Today, it can be easy to fall into the trap of wanting to move along at lightspeed. We hold an entire world of knowledge in the palm of our hands, so patience can be a lost art. Even in fundraising, donations arrive faster now with text-to-give and online giving portals. Gone are the days of a donor only having the option of giving cash or writing a check. At the Steier Group, we occasionally hear from a church, diocese or school eager to begin a capital campaign that they would rather not take the time to complete a feasibility study.…
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A growing generational divide in giving has been underway for decades, but some charitable organizations still struggle to address this phenomenon. Bridging the generational divide in fundraising is crucial for sustaining support and adapting to changing donor demographics. Here are some strategies to effectively engage both older and younger generations in fundraising efforts: Understand generational preferences: Recognize that different generations have distinct preferences in how they engage with nonprofits. Baby Boomers, for instance, often prefer direct mail and phone calls, valuing personal connections and tangible impacts. Millennials and Gen Z, on the other hand, gravitate towards digital platforms, social media,…
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At the Steier Group, one of the most common concerns we hear from churches considering a capital campaign is: “If we are asking people to contribute to an extraordinary fundraising effort, won’t we see a decrease in our weekly offertory, which we need to meet our basic needs and keep the lights on?” This concern is understandable, but there is good news: clients who partner with the Steier Group for a capital campaign typically see an increase in their offertory giving after the campaign concludes. Several factors contribute to this trend, primarily the heightened sense of community and spiritual engagement…
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At the Steier Group, we define a capital campaign as an extraordinary fundraising initiative that requires giving beyond a donor’s annual support. Capital campaigns require large gift requests, requests that can sometimes elicit a collective gulp on both sides of the table. However, there are ways to lay the groundwork for a big ask that make it a rewarding experience for all. Well before a capital campaign begins, it’s important for organizations to find ways to engage non-donors and encourage regular donors to increase their giving. Consistent donors and those whose giving has steadily increased are demonstrating their loyalty to…
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Watch the video above for a short message from our CEO, Matt Vuorela. When Jim Steier founded the Steier Group in the attic of the Steier family home in 1997, the idea of helping nonprofits raise $3 billion seemed unfathomable. And yet, in early 2024, the Steier Group surpassed the $3 billion milestone. This achievement is a testament to the hard-working campaign managers, management team and support staff of the Steier Group, but, more importantly, to our incredible partners. From pastors and bishops to donors and volunteers, each campaign would not be a success without the work of communities…
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It’s a new year, and while the basic formula for fundraising may seem the same, in many ways the landscape for organizations that rely on generous donations is new terrain. Though the latest news for inflation is more hopeful, there is still some uncertainty about whether that will hold steady or if it is a short relief. New technology is also something fundraisers will need to know more about as new capital campaigns are considered by many organizations. These factors and others contribute to fundraising trends in 2024: Establishing donor trust: Between inflation and greater pressure for charitable organizations to…
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When you launch a capital campaign and you’re faced with the work that goes into such an effort, it’s easy to dream that some billionaire or foundation will swoop in and award you a massive grant that will fully fund all of your projects and initiatives. Unfortunately, that’s almost certainly not going to happen. Never say never, but you can’t rely on a guardian angel to save the day. You need to put in the work to establish your goals, recruit your volunteers and leaders, and figure out how much to ask and from whom – and then actually make…
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Launched in February 2022, Twelve Wicker Baskets, the Steier Group’s podcast, broadly explores all the many ways God meets the spiritual and temporal needs of parishes, Catholic schools, dioceses and beyond. The idea for the podcast arose when firm management began to reflect on 25 years of service and how to engage the depth and breadth of knowledge that has accumulated over many different capital campaigns for Catholic dioceses, churches, schools and organizations. “We wanted to connect the work of the development professional and the pastoral leader with the deep roots of stewardship in the Catholic tradition, and it’s become…
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"Our big fundraiser for the year is _____________." I hear this a lot when speaking with smaller organizations about their fundraising and development strategy. This response tells me a few things about the organization: They do not have an informed development plan. Because of that, they invest their time in all the wrong places. Their donors are not as engaged as they could be. The organization is nowhere near its fundraising potential. But, it is not all doom and gloom. Here's what else I hear: Their donor engagement funnel is very top-heavy. In other words, there is a lot of…
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Team Catholic. It is a simple idea. Every member of the community working in unity to support the Catholic Church. But, in the Steier Group’s work across North America, we’ve found that’s often not the case. You may recognize some of these issues: A pastor unwilling to participate in a diocesan campaign. A development director focused on the bishop’s annual appeal but not parish offertory. A school principal ignoring the value of its supportive parish. Some of this is human nature. We focus on what’s right in front of us. Seeing the bigger picture isn’t always possible. But working together…
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