When it comes to major gifts, we worry a lot about the ask and not enough about about securing the “getting to know you” visit. If you can get a visit with a donor, you have an 85% chance they’ll make the gift. Who says? Veteran major gifts guru Jerold [...]
Let’s begin with the too-often dreaded process of major gift solicitation. Whenever I conduct a board session on philanthropy, I come across big-time resistance to fundraising. People have a lot of deep-seated, negative beliefs when it comes to asking people for money. When asked to give one word that comes [...]
You can, and should, have a major gift fundraising program – whatever your size. If you don’t, you’re just ignoring the facts. Nearly 80% of all fundraising comes from individuals.Studies show over 88% of all funds raised come from just 12% of donors.Two-thirds of all household charity in the U.S. comes [...]
Wizard of Oz: A Tale of Prospect Identification If you want to become a major gift fundraising wizard, you would do well to follow Dorothy’s advice. There’s no place like home. You can find a lot of prospects in your own backyard. You just need to know where to [...]
Savvy fundraisers are moving in the direction of major individual gifts. At least those who want to be successful generating greater philanthropy are doing so! Why? TREND: The level of giving from small and medium gifts is dropping. So if all you’re set up to raise is small and medium-size [...]
Evidence is piling up from more than one source in the world of philanthropy regarding the reduction in small and medium-sized gifts. In the past year, both Giving USA and the Fundraising Effectiveness Project report have reported that the level of giving from small and medium gifts is dropping. [...]
One of my favorite volunteer activities in the nonprofit sector is serving on the Fundraising Effectiveness Project’s Growth in Giving Steering Committee. The face-to-face meetings and conference calls are always insightful and thought provoking. This is especially true when those insights are cutting edge and timely in nature. This week’s [...]
You may not care one bit about professional football. Even if you do, you probably aren’t overly concerned about the off-season trades and signings of multi-millionaire players. This blog post isn’t going to convince you otherwise. However, I recently read a detailing of the lengths that the Minnesota Vikings leadership [...]
Potential major gift donors (like all donors) have philanthropic motivations. But have you asked them what they are? As a fundraiser, the way you build trust with donors is by getting to know them. The best way to do that is by asking them questions. Do you know: why they [...]
Capacity matters in fundraising. That might be the most obvious thing for any fundraiser. People will give what they're capable of giving. But time and time again, organizations I work with talk about having trouble filling their major gift pipeline, upgrading donors over time, or making any headway with lapsed [...]
Soliciting new donors, much like growing your major gifts portfolios and upgrading mid-level donors to give more, should also start with those you already know. Prospects can be hiding in plain sight. It is after you’ve culled through your existing list that you should, then, utilize proven strategies to find [...]
If you are a regular reader of this blog or any fundraising blog for that matter, the subject of “Major Gifts” is one of the most common. From researching the best prospects to building the relationship to making the “Ask," major gift actions are explored from every angle. However, two [...]