Major Gifts
October 14, 2015 at 10:22 am
Phil Buchanan and Kathleen Enright both lead organizations with similar goals—to help foundations improve their grant making so they have more impact. They both are founding presidents of their groups, the Center for Effective Philanthropy and Grantmakers for Effective Organizations. And they started their jobs within a few months of each other in 2001. Now…
October 12, 2015 at 10:06 am
Even with all the pressure on major gift officers to “get the money” and, more importantly, form meaningful relationship with donors, many MGOs are stuck dealing with data entry, mailing correspondence, making travel arrangements and setting up multiple meetings. Yet, nonprofits continue to be shortsighted. Why? There are several reasons...
October 8, 2015 at 10:59 am
A New York judge denied a college's petition to add the wife of a Wall Street billionaire to its name, citing the will of the founding donor. Paul Smith's College President Cathy Dove announced the ruling on the Adirondack college's website Wednesday. The college's board of trustees voted over the summer to rename the college…
October 8, 2015 at 10:50 am
In celebration of its 100th anniversary, the California Community Foundation is pledging $1 billion to Los Angeles County's nonprofit organizations over the next decade. The funding announcement follows a survey that found L.A. County residents want to be involved in their communities, but believe they don't have enough time or knowledge to help. "Our commitment…
October 5, 2015 at 10:49 am
The NYU Polytechnic School of Engineering is set to change its name to NYU Tandon School of Engineering on Monday after receiving a $100-million gift donation, according to a press release. Donors NYU trustee Chandrika Tandon and her husband Ranjan Tandon want the university to raise an additional $50 million for scholarship aid. Tandon said…
October 5, 2015 at 10:33 am
If someone says “talk to the hand” to you, it could simply mean they do not want to hear what you have to say. But is it that simple? In the major-gifts world, when a major donor does not want to talk to you and, in essence, says “talk to the hand” it can mean so many different things...
September 30, 2015 at 6:00 am
Money is a key component of the philanthropic equation, but today’s innovative philanthropists want to do more. Money can serve to make their precious values and boldest dreams come true. To assure this happens, they’ll do whatever it takes. If you want to succeed in any kind of fundraising (major or otherwise), it behooves you to get inside your donors’ heads...
September 29, 2015 at 11:30 am
Eight conservative groups are backing an appeal to the Supreme Court over a controversial California regulation requiring nonprofits to disclose their big donors on a tax form, saying the rule tramples on donors' constitutional rights. Mark Fitzgibbons of American Target Advertising, a direct marketing and fundraising agency for nonprofit organizations, accuses California Attorney General Kamala…
September 28, 2015 at 10:13 am
Pierre Omidyar, who co-founded online giant eBay, has given 10 percent of his stock in the San Jose-based online auction company, worth an estimated $269 million, to undisclosed charities, according to a Securities and Exchange Commission filing. Pierre and Pam Omidyar's Omidyar Group, their philanthropic enterprise, didn't say where the charitable funding will go. The…
September 28, 2015 at 9:31 am
Right now I think you are probably pretty stressed. Like everyone in fundraising, a large percentage of your overall revenue comes in between now and the end of the year. So, my question to you is this: During times of high-level stress, do you still feel a sense of joy in what you are doing? Your answer is critical...
