Tag Archives: communication

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.

Nonprofit Radio for March 16, 2012: More Dreaded Than Death & Dentist: Public Speaking & Pinterest Possibilities

Big Nonprofit Ideas for the Other 95%

Sponsored by GE Grace corporate real estate services.

Listen live or archive:

My Guests:

Laurie Krauz
Laurie Krauz: More Dreaded Than Death & Dentist: Public Speaking

Presentation and public speaking coach Laurie Krauz has four steps to get you from, “No way I’m getting in front of those people” to “I killed!”

 

 

 

Scott Koegler
Scott Koegler: Pinterest Possibilities

Pinterest is the newest social media property to skyrocket. What’s it about and is there anything in it for your nonprofit? Scott Koegler is our regular tech contributor and the editor of Nonprofit Technology News.

 
 
 
 
Please take a moment to take the survey for this week’s show with Laurie and Scott!

You’ll find it below. If you could also share it with other nonprofit professionals, I would appreciate it. The more people who take it, the better the results and the better the show! Thank you!


Create your free online surveys with SurveyMonkey, the world’s leading questionnaire tool.

Here is a link to the survey: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/WD2W2VX


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.

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Here is a link to the podcast: 083: More Dreaded Than Death & Dentist: Public Speaking & Pinterest Possibilities

Here are the links to the articles mentioned during the Pinterest segment.

Thanks again to @npTechAlly and @HSchoegler for sharing these during the March 16th #fundchat.

You can find the MediaBistro post mentioned during that segment here: Women In The US Trust Pinterest Over Twitter [SURVEY].

As of March 23, 2012, Pinterest has new terms of service, acceptable use and privacy policies. You can find all three at this link.

Sponsored by:
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Nonprofit Radio for March 9, 2012: Conversations with Marc Ecko, Craig Newmark & Naomi Levine

Big Nonprofit Ideas for the Other 95%

Sponsored by GE Grace corporate real estate services.

Listen live or archive:

Conversations with Marc Ecko, Craig Newmark & Naomi Levine

Interviewing Marc Ecko
First, thoughts on branding–and other business lessons applicable to charities–from Marc Ecko, founder of the very consistent brand Ecko Enterprises.

 

 

 

 
Interviewing Craig Newmark
Then, Craig Newmark, the founder of Craigslist and CraigConnects has ideas about simple communications and knowing when to stop talking. I interviewed Marc and Craig at the NextGen:Charity 2011 conference.
 
 

 

 
With Naomi Levine
I close with Naomi Levine, executive director of the Heyman Center for Philanthropy and Fundraising at New York University. Last May, at a reception for my show, we talked about professionalizing fundraising and enhancing its stature; the role of trustees; government oversight; motivation for small charities; and the future of the charity community.

 


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.

Here is the link to the podcast: 082: Marc Ecko, Craig Newmark & Naomi Levine – Tony Martignetti Nonprofit Radio.

Also, all of these video interviews are available on my YouTube channel.

Sponsored by:
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Nonprofit Radio, December 16, 2011: Facebook Fundamentals & Your Fresh-Faced Website

Big Nonprofit Ideas for the Other 95%

Sponsored by GE Grace corporate real estate services.

Listen live or archive:

My Guests:

John Haydon

John Haydon: Facebook Fundamentals

John Haydon, principal of Inbound Zombie and co-author of “Facebook Marketing for Dummies,” is well known around the internet as having simple ideas for getting the most from social media. We’ll talk about getting your nonprofit on Facebook: how to start; how to FB fundraise; attracting fans (even if they’re not technically called that any more); and integrating with your other channels.

Please take a moment to take the survey for this week’s segment with John! You’ll find it here at the end of the guest and segment descriptions. Thank you!
 

Scott Koegler
Scott Koegler: Your Fresh-Faced Website

Our regular tech contributor and the editor of Nonprofit Technology News, Scott Koegler, shares his thoughts on your freshened-up website. Are you on message? True to mission? Have a call to action?
 

 


Create your free online surveys with SurveyMonkey, the world’s leading questionnaire tool.

Here is a link to the survey: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/RFDG32B


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 an average 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.

Here is the link to the podcast: 071: Facebook Fundamentals & Your Fresh-Faced Website

Sponsored by:
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Say What’s On Your Mind

Courtesy of Rupert Ganzer on Flickr
I had a delightful airplane encounter this weekend.

Seated next to me from Chicago to New York was Aliza. As soon as I entered the row she introduced herself, then questioned me rapidly: “What’s your name?”, “Are you married?”, “How old are you?”

Throughout our delayed flight, she shared her anxiety about whether her caregiver would wait for her at LaGuardia; would I help her get to baggage claim (of course); could I help her get her bag out of overhead storage (yes); whether her phone would have enough battery power to call her caregiver (I offered mine); that she misses her family in Chicago; that she hates living in New York.

Aliza is twenty-four and has some disorder that makes it hard for her to get through the world alone. She also says what’s on her mind. I found that refreshing and inspiring.

Aliza was free, fresh and unashamed. The time I spent with her makes me recognize there’s plenty to say that goes unsaid because it’s not so comfortable to speak about. For some, they are feelings of affection, which is particularly tragic. For others, anxiety, because we want to be strong. For me, it’s disagreement with a proposed course or idea, because I don’t want to offend the proposer.

There have to be filters between the brain and the mouth, otherwise we’d all be friendless and jobless.

Still, because we work in a business that relies so heavily on strong relationships, I suggest the community could be a little stronger, maybe more successful, if we speak our minds more often.

Thank you, Aliza, for raising my awareness and reminding me to more often say what’s on my mind.