Today, you're going to learn how to ask for a major gift in five very clear steps. You'll need about 30 minutes of time total to carry out these steps. But before diving in to the "how-to", it's important to know WHEN and WHERE to ask for a major gift. Knowing WHEN to Ask for a Major Gift Let’s assume you’ve built a fairly good … [Read more...]
Major Gift Fundraising 201: Board Basics for Raising Bigger Gifts
Whenever I speak at conferences about how to raise major gifts, one of the first topics I cover (after determining what the term major gift actually means) is board member engagement. I ask audience members (or workshop participants) to raise their hands if their organization has 100% participation. In other words, if every board member … [Read more...]
The Amazing Power of Authenticity When Building Donor Relationships
At a recent board retreat I was facilitating, a board member challenged me. He said that he felt the donor cultivation strategies I was discussing seemed contrived. He didn’t believe we could develop real relationships with donors because the ulterior motive was to raise money. However, this particular board member was missing one key fact … [Read more...]
Want to Raise More Money when Fundraising? Go on a Listening Tour
Recently I was on a coaching call with a new client who doesn’t have experience raising major gifts. We discussed his plans for raising money from individual donors before year end. His idea was to call as many businesses as possible to “get meetings,” then tell them about all the amazing work his organization was doing, and then ask for a … [Read more...]
A Capital Campaign Tool You Can Use to Raise Major Gifts
The most important capital campaign tool is the gift range chart. This chart demonstrates how many gifts (and donors, and prospective donors) at each level (amount) it will take a reach your goal. Traditionally this tool has been used exclusively for capital campaigns, but the principles apply equally to raising major gifts for your annual … [Read more...]
3 “Non-Risk” Risks for the Fearful Fundraiser
Are you risk-averse? If trying something new gives you butterflies in your stomach and stops you in your tracks, you're likely risk-averse. Many fundraiser's are. Some people have an immediate and negative reaction to trying new things. And sometimes, their cautious natures are warranted. But often they’re not. So when Seth Godin … [Read more...]
An Effective Major Gifts Plan Template: Just 4 Simple Steps
I’m regularly asked for a major gifts plan template. Over the years, I’ve worked to refine the process and make it as simple as possible. Here’s a major gift plan template broken down into 4 steps: Major Gifts Plan Template in 4 Steps Identify the best prospective donors for your organization. Build relationships with those donors and … [Read more...]
The Minimalist Guide to Planned Giving: Just 3 Simple Steps
The very idea of planned giving can seem overwhelming. Complicated new tax laws, combined with unfamiliar acronyms like CRAT and CRUT, not to mention strange sounding vehicles like Charitable Gift Annuities… it’s enough to make your head spin! And that just scratches the surface. Planned Giving Can Make Your Head Spin There are so many … [Read more...]
4 Unquestionable Major Gift Fundraising Metrics to Accelerate Your Program
You’ve probably heard the saying, “If you don’t know where you’re going, you won’t know when you’ve arrived.” And that holds doubly true when raising major gifts. In order to accelerate your major gift fundraising program, it’s essential to define what a major gift is at your organization (no, it's not the same at every organization) and … [Read more...]
How to Listen Your Way to Raising a Major Gift by Asking for Advice
There’s a popular expression in fundraising: Ask for money and you’ll get advice, but ask for advice and you’ll get money. The expression is a euphemism for “getting to know your donors.” It reminds us not to ask too soon. In other words, if you ask for money right away, you might get an earful -- the donor will tell you all the reasons … [Read more...]
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