For more than a year, I have been blogging about how to raise major gifts. I thought it would be interesting to team up with some of my colleagues in the field to share some of their expertise on the subject. Recently I had the opportunity to speak with Jamie Roseman, at Planned Parenthood Federation of America and Planned Parenthood … [Read more...]
Getting Real with Major Gifts: Interview with Keith Rhodes of BBBS
For more than a year, I have been blogging about how to raise major gifts. I thought it would be interesting to team up with some of my colleagues in the field to share some of their expertise on the subject. Recently I had the opportunity to speak with Keith Rhodes, the new Senior VP of Major Gifts for Big Brothers Big Sisters of … [Read more...]
Finding the Time to Ensure Your Success Raising Major Gifts
It’s been over a year since I introduced the Major Gifts Challenge, and the results for many small nonprofits have been amazing! Those who stuck with the process have gotten gifts of $10,000 or more for their nonprofit for the first time ever. Others have seen their larger level gifts increase, both in quantity (frequency) and … [Read more...]
How to Measure Your Success with Major Gifts Fundraising
At the end of each year, it’s important to reflect on how you did in asking for major gifts, measure your results, and review what could be done better or differently during the next year. And, don’t forget to celebrate any success you had! Did you receive your first ever major gift this year? If so, it’s time for a celebration! That … [Read more...]
How to Set Your Major Gift Fundraising Goal for Each Year
As we wind down the Major Gifts Challenge, it's important to consider the best way to set your major gift goals going forward. Some organizations use last year's results to set the next year's goal, but that's not always a good idea because year-to-year totals can swing wildly depending on all sorts of circumstances. This is particularly … [Read more...]
Leveraging Your Board Members for Major Gift Fundraising
The Major Gift Challenge has been on for 9 months now and participants are starting to see some great success! I’ve taken you from identifying your donors through the ask and follow-up. So for the last three months of the year, I’m going to veer off the course we’ve been on a bit and tackle some important related topics. The topic of … [Read more...]
Include Major Gifts in Your Year-End Fundraising in 5 Easy Steps
Time is running out if you want to raise major gifts for your organization in time for year-end. My friend, colleague and mentor, Gail Perry, has put together a panel of the best-of-the-best experts in the field of fundraising to help you raise more money by year-end this year. I was honored to be included in the line-up and my topic, of … [Read more...]
After the Ask: The Follow Up-Plan
Congragulations — you've made the ask! (If you're not quite there yet, go back a step and prepare for any twists and turns your ask meeting might take. Be sure to read my post Why Maybe is the Best Answer When Asking for a Major Gift about how to respond when a donor says “Yes,” “No,” or “Maybe” during the ask meeting. That post also … [Read more...]
How to Ask for a Major Gift: Who, Where, and What
Hopefully you spent some time in the Major Gifts Challenge cultivating your donors. If not, there’s always time to start now. So, you should be ready (or almost ready) to ask your major gifts prospects for a gift. Before you know it, it will be the end of the year, so you need to ask sooner, not later. Some people won’t be available to … [Read more...]
Why “Maybe” is the Best Answer When Asking for a Major Gift
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...]
