A Focus on Overhead Lowers Investments in Major Gift Fundraising

A Focus on Overhead Lowers Investments in Major Gift Fundraising

Invest More in Major Gifts! This will be the year when a solid group of enlightened non-profit organizations jump fully into the overhead discussion that is rapidly gaining traction among leaders in this sector. My question for you is this:  Are you ready to handle...
Five Metrics for Measuring Success in Major Gifts

Five Metrics for Measuring Success in Major Gifts

There is quite a bit of chatter out in the marketplace about how to measure success in major gifts.  Some managers feel the whole thing is about measuring activity, i.e., what is the MGO doing?  The problem with measuring activity, while it is important, is that...
The Economics of Major Gift Fundraising Series #3 – The Economic Destination of a Caseload

The Economics of Major Gift Fundraising Series #3 – The Economic Destination of a Caseload

There are smart destinations and there are stupid ones in major gifts. Jeff and I experienced one situation in which the Director of Development and all of her MGOs had only one objective for each donor on each caseload: to build relationships with donors and not ask...
The Economics of Major Gift Fundraising (#1 of 6)

The Economics of Major Gift Fundraising (#1 of 6)

Several weeks ago I got into a rather heated argument with a finance person in a large non-profit who was taking an aggressive and spirit-robbing position on the value of a Major Gift Officer. “What good are they doing anyway?”  he said.  “They take credit for money...