How do we improve donor retention, particularly from first gift to their second year with the organization. This is far cheaper than finding a new donor and the first conversion is the most important. Historically, retention rates are 45% on average. This means the average organization loses over half of their donors each year.

The framework that pulls everyone to working toward the same goal. This is the changed world you are working toward. This video shares how to craft and live into your mission.

Utilizing Challenge Gifts can stimulate giving and get you noticed. Many times these gifts are used to stimulate gifts among under-performing populations or to assure everyone that their gift and participation is important. Donors love to give them because it assures that they won't be the only one being generous.

Mitzie Schafer gives an overview of how telling stories sparks donor engagement with your organization. A critical first step is to evaluate your current communications to determine how much of what you are sharing is "informational" and how much is "inspirational." How much of what you are sharing is an "ask" and how much is connecting the donor to the impact their generosity provides? During this session, we explore where to use stories, what they should include, and how to evaluate your current practices.

No matter the size or complexity of the organization, volunteers are critical in fundraising efforts. You will network your way to new prospects and have different relationships when we can move to peer to peer fundraising.

Developing relationships with your donors will help you grow their linkage to the organization. This isn't just for capital campaigns, but is relevant to all aspects of developing the donors passion for your organization.

Developing sustainable money that can be planned for can transform your organization. You can also encourage younger donors to be more generous with a robust recurring giving program.

Partnering with churches can greatly increase your annual fund and help you acquire new donors if you position yourself correctly. Also, they will tell your story so that donors, participants, and potential friends start to learn about your impact. Turn congregations into major donors for your annual fund and even for campaign gifts.

Know what they are, how to identify them, why donors use them and how to make sure you are maximizing gifts from them.

How you relate to money as a leader will affect how you lead your organization and donors to experience generosity.

With 35% of giving in the United States occurring between Thanksgiving and the end of the year, it is critical to have a strategy for end of year gifts. We can't just get lucky, but instead need to organize our communication and pay attention to specific donors as the year comes to a close.

It is too expensive to allow lapsed donors to happen in our organizations. The end of the year provides a time of urgency for the organization and donor to make this a very good time to focus on our LYBUNTS and SYBUNTS. This video walks through cultivating and stimulating gifts from lapsed donors.

Cultures don’t change overnight. Taking small, patient steps can lead to new (and helpful) patterns of behavior. This four part series builds on the learning of the previous roundtables.

Board members and employees are prohibited from receiving gifts, fees, loans, or favors from suppliers, contractors, consultants, or financial agencies, which obligate or induce the board member or employee to compromise responsibilities to negotiate, inspect or audit, purchase, or award contracts with the best interest of __[org]__ in mind.

I particularly recognize the sensitivity of information regarding capital decisions, real estate purchases, decisions regarding closures, mergers, personnel issues, and other strategic plans that may have an impact on __[org]__'s competitive position relative to other organizations.

When people are uncomfortable enough for long enough, they become open to change long held traditions. This can directly impact your fundraising. This four part series builds on the learning of the previous roundtables.

While it’s easy to act and react, stepping back and gaining perspective will allow for deep reflection that can lead to helpful action. This four part series builds on the learning of the previous roundtables.

This is a great evaluation tool to use with your staff, key volunteers, and board members. Have each of them, or a select group of them complete the evaluation and then discuss the results together. You will each see things a little differently and that knowledge will be helpful in making real changes and improve in giving to your organization.

When fundraising best practices lead to conflict and anxiety, something in your organization’s culture around money is the cause. The Adaptive Leadership framework can provide a lens that leads to lasting change. This series builds through four sessions.

Some leaders want nothing to do with conversations about generosity. The reality is key staff and board members are positioned to have tremendous relationships alongside passion and knowledge of the organization making them tremendously important in the fundraising function. This roundtable will focus on being equipped to be a leader for generosity. We will also discuss ways to empower the board/council to take on this role and thrive in it. Because of the MLK holiday, this session was pre-recorded and is posted in the videos section of the Center website.