Real Talk for Real Fundraisers

Did you know that not everything Richard and Jeff say is true? Well, okay, it’s true, but it may not be exactly true for you and your situation as it pertains to how you implement The Veritus Way at your organization. Today’s podcast episode explores how The Veritus Way can work for your organization even if you don’t apply everything to the letter of the law. The podcast also welcomes a new guest host, Karen Kendrick (our Director of Learning) along with two guests: Lisa Robertson, one of our Veritus Client Experience Leaders and Greg Gibbs, head of major gifts at UC Agriculture and Natural Resources. Each of our guests will talk about how they are applying The Veritus Way in the organizations they work with.

As a front-line fundraiser, you need to possess many skills and traits. Richard and Jeff have highlighted many of them over the years. But there’s one they’ve never discussed before: how likable are you? In this episode, Richard and Jeff discuss 10 traits that make up likeable people, and how important they are to have as a front-line fundraiser. All of them are important, but some of them are pretty surprising.

As you know, The Veritus Way of Major Gifts is all about helping you design a structure, so you have the freedom and ability to create authentic relationships with your donors. The main tool we use to develop that structure is our Marketing Impact Chart. Guess what? We’re changing the name of the MIC and in this podcast episode, we tell you what it is and why we’re changing it, along with telling you why this tool has made a significant impact with thousands of front-line fundraisers all around the world. ------------ Download the newly-renamed tool at this link.

You probably know that the number one reason donors either leave your organization and stop giving or reduce their giving is because they were  never told how their gift made a difference. Yet most non-profits we’ve encountered don’t make this a priority.  In this week’s podcast, Richard and Jeff discuss three strategies to help organizations make the investment in reporting back impact and ultimately change the culture of your non-profit so that you can retain donors and increase giving over time.

Your donors are busy. There's a lot of noise in their lives. The front-line fundraisers who can cut through that noise and get noticed by their donors will have the ability to win their hearts and minds. In today's episode, Richard and Jeff give you seven ways to stand out with your donor, so they'll engage with you AND allow you to build an authentic relationship with them.

You know that donor that gives every year in November a check for $1,000… and they’ve been doing it for a thousand years? Yeah, you know, that one. You’re most likely thinking, “Every November I can always expect that check to come in, but it's not really worth it to me to reach out and find out who they are. They’re not going to give more.” In this episode, Richard and Jeff tell you a story of how an MGO decided NOT to listen to that story in their head, and instead they reached out to that $1,000 donor – and the donor became a $95,000 donor! While this is just one story, Richard and Jeff have heard hundreds just like this from MGOs who are following The Veritus Way of major gift fundraising. Get inspired to rethink about how you view some of you donors and start talking to them. You’ll find out information that will enable you to ignite your donor’s desire to make the world a better place!

There are so many myths in major gift fundraising that Richard and Jeff devote a whole chapter to it in their latest book, “It’s Not JUST About  the Money.” These myths hurt not only the success of a major gift program, but the development of front-line fundraisers.  Today’s episode debunks several myths and gets to the truth of what major gifts is really about. It continues on the theme of a previous episode in November 2020.

Professional fundraisers have lots of questions about how you can do your work better. Each week, Richard and Jeff hear from your colleagues all over the world on how they can be better fundraisers. Today’s podcast answers some of the most burning questions they get.  They hope that their answers will help you think differently and inspire you in the work you do every day to help change the world.

Join Richard and Jeff for Part 2 of their discussion of six New Year’s Resolutions. In this podcast they outline the second 3 resolutions that you may have never heard of before… however, they’re resolutions that are embodied in every successful Major Gift Officer they’ve met.  Start your year off right and find out what all successful Major Gift Officers have in common.

Goodbye 2020! In today’s podcast Richard and Jeff highlight 3 resolutions to start your new year. They’ll not only inspire you, but they’ll help you become a better front-line fundraiser in 2021. We can’t think of a better way to start the new year than to have some concrete ideas on how to help you develop stronger relationships with your donors and to help you find more joy in your work.