For more than 10 years, I’ve been consulting with small and mid-sized organizations on how to raise major gifts.
There are plenty of reasons development professionals don’t raise major gifts. But today we’re going to focus on those who have been super-successful. You’ll hear their success stories in their own words.
So if you haven’t found success at raising major gifts yet — even if you’ve tried webinars and workshops, blog posts and books — here’s proof that you CAN learn this process and turn that knowledge into success for your organization.
5 Women Who Learned to Raise Major Gifts and Overcame Their Struggles
Take inspiration from those who have made it past fear, lack of time, lack of know-how, resistant boards and many more obstacles.
In this post, you’ll meet 5 women who successfully raised major gifts. Hopefully you will recognize your own passion and drive in their stories.
Full Disclaimer – All five of these women learned how to raise major gifts using my online course, Mastering Major Gifts.
Diane raised over $500,000 in just 9 months!
I took Mastering Major Gifts about 2 years ago when there was a chance that I would need new skills to lead a capital campaign. I started preparing for said campaign immediately after I completed this course.
I began to actively fundraise for the campaign last September. So far, I have raised$502,850 – basically as a one-person operation… in just 9 months!
Now that I feel like I know what I’m doing, I’m going to add others to the fundraising team. I could NEVER have done any of this (or felt confident enough to even start) without Mastering Major Gifts.
Since we are now working with architects, a development company and community leaders on this renovation of our city’s first auditorium, they see our organization as a group that gets things done. They are willing to help us in so many ways that wouldn’t have happened if we didn’t look like we knew what we were doing as far as fundraising is concerned. People in our organization are now quick to jump on the success train and our fundraising will see an even stronger presence in our community.
At least once a week I am asked how I “got so smart about approaching people for money” and I always tell them that the change in me happened through joining Mastering Major Gifts.
Jessica crushed her fear of asking and doubled giving
Getting up the courage to make the ask has been one of my greatest struggles. The fear was debilitating. Also, getting our board to participate was a real challenge.
As a result of enrolling in Mastering Major Gifts, last year we were able to double major gifts in my province. I have also been able to deepen relationships and connections with my board and their contacts.
We have seen significant financial results. I have also been busier than I have ever been before, because now I have more meetings with community leaders. I am better positioned to friend-raise and fund-raise.
I would absolutely recommend the Mastering Major Gifts program. My team appreciated the additional training and insight that I was not fully equipped to provide. We have also made an effort to incorporate Amy’s key questions (what have we done and what are we going to do to raise major gifts) into our team meetings.
Thank you so much for allowing us to share the program and learn together!
Lorrie raised half a million dollars!
The first year after taking Mastering Major Gifts, we raised well over $500,000, plus co-writing two large grants over that amount. We were successful! And this year we’ve raised over $500,000 before the end of our year!
After joining MMG, I have a better understanding of:
- the relationship-building process with donors
- the donor cycle
- how to help donors discern what it is that resonates with them
- how to help my executive team identify operations opportunities for donors
- how to set realistic yet stretch goals
- how to help my organization value and accept major giving donors
- how to plan out the process by donor (it is not the same for all)
- how to become more comfortable asking for big gifts by mentioning the amount in conversation a time or two prior to asking
- and how to get that first meeting!
This program has given our organization so much. We now have a new revenue stream that executives are expecting to continue. We’ve been able to offer two new programs. We’ve secured funding to support whole programs for a full year. We’ve been able to renovate two important buildings on a 92-year-old campus. And we have made new and dear friends with other incredible people!
MMG paid for itself before I ever even finished the curriculum. I would not be raising large gifts in our community without having learned the skills I needed from Mastering Major Gifts.
A little self-confidence breeds more self-confidence and more success. The key is keeping donors informed of how their investments are working. With two donors, this has meant two five figure gifts within 7 months! How many more are out there if I can just keep up?
Kari’s work is really starting to pay off
As a result of joining Mastering Major Gifts, our organization met its contributed revenue budget for the first time in 5 years!
It hasn’t been an entirely smooth road, but my team has seen me behave in the way I’ve asked them to work, and the shared results are building my confidence and the team’s confidence in me.
My work with our board directors is starting to pay off – they have more confidence in our team, and are more willing to participate in fundraising because I am not setting them up to ask, but instead sending them out to be ambassadors.
One director is now launching a regional volunteer fundraising team to help us raise funds from individuals and foundations located near one of our priority projects. Previously our board was very critical of the development team and board meetings were super stressful.
There is so much information available about fundraising that it can be overwhelming. Mastering Major Gifts keeps the focus on small, simple actions that can be personalized and repeated.
Cathy invested in herself and her team
When you have practiced a craft for many years, it’s hard to tell someone how you began and how they should begin. Mastering Major Gifts was super-helpful in providing a framework for the future success of my staff.
I am a “university-trained fundraiser.” This training is based on mentorship, structure, best practices and scholarship. Leaving the university environment and heading to a small shop provided me with a moment of sheer panic – I had to provide the structure and training for the entire team!
By sharing best practices and tools through MMG, I am connected in a very important way to members of my team and, maybe more importantly, to our board of directors. Having the ability to review and relearn best practices through the program has strengthened my fundraising abilities and my relatability to new staff members. It’s provided all of us with a pathway to the three M’s: Motivation, Morale and Money!
Most of all, the program has bolstered employee retention and commitment. Formal investment in our team has provided a sense of connectivity not available via other team-building activities.
Mastering Major Gifts is the perfect combination of auditory, visual and traditional learning styles. For our team, it was easily understood and implemented!
If They Can Do It, You Can Too!
Can you see yourself in their stories? Their struggles? Their dreams?
How would it feel to double what you raised in major gifts next year?
Or raise $500,000 in 9 months?
You, too, can raise major gifts. But you need to put in the time and effort. It’s not easy, but when you do the work, you will see BIG results — just as these women have.
So where’s the fine print?
Right about now, you’re probably expecting to read a little disclaimer that says, “Results not typical.” But here’s the thing… these results ARE typical — for those who put in the work.
Raising major gifts isn’t this magical ability that comes by way of luck. It’s a formulaic process – sure, it’s a process that requires care and nuance – but it is a skill that can be taught and learned.
If you’re ready to put in the work, you WILL see success. I’ve seen it happen over and over again with so many people who have learned the complete process through Mastering Major Gifts.
The proof is right here — those who learn this process and put it into practice at their organization are the ones who raise the largest gifts.
So I’m quite certain…
YOU CAN DO THIS!
The Early Bird gets the deal!
Registration for the 2019 summer session of Mastering Major Gifts has just opened and Early Bird Pricing is in effect!
In other words, you’ll SAVE $300 when you register for the course on or before Monday, July 8th 2019.
Best of all, you can rest assured that this is money well spent. There’s zero risk to you and your organization. If you’re not happy within the first 30 days, you can request a full refund.
Learn more about Mastering Major Gifts »
It’s only natural for you to remain skeptical. That’s totally normal. Your skepticism is always on alert to keep you safe. But remember – nothing transformational or amazing ever happens in the safe zone.
I do hope you’ll join us for MMG this summer. It’s a great way to gear up for fall fundraising and crush your year-end goal.
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