by Barbara Barron | Posted December 9th, 2020 | Subscribe to this newsletter These are crazy days at our independent schools. It seems like every day there’s a confusing change that forces us to rethink education. There’s more to juggle in our daily work than ever. More headaches! Zoom meetings balanced by in-person gatherings. Argh! And I would argue that …
How to Quickly Create a Legacy Program at Your Independent School
by Barbara Barron | Posted October 28th, 2020 What if I could show you how to quickly create a legacy program? Or, if you already have an existing legacy society, how to sharply increase the number of members? What if I could demonstrate that – in growing your planned giving group using this technique – you will also secure additional …
What Are We Actually Raising Money for During This Crisis?
by Barbara Barron • Posted May 12th, 2020 For a few weeks now – sheesh, is it really only weeks? – I’ve been recommending (see: prodding) those of us in advancement to “screw our courage to the sticking place” – a favorite expression of my mom’s – and reach out to our wonderful donors. As you well know, this is …
How Can We Think About Raising Money in a Time Like This?
by Barbara Barron | Posted April 6th, 2020 If ever there was a topic that seems nearly too hot to handle, it’s the notion of raising money right now. Is it unseemly? Inappropriate? Insensitive? Too soon? Certainly the prevailing feeling (last week, anyway!) is that it is too early for schools to do anything other than batten down the hatches, …
What Should We Do When We Make a Donor Angry?
by Barbara Barron | Posted September 6th, 2019 Imagine what goes on in the mind of a donor when he decides to make a big gift to your school… Something got him amped up – maybe attending an event or reading about a recent accomplishment. Sometimes we know the moment that ignited this generous impulse because we ourselves created it. …
How Can We Raise Money for Debt Reduction and Cash Reserves?
by Barbara Barron | Posted October 10th, 2018 Once upon a time, I was hired to build a major gifts program to reduce debt and build cash reserves. Exciting, right? I remember conferring with some professional friends at a conference shortly after I started. “Good luck, Barbara!” one of them said. “That’s what I’d call unsexy money.” Funny. And kinda true. …