Franklin Forum: Nonprofit Professionals Stress Face-to-Face Contact is Key to Major Giving

Though we're in a recession, philanthropy is alive and well. The key to weathering the downturn is having a solid fundraising program with diversified sources of giving.

One of the key sources nonprofits need to continue to cultivate are major gifts, Mary Lizzul, president of MCL Consulting, said in the session "Major Gift Trends, Tactics and Techniques" at the Franklin Forum sponsored by the Association of Fundraising Professionals Greater Philadelphia Chapter in Philadelphia in late April. Case in point: The top 5 percent of constituents give 95 percent of the dollars donated to charity, she said.