10 Reasons Why Most Major-Gift Programs (Stink)! — Nos. 8-10
Folks, it's time we move from viewing donors as a means to get our "mission" done to realizing that they are part of our mission. I believe that when we see an organization really grasp the meaning of being truly donor-centered, the major-gift program will grow exponentially.
So, what do I mean by this? Everyone who is employed by or volunteers for the nonprofit is indoctrinated (yes, I would use that strong a word) to understand that donors are central to the mission and are treated just as importantly as your programs, projects and services. And I mean from the janitor all the way to the chair of the board. This means the culture of the organization has to completely change because I haven't seen a nonprofit yet that totally understands this.
Jeff Schreifels is the principal owner of Veritus Group — an agency that partners with nonprofits to create, build and manage mid-level fundraising, major gifts and planned giving programs. In his 32-plus year career, Jeff has worked with hundreds of nonprofits, helping to raise more than $400 million in revenue.
