Welcome back to the Major Gifts Challenge! If you’re unfamiliar with the Challenge, check out the introductory video here. “Let’s meet.” It’s easier said than done. Yet, the first meeting is the foundation to cultivating a relationship that turns prospects into producers. The first step to cultivating a productive relationship with … [Read more...]
A Simple Month-by-Month Cultivation Plan for Major Gift Donors
Cultivating your potential major gift donors builds and strengthens your relationship with them. Cultivation is a fundraising art, and today you’re going to learn tips on Cultivating Donors. Assuming you’ve been following the Major Gifts Challenge, you already should have a list of your top prospective donors ready to cultivate. If … [Read more...]
Give Your Board Members a Proper Orientation and Watch Them Soar
Welcome back to the Major Gifts Challenge! If you’re unfamiliar with the Challenge, check out the introductory video here. Last week I discussed board member recruitment. You learned the importance of recruiting board members who understand the role they play in raising funds. Recruiting a strong board is just the beginning. Now it’s … [Read more...]
Recruit Board Members Who Are Hungry to Raise Major Gifts
Welcome back to the Major Gifts Challenge! If you’re unfamiliar with the Challenge, check out the introductory video here. Board member participation significantly improves donor giving. The evidence is abundant. Despite the evidence, one of the most frequent complaints development directors make is, “My board members won’t help raise … [Read more...]
4 Metrics to Measure the Success of Your Major Gift Program
Welcome back to the Major Gifts Challenge! If you’re unfamiliar with the Challenge, check out the introductory video here. Let’s not sugarcoat it... measuring impact can be hard. The issues we tackle in the nonprofit sector are challenging. How Do You Know if You’re Making a Difference? It’s difficult to measure a reduction in … [Read more...]
Precisely How to Determine and Calculate Your Major Gift Goal
Welcome back to the Major Gifts Challenge! If you’re unfamiliar with the Challenge, check out the introductory video here. Big Goals drive Big Accomplishments! Mostly I hear organizations say they set their fundraising goal based on the “need” or the hole in their budgets. This, of course, has nothing to do with their ability to raise … [Read more...]
How to Create a Major Gift Stewardship Plan: Forget About the Money!
Welcome back to the Major Gifts Challenge! If you’re unfamiliar with the Challenge, check out the introductory video here. Before you can even ask for a major gift, you need to focus on gratitude. Donors Don’t Simply Give Money... They save lives... They feed the hungry and house the homeless... They educate children... They help … [Read more...]
Friendraising: How to Raise Major Gifts When You Have No Donors
Welcome back to the Major Gifts Challenge! If you’re unfamiliar with the Challenge, check out the introductory video here. In the last few videos, you’ve learned about creating a donor pipeline and narrowing down your list of donors. But what if you don’t have a database full of donors to start from? No problem. Friendraising to … [Read more...]
Creating a Donor Pipeline: Zero in on Your BEST Major Gift Prospects
Welcome back to the Major Gifts Challenge! If you’re unfamiliar with the Challenge, check out the introductory video here. A list of potential donors, often called a portfolio or even a pipeline, helps you secure Major Gifts. Today you’ll learn how to create a profitable portfolio. In the last Major Gifts Challenge video, you learned … [Read more...]
Creating a Donor Pipeline: Building a List of Major Gift Prospects
Welcome back to the Major Gifts Challenge! If you’re unfamiliar with the Challenge, check out the introductory video here. A first step to achieve success in raising major gifts is identifying who you will ask. The last video discussed defining a major gift. Once defined, it’s clear you don’t need lots of major gift donors -- you can be … [Read more...]
