Major Gifts

I hear too many speeches, sit in too many meetings, and receive too many communications (written and electronic) where the author starts off by building the case and then finally gets to the reason for building it. This tactic will confuse your major donor.

Nine organizations have joined together to pledge $5 billion over the next 10 years to help address three of the planet’s most life-threatening crises: the climate, extinction and health crises — with an emphasis on the role of nature and the leadership of Indigenous people in solving them...

You and I have a desire to be connected to others and when that other person shows you that they know you, that connection strengthens. Even when you may not know the other person that well, a personal touch will immediately strengthen that relationship...

As a major gifts officer, the primary question asked is, essentially, “How’s the money coming in?” The finance office needs to know because it can't pay the bills with air. The goal you made also set an expectation that a certain amount of money would come in. So, it is a fair question...

As a fundraising professional, you already know how important your major donors are. Having a dedicated and data-driven strategy to engage and build relationships with major donors is critical to your fundraising goals and success...

Inspiration4 returned from orbit Saturday, raising millions for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in the process. Though St. Jude met its campaign goal, it will continue raising money through February 2022...

The University of Massachusetts Medical School is commemorating an unrestricted $175 million donation from the Morningside Foundation — the philanthropic arm of venture capital and private equity firm Morningstar — that will more than double its endowment...

You’re feeling the pressure. You have to reach your goal. You were reminded again last week. Some donors on your caseload are behind. And there is concern that the budgeted funds will not come in...

With 52 of 56 Montana counties classified as medically underserved and health professional shortage areas, per the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the philanthropists saw a need that the university’s nursing program could help solve.

I know this is personal. This is about you, how you work and what you pay attention to. And this is part of your work that has nothing to do with strategy, the quality of the donor or what you have to offer the donor...