5 Fundraising Stats on Major Gifts of Assets: 2.3%, 60%, 77%, 6X, and 50X
2.3% of household wealth is held in cash and checkable accounts; stop ignoring the other 97.7%. 60% of the largest…
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Introducing the Staff Position You Never Knew You Needed That Can Boost Major Gifts Efficiency and Reduce Turnover
There’s too much to do and not enough time to do it. While this may be a common feeling in…
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The Major Gifts Iceberg – What Lies Beneath that First Major Gift?
Have you ever closed a gift that left you underwhelmed and feeling like you left money on the table? Maybe…
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What It Will Take to Secure More Major Gifts
Major gifts, if they are to prove to be more effective philanthropic conversation starters and, ultimately, investment worthy will have…
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Emotions Are Contagious: Using Emotional Intelligence to Catalyze Major Gifts
Fundraising leaders talk a lot about strategy—segmentation, stewardship, solicitation. But behind every strategy that works is something more basic, more…
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3 Types of Marketing Automation — Which One Do You Really Need to Raise Major Gifts?
Marketing automation software automates repetitive marketing tasks, like email campaigns and lead nurturing (cultivation), allowing businesses to efficiently manage and…
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5 Ways Major Gifts Fundraising Differs from All the Others
For the illusion of efficiency, it can be tempting to use buzzwords like streamline and aggregate as you work to…
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How to Win More Major Gifts by Understanding the Donor Hero Journey
Don’t believe what you hear in the news. The truth is, everyone still wants to be a hero. Deep down,…
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How to Use Fundraising Automation Emails for Raising Major Gifts
You’ve heard of marketing automation, and you’ve likely heard of fundraising automation too. And if you’re like many nonprofits, you…
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Low Dollar vs Major Gifts Fundraising – It’s the Underlying Strategy that Matters, not the Amounts
Low-Dollar vs. Major Gifts Fundraising – Strategy Over Amounts In the nonprofit world, leaders, board members, and staff are faced…
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10 Traits to Look for When Hiring a Major Gifts Officer
Gift officer turnover is a major challenge for many nonprofit organizations. While there are many reasons for this, and we…
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What Is Donor Qualification? Major Gifts Fundraising Fundamentals
Well done! You’ve identified some potential major donors! Maybe. You think. Well, you’re pretty sure. About some of them. But…
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How to generate referrals for major gifts
A well-placed referral can be the bridge to new partnerships, financial support, and resources. It can elevate your nonprofit from…
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Building Major Gifts Caseloads – Why Traditional Methods Fail to Accurately Qualify Donors
It’s a problem as old as fundraising. How do you find, attract, and qualify people who can give major gifts…
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4 Primal Motives for Major Gifts – the REAL Reasons People Make Transformational Gifts
Understanding the motives for why donors make major gifts is a big part of successful fundraising. This is how we…
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How to Hire the Right People for Raising Major Gifts
Are the people working as major gift officers at your organization in the right role? Do they have the best…
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Dr. James explains why the feeling “People like me make gifts like this” is so powerful in major gifts fundraising
Verba docent, exempla trahunt. “Words teach people, examples compel them.” – Latin proverb[1] It’s simple. We want the donor to…
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Giving vs. Sharing: The Power of Community in Major Gifts Fundraising
Giving vs. sharing Are we asking people to give? Or are we asking them to share? This might feel like…
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How to Respond Effectively to This Common Objection and Secure More Major Gifts
Have you heard this objection before? “I’ve been giving for 20 years. There’s nothing you can tell me I don’t…
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9 Secrets for Success in Major Gifts Fundraising
Here are Nine Things I Wish I Knew My First Year in Major Gifts 1. Stop talking so much. Ask…
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Dr. James’ 3-step formula for making a compelling major gifts ask
Making the ask can be the scariest part of fundraising. Setting up social events is great fun. Being friendly with…
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The Importance of Being Authentic in Major Gifts Fundraising
Getting started in Major Gifts… better learn to golf! ❌FALSE❌ Of course, if you like to play golf and it…
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How to establish “the land of wealth sharing” for major gifts donors
The “one big thing” in fundraising is always the same: Advance the donor’s hero story. That’s the right story. But…
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Why you should pay your major gifts fundraisers more
One of the great insights Robert Kiyosaki shares in the book Rich Dad Poor Dad is this: Poor people say…
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