learn from it, and how it sets the foundation for a successful campaign.

Recruiting people to serve in leadership positions too often involves persistent badgering until people, who may not have the needed skill set, eventually give in and agree to serve.

Giving may be up. It may be down. Either way, do you know why? Was it something you did? Or didn't do? Is a certain appeal still worth sending? An event worth doing?

It’s easy for organizations to fall into the trap that inviting gifts only happens on specific dates on a calendar. For congregations, it’s typically in the fall. For other non-profits, it’s the end of the year. A solid year-round plan for generosity, building on an annual appeal and end-of-year, leads to lasting results.

Leading and thriving in a non-profit organization can be both rewarding and challenging, especially during times of success and times of uncertainty. Whether it is navigating through times of abundance or grappling with a crisis or adversity, non-profit leaders must possess the skills and qualities necessary to guide their organizations and establish a sustainable impact effectively.

Learn to empower your team toward the effective execution of ministry goals. During Part 1 we will cover vision, recruitment, and training.

“Whatever you do, don’t talk about money from the pulpit!” Yet how can we preach without addressing the single greatest anxiety in most people’s lives? This three-part series will help leaders address the crushing shame and anxiety that most people in the pew encounter every day. What Good News can the church proclaim that will bring hope and healing? How can we help people move beyond guilt to abundant living?

Planned Giving Team Annual Check List

Your organization’s mission is more than a statement. In fact, stop calling it a statement. Your mission should not describe the organization, rather it defines the results the organization seeks to achieve.

How you operationalize your gift processing will depend on your staff and database system. There are best practices around separation of duties when documenting money and how quickly you send out a formal acknowledgment letter. The document above will outline all these considerations.

Philanthropy is based on voluntary action for the common good. It is a tradition of giving and sharing that is primary to the quality of life. To assure that philanthropy merits the respect and trust of the general public, and that donors and prospective donors can have full confidence in the not-for-profit organizations and causes they are asked to support, we declare that all donors have these rights

The core values of your organization are the boundaries in which must exist. These are the beliefs you hold most dear. The absolute truths for your organization.

Example Mission Statements

A well-conceived and aggressively conducted capital campaign will be an exciting and energizing event in the life of your organization. What will it take to complete a successful capital campaign and meet the campaign financial goal? A great “case,” smart work, active committed leadership together with committed and generous donors.

A successful and sustainable fundraising program is dependent on strong, committed and generous volunteer leadership and engagement and contributions. But that cannot happen without the effective leadership of capable, professional staff leadership.

Building a Donor First culture is critical to the success of any annual fund work, capital campaign, or planned giving effort. If donors feel you are only ever after a withdrawal, they will withdraw from the ministry or agency. Learn how to tell the difference between a deposit into your donor relationship before asking for a withdrawal.

Build a strong planned giving program with the core components.

In this video, learn how small donor cottage meetings can set the stage for new major donor cultivation and solicitation. We review the agenda, logistics and follow up to make your event successful.

Any fundraising effort must include comprehensive follow-up. A donor may choose not to participate in your campaign or appeal, but it is your job to invite them to be generous and to get a decision. Learn how to conduct proper and thorough follow-up in this video.