Franklin Forum: Nonprofit Professionals Stress Face-to-Face Contact is Key to Major Giving

The session presenters discussed how they approach major giving at their respective organizations and shared best practices they've gleaned from experience. But all stressed the need to cultivate major-donor relationships through face-to-face interactions.

R. Robin Austin, interim vice president for development at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, said donations to the hospital are down a bit, with a lot of people delaying big gifts until the economy gets better. In light of the economy, he and his team are focusing on the basics of stewardship. They're looking to engage past board members, families of children the hospital has helped who've given in the past, or grandparents of current patients.