Major Gift Workshop: The Bigger Gift

Knowing a donor’s capacity is only the beginning. The real challenge is understanding what will inspire them to make a larger, more meaningful commitment.

This advanced, hands-on workshop will help experienced fundraising professionals evaluate donor motivation and readiness, identify opportunities for significant upgrades, and determine the right next move, ask amount, and engagement strategy.
Using a practical framework, participants will explore:

• What motivates a donor beyond their capacity rating, and how to move from donor-centric to partnership-centric relationships

• How to recognize readiness for a larger conversation and connect donor interests with compelling opportunities

• How to test and confidently position an ask amount, including when to pursue one transformational gift versus a multi-gift scale-up strategy

• How to repair stalled, strained, or broken relationships with major donors

• How to effectively engage colleagues, executives, board members, and volunteers whose involvement is essential but whose approach may not always align with major gift best practices or the donor lifecycle

• How to determine the right next move when multiple relationships, priorities, and institutional dynamics are in play

Participants are encouraged to bring one or two real prospects to work through during the session. You will leave with practical strategies and clear next steps you can apply to your portfolio immediately.

Experienced major gift officers, development directors, advancement leaders, and senior fundraising professionals at organizations with established major gift programs.