(MG Series #6) How to Secure a Transformational Gift
Fundraising Strategy, Major Gift Fundraising We all dream about securing transformational gifts. Those are the gifts that can change your organization’s trajectory into a new, expanded reach. These are the gifts that can blow your mind – with all they can accomplish and the impact…
(MG Series #2) How to Save Time Cultivating Donors and Move to the Ask Quickly
Major Gift Fundraising Happy Weekend! We thought you’d be interested in this topic today. And if you are interested in closing more major and principal gifts, then we have a great guide today for you to save time. It’s about all the time we waste cultivating…
Superpowers of Successful Major Gift Fundraisers
Asking for Donations, Major Gift Fundraising Does it ever feel like some fundraisers have superpowers? You know, those ones who raise six, seven and even eight-figure gifts. And you look at them and wonder, "what special qualities DO these talented major gift fundraisers have?" "How…
Managing Your Major Gift Portfolio Can Be This Easy
Fundraising Strategy, Major Gift Fundraising Portfolio management may seem like a technical term. But it’s an excellent format to help you focus your attention on your best, and most likely donor prospects. Of course, one of the secrets to successful mega fundraising is identifying…
Step Up Your Ask With These Proven Strategies
Annual Giving, Asking for Donations, Major Gift Fundraising We are coming up on year-end and, as usual, there is one thing on fundraisers’ minds: “How can I effectively use this season to ask for gifts?” I hope you are not thinking of using these themes or phrases in your appeals: “Please…
How COVID Times Provide Unique Opportunities for Fundraising
Asking for Donations, Major Gift Fundraising Yes, COVID times are hard for everyone to handle. But don’t despair: We are finding that these times offer some pretty interesting and unique opportunities for fundraising. Unusual times often bring up unusual opportunities…
What’s the Right Time to Ask for a Gift?
Asking for Donations, Major Gift FundraisingToday, we want to help you with one of the thorniest questions of major gift fundraising: What's the right time to ask for a gift? When should you ask your donor? We all struggle with this issue. And when we are unsure about timing, we…
Two Questions To Get the Gift Conversation Rolling
Major Gift FundraisingHave you ever gotten stuck in a conversation with a donor that's going nowhere? As we coach organizations to implement our Major Gift Fundraising by the Numbers approach, everyone is asking for help getting asks on the table. How can we…
Donor Conversations: How to Bring Up the Topic of a Gift
Major Gift FundraisingIt can be awkward. There you are, on zoom with your major donor. After 30 minutes, you've talked about everything. You've covered her family. Her health. The things she's excited about these days. But . . . you have not ventured into the…
Secrets to Successful Donor Meetings: Setting Objectives and Planning Ahead
Major Gift Fundraising Your donor meetings can be successful - or they can be a waste of time. It's up to you. Want to know the key to a successful and productive meeting with your donor? It's getting organized ahead of time. Today, I'm sharing a quick video that…
Listening – The #1 Skill for Virtual Phone or Zoom Meetings
Donor Cultivation, Major Gift Fundraising Everyone needs to sharpen their listening skills for fundraising in the new virtual environment. Dealing with donors is more difficult these days. Many of us can't get in front of our donors - so we are on zoom or on the phone. Everyone is…
Three Ways Emotional Intelligence Can Help You Become a Better Fundraiser
Major Gift FundraisingHave you ever considered your skills in the area of Emotional Intelligence? Emotional intelligence means - among other things - that you have high social and personal competence. You understand your own reactions to situations, and you…
The Awful Truth About Many Major Gift Shops – They’ve Gotten Lazy
Major Gift Fundraising We are wondering - do you think that traditional major gift fundraising may have gotten a bit lazy? I think the answer is yes. I think that the way we've been nurturing and engaging our major donors has not been very effective. Kathryn Gamble…
Building Donor Relationships in a Virtual World
Major Gift Fundraising Building virtual donor relationships is quite a challenge for many of us. For example, people are already suffering from Zoom Fatigue. Are you? What's worse - we also hear that some exhausted donors are backing off from video visits. We…
Major Gifts: How to Succeed in the Current Crisis
Major Gift Fundraising In the middle of this unprecedented crisis, we are receiving all sorts of questions about fundraising. We are pleased to share this post by Senior Consultant Dr. Kathryn Gamble And one question is on everyone's minds these days - especially…
The Pandemic and Fundraising: What to Expect and How to Prepare
Capital Campaign, Major Gift Fundraising Note, this article was written in March 2020! One of the major issues on everyone’s mind today is the coronavirus outbreak. Many people are worried and uncertain about what to expect. Smart nonprofits are concerned how all this uncertainty…