Goettler Associates presents Fund Raising Matters ™, a regular publication offering the latest insights on fund raising. We first introduced Fund Raising Matters as a traditional quarterly newsletter in 1996, continuing our commitment to advance the business of philanthropy.
We hope you will find Fund Raising Matters insightful and informational. We hope it will assist your efforts in developing successful fund-raising strategies. As always, we welcome an opportunity to learn more about your situation and discuss how our experience and talents can further your success.
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Demographic and Cultural Changes Impacting Volunteerism
As fundraisers for nonprofit organizations, it is essential that we understand the ebbs and flows of volunteerism in our sector. For many public nonprofit organizations the only thing more important than funding is if, when, why and how individuals engage in volunteerism. Fundraisers shoul...
Refreshing Your Volunteer Corps
Do you know your volunteers? Do you know their age, marital status, household income, level of education attained? Are your struggling to refresh the ranks of your volunteer corps? A few years ago a Congressional report stated that “Volunteering rates in the US are no lower than in the 1970s.” Really! Cert...
A current report from AmeriCorps estimates the rates of volunteerism between generations:
• Generation X: (ages 45 to 56) 36.4% — 21,720,574
• Baby Boomers: (age 57 to 75) 30.7% — 22,631,756
• Millennials: (age 26 or so to 44) 28.2% — 19,904,598
• Generation Y: 26.1% — 6,456,628
• Silent Genera...
Despite the incredible growth and increasing professionalism of the nonprofit sector, some folks may be losing sight of the continuing importance of volunteer fundraisers to the health and vitality of our nonprofit organizations. There are many excellent development officers at work today, for sure; but, the undeniable truth is that when it comes ...
A Compendium of the 12-Week Covid-19 Fundraising Blog
The massive interruption to our nation and our cyclical routines that is Covid-19 calls for new strategies and a re-dedication to the essential foundations of effective development and fundraising. What should you be doing in times of crisis? Probably what you should have been doing all al...
Focus higher-level thinking on strategy development
When was the last time a donor asked to see your strategic plan? Maybe a foundation grant application included a question about whether the organization has a plan, but honestly has anyone else asked? So why do we invest our organizational resources in these elaborate strategic planning ...
Your Planning Process Matters
It seems there is a new book or formula for better organizational planning and strategy published every few weeks. Most people have to be reminded about what all the terms mean, and the differences between mission, vision, and values statements. It can get overwhelming. And, what about the process itself? What...
By: David Goettler, CEO
The fundraising profession has grown tremendously since its inception. Today, most organizations employ experienced and capable fundraisers on staff. Increasingly administration executives and governing boards may wonder why they would need to hire a consultant at all — isn’t that the role of the executive director...
When starting a new planning process, focus on the why, what and how of planning:
Vision:• Our Aspiration / The Why
A vision statement should present the optimal future state, an ideal future even if it may never be achieved; a statement of where the organization is headed and what values are guiding that journey.
Mission:• Our Purpose / The Wh...
Emphasize the Process for a Better Product
[caption id="attachment_2777" align="alignright" width="300"] Early involvement of key stakeholders is essential to the case process[/caption]
When it’s done right, the process of developing the case for support can be as valuable as the finished product. Poorly executed, the process can become a nightm...
The Marketplace Perspective
Together with sufficient prospects and volunteers, a compelling case for support is generally considered indispensable to a successful capital campaign – or any other major gift fundraising activity. Most experienced fundraisers can easily give you a clear definition of the case for support. But, ask someone to define...
We’ve said this before, but it bears repeating: the donor’s perspective is essential to the case for support. When you initiate the preparation of your case, you should involve key members of your organizational family and your best donor prospects in the process. In doing so, you are not only working to identify the unique perspective of your ...
When the time comes to review the first draft of the case, what should you look for? Based on our experience, an effective case for support should:
Maintain the donor’s perspective and reflect the values, interests, and aspirations of prospective donors and volunteers.
Build upon the strengths, accomplishments, and capabilities of the ins...
When we try to explain the marketplace perspective and its application to fundraising, we’re sometimes challenged by those who believe that the high-minded pursuit of philanthropy should not be contaminated by the crass business of marketing. Is development too good for marketing?
[caption id="attachment_1927" align="alignright" width="168"]...
Recently, we hear more and more funders hoping that local nonprofit organizations will collaborate with each other more often and more substantially. In some situations collaboration between two independent groups makes sense for the good of the community, but not always for the nonprofit organizations. Whatever one’s perspective is on the issue ...
“Goettler Associates’ counsel showed us how to raise the bar. They took us well beyond what we originally thought would be possible to achieve, and more than has ever been raised in this community”
- Raymond Ingham, PhD, FACHE, FACMPE President and CEO, Witham Health Services
“A HUGE and ringing endorsement for Goettler Associates. The firm directed the Library’s very successful capital campaign 10 years ago. After a competitive vetting process, we selected them again to do work this year. They just completed a campaign planning study for us for a major gift/endowment campaign. The final report was excellent, and very thorough. Mr. Goettler had good rapport with staff, elected officials and trustees – and that interpersonal magic should not be discounted. The community leaders he interviewed had good feedback on his professionalism.”
- Cathi Alloway, Library Director, Schlow Centre Region Library
