Fundraising and Donor Management
Expert-defined terms from the Advanced Certificate in Basics of Charity Law course at London School of Planning and Management. Free to read, free to share, paired with a globally recognised certification pathway.
Fundraising and Donor Management Glossary #
Fundraising and Donor Management Glossary
A #
A
1. Annual Fund #
An organized fundraising campaign that seeks to secure gifts on a yearly basis to support an organization's ongoing operations.
2. Ask Amount #
The specific amount of money a fundraiser requests from a donor during a solicitation.
B #
B
3. Bequest #
A gift left to a charity in a donor's will after their passing.
4. Board Giving #
Contributions made by members of an organization's board of directors to support fundraising efforts.
C #
C
5. Capital Campaign #
A fundraising effort that aims to raise a substantial amount of money for a specific capital project, such as building a new facility.
6. Case for Support #
A document that outlines the reasons why donors should support an organization, including its mission, goals, and impact.
D #
D
7. Development Plan #
A strategic document that outlines an organization's fundraising goals, strategies, and tactics for a specific period of time.
8. Donor Cultivation #
The process of building relationships with potential donors to engage them in the organization's mission and programs.
E #
E
9. Endowment #
Funds that are invested to provide a permanent source of income for an organization.
10. Event Fundraising #
Raising money through organizing events such as galas, auctions, or walkathons.
F #
F
11. Feasibility Study #
A research process conducted to assess the potential success of a fundraising campaign before it is officially launched.
12. Foundation Grants #
Financial support provided by charitable foundations to nonprofit organizations for specific projects or programs.
G #
G
13. Gift Acknowledgement #
A formal thank-you letter or receipt sent to donors to acknowledge their contributions.
14. Grant Proposal #
A formal request for financial support submitted to a foundation, corporation, or government agency.
H #
H
15. Major Donor #
A donor who contributes a significant amount of money to an organization, often making large, multi-year commitments.
16. Matching Gift #
A donation made by a company that matches the contributions made by its employees to eligible nonprofit organizations.
I #
I
17. Individual Giving #
Contributions made by individual donors to support nonprofit organizations.
18. In #
Kind Donation: Non-monetary contributions of goods or services made to an organization.
J #
J
19. Joint Fundraising #
Collaborative efforts between two or more organizations to raise funds for a common cause.
20. JustAsk #
An online fundraising platform that allows organizations to create personalized donation pages and solicit contributions from supporters.
K #
K
21. Key Performance Indicator (KPI) #
A measurable value that demonstrates how effectively an organization is achieving its fundraising goals.
22. Kickstarter #
A popular crowdfunding platform that allows individuals and organizations to raise money for creative projects.
L #
L
23. Legacy Giving #
Donations made to an organization through bequests, wills, or other planned giving arrangements.
24. Lead Donor #
A major donor who provides the initial gift or pledge to kickstart a fundraising campaign.
M #
M
25. Matching Challenge #
A fundraising strategy where a donor agrees to match all donations up to a certain amount, encouraging others to give.
26. Membership Program #
A fundraising strategy that recruits donors to become members of an organization in exchange for exclusive benefits.
N #
N
27. Nonprofit Organization #
An organization that is tax-exempt and serves a charitable, educational, religious, or other public purpose.
28. Needs Assessment #
A process used to identify the specific needs and priorities of an organization that can be addressed through fundraising.
O #
O
29. Online Giving #
Donations made to an organization through its website, email campaigns, social media, or other online platforms.
30. Outreach Campaign #
A coordinated effort to reach out to potential donors and raise awareness about an organization's mission and programs.
P #
P
31. Peer #
to-Peer Fundraising: A fundraising method that empowers supporters to raise money on behalf of an organization by soliciting donations from their friends and family.
32. Planned Giving #
Donations made through estate planning, wills, trusts, or other long-term financial arrangements.
Q #
Q
33. Qualifying Donor #
A potential donor who has expressed interest in giving but has not yet made a contribution.
34. QuickBooks #
A popular accounting software used by nonprofit organizations to manage their finances and track donations.
R #
R
35. Recurring Donation #
A regular, ongoing contribution made by a donor to support an organization's programs.
36. Relationship Fundraising #
A donor-centered approach that focuses on building and maintaining relationships with donors to maximize their support.
S #
S
37. Social Media Fundraising #
Raising money through social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or LinkedIn.
38. Stewardship #
The process of thanking, recognizing, and engaging donors to build long-term relationships and inspire continued support.
T #
T
39. Target Audience #
The specific group of individuals or organizations that a fundraising campaign aims to reach and solicit donations from.
40. Thank #
You Call: A personal phone call made to donors to express gratitude for their contributions and update them on the impact of their gifts.
U #
U
41. Unrestricted Funds #
Donations that are not earmarked for a specific program or project and can be used at the organization's discretion.
42. Underwriting #
Financial support provided by sponsors to cover the costs of an event, program, or initiative.
V #
V
43. Virtual Fundraising Event #
An online event that raises money for a cause through virtual platforms such as video conferencing or live streaming.
44. Volunteer Fundraiser #
An individual who organizes fundraising events, campaigns, or activities on behalf of an organization without compensation.
W #
W
45. Wealth Screening #
A process used to analyze donor data and identify potential major donors based on their capacity to give.
46. Website Donation Form #
An online form on an organization's website that allows donors to make contributions securely and conveniently.
X #
X
47. Xero #
An accounting software that helps nonprofit organizations manage their finances, track donations, and generate financial reports.
48. X #
Factor: A unique or compelling element of an organization's mission, programs, or impact that sets it apart from other nonprofits and attracts donors.
Y #
Y
49. Year #
End Giving: A fundraising campaign that encourages donors to make charitable contributions before the end of the calendar year for tax purposes.
50. Youth Philanthropy #
Programs that engage young people in philanthropic activities, such as fundraising, volunteering, or grantmaking.
Z #
Z
51. Zero #
Based Budgeting: A budgeting process that requires organizations to justify all expenses from scratch each fiscal year, rather than basing them on previous budgets.
52. Zakat #
A form of charitable giving in Islam that requires Muslims to donate a portion of their wealth to help those in need.