Planned Giving Vendor Evaluation & RFP Guide for Nonprofits

2026-10-23T11:40:12-04:00

Bottom Line Up Front: For fundraising professionals exploring legacy or planned gifting, comparing software options requires a structured approach. This planned giving vendor evaluation guide balances technology cost with long-term gift yield. To execute a planned giving program effectively, nonprofit executives, Chief Development Officers, and procurement committees must evaluate total cost of ownership, CRM integration capabilities, vendor security protocols, and data protection before entering into software contracts. Read on to discover exactly what you should be on the lookout for in your search. Executive Procurement for Planned Giving Technology Selecting software for planned giving operations is an executive investment that affects [...]

Planned Giving Vendor Evaluation & RFP Guide for Nonprofits2026-10-23T11:40:12-04:00

Legacy Giving vs. Planned Giving: Definitions & Positioning

2026-10-23T11:30:25-04:00

While planned giving refers to the technical financial structures behind deferred gifts, legacy giving reflects the emotional, donor-centric messaging that inspires supporters to include nonprofits in their long-term estate plans. These differences are vital for executive leaders who want to maximize long-term major gift conversions. Defining the Difference: Legacy Giving vs. Planned Giving Understanding the difference between legacy giving and planned giving in nonprofit marketing requires executive leadership to separate technical administration from donor motivation. At its core, planned giving describes the legal, tax, and financial mechanisms used to structure deferred contributions. These instruments include charitable gift annuities, charitable remainder unitrusts, [...]

Legacy Giving vs. Planned Giving: Definitions & Positioning2026-10-23T11:30:25-04:00

Measuring Your ROI From Donor Prospect Research Operations

2026-10-15T12:58:09-04:00

When your development team uncovers a list of screened leads, you're not just collecting names. You're laying the groundwork for sustainable fundraising growth. Sector data shows that identifying the right supporters early in the donor lifecycle is critical to long-term success. However, development departments frequently struggle to prove the return on investment (ROI) from prospect research. This leaves board members and executive leaders wondering whether premium research tools are paying off. Luckily, modern data workflows go far beyond basic list building. The most effective screening systems reveal deep donor insights, including financial capacity, philanthropic affinity, and corporate giving eligibility. This guide [...]

Measuring Your ROI From Donor Prospect Research Operations2026-10-15T12:58:09-04:00

Top Fundraising Strategies for Donors Without Employer Matches

2025-12-05T17:28:35-05:00

Unfortunately, not all donors are going to qualify for employee matching gift programs, which is a key means of tapping into corporate giving revenue. This ineligibility may include some retirees, freelancers, self-employed individuals, and employees at organizations without matching gifts. Rather than focus solely on what employers won’t do, we recommend that nonprofits like yours take proactive steps to engage these “unmatchable” supporters through creative alternatives.Strengthening your donor engagement strategy to serve every donor, regardless of their employer’s policies, cultivates deeper donor relationships, unlocks new revenue streams, and builds resilience into your annual fundraising, ultimately fueling your mission for the long term. [...]

Top Fundraising Strategies for Donors Without Employer Matches2025-12-05T17:28:35-05:00

How to Retain Your Nonprofit’s Major Donors: 4 Expert Tips

2024-11-20T14:28:56-05:00

While your organization should seek to retain donors at all levels, creating a major donor retention plan is essential. Research shows that while these donors typically comprise only around 12% of the average nonprofit’s donor base, they contribute a staggering 88% of funding. According to the Fundraising Effectiveness Project, nonprofits retained 42.1% of major donors ($5K-$50K) between 2023 and Q2 2024 and 46.4% of supersized donors ($50K+). To uphold this trend, your organization must invest in major donor retention and build relationships with your nonprofit’s largest contributors. Use the strategies in this guide to kickstart sustainable major gift fundraising, foster strong [...]

How to Retain Your Nonprofit’s Major Donors: 4 Expert Tips2024-11-20T14:28:56-05:00

How to Handle Moves Management With Nonprofit Cloud

2024-10-01T08:23:59-04:00

Moves management is the process of identifying and qualifying donors, building relationships with them, and attempting to upgrade them to the next level of giving or engagement. This process requires coordination across multiple staff members and teams, and it can be challenging for nonprofits to manage donor life cycles and major giving. With patience and long-term planning, moves management pushes each supporter closer to donating or upgrading. This is why having technology that facilitates meticulous documentation, teamwide collaboration, and centralized data is so important. In this guide, we’ll explore the top ways your nonprofit can use Salesforce Nonprofit Cloud to oversee [...]

How to Handle Moves Management With Nonprofit Cloud2024-10-01T08:23:59-04:00

Major Gift Fundraising: Improve Your Strategy with Tech

2024-05-02T09:36:10-04:00

According to the 80/20 rule in fundraising, a small number of donors (typically around 20%) will provide the majority of your fundraising dollars (around 80%). These contributions are referred to as major gifts. What constitutes a major gift will be different for every nonprofit. For one organization, a major gift may be $5,000. For another, the major gift threshold may be $20,000. Whatever the specifics look like for your organization, the importance of these large gifts cannot be overstated. This is why your method for soliciting and securing major gifts matters. You’ll need careful planning and cultivation tactics backed by robust [...]

Major Gift Fundraising: Improve Your Strategy with Tech2024-05-02T09:36:10-04:00

4 Steps in a Major Gift Moves Management Process

2024-01-10T08:18:54-05:00

According to the Fundraising Effectiveness Project, a drop in gifts from major donors and a decrease in donor retention have led to fundraising challenges for nonprofits this year. As a nonprofit professional, you know that major gifts don’t just appear out of thin air. It takes time and effort from your development team to get to know prospective major donors and win their support. That means that building a reliable, sustainable major gift moves management process is more important now than ever. Moves management describes the steps of the major donor journey, from solicitation to renewal and upgrade. When it comes [...]

4 Steps in a Major Gift Moves Management Process2024-01-10T08:18:54-05:00

Key Markers of a Major Gifts Prospect & How to Leverage Them

2023-09-28T11:45:19-04:00

Major gifts are the largest gifts your nonprofit receives. And no matter what a major gift looks like for your organization—whether that is $10,000 or $100,000—these large donations can do wonders for your nonprofit.  Specifically, major gifts make up a large part of your revenue and allow you to both strengthen your existing programs and services and increase your capacity to serve your beneficiaries, potentially through increasing your nonprofit's endowment.  But before you can tap into these benefits, you have to identify your major donors and prepare to cultivate strong relationships with them. This is done through comprehensive prospect research, which [...]

Key Markers of a Major Gifts Prospect & How to Leverage Them2023-09-28T11:45:19-04:00

Celebrate Generosity: Honoring Capital Campaign Major Givers

2026-01-05T11:53:29-05:00

Capital campaigns are major undertakings that will require investment and involvement from your nonprofit’s entire community. In particular, your organization’s major givers will play a pivotal role in the success of these large-scale projects. Not only will major givers provide significant financial support to your campaign, but they can also offer their expertise and guidance during the planning process and act as ambassadors for your cause, inspiring others to give. Clearly, your major givers will be instrumental in helping your organization achieve its capital campaign goals. So, to ensure that they feel appreciated and seen for all they do for your campaign, you [...]

Celebrate Generosity: Honoring Capital Campaign Major Givers2026-01-05T11:53:29-05:00

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