Fundraising for major gifts is increasingly important to independent schools. Fundraising consultant Helen Colson says to keep several points in mind when establishing a major gifts program:
- Identify your major gift prospects--essentially, the top 10 percent of your prospect pool.
- Do additional donor research using sources in the public domain.
- Cultivate top prospects face-to-face; document all communications.
- Enlist help from the head of school, trustees and other appropriate volunteers.
- Educate "cultivators" on how to develop the relationships.
- The big ask: Find the right person to ask the right prospect for the right amount at the right time.
- After the gift: Use good stewardship to maintain and nurture the donor's relationship to your school.
Independent Ideas (01/23/17)
