Connecting with Donors: Appointments or Disappointments?
So as you prepare to make an appointment with a prospect, think about your plan to approach this person. There are pros and cons to methods such as e-mail, conventional mail or a phone call; in some cases, all three methods may be used.
The key is creating a strategy around the person you are contacting. Do you know if this contact is the decision maker? What is this person's preferred method of communication for ongoing correspondence? Remember: Your goal is securing a face-to-face meeting that leads to a series of future meetings and significant gifts.
Duke Haddad, Ed.D., CFRE, is currently associate director of development, director of capital campaigns and director of corporate development for The Salvation Army Indiana Division in Indianapolis. He also serves as president of Duke Haddad and Associates LLC and is a freelance instructor for Nonprofit Web Advisor.
He has been a contributing author to NonProfit PRO since 2008.
He received his doctorate degree from West Virginia University with an emphasis on education administration plus a dissertation on donor characteristics. He received a master’s degree from Marshall University with an emphasis on public administration plus a thesis on annual fund analysis. He secured a bachelor’s degree (cum laude) with an emphasis on marketing/management. He has done post graduate work at the University of Louisville.      Â
Duke has received the Fundraising Executive of the Year Award, from the Association of Fundraising Professionals Indiana Chapter. He also was given the Outstanding West Virginian Award, Kentucky Colonel Award and Sagamore of the Wabash Award from the governors of West Virginia, Kentucky and Indiana, respectively, for his many career contributions in the field of philanthropy. He has maintained a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) designation for three decades.