Written by Jessica Browning, Principal and Executive Vice President KPIs Giving during the pandemic has surprised us—in a good way. From the beginning, we predicted that donors would be generous in response to the crisis, but we weren’t prepared for the levels of generosity we’ve witnessed. AFP’s Fundraising Effectiveness Project, which tracks quarterly giving in...
“It was a miraculous call,” says Stacy McIlduff, Vice President of Development and External Affairs at SUNY Schenectady. “It was the call we all hope for.” The call, from an anonymous SUNY Schenectady donor, resulted in the second largest gift in the college’s 51-year history. McIlduff sees the gift as a result of best practices...
Written by Jessica Browning, MBA, Principal and Executive Vice President Donors are giving. It’s a message we’ve been sending since the early days of the pandemic. But we’re revising that message based on what we’ve seen in the past month. Donors aren’t just giving…they’re stretching. It’s why we’re predicting that nonprofits will see substantial major gifts...
Written by Sarah Evans Sprinkle, Senior Consultant KPIs As fundraisers, you’ve probably read every article on Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to measure fundraising success. But those KPIs probably aren’t the best measure of success in a 2020 that has thrown us all some real curveballs. Because the Winkler Group has had the opportunity to serve...
Written by Courtney Brady, Senior Consultant Homecoming is a vital event for alumni relations and development. But thanks to COVID-19, most schools are cancelling or postponing their celebrations. So how do you connect with alumni, cultivate high-level donors, and keep them connected to your school without being face to face? Here are a few ways...
Written by Jim Bush, Principal and President You can raise significantly more money each year by just keeping your current donors happy and fulfilled. A 1% increase in retention rates can mean as much as $123,000 in new revenue next year. Donor retention isn’t hard. Clearly it’s worthwhile. So why are we, as fundraising professionals,...
Written by Jessica Browning, Winkler Group Principal and EVP Even as the Coronavirus spread across the nation last March, Brevard College leaders had a vision and a path forward. That plan, despite many distractions, has kept them focused on a strong future. The 167-year-old liberal arts college in the mountains of Western North Carolina has...
Q&A with Debra Wilson, President of the Southern Association of Independent Schools Winkler Group Principals Jim Bush and Jessica Browning had the honor of sitting down with Debra Wilson, president of SAIS, to discuss the state of independent school enrollment, the hidden value of the pandemic to heads of school, and why she’s optimistic about...
Community colleges are having a moment. Foundation directors and advancement teams: take advantage of it. You and I know that community colleges power our economy. They also provide an access to education that breaks down barriers and builds bridges across neighborhoods. In short, America has never needed two-year and community colleges more than we do...
You’re out for a bike ride and you see a big hill ahead. Do you slow down? No, you build up speed because momentum will help you get over the hill faster and easier. COVID-19 is a mountain we’re all still climbing. Recovery is on the other side and we’re headed for it. Knowing what...
The generous will prosper: those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.
(Proverbs 11:25)