Events

Making big gifts is most often a function of age. The older you are, the more capable you tend to be of making a major gift. It’s perhaps one of the few areas where it’s more beneficial to be older rather than younger.

A fundraising goal set too high can discourage donors from giving early, especially if they feel the goal is out of reach for an organization. Too many donors taking a wait and see posture can be detrimental to fundraising. Set a goal that is challenging but achievable (in the minds of donors) and you will better be able to create early momentum and credibility.

There is no plagiarism in fundraising. It’s very common for fundraisers to collaborate and share best practices and to borrow effective language that is proven successful.

While it is easy to celebrate all that philanthropy helps to accomplish to make this world better, we must also not fail to realize that philanthropy can also produce negative outcomes, especially when people use philanthropy to gain power, influence, authority, access and more in very unhealthy and inappropriate ways.

Age is a big factor in giving, especially when it comes to the largest gifts. It is reported that the average age of the million-dollar donor is 70 years old.

Promoting equal sacrifice rather than equal gifts is a foundational tool to help people understand the power and necessity of securing major gift support to meet a goal. Relying exclusively on a very significant number of gifts at a relatively small dollar level is often a failing strategy for many organizations.

Recognition is cheap and always appreciated and valued even for those that ultimately choose to give anonymously. It’s typically a good idea to liberally count giving as it relates to recognition even if the accounting or campaign counting don’t add up to the same amount.

Fundraisers love to come up with unique ways to explain the big gifts that drive so much successful philanthropy. A few of my favorites include “anchor gifts,” “nucleus fund,” “lead gift,” “capstone gift,” and the list goes on. Donors love to feel special, and we can make them feel that way with the language we choose.

The vast majority of requests for specific support do not receive an immediate decision. It’s always best to come into the meeting with a well-conceived follow-up plan to maintain a sense of urgency and to not allow the ask to become stale.

It’s easier to renew a gift from an existing donor than it is to create a new donor.

Good fundraising is not transactional. Rather, good fundraising is relational.

You’re not asking for yourself. You’re inviting an investment to improve lives and your community. Embrace the opportunity to help someone make a positive difference.

The tradition of generosity and giving is passed down from one generation to the next like stories of family members from generations past. Because giving is not genetic and because not all individuals have parents that have taught the responsibility of giving back, it often falls on the development professional to be the educator.

Visiting prospective donors in pairs has significant value. It’s not that an individual can’t be successful in a one-on-one solicitation, but it’s often nice to have more eyes and ears involved in a conversation like this and, typically, the prospective donor feels more loved and appreciated.

Today’s sophisticated philanthropists do have big hearts, but they are well protected and well-guarded.