Complete fund-raising software systems vs. donor databases

When evaluating fund-raising software packages, it is important to understand the distinctions between them. Not all fund-raising software is created equal. In fact, there is a whole new breed of fund-raising software that has just entered the market.     

Targeting wealthy donors: the dichotomous relationship of housing wealth with current and bequest giving

Identifying the charitable potential of current and prospective donors is a key component of successful fund‐raising, particularly in the areas of major gifts and planned giving. Previous research has provided support for the positive impact of two core financial factors, total wealth, and homeownership. Using data from the USA and Australia, this paper examines how the interaction of these two variables can generate negative effects on charitable giving. In particular, as the share of total wealth held in homeownership rises, both the likelihood and level of charitable giving falls. This relationship is consistent across current giving, planned bequest giving, and actual bequest giving and in both cross‐sectional and longitudinal models. These findings suggest that prospect research models incorporating asset type, as well as total wealth, may better predict likely donor potential. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Developing planned giving at the Salvation Army Southern Territory

The Salvation Army operates internationally and is an evangelical part of the universal church, they provided help to over 30 million individuals in 2008. Their main focus is to build community, provide fellowship, rebuild lives, and provide comfort and support to those in need. They also provide disaster relief, drug and alcohol rehabilitation, and activities for the elderly, among many other social services. The international headquarters, the administration centre, is based in London. The Salvation Army USA, based in Virginia, has a national commander and national chief secretary who work to coordinate the national efforts. There are 4 geographical territories, south, east, west and central and each territory is a separately registered nonprofit entity. The southern territory is further divided into 9 divisions and has historically been very successful at planned giving fundraising. Planned giving success had been attributed to the territories personal approach. However, with the noticeable changes in the attitudes of seniors the planned giving has significantly declined in 2008/2009. Seniors, who had been considered the most suitable donor prospects had developed a sense of fear and distrust of the government and the banking system. They were resisting personal meetings with planned giving staff that had been so successful for the Salvation Army. As a consequence the planned giving strategy had to be adapted. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Tap all sources in search for major gifts

To launch a deferred giving program in the midst of spiraling inflation, growth of competition and the changing attitudes of individuals, it is necessary to look towards all sources for major gifts. A planned giving program which incorporates this concept along with dedication on the part of the staff and sound plan of action will bring about success.     

Planned gifts on a shoestring budget

How can a small non-profit educate donors about planned giving and market the benefits? A simple program of seminars and newsletters may be the answer.     

Where the real money is in planned giving

In planned giving, 80 percent of the money comes from bequests and 20 percent from life income agreements. But fund raisers still spend most of their time pursuing the 20 percent.     

“南宁城投”发行企业债券的融资研究

南宁市城市建设投资发展总公司（简称＂南宁城投＂）作为广西南宁市政府重要的投融资平台,在南宁市城建项目筹融资方面已取得了突出成绩。但是从公司的中长期发展角度考虑,依靠银行贷款为主的传统融资方式已不能满足企业发展的需要。因此,利用当前国家政策对企业发行债券大力支持的机遇,＂南宁城投＂应进行融资方式的新尝试。     

企业通过强化财务体制提高融资能力探析

文章从一名在日本多年从事银行融资管理和企业诊断专家的视野出发，以财务会计理论为起点，通过剖析金融机构投资对企业财务报表的分析和看法，发现两者的共同利益点，进而提出了企业想成功获得金融机构的融资，就要改善自身的财务体制，为众多融资困难的中小企业指明了一条有效的融资之路。     

More emphasis on bequests needed in balanced program

Sure direct mail, special events, membership appeals, computers and annual giving techniques are important, claims the author. But he chides fund raising for the lack of attention paid to planned gifts. He outlines how his program generated insured income for his group.     

Make giving meaningful: key to development success. Interview by Larry Kofsky

Starting virtually from scratch in 1975, Berkshire Medical Center has built a fund raising success story. In this, the second part of a two-part interview, Mr. Davis discusses the hospital's employee giving program, planned gifts, foundation and corporate grants and special events.     

Marry capital giving cycle with deferred giving cycle

This article suggests a way to transform the future to the present by transferring planned giving techniques into capital campaigning. The author discusses the merits of his case by instilling the needs of the donor first and the success of the institution as a natural second.     

Fund-raising research: prospecting for gold

As the fund-raising field grows and becomes more sophisticated, the need for research intensifies. Knowing the sources of information can simplify the task.     

Do UK charities have a lot to learn?

This article discusses the key findings of some recent research carried out into the application of market segmentation in the UK charity sector. 410 of the top performing charities (as ranked by income from voluntary donations) were surveyed to profile their major donor groups. Respondents were also asked to indicate how this data was used for fund-raising purposes both in terms of new donor recruitment and existing donor development. The findings show that with the exception of a very few large organizations, the UK charity sector still has much room for improving the sophistication of its fund-raising techniques.     

Planning to reach your full potential

Abington Memorial Hospital puts great store in imagination and creativity in designing its fund-raising programs. The results speak for themselves.     

"And the winner is..."

Premiums and incentives have long been used in fund-raising direct mail. Here's a look at what works and what fails--and how to make what works work better--from two long-term experts in creative direct-mail formats.     

The coordinated development approach

A development office desires to emphasize major and planned gifts in order to build the results of its fund raising. Many institutions now have separated the three programs of giving and operate each as a separate entity. While there are certain unique steps that need to be taken for each program, the linkage and even overlap of these sources of revenue need to be crafted into a development operation.     

Fund raising mentors: wisdom for winning

This article shares some of the most important lessons I have learned in 31 years of marketing and fund-raising activities from five mentors. It also points out the critical role that mentors play in one's career.     

Everyone's scratching ... and it is contagious

When implementing a fund-raising program or product, coordinators are faced with problems like quality, cost, and time involved. The Pennies to Dollars donation system was created to eliminate all of these worries, in addition to improving campaign implementation and profit potential.     

There is nowhere left to hide!

While fund-raising and beneficiary organizations may remain legally separate, two recently developed accounting principles will make it almost impossible to maintain a separation between contributed and operating receipts and will blur the distinctions that have been achieved by legal separation.     

Characteristics of an effective fund-raising letter

When you set out to write a fund-raising letter, make sure you know precisely to whom you're writing and why--and be certain your letter makes that point just as clear to them as it is to you.