Major Gifts

When nurtured successfully, relationships with donors will pay off economically in surprising ways.

A blunder is a careless mistake. It happens when you don’t 100% have a handle on what you’re doing, so taking good care becomes challenging. Have you ever blundered into disaster asking for a major gift? Let's review the top eight blunders I have encountered.

I believe major gifts fundraising will grow rapidly. Here are some things to think about if you are new to major gifts fundraising.

In just three years, MacKenzie Scott has given more than $12 billion in unrestricted funding to hundreds of nonprofit organizations. While Scott’s efforts — and those of like-minded donors — are a welcome development, recipient organizations are left wondering what to do with these transformational gifts.

The more fundraisers know about their wealthy donors, the better. Research shows they may have some traits that you should know about.

Here is how one major gifts officer turned a donor’s $2,600 annual giving one year into a gift of $56,500 the following year.

Caring for the donor is the best way to care for the organization. Do not let unrealistic expectations get you off that basic truth.

Many fundraisers have inquired about asking donors for gifts, and how to get over the fear of it. Very simply, there is only one way.

I’m often asked for a formula for adding major gift officers. There are many variables, but they boil down to these four points.

Contributions from donors and foundations make a great difference for a number of organizations and causes across the country. However, big philanthropy can often reinforce common misconceptions about charitable giving that can lead to challenges down the road.