Finding Major Gift Prospects

Everyone knows someone who is capable of making a major gift. I can’t tell you how often I’ve heard trustees and volunteers tell me they don’t know anyone capable of a gift of $25,000 or more. Images are conjured up of mansions, exotic sports cars, and lavish lifestyles. “I don’t run in those circles,” they…

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The Big Gift — The Impossible Dream, or Is It?

Non-profit organizations spend most of their time responding to immediate pressures and crises, focusing a great deal on the short term. It seems as though time spent dreaming about huge contributions is a luxury many development professionals cannot afford. Nonetheless, focusing on the day-to-day needs of the organization should not prevent you from planning for…

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Why People Give

Of all the critical elements to a major gift solicitation, perhaps none is greater than the idea of preparation. The ideal goal is to learn enough about your prospect so that you can predict their response and have a ready answer for all of their questions and concerns. If you can eliminate all, or most,…

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