Over 20 Years of Closing Major Gifts
Forward Fundraisers is led by Adam Platzer, a major gift officer at Rochester Institute of Technology who still sits across from donors every week. He built this practice because too many small teams are getting priced out of good coaching.
Our services are built for development teams of 1–10 who need to close six- and seven-figure gifts without a six-figure consulting budget.
At Forward Fundraisers, we partner with organizations to:
- Build prospect strategies that actually move donors forward
- Prepare and support real solicitations
- Write case statements and proposals donors want to read
- Create accountability and momentum week after week
No fluff. Just practical coaching that leads to closed gifts.
⛊ Client Testimonial
“Working with Forward Fundraisers was a game-changer for our major gifts campaign. Their expert coaching helped us secure a $100K gift and other critical early commitments, while their structured, collaborative approach kept us focused and on track. Unlike other consultants, they provided fair, flexible, and actionable guidance that simplified the process, made major gifts feel achievable, and delivered incredible value.”
Patrick Slevin
Austin Soundwaves Executive Director
Fresh Articles
- I Used AI to Analyze My Fundraising Team. The Results Were Eye-Opening.
As managers, we all know we should be looking at the trends in our team’s performance – what’s working, what isn’t, who’s improving and who needs support. But pulling that together takes time most of us don’t have. I recently compared my team’s FY26 metrics against FY25 using the prompt at the bottom of this… Read more: I Used AI to Analyze My Fundraising Team. The Results Were Eye-Opening. - The Ask Readiness Checker Is Here – and It Won’t Let You Off the Hook
I’ve been saying it for a while: the most common mistake major gift fundraisers make isn’t a bad ask. It’s no ask at all. Gift officers spend months cultivating prospects they could have asked a long time ago. They keep adding touchpoints. Scheduling lunches. Sending articles. Waiting for the “right moment.” Meanwhile, the prospect is… Read more: The Ask Readiness Checker Is Here – and It Won’t Let You Off the Hook - The Ask Readiness Checker Is Here – and It Won’t Let You Off the HookI’ve been saying it for a while: the most common mistake major gift fundraisers make isn’t a bad ask. It’s no ask at all. Gift officers spend months cultivating prospects they could have asked a long time ago. They keep adding touchpoints. Scheduling lunches. Sending articles. Waiting for the “right moment.” Meanwhile, the prospect is… Read more: The Ask Readiness Checker Is Here – and It Won’t Let You Off the Hook
Pathway Generator
Create a Pathway to a Gift that visually tells the donor’s journey and can be shared with colleagues who partnered to help make the gift possible.
Free eBook
Pathways to Philanthropy is a story-driven book for fundraisers who want to deepen relationships, secure transformational gifts, and grow with confidence.
Online Courses
Efficient Major Gifts is a comprehensive, four-part course designed to elevate your team into top-tier fundraisers.