Major Gifts

Why Isn’t an MGO’s Office Hours 8 to 5?
October 30, 2017 at 11:34 am

One common problem managers have with major gift officers is how to manage their time. Or maybe I should say how not to manage their time. Some managers believe that the eight-to-five rule for employees actually applies to MGOs...

Ask Yourself 3 Key Questions Before Asking for That Big Gift
October 23, 2017 at 11:51 am

For most people, asking for gifts in person is difficult. And when you are asking for one of the top campaign gifts, it’s even harder because the stakes are super high. Chances are, you don’t have very many donors who would consider giving one of those lead gifts. So, it’s no surprise that when you ask those donors for very big gifts, you are anxious...

Be a Major Gift Officer and Have a Life
October 23, 2017 at 11:21 am

The demands of a major gift officer are enormous. I don’t have to spell them all out to you, because you live it. The same can be said for a development director at a small nonprofit who has to be “everything” fundraising at your nonprofit...

Out-of-Control Major Gift Events Program
October 16, 2017 at 11:36 am

Tell me what you think is wrong with this picture: There is a major gift officer (MGO) who has a caseload, and he is also charged with doing events for the organization. He has three staff members who work with him on this agenda...

What Happens When Your Major Gift Officer Leaves?
October 9, 2017 at 10:34 am

Recently, one of our client managers for Veritus told me a story about one of our clients she is working with. When I heard this story, I was not shocked. Richard and I hear this kind of stuff all the time. This happens with major donors, because many nonprofits clearly have no structure in place for their major gift program...

It's Time to Listen to Your Donors
October 2, 2017 at 12:13 pm

I was reminded about this important topic when I had a chance meeting with the wife of a friend who, when we met, launched into a five-minute tirade on how she and her husband are mistreated by the major gift officers from their favorite charities...

A Great Way to Help Your Donor Decide on the Right Gift
September 25, 2017 at 11:55 am

As you get ready to ask people for gifts, you will certainly wonder how much to ask them for. Sometimes you’ll know enough to have a sense of what’s appropriate. You can look at their giving history to your organization. You might also find out about other gifts they’ve made to comparable projects. Giving, like many other activities, has a large element of habit...

Is Your Organization Doing What Is Best for the Donor… or the Organization?
September 25, 2017 at 11:28 am

It’s amazing to Richard and me how nonprofits—that do such great things with the programs and projects they have making the world a better place—have a total disregard for their major donors. One example of this was a story I heard from someone who quit her position as an major gift officer several years ago...

How to Prevent Donors From Sugarcoating Their Comments
September 11, 2017 at 9:25 am

Most people hesitate to give criticism or honest feedback. I’ve done it myself—sugarcoating my comments rather than telling someone what I really think. Unless someone asks me specifically what I really think, probing in various specific areas, I’m more inclined to give positive feedback...

Don’t Expect a Gift From Your Board Member
September 11, 2017 at 9:15 am

You have most certainly experienced the fear of a board member whose term is coming up, and they are one of your best donors. You’re thinking, “How do I get them to continue their giving?” Richard and I would say that is the wrong way to think about this...