If you do not find the answer to your question below or would like more information about MAGIC, please call us at 877.546.2442 or email Susan Taylor.
Q: How long has MAGIC been in business?
Q: Do planned giving prospects have the same profile as major giving prospects?
Q: Can I see the MAGIC for myself at any upcoming industry conferences?
Q: Is there any way to find out who else my donors/prospects give to?
Q: Does MAGIC identify individuals with large amounts of stock?
Q: How quickly will I receive my results?
Q: What information do you need from me to process my file?
Q: In what format will I receive my results?
Q: Can I import the MAGIC information into my donor management software?
Q: Do I have to buy software from MAGIC to use my results?
Q: Are multiple installations of MaGICQuery included in my fee?
Q: Is all of my MaGICQuery technical support included in my fee?
Q: How are the records I send to MAGIC protected?
Q: What is the minimum number of records MAGIC, Inc. will screen for a new client?
Q: Does MAGIC have a method for screening names on an on-going basis?
Q: How long has MAGIC been in business?
A: MAGIC, Inc. was founded in 1998. The Chairman and President of MAGIC, Inc.,
Doug Alexander and Susan Boyette trace their roots in the major gift screening service
back to 1989 when they developed POW&R, the first individual-specific screening
firm to focus on the hidden "millionaire next door". MAGIC still embraces this fund
raising approach to screening with an emphasis on providing relevant data and
meaningful follow-up consulting.
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Q: Do planned giving prospects have the same profile as major giving prospects?
A: They are usually quite different. While planned giving and major giving prospects sometimes have similar characteristics most planned giving prospects fly below the radar of traditional wealth screening methods. Research supported by the National Council on Planned Giving, nationally renowned fundraising consulting firms, and planned giving officers at major U.S. non-profit organization shows that many of the best planned giving prospects are widowed or single women with modest incomes, substantial but not always liquid assets, who are consistent low-level donors and over the age of 72. Many of these prospects are hidden on non-profits' databases and will never self-identify or show up on a screening that emphasizes substantial liquid wealth.
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Q: Can I see the MAGIC for myself at any upcoming industry conferences?
A: Yes! Please join us at the following 2007 conferences:
–National Philanthropy Day in New York
–Association of Professional Researchers for Advancement
–National Catholic Development Conference
–Association for Healthcare Philanthropy International Conference
–National Conference on Planned Giving
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Q: Who are MAGIC’s clients?
A: We have helped raise billions of dollars for large universities, leading museums, national social service organizations, and large healthcare systems. And we bring the same level of dedication to fundraising to small independent schools, YMCAs, and grass-root organizations. Here is a complete list of our clients.
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Q: Who should I screen?
A: Many times it is not necessary or prudent to screen your entire database. Many times screening your lapsed or non-donors donors is as important as screening your current donors. The difference in receiving results that are useful versus merely interesting can be made by which internal relationship fields you choose include with your records. MaGIC will help with all of these important decisions and simplify the process of providing the smartest input file possible to yield the best results.
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Q: Is there any way to find out who else my donors/prospects give to?
A: Yes. MAGIC has built a proprietary database of individuals, at the home address level, who have made one-time cash gifts of $5,000 or more to a non-profit. It is not used or shared with any other screening service and is added to weekly by our research staff. We call these individuals Philanthropists. You will learn who they gave to, how much, and when. Recently we have added another category to the MaGIC database, called Donors. These individuals have made a one-time gift of between $1,000 and $5,000 to a non-profit.
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Q: Does MAGIC identify individuals with large amounts of stock?
A: Yes. MAGIC identifies individuals who own six and/or seven figure stock portfolios, outside of their retirement accounts. We emphasize private business owners and investors in our screening process who are not necessarily SEC Insider Traders.
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Q: How quickly will I receive my results?
A: You will receive your results within four weeks of submitting your input file.
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Q: What information do you need from me to process my file?
A: We will work with you to determine who should be included on your input file to yield the best results. Records should be submitted to MAGIC in an Excel spreadsheet that includes basic contact information on the individuals you wish to screen. You can include up to 45 internal data fields that will help you prioritize your prospects in MaGICQuery by their relationship with your organization. We will consult with you about the best internal data to send.
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Q: In what format will I receive my results?
A: Results from AGM, MGM, and PGM are delivered to you in a powerful electronic data management tool, MaGICQuery, that gives you instant analysis of your very best prospects and counsel for how to solicit them.
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Q: Can I import the MAGIC information into my donor management software?
A: Absolutely! Your data exports from MaGICQuery into a comma, separated txt document that you can use to import into your donor management system.
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Q: Do I have to buy software from MAGIC to use my results?
A: No! You do not have to buy any software to use your results. MAGIC provides you with an electronic deliverable, MaGICQuery, which gives you immediate access to your results and loads right onto your PC. You can rank, segment, and prioritize your matches using any of the data elements appended by MAGIC and any internal data fields you provide to us.
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Q: Are multiple installations of MaGICQuery included in my fee?
A: Yes, provided your PC meets the minimum structural requirements listed below
you can have up to three installations of MaGICQuery at no additional fee. However, we recommend that each installation be on a computer that is password protected and used only by a member of your professional development staff.
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Q: Is all of my MaGICQuery technical support included in my fee?
A: We will provide you with technical support for MaGICQuery for twelve months after your screening.
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Q: How much does MAGIC cost?
A: Please call or email us for a custom quote of your screening solution. Generally costs for Global MAGIC range from $2.80 per record to $.82 per record.
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Q: How are the records I send to MAGIC protected?
A: MAGIC signs a confidentiality agreement with every client and guarantee that your data will be returned to you in full and not used to enhance our databases in any way.
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Q: What is the minimum number of records MAGIC, Inc. will screen for a new client?
A: For Annual Giving MAGIC, the minimum is 30,000 records.
For Major Giving MAGIC, the minimum is 2,500 records.
For Planned Giving MAGIC, the minimum is 10,000 records.
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Q: Does MAGIC have a method for screening names on an on-going basis?
A: Yes. A twelve month membership to FundraisingInfo.com is included in your MAGIC fee and gives you instant, on-line access to the Philanthropist Next Door service to conduct your one at a time look-ups.
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