Management and Fundraising Terminology

Our term for "solicitors"

Percentage of charitable investments necessary from an organization's leadership prior to asking others to invest; specifically, 100% giving by members of the organization's Board of Directors/Trustees

Compelling story about your organization, i.e., why it exists, what you are doing to meet critical needs of your community, reasons why your organization warrants generous charitable support; "No Case, No Cash!"

Prerequisite for all volunteers and staff involved in development and fundraising

Our term for helping volunteers become comfortable and successful with friend- and fundraising activities

Most effective way to raise friends and funds

Term describing process of raising friends, funds

Key ingredient essential for successful fundraising programs

"Pocket Change" - Not the term to use when asking friends for generous "gifts", "contributions," and "charitable investments."

"The effort or inclination to increase the well-being of mankind, by charitable (investments)" as defined in the New College Edition, American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 1976.

A nonprofit corporation may qualify for exemption from federal income tax as a § 501(c)(3) organization if it is organized and operated exclusively for charitable, religious, educational, scientific or literary purposes; testing for public safety, fostering national or international amateur sports competition, or preventing cruelty to children or animals

Our preferred, and more positive term for "feasibility study"

Our term for what many call "cultivation"

What friendraising and fundraising is all about

Program sponsored by Independent Sector to encourage people to give five hours a week and 5% of their income to organizations of their choice

Focus of an organization's case for support; most prospective investors could care less about an organization's campaign goal, but are interested in how their investment will make a difference

Annual authoritative report on USA philanthropy published by the Giving USA Foundation, established by the Giving Institute to advance research and education in philanthropy

What some believe is preferable to serving on a fundraising committee; obviously only those who haven't experienced the joys of helping others make a difference

Informative publication of the Section of Business Law of the American Bar Association; to order, 800.285.2221 ,

An effective 30-minute video produced by BoardSource; full title – Speaking of Money: A Guide to Fundraising for Nonprofit Board Members; a "must-see" for all boards contemplating a capital campaign. To order this video and learn about other great resources available from BoardSource, 800.883.6262 or www.boardsource.org

What organizations ask friends to do; please strike the words "donating" and "donation," from your vocabulary replacing them with "investing" and "investment"

Process of maintaining ongoing relationships with friends and donors; a critical ingredient in the development process

Ongoing process of strengthening an organization's volunteer leadership; also called board development

The lifeblood of nonprofit organizations