School Advancement Institute Files-Advanced Major Gifts

Advanced Major Gifts

Pdf Summary

The document from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) 2022 conference focuses on the importance of major gifts to educational institutions, strategies to secure them, and the challenges faced in the process. According to the source, up to 95% of contributions may come from a small segment of donors, emphasizing the importance of major gifts. <br /><br />Key challenges in this area include a competitive philanthropic environment, limited staff capacity, and over-reliance on annual funds. The document outlines the art and science of securing major gifts, where the "art" involves balancing relational and transactional aspects and "science" focuses on data metrics, research, and wealth screening to prioritize potential donors.<br /><br />An effective prospect management strategy involves a series of tailored interactions to prepare donors for successful solicitation. The process is broken down into stages: Qualification, Cultivation, Donor Readiness, and Solicitation. During the Qualification stage, the focus is on understanding the donor through both internal data and external research, while the Cultivation stage aims to build trust and demonstrate the impact of donations. Donor Readiness is assessed through personal interactions and gauging their interests and questions about potential gifts. The Solicitation stage involves making a specific and well-prepared ask and managing follow-ups.<br /><br />Success in managing major gifts entails being intentional, strategic, and organized, with a focus on soliciting and stewarding donors. The document includes several case studies, each exploring different donor profiles and the strategic considerations involved in approaching potential major donors. These case studies underline the diverse challenges and the tailored strategic questioning required to engage different donor demographics effectively, emphasizing continuous evaluation and adjustment of strategies to meet campaign goals, like those seen in a new 25 million dollar campaign with priorities including constructing a new athletic center and expanding endowments.

Keywords

major gifts

educational institutions

philanthropic environment

prospect management

donor cultivation

wealth screening

solicitation strategies

donor readiness

case studies

campaign goals