Focus On: Major Gifts: Take A Lesson from the Old School
The importance of individual major gifts to your nonprofit organization’s success cannot be overestimated. Individuals make up the largest portion of givers — more than 75 percent of charitable giving in the United States. And the best fundraisers will tell you that the success of a major-gift ask is grounded in the research — the preparation — that came long before.
It’s the homework, stupid
A wealthy and successful corporate leader has agreed to meet with you, your CEO or the board chairman, and she knows what’s on your mind. Having afforded you some of her precious time, she’s entitled to ask some questions, and you’d better have the answers.
Michael Hoffman is the vice president of customer experience at The GLD Shop, the leading online retailer of hip-hop jewelry worldwide. Previously, he was director of e-commerce and customer service at Rainbow Shops with over 17 years of experience in the retail world at top brands such as Paragon Sports, GAP Inc., and Eon Booksellers. His expertise includes strategizing and implementing omnichannel growth, new market expansion, divisional growth/reconstruction, as well as technology integration and implementation. In both his current and former roles he has overseen multiple divisions of multimillion/billion-dollar e-commerce and brick-and-mortar businesses.
