Speaking of Fundraising: The Anatomy of a Major-Gifts Ask
First steps
What is most important as a first step to an ask? Getting the appointment in the first place. One needs to telephone to set up a meeting; send a note confirming the appointment; and then confirm the visit within 24 hours of the appointment. When the right person makes a call to seek an appointment, he or she needs to be specific as to the reason for the appointment and seek the time for the appointment that is best for the prospective donor. It’s important to choose a private, relaxing place for a meeting site and find out if an individual plus his/her partner will be involved. Make the appointment details work for you to enhance the probability of success.
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.
