All posts by Tony Martignetti

I Have A Favor To Ask

I’m the aptly named host of this weekly internet radio show, Tony Martignetti Nonprofit Radio. It’s doing pretty well after 21 months. Over a thousand iTunes downloads per show. Over 600 likes on Facebook. And a spiffy two minute promo reel with a bunch of famous people, which I wouldn’t mind a few more people watching.

But iTunes is where I’d really be grateful for your help. I’d like to get more ratings. Today there are six, and that’s not representative of the number of listeners.

If you listen to my show, would you please rate it? It’s merely a few clicks (and one scroll), you needn’t write anything.

  • Go to the show’s iTunes preview page.
  • Click “View In iTunes” under the graphic.*
  • Scroll to the bottom of the page (not the list of shows) and rate the show with 1 through 5 stars.

I thank you very much.

I feel a responsibility to give real value on my blog, so I’m not completely comfortable only asking for a favor, even for just one week.

Here is this week’s value: philanthropy is a growth industry.

LinkedIn and the Council of Economic Advisors (opposite ends of the stodginess spectrum) teamed up to measure the winning and losing industries during our recession. They identified philanthropy as a strong growth industry between 2007 and 2011. Here is the article and infographic.

*You’ll have to have iTunes installed. If you don’t you’ll be directed to the iTunes download page.

Nonprofit Radio, April 6, 2012: Campaign Feasibility Agility & Creating A Culture of Philanthropy

Big Nonprofit Ideas for the Other 95%

Sponsored by GE Grace corporate real estate services.

Listen live or archive:

My Guests:

Eugenia Colon
Eugenia Colon: Campaign Feasibility Agility

Why is a feasibility study important before you embark on a fundraising campaign? What do you learn from a well-crafted study? Who should be interviewed and who should interview? Eugenia Colon of Colon & Associates sorts it out for you.

 

Laura Goodwin
Laura Goodwin: Creating A Culture of Philanthropy

Laura Goodwin, vice president of The Osborne Group, has ideas about focusing on your donors; collaborating; programming; board expectations and responsibilities; and leadership, all to help you increase your fundraising revenue. (Pre-recorded at Philanthropy Day 2011 hosted by AFP Westchester County chapter.)

 


Top Trends. Sound Advice. Lively Conversation.

You’re on the air and on target as I delve into the big issues facing your nonprofit—and your career.

If you have big dreams but a small budget, tune in to Tony Martignetti Nonprofit Radio.

I interview the best in the business on every topic from board relations, fundraising, social media and compliance, to technology, accounting, volunteer management, finance, marketing and beyond. Always with you in mind.

Sign-up for show alerts!

“Like” the show’s Facebook page.

Make sure to tune in at 1pm ET on Friday and you can share your insights and observations by using the #NonprofitRadio hashtag on Twitter.

Here is the link to the podcast: 086: Campaign Feasibility Agility & Creating A Culture of Philanthropy.

Sponsored by:
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2012 Memorial Planned Giving Ideas

Spring Flowers courtesy of NixBC on Flickr
The memorial giving season is coming up: wedding anniversaries; graduation anniversaries; Mother’s Day; and Father’s Day.

Start thinking about your promotion of memorial planned gifts, or gifts-in-memory-of your donors’ loved ones, now, so you’re prepared come May and June. If you’ve already got this in your annual plan, excellent. Either way, I have a few ideas. Add yours.

Facebook It. Remind fans this is the season to remember loved ones and dear friends. Include a link to your giving or Planned Giving page.

Direct Mail. If you’re not doing a mailing devoted to memorial gifts, drop a slip into an existing mailing. Or add a P.S. to a letter you’re already planning. No additional expense for either of these.

Newsletter. Got a newsletter going out in May or June? Drop in a sidebar.

Email. Got a list? Send a blast. Include a link for more information, or a link that opens an email to you.

Events. A short mention at spring cocktail parties will remind people of their parents’ and siblings’ wedding and graduation years.

Build Endowment. If you have an endowment, encourage memorial gifts to create or augment a fund in memory of family. Donors with funds might ask family to make a gift to your endowment as their anniversary gift. If you don’t have an endowment, you probably should by this time next year.

I hope spring is productive for you, before things slow down during summer. I remember when that was true.

I like Tom Waits. Here’s his “You Can Never Hold Back Spring.”

Nonprofit Radio, March 30, 2012: Planned Gift Prospects By Phone, Tanya Says Farewell to PPP & Kony Complexities

Big Nonprofit Ideas for the Other 95%

Sponsored by GE Grace corporate real estate services.

Listen live or archive:

My Guests:

Mindy Aleman: Planned Gift Prospects By Phone
Mindy Aleman from Kent State University takes the role of professor to teach you how to identify Planned Giving prospects from your phone-based fundraising. She’s been doing it for years with great success. (Pre-recorded at the National Conference on Philanthropic Planning last year.)

 

Tanya Howe Johnson: Tanya Says Farewell to PPP
Tanya Howe Johnson sat with me at last year’s Partnership for Philanthropic Planning conference to say goodbye to the organization she has led for 20 years. She retires in April.

 

Gene Takagi & Emily Chan
Gene Takagi & Emily Chan: Kony Complexities

Our regular legal contributors, Gene Takagi and Emily Chan of the Nonprofit & Exempt Organizations Law Group, look at issues around the viral “Kony 2012” video.

 

 


Top Trends. Sound Advice. Lively Conversation.

You’re on the air and on target as I delve into the big issues facing your nonprofit—and your career.

If you have big dreams but a small budget, tune in to Tony Martignetti Nonprofit Radio.

I interview the best in the business on every topic from board relations, fundraising, social media and compliance, to technology, accounting, volunteer management, finance, marketing and beyond. Always with you in mind.

Sign-up for show alerts!

“Like” the show’s Facebook page.

Make sure to tune in at 1pm ET on Friday and you can share your insights and observations by using the #NonprofitRadio hashtag on Twitter.

Here is a link to the audio podcast: 085: Planned Gift Prospects By Phone, Tanya Says Farewell to PPP & Kony Complexities

Sponsored by:
View Full Transcript

One Fact About Planned Giving

"hands clasped" courtesy of Leo Reynolds on Flickr
Planned Giving is a relationship business.

That should be reassuring to small charities, because it means you don’t need fancy stuff and experts to get a program going–and to make it very respectable.

You’ll enjoy success in Planned Giving if you build relationships with your consistent donors who are around 55 and over. When you screen for consistency, ignore gift size. If a donor has been giving you ten dollars a year for the past 8 or 10 years, or more, the person is an excellent Planned Giving prospect.

There is a technical side to gift planning, but you don’t need it if you start your program with bequests. I wrote a series of articles for GuideStar explaining how to get started. Small- and mid-size charities can have a very respectable and appropriate program without needing expertise or spending a lot of money.

My background is law. I draw on my technical skills about 10% of the time for my clients. I can go deep, but it’s rarely necessary.

On the other hand, I spend a lot of time strategizing around people: how we’ll engage them; what different generations prefer; what a particular couple will prefer; who’s the best person to extend an invitation; who should sign the direct mail letter? Like all fundraising, Planned Giving is based on strong relationships.

Don’t let the technical side dissuade you from inaugurating a program. And don’t let the technical stuff drag you down if you’ve got a more mature program.

Focus on your prospects and donors and the planned gifts will come.