As I reflect on my nearly three decades in major gift fundraising, I'm struck by how often I've seen organizations struggle with balancing individual and team goals. It's a challenge that resonates with major gift officers, development directors, executive directors, and board members alike. In my experience, finding this balance is crucial for creating a thriving major gifts program that benefits both the fundraisers and the organization as a whole. I've developed and observed several strategies that can help organizations navigate these challenges.

Over the years, I've seen countless development professionals struggle with sporadic donor engagement and last-minute fundraising pushes. Sound familiar? I've been there too. But I've learned that a well-structured annual plan can transform your major gift program from reactive to proactive, ultimately leading to stronger donor relationships and increased giving. Today, I want to share a game-changing tool that has revolutionized my approach to donor cultivation: the 12-month major gift cultivation calendar.

As I approach my third decade in nonprofit fundraising, I'm continually amazed by the transformative power of capital and comprehensive campaigns. These ambitious endeavors have the potential to catapult organizations to new heights, but they also come with their fair share of challenges. Today, I want to share some insights I've gained from my journey to help you prepare for campaign success.

In my nearly 30 years working in the nonprofit sector, I’ve seen firsthand how transformative major donors can be for an organization. Whether you’re a major gift officer, development director, executive director, or board member, cultivating these relationships is not just about securing large gifts—it’s about building meaningful partnerships that can fuel your mission for years to come. Yet, I know from experience that this can often feel like one of the most challenging aspects of fundraising. In this edition, I want to share five strategies that have worked for me and my clients to help you overcome common hurdles and achieve success.

After nearly three decades on the frontlines of philanthropy, I've learned that one of the most crucial skills for any development professional is the ability to identify and qualify potential major gift prospects. It's a challenge that has kept me up at night more times than I care to admit, but it's also been the source of some of my greatest professional triumphs.

After nearly three decades in nonprofit fundraising, I've learned that one of the most challenging - yet rewarding - aspects of our work is guiding loyal annual donors toward transformational capital campaign gifts. As development professionals, we often find ourselves caught between the pressure to meet annual fundraising goals and the need to cultivate major donors for future campaigns. It's a delicate balance, but one that's crucial for long-term organizational success. In this edition, I share five strategies to help transition annual donors to capital campaign supporters.

After nearly three decades in the nonprofit sector, I've seen firsthand how crucial major donors are to an organization's success. As a chief philanthropy officer turned consultant, I've had the privilege of working with countless nonprofits, and I've learned that cultivating these relationships is both an art and a science. In this edition, I want to share with you five strategies that I've found to be incredibly effective in nurturing major donor relationships.

As a major gift expert with nearly three decades of experience, I've seen firsthand how moves management can transform a nonprofit's fundraising efforts. Yet, I've also witnessed many organizations struggle to implement this powerful strategy effectively. In this edition, I want to share some insights on overcoming common challenges in moves management implementation.

As I reflect on my nearly three decades in the nonprofit sector, one thing has become crystal clear: the power of a strong, collaborative team in driving major gift success. I've seen firsthand how a team-first culture can transform a department from a group of individual fundraisers into a cohesive unit that consistently exceeds goals and retains top talent. If you're looking to create a more collaborative major gifts culture in your organization, here are some steps you can take today:

After nearly three decades in major gift fundraising, I've learned that securing a large donation is just the beginning. The real challenge - and opportunity - lies in nurturing those relationships for long-term impact. In this edition, I want to share some hard-won insights on stewardship techniques that can help you retain and upgrade your major donors.

I've seen firsthand how challenge gifts can supercharge a capital campaign. These powerful tools have the potential to ignite donor enthusiasm and drive fundraising success like nothing else. But I've also witnessed many organizations struggle to harness their full potential. Let's dive into how you can leverage challenge gifts to take your capital campaign to new heights.

Understanding how to tailor your communication strategies for each stage can make or break your fundraising efforts. When working with clients, I often see the common mistake of using a one-size-fits-all approach to donor communication. However, this method is ineffective and can lead to missed opportunities. Over the years, I've developed strategies that have consistently yielded desired results, and I'm excited to share them with you today.

After nearly three decades in the nonprofit sector, I've seen firsthand how a passionate, engaged board can transform an organization's major gifts program. But I've also witnessed the frustration many of you face when trying to get your board members actively involved in fundraising. Today, I want to share some strategies that have consistently worked for me and my clients to turn board members into enthusiastic major gift champions.