Learn to Raise Major Gifts: A Better Way (That Actually Works)

You’ve probably attended conferences and webinars, and maybe you’ve even read some books on how to raise major gifts. You understand the concepts but implementing them is hard.

You’re still nervous about meeting with donors and asking for advice — and for gifts. And you’re not having much luck getting meetings anyway. If that sounds familiar, this post is for you.

What I’m about to suggest is not simple. It takes time and effort from everyone at your organization. But in a few years’ time, you’ll have raised exponentially more money than you’re raising right now, and you’ll be a much stronger fundraiser too. In fact, your whole team will be better fundraisers.

A Better Way to Learn to Raise Major Gifts

In my nearly two decades as a fundraising consultant, I’ve never witnessed such a transformation in the mindset and results of executive directors and development directors as I have seen over the last few years.

This method of fundraising is transformative because it empowers fundraisers to embrace key concepts and successfully raise major gifts for the first time.

So, with all that buildup, here’s how you can become a powerhouse major gift fundraiser:

A capital campaign.

But not just any old capital campaign — one that starts with a Guided Feasibility Study.

The Power of a Guided Feasibility Study

In a Guided Feasibility Study, your team works with a consultant who guides you to have strategic conversations with the biggest potential donors in your community, prior to asking for campaign gifts. This has proven to be the ultimate cultivation strategy.

There are several reasons Guided Feasibility Studies work to make you a stronger major gift fundraiser:

1. Campaigns are high stakes — failure is not an option. The pressure is on.
2. Your organization is committed to success and willing to invest in expertise.
3. You get intensive training on having conversations with millionaires. You prepare before each meeting and debrief afterward with your expert advisor.
4. After only the first three meetings, you begin to feel a transformative shift in your confidence and abilities.
5. After more than 20 conversations over several months, you are significantly more experienced and comfortable speaking with major donors than ever before. And that confidence lasts.

The hardest part is saying “yes” to this relatively new model of feasibility study — not to mention, deciding to do a capital campaign in the first place.

It’s so much easier to outsource these conversations to a consultant. But you won’t learn much in the process.

Making a Capital Campaign Happen

As I said, this model takes time and effort, but it works! Over the last 6 years, I’ve seen hundreds of nonprofit leaders at nearly 60 organizations take this transformative journey.

If you’re considering a capital campaign for the next calendar year, the time to start exploring your options is now. If you haven’t had a capital campaign in more than 10 years, you should definitely be preparing for one. Check out these free resources to get started. Capital campaigns are the strongest driver of change at nonprofit organizations.

If you’re ready to take the leap, I’m here for you. Let’s work together to change your community, your organization, and you!