How To Make Sure Your Major-Gifts Planning Is On Point

I'll never forget the major-gifts officer who had booked a flight to a city in another state to "visit" donors and he hadn't (a) actually analyzed whether they were the right donors (they weren't), or (b) booked any meetings. He was just gonna show up and "make it happen."

Then there's the major-gifts manager who has no plans for her MGOs, doesn't monitor (or care) who they're talking to, has never considered what programs and projects should be presented to donors, has no reporting in place and simply leads her staff with, "If the donor gives more than $1,000 in one financial period, then you manage them." Whew. This is just amazing. And what's more shocking is that the management above this person allows it.