Major Gift Breakthrough
Presented by Peter Heller
September 7, 2016
Presented in collaboration with The Foundation Center New York
This workshop from Peter Heller of Heller Fundraising Group explored some of the ways successful nonprofits connect with financial supporters, and reduce dependency on government and foundation funding.
Top 3 Takeaways:
1. Always get organized for major gift fundraising as the first step before running out the door and meeting with people. What does this mean? Create a prospect list, know what your story is, know who will go on meetings and how many you can conduct a month, and know how much money you need to raise.
2. You need to use different parts of your personality during different parts of the major gift fundraising process. When you are getting organized you need to think in an analytical, “sales-focused”manner. When you are engaging donors on the phone, in email and in meetings you need to let your “nonprofit passion” and mission zeal pour out, and then finally you will find at the end of the process you will find results that are both “sales-focused” and “nonprofit passion:” You will have money in the bank and a strong relationship with a new donor that can help change the world.
3. Donor relationships can take time. If you give up you lose. Keep at it. One person told a story of 10 years of meetings that finally just this year resulted in a $1.25 million gift.
