Giving Days and The Rise of the Microsite

All professional fundraising organizations have asked the question, “Should we participate in Giving Tuesday?” Typically, the feeling of “why not” is quickly followed by “what am I getting myself into?” What’s more, Giving Tuesday is just one of many days and initiatives organizations feel pressure to leverage by making appeals to their community --- the list grows every year. Many states now have state-wide giving days like Colorado Gives Day or North Texas Giving Day. There’s National Philanthropy Day in November and the holiday season always seems appropriate to make an appeal. Add into the mix end-of-year appeals, an organization’s…

Day in the Life of an Annual Giving Fundraiser (GIFs)

    When advancement services pulls the wrong list.   [iframe src="https://giphy.com/embed/ylMF2SwbAotLa" width="480" height="270"]  When you accidentally include the board of trustees in your solicitation email.   [iframe src="https://giphy.com/embed/jeCoOrrbhDgRO" width="360" height="480"]  When it’s 11:59 on June 29th   [iframe src="https://giphy.com/embed/NAn839YizXYXK" width="480" height="320"]  When it’s 12:01 on July 1st   [iframe src="https://giphy.com/embed/rumR5iFBxFjdC" width="480" height="185"]  When your goal is set by throwing darts, spinning a wheel, etc.   [iframe src="https://giphy.com/embed/26AHzFnyzk7xia8a4" width="480" height="270"]  When the Chancellor recognizes you and knows your name!   [iframe src="https://giphy.com/embed/qTUxBRlcZjBgk" width="480" height="264"]  When alumni relations complains about phone solicitations to alumni.   [iframe src="https://giphy.com/embed/vLhYqCSE2YVXi" width="480" height="294"]  When marketing…

Amplify Your Giving Day Reach With a Social Media Toolkit

One of the best ways to grow momentum around a Giving Day initiative is through social sharing -- but not just through your own channels. In order to truly make an impact, you need to leverage the extended social networks of your faculty, staff, students, alumni, and donors. So, what's the best approach? By creating a concise social media toolkit that gives these groups template posts, optimized images, and directions on how and when to use them you can make sharing a no-brainer. You can even evaluate and identify ambassadors that can pre-seed donations to your campaigns in addition to…

The Evolution of Philanthropy & the Fall of the Fundraising Pyramid

For a long time, philanthropy has been defined as “the giving of money to nonprofit organizations.” However, this definition is quickly becoming obsolete. It's evolving towards a meaning that is more appropriate to today’s giving paradigm and less industry-driven: that philanthropy is “the action of transforming the social wellbeing of others through generosity.” This implies that there are many more philanthropists in the world than our antiquated definition acknowledges. More importantly, this new way of looking at philanthropy forces nonprofit organizations to reconsider not only why they do what they do but how they do it at a systemic level. This…

The Top 11 Planning Elements for a Successful Day of Giving

The technology used to support a successful Day of Giving is only about half of what goes into a day's fundraising success. People, planning, variety and smart segmentation all play a role, too. The Knight Foundation's Day of Giving Playbook is the most comprehensive guide book we have seen. Though it is designed for community foundations to connect, support and empower community fundraising initiatives, the philosophy remains sound in the university fundraising sphere. Here are some top takeaways: Start Planning Early Start planning six months in advance. The biggest difference between success and less than your goals is planning! Don't be afraid…

How to Create a Killer Giving Day Communications Kit for Your Ambassadors

A key component of any successful Day of Giving is advocacy from organizational champions that help get the word out. This can be staff, faculty, alumni, or past donors; the important thing is to reach out (ideally more than 3 months in advance) and identify who within these groups is willing to help tell your story and inspire their networks to action. You can find these members through a variety of tactics: at donor or staff events where you can announce your upcoming initiative, through major gift officers who can ask for support using an existing relationship, through very tailored…

Day of Giving or Day of Pain?

In the interest of full disclosure, I grew up in the world of Advancement Services. You know, the “back office.” The “support staff.” The “we’ll dump more admin stuff on them because they have the time since they aren’t out there raising money.” Ya, that Advancement Services. You should remember that if it weren’t for us you would not be able to mail/email prospects.  You wouldn’t have a clue how much money has been given and by whom. You couldn’t issue a legal tax receipt, and you certainly could not follow-up on 3,000 outstanding pledges. Read the 3rd edition of…

95/5 is No Way to Live

It was only 10 to 15 years ago institutions followed the Paretto principle closely, securing 80% of their gifts from 20% of their donors. Then things began to shift. Many institutions now exist in a world where 5% of their gifts come from 95% of their donors. One reason for this shift has been the increase in mega campaigns and a hyper-focus on transformational gifts. Inspiring seven, eight, and even nine-figure investments can be truly game-changing: transforming programs, departments, and even the universities themselves and ushering in enormous positive societal impact. These gifts can enable institutions to fulfill their missions…

Katie Haystead

Katie Haystead

Senior Vice President, Partnerships

With over a decade of experience working with K12 schools and higher education institutions’ fundraising efforts, Katie Haystead now oversees the partnerships team at Community Funded. Her passion for partner success and satisfaction aligns with Community Funded’s priorities and Katie’s unique background is well suited to manage the day to day operations of our partnerships team as well as new market acquisition.

Prior to joining the team at Community Funded, Katie served many roles within the Fundraising Division at Ruffalo Noel Levitz. Her experience ranges from working onsite and remotely with clients executing phonathon programs, developing annual giving strategies, onsite consultations and also developing multichannel strategies allowing for strong synergy between annual giving channels and creating strong major and planned gift pipelines.

Katie is based in Metro Detroit and is a graduate of Central Michigan University, where she worked for the phonathon for 3 years while working towards her History Major.

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Kim Jennings

Kim Jennings

Senior Generosity Strategist, Generis

Kim Jennings, CFRE is a skilled fundraising leader who believes in the power of Christian education to raise up thoughtful, strong, committed leaders who can make our world a better place for all.

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Kim Jennings

Todd Turner

Director of Digital Strategies, Generis

In addition to his 11 years overseeing Chuck Swindoll’s Insight Living Ministries communications department, Todd Turner has worked as a digital strategist for faith based organizations across the globe..

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Kim Jennings

Jennifer Perrow

Senior Generosity Strategist, Generis

Jennifer is a skilled fundraising and communications professional who helps ministries articulate vision, communicate mission, and raise abundant funds to advance Kingdom priorities.

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