Dear Kim:
I work with a small college and I am trying to find information about our individual donors. I want to know about their donor history and what they have been involved in. Since I can’t access tax returns, do you know of any other resource that would help me find this information?
Dear Kim,
As a new fundraiser for a mental health provider, I would like to know the etiquette and proper mode of thanking someone for either an in-kind gift or a monetary donation. It is bad form to send a pre-printed card to acknowledge the gift? I am referring to monetary gifts under $100.
~Ms. Manners, Jr.
Dear Kim:
I have been working for 10 years as the director of a social justice nonprofit that I founded. Since we have no development director, I’m the primary fundraising staff. I am considering leaving my position to stay at home with my young child. Many of our donors were brought into the organization through me, and I’m concerned some of them may stop giving if I’m no longer on staff. What can I do over the next three-four months to encourage as many of them as possible to remain part of our work after I am gone?
Dear Kim:
We are a 50-year-old social service agency mostly supported by government grants. We do have about 600 donors who help us every year and we do a reasonable job keeping in touch with them. We also have about 300 people who give us in-kind gifts and I have tried all kinds of solicitations to encourage them to give money as well as stuff, but I have had a really poor response. Someone said that you said in-kind donors often don’t become money donors. Is that true? Should I stop trying to convert them?
Dear Kim:
What is a Lie-Bunt? I have some pro bono consulting from this high powered direct mail and social media person and she told me we have a lot of lie-bunts we should be asking. I already feel stupid around her and don’t want to ask her what she means. Do you have any idea?
Dear Kim:
I have often heard and others say that when you are asking for money, you need to name an amount or a range. I feel uncomfortable doing this, and I think some of my donors do not like being asked for a specific amount. I work with a lot of donors who are deeply religious and look to GOD to tell them what to give, not me. Can I violate this best practice and still be successful?
Dear Kim:
A donor recently promised a donation of $2500 but hasn’t paid it. How can I collect this money? We could really use it but don’t want to be rude.
Dear Kim:
We have thousands of individual donors and recently decided to stop sending thank you notes to people who give less than $15. One of our board members heard you speak and said that you said everyone should be thanked, regardless of size of gift. The cost/benefit of this eludes me.
