It takes a long time to start a major gift program from scratch and see it become a fully-functioning part of your non-profit. Patience is required.
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in non-profits today, leaders think that board members should just know what they are supposed to do and be for the organization. That is clearly a mistake.
Don’t assume your board members will automatically give major gifts. Treat them like all of your major donors and you will see tremendous generosity and commitment to your mission.
Want to reduce revenue from your major donors quickly? Put them on an advisory board and have them do nothing. A bored donor is not an engaged donor.
If transactional giving is happening at your organization, you can do something to change it. It takes leadership and work, but it can be done. The result will be dramatic.
You do NOT need to visit Major Donor Island. First of all it doesn’t exist, and secondly, if you are a medium-sized to large non-profit ($10 million+), your major donors are already in your database.
The gift of labor is a precious thing; it should be valued and stewarded both because it is the right thing to do and because the giving of time is closely tied to the giving of money.
