Good news for major gift fundraisers: major donors feel (way) more engaged than NGOs think. Apart from giving money, major donors want to invest their time in, and share their network with, NGOs. Also, the group of (prospective) major donorsRead more…
Schwab Report Shows Where Donors Gave $1 Billion in Fiscal 2015
In the first report in its 15-year history of its fund holders’ preferences, Schwab Charitable sheds some light on the $1 billion in grants it made in the fiscal year that ended June 30. During fiscal 2015, the fund madeRead more…
Major Gifts: A Thing of the Heart – Introduction
I was listening to her tell her story. A single mom and her small child in trouble, they were helped by this nonprofit. She told me where they lived, how they both had been abused by a very controlling man,Read more…
How to Create a Compelling Fundraising Ask [Slideshare]
There are many misconceptions about fundraising. One of which is that there is a magic bullet out there (the perfect event, a connection to a celebrity) that will create a financial windfall. Often in the nonprofit world board and staff members so despise fundraising that theyRead more…
How to Get the Most Out of a Major Gift Visit!
You finally have the meeting with Mr. Big. What’s next? What do you do? What do you say? It can be tough to keep your eyes on the prize when you get in front of your best major donor prospects.Read more…
Planning a Capital Campaign? How to Get Major Donors Involved Early On
Planning a capital campaign or a major new initiative? When do you start talking to major donors? Here’s everybody’s first (and most important) question: Do we wait till our strategic plan is fully thought through and laid out? Should weRead more…
Nine Reasons Rich People Don’t Give Away More Money
Nearly every day, I come across a billionaire I’ve never heard of who’s engaged in serious philanthropy. But for every one of these donors, there are a couple other billionaires whose giving is paltry, or even non-existent. Just yesterday, we wrote aboutRead more…
Giving Pledge Signers Gave Big in 2013 but Not Much for Today’s Needs
More than 120 of the world’s billionaires have committed publicly to giving at least half their wealth to charity, including 19 on this year’s Philanthropy 50 list. But while the number of people who have signed the Giving Pledge, unveiledRead more…