Nothing But Major Gifts

Are your board members actively engaged in fundraising for your non-profit? And if not – how can you encourage them to get involved?

In this episode, …

Imagine this scenario: you’re a leader of a non-profit, and you run into a major donor at an event. They ask how things are going at the organization. How do you respond?

A: “Things are great! We’re on track to meet our …

Sometimes fundraisers are so self-sacrificing in their work that they lose themselves. They give 110%, until they can’t do it anymore. These are the ones who are at risk of burning out and leaving the profession …

If you're over-investing in donor acquisition and cultivation, but not investing enough in the upper end of the pipeline, then the donors that you've …

Successful fundraising programs depend on great managers who can provide fundraisers with feedback, accountability, and encouragement. It’s a …

When you get back to the office or start up your computer again after a holiday, it always takes a while to get re-oriented. If you do a little prep …

There’s a temptation to send out more communication at the end of the year. And it’s understandable; there’s a lot to share during this season, and you want to keep your donors informed.

But communicating more …

It’s the most intimidating part of fundraising: asking someone for a gift.

But that’s not the only thing that fundraisers need to ask for. They’re also requesting meetings, inviting people to give their time at events, …

Does your organization encourage you to bring your authentic self to your work in the non-profit space? Or do you feel pressure to self-censor certain parts of your identity?

Many non-profit employees say that their …

Usually, people have the best of intentions. But it’s shocking how many organizations have internalized some misguided views of fundraising without realizing how their mindset is hurting their donor relationships.

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We talk a lot about the importance of taking your donor to the scene so that the need feels real and personal to them. But there’s a risk of …

What is it that makes The Veritus Way of fundraising so successful?

To tell you more about it, we’ve invited a couple of our clients to share about …

Do you have a strategy to help you allocate your time per donor?

The reality is, you only have so much time in a day. And you need to be a good steward of that time. So, while we value all donors as people, the impact …

What’s so great about mid-level? We’re so glad you asked!

More and more organizations are discovering that mid-level is the key to retaining donors and donor value. When you have a mid-level program that’s focused on …

Looking for inspiration to help you plan for the fall fundraising season? Look no further!

Since we’re privileged to work with so many different non-profit organizations, we have a bird’s-eye view of the latest …

In this re-release of our all-time most popular episode, Richard and Jeff share 15 questions for you to use in conversation with your donors to help …

Talking about your mission with donors can sometimes feel challenging, especially if you’re an organization that provides indirect services. Do you know if you’re effectively communicating your mission and impact to …

Many non-profits have a membership model as a key part of their fundraising strategy. And while membership donors can be some of the most loyal and consistent in their giving, a membership model can also be limiting. …

More and more non-profits are discovering that mid-level is the key to a healthy donor pipeline. If you’re wondering where to find more major donors, the answer is almost always: look to your mid-level donors.

But how …

Many non-profits feel that once they’ve secured a planned gift from a donor, their work is done. There may not be any plans for follow-up or …

When people of color are not allowed to speak for themselves or their voices are not heard, there’s a psychological toll that often leads to burnout. …

You know you need to move your non-profit from a transactional model to relationship-based fundraising, but maybe you’re not sure where to start, or …

Creating change in your organization can feel like a daunting task. Where should you start? How do you stay on track?

In this podcast episode, …

When non-profit leaders decide there’s no room in the budget for a major gifts program, it’s counterproductive, because they’re missing out on a huge revenue opportunity. An investment in major gifts can have an ROI of …

If you’re at a smaller organization, you might be thinking: “The Veritus Way sounds great, but it won’t work for us. We just don’t have the resources.” Well, here’s the good news: whether you’re a one-person shop or a …

Many non-profit leaders don’t believe in spending money on administrative support for fundraisers. But the truth is, the cost of admin support is a drop in the bucket compared to the revenue you’re losing if your …

Does your organization need a legacy society? And how do you go about starting one? These programs can have a huge impact and will help you better serve your donors by giving them an opportunity to do even more for the …

Fundraisers are leaving their organizations in record numbers, highlighting the costly impact of toxic workplace culture. Too many non-profits …

Partnership between capital campaign efforts and your major gifts strategy is absolutely vital for both to be successful. And creating a strong …

Often, we’re too quick to jump into the solution with our donors and we fail to connect the donor, meaningfully, to the problem we’re working to …

As the year comes to a close and you wrap up your year-end fundraising efforts, there are a few strategies and tactics you can do to make an impact …

Does the idea of having a tough conversation with someone at work give you anxiety? You’re not alone. Most people prefer to steer clear of difficult …

How can you focus on being present when there is an endless list of things pulling your attention? Learning to be more present takes practice, time, …

Gratitude feels great in the moment... but this feeling is fleeting. When it comes to celebrating the impact your donors are making, and being …

What is it like to be a Black fundraiser in North America? Do you believe the experiences and challenges that Black fundraisers regularly live …

There are some fundraising and donor horror stories out there that are startling... and some that are downright unbelievable. And there are many fundraisers in the non-profit sector who have had experiences that are …

As a fundraiser or fundraising leader, it can be challenging to know where to go to get your questions answered. It can also be overwhelming to find the right answer with how much information is available through the …

Do Membership Programs Suppress Giving? Membership programs, when used incorrectly, are causing you to lose out on building true and authentic major donor relationships. Now, we’re not anti-membership programs, but many …

Many front-line fundraisers are telling us they are being asked to go back to the office this fall. But, with the Delta Variant causing more communities to reinstitute mask mandates and social distancing, is that wise? …

You can have a mid or major gift program that is set up with the right structure, full caseload of qualified donors, great ongoing management, but if …

As non-profit fundraisers, we’ve all been through some kind of organizational change. Some are small changes, like a new protocol for thanking …

Over the last year, we’ve been talking a lot about how to create, build, and manage a great planned giving program. Now, you can have your program all set-up, but if you don’t have a continuous stream of quality leads …

We at Veritus Group have been implementing and managing mid-level programs for many years now. Over that time, we’ve discovered how non-profit …

It’s summertime! Hopefully, you have a chance to breathe a bit. Today’s episode is all about what you can do during the summer, now that you have …

Why is it that non-profit leaders are trying to keep overhead so low? Are they afraid that if it’s too high, donors will complain and threaten to stop giving? In almost every conversation we’ve had with donors about …

Did you know that not everything Richard and Jeff say is true? Well, okay, it’s true, but it may not be exactly true for you and your situation as it pertains to how you implement The Veritus Way at your organization.

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As a front-line fundraiser, you need to possess many skills and traits. Richard and Jeff have highlighted many of them over the years. But there’s one they’ve never discussed before: how likable are you?

In this …

As you know, The Veritus Way of Major Gifts is all about helping you design a structure, so you have the freedom and ability to create authentic …

You probably know that the number one reason donors either leave your organization and stop giving or reduce their giving is because they were  never …

Your donors are busy. There's a lot of noise in their lives. The front-line fundraisers who can cut through that noise and get noticed by their donors will have the ability to win their hearts and minds.

In today's …

You know that donor that gives every year in November a check for $1,000… and they’ve been doing it for a thousand years? Yeah, you know, that one. You’re most likely thinking, “Every November I can always expect that …

There are so many myths in major gift fundraising that Richard and Jeff devote a whole chapter to it in their latest book, “It’s Not JUST About  the …

Professional fundraisers have lots of questions about how you can do your work better. Each week, Richard and Jeff hear from your colleagues all over …

Join Richard and Jeff for Part 2 of their discussion of six New Year’s Resolutions. In this podcast they outline the second 3 resolutions that you …

Goodbye 2020! In today’s podcast Richard and Jeff highlight 3 resolutions to start your new year. They’ll not only inspire you, but they’ll help you …

You aren’t alone if you don’t fully understand the economics of major gifts and how it should work.

Over the years, the Veritus team has run into …

We often talk to leaders and managers of non-profits who tell us they’re leading a donor-centered non-profit. That’s great! But then we start asking questions:

1. Do you have a system set up to thank donors properly?

2. …

What is the biggest barrier to major gift success? It’s a lack of leadership.

It was this lack of leadership that inspired Richard and Jeff to write their latest book, “It’s Not JUST About the Donor.” And it’s the focus …

There are many myths about major gifts out there that impede the growth of major gift programs.  In fact, in Richard and Jeff's new book, It’s Not JUST About the Donor, they start out one by one dispelling the myths …

You probably intuitively already know this: women make up 70% of the non-profit workforce, yet there are huge inequities in pay and leadership positions for women. And the pandemic has made this even worse.

Why?

In …

You may be wondering what we mean when we say you really need to adopt “The Veritus Way” of major gift fundraising.

The Veritus Way is simply the structure we apply to major gift programs, all in the context of building …

This year has been unlike any other, for major gift fundraisers. Your work has been completely upended. Yet here we are, heading into what will be the busiest and best giving period of the year.

Or you hope it will be …

Do you want to be a great Major Gift Fundraiser?One trait of all great MGOs is that they are curious people. That curiosity leads to developing authentic relationships.

How often do you go to a dinner party or …

Do you want to get rid of the donors in your portfolio? We would hope not. Yet by the way many major gift officers are cultivating and stewarding …

Over the years, MGOs and managers have asked Richard and Jeff if they think MGOs should get bonuses if they meet or exceed their revenue goals.

In …

As a major gift fundraiser, do you feel you’re being supported enough so you can be successful?

Unfortunately, we run into many MGOs who are …

In most of the higher education institutions where Veritus Group has conducted data assessments, they’re performing terribly.

What’s wrong here?

Universities have resources. They have dozens (if not hundreds) of major …

“You can’t be serious!”

This is the reaction Richard and Jeff get from many non-profit leaders when we tell them NOW is the time to start a major gift program.

Yes, even in the midst of uncertainty, your organization …

If you just read the headlines from fundraising news publications, you’d think the sky is falling and revenue from non-profits is tanking.

But is it?

If you actually get past the “doom and gloom” headlines, you’ll read …

This pandemic has been a stress test for many non-profits. The biggest threat to the future of a non-profit in times like this is the lack of …

Pivoting is good, but it implies that once we get back to normal, we just go back to what we used to do.

Well, this pandemic is giving us the opportunity to not only pivot, but to permanently change.

Change what?

Change …

In this episode, Richard and Jeff are joined by Veritus Group's Director of Planned Giving Services, Bob Shafis. Bob will discuss with them why you …

Do you know your organization’s coronavirus story? In other words, if a donor asked you how the virus is affecting your organizations mission would …

In today’s episode Richard and Jeff give you an update on stories they're hearing from other major gift officers and start answering a number of …

You are now fundraising in an unprecedented time in our history. You may be worried, anxious or concerned personally and professionally. All those feelings are normal.

Richard and Jeff have recorded a special podcast to …

As you know, the most important job for an MGO is to build relationships with their donors. How are you going to do that without administrative support?

You can’t.

We hear from so many MGOs who say they’re bogged down …

You’ll often hear that fundraising professionals are “jumping ship” every 1.8 to 2.3 years in search of something better.

Quite frankly, the number one reason people quit their job is because they have a bad manager or …

Today’s podcast episode is a little different. We’re talking about the spirituality of major gift fundraising. No, we’re not talking about religion, but we ARE talking about how fundraising has a spiritual nature to it …

In today’s episode, Richard and Jeff talk with Veritus Group's new Director of Planned Giving Services, Robert Shafis. Robert is one of the most knowledgeable, sought-out experts on planned giving in the country. And …

If you think universities have it all figured out with major gift  fundraising, you’d be very wrong. In fact, at most of the higher education institutions where Veritus has conducted data assessments, they’re performing …

Are you concerned that the donors on your file are too old? Are you scrambling to get younger donors?

Don’t be.

In major gifts and planned giving, …

This episode sheds light on some of the craziest misconceptions we’ve heard from leaders and managers about major gifts, and what you can do as a major gift officer to help educate them and set them straight.

Major gift …

Most of the time, when we ask a major gift fundraiser what the Return on Investment (ROI) of their portfolio is, we get nothing but a blank stare – …

To serve your major donors outrageously, you have to know your programs and projects so well that you’re able to inspire those donors to make a significant gift to your organization.

The most effective and best way to …

Major gift fundraising has a problem: MGOs are leaving their non-profits after only 1.8 years on the job! How can they build lasting relationships with donors that way?

In this episode, Richard and Jeff discuss why …

In the last decade there's been a lot of talk about building a culture of philanthropy. But who's actually doing it? And what does it actually take …

Is your organization considering creating a capital campaign in the near future? Before you spend a bunch of time, energy and money on it, you have to listen to Richard and Jeff talk with Amy Eisenstein, the CEO and …

Do you wonder what it will take to take your major gift program to another level?  The answer is not about some new strategy or innovation.

The answer to bringing more net revenue from your major gift program is to get …

How do you create compelling donor offers that will result in gifts that are significant, or even transformational? In this episode, Richard and Jeff …

Have you ever thought it would be nice to be able to qualify,  steward, and cultivate your donors in a more efficient, less costly way – all while …

In this episode, Richard and Jeff will inspire you for major gifts fundraising with some great thoughts and ideas you can implement right now.

They talk with Frank Mumford, a major gift officer with Greater Twin Cities …

Do you ever get in a rut about what you should be doing with your donors to cultivate them properly? Richard and Jeff hear from many major gift …

The job of a major gift officer is difficult. In this episode, we talk with Christine Tesmer, a major gift officer from Colorado Public Radio. We get …

Major gift fundraisers are going to get frustrated quickly if they focus on donors who don't want to talk to them. In this episode, Richard and Jeff tell you what it means to "qualify" these donors, so you're talking …

Major gift fund-raisers can slip into thinking of people as "prospects" even after they've given many times. Richard and Jeff examine this practice and encourage a different approach to these people who are already …

How do you keep donors moving from direct response giving, to bigger gifts, into your major gift program? Fundraising expert Jeff Brooks talks with Richard and Jeff about the major gifts "pipeline" and the best things …

Richard and Jeff kick off their podcast by discussing how donors give best – not as an annual duty, but as an ongoing response to their desire to do good in the world, through your organization.

The "Nothing But Major …