Two days ago I outlined my "do's". Today, here are my "don't's". Both can be found here on this cheat-sheet.

In most cases I don't recommend doing so.

Here are the potential downsides to telemarketing for planned gifts:

1. Generate leads using social norms, family reminders and non-death-related packages

If you are spending your donors' hard-earned cash on marketing (fundraising), you must watch this short video from one of my heroes - David Ogilvy

I recently stumbled upon a neat paper titled Nostalgia: The Gift That Keeps Giving. Here's a summary:

Polyamorous relationships are non-exclusive.

1. Disclosers - For these folks (breaking into two basic categories) you need to remember that, unless their gift is irrevocable, they are still prospects.

Sometimes I feel like I should make a list of all the silly things I hear fundraisers say. Here's one I heard recently that just felt so wrong:

Sometimes our new clients get all jazzed about having a calculator on their planned giving website. I guess they feel it's important to provide a calculator so their donors can calculate their charitable gift annuities or their retained life estates.