TJC Blog

Drawing on Giving USA and other leading sources, the following data provides a clear view of the current charitable giving...

1)    Should you let a prospective donor know that you want to visit them to talk about making a major gift to the...

A major gift visit reaches its defining moment when the conversation turns from vision to invitation. Everything leading up...

The most important skill in a major gift conversation is: seek first to understand, then to be understood. This takes...

If you read the first four parts to this series (LINK HERE), you know that a major gift visit is the meeting point between...

In the last post, we talked about opening the conversation with the major gift prospect sitting in front of you – setting...

By the time you sit down for a major gift visit, something important has already happened. A relationship has begun to...

Major gifts grow out of relationships. That’s why personal, one-on-one conversations remain one of the most important parts...

Major gifts start with someone’s hopes, experiences, values, and a deep desire to make a meaningful difference. A major...

Storytelling isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach. Good storytelling is when a story is tailored to the message, the moment,...

The 2026 tax year brings meaningful changes for charitable donors as a result of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA),...

Serving on a church + nonprofit board is both a privilege and a responsibility. It’s easy for meetings, agendas, and urgent...

“Risk” can almost seem like an idea doomed to fail…yet there is never a perfect time! Consider what Solomon says: “The one...

Launching a capital campaign in 2026 requires careful discernment about your readiness, both practical and emotional. Begin...

While standing at the meat counter at our local grocery store, I overheard a woman asking the butcher if there will be...

There’s something energizing about the beginning of a new year. Boards and staff leadership re-enter their work hopeful,...

As we celebrate the holiday season, we are especially grateful to mark a meaningful milestone – 2026 is our 40th year of...

“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to...

The Commitment Phase is the vital period between Commitment Sunday (commitments are received in worship) and Celebration...

Capital campaigns have evolved in recent years, with savvy organizations discovering that the key to reaching ambitious...

Donor Advised Funds (DAFs) have quietly become one of the fastest-growing charitable giving vehicles in America. But what...

In a recent conversation someone shared with me that their organization needed a strategic plan, but felt with all the...

When most people hear the rod “budget”, they immediately think of spreadsheets filled with dollars and cents. While...

We are entering a season when there are all sorts of messaging/communications needing to be written. Weekly digital...

Most church newsletters read like event calendars – upcoming services, committee meetings, program schedules, and...

The fall appeal might feel distant, but now is the time to start planning. Meaningful appeals do not happen by accident –...

In the previous post we explored why impact stories matter. At their core, impact stories build trust. Donors and...

We will soon be starting our annual fall fund appeals. There are a lot of pieces that need to be prepared to launch a...

…it’s a mindset! Gratitude is a way of seeing and responding to the world around us that fosters connection, joy, and a...

Every summer, churches across the country experience what is commonly known as the “summer slump”…routines shift,...