Finance

11 Best Small Business Insurance Companies for 2026
 Who Are Your Planned Gift Prospects? – II by John Elbare, CFP The one thing we know for sure about donor behavior is that most planned gifts come from loyal donors. By “loyal” we mean those donors who reliably donate every year. They are already sold on your mission, they believe in your cause, and …
Forming an LLC is a smart move to shield your personal assets from business liabilities, but that protection only holds if you keep your finances separate. One of the first and most important steps? Opening a dedicated business bank account. The choices you make early on can have a lasting impact on your business, and …
Tennessee’s vibrant mix of urban centers like Nashville and Memphis, historic small towns, and scenic rural communities means residents need banking solutions as diverse as their lifestyles. Whether you’re a music industry professional, a college student in Knoxville, a retiree in the Smoky Mountains, or a small business owner in Chattanooga, your bank should offer …

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During a board meeting, many years ago, an influential and highly respected trustee declared, “What we need is more endowment. We ought to have a $20 million endowment campaign.” Being a trustee of influence and affluence, all heads nodded in agreement with him. Hearing that declaration made with no justification, and no warning, I was …
CFC Special Events & Resources There are many/various types of CFC special events that are held before and during the solicitation period of a CFC campaign. The best known are the CFC charity fairs, but other special events and resources that a CFC charity should be aware of are: Speaker’s Bureaus Loaned Executives Open Houses …
In July, I explained why bequests are the most popular planned gift. See the Planned Giving Series. This month I’m going into detail on why most bequest donors decide not to tell you that your charity is in their will. I’ve seen estimates that between two-out-of-three and seven-out-of-eight donors will keep their charitable bequests to …
…OR WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT !! Most non-profit organizations have (or surely should have), standing committees for finance, investment, marketing & PR, nominating and evaluating board members, and (where needed) building & grounds. From long experience, for some unknown-to-me reason, there is not usually a fundraising steering committee in place devoted to ensuring …
I recently finished a government grant proposal that had only a two-week deadline. Of course, it required many hours, day and night, and over the final weekend to complete. And, as you may have guessed, it was submitted at 2:00 am on Monday. It would be nice if I could take sole credit for this …
Selected Unique Factors about CFC Fundraising The CFC charity itself does not make the direct solicitation. It’s the federal CFC campaign volunteers who do this, and the ones who are making the direct solicitation are called “keyworkers.” By law, every U.S. Federal agency holds a CFC campaign each fall, including at overseas facilities. More than …
Unlocking Bequests for Planned Giving Success In June I shared ideas on what to do with your direct mail letter. See the Planned Giving Series. This month we’re taking a hiatus from promotion to look at why bequests are basic to your Planned Giving program. You should expect 75 to 80 percent of your planned …