Articles – List

Your Major Donor-Investor: What’s in a Name?

I recently wrote a post about how to take charge of your nonprofit’s ‘major donor-investor plan.’  One of my readers asked “How did you come up with that term?”

Hmmn… I don’t think I came up with anything. I’ve simply considered my major donors as investors since as long as I can remember. But, honestly, I think the term may have been coined by fundraising guru Kay Sprinkel Grace, who has been a mentor and huge influence in my development practice. So, thank you Kay.

What’s in a name? Let’s take a moment to consider the power of language.

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10 Steps to Take Charge of Your Nonprofit’s Major Donor-Investor Plan

Major individual gifts are the single largest source of philanthropy, by far. The most recent data from Giving USA[Free Summary Download] shows 72% of gifts come from individuals’ annual gifts and an additional 7% from bequests.

The process of individual donor development proceeds along a continuum – from awareness… to education… to involvement… to investment.  People must first be made aware of the organization’s existence and its mission.  Once this occurs, people who share values enacted by your organization can be identified, further educated and majorly involved.

When the relationship is sufficiently built – and only then — the prospect can be invited to significantly invest to assist in furtherance of your organization’s mission.

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October Nonprofit Blog Carnival Call for Submissions: Tricks or Treats – How Do You Get and Sustain Major Gifts?

I’m majorly S C R E A M I N G with delight to be hosting this month’s Nonprofit Blog Carnival!

So majorly, in fact, that the subject this month is TRICKS or TREATS – How Do You Get and Sustain Major Gifts?

Tell us your tricks – the ones that work! Do you HAUNT prospects through a series of managed ‘moves’?  Do you fly in on a BROOMSTICK and just drop in spontaneously? How do you put them under your SPELL?

Tell us some treats – ways you wow your donors! Smile like a JACK-O-LANTERN every time you think of them; then figure out a way to let them know? Give them lots of virtual CANDY (seriously, do you use social media for any part of your major gifts strategy)?

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