With many years of experience working in the trenches of nonprofit fundraising and communications, I have discovered that by thinking smart, stepping into the shoes of prospective donors, and by conducting advance preparation in-house, one can set difficult major gift campaigns aright, including seemingly “impossible” ones.

Most every nonprofit organization wants to receive substantial donations, but not many understand the processes involved in making that happen. For most, “lots of zeros” involved in achieving their fundraising goals – in the hundreds of thousands, or millions of dollars – can be intimidating and sometimes, genuinely frightening.

We often think automatically that when lots of zeros are involved, outside consultants are naturally required. That is in part because most of us think large financial goals also mean a lot of prospects, and managing them properly seems overwhelming.

But the majority of major gift campaigns succeed by identifying and cultivating a relatively small number of capable prospects. And most of those prospects may already be within your fold, although you may not be aware of that at the outset. Do you need an outside consulting firm? And whether or not you do, are there things you can do yourself in order to prepare?

Nonprofit executive directors are among our greatest cheerleaders. Their vision guides a nonprofit forward to stellar heights of success. Having said that, executive directors sometimes fail to understand what is involved when a prospective donor is to be approached with a meaningful funding request. A casual conversation at lunch or in the elevator does not necessarily work (although that can help lay the groundwork for a future in-depth discussion). And sometimes our executive directors are impatient; they might also fail to see the nonprofit’s fundraising challenges when it comes to major gift efforts.

I suggest you entrust a knowledgeable member of the staff to meet with constituents in advance to get a “read” on how they feel about your nonprofit and its major gift fundraising plans. This is not about asking for money, at least not yet. You might also include in your discussions community “influencers,” partner nonprofit executives and elected officials. Many nonprofits leave this kind of task to a consultant, supposedly for the sake of objectivity. But I find prospective major gift donors do share their thoughts readily with a trusted staff member who will listen to concerns they have.

What can we assume about major gift donors? Making the decision to award a meaningful amount of money requires confidence on the part of the donor. What might they want to know? They will want to know your organization is well run, that you submit tax returns, that you operate in a businesslike fashion, that you have a trustworthy banking relationship, and reputable Board oversight.

More donors today rely on professional advisors to help them make major gift decisions. Hence, be sure to claim and complete your GuideStar profile as fully as possible. Your website and GuideStar will be among the very first places they will seek information about your organization, often before they speak with you.

I have discovered you cannot assume anything when it comes to launching a major gift campaign. For instance, do not assume that because you have sent your constituents e-newsletters regularly, annual reports, that you post information regularly on social media, that they truly have the depth of knowledge they require to make such an important decision.

Environmental Organizations

Frequently, nonprofits decide to hire a consultant or firm to conduct a “feasibility” study. By having an objective review of your nonprofit by an unbiased, outside representative, it is often assumed your prospects will be more candid in their responses to pointed questions.

But I have found the staff know the organization in greater depth. Why not consider taking the “feasibility” research project in-house? I have never had a donor cover up their feelings when asked candidly and in person what they think.

Here is a good example. When I lived and worked in Dallas, I was recruited to run a major gift campaign that had some stellar endorsements. But once I started talking to prior contributors, I found there were problems. First, they had not heard from the nonprofit for five years. They had given with great heart in honor of a beloved civic leader back then, but clearly felt they were “dropped” by the nonprofit. They were upset. We were surprised. And, I was shocked to learn they did not have a high opinion of the organization. Clearly, we had some damage control to do.

My response was to stop this painful donor visit exercise. I researched and wrote up a multiple page report about what had transpired over the past five years, in detail. I included a few photographs of the project funded, and I had the document printed up and bound at a local copy shop (cost-effective but professional). These reports were then mailed with personalized cover letters to all prior donors and to others we wanted to influence in a positive way.

And, this did the trick! By taking a step back, we were able to move forward to raising millions once that report was received, our problems were acknowledged, and we promised to move forward in a more conscientious fashion.

Religious Organizations

I once worked with a diocese that conducted “rolling” major gift campaigns. By that I mean, they went from one campaign to another without much of a break. In fact, they did not tell their donors when one campaign ended, and the next one began. Frequent donors to the diocese had become fatigued. They did not understand what the diocese was doing in terms of its fundraising, nor in terms of its strategic vision for the future.

Sometimes religious organizations feel their work is God’s work, and that knowledge should be enough. But the truth is, there is a human need to bring a significant community project to a formal conclusion. In my situation, we organized an event for donors at the local country club and had our diocesan leadership speak about the success of the earlier, successfully concluded campaign. We also wrote about its success – already more than one year had passed – in a new “hard copy” newsletter designed specifically for donors and for prospective donors. And it worked! We took a step back, and we moved forward.

Visual Arts Organizations

I hold a Master’s Degree in Art History, and I have worked with several arts organizations over the years. One of the most advanced was known for beautiful, artfully designed annual reports. The typeface was artfully miniscule, and it followed a style that was fitting with “minimalist” aesthetics. You could read the reports, or you could look at them as works of art. But when it came time to ask for major gifts, I discovered the donors had not read nor absorbed the content of those reports. They did, however, place them proudly on their coffee tables and on their bookshelves!

So, I started all over with a more simple, direct approach: an entirely new, factual, easy-to-read business report that was professional, but not graphically sophisticated. There was no ask included, just in-depth information provided. And once I did this, the money started coming in. In fact, these donors were hungry for timely information from the nonprofit, and they were quite generous with their subsequent donations. But, we had to take a step back before we could move forward.

Wrapping Your Head Around Major Gift Campaigns

One of my primary suggestions revolves around D-I-Y or “do it yourself.” Take a step back and view your own nonprofit as objectively as possible. Think it through as if you did not work there, as if you yourself were being asked to make a major donation.

What questions would you ask? Would difficult situations the nonprofit is working through, upset you? When it comes to the major gift campaign budget for construction purposes (if that is what you are doing), what happens if supplies and materials go up in cost at the last-minute? Should you give yourself some leeway in the budget, just in case?

These are the kinds of issues that have arisen in my earlier campaign work. Your thoughtful, in-depth research and your honesty in sharing this information with prospective donors will earn you and your nonprofit respect.

We in the nonprofit sector tend to think we are communicating well, and that everyone knows and understands what we are doing. E-newsletters, annual reports, social media, brochures, public presentations and the like do help. But when it comes to major gift decision-making, your donors are going to want more in-depth information. They need to “buy in” to your reason for running such a significant financial fundraising campaign.

As I have alluded, major gift efforts need their own documentation. Often, it is not glamorous. When hiring an outside firm to create a case for support document, for example, unless they know your nonprofit, its donors and their interests well, they can produce expensive but ultimately useless documents. I have seen nonprofits spend upwards of $200,000 for useless consulting services like this.

Why not review your current communications carefully in-house, and either produce your own case for support (and one you can reprint easily at a local copy shop or in the office), or at least be ready with in-depth documentation to give to your consultants. In either case, you will save your nonprofit money and frustration.

Some nonprofits with which I have worked are actually afraid of their donors. But I have found – after a few bruises in the major gift solicitation arena – this can be overcome. Today, I am not sure I would leave these sensitive kinds of inquiries to an outside consulting firm. Through your own discovery process, you will learn that your prospects actually grow closer to your organization. Asking for advice, not money, shows you respect and trust them. You cannot buy that kind of relationship. Own it!

You might enjoy reading, “Volunteering and Charitable Giving.” Some of your volunteers may turn out to be your major gift donors.

Meet with your prospects individually, even if this means conducting a video call. And remember, when people are in a group setting, they often hide their true feelings. Your aim should be to visit with prospects or their professional advisors privately. This takes time, but it will open your eyes and set you and your nonprofit on the pathway to success.

Donors and prospective donors can surprise you. I have experienced this on several occasions. I assumed they were completely happy with my nonprofit. But sometimes, when you ask them frankly, they are not. To which I say, keep a cool head. Stop and respond to any questions and concerns, and if you do not have the answer right then, promise to get back to them soon.

The first time I was blind sighted by an angry donor, it shocked me. I simply was not used to someone being that upset with the organization I was representing. But through that experience, and by following up in a meaningful way, I gained personal strength and now I enjoy asking for major gifts, even if the conversation includes challenging conversations.

Business Reports

I would suggest that before launching a major gift campaign, that you consider producing what I am calling, “a business report.” Do not launch a campaign before reviewing your entire organization from top to bottom, and writing down the most important points in a formal written businesslike status report. Be honest. Share your successes, but do not forget to share your challenges. Some donors actually prefer helping their nonprofits overcome challenges on their way to providing greater public service. A negative can become a positive, but only if you address it head-on and honestly. By taking a step back, you will indeed move forward.

Fair warning: this kind of preparation requires a lot of work in the trenches. Two suggestions you might entertain: 1) put a conscientious, mature, knowledgeable existing staff member in charge of managing your forthcoming campaign, or 2) hire a seasoned fundraising professional who can work side-by-side with staff (not an outside consultant who will talk a lot but do nothing substantive). Protect your relationships with your nonprofit’s donors. You want to deepen their commitment to your mission and goals, and not to have the consultant walk off with those relationships. I have witnessed the latter more than once.

Having said this, if you feel you need an outside consultant or consulting firm, everything I have shared will help you make use of their time and talents more effectively, and you will not waste your nonprofit’s precious time and money.

In the end, communication is central to a successful development program. Review how your organization has communicated, and while you do not want to overdo it, develop an updated communication plan that includes factual reporting about what has already transpired and about what the future holds. Again, this kind of documentation does not have to be a glamorous production, but it must be professional, clear and honest. And it should ultimately make your work raising significant donations more successful.

---

When I say, “business plan,” I mean it. Read my thoughts on nonprofit major gift campaigns and business start-ups in, “Nonprofits and Startups are Birds of a Feather.”