Really big gifts can have a transformational effect on a nonprofit organization. Here … some ideas on how to cultivate them.

By Terry Burton

Think about the large university campaigns that have had such great success in past years and continue today. How many times have you heard about the first-time donor who made a $1 million gift? Quite often.

If you follow the notion of a Moves Management strategy, then those people who decided to step up and make a $1 million gift did so because of implied and pre-emptive stewardship efforts. People don’t often make decisions about giving away a lot of money in a vacuum. They listen, learn and then choose.