Sharpe Blog

An important relationship skill is the ability to see people as individuals rather than stereotyping them according to certain traits. This is also a valuable skill for fundraisers when working with individual donors. As a general marketing tactic, however, this can be impossible. It’s knowing general traits (i.e., the demographic makeup of your donor database) …Read More

By Grant Miller Featuring compelling donor stories in your communications is one of the most critical strategies for engaging planned giving donors for your organization. These stories demonstrate your donors’ motivations for giving and show why your organization is so meaningful to their lives, thus inspiring others to say, “I can do that, too!”   …Read More

When it comes to ensuring a nonprofit’s sustainability, striking the right balance between funding short-term needs and long-term viability hinges on combining annual giving, major giving and planned giving fundraising into a cohesive strategy. Annual giving provides a steady stream of immediate income, yet its reliance on recurring gifts can present challenges in meeting more …Read More

An RMD (required minimum distribution) is a mandatory withdrawal an IRA owner who is 73 or older must take. The RMD amount is based on the market value of the IRA account on the last day of the previous year. Because of the stock market high on 12.31.23 combined with further increases in the financial …Read More

In the three decades I’ve spent as a marketing professional, I’ve seen many changes in how we communicate and consume information. Years ago, I worked for a local public broadcasting station during the time analog television was transitioning to digital. As P.R. director, I spent a lot of time on the phone helping viewers install …Read More

The landscape of planned giving is always changing, requiring a depth of knowledge, expertise and adaptability. In addition to being excellent relationship managers, gift planners must have knowledge of:   shifting demographics. changing tax laws. economic conditions. technological advancements. best practices, and more. When it comes to budgeting and a desire for a favorable return …Read More

Over our 60+ year history, Sharpe Group has worked with thousands of nonprofit organizations of all sizes and across a multitude of missions. One thing is constant: The Sharpe team is committed to making our world a better place through our work. It is often said there is strength in numbers, and we’ve found that …Read More

In the last few years, Americans’ household wealth has continued to grow, reaching record highs driven primarily by increases in the value of corporate stock. According to Federal Reserve reports, the majority of American families have stock holdings directly or indirectly in individual stock shares or other arrangements like IRAs, 401(k)s and 403(b)s. Between 2010 …Read More

The numbers give us some direction: Nearly one out of every six Americans is over age 65, compared with one out of 20 in the previous century. Experts predict that in 2035 those over 65 will outnumber those under 18 for the first time in U.S. history. Every day, there are 10,000 people turning 60, …Read More

While the final months of the year are often the busiest for charities from a fundraising perspective, this year there’s going to be another focus (a presidential election) that will at best fill up your donors’ voicemail, inbox and mailbox with campaign messages and at worst distract them from making their gifts. We continue to …Read More