If you are thinking the most important word in fundraising is “donor” you’re on the right track. The word I have in mind is “you,” as in “you, the donor.”

In the nonprofit world, we talk a lot about donor-centered fundraising. But what does it really mean?

Where to start?

This is a question I hear often when it comes to major gifts. Even if you know the process, the number of tasks involved with major gifts fundraising – from donor research to strategy to scheduling a meeting and many others – it can be an overwhelming list.

I’ve written in the past about how to recruit dynamite volunteers to help with your major gifts fundraising. There is no doubt that the right volunteers can help catapult your fundraising program to the next level!

There is probably only one measure of success for major gift fundraising that your board members and even your Executive Director discuss on a routine basis, and that is:  How much money will major gift fundraising bring in?

Last week I received something in the mail that I just HAD to open. And, let me tell you, this does not happen often! If you have ever wondered or worried if your letters, invitations and thank you notes are being read—or even opened!—by your donors, read on for three simple tips to help skyrocket open rates for your mail.

An organization I’m working with is looking to launch a major gifts program. The Executive Director shared that the organization’s board did very little fundraising, which was a point of frustration and concern for the E.D.

I just learned about something called National Volunteer Week – celebrated in April in the U.S. and June in the U.K. and possibly other countries as well. What a great opportunity for a nonprofit organization to recognize and celebrate its volunteers!

After the immense effort required to put on a fundraising event, it is tempting to take a breather after it’s over—maybe a few days off? After all, your donors were steeped in your message at the event so that’s good enough, right?

Wrong! Your donors—especially those who give major gifts at your event—still want to hear from you.

Last week I received an email from a nonprofit organization I support. Let’s call this organization the A SCHOOL. The email was an invitation to attend two upcoming events. While email certainly can be part of successful event campaign efforts, this email fell short in several key ways:

Have you ever gotten pushback from your board on the topic of major gifts? Maybe when the topic of asking for a significant gift from a donor comes up at a board meeting, you’ve heard, “Why don’t we just write more grant proposals?” Or, “Instead of starting a major gifts program, let’s hold another event.”