After nearly 30 years in this field, I’ve seen firsthand how the right major donor strategy can propel an organization’s mission to new heights. But I’ve also seen the common pitfalls that can stall even the most passionate teams. In this edition of Scaling Major Gifts, I want to share the most persistent challenges major gift officers face when implementing a major donor strategy—and, more importantly, the practical solutions I’ve found to move past them. Whether you’re building your program from scratch or looking to take your results to the next level, these insights are for you.

Struggling to invite grateful patients and families to share their stories without crossing sensitive boundaries? In this week’s edition of Scaling Major Gifts, I’m drawing on nearly 30 years of experience to unpack the real challenges (and big opportunities) of authentic storytelling in healthcare fundraising. I share practical strategies, a real-world success story, and actionable tips you can use right away to create safe, meaningful pathways for patients and families to get involved. 

In this week’s Scaling Major Gifts newsletter, I sharing practical strategies, real-world examples, and actionable tips to help you engage next-gen donors effectively. Whether you’re a major gift officer, development director, or nonprofit leader, this is your roadmap to building authentic relationships with the changemakers of the future. 

Feeling stuck when it comes to cultivating your top donors? In this week's edition of my Scaling Major Gifts newsletter, I share real-world strategies (and a few lessons learned the hard way) to help you build personalized cultivation plans that actually move relationships forward.

In my nearly 30 years working in nonprofit development, one truth has remained constant: stewardship is the lifeblood of donor relationships. As major gift officers, development directors, executive directors, and board members, you know how critical it is to not only secure major gifts but also nurture the relationships behind them. In this edition of Scaling Major Gifts, I want to share insights on how you can weave stewardship touchpoints into your annual strategy to deepen donor connections and drive long-term support.

Over nearly three decades in nonprofit fundraising, I’ve seen countless innovations reshape how we engage donors. But few have been as transformative as artificial intelligence (AI). AI isn’t just a buzzword—it’s a transformative tool that empowers fundraisers to personalize communication at scale, anticipate donor needs, and optimize outreach in ways we couldn’t have imagined even a decade ago. In this edition of Scaling Major Gifts, I’ll share how AI can enhance your moves management strategies at every stage, helping you build stronger donor relationships and elevate your major gift efforts.

In my nearly 30 years of experience in nonprofit fundraising, I’ve seen one recurring challenge: engaging board members in major gift fundraising. Whether you’re a major gift officer, development director, executive director, or board member, you’ve likely encountered hesitation or outright reluctance when it comes to asking for large donations. In this edition, I want to share insights on overcoming those fears and transforming your board into confident ambassadors for your cause.

In my nearly three decades as a major gifts consultant, I've seen firsthand how critical leadership is in driving successful fundraising efforts. Whether you're an executive director, development director, or board member, your role in cultivating a high-performing major gifts team cannot be overstated. Today, I want to share some insights I've gained over the years and offer practical advice for nurturing a team that consistently secures those game-changing donations.

As a seasoned major gift expert with nearly 30 years in the field, I've witnessed firsthand the transformative power of challenge gifts in capital campaigns. These dynamic tools have an unparalleled ability to ignite donor enthusiasm and drive fundraising success. Let's explore how you can harness the power of challenge gifts to elevate your capital campaign to new heights.

Have you ever wondered how some nonprofits seem to achieve their most ambitious goals with ease while others struggle to stay afloat? What’s their secret? In many cases, it’s a well-executed major gift program. Major gifts are the cornerstone of sustainable fundraising, yet starting a program can feel overwhelming, especially if your organization has never ventured into this territory before. But here’s the good news: you don’t have to do it alone. I’ll walk you through the essential steps to launch a successful major gift program that can elevate your nonprofit from surviving to thriving. By the end of this edition of Scaling Major Gifts, you’ll not only feel inspired but equipped with actionable strategies to get started today. 

As I approach my third decade in the world of fundraising, I'm continually amazed by the evolving landscape of major gift cultivation. The digital revolution has transformed how we connect with donors, and it's crucial that we adapt our strategies accordingly. Today, I want to share some insights on integrating digital approaches into your annual plan for major gift cultivation.

I've seen firsthand how a robust major gifts pipeline can make or break a capital campaign. Whether you're a seasoned development director or a board member new to fundraising, the ability to cultivate and secure major gifts is crucial for your organization's growth and impact.

As I reflect on my nearly three decades in the nonprofit sector, one truth stands out: a thriving major gifts program is the lifeblood of sustainable fundraising. Yet, I've seen countless organizations struggle to fully engage their boards in this critical area. Today, I want to share some hard-earned wisdom on creating a board-driven major gifts culture that can transform your fundraising efforts.

In this edition of Scaling Major Gifts, we're diving into a topic that's close to my heart: how to identify and qualify potential major gift prospects. I'm sharing some tried-and-true strategies that have served me well over the years.

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.