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Upcoming FundraisingINFO.com Webinar's



Wednesday, February 8,  2pm EDT
How to Get an "A" in Non-Profit Board Fundraising
with Daniel E. Neel
FundraisingInfo.com is proud to present Daniel E. Neel, President of The Fundraising Resource Group, in a special webinar designed to provide you with the training and tools needed to effectively engage your board in its greatest and most important challenge.  Participants will learn how to: 1) communicate specific expectations for board members; 2) provide the appropriate structure and training to empower board members; and 3) effectively engage board members to be successful in fundraising.



 



 
Ask FRI Question
Question:

I am doing a training on recognition around annual campaigns with 40 Executive Directors and would love some good info on ways to recognize donors, volunteers and staff. We want to encourage them to be doing stewardship year around with donors.

Answer:

FRI agrees that donor, volunteer and staff recognition should take place year-round. Most stewardship programs involve the establishment of giving societies for annual, cumulative, and planned giving donors. Remember, however, that good stewardship is more than just thanking your donors. It involves keeping donors apprised of what your organization is doing, and making them feel involved. Donors want to make an impact by giving to your organization, and the better you can show them what their money does, the more likely they will give again. If FRI were to name several ways to thank donors they would be:

1. Thank you letters

2. Thank you calls

3. Including donors in your annual report

4. Establishing giving societies

5. Newsletters

6. End of the year gift receipts

 

 

 

Top Gifts of the Week

    $34 million gift from Ben and Jo Statler to West Virginia University.  This is the largest gift received by the university.  The funds are directed to the college of engineering and will rename the school to Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources.  (Pittsburgh Post Gazette, January 12, 2012).

    $33 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. to Indiana University.  The funds will be used upgrade and expand Indiana University’s Kelly School of Business in Bloomington.  This is the largest single gift to the Kelly School of Business in its history.  (Indiana University, January 11, 2012).

    $25 million gift from Bernie and Billi Marcus to the Boca Raton Regional Hospital.  The funds will establish the Marcus Neuroscience Institute which is expected to open and serve patients with epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease and other brain disorders.  (Orlando Sentinel, January 11, 2012).

    $23 million gift from the Arcus Foundation to Kalamazoo College.  This gift is the largest gift in the history of the school.  The funds will establish the Arcus Center for Social Justice Leadership.  (MLive, January 17, 2012).

     

Top News Stories of  the Week

In 2011, more than 385,000 nonprofit organizations lost their tax exempt status by failing to file tax returns for three consecutive years.  The internal monitor for the IRS stated that nonprofit organizations have no ability to challenge the decision of the IRS and to be reinstated must refile all paperwork.  (The Chronicle of Philanthropy, January 12, 2012).

Craigslist Foundation announced that it is closing.  The site was created by Craig Newmark, the founder of Craigslist.  Visitors to Craigslist Foundation’s website are now being pointed to CraigConnects.  (The Chronicle of Philanthropy, January 12, 2012).