Focus On: Major Gifts: Take A Lesson from the Old School
You’re looking for a six- or seven-figure gift, and she’ll want to know about your program’s budget, projections for the particular project you’re discussing and who’s given already. How will her gift be recognized? Is that the most suitable naming opportunity for her? She very well could want to explore alternatives for lower-level gifts; are you prepared to discuss them? Or have the leaders of your organization decided they’re so sure of the appropriate gift level that you must keep her focused on that number?
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.
