Articles

If you manage a university board, you already know that the meeting itself is not the work. The meetings are obviously important, but if engagement only happens three times a year around a conference table, you’re not doing it right. Board members don’t just want to attend meetings. They want to contribute. And after every… Read more: Your Board Just Met. Now What?

I believe great fundraising leadership happens in high-quality coaching conversations. The 1:1 meetings between manager and fundraiser should help drive performance, create clarity around priorities, and keep momentum moving on open proposals. Rather than spending time on status updates alone, the goal for managers should be to ask questions that help our fundraisers think strategically… Read more: Maximizing 1:1s with Major Gift Officers: A Focused Coaching Prompt

If you want access to top donors, relationship mapping has to be part of your fundraising strategy. Relationship mapping is the process of utilizing the professional and personal networks of your board members, staff, and existing supporters to uncover paths to new prospects. There’s no substitute for a trusted introduction. A cold email might get… Read more: Use AI for Relationship Mapping to Unlock Your Next Big Donor

As a manager of frontline fundraisers, there’s one task I know I should be doing and almost never have enough time for: reading visit contact reports. These are the reports fundraisers enter into the CRM after meeting with a prospect. They’re often detailed, multiple paragraphs long and there are a lot of them. Reading every… Read more: How I Use AI to Read Every Visit Report (Without Actually Reading Them All)

Every Monday, I receive a spreadsheet with the metrics for all the fundraisers on our team. It’s filled with columns of goals, visits, asks, closes, and percentages. But most fundraiser metrics reports don’t actually help managers manage. You glance at the numbers, look for where fundraisers are behind on their goals, and then give feedback… Read more: The AI Prompt That Finally Made Fundraiser Metrics Useful

Scholarships are one of the most impactful things we can raise money for at a university and every fundraiser needs a clear, confident pitch when talking with donors about them. Here are five core points every donor should hear from you about the importance of giving to scholarships. 1. Scholarships Change Lives & Open Doors… Read more: How to Pitch Scholarships: 5 Points Every Fundraiser Should Use

Most major gift stories get reduced to one line: “Met with donor. Gift closed.” But every fundraiser knows that’s not how gifts actually happen. Behind almost every meaningful gift is a series of engagements: introductions, conversations, follow-ups, and colleague partners that build toward trust. A lot of people do not understand what goes into making… Read more: Introducing the Pathway to a Gift Generator

I recently wanted to take a look at if closing speed had an effect on fundraising success. By closing speed, I mean how long between when an ask is made and when the gift is closed. So I analyzed all the proposals on my team that were: approved gifts, declined gifts, and every open “asked”… Read more: What Really Drives Fundraising Success (Hint: It’s Not Speed)

Every fundraiser knows this prospect. They love your mission, they love your university, and they genuinely want to make a big gift. But then they tell you “When my company sells or goes public, that’s when I’ll make the big gift.” Great. But what do you do in the meantime? You play the long game… Read more: How to Handle the “When My Company Sells, I’ll Give” Prospect

Good intuition is one of the most important (and least talked about) traits of a great major gift fundraiser. Fundraisers with strong intuition can walk out of a first meeting and immediately sense, “This person is going to be a great partner for our organization.” They know which prospects are worth their time and which… Read more: Building Fundraising Intuition: How to Help Your Team Focus on the Right Prospects

The most successful fundraising efforts don’t just come from advancement offices, they come from strong partnerships between college leadership and advancement teams. When deans, directors, and academic leaders see philanthropy as part of their role, everything changes. Here are the best practices we’ve seen from university leaders who consistently help their colleges raise more money,… Read more: 13 Ways Great University Leaders Partner with Advancement to Raise More Money

We just wrapped a round of board meetings, and I walked away encouraged by what worked and some areas we can improve on Here are the big takeaways: What Worked Well Pre-Read MaterialsSending members pre-read materials (and even a few guiding questions) was a game-changer. People showed up ready to dive in and the conversations… Read more: Lessons from Our Recent Board Meetings: What Worked and What We Can Do Better

We had our college advisory boards coming to town. Each board represents its college, but what members love most is meeting each other. Especially folks from other boards. Those are the connections they don’t usually get, and more often than not, those connections turn into real professional opportunities. I’ve seen members go on to do… Read more: Using AI to Spark Meaningful Connections at Advisory Board Meetings

In the book, and later the film starring Brad Pitt, Moneyball showed how the Oakland A’s transformed baseball by focusing on one overlooked metric: on-base percentage. It turned out to be the key to building a winning team on a limited budget. In major gift fundraising, I believe there’s a similar game-changing metric: Asks per… Read more: The Moneyball of Fundraising

If you’re managing a team of major gift officers, you know that the 1:1 is one of the most important meetings. But here’s the truth: too many of these meetings get wasted. They usually turn into casual catch-ups and a quick look at open proposals. This is not productive and rarely produces actual fundraising outcomes.… Read more: The 1:1 Agenda Template That Changed How I Manage My Fundraising Team

At the end of this past fiscal year, I took a close look at what separated our most productive fundraisers from the rest of the team. It wasn’t who had the best portfolio or even who had the most experience. It was this:They simply opened more proposals. In fact, our top performers had twice as… Read more: The #1 Thing Top Fundraisers Do Differently

I’m so excited to share the Efficient Major Gifts video series on Forward Fundraisers. If you want more effective powerful donor visits, smarter ask strategies, and a laser focus on your top prospects, these short but powerful videos are your new go‑to resource. On this page 👉 Efficient Major Gifts Videos – Forward Fundraisers, you’ll… Read more: Free Major Gift Fundraising Videos to Boost Your Results

Let’s be honest, most fundraisers in nonprofits spend at least 60% of their week in meetings that have nothing to do with their portfolio. Event planning, committee work, campus tours, internal brainstorming sessions fill up your calendar. And while some of that has value, a lot of it pulls us away from the work that… Read more: Protecting Your Fundraising Time

I know how overwhelming major gift fundraising can feel. You’re juggling dozens of prospects, trying to keep proposals moving, and still getting pulled into meetings that have nothing to do with closing gifts. Whether you’re looking to tighten up your proposal strategy, build better systems, or just need a sounding board from someone who’s been… Read more: Let’s Talk Fundraising Strategy (Your First Hour Is on Me)

One of the most valuable things we can do as fundraisers is learn from each other’s approaches—what’s working, what language is resonating, and how we’re making the case for giving. I recently asked eight of our fundraisers who are great at closing gifts in our annual giving society to send me their go-to pitches. I… Read more: The ChatGPT Prompt That Helped Me Write a Better Fundraising Pitch

Let’s face it—keeping board members fully engaged during meetings can be a challenge. These are successful individuals with packed calendars and countless competing priorities. So when they show up, your agenda better be worth their time. Too often, nonprofit board meetings fall into the trap of talking at members rather than engaging them. That’s where… Read more: The One Agenda Item Every Board Meeting Needs

Discover the book that’s changing how fundraisers close major gifts.Pathways to Philanthropy is a practical, story-driven guide for fundraisers who want to deepen relationships, secure transformational gifts, and grow with confidence. Follow the journey of Sarah Williams, a new major gift officer navigating the real challenges—and triumphs—of higher education fundraising. Packed with real-life scenarios, proven… Read more: The One Book Every Major Gift Fundraiser Should Read—And You Can Get It Free

Your best prospects are often your busiest—balancing demanding careers, family responsibilities, and packed schedules. Yet, one of the most effective ways to engage these high-potential individuals is by involving them on advisory or leadership boards. The challenge? Board meetings typically require a significant time commitment and, in many cases, travel. So how do you ensure… Read more: Get Top Donors to Show Up! Board Meeting Attendance Strategies

AI tools like ChatGPT are giving major gift fundraisers a whole new way to work smarter and faster. But to truly unlock their potential, you need to understand prompt engineering—the art of crafting strategic prompts that guide AI to deliver high-quality results. At its core, prompt engineering is about giving AI the right instructions. With… Read more: The Power of AI Prompt Engineering for Major Gift Fundraisers

Bringing on a new major gift fundraiser is both exciting and critical for the growth of your organization. But here’s the truth: if they don’t learn to do the job in a way that works best for your organization, they’ll end up being ineffective — and you will have wasted valuable time and resources. One… Read more: Why Every Nonprofit Should Create an Onboarding Binder for New Major Gift Fundraisers

Small group dinners can be a powerful tool in major gift fundraising, offering a unique setting to build relationships, cultivate prospects, and inspire philanthropy. Unlike large events, these intimate gatherings allow for meaningful conversations and deeper engagement. However, to maximize their effectiveness, careful planning and strategic execution are essential. Here’s how to optimize these dinners… Read more: 3 Steps to Optimizing Small Group Dinners for Major Gift Fundraising

One of the biggest challenges for major gift fundraisers is getting “stuck” with a prospect. They’ve made the ask, but the donor isn’t moving forward—or worse, they’re unresponsive. When a gift stalls, it takes creativity and strategy to get it across the finish line. One of the most effective ways to overcome this roadblock is… Read more: Close More Major Gifts: The Power of Prospect Strategy Sessions

The Smart Nonprofit by Beth Kanter and Allison H. Fine provides a roadmap for nonprofits to integrate technology in ways that enhance their mission while staying true to their human-centered values. Here are five specific takeaways from this excellent book which can be purchased here on Amazon: 1) Automating Routine Tasks to Free Up Staff… Read more: 5 Specific Takeaways from The Smart Nonprofit by Beth Kanter and Allison H. Fine

When engaging with a major gift prospect, the focus should be on building relationships, not on political affiliations. Yet, politics may occasionally come up in your meetings. Knowing how to navigate these moments with professionalism can make the difference between a successful meeting and a awkward one. Below are strategies to avoid political discussions and… Read more: Navigating Politics in Major Gift Fundraising Meetings

The Little Book of Gold by Erik Hanberg is filled with actionable advice tailored to the unique challenges and opportunities faced by small nonprofits. Here are five specific takeaways from The Little Book of Gold: Fundraising for Small (and Very Small) Nonprofits by Erik Hanberg: The Power of a Handwritten Thank-You NoteHanberg shares an example… Read more: 5 Specific Takeaways from The Little Book of Gold by Erik Hanberg

It’s NOT JUST About the Money by Richard Perry and Jeff Schreifels is a must-read for major gift fundraisers. The book covers essential topics, from adopting a donor-centric approach to measuring impact and celebrating success. Here are five specific takeaways and we highly recommend buying the book to take in all this actionable information. 1)… Read more: 5 Specific Takeaways from It’s NOT JUST About the Money

Lisa Greer’s The Essential Fundraiser’s Handbook is an excellent book that highlights the importance of building authentic relationships with donors, embracing diverse donor engagements, and fostering a culture of philanthropy within organizations. Below are five actionable takeaways from the book, with number five being a particular standout. We highly recommend purchasing the book, found here… Read more: 5 Specific Takeaways from The Essential Fundraiser’s Handbook by Lisa Greer

In the world of nonprofit fundraising, executive assistants (EAs) are often overlooked, yet they have significant influence over a key aspect of the fundraising process: access to top prospects. These professionals are more than gatekeepers; they are trusted advisors, managers of their executive’s time, and can help ensure meaningful engagement with potential major donors. Winning… Read more: Winning Over Gatekeepers: The Critical Role of Executive Assistants in Nonprofit Fundraising

Every nonprofit knows the importance of thanking donors—it’s essential for building loyalty and ensuring continued support. While traditional thank-you letters and small gifts have their place, there’s a way to take your stewardship to the next level: connecting donors directly to the impact of their gift through a personalized video. A heartfelt video showcasing the… Read more: This Absolute Best Way to Thank Your Donors (Ditch the Generic Thank You Letters)

Starbucks is renowned for delivering exceptional customer service, thanks to its dedicated baristas—known internally as “partners.” From crafting customized drinks to creating memorable experiences, these partners consistently go above and beyond for their customers. One of the secrets behind this impressive service is the Starbucks “Green Apron Book,” a guide that outlines the company’s core… Read more: 5 Lessons from Starbucks for Successful Major Gift Fundraising

Danny Meyer, Founder & CEO of Union Square Hospitality Group, is one of the most successful restaurateurs in history. His impressive portfolio includes legendary New York City establishments like Gramercy Tavern, Eleven Madison Park, The Modern, and Shake Shack. In his book Setting the Table, Meyer shares key business principles that major gift fundraisers and… Read more: What the Founder of Shake Shack Can Teach Major Gift Fundraisers

In the fast-paced world of major gift fundraising, efficiency is often the key to success. The ability to manage time, stay focused, and maximize productivity can directly impact the results of your fundraising efforts. Fortunately, some of the best books on work efficiency offer valuable insights that fundraisers can apply to their daily routines. From… Read more: What Major Gift Fundraisers Can Learn from Top Productivity Books

With tightening budgets across universities, the need for fundraisers to maximize major gift solicitations has never been more critical. In today’s competitive environment, securing larger gifts from donors requires a strategic approach. When a donor expresses interest in making a gift of a certain size, how can fundraisers encourage them to consider a more substantial… Read more: Maximizing Major Gift Solicitations: Strategies to Secure Larger Donations

In this case study, we introduce Mark Patterson, a 1988 alumnus of Mumford University, where he played football during his time as a student. Today, he serves as the CFO of Data Point Analytics. This case study highlights several key strategies, including crafting creative messaging to capture a prospect’s attention via email, incorporating stewardship into… Read more: Major Gift Case Study: The Athlete

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… Read more: Overcoming the Four Biggest Challenges in Major Gift Fundraising

In this case study, we introduce Adam Reedman, a 1998 graduate of the Mumford Computing School and the current Founder and CEO of CloudSoft in Boston, Massachusetts. This case study will guide you through strategies such as qualifying a prospect at an event, engaging a prospect with high-level opportunities like an advisory board or alumni… Read more: Major Gift Case Study: The Entrepreneur

Case studies provide invaluable insights into major gift strategies, and this particular study shines a spotlight on Janet Schroeder, a distinguished 1992 alumna of Mumford Engineering School and the current CEO of Next Engineering in Austin, Texas. This case study delves into several key strategies that contributed to her success: Watch the video below to… Read more: Major Gift Case Study: The Executive

The prospect tracker is a spreadsheet designed to help fundraisers streamline their efforts and concentrate on the most promising opportunities—those major gifts with the highest potential for near-term success. By focusing on these key prospects, fundraisers can optimize their time and resources. This spreadsheet guides you through the most efficient steps to move prospects through… Read more: Boost Your Major Gift Success: Discover the Ultimate Prospect Tracker Tool

Are you ready to become a high-impact fundraiser with a laser focus on achieving outstanding results? Look no further! Introducing the Efficient Major Gifts program—a transformative four-part series crafted to empower fundraisers like you. This course is designed to eliminate unproductive tasks, prioritize key prospects, increase visit bookings, and enhance solicitation efforts. Whether you’re an… Read more: Limited-Time Offer: Our Efficient Major Gifts Course is Free!

Forward Fundraisers proudly presents their latest book, Pathways to Philanthropy: A Fundraiser’s Tale. This compelling narrative follows Sarah Williams, a major gift fundraiser at Mumford University, as she embarks on her new role as the Director of Development for the engineering school. Through Sarah’s journey, readers gain an insightful look into the complexities of building… Read more: Get Our Free Major Gifts Book: Pathways to Philanthropy

When fundraisers are asked what the biggest challenge in major gift fundraising is, one answer continually emerges: They struggle to find enough major gift prospects. Many have no idea how to locate or research individuals who might be promising prospects. Watch our video below to learn how to find new prospects to fill your portfolios.… Read more: The Biggest Challenge in Major Gift Fundraising: What Every Fundraiser Needs to Know

In the realm of effective management, this tip centers around the power of quarterly appraisals. Unlike the common practice of reserving assessments for year-end evaluations, we advocate for a more proactive approach, providing fundraisers with the regular, constructive feedback essential for their continual growth and success. To facilitate this process, we offer a comprehensive appraisal… Read more: Elevating Performance: The Power of Quarterly Appraisals for Major Gift Fundraisers

When it comes to securing major gifts, fundraisers often find themselves spinning multiple plates, trying to fund the perfect balance amidst a lot of responsibilities. Enter ChatGPT, a revolutionary tool that’s been embraced by millions to supercharge productivity. Let’s dive deeper into how this dynamic tool is transforming the landscape of major gift fundraising: 1)… Read more: 7 Tips for Leveraging ChatGPT in Major Gift Fundraising

Once you’ve identified a promising prospect, the journey towards securing a major gift begins with strategic engagement. While university volunteer activities can certainly facilitate this process, the question remains: which activities will genuinely resonate with your prospect, fostering a deep-seated appreciation for the relationship? In the below video, we delve into the realm of volunteer… Read more: Harnessing Value Engagement to Forge Deeper Donor Connections

Whether you’re a meeting enthusiast or a skeptic, there’s no denying the pivotal role meetings play in steering an effective fundraising team. Striking the right balance is crucial, you don’t want a flood of meetings drowning out the vital work of Major Gift Fundraising. However, when meetings do occur, they must be time well spent.… Read more: Unlocking the Power of Collaboration: Elevating Team Meetings for Major Gift Fundraisers

Effective onboarding is the secret sauce to unlocking your fundraisers’ full potential. Don’t leave their success to chance! Discover the power of strategic onboarding in the video below. Ready to take the next step? Sign up for our comprehensive course on Managing Major Gift Fundraisers! Elevate your team’s performance and revolutionize your organization’s fundraising efforts.

In the fiercely competitive landscape of non-profit fundraising, the capacity to both attract and retain top-tier talent is paramount. This course will empower you to build and effectively manage an exceptional major gift fundraising team. You’ll gain expertise in: Take the next step in becoming a high performing manager by signing up below to receive… Read more: Enroll in Our Free Course: Managing Major Gift Fundraisers

Welcome to another powerful closing session with Forward Fundraisers, where we unveil game-changing strategies to elevate your donor engagement. In the below video, we’re delving into the art of leveraging highly sought-after naming opportunities to secure that crucial donor commitment. Subscribe here to receive fresh major gift closing tips directly in your inbox:

In the dynamic landscape of philanthropy, where the success of fundraising efforts can significantly impact the trajectory of an organization, the role of major gift fundraisers is extremely important for sustainable growth and impact. The art of identifying, attracting, and retaining top-tier major gift fundraisers is not merely a challenge but is imperative for nonprofit… Read more: Mastering the Art of Hiring Top-Tier Major Gift Fundraisers

We’ve got a creative tip for you today, using a unique pen to seal the deal on that major gift. Watch the video below to see how this can actually work! Subscribe here to receive fresh major gift closing tips directly in your inbox:

In the realm of capital campaigns, universities encounter various milestones on their journey to the ultimate fundraising goal. Watch this video to see how you can harness this opportunity to close a major gift. Subscribe here to receive fresh major gift closing tips directly in your inbox:

In this discussion, we will delve into our second strategy for closing major gifts, one that revolves around harnessing the anticipation of upcoming events to inspire donors to finalize their commitments. After you’ve made your initial ask and the prospect is currently contemplating their contribution, it’s time to think about the power of timing. If… Read more: How to Utilize Event Announcements to Close Major Gifts

Twice a month, we are sending out the Closing Tactic email newsletter to provide you with valuable strategies to enhance your fundraising efforts and close more major gifts. In this strategy, we explore the compelling approach of leveraging your university or organization’s leadership to send a personalized email to potential donors. As you, the fundraiser,… Read more: How to Use University Leadership to Close Major Gifts

We are excited to share an incredible opportunity with you! Our Major Gifts Course, which is typically priced at $500, is now available at an exclusive 50% discount until November 30th. For a limited time, you can secure this comprehensive four-part program for just $250. Here are two compelling reasons why you should consider investing… Read more: Exclusive Offer: 50% Off Our Major Gifts Course

Corporate fundraising in the university landscape presents distinctive challenges. Establishing meaningful and mutually advantageous relationships is of utmost importance since companies often prioritize their own interests. The fundamental question at the outset is: Which companies should your university be focusing on? Random outreach can lead to a wasteful consumption of time and resources. Below, we… Read more: Optimizing Corporate Fundraising in Higher Ed: Proven Strategies for Success

Efficient fundraising involves a strategic approach where fundraisers concentrate their time and resources on high-potential prospects who are likely to make significant contributions in the near future. They steer clear of unproductive efforts, enabling them to achieve success by increasing their prospect visits, making more effective asks, and giving priority attention to their most promising… Read more: Transform into an Efficient Fundraiser and Raise Millions for Your University

Once you’ve successfully identified and qualified a prospect, the next crucial step is to initiate a strategic approach aimed at cultivating a significant philanthropic contribution. While your university offers a range of volunteer opportunities to facilitate this engagement, the question arises: which activities will genuinely foster a deep sense of appreciation in your prospects relationship… Read more: Unlocking the Power of Value Engagement: A Crucial Strategy for Fundraisers

Forward Fundraisers is offering our subscribers (that’s you) a 50% discount on the Efficient Major Gifts course. The cost of the program is normally $999, but for a limited time you can get it for $499. The course will equip your fundraising team to bring in significant gifts through: • Avoiding unproductive work• Getting more… Read more: Efficient Major Gifts Course: 50% Off

Want to be a fundraiser with a laser focus that produces big results? Introducing the Efficient Major Gifts program. This five-part series is designed to help fundraisers avoid wasting time with unproductive work, redirect focus on priority prospects, book more visits, and make more solicitation asks. Whether you’re an up-and-coming or seasoned professional, these proven… Read more: Introducing the Efficient Major Gifts Program

Forward Fundraisers is releasing our Efficient Major Gifts course soon! Efficient major gifts is when a fundraiser strategically focuses their time and effort on the prospects that have a high probability to make a major gift in the near term. A lot of fundraisers make the mistake of engaging too many prospects or prospects with… Read more: Coming Soon: The Efficient Major Gifts Course!

In today’s fast-paced world, our high net-worth prospects are inundated with a myriad of commitments and priorities, making it increasingly challenging to capture their attention and secure a response. In this competitive landscape, it’s imperative to recognize that our prospects have a multitude of competing interests, and we may not always be at the forefront… Read more: 5 Techniques to Build Stronger Relationships with Your Prospects

Soliciting major gifts can often entail a waiting game as donors deliberate on their commitment. But what if there were a way to expedite the process and secure more major gifts? The solution is simpler than you might think: Deadlines. These date-sensitive scenarios create a sense of urgency that propels donors to act promptly, reducing… Read more: Mastering the Art of Closing Major Gifts with the Deadline Card

Major gift fundraisers understand that they often don’t rank as a top priority for their prospects. They find themselves competing with the demands of their prospects’ busy lives, which may include work, family, hobbies, and support for various other organizations. Securing a response from a prospect and arranging a meeting can prove to be quite… Read more: Unleash the Power of Persistence: 7 Ingenious Techniques to Revive Dormant Prospects!

Navigating the realm of qualification visits with potential major gift prospects can be a formidable challenge, often bordering on the exasperating. These are individuals who lead busy lives filled with an array of competing priorities, none of which may align with your own. So, the pivotal question remains: How can you establish a lasting impression… Read more: Crafting Compelling Emails to Engage Major Gift Prospects

Congratulations on your promotion to lead a team of fundraisers—it’s a well-deserved achievement! However, this new role brings a fresh set of responsibilities. How can you effectively lead a team while maintaining your own fundraising prowess? Achieving the delicate balance of leadership, knowledge sharing, and nurturing exceptional fundraisers requires finesse. Here are some valuable tips… Read more: 6 Essential Strategies for Managing Major Gift Fundraisers

As you embark on the journey of qualifying yet another prospect, your preparation includes a meticulously crafted list of questions aimed at uncovering their wealth and affinity for your cause. But amidst your arsenal of inquiries, there’s one question that consistently stands out as a beacon of insight: “What was the one part of your… Read more: The One Question You Must Ask to Unlock the Donor’s Passion

Establishing strong connections with major gift prospects is a strategic process that unfolds over time, with a key component that should never be underestimated: timely and thorough follow-up. As a dedicated fundraiser, your biggest priority should be to ensure that every interaction and conversation with your prospects is followed by a prompt response, ideally within… Read more: The Importance of Swift Follow-Up with Major Gift Prospects

Every major gift officer aspires to have a portfolio full of promising prospects, but these opportunities are rarely handed to you on a silver platter. Unearthing and effectively qualifying new leads necessitates a bit of detective work and a commitment of time. Here, we present five sources that fundraisers can explore to improve their prospect… Read more: 6 Places to Uncover New Prospect Leads

In the intricate world of fundraising, one fundamental element reigns supreme: assessing the wealth of potential donors. Why, you may ask, is this fundamental practice of such paramount importance? Allow us to elucidate, for it holds the key to multiple facets of your fundraising journey. First and foremost, gauging a prospect’s wealth aids in identifying… Read more: The Essential Questions for Wealth Assessment in Fundraising

The success of a major gift officer in their fundraising efforts is directly tied to the internal relationships they foster within their organization. University leadership, faculty, and staff stand as indispensable allies in the quest to identify new prospects and guide them towards meaningful contributions. The more robust these internal relationships become, the greater the… Read more: 10 Strategies to Nurture Internal Relationships for Fundraising Excellence

In the fundraising world, it is a well known truth that when a major gift comes to fruition, it is never the result of a single fundraiser’s work. Instead, it’s a collective effort, involving a team that is working across the organization to engage prospects in alignment with their passions. This process, often spanning several… Read more: How to Celebrate Collaboration with a Pathway to a Gift

In an era of tightening budgets within universities, the role of major gift officers has never been more important. Maximizing solicitations has become a paramount mission, and one of the key challenges is elevating donors to consider larger, more impactful gifts. When a donor expresses a desire to make a gift of a certain size,… Read more: 11 Strategies for Getting Bigger Donor Contributions

Stewardship, the art of nurturing and maintaining donor relationships, is a pivotal process that commences once a generous benefactor makes a contribution to your university. It involves not only expressing gratitude but also ensuring that donors are continually informed about the profound impact of their contributions. Crucially, stewardship should be viewed as a strategic cultivation… Read more: 8 Methods for Providing Next Level Donor Stewardship

Achieving a substantial donation can indeed be an intricate journey, necessitating a blend of strategic engagement and precisely targeted solicitations to unlock the full potential of philanthropic generosity. Along this path, various pivotal factors converge to determine the ultimate success of securing a major gift. Here, we delve into seven strategic factors that play a… Read more: 7 Proven Tactics for Maximizing Major Gift Closures

In the realm of university fundraising, consistently refreshing your donor portfolio with new prospects is paramount for continued success. As prospects progress through the donor pipeline, it becomes imperative to identify fresh leads, initiate engagement, and lay the foundation for future major gifts. These new donor relationships are cultivated through qualification visits, during which potential… Read more: A Step-by-Step Guide to Effective Fundraising Qualification Visits

As a major gift officer, effective prospect management is paramount to your success. We understand the importance of having a well-structured plan in place to navigate your prospect pool efficiently and focus your efforts on promising opportunities. That’s why we’ve developed a prospect tracking spreadsheet to assist you in this endeavor. This spreadsheet is designed… Read more: Streamline Your Major Gift Strategy with Our Prospect Tracking Spreadsheet

The process of engagement is a critical journey in cultivating a prospect’s affinity for your university. It’s a phase that often spans several years and demands a meticulous approach, where each interaction is imbued with purpose and strategy. To navigate this intricate path successfully, universities must be well-equipped with engagement activities tailored to their unique… Read more: Crafting a Strategic Path to Major Gifts: Targeted and Tiered Engagement

Corporate prospects have the potential to be your university’s best donors if the relationship is cultivated correctly. To make these gifts come to fruition though the company must see real value in the relationship such as a solid recruiting pipeline and productive partnerships with your faculty. One engagement strategy that incorporates all of these activities… Read more: Engaging Your Corporate Prospects Effectively with the “Car Wash”

Cultivating a prospect’s interest and passion for a cause is only half the journey toward securing a major gift. To ensure you make the most of this critical opportunity, several strategic steps must be taken, and meticulous preparation is paramount. 1. Priming the Ask: Seek Permission Before proceeding with the actual ask, it’s wise to… Read more: How to Maximize Major Gift Solicitations and Slay Objections

The path to a major gift can be a long process that spans multiple years. During this time, numerous activities are taking place to engage a prospect towards a specific project or area of interest. These engagement activities must be done strategically to ensure a prospect gives at their highest gift potential. With this in… Read more: How Case Studies Help Create Better Major Gift Officers

The most critical time in the fundraising process arises after you’ve made the ask for a gift, as you try to secure the commitment. At this point, you may encounter objections, excuses, and delays from the donor, and perhaps even some hesitation on your part as the fundraiser. Successfully navigating this terrain is essential to… Read more: 8 Proven Strategies to Close Major Gifts