The Future of Fundraising

The Future of Fundraising

Welcome to the Future of Fundraising.

Over the past year, my team and I have had more than 1,000 meetings with fundraising leaders across the nonprofit spectrum to learn more about their gift documentation, gift formalization, and gift fulfillment processes. No matter the type of organization, Higher Education, Independent Schools, Healthcare, Public Media, Museums, Cause-Based Organizations, or Faith-Based Organizations, we’ve observed that they all have what we are now calling a “Messy Middle.”

Givzey: The Messy Middle

The messy middle is the time between when a donor is at the height of their excitement and belief in the mission of the organization – the moment they commit to their gift, and when that gift is closed. In that messy middle, there are forms, templates, revisions, approvals, signatures, layers of bureaucracy, compliance concerns and more. There are often multiple people who need to approve the gift and, every day that goes by, the donor’s sentiment is at risk.

At best, the messy middle can be organized, well-communicated and straightforward, leaving the donor with a wonderful impression of the experience and an expedited timeline to impact. At worst, the messy middle can ruin the relationship with the donor and sour the trust in the organization that the donor had when they committed to their gift. We saw countless examples of donors lowering their gift, canceling it all together or pledging to never make an other gift, all because of their experience in the messy middle. And this is why I believe we need to spend more time focused on finding efficiencies and considering the donor experience in the messy middle.

Givzey: Donor Experience in the Messy Middle

I’d like to invite you to join our team for a conversation on Thursday, April 4, as we present our findings on the Messy Middle. This session will cover best practices for eliminating donor risk associated with this stage of closing a gift and ways your organization can streamline the time between commitment to close to ensure all donors have an extraordinary experience with your organization.

Here’s what’s on my radar this week:

WEBINAR: The Messy Middle

Webinar: The Messy Middle - Introducing Risk to the Donor Experience Between Commitment & Close

Thursday, April 4 at 2:00 PM ET

In fundraising, the solicitation stage is a carefully crafted series of engagements that leads a donor from proposal to stewardship.

However, the steps between a verbal commitment and closing the gift are anything but simple. This stage is filled with:

  • Manual Tasks
  • Forms
  • Templates
  • Gift Agreements
  • Approvals
  • Revisions
  • Signatures

All of these tasks create a lengthy process that leaves donors waiting.

 This "Messy Middle," which begins after a fundraiser secures a commitment, is where the donor experience becomes most at risk.

 Join Givzey as we walk you through commitment to close and show you best practices for eliminating donor risk and streamlining commitments through the Messy Middle. (SAVE YOUR SEAT)


5 Reasons Your Nonprofit Needs Gift Agreement Management

5 Reasons Your Nonprofit Needs Gift Agreement Management

Gift Agreement Management focuses on the ‘Messy Middle’ portion of fundraising, from a donor’s commitment to closing the gift. When the necessary processes in the ‘Messy Middle’ linger on for days, weeks, or even months, the donor experience becomes the most at-risk and suffers.

Implementing Gift Agreement Management benefits nonprofit organizations, the donor experience, and the entire fundraising team. Here are five reasons why. (KEEP READING)


Are We Getting Back to Normal? New Reports Forecast Fundraising Growth (Chronicle of Philanthropy)

Are We Getting Back to Normal? New Reports Forecast Fundraising Growth (Chronicle of Philanthropy)

Researchers at the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy working with the consulting firm CCS Fundraising predict that philanthropy will grow an inflation-adjusted 4.2 percent in 2024 and 3.9 percent in 2025.

The outlook is a stark contrast from the negative news in last year’s backward-looking “Giving USA” report, says Peter Hoskow, principal at CCS…

The report bases its projections on anticipated growth in personal income, above-average growth in the previous years’ S&P 500, and average growth in net worth. (KEEP READING IN THE CHRONICLE OF PHILANTHROPY)


Upcoming Conferences

March

  • Mar 25-27: CASE DRIVE - Washington, DC
  • Mar 28: AFPMA Fundraising Day in Boston - Boston, MA

April

  • Apr 14-16: CASE Districts V & VI - Chicago, IL
  • Apr 14-16: CASE District IV - San Antonio, TX
  • Apr 28-30: Alumni Professionals of Texas - San Marcos, TX

May

  • May 13-15: Salesforce Education Summit - San Diego, CA
  • May 20-21: UNC System Advancement Symposium - Durham, NC


Fundraising Jobs

If you have jobs you would like posted in the Future of Fundraising newsletter, please email hello@givzey.com with your requests.

  • Vice President of Philanthropy and Alumni Relations $220,000 - $260,000 | New Mexico State University Foundation | Las Cruces, NM | APPLY>>>
  • Assistant Vice President of Alumni Engagement and Executive Director of Foundation $220,000 - $240,000 | Northwestern University | Evanston, IL | APPLY>>>
  • Vice President for Advancement $210,000 | Roanoke College | Salem, VA | APPLY>>>


See what else the future holds for fundraising today>>>


Yuliia Romanova

CEO l Entrepreneur l Woman Business Owner l CSM I & II | CSPO

8mo

Streamlining this process is crucial to ensure donors feel valued and excited. 

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