It's another Masterclass inspired episode. In this episode, Clark Vandeventer shares some of his notes from Levar Burton's MasterClass on Storytelling. You may know LeVar Burton from his years as host of Reading Rainbow. LeVar talks about how to tell a great story, but Clark emphasizes that great stories only resonnate when they are told be a trusted source, and trust is developed in relationship. So, as an organization, where are you lacking? Are you lacking in storytelling? Or are you lacking in relationships? Link to LeVar's MasterClass: https://www.masterclass.com/classes/levar-burton-teac ..read more

Host Clark Vandeventer talks about figuring out the right amount to ask for. Fundraisers! Do you have a hard time knowing the right amount to ask for? Can you ask for too much? What if you "leave money on the table"? Clark gives some guidance on figuring out the right amount to ask for. Check out Clark's "other" podcast Around the World with Mr. Clark, available wherever you get your podcasts! Also of note: We are giving away FREE ACCESS to ⁠⁠MasterClass⁠⁠! Sign up for ⁠⁠Peak Performance Fundraising⁠⁠ (basically THE MasterClass of Fundraising) and get a one year subscription to MasterClass fo ..read more

Host Clark Vandeventer talks about SMART Goals: SMART goals are a goal-setting technique that uses five benchmarks to help create concise goals and action steps:  S is for Specific: Clearly define what you want to accomplish M is for Measurable: Quantify your goals and build in milestones to make them easier to track A is for Achievable: Consider if you have the resources to achieve your goal R is for Relevant: Consider why you're setting the goal and how it will improve your life or career  T is for Time-bound: Set a firm schedule and stick to it Episode inspired by the ..read more

In the past, you may have heard Clark Vandeventer talk about adding steps to the process. The more you elongate the major gift process and slowly bring your donors along, the safer you'll be. Clark recently heard Amazon Founder Jeff Bezos share the same idea with the phrase, "Slow is smooth and smooth is fast." The phrase "slow is smooth and smooth is fast" is a military saying that emphasizes the importance of taking time to do things carefully and methodically, rather than rushing and risking mistakes. It can also be thought of as the power of strategic thinking and deliberate action. Clark ..read more

It's another Masterclass inspired episode. In this episode, Clark Vandeventer shares some of his notes from Robin Arzón's MasterClass on Mental Strength. Robin Arzón is an exercise instructor and author, best known as an instructor at Peloton, for which she is also the Vice President of Fitness Programming. Clark shares an incredible mental test he picked up from Robin for you to use whenever you hear yourself saying, "I don't have time." Her JOY METRIC also inspired a twist on a mental exercise Clark has been doing for 20+ years. Great quotes from Robin: "The pursuit of movement unlocks endor ..read more

In this episode, Chief Fundraising Coach Clark Vandeventer goes through the basic script for the four types of donor meetings Discovery Cultivation Solicitation Stewardship What are the go-to questions for each of these different type of meetings? How are the goals for each type of meeting different? email Clark at clark@majorgiftsfundraiser.com Major Gifts Fundraiser on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/majorgiftsfundraiser/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Major Gifts Fundraiser on Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/majorgiftsfundraiser⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Major Gifts Fundraiser on LinkedIn ..read more

Michael Lewis is the author of more than 20 books, including 3 that have become major motion pictures (Moneyball, The Blind Side, The Big Short). Host Clark Vandeventer shares highlights for fundraisers from his Masterclass on How to Tell a Great Story. Link: https://www.masterclass.com/series/tell-a-great-story From of this podcast: You're probably pretty good at telling your story, but becoming a GREAT story teller is HARD work People are not interested in you or your story. They are interested in themselves. Make your story about them. email Clark at clark@majorgiftsfundraiser.com Major ..read more

Host Clark Vandeventer answers a listener email and addresses the question, "What's the right amount to ask for?" email Clark at clark@majorgiftsfundraiser.com Major Gifts Fundraiser on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/majorgiftsfundraiser/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Major Gifts Fundraiser on Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/majorgiftsfundraiser⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Major Gifts Fundraiser on LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/major-gifts-fundraiser/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Email Clark: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠clark@majorgiftsfundraiser.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Zoom with Clark: Find an available time on Clark’s c ..read more

Host Clark Vandeventer shares highlights for fundraisers from the MasterClass on Purposeful Communication with George Stephanopoulos. Focus of this podcast episode: Doing your preparation Time Management Using body language in donor meetings Utilizing silence (not just the silence after you asked for a gift) email Clark at clark@majorgiftsfundraiser.com Major Gifts Fundraiser on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/majorgiftsfundraiser/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Major Gifts Fundraiser on Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/majorgiftsfundraiser⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Major Gifts Fundraiser on LinkedIn ..read more

What is your next right thing with your donor? Getting a visit? Making an ask? Closing a gift? Whatever the next thing is that you need to do, BEFORE you do that, think about 2-3 steps you can add to the process. email Clark at clark@majorgiftsfundraiser.com Major Gifts Fundraiser on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/majorgiftsfundraiser/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Major Gifts Fundraiser on Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/majorgiftsfundraiser⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Major Gifts Fundraiser on LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/major-gifts-fundraiser/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Email Clark: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠clark@maj ..read more