Major Gifts

Portland State University's 2 Top Fundraisers Resign in Wake of $100 Million Gift That Never Was
August 31, 2015 at 10:58 am

The president of Portland State University's fundraising arm and the school's chief development officer are resigning after pursuing a $100 million gift from a self-described billionaire who turned out to be a recently bankrupt bitcoin dealer known for peddling grandiose schemes. Francoise Aylmer will resign as president and CEO of the PSU Foundation, effective Sept.…

Younger Donors Are a Waste of Time
August 31, 2015 at 10:46 am

We are a society that values youth. We want to look young, feel young, be young—forever it seems. Billions of dollars are spent trying to recapture a youthful look. I would say our society is absolutely obsessed with it. And, as Richard and I meet major gift officers and fundraising professionals around the country, it’s…

How to Close a Gift at Your Next Golf Outing
August 28, 2015 at 9:33 am

The purpose of this post is to discuss how to close a gift in a golf outing. People pay to play in the outing and are typically asked to contribute additionally through raffles, auctions, etc., at the outing site. Another way to gain financial favor is to simply ask a prospect for a gift on the golf course. If I want to ask for a larger gift, I use the golf outing as cultivation time to match the prospect and organizational representatives who are responsible for priorities...

Irish Soccer Pro Is Donating His Entire Salary to Charity
August 27, 2015 at 10:07 am

When he was 6 months old, Woody Duff (now 4)—son of Shamrock Rovers winger Damien Duff (formerly Chelsea, Newcastle and Fulham)—underwent heart surgery. In a show of gratitude to the hospital that operated on his son, and to help other families that aren’t blessed enough to include a family member with his ball-kicking prowess, Damien…

Portland State University’s Failed Donor Has History of Unfulfilled Promises
August 26, 2015 at 10:35 am

The self-styled supercomputer visionary who secretly pledged $100 million to Portland State University has been spinning grandiose tales of success to public officials, industry insiders and prospective investors for two decades. But an analysis of public documents left in John Michael Fitzpatrick’s wake, from Boardman, Ore., to Washington, D.C., turns up no evidence of the…

Portland State University Tantalized by $100 Million Gift That Vanished
August 24, 2015 at 10:47 am

Portland State University administrators hoped to unveil the largest gift in the school's 69-year history Tuesday, a bombshell $100 million anonymous donation. Portland State had invited Gov. Kate Brown and Portland Mayor Charlie Hales to a Tuesday morning news conference announcing the unrestricted contribution by a man described as a former student. The gift would…

Trump: If CNN Wants Me to Debate, It Should Donate $10 Million to Charity
August 24, 2015 at 6:00 am

Time magazine went deep on Donald Trump for its August cover story. And while the article spends most of its running length exploring Trump's stance on various policy issues, there's a juicy nugget buried at the bottom, when Trump addresses an upcoming debate on CNN: "So if I go to CNN and I say, 'Look, you’re going to have a massive audience,' and if I say to them, 'I want $10 million for charity, nothing for myself,' what happens?"...

$20-Million Donation to College Hinges on Name Change
August 21, 2015 at 11:29 am

A $20-million donation to the financially troubled Paul Smith’s College in rural upstate New York is in limbo, dependent on whether the college agrees to rename itself, a controversial issue that has landed the matter in court. Joan Weill, a longtime board member and benefactor to Paul Smith’s College and the wife of Wall Street…

Walmart Foundation Pledges $25 Million to Disaster Preparation
August 21, 2015 at 11:23 am

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and its philanthropic arm, the Walmart Foundation, are making a $25 million, five-year commitment to disaster preparation and recovery efforts. The announcement, timed to coincide with the 10th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, will be made today in New Orleans. Kathleen McLaughlin, the foundation’s president, said grants will be made in the U.S.…

Always Ask Yourself, How Would I Feel as a Major Donor?
August 19, 2015 at 2:33 pm

I love asking for a gift. I love the conversation about big dreams and changing lives. I enjoy helping people realize what a difference they can make. But another great fundraising rule is: Do not ask for a major gift on a first visit. That’s the first date. You are just learning about your donor(s)...