STEPS AND STAIRWAY TO MAJOR GIFT SUCCESS
You still have time in 2017 to make your major gifts super successful with these 13 steps from the book, Rainmaking: The Fundraisers Guide to Landing Big Gifts. Roy Jones and Andrew Olsen give us great ways to engage and connect with our major gift donors right now.
13 Tips for Major Gift Commitment
It is always great to find new ways to engage and connect with your major gift donors. Roy Jones and Andrew Olsen offer 13 ideas for on how to do just this in their book, Rainmaking: A Fundraisers Guide to Landing Big Gifts.
Tip #1: Meaningful experience
There is no better way to create engagement than giving your donors the opportunity to experience working with you. It will help them understand what you are doing and become more committed.
Tip #2: One-on-One
Spend time with your major donor prospects one-on-one. This will help build a deep meaningful relationship.
Tip #3: Host small group events
Engaging your major donors with small intimate events is a wonderful way to build commitment. Small lunches at the home of a board member is a great way to do this. You will be able to gather great insight into your donors at these events.
Tip #4: Ask for feedback
It is a great idea to ask your major donors for feedback on a program they support or your future plans. Everyone likes it when their opinion is sought after and it will make your prospects feel respected and valuable.
Tip #5: Special event special gathering
For your upcoming events, create special pre- and post-event gatherings that are by invite only. This will give your prospects an opportunity to engage with leadership and with other major donors.
Tip #6: Leadership access
Invite your major donors to meet your board and senior executives. Your major donors expect a certain level of access. Ensuring they have a clear line of communication with your leaders is an important step in building trust
Tip #7: Special communication
Create a special monthly communication from your executive director just for your major donors. This could be email or snail mail. Be clear that this is an exclusive message just for your closest supporters.
Tip #8: Donor club
Establish a major donor club with multiple levels of recognition. This will give your donors an additional incentive to give even more and make them feel special.
Tip #9: Donor feature
Include a “donor feature” in your newsletter where you focus on one of your major donors. This is a great way to honor your most committed donors by asking them to share about themselves and why they give.
Tip #10: Special article
Place an article of appreciation in a trade publication relevant to their business. This will reach your donor’s colleagues outside your organization and share the news of their commitment to your cause.
Tip #11: Exclusive web access
Create a special secure access portion of your website just for your donors. Here you can share behind the scenes videos, updates, and reports. Give them information they need to be sure their gifts are being used effectively.
Tip #12: Personalized video messages
Your donors will love to receive a personalized video message on social media. Make sure to personalize it specifically to each donor by calling them by name
Go for it and ask for another gift! It is human nature to want to be needed and major donors love to know they are needed and wanted. They will appreciate being asked even if they can’t say yes every time.