Philanthropy Jargon Translated
So some days, I don’t get calls or emails from fundraisers or development people (it took me a year or so to realize that they were one and the same). Instead, I get calls and/or emails from “Advancement Officers”, or “External Relations” people. Thinking that I’m not about to get hit up for money, I take the call… only to find out that these peoples’ titles are fancy names for the fundraisers and development people. (Meant to be misleading? Perhaps…) Although some of those people were well worth a conversation, I wish I knew this before I took the call!
Hoping to save you from the same “surprise”, I’ve assembled a list of fundraising terms that are commonly used. Enjoy!
Glossary
Description: Someone who raises/solicits money for a non-profit
Fundraiser
Development (director, officer, VP, manager, associate, etc.)
Resource (director, officer, VP, manager, associate, etc.)
Advancement (director, officer, VP, manager, associate, etc.)
Gift/Major Gifts (director, officer, VP, manager, associate, etc.)
External Relations (director, officer, VP, manager, associate, etc.)
Solicitor (less common)
Description: Money (or money equivalent) that is donated to a non-profit organization
Donation
Contribution
Gift
Award
Subsidy
Money that Underwrites (i.e. an event or program or position)
Support
Legacy gift (putting the organization and an amount in your will or trust, and informing the organization of that)
Description: Person who gives some form of money to a non-profit organization
Donor
Sponsor
Philanthropist
Contributor
Supporter
Friend
Benefactor
Description: An entity that exists to further a social cause or a public benefit
Non-profit
Charity
Tax-exempt organization
Fund
Endowment
Charitable Trust
Foundation
And, my all-time favorite:
Description: The money raised at an event or in a campaign (the most unclear of all)
Proceeds
Money raised
Money earned
Gross proceeds
Net proceeds
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- Lisa