Blog » Center for Major Gifts

Lumpy mail example – sealed padded ticker than usual envelope used in direct mail fundraising to attract donor attention

Marketing

How to Use “Lumpy Mail” to Get a New Donor’s Attention

“Lumpy mail” is a clever direct mail fundraising tactic that grabs attention with a three-dimensional object inside the envelope—like a seed packet or mini flashlight. It sparks curiosity, makes your nonprofit memorable, and opens the door for meaningful donor outreach. When paired with a compelling story and timely follow-up, lumpy mail transforms cold prospects into warm leads and can significantly boost your donor acquisition results.

Joe Garecht May 13, 2025 No Comments

Major gift officers and nonprofit leaders networking and building donor relationships at a professional fundraising event

Uncategorized

Starting Conversations at Networking Events: Creating an Elevator Pitch That Opens Donors’ Wallets

A sharp elevator pitch can turn a fleeting introduction into a lasting donor relationship. Joe Garecht outlines how to craft and deliver a compelling message using a mission hook, tangible impact, and a soft call-to-action. He also emphasizes adapting your tone, avoiding jargon, and following up promptly—perhaps even with a legacy giving resource like LegacyPlanner™—to keep the conversation alive and open the door to deeper giving.

Joe Garecht May 13, 2025 No Comments

Career Issues

Learn to Write an Effective Self-Assessment and Boost Your Career

Writing an effective self-assessment is a valuable skill for career growth. Self-assessments help you to communicate your value for career advancement discussions.

Viken Mikaelian May 12, 2025 No Comments

Leadership

4 Strategies for Overcoming Perfectionism

Perfectionism can hinder efficiency and productivity. Top strategies can reduce the stress and enable you to work more effectively.

Viken Mikaelian May 7, 2025 No Comments

Career Issues

Build a Strong Work Ethic and Get Things Done

“Build a Strong Work Ethic and Get Things Done” emphasizes techniques for setting goals, managing time, and maintaining discipline to achieve success in the workplace.

Patrick O'Donnell May 6, 2025 No Comments

Bequest

Bequest Storytelling: 8 Powerful Strategies to Boost Your Nonprofit’s Planned Giving Program

Transform your nonprofit’s planned giving program with powerful bequest storytelling – no big budget required. Most organizations lack dedicated resources for legacy gift marketing, but there’s a simple solution: sharing authentic donor stories that showcase real impact. By following these 8 proven strategies for effective bequest marketing, you’ll connect with potential donors, build trust, and secure more charitable bequests to support your mission’s future, all through the power of storytelling.

Claire Meyerhoff May 4, 2025 No Comments

Modern red and white apartment building with balconies, landscaped garden, and large Vacancy sign in front

Planned Giving

Retirement Community? Fill Your Vacancies Faster.

Seniors often delay moving into retirement communities because they’re waiting to sell their home. This puts their future at risk as they age. Our process removes that barrier. We provide immediate cash through a structured sale, allowing them to move in now. The remainder becomes a charitable gift, and there’s no financial risk to your community—funds are secured before move-in. It’s seamless, fast, and ensures your vacancies are filled with motivated, ready-to-move-in residents.

Viken Mikaelian April 30, 2025 No Comments

Yellow speech bubbles representing groupthink or isolation in the fundraising world.

Fundraising Strategy

The Fundraiser’s Bubble

“You can’t ask a donor for a major gift if you don’t even speak their language.” Most fundraisers live in a nonprofit echo chamber—talking to each other, quoting the same case studies, even watching the same TV stations and staying in the same cultural environment. But your donors don’t live there. Step outside the bubble. Learn their world—or lose their trust. This is for the 5% who will.

Viken Mikaelian April 28, 2025 No Comments