There are three possible answers (and only three) that a person can give after being asked for a Major Gift: Yes No and maybe You need to be prepared for all of them. When a Prospective Donor Says "Yes" Let’s say you ask someone for a major gift, and they say “yes.” What do you do? First, thank them, of course. Then find … [Read more...]
Overcome Your Asking Anxiety by Using Your Asking Style
As we approach "the ask" in the Major Gifts Challenge, I've asked my colleague, Andrea Kihlstedt, to prepare a guest post for this week dedicated to Asking Styles. Andrea’s unique approach to asking could really help as you approach your asks. Asking Styles is also the name of Andrea's new book (pictured right), for which I had the honor … [Read more...]
Big Gift? Bigger Gift? Asking for the Right Amount
You may have heard the expression: Fundraising is an art and a science. As much as I wish there was an “ask amount formula,” unfortunately there isn’t. 5 Rules to Determine Your Ask Amount Determining how much to ask for could be the most confusing part of the entire major gift process. So here are some rules of thumb to live by: … [Read more...]
The Un-Blog Post: Countdown to The Ask
Are you committed to raising major gifts this year? Have you been keeping up with the Major Gifts Challenge so far? Or are you just getting started? Either way, this post serves one purpose... To make sure you DON’T GIVE UP! You're Almost There You really want to raise some major gifts for your organization this year. That means … [Read more...]
The Pre-Ask Meeting: Who, What, When, Where and Why?
The most important activity on every cultivation plan for soliciting major gifts from prospective donors is a personal meeting or visit. You will want to meet with all major gifts prospects, regardless of whether you already have a good relationship with them (board members and other volunteers), as well as those you need to meet for the … [Read more...]
Getting a Major Gift: Moving From Cultivation to the Ask
If you’ve been following the Major Gifts Challenge, we’re getting closer and closer to asking for a gift. And if you haven't been following along, it's never too late to start! Let’s take another quick look at the four stages of the fundraising cycle. 1. Identification Congratulations! You’ve already identified your top prospective … [Read more...]
Board Retreats: An Excellent Tool for Getting Major Gifts
Has your organization had a board retreat in the last 12 months? What about in the last 3 years? 10 years? If you’re like many nonprofit organizations, you fall into one of two common camps with regard to board retreats: You don’t have them nearly as often as you should (haven’t had a retreat for 3+ years). You have them … [Read more...]
The 4 Pillars of Major Gift Relationships
Looking for major gifts for your cause? The key lies in building relationships with your top 20 prospective donors. Don't have a top 20 list yet? Check out the previous posts in the Major Gifts Challenge to get yourself caught up. The Art of Building Relationships Fundraising is about relationships. The relationship-building stage of … [Read more...]
Who Are Your Donors? Discover Your Major Gift Prospects
Do You Know Who Your Donors Are? If you want to be successful at Major Gifts fundraising, a crucial step is to identify who you will ask. We’ve already gone over some of the other “getting started” steps, including committing to getting more major gifts (i.e., taking the Major Gifts Challenge), and determining the size of a major gift … [Read more...]
How to Thank Your Donors: Stop Focusing on the Money!
Before you can ask for a major gift, you need to focus on gratitude. Stop thinking of your donors as ATM machines and really focus on them as people. Think about what they do for your organization. They don’t simply give money. They save lives. They feed the hungry and house the homeless. They educate children. They help cure … [Read more...]
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