Major donor fundraising doesn’t have to be difficult and complex. I’ve been raising money from major donors for over 20 years and have discovered that success fundraising comes down to four important ingredients:
- Identify who your major donors are. If you can’t name them by name or don’t know their giving history or giving priorities, then you have some work to do. Research your top donors, know exactly who they are, and learn as much about them as you can.
- Your #1 job is to keep your current major donors actively giving to your organization. Do this by Thanking them promptly and emotionally when they give a gift. Then Report back to them what happened because they gave a gift. Odds are you have donors right now waiting to be Thanked and Reported to. Don’t wait, reach out to them today!
- Make your appeal in person. Stop hiding behind your email and phone. Get out there and meet with your donors face-to-face. Most (but not all) major donors desire to be in relationship with you and our cause.
- Ask for more money than you think you can receive from your donor. The goal here is to stretch your donor’s thinking and then let them decrease the giving amount if it is too high.
Apply these ingredients to your fundraising and you will raise more money right away. You’ll also build genuine, mission-driven relationship with your major donors – which means you’ll raise a LOT more money in the long term too.
