by Angela E. White

Millennial donors say that when it comes to requests for their time or money, they put high value on face-to-face communication. Read more on  AFP’s eWire:  Face Time: How to Reach Young Donors…

Check out Peter Panepento’s recent blog “Sleeping With the Cellphone: The 20-Something Donor” online at The Chronicle of Philanthropy.  Panepento’s blog, informed partly by JGA’s Millennial Donor Study, gives a quick snapshot of Generation Y donors and shares some tips to keep in mind when trying to engage them.

by Dan Schipp

The board member’s frustration was palpable. 

“I want to do my fair share,” he told me, “but I have no idea how I stack up with other board members in my giving and I really don’t know what [the organization’s] expectations are of board members when it comes to giving.  If [they] shared some facts and figures on the financial support they receive from the board, it sure would help me to see what I need to do.”

This board member understands that he has a responsibility to assist his organization financially, but he wants (and deserves) some clarity and guidance on what is expected of him.  I suspect he also wants some reassurance that other board members are stepping up to the plate, and his requests are not unreasonable.  His organization and all other not-for-profits would do well to be more clear and upfront about board giving. 

So, what should not-for-profits communicate to board members about giving?  First and foremost, it needs to be said that each and every board member is expected to make a generous, annual gift.   If the board has a tradition of board members giving at a defined level, that practice should be reported to the prospective board member at the time they are being recruited for the board.  The board member’s expected role in identifying, cultivating and soliciting prospective donors must also be discussed.

In reporting on board giving, organizations certainly need to note the percentage of board members making an annual gift and the total amount contributed by them.  In addition, not-for-profits might consider reporting the range of gifts received from board members as well as the medium and median gifts.  Another valuable statistic to share with the board is the percentage of board members who have included the organization in their estate plans.

So, is your organization clear about what it expects from board members when it comes to giving?  Are any of your board members frustrated because they don’t have the “facts and figures” they need to help guide their giving?

If you’ve encountered this challenge or have more tips on keeping your board informed, let us know by posting your thoughts in the JGA comments section below.

TED GROSSNICKLE TO BE HONORED BY CENTER ON PHILANTHROPY AT IUPUI SPIRIT OF PHILANTHROPY AWARDS

The Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University will honor philanthropic leader Ted R. Grossnickle, CFRE, at the annual Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) Spirit of Philanthropy Luncheon and Awards Ceremony on Thursday, April 22^nd in Indianapolis. 

The Spirit of Philanthropy awards recognize individuals, corporations, and foundations that have supported and contributed to university programs and departments through their gifts and voluntary service.

Grossnickle has been a key volunteer and supporter for the Center on Philanthropy for more than a decade.

“Ted’s visionary volunteer leadership plays an important role in helping to shape the Center on Philanthropy’s future,” said Patrick M. Rooney, executive director of the Center. “We are fortunate that he chooses to share his time, expertise and good counsel with us.”

Grossnickle currently serves as chair-elect of the Center’s board of visitors and leads its endowment campaign committee. A donor and member of the Center’s Sage Society, Grossnickle also chaired the Center’s campaign readiness task force.

Click here to read more >>

by Angela E. White

Let me know what you think by posting your responses in the JGA comments section below.

Check out JGA Senior Consultant and Chief Operating Officer, Angela White, on the most recent edition of Inside Indiana Business with Gerry Dick.  Angela discussed the results of the Millennial Donor Study conducted by JGA and Achieve.  The segment can be found on the Inside INdiana Business website.

For more information on the Millennial Donor Study, visit MillennialDonors.com.

by Meg Gammage-Tucker

At a course I was teaching a couple of weeks ago, I was asked to provide definitions to the jargon that fundraisers employ—sometimes ad nauseam­­—to our work.  Certain terms take on a slightly different meaning when applied to fundraising, so it’s no surprise that some clarification was in order.

Indeed, in the introduction of Mal Warwick’s publication, The Five Strategies for Fund Raising Success (1999), Mal notes how “encrusted” the profession has become with jargon.  Encrusted both because of the growing amount of information available (through outstanding research by organizations such as the IU Center on Philanthropy), and, unfortunately, because some professionals use jargon as a way of covering up their lack of understanding of the most basic principles of their work.

Whatever the reasons for the growth in our lingo, we do have a lot of it and it is important to understand what many of the terms mean so we can accomplish the tasks that we are trying to describe.

Stewardship is one of the most important concepts we can define.  According to Merriam Webster, stewardship is “the conducting, supervising, or managing of something; especially the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one’s care.” 

In fundraising, nonprofits seek to further their mission on the shoulders of very important people—their donors and volunteers.   These people entrust their precious resources—time, talent, treasure—to the care of the nonprofit to help the organization achieve its goals.  It is, therefore, incumbent on the organization to carefully manage those key resources in the most effective manner possible. 

Effective stewardship requires the volunteer and staff leadership of the nonprofit to:

• assure that gifts are used in accordance with the donor’s wishes;
• be transparent and forthright about how their gifts are managed and used; and
• be proactive and consistent in  the acknowledgement and recognition of donors and volunteers for their gifts—whether financial or intangible—in a manner that is appropriate and best suits the donor and/or volunteer’s needs.

It is my opinion that there is no more important concept than stewardship to the building of healthy relationships that are vital to the overall success of a nonprofit.  If relationships and gifts are properly “stewarded”, trust in, and commitment to, the organization are a natural result.  Therefore, understanding effective stewardship – as it applies to fundraising – can assure your organization gets the most out of its key relationships and resources.

Need a fundraising term demystified?  Let us know and we’ll be sure to help you out!  Post your term in the JGA comments section below.

The “2010 Millennial Donor Study” results are in!

As you may have heard, Johnson, Grossnickle and Associates (JGA) and Achieve conducted a study of the giving habits and engagement preferences of more than 2,000 people between the ages of 20 and 40 (the Millennial Generation) across the U.S.

The full results of that study are in, and we think you will find them to be of high interest and value.  The study found that when Millennial donors get involved with a nonprofit organization, they not only want to give financially, they want to affect change and create direction, and they want access to the organization’s board leadership.  Contrary to their high-tech reputation, Millennial donors put a high value on face-to-face communication.

Ted Grossnickle, Senior Managing Consultant with JGA, said, “These responses suggest that if fundraisers want to attract Millennial donors, they’re going to need to change their approach and become more relationship-based.”

“This requires a shift in attitude among development officers,” said Grossnickle.  “The Millennials might not have the capacity to give large amounts now, but they have human capital and are willing to be evangelists to their friends and family.  Plus, in 20 to 30 years, they’re going to have plenty of giving capacity, and they’ll use that capacity to support organizations that have engaged them.”

To discuss the study, download it, and register to participate in a free Webinar on April 15, visit www.MillennialDonors.com.

 Click here to view the full press release.