I had an experienced gift officer proudly share this comment with me recently. I don’t think it was the flex he thought it was. I’m pretty sure I understood the sentiment behind his statement: He engages donors in such compelling ways and with such skill that he doesn’t need to
Helping our donors and friends remember: the professor who encouraged them when they were unsure of themselves; the loving care and treatment their mom received during a life-threatening illness; the confidence-building experiences their children had on the courts and fields of play; the sense of calm that emerged when a
What do donors expect as a result of their giving? To answer this question, advancement professionals typically respond with a duality. The first duality is the donor-focused aspect. This response is focused on what the donor expects for themselves in response to their giving. Responses like: gratitude, recognition, special invitations, small gifts,
Before each visit with a donor or a prospective donor, we should ask, “what do I really want to know?” . . . about their financial capacity? . . . about their interest in our mission or cause? . . . about their willingness to be generous? . . .
November 19, 2026
Register Here
This webinar will cover how to develop a powerful annual fund case for support that serves as the foundation for fundraising appeals, volunteer engagement, leadership messaging, and donor communications.
“What will our donor get when they make their gift?” In some advancement shops, the response to this question is something specific – a pair of socks, tickets to a football game, a naming right, a tchotchke. In other advancement shops, the response to this question is nothing specific. A
November 18, 2026
Register Here
Join us for this insightful one-hour webinar as we explore the realities, opportunities, and challenges facing women in advancement today.
November 6, 2026
This Gonser Gerber Virtual Workshop for New Vice Presidents in the advancement and development profession is designed to support new leaders during their first few years on the job.
On Demand
Register Here
This On Demand webinar will equip you with actionable tactics to align annual giving and major gift teams around a shared vision of donor engagement, stewardship, and growth.
It is common for some in advancement to hear the word, “persuasive,” and think, “manipulative.” But, the two are very different. When we aim to be persuasive, we: are ethical, transparent, factual, and logical; seek fair, win-win outcomes with others; respect people’s rights and responsibilities to choose for themselves, based
Gonser Gerber LLP announces the upcoming retirement of Calvin Stoney, a Partner in the firm. On August 4, 2017, Cal will be retiring after 38 years of distinguished service to his clients and the firm. A celebration of his career will take place at a formal reception following the firm’s Annual Conference on August 3rd at 5:00 p.m. at the Westin Hotel in
Effective contact reports help build the future of a donor’s relationship with your institution. But gift officers are rarely trained to write reports that contain the information advancement leaders need to succeed. How do you improve the reporting skills needed to write detailed and useful reports? In Writing Meaningful Contact Reports: A Handbook for Fundraisers, Jason McNeal of Gonser Gerber,
https://www.gonsergerber.com/2012/06/30/iowa-health-foundation-increases-staff-productivity/
[slideshowLink] https://www.gonsergerber.com/2012/07/28/university-of-north-alabama-creating-a-culture-of-donor-engagement/ [/slideshowLink]
https://www.gonsergerber.com/2012/07/23/saint-xavier-high-school-builds-long-term-capacity-for-development-effort/
https://www.gonsergerber.com/2012/07/31/california-lutheran-university-partners-with-gonser-gerber-for-the-third-time/
https://www.gonsergerber.com/2012/06/29/first-capital-campaign-in-40-years-for-missionaries-of-the-precious-blood/
https://www.gonsergerber.com/2012/07/25/campaign-feasibility-study-with-family-and-childrens-center/
Your institution and its needs are unique. Gonser Gerber understands. That’s why we take time to get to know you, your institution, and your particular opportunities and challenges. It’s also the way we are able to customize innovative advancement solutions that get results. We call this focus Individually Crafted Relationships. You’ll call it unique, effective, and highly welcome.
Our mission is to provide industry-leading advancement counsel and professional development so that each client reaches their highest destiny.
Upcoming Workshops
Upcoming Webinars
On Demand Webinars
