No Vision, No Gift

Back to that California donor I started this post with. When the MGO called and told me about the donor’s redirect, I said: “Please listen to me. This donor is used to dealing with big projects. He sits in meetings every day and asks his staff for ideas that will change the world. You really do need to bump this up a bit, and get to what he wants and needs.”

Well, the MGO got together with program, came up with a bold vision, went back to the donor and secured a $1.5 million gift!

So, can this happen for you? Yes. But you have to make it happen. And there are some very basic steps you need to take:

1. You need to make sure the donor has the capacity and inclination to give a large gift. Your research and conversations with the donor will give you this information.
2. You need to be sure you know the donor’s interests and passions. We’ve been on this point many times. But the fact is if you are not on point at this point, you will fail.
3. You need to work with program to come up with a bold vision that fits the donor’s interests and passions for what your organization is trying to do. I am not talking here about the program details—that’s next. I am talking about articulating the vision you have for society—that thing that has motivated the very creation of your nonprofit—the core reason for your being that, if you are successful, will change the world. What is that? What, on a grand scale, are you trying to do? How will it make a significant difference in our world? Believe it or not, very few charities can actually come up with this stuff, which is why the asks they make are not clothed in the proper context.
4. Then come up with a program concept and details that fit the vision, and present that to the donor. Make a big and bold ask, knowing the outcome of your ask could be a “yes” to your entire proposal or something less. I don’t think it will be a “no.” I am involved in a conversation right now with another MGO where we are preparing a million-dollar ask. I think we will secure that gift, but it may be paid out in two or three installments.

Donors, just like you, want to be inspired. When you are preparing your ask for a donor, ask yourself the question: “If this were presented to me, would I be inspired? Would it fill me with energy and excitement?” If not, keep writing.

Changing our world is a big thing. And one of the core things we, as well as each of our donors, all want is to be significant players in making that change happen.