

Our Top Takeaways from ICON ‘22
Capital Campaign, Major Gift Fundraising Today we are sharing some of our top takeaways from AFP’s big international fundraising conference known as ICON. We enjoyed hearing from the smartest people in our sector who shared their best thinking – everything from big…


3 Ways to Engage Your Major Donors Early in Capital Campaign Planning
Capital Campaign, Major Gift Fundraising There are so many benefits to engaging major donors early in capital campaign plans. We like to organize discussions with key donors while the potential campaign is only a Big Idea. It’s our favorite way to cultivate and engage…

Planning a Capital Campaign? Why You Should Engage Your Major Donors Early On
Capital Campaign, Major Gift Fundraising Is your organization planning a capital campaign or a major new funding initiative? We hear many questions about how to prepare properly for a capital campaign. As far as we are concerned, it’s what you do ahead of the campaign that can…

Attitudes and Skills that Foster Major Gifts Success
Major Gift Fundraising There are many attitudes and skills you and your team can cultivate to lay the groundwork for mega fundraising success. When you think about it, much of everyone’s struggle – or success - starts internally, with their mindset. Think…

The Discovery Call Playbook
Major Gift Fundraising We recently surveyed fundraising teams across the world, asking them to share their challenges trying to raise major gifts in today’s environment. The survey revealed some interesting feedback about the situation on the ground in development…

(Major Gifts #7) Accelerate the Big Ask
Asking for Donations, Major Gift Fundraising Today we’re offering you a choice topic – how to accelerate a big ask. We know, we know. This goes against all the rules! You have heard forever that if you rush a donor into a big ask, you are risking everything. You can damage…

(Major Gifts #4) Engaging Board Members in Major Gift Fundraising
Board Members & Fundraising, Major Gift Fundraising Are you wondering how to engage your board members in your major gift development program? Your trustees could be very helpful, but you may not be sure how to approach them. It could be a touchy subject. We…

(Major Gifts #3) Moving Through Donor Discovery Swiftly and Accurately
Major Gift Fundraising This is #3 in our series on Major Gift Fundraising: Let’s talk about how to save time and still raise transformational gifts for your institution. People ask us: Don’t donor relationships take a long, long time to develop? Board…

Landing Transformational Gifts in the Current Environment
Major Gift Fundraising Who is exhausted by this ongoing rapidly changing environment? We feel for you. It’s tough because the landscape keeps changing. Many of the old ways of working are falling away. Our donors are shifting their preferences, and…

Top 10 Fundraising Trends for 2022
Major Gift Fundraising Clearly, 2021 was a year of disruption and changes. And yes, we were forced to change, innovate, and adapt - over and over. But within change, there are always mega opportunities. Here’s our annual review of trends and…

Using a Feasibility Study to Close Major Gifts – Without an Ask
Capital Campaign, Donor Cultivation, Major Gift FundraisingAn expertly crafted Feasibility Study can open your donors' hearts and minds to wonderful possibilities your project will create.

Want to Know What Your Major Donor is Thinking? Try This Question!
Capital Campaign, Donor Cultivation, Major Gift FundraisingWant to find out what your donor is thinking? Ask them what they think or what are their impressions. It's our favorite Golden Question to ask donors.

Major Cryptocurrency Gifts in Just Two Weeks?
Fundraising Strategy, Major Gift FundraisingLearn one nonprofit's story of how they raised $90K in just two weeks after signing up to accept cryptocurrency gifts.

The New Fundraising Frontier: Cryptocurrency
Fundraising Strategy, Major Gift Fundraising Looks like cryptocurrency is here to stay. And, yes, it’s time for all nonprofits to get set up to receive donations in the form of cryptocurrency. Because there are plenty of donors with appreciated crypto investments. Yes, cryptocurrency…