You Have Everything You Need to Raise Major Gifts — Tap It!

Almost 10 years ago, I challenged development directors to get “rich and famous” in a blog post that has over 350 comments on it. (For comparison, my average post gets maybe two comments.)

• Rich in terms of donations to their organizations.
• Famous, as in a “rock star” among their board members and colleagues. In other words, the best, most successful major gifts fundraiser possible.

The key to success then (and now) is 5 hours per week and four simple steps. That’s literally everything you need.

You Have What it Takes; You Just Need to Tap It

You probably already know how, conceptually, to raise major gifts. The four simple steps are:

1. Identify potential donors
2. Build relationships with those donors
3. Ask them for a gift
4. Thank them

(You can find more detail about these steps in my Ultimate Guide to Raising Major Gifts.)

I’ve often said:

Raising major gifts is simple, but not easy.

The hard part is getting up the courage to ask and making the time to do the steps properly and consistently.

It takes COURAGE to raise major gifts.

Learning something new or doing something for the first time can be scary. Just think about learning to ride a bike or learning to swim.

At first, they are frightening and difficult. But as a child, these are skills you know you want are able, and willing, to push past the fear. Now, you can swim and ride a bike without thinking about them. They’ve become second nature.

As an adult, learning new skills can be even harder than it was as a child. And raising major gifts is no different than any other new skill. It must be learned and practiced. The first few times are scary, but it gets easier. You’ve just got to dive in and do it.

It takes TIME to raise major gifts.

There’s no question that raising major gifts takes time. In busy development shops, time is at a premium. Tasks with deadlines, like grant applications and galas, take priority while cultivating and stewarding major donors gets pushed aside.

If you want to raise major gifts, you need to make the time to do it. Only one hour a day is all it takes. That’s five hours per week. I know you can do it!

Use one hour each morning to work the steps:

• Identify and research donors to get started.
• Create plans to cultivate them and start to work your plans.
• Then, invite them to meet with you.

Successfully raising major gifts is simply a matter of implementing good work habits. If you neglect the steps in favor of grant writing, event planning, and direct mail, you won’t be able to raise major gifts.

A mentor can make all the difference.

It’s hard to imagine learning to swim or ride a bike without someone teaching you the steps and cheering you on along the way. The same is true with major gifts.

Sure, you could take a webinar or sit through a class — but unless you’ve got someone by your side along the way, progress is slow and frustrating, and you’re more likely to give up.

That’s why it’s so important to find someone (free or paid) to show you how and help you course-correct. If you work at an organization with people experienced in raising major gifts, you might have that support. But if you work at a small shop, you may need to look externally for the guidance you need.

Accountability: The Most Critical Component

Changing habits is hard. Just try to think of a time you successfully changed a habit, such as starting a new exercise routine. You know it’s good for you. You start out committed. But success is elusive.

I started exercising last year for the first time in a long time. I signed up for weekly classes at Orange Theory. Although I’ve been tempted to cancel many times, I’ve stuck with it for a few reasons:

1. Two of my friends check in to make sure I’ve gone every week.
2. I paid and I don’t want to lose money on missed classes.
3. Orange Theory emails me when I skip a week.

Without this combination of accountability and external pressure, I probably would’ve quit by now.

Accountability, confidence, and skills

Raising major gifts is simple, yet difficult. It takes dedication and commitment to succeed. I spent the first half of my career teaching development directors to raise major gifts. I’ve learned what works and incorporated it into an online program — Mastering Major Gifts.

Learn about Mastering Major Gifts »

I’ve been operating this course for nearly a decade, and it’s helped hundreds of fundraisers master this critical skill.

However, due to the increased commitment required by my other business venture, Capital Campaign Pro, I’ve made the bittersweet decision to retire the program at the end of 2025. Therefore, the last cohort will start in early February.

Join Now — your last chance ever »

Enrollment ends February 1st at midnight. I’d love for you to join us on the final MMG voyage. This program has so much to offer. I’m so very proud of it, and what past participants have accomplished with the skills and confidence they’ve gained.

And, sadly, you’ll never have another opportunity.

Major gift success: real stories, real people

Click here to read the real success stories of five women, just like you, who successfully mastered major gift fundraising. They developed the skills, gained accountability, and found the courage and confidence to succeed.

You can too!

Discover if Mastering Major Gifts is a good fit for you. As always, your first 30 days are free, so there’s no risk to your organization, and absolutely no obligation.

So, why not take the plunge? I hope you do, and I hope to see you there!