Advice from Major Gift Donors Who Are Also Fundraising Volunteers (part 3 of a series)

Advice from Major Gift Donors Who Are Also Fundraising Volunteers (part 3 of a series)

by Tom Wilson Major Gifts Guru

I recently served as one of the faculty for PLAN MGO, an immersion training program for major gifts officers. The second day of our classes featured two New England donors who both have extensive experience as volunteer fundraisers. I captured some of their comments:

Russell and Steve responded to each other and questions from the audience

“As a volunteer I can open any door once. After that it’s up to you, the staff to keep things moving forward.”

“Insider tours of a lab, backstage, of the art curation workshop are very effective ways to engage donors and to reward fundraising volunteers like us.”

“Use your volunteers to screen names. One organization got us together to review a list of 900 names. We knew about 260. Then they invited the 260 in to see who they knew. It was an effective technique.”

“I think you major gift officers should be out of the office seeing donors 80% of the time. I know people tell me this is unrealistic. But, that’s your job.”

“People like to be asked for more than dollars.”

“What’s more important in fundraising – need or successful results? If you’ve done exciting bold things this year, then tell your donors, your investors. Then tell us why you need more support in the future. It’s really a balance of both stories. If you have no successes and only needs, why would I give you money? Or, if you have only success but don’t need any more money, why should I give you more? You must have future vision to excite donors. I would start with the impact of past investments and then talk about future needs.”

“To be an effective fundraising volunteer I need to know the donor’s hot buttons.”

“We both know people who have had to reduce gifts this year. Respect their situation, respect their gift history. They’ll be back if you stay with them in these tough times. Treat people with grace and dignity.”

“I trust a good major gifts officer as a colleague with me on behalf of the cause. My job is to transfer my relationship with a prospective donor to the major gift officer.”

Thanks to Russell and Steve for giving their time over lunch on a Saturday to speak to this group of major gift officers. PLAN MGO is to be congratulated on a great session.

This article is part of a series. To read the rest of the series, please click the links below:

• Advice from Major Gift Donors Who Are Also Fundraising Volunteers (part 1 of a series)
• Advice from Major Gift Donors Who Are Also Fundraising Volunteers (part 2 of a series)

Permanent Link: Advice from Major Gift Donors Who Are Also Fundraising Volunteers (part 3 of a series)

http://majorgiftsguru.com/2009/11/advice-from-major-gift-donors-who-are_17.html