FUNDRAISING
A sampling of the kinds of questions we help institutions ask – and answer – with reference to their specific needs and goals:
- What is the relationship between annual giving and campaign giving -- is there a ratio that can be used with reliability or some other way of predicting one from the other?
- Speaking of annual giving, what is the best way to start or build such a program?
- How valuable is the use of either telephone or e-mail solicitation in annual fund raising-- are there risks with either or both?
- In raising major gifts, what are the keys to a successful solicitation?
- Is there a set level for major and principal gifts or do these vary from institution to institution?
- How important are long-term relationships in giving, versus short-term satisfaction of donor intentions?
- The term "sacrificial gift" is often used, what is a sacrificial gift and how often can you expect a committed donor to sacrifice?
- Is planned giving the wave of the future, or can we expect to continue to receive regular gifts during donors lifetimes?
- Will a change in the death tax, especially a drop of this tax to zero, have a major impact on giving --and if so, what can we expect that affect to be?
- How about the flat tax, if that were to resurface should be become concerned about giving -- in other words, how much does philanthropy depend on tax breaks?
- Is international giving (giving from outside the US to US institutions) going to be as important as the frequent trips to Asia by US University Presidents would suggest?
- What is your prediction about how the current gap in qualified fundraising professionals can be filled --- what related fields should we mine to find new colleagues for fundraising?
