Do you want to raise more money? Value relationships

Do you want to raise more money? Value relationships

Can you put donors first AND raise more money?

Yes. And in their book, It’s Not Just About The Money, Richard Perry and Jeff Schreifels – Veritus Group – show you how.

I’ve admired their Passionate Giving blog for years now. They’re generous with advice and information. And they have real-world success to back it all up.

When it comes to books about fundraising, I’m biased toward “just give it to me straight”. We’re all so busy – I’m looking for information I can use. So I was thrilled when I was given a copy of this book. It was all I’d expected, and I can happily recommend it to you.

Maybe you currently have a major gifts program at your organization. Or maybe you haven’t even thought about one yet. Either way, check out It’s Not Just About The Money.

It’s short and easy to read. But this book is packed with actionable advice about building and improving a program.

Richard and Jeff have helped organizations raise more money, support their staff and develop happy donors. You can benefit from their experience.

If you have a major gifts program, you’ll want to read how to supercharge it.

If you don’t have a major gifts program, this book may change your mind. At least, you’ll look at your fundraising program differently.

Here are some of their core points:

Donors must be central to your mission.

In fact, they suggest putting donors in your mission statement. Donors are important partners, not just a source of money.

Relationships always come before money.

Focus on fulfilling donors’ desires – what is it they want to change in the world? Where do their hearts lead them? Focus on learning about them. Not just research – you have to develop relationships. Relationships build the trust donors need to feel safe with you and your organization.

Put the relationships first and you’ll raise more money.

There are no shortcuts. Doing major gifts well means time, energy, and investment.

• Major gift officers must focus on their donors. They can’t double as event managers or run the department. In fact, they may need support staff of their own to succeed.
• Preparation is key. There’s so much to do before you make a request. It’s all about understanding your donors and matching your programs with their wishes. Spend the time and you vastly increase your chance of success.
• Major gifts are not direct marketing. Each relationship is individual and built over time. People who give large sums of money must be able to trust the organization and its representative. That only happens in the context of a real relationship.

Richard and Jeff have helped many organizations build great major gift programs. The information in this book is the result of years of learning and doing. It’s useful whether you’re thinking about a major gifts program or already have one.

But what if you’re a one-person shop, struggling to do it all?

You still want to read this book. Here’s why:

• Their focus on donors and relationship fundraising always holds true.
• Their commitment to ethical, open, and relationship-focused organizations is smart for every organization.
• Their insistence on strong planning is critical for every fundraising program.

If you’re in it just for the money, this isn’t the book for you. But if you care about happy donors and you want to raise more money, read It’s Not Just About The Money.

Photo credit: Rula Sibai