Major Gifts

We have a number of major donors in our database that, because of their age or illness have stopped giving, but over their lifetime have made significant gifts to our organization. I feel like we can’t just forget about these people, but what should I do?...

A meeting started out negatively with the finance person saying that a personal relationship with a donor doesn’t really count – it doesn’t positively affect the retention or contribution of that donor. Now, to be fair, he didn’t exactly say it that way. What he said is that the investment in a major gifts officer (MGO) was not worth the result in revenue in the first two years of the MGOs tenure — and that those donors were better off just being communicated with by direct mail...

Typically, we see clogs in that pipeline in the mid-level range of giving. Donors get stuck at a mid-level point of giving because even though they are giving at higher levels, nonprofits are still cultivating them like a $20 donor. So, the major gift program suffers because you’re not feeding major gifts a healthy diet of qualified major donors...

It’s a safe bet that all 798 nonprofits that received transformational grants from MacKenzie Scott and her husband Dan Jewett, totaling close to $9 billion, believe in miracles. They all were beneficiaries of the most awesome display of philanthropy in size, speed and flexibility that we’ve ever seen in history...

The Ford Foundation recently announced an initial $250 million investment into the Justice and Mobility Fund, which supports organizations striving to boost economic mobility and strengthen the life paths of those associated with the criminal justice system since, oftentimes, they are denied economic opportunities decades after an original offense.

In fundraising, a donor parts with money when he or she perceives that the “price” being “paid” is worth what happens when the money is used. The donor is giving a sum of money for something, and it is right for him or her. What is right for the donor as it relates the amount you propose to ask for?...

The Equality Can't Wait Challenge — backed by Melinda French Gates and MacKenzie Scott, among others — announced $40 million investments will be divided amongst four bold ideas to advance gender equality...

The Colorectal Cancer Alliance announced a trio of major gifts from corporate partners on Monday. The donations specifically target the health disparities in colorectal cancer among underserved communities that face barriers in access to screening and prevention as Black Americans are 20% more likely to be diagnosed and 40% more likely to die from the disease...

You know how Richard and I are always talking to you about reporting back to your donor the impact their gifts are making, right? And the reason we do it is that the lack of reporting back is still the No. 1 reason why donors stop giving to you...

Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Michigan, inspired the largest gift ever made to public higher education: $550 million. It was made anonymously by a couple who is looking for nothing in return – not even recognition – to benefit themselves. It’s a gift with very few restrictions, made outright over the span of 10 years to the university, its medical school and athletics...