Have you heard this one? An elderly woman decided to make one large charitable gift this year in December but she was not sure which of three worthy organizations to support. In April, as a test, she sent each organization a $100 contribution. The first organization processed the gift according to its usual standards and the donor received a pre-printed receipt ten days later.

The prospective donor’s first impression of you and your organization is during the initial contact—usually by letter or phone call. The person who makes that first contact is the person to whom the prospect cannot say no. This is often, but not always, a member of the board. The phone call or letter should be personal and warm and also to the point. Whether the letter is from you or a board member, tell the prospective donor who you are (unless you are already acquainted), what you are doing, and what you want.

Endowments and planned gifts are separate concepts that work hand-in-hand for donors and nonprofit organizations. Planned gifts are contributions made as a result of a

Showing appreciation for planned gifts and honoring the donors who give them are integral to an effective planned giving program and simple good manners. For most of us, however, it is easy to overlook this important aspect of donor services unless we have written standards and procedures that are routinely monitored. These policies can be divided into three categories.

In its simplest form, the case for support is a philanthropic investment prospectus: a straightforward document that tells prospective donors what your organization hopes to accomplish with their philanthropic gifts.