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Michael Pettry
Feb 27, 20232 min read
Planned Giving's Effect on Annual Fund and Beyond
“Oh no, I don’t think we should solicit our donors for a planned gift. That could stop them from making a gift to the annual fund, and...


John Mainella
Jan 3, 20232 min read
HIGH IMPACT BOARD ACTIVITY THAT INVOLVES EVERYONE
One of the first things that we hear in many conversations is “how do we better engage our board in philanthropy?” As we look to the...


Michael Pettry
Dec 19, 20222 min read
ADJUSTING YOUR SAILS INSTEAD OF FIGHTING THE WIND
There’s no time like the present! You’ve heard it time and time again over the years: picking back up those long-lapsed piano lessons,...


Cape Fletcher Associates
Nov 29, 20222 min read
Holiday Card 2022: Incorporating "Us" Into Our Work
Art - - nearly all forms of it - - has played a significant role our lives since we were youth. John grew-up playing the piano, singing...


John Mainella
Oct 17, 20222 min read
Do you know how old your donors are?
According to a recent study by Blackbaud, the average age of a donor is 65 years old. What makes this statistic even more interesting is...

Cape Fletcher Associates
Sep 28, 20222 min read
Rethinking Giving Tuesday 2022: Part Two
If you’ve not yet read the first part of our 2022 Giving Tuesday strategy, consider clicking here to read it first. Now that you’ve...

Cape Fletcher Associates
Sep 28, 20222 min read
Rethinking Giving Tuesday 2022: Part One
Giving Tuesday 2022 - - November 29, 2022 - - is just two months away. Did it sneak up on you this year? Are you ready? And how are you...

Cape Fletcher Associates
Jun 23, 20222 min read
Charitable Giving Remains Strong: Giving USA Report on 2021 Philanthropy
The always anticipated release of the annual Giving USA study on philanthropic activity in the United States shows that Americans in 2021...


Michael Pettry
Apr 25, 20222 min read
Don’t Forget The In-kind Support
“They’re leaving money on the table,” I said to myself! I remember my first time serving as a panelist, adjudicating grant applications...


John Mainella
Mar 18, 20223 min read
Using Video To Increase Participation Rates
A few months ago, I posted a blog about stewardship and briefly mentioned the idea of using impact videos to tell our stories. In the...


John Mainella
Feb 2, 20222 min read
The Great Giveaway
“Don’t count on any inheritance, because we are going to travel and spend every last dime!” Jokingly, that came from my in-laws as they...


Michael Pettry
Sep 28, 20212 min read
Balancing Revenue *And* Expenses As A Development Professional
For those of us who have spent years as development professionals, we’re generally revenue-focused people. How many new donations came in...


Cape Fletcher Associates
Jul 14, 20211 min read
The Power Of PTO
Are you hearing what we’re hearing? No, it’s not the sizzle of summertime. It’s the scuttle among those in the development profession...


Cape Fletcher Associates
May 8, 20212 min read
Leadership: You Don’t Have to Take My Word For It (Part 1)
The characteristics of what makes an effective leader may vary from sector to sector, one’s role at the institution, perhaps even...

Michael Pettry
Mar 19, 20213 min read
Leadership Principles No Matter Your Role
You may be the CEO leading the institution, a vice president or director leading a team, or a board chair leading an assembly of...


Michael Pettry
Mar 4, 20211 min read
New report sheds light on Covid’s impact on nonprofits
The nonprofit-focused institution Candid and the Center for Disaster Philanthropy released a report March 3, 2021 illustrating the impact...


Cape Fletcher Associates
Feb 1, 20213 min read
Four Questions to Change Donor Conversations
Guest Blog: From time to time, industry leaders, experts and generally inspiring people will share their thoughts on this blog. Noted...


John Mainella
Jan 18, 20212 min read
Knowing Your Audience: Solicitation Letters & Emails
I remember writing what I thought was one of the most beautiful and compelling direct mail letters. Wrong! I needed to re-think my audience.


Cape Fletcher Associates
Jan 1, 20212 min read
It's January 1...Now What?!
The rush of the holiday season is starting to fade away. Giving Tuesday is a distant memory. The final appeal slips have been recorded,...


Cape Fletcher Associates
Dec 1, 20202 min read
Storytelling and Fundraising: A Meaningful Duo
Guest Blog: From time to time, industry leaders, experts and generally inspiring people will share their thoughts on this blog. Noted...
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