Major Gifts

U.S. charitable giving increased significantly in Q2 2022, but gains were accompanied by a continuing steep decline in donor acquisition and retention, particularly among new and newly retained donors, according to the Fundraising Effectiveness Project’s (FEP) Second Quarter Fundraising Report.

A frontline fundraiser can have a long list of credentials (schools attended, diplomas, certifications, etc.) and be a total failure at actually doing major gifts. Conversely, a frontline fundraiser can have no schooling, no credentials, no certifications and be an outstanding high-achieving frontline fundraiser.

Here are 6 tips on how successful major gifts officers can cultivate a transformational gift.

To be a great major gifts officer, you must be curious about donors. Here are practical questions to unlock your donor’s interests.

When nurtured successfully, relationships with donors will pay off economically in surprising ways.

A blunder is a careless mistake. It happens when you don’t 100% have a handle on what you’re doing, so taking good care becomes challenging. Have you ever blundered into disaster asking for a major gift? Let's review the top eight blunders I have encountered.

I believe major gifts fundraising will grow rapidly. Here are some things to think about if you are new to major gifts fundraising.

In just three years, MacKenzie Scott has given more than $12 billion in unrestricted funding to hundreds of nonprofit organizations. While Scott’s efforts — and those of like-minded donors — are a welcome development, recipient organizations are left wondering what to do with these transformational gifts.

The more fundraisers know about their wealthy donors, the better. Research shows they may have some traits that you should know about.

Here is how one major gifts officer turned a donor’s $2,600 annual giving one year into a gift of $56,500 the following year.