December 2017

Thrifty: Managing money and resources in a cautious and sensible way so as to waste as little as possible; thriving; growing vigorously.

Being thrifty does not mean doing without. It means making every decision count. Whether it is being intentional with finances or being a good steward of time and tangible possessions, being thrifty is about saying “no” when it is needful in order to say “yes” when it is beneficial.

Recent disasters, including devastating hurricanes in Florida, Texas, and Puerto Rico, prompted one Scout in Indiana to launch a blood drive during the holidays. His goal was to get 30 people to give blood and help replenish what local blood banks had given to address immediate needs. He added planning to his inspiration and soon his Eagle project was underway. Go here for more about his project.

Do you have a tough fundraising question?
Send your questions to askhartsook@kineticfundraising.com and we will respond by email. Your question may be featured in a future eHartsook on Scouting.

QUESTION: How can we improve our donor cultivation beyond the basics?

Make sure to do more than asking donors for gifts. Ask them for their input and expertise. Ask them for their stories on why they care about the organization’s mission. It is only after you’ve listened to what donors have to share should you ask for support.

Kinetic President and CEO Matthew J. Beem’s book Performance-Driven Fundraising: Taking Control of Your Success shares decades of fundraising insights and features campaign success stories. Performance-Driven Fundraising will help accelerate anyone’s learning curve and serve as a valuable reference tool for new and seasoned fundraisers. Go here for a special price of $10 (plus shipping and handling).

From his days as an Eagle Scout, the foundation was built for Senior Vice President Jason Wood’s distinguished fundraising career. Prior to joining Kinetic, he was President and CEO of the Pikes Peak United Way (PPUW) in Colorado Springs, Co., where he was actively involved in fundraising. He personally secured $29 million in new multiyear funding in 3.5 years, including the organization’s first $1 million/$10 million gifts for new initiatives and secured $5 million in federal grants from federal, corporate and individual sources to support new programs. Jason managed a 35-member team, $6.7 million annual campaign and a $5.5 million annual operating budget. He tripled donors at the $100,000 level, secured 12 planned gifts totaling $6 million and increased new donors by 10 percent per annual campaign. Jason holds a B.A. in nonprofit management from Rockhurst University, with a specialty in fundraising and community engagement.

Appeal letters should reach at least a two-percent response threshold. Successful nonprofits don’t just send an appeal and hope for the best. They have a comprehensive strategy to finish the year achieving their benchmark goals. Go here to read more.

Kinetic speakers are members of the Kinetic team of professional fundraising consultants who have, in their collective careers, raised more than $231 billion in their 300-plus years of experience. To view upcoming Growing Philanthropy Tour presentations. To view a sample of past presentations. To schedule a Kinetic consultant to speak at your conference or organization, email Tammy at info@kineticfundraising.com.