Major Gifts
February 27, 2017 at 1:55 pm
Typically when Richard and I talk to MGOs about building a culture of philanthropy at their organization, there is a lot of finger pointing from the staff at management. I get that. It’s easier to look outside yourself to see what is wrong with a situation then to look inward...
February 20, 2017 at 9:58 am
All of us in major gifts know that there are different stages in the major-gift process. Many brilliant major-gift people have written about it. Words like identification, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship come to mind as descriptors of some big stages or phases of major gifts...
February 17, 2017 at 10:52 am
The MacArthur Foundation has chosen eight semi-finalists for 100&Change, a competition awarding a $100 million grant to the nonprofit or for-profit organization with the most distinguished, world-changing proposal. Submitted ideas include changing the way we care for orphans, treating blindness in Africa, providing virtual access to specialty medical care for the underprivileged and more...
February 15, 2017 at 11:38 am
If eye contact can prompt the purchase of cereal, what can meaningful eye contact mean when someone is sharing their passion about an opportunity to transform or save lives?...
February 14, 2017 at 10:38 am
Undertaking the biggest transformation in its 21-year history, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame has received a historic $9 million donation from Chris and Sara Connor to create the Connor Theater. When it opens this summer, the theater will house an epic signature experience featuring arena-quality sound, larger-than-life video screens and fan interactivity that will…
February 13, 2017 at 1:44 pm
The Donald J. Trump Foundation donated roughly $10.9 million to more than 400 charities between 2001 and 2014, according to a Forbes analysis on the foundation’s IRS documents. Of the $10.9 million, approximately $4 million was donated to health care causes, $1 million to children and education causes, $800,000 to arts and culture causes, $700,000…
February 13, 2017 at 11:14 am
Let me say this one final time. No discipline—no growth. Major gifts are all about staying focused on the plan and working it. This requires meeting consistently with a manager to discuss what has been done and what you will be doing to nurture relationships with your donors. Do this and you will be successful...
February 9, 2017 at 9:35 am
The Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, the nonprofit medical research organization launched by Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and his pediatrician wife, Priscilla Chan, has selected the first wave of applicants to receive funding for their research into deadly diseases. The organization announced Wednesday an initial investment of $50 million, which will support 47 researchers from the University…
February 7, 2017 at 8:48 am
Barack Obama gave away more than $1 million while he was president of the U.S., more than half of which went to charities supporting children, according to a Forbes analysis of his tax returns from 2009 to 2015. The biggest recipient was the Fisher House Foundation, which supports families of veterans and received $392,000 from…
February 6, 2017 at 10:06 am
When you fully embrace what I am talking about, you learn to focus on relationship and conversations versus getting distracted by the “yes” and “no.” You learn to take your time and nurture things along, to really value the donor and to really listen and care.
