Major Gifts

Several years ago, a news piece on a poll by U.S. Trust and Phoenix Marketing gave us interesting insights into the giving of the wealthy and clues on how to unlock their giving to your organization. Those findings are still true today. But let's add to the list of reasons the wealthy don't give more...

I talk to many major gift officers, development professionals and nonprofit executives every week. Perhaps it’s the time of year, or the stage in their careers, but I’m hearing from a high percentage of them that they are burned out, stressed out and contemplating a move to do something else. Take some time and take a breath. Reflect on where you are in your work. Here are some ideas on how to avoid burnout and reduce stress...

I recently served on a panel for Women in Development in New York City called, “How to Ask for What You Want.” There was an insightful discussion among our panel, as well as with the audience members. Here are my key takeaways from the panel discussion: 1. Focus on adding value. What do I mean…

Sheryl Sandberg is transferring $100 million of her Facebook stock holdings to a fund for charitable causes. According to her latest filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Facebook chief operating officer transferred 880,000 shares. Recode reported that the shares would go into a donor-advised fund, which allows Sandberg to direct money to causes…

Major gifts is not about the money. It's about the journey with the donor. It is finding out what the donor has an interest and passion for, and then partnering with him or her to fulfill that interest. It is the only way to go. There are four elements of every journey that apply to your major gifts efforts. Every MGO who is or will be successful will pay attention to how they treat each donor on the caseload in each of areas...

Are your donors in a giving rut? Are they giving the same amount year over year? The problem Richard and I encounter with organizations that have these types of donors is that they blame the donor for this giving rut. That’s easy to do. But, really, it starts with you. Here are four ways to get donors out of a giving rut...

Mention fundraising, and the most likely initial response will be something like, “Oh, I don’t like to ask for money.” The act of asking another for a charitable investment is often seen as the sum total of fundraising. Those of us who have done it successfully, those who have been there, know this isn’t true. We know it’s not magic. It’s a matter of attitude...

Major-gift year-end to-dos are not the same as your annual -giving big push and wrap up. For annual giving, your focus is on the final appeal for the year, working on getting the words just right and the letter out the door. You’ve reviewed all of your leadership donors ($1,000-plus) and have board members and…

Major benefactors are expecting more than they ever have before. They know, in our age of information and technology, just how capable nonprofits are of giving them what they really want. And, if we really break it down, there are three things that today’s mega-givers want—and are going to get—whether it’s from you or from another organization...

Here's the problem in most major-gift fundraising. We want the donor to give, and we spend a lot of time figuring out how to motivate his or her giving. But we don’t spend enough time describing the need. And when we do describe it, it is not compelling. When you look at the presentation you are currently working on for your donor, ask yourself these four questions...