Give and Take

almost perfect
Personal Development
Viken Mikaelian

A Little Better Than Perfect  

Everybody makes mistakes. Give yourself a break. And don’t forget to keep your sense of humor.  Anyone who is mentally healthy doesn’t expect perfection in themselves or anyone else.

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A plant growing on a set of stacked coins
Goal Setting
Viken Mikaelian

Me, Money, Nonprofits

Making money by selling products isn’t some elusive art or rocket science. It’s accessible to anyone willing to learn and put in the effort — something our education system doesn’t emphasize enough.

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Signature "thank you" on a note card.
Fundraising Strategy
Viken Mikaelian

4 Qualities of a Strategic Major Donor Thank-You Letter 

A major donor thank-you letter is a monumental part of the stewardship process and keeps people connected to your mission. Don’t leave writing a major donor thank-you letter to the last moment. You can prepare ahead of time by drafting a sample document and then customizing it as is necessary. 

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Welcome to The Top 5%

Here we are, wrapping up yet another year and facing a new one. This is the perfect time to set goals for the year ahead. (Actually, I happen to think anytime is a good time to set goals, but a lot of people seem to be motivated by the new year.)

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email marketing
Marketing
Viken Mikaelian

E-mail vs. Direct-Mail Fundraising 

Choosing a method of marketing communication is a foundational layer of a strong nonprofit marketing strategy. In the past, major gifts officers relied heavily on direct-mail fundraising as a form of communicating with donors.  

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Silhouette of two hands negotiating
Fundraising Strategy
Viken Mikaelian

The Link Between Negotiation, Sales, and Fundraising

Your days are full of negotiations, one after another. Some are small, like persuading your kid to eat a little breakfast before school. Some are bigger, like getting your team on board with the idea you want to pitch to your boss. And some are bigger, like buying a house or asking for a promotion. Life is all about negotiation — and negotiation is happening all the time.

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"Forget about It" word callout
Planned Giving
Viken Mikaelian

There’s a Crisis Brewing

Forget what you’ve heard about planned giving. Just do the math. Baby Boomers, who are among the wealthiest and most charitable Americans, are dying at a rate of about 6,000 a day.

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