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
- Why Your Donors Are Ghosting You (And the One Email That Fixes It)
You had the meeting. The conversation went great. They seemed genuinely interested in making a gift. Then nothing happens. You get no response from the prospect in the coming months after multiple outreach attempts. Radio silence from them. If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. But here’s what most of us get wrong about why… Read more: Why Your Donors Are Ghosting You (And the One Email That Fixes It) - How a Simple Graphic Can Transform Your Fundraising Culture
Anyone who’s closed a major gift knows the truth: you didn’t do it alone. That transformational commitment? It was years in the making. It involved your president sharing a coffee with a prospect, a program director giving a behind-the-scenes tour, a board member making an introduction at just the right moment. Major gifts don’t come… Read more: How a Simple Graphic Can Transform Your Fundraising Culture - The Ask Is the Answer: What Three Quarters of Data Taught Me About What’s Actually Driving Fundraising Results
I am all about making more asks. So when I pulled my team’s metrics after three quarters, I wanted to see if the data backed up that idea. It didn’t just support it – it proved it. The fundraisers on my team who are at or above goal are the ones making the most asks.… Read more: The Ask Is the Answer: What Three Quarters of Data Taught Me About What’s Actually Driving Fundraising Results
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.