Acquiring New Donors Through Your Phonathon

Phonathons have a bad reputation. Between answering machines, cell phones, and call blocking on the technology side, to volunteer recruitment, scripting, and staffing on the professional side, phonathons are not seen as the most effective way to secure gifts. But there is still a place in our annual plans to include a Phonathon campaign! Specifically, we think your Phonathon can be a great place to solicit first-time donors using well-crafted scripts, excited volunteers, and timely calls.

In this webinar, presented by Michael Littell, Senior Associate with Gonser Gerber, and Vice President for Advancement of Saint Xavier High School, we will discuss the ways that you can use your Phonathon to contact non-donors and, through this personal contact, turn them into a donor. Mike has had great success with his volunteer-run program at Saint Xavier, so he’ll share his tips from experience, as well as his lessons from clients over the years and as Chair of the CASE-NAIS Annual Conference in early January 2018.

Topics we will cover include:

Past challenges with phonathons
Recruiting and motivating volunteer callers
Preparing for your Phonathon
Effective calling environments
Connecting with prospects by phone
Scripting volunteers with effective messaging
Counting and tracking in real time

Program Information:

The fee is $295 per institution, which allows your entire team the opportunity to participate in this professional development at the same time. If you are a current client of Gonser Gerber Advancement Consulting, that fee is just $145. You will also receive a copy of the presentation and a recording of the webinar with your registration.

Who Should Attend?

Mid-level Advancement Professionals - For staff who already know the basics and need to refine skills in defined areas.
New to Advancement - For professionals new to the advancement profession – whether this is your first job or you’re a workforce veteran.

Including:

Chief Advancement Officers
Development Directors
Annual Giving staff
Major Gift and Planned Giving staff
Alumni/Constituent Relations staff
Prospect Researchers
Campaign staff

About Your Faculty:

Michael Littell joined the firm in 2007 as a Senior Associate, and has been in the advancement field since 1982. During those years, he has worked for two private universities and an independent school. Beginning his 31st year with Saint Xavier High School, a private Catholic school for young men, Littell directs a staff of eight and generates $4.0 million in charitable gifts each year. During his time at St. X, Littell has successfully directed a $4.2 million, a $10.6 million and a 28.0 million campaign that concluded in 2010 raising $29.1 million and increasing the annual fund by 36%. In addition, he developed the $1,000 Annual Giving Society from less than 50 members to over 1,000 and the school’s endowment from $200,000 to over $25.5 million. Saint Xavier’s advancement program has earned several honors and awards including ten CASE Circle of Excellence Awards for Overall Development Performance most recently in 2013 and a Grand Gold CASE award for video productions. In addition to Littell’s role at Saint Xavier, he also serves as a Senior Consultant for Gonser Gerber with a limited number of clients and specializing in independent school advancement and enrollment management and has a wealth of expertise with Blackbaud’s Raiser’s Edge fundraising software.