I’ve just discovered another useful resource on the AFP website, especially for people who are new to fundraising. It’s a Fundraising Dictionary (download it as a PDF at the bottom of the page) covering absolutely every term, acronym and expression even remotely related to fundraising. Here are a few of the words that were new to me. What can I say, I’m a dictionary-reading nerd.
- Ademption – noun – the invalidation of a bequest in a will because the testator, before death, had already disposed of the property bequeathed.
- Eleemosynary – adjective – 1a of, for, or pertaining to charity, charitable. 1b provided by charity; free. 1c supported by or dependent upon charity.
- Hanger – noun informal – an additional appeal or personalized note enclosed in a direct-mail package. A hanger is usually smaller in format than the original, main letter and usually signed by someone other than the signer of the main letter. Also lift note.
- Reason code – the vehicle or technique that elicits a donation, such as a personal solicitation memorial, acquisition mailing, newsletter, annual appeal, or membership dues. Also campaign code.
- Soft credit – 1 the action of crediting a donor, who has a matching gift given by the donor’s employer, with the same amount as the matching gift, for determining the donor’s standing in a giving club.
- Syndicated gift – a gift composed of as few as two (although usually more) individual gifts bound by some shared attribute, such as members of the same family or a group of corporations.
By the way, the Z for zombie is from the very cute Politically Incorrect Alphabet.
