While I’m sitting here on a Wednesday evening looking at my LinkedIn and Facebook profiles, I’m wondering how much information really is necessary for everyone to know about me from a public perspective.  I truly have not hidden that much about myself both professionally and personally.  I’m an open book and have many interests, hobbies, [...]

Note from ProspectResearch.com: Lynne Wester, Director of Stewardship and Donor Recognition at Yeshiva University, kindly agreed to write a guest post showcasing her stewardship and donor knowledge. You may visit her blog at www.donorrelationsguru.com. As I travel across the country as a speaker and consultant, helping people assess their stewardship programs and build a mid-level giving strategy, [...]

Each time Blackbaud publishes one of my writings, I feel an honor and a fulfillment that’s hard to describe.  When I was young I wanted to be an author – and a jet pilot, like my father.  I’ve accomplished one but not yet the other and I think I may have gotten the better life [...]

Last time, I wrote about Engaging Students in a Culture of Philanthropy by quoting from Brandeis University’s recently inaugurated President Frederick Lawrence: “you are a student here for four years; you are an alum for the rest of your life.”  And, by quoting the University of Pennsylvania’s executive director of alumni relations Elise Betz: “it [...]

If you are like me, you are shaking your head as you look at the calendar, asking yourself, “How did it get to be MAY?  I just put the Christmas stuff away!”  Believe it or not, June 30 is less than 8 weeks away, perhaps leaving some organizations wondering how they are going to meet [...]

It’s blog round-up time! I have compiled a few blog posts that interested me during April and I wanted to share them with you. Read on! Time Saving Email Tips, from Phyllis Freedman’s Planned Giving Blogger.  Phyllis references a recent article that simplifies email etiquette. This will help increase email campaign/solicitation responses from prospects. Major Gifts- Four [...]

Like many of you I spent the first quarter of the year getting ready for April 15th.  As I was pulling all my receipts and necessary documents together for my accountant I realized that perhaps it was time to re-think my philanthropic intentions for 2011.  We all remember back in 2008 where donors had to [...]