Major Gifts: The Art, the Heart, the Ask and the Attitude
According to The American Heritage College Dictionary, the word “ask” can mean a number of things, including to make a request of, such as asking someone for a contribution. One must understand that the No. 1 reason someone does not give is that they are not asked. But asking in and of itself does not equal success. One must have a positive relationship with the potential donor; be an educator, communicator and facilitator; plus be the “right” person to ask. The individual doing the asking must also understand that the proper ask follows a logical, step-by-step function.
Duke Haddad, Ed.D., CFRE, is currently associate director of development, director of capital campaigns and director of corporate development for The Salvation Army Indiana Division in Indianapolis. He also serves as president of Duke Haddad and Associates LLC and is a freelance instructor for Nonprofit Web Advisor.
He has been a contributing author to NonProfit PRO since 2008.
He received his doctorate degree from West Virginia University with an emphasis on education administration plus a dissertation on donor characteristics. He received a master’s degree from Marshall University with an emphasis on public administration plus a thesis on annual fund analysis. He secured a bachelor’s degree (cum laude) with an emphasis on marketing/management. He has done post graduate work at the University of Louisville.
Duke has received the Fundraising Executive of the Year Award, from the Association of Fundraising Professionals Indiana Chapter. He also was given the Outstanding West Virginian Award, Kentucky Colonel Award and Sagamore of the Wabash Award from the governors of West Virginia, Kentucky and Indiana, respectively, for his many career contributions in the field of philanthropy. He has maintained a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) designation for three decades.
