{"id":428,"date":"2021-01-31T19:31:00","date_gmt":"2021-01-31T19:31:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fundingmatters.com\/blog\/fmi\/?p=428"},"modified":"2021-06-18T18:26:55","modified_gmt":"2021-06-18T18:26:55","slug":"step-one-brainstorming","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fundingmatters.com\/blog\/?p=428","title":{"rendered":"Step One: Brainstorming"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

How to Successfully Brainstorm While Social Distancing<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Nearly every facet of life has changed due to COVID-19, and that\u2019s frightening when it comes to major charitable giving and donations. We know that 99% of current charitable donations comes in the form of cash or non-asset gifts and 20% of a charity\u2019s annual revenue should come from major and planned gifts. And yet, giving doesn\u2019t just happen, you must make it happen. A strategic plan must be in place and long-term donors must be cultivated. Is that possible while social distancing?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The short answer is YES. To secure major and planned gifts, your charitable organization must start the process by identifying, cultivating, and soliciting the high net-worth donors for both major charitable and planned giving. This is most often started with a brainstorming session. However, because in-person meetings are not yet safe, you\u2019ll have to adapt it to an online forum. Virtual brainstorming is an ideal way to pursue the cultivation of donors and sustain your charitable organization. Here\u2019s what you should know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Does Virtual Brainstorming Work?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
  1. Virtual brainstorming eliminates production blocking<\/em>
    <\/strong>
    In a typical in-person brainstorming session, there is often a dominant participant(s) who tends to talk too much. They take over the session, and this hinders the creativity of the group at large. Fortunately, virtual brainstorming allows you to limit or expand group size, open the meeting to participants who are in different regions, and use breakouts within the larger session to help resolve any production blocking you may experience.\u00a0

    \u00a0<\/li>
  2. Virtual brainstorming enables feelings of anonymity<\/em>
    <\/strong>
    Because ideas cannot be attributed to a specific person in virtual brainstorming, participants will be more likely to give you all of their ideas. It will reduce the apprehension that accompanies being evaluated by their peers for an idea that they propose.
    \u00a0<\/li>
  3. Virtual brainstorming increases the diversity of ideas<\/strong><\/em>
    When you\u2019re brainstorming in-person, your ideas are more likely to align and conform to theirs. According to the HBR article, \u201cexposure to their ideas causes uniformity and regression to the mean: the most creative people will descend to the level of the group average.\u201d\u00a0Virtual brainstorming encourages participants to offer a wider variety of ideas because they have space and time to do so. While you ultimately come together and share your ideas, you\u2019re not engaging in crowdsourced creativity, which can stunt progress.\u00a0<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Create a Virtual Brainstorming Session For Your Fundraising<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    A brainstorming & strategy session helps you understand your WHY and PURPOSE behind funding your charitable organization. The outcome will enable you to establish the scope, timeline, and goals of your fundraising program. Here are some tips that can help you put together a virtual brainstorming session to maximize major charitable giving, donations, and planning giving. <\/p>\n\n\n\n