Major gift fundraising presents several unique challenges. Below are four of the most common issues fundraisers encounter, along with video tutorials on how to overcome them.
Identifying the Right Prospects: Identifying potential donors with both the capacity and inclination to make major gifts is a key challenge in fundraising. Success hinges on strong research skills and data-driven insights to accurately pinpoint these individuals. The video below offers valuable tips for discovering top prospects.
Building and Sustaining Relationships: Major gift fundraising is fundamentally relationship-driven. Building and nurturing connections with high-net-worth individuals requires time, patience, and persistence. Sustaining ongoing engagement can be challenging, particularly when a donor’s priorities evolve. We recommend adopting the concept of ‘value engagement,’ which is further explained in the video here:
Balancing Short-Term vs. Long-Term Goals: Fundraisers frequently experience the tension between meeting immediate financial goals and cultivating long-term relationships. Pushing too aggressively for a gift can damage a relationship, while waiting too long may lead to missed opportunities. The Prospect Tracking tool, featured in the video below, offers a valuable resource for navigating this delicate balance.
Personalization and Stewardship: Major donors expect personalized engagement throughout their giving journey. Tailoring your approach to align with each donor’s interests and values, while offering meaningful updates and recognition, is essential—but it can be time-consuming. The video below provides creative stewardship ideas to help you inspire even greater generosity from your prospects.
Forward Fundraisers 