Major Gifts

Doing major gifts right is a long and tedious process, and involves a lot of steps — steps that if not followed will undermine the major-gifts officer's ability to raise money.

When someone wants to speak truth into your life, run toward it and embrace it! It is a gift, not a constraint. It will help you, not hurt you. It will make you better.

If an MGO is expected to do all the in-office work as well as meet with donors, he cannot manage the donors as he should. The net effect of this reality is that donor attrition is substantially higher.

Major-gifts fundraising is not rocket science. It's not quantum physics or brain surgery. It's very hard work, but it doesn't require a masters degree or doctorate, or a CFRE for that matter. I'm not putting any of those down, but successful major-gifts officers don't need any of that.

Don't fear, but embrace your next and future road trips. We all must do them, so do them well.

What is it each day, each week and each month that you absolutely must focus on for the best possible fundraising results?

You really do need to have a structure and logic for what you're doing and where you're going with your donors. If you don't, your donor will suffer, the organization you work for will suffer and, just as important, you will suffer.

In the nonprofit fundraising world, here are some of the trends we’ll be watching for and responding to in 2015.

My question to you: Are you really thankful for all of your donors? Do they know how much they are loved and appreciated? Do your donors feel cared for? During this great time of giving thanks, let's use it as a reminder to ask ourselves these questions.

Don't let the journey for "impressive" materials take the focus away from the right strategy and making inspiring visits with prospective donors.