Gail Perry Sign Up Information

Hi Jacob,

Warm Thanksgiving greetings to you, if you are in the US!

This is a special time when we step back and consider how much we have to be grateful for.

Did you know that gratefulness is a bona fide spiritual practice among many people? Practicing gratefulness leads to happiness and peace. :)

I, for one, am grateful to YOU – for connecting, and allowing me into your inbox!

I’m grateful for the amazing work you do every day to make our world a better place. And, I’m grateful for the chance to do my own work to bring more goodness to the world.

But remember, it's important that you focus all that hard work in the right places.

On that note, here’s a provocative thought for you to consider over the long weekend:

How much time are you spending on the 20% of your donors, who are giving 80% of the money?

Yikes, could this be a real issue at your organization? Could you be focusing on the wrong donors and fundraising strategies?

Could you really be spending 80% of your time and energy on those smaller donors who contribute only 20% of your revenue? HOPE NOT!

Your organization has a handful of donors and funding sources who provide the majority of your revenue. These donors might be devoted individuals and families, foundations or even public governmental sources. And they are hugely important to your organization.

So, consider the time and energy – and organizational resources – or lack thereof – that you are devoting to this special group.

Spending time with the wrong donors?

You should actually be spending 80% of your organization’s fundraising resources on those special donors – the 20% who are providing most of your funding. That means a robust major gift program!

Major Gift Fundraising is where it’s at.

From my perspective, building up your major gift fundraising is a no-brainer for 2020. Clearly you want to fish where the fish are, so to speak. You want to devote ample time, attention and resources to your organization’s major funding sources -- and to your prospects for major gifts.

You want to set up the systems, processes and metrics to help you discover and qualify even more major donor prospects. You want to give your team training, coaching and support to skillfully interact with prospects.

You want to teach your team conversational asking skills that bring your donors to the point where they say, “How can I help?” – and you don’t even need to ask.

You want to free them up from everything else that keeps them in the office: all the endless meetings, administrative crap, event planning (a time suck if there ever was one!), and everything else that eats up time.

Don't forget your board! You'll want to bring your board along, and teach them what major gift strategy is all about, and the role they can play with major donors.

Let us know if we can help. Our Major Gift Roadmap coaching program is already filling up for next year.

In the meantime, I hope you have a fabulously happy, fun and restful long weekend. Be sure to remember your Gratitude Practice. It will make your life rich and rewarding.

Deep bow to you for your big heart and dedication to our work.

Your partner and colleague,

Gail

Major Gifts Roadmap 2020 coaching program

We opened for applications last week and wow, the class for next year is already filling up! I've never seen such strong interest!

If you want to expand major gifts fundraising at your organization, and want our help to set up the systems, processes, and training for long term major gift success, then let us know now.

Check out the Major Gifts Roadmap 2020 at Majorgiftscoaching.com, fill out a Letter of Interest, and we’ll get on the phone to see if it's right for you and your organization.

What are Your Challenges in Major Gifts Fundraising?

Fill out our 3-minute survey here and share your perspective. We’ve heard from hundreds of fundraisers, and would love to hear from you! Click here for survey.

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Hi Jacob,

I’m tackling a perennial question today: where do board members fit in the major gift fundraising process?

Many board members worry that they will be asked to do face-to-face soliciting. But that’s not it at all.

We need board members in a different role – one that often only they can play. And it’s not necessarily in front of donors making major asks.

What’s the Right Role for Board Members in Major Gift Fundraising?

Take a quick look at my post and add your comment.

What’s the highest and best use of YOUR board members when it comes to opening doors and asking major donors? I'd love to know about your experience.

Thank you for all that you do, every day, for a better world.

Always dedicated to you, your fundraising success, and your happiness..

Warm wishes for a Happy Thanksgiving next week!

Gail

Major Gifts Roadmap 2020 coaching program

We opened for applications last week and wow, the class for next year is already filling up! I've never seen such strong interest!

If you want to expand major gifts fundraising at your organization, and want our help to set up the systems, processes, and training for long term major gift success, then let us know now.

Check out the Major Gifts Roadmap 2020 at Majorgiftscoaching.com, fill out a Letter of Interest, and we’ll get on the phone to see if it's right for you and your organization.

What are Your Challenges in Major Gifts Fundraising?

Fill out our 3-minute survey here and share your perspective. We’ve heard from hundreds of fundraisers, and would love to hear from you! Click here for survey.

SUBSCRIBE TO THE FIRED-UP FUNDRAISING NEWSLETTER.

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Hi Jacob,

Hope you are doing great as the holidays and year-end fundraising deadlines approach!

I'd love to know how you are doing. Why not click return and let me know with a return email?

Today, we can walk on the dark side. We're talking about the misunderstandings people have about major gifts fundraising.

Your board, CEO, CFO or manager may not quite understand the careful process we go through with major donors.

Today's post will help educate them about what can go wrong and even backfire on you.

I"m covering:

• Why you can raise more with a smaller portfolio of donors.
• Why you can't rush the ask.
• Why you can only be successful with a strong structure and process.
• How wealth screening steer you in the wrong direction.

What You Don't Know About Major Gifts Fundraising That Could Backfire

Feel free to forward this to any people who are interested in learning more about how major gift fundraising really works!

And, do take care of yourself in this busy season.

You're doing the most important work in the world - helping create more goodness, health and peace for us all.

I know you are not acknowledged often, so please let me send a deep thank you for your work!

Dedicated to your success and happiness,

Gail

PS: How Can Our Major Gift Coaching Roadmap Help You?

Let me count the ways! We'll help you:

• Structure your major gifts team
• Educate your board and engage them in helping with major gifts
• Create a portfolio management plan to focus on your best prospects
• Master the soft skills of major gift fundraising
• Teach you Conversational Asking strategies that donors love
• And get asks on the table in 2020!

Find out more here - we are already filling up for next year, and I'd love to work with you and your team.

PPS: INSIDERS:

We are pulling back the curtain on capital campaigns this month!

Don't miss our December webinar on Monday Dec 9th - Insider Secrets to Multi-Multi-Million Dollar Capital Campaigns

And we're getting short videos that cover each phase of a capital campaign:

• The pre-planning strategy stages
• The all-important silent phase
• When to go public
• How to breathe new energy into a lagging campaign
• How to close out your campaign over goal

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Hi Jacob,

I'm wondering - is this the right time for you and your team to ramp up your major gift fundraising? Are you ready, now, to take a more structured, rigorous approach to raising major gifts - so that you can achieve much higher levels of funding for your work?

That's what I am hearing from the organizations who are signing up for our Major Gift Roadmap coaching program for 2020.

The people who're joining our program tell me that they've been talking about ramping up major gifts for a few years, and they've decided it's time to go now. After a lot of consideration, they have their teams lined up and ready.

And these organizations have already made changes: Their boards have discussed this and are behind the effort. Several have reorganized staff to create more space for major gifts. Several of the CEO's have told me they feel the time is right for them to capitalize on their potential.

One CEO told me this morning, that he doesn't know any leaders who are really happy with their performance in the major gifts arena. How about you?

You do have major gift prospects right at hand. You've got loyal, wealthy, true believers who want to support you. It's just a matter of identifying them, and bringing them closer. You've got to have a well-organized approach, or you'll waste lots of time with the wrong people.

Check out our Major Gifts Roadmap coaching program for next year. You'll get 10 months of training, coaching and a structured process for closing major gifts. It may not be right for you and your team, but then again, it could be perfect.

If you're interested, fill out the form on this page, tell me about yourself and your fundraising opportunities, and we'll see if this is a good fit.

Here's to robust major gift fundraising for you!

Gail

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Hi Jacob,

Hope you are enjoying the holidays, and your year-end fundraising is on track to exceed your goals!

I'm working on my big annual holiday party that will be next weekend- it's always such fun for me!

Here's a question to contemplate:

Are you happy with your organization’s performance in the major gift arena?

I'm hearing from more and more nonprofit leaders about major gift fundraising. They're coming to understand that it's the most efficient and effective fundraising strategy of all.

What does it take to ramp up a robust major gift program? It takes training, a solid, rigorous structure, and an organization-wide commitment.

My post this week shares the important building blocks your organization needs, if you want to close more and more highly profitable major gifts.

Want to Build Your Major Gifts? 5 Steps to Take Right Now!

I’m having some fun covering:

• What kind of organizational commitment does it really take?
  
• How will a rigorous Discovery Process save time and money?
• What role does your CEO need to play?

Every single organization can raise so very much more IF you focus seriously on major gift fundraising. Whether you are large or small – devoting your energy here is more than worth the time and investment.

We are happy to help you, train you and cheer you on!

Consider joining our Major Gifts Roadmap 2020, if you and your team want structured training and coaching to set up and expand major gifts fundraising for your organization. We’d love to help you.

Thank you for all that you do to help heal planet earth. I so appreciate your dedication and good heart.

Please let me acknowledge you for all that you do!!

Happy holidays,

Gail

Looking for a Fundraising Consulting Firm?

We can help. Our team of experts is working with nonprofits all over the country, staging capital campaigns and building fundraising programs.

Simply hit reply and let us know if you would like to find out more.

MAJOR GIFTS ROADMAP is filling up for 2020.

If you and your team need training AND implementation support to ramp up major gifts for your organization, think about joining this 10-month program. We are seeing more interest than ever before, so I expect we’ll fill up early.

Check it out here and let me know if you are interested.

FACEBOOK LIVE:

Don't forget to join us for our Facebook Live broadcast on Wednesdays at noon.

This week, I discussed the five building blocks of major gifts fundraising.

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Hi Jacob,

Oh my, the year is starting to close out!

And right now, you are probably still working on those last appeals.

Time is short, and your team has those year-end goals to meet.

To help you, here are three quick year-end fundraising tips - no fuss, no muss. Easy steps you can take, that will encourage maximum donations to your cause for year-end.

I'm sharing what to do:

• on your website

• with your donors who are about to lapse

• about covering the office next week

You know I am always for the practical short cut - and these three tips are on my must-do list for every fundraiser right now.

3 Quick Tips to Close Out the Fundraising Year Over Goal!

I hope you have a joyful - and restful - holiday season.

Please take your rest. The world needs you to be at your best for the new year.

Enjoy your loved ones and have some eggnog (or whatever!) for me.

Thank you for allowing me to support you and your work.

Dedicated to your personal 100% amazingness!

Gail

Looking for a Fundraising Consulting Firm?

We can help. Our team of experts is working with nonprofits all over the country, staging capital campaigns and building fundraising programs.

Simply hit reply and let us know if you would like to find out more.

MAJOR GIFTS ROADMAP is filling up for 2020.

If you and your team need training AND implementation support to ramp up major gifts for your organization, think about joining this 10-month program. We are seeing more interest than ever before, so I expect we’ll fill up early.

Check it out here and let me know if you are interested.

TO UPDATE YOUR EMAIL PREFERENCES, please click this link.

Hi Jacob,

Sorry for the duplicate email, however it was brought to our attention that the registration form was not working.

It has since been fixed. You can click on the same link in the original email below.

If you run into any issues, please get with me directly - kristi@gailperry.com

I apologize for any confusion,

-Kristi-

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Hi Jacob,

Happy new year to you and yours! I hope you are rested, and looking forward to a productive, enjoyable year of expanding your fundraising.

This year, I am all about setting clear intentions for what I want to achieve. How about you? It really helps to actually define your goals, and then say them out loud or write them down.

One of my big intentions for the year is to help more organizations raise more major gifts - that way I can help make the world a better place.

Soooo, to help you, I'm inviting you to join our free webinar on January 15th at 2pm eastern:

The Ultimate Guide to Building a Profitable Major Gift Program.

Find out more and register for the webinar here.

Yes it will be recorded.

If you want to expand and build out a robust major gift fundraising program for your nonprofit, then join us!

Kathryn Gamble and I will share how to create extraordinary fundraising growth through major gifts.

We'll be covering advanced concepts of successful major gift fundraising, and we'll particularly focus on building an organized structure to support an expansion of major gifts. We'll share advanced discovery and qualification skills you need to find the right prospects.

You'll discover:

• 5 must-have elements for a great major gift program
• The #1 thing you can do to make your fundraising grow quickly
• Seven secrets to help qualify your donors so you can discover your wealthiest true believers
• Strategies for overcoming organizational obstacles to major gift fundraising
• The proper role of a board in major gift fundraising

Register here for the Ultimate Guide to Building a Major Gift Program webinar on January 15th at 2pm eastern

Do set an intention to join us on January 15th. Start out the new year with a strong focus on raising major gifts for your organization.

I know the donors and the money are all out there for you - you just need to be organized in order to go out and make it happen!

Here's to a happy, fun, productive new year!!

Gail

Looking for a Fundraising Consulting Firm?

If you want to expand fundraising or are considering a capital campaign, then we can help you reach and exceed your revenue targets.

Major Gifts Roadmap 2020 - Coaching Program

Are you and your team ready to ramp up your major gift fundraising game?

If you want the hands-on training, structure and support to fully expand major gifts for your organization, let me know.

Our 10 month coaching program for 2020 is already filling up. Find out more here!

TO UPDATE YOUR EMAIL PREFERENCES, please click this link.

Hi Jacob,

Happy new year to you and yours! I hope you are rested, and looking forward to a productive, enjoyable year of expanding your fundraising.

This year, I am all about setting clear intentions for what I want to achieve. How about you? It really helps to actually define your goals, and then say them out loud or write them down.

One of my big intentions for the year is to help more organizations raise more major gifts - that way I can help make the world a better place.

Soooo, to help you, I'm inviting you to join our free webinar on January 15th at 2pm eastern:

The Ultimate Guide to Building a Profitable Major Gift Program.

Find out more and register for the webinar here.

Yes it will be recorded.

If you want to expand and build out a robust major gift fundraising program for your nonprofit, then join us!

Kathryn Gamble and I will share how to create extraordinary fundraising growth through major gifts.

We'll be covering advanced concepts of successful major gift fundraising, and we'll particularly focus on building an organized structure to support an expansion of major gifts. We'll share advanced discovery and qualification skills you need to find the right prospects.

You'll discover:

• 5 must-have elements for a great major gift program
• The #1 thing you can do to make your fundraising grow quickly
• Seven secrets to help qualify your donors so you can discover your wealthiest true believers
• Strategies for overcoming organizational obstacles to major gift fundraising
• The proper role of a board in major gift fundraising

Register here for the Ultimate Guide to Building a Major Gift Program webinar on January 15th at 2pm eastern

Do set an intention to join us on January 15th. Start out the new year with a strong focus on raising major gifts for your organization.

I know the donors and the money are all out there for you - you just need to be organized in order to go out and make it happen!

Here's to a happy, fun, productive new year!!

Gail

Looking for a Fundraising Consulting Firm?

If you want to expand fundraising or are considering a capital campaign, then we can help you reach and exceed your revenue targets.

Major Gifts Roadmap 2020 - Coaching Program

Are you and your team ready to ramp up your major gift fundraising game?

If you want the hands-on training, structure and support to fully expand major gifts for your organization, let me know.

Our 10 month coaching program for 2020 is already filling up. Find out more here!

TO UPDATE YOUR EMAIL PREFERENCES, please click this link.

Hi Jacob,

Joyful seasons greetings to you! And a very happy and prosperous New Year!

Here's a tidbit for you and your board today. It's a list of possible resolutions your board members might want to consider for 2020. This list is one of the most popular posts on our website - so I updated it for you today.

Here's how to get your board members off on the right foot, and focus them on positive action for the new year. It's sort of a how-to guide and also offers some positive reminders of what your board is really here for.

New Year's Resolutions for Board Members

Share this with your board members for a bit of motivation, a dose of abundance thinking, and a boost of optimism for 2020.

I'm up in Lennox, Massachusetts at the Kripalu Center right now - attending a New Year's Yoga Retreat with the very wonderful Todd Norian. It's a great week to detox, stretch, breathe and rest.

Hope you are having a lovely break as well! I so appreciate everything you do.

And my very best to you in this holiday season!

All my best,

Gail

Looking for a fundraising consulting firm?

If you want to expand fundraising or are considering a capital campaign, then we can help you reach and exceed your revenue targets.

Major Gifts Roadmap 2020 - Coaching Program

Are you and your team ready to ramp up your major gift fundraising game?

If you want the hands-on training, structure and support to fully expand major gifts for your organization, let me know.

Our 10 month coaching program for 2020 is already filling up. Find out more here!

TO UPDATE YOUR EMAIL PREFERENCES, please click this link.

Hi Jacob,

Wanted to you know that registration for Major Gifts Roadmap 2020 closes Monday! If you are ready to move forward to expand major gifts this year, this is your last chance to join us.

Check it out here: Majorgiftscoaching.com

Frequently Asked Questions about the Major Gifts Roadmap 2020 coaching program:

1. What's new and state-of-the-art about your curriculum?

When you join the Major Gifts Roadmap, you'll get two new webinars: One on the "Soft Skills of Major Gifts Fundraising" and two sessions on Major Gift Portfolio Analysis and Management Skills. You'll also attend our virtual Qualification and Discovery Boot Camp.

2. Is the Major Gifts Roadmap for one person or our full team?

It's for your entire organization or team. We’d like many people in your organization to attend the training events. We welcome board and/or staff to join the webinars and coaching calls.

The more individuals inside your organization who learn these skills, the better as far. Our goal is to establish a common language and shared concepts, so that you have organizational buy-in to the overall major gift strategy.

3. Are the trainings pre-recorded?

No, everything in the Major Gifts Roadmap is LIVE. Nothing in this program is pre-recorded. We are working with you real-time, answering your questions on the spot. However, all of our live events are recorded for you, so you can refer to the recordings for review and to share with your team.

4. What about our board?

Board members need to learn about major gift fundraising too! You'll receive two optional live webinars for board members:

• What Board Members Need to Know About Major Gift Fundraising, and
• How Board Members Can Help In Major Gift Fundraising.

Board members are not required to participate. You can be successful in this program whether or not they are on board. However, we will be looking for several board members to help in the overall effort if possible!

Come on and join us if you are ready to expand major gifts for YOUR organization.

Gail

PS: REMINDER - Major Gift Roadmap...The final day to join is Monday, February 3rd, so don't delay!

Check it out here.

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Just a few places left in the program!

Hi Jacob,

I wanted to send a gentle reminder that our Major Gifts Roadmap coaching program closes out for the entire year today. It will not be available again until 2021.

Just think:

• Imagine the good you could create if you could just nail more major gifts. :)

• How many more people could you help? Problems you could solve? . . . if your organization just had greater funding.

• Imagine how nice it would be to chat with a donor confidently and easily. And then seamlessly bring up the idea of a gift.

• And now imagine your lovely donor saying "How can I help?"

All this is possible with our training and support.

You and your team can get our help for 10 whole months this year - coaching you, pushing you out of the office to make your visits, helping you tackle your challenges LIVE on the phone, responding to your emails.

Nothing in our coaching program is pre-recorded. You are not on your own to watch videos and figure out what to do next.

Instead, you have us joining your team, encouraging you along, and helping you get those asks on the table. You’ll get a systematic, organized roadmap that almost guarantees success.

Last year we had a great - and varied - group. Among them were an all-volunteer organization; a small, scrappy nonprofit; an international relief agency; and some major gift officers from universities - all working with us step-by-step to secure major funding.

They all got organized, formed their teams, focused on the right prospects, made their Discovery Visits, and got solid asks on the table ... And you know what? They raised big money!

If you want these kinds of results for your organization, go ahead and send us a Letter of Interest and we'll hop on the phone to see if Major Gifts Coaching is right for your organization. This year's cohort is almost full.

Come on and join us!

Gail

PS: The program begins on Thursday Feb 20th, with an orientation. We'll jump right in starting on our Major Prospect Lists.

Check it out here.

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Hi Jacob,

How’re you doing today?

I’m hoping that you will be focusing on major gift fundraising for the coming year, so you and your team can make 2020 your organization’s best fundraising year ever!

Why major gifts? Because it’s the most efficient and effective way to raise money.

Today, I’m sharing the fourth in our series on major gifts: why it is YOUR organization’s smartest fundraising strategy for 2020.

We’re discussing the rate of return you can expect to achieve by investing in a major gift program.

I’m covering how major gift fundraising:

• Can be highly profitable to every nonprofit.
• Provides a likely source of untapped revenue for your organization.
• Becomes its own profit center, paying for itself over and over.

What's the Return on Investment from a Major Gift Program?

Use this to generate some thoughtful conversations among your board and leadership. Where should YOUR organization focus in 2020? I hope in the place where your investment will pay off the most.

Here’s our series on major gifts so far:

(Major Gifts #1) How to Move From Transactional Gifts to Transformational Major Gifts

(Major Gifts #2) What You Can Expect from a Full-Scale Major Gifts Program

(Major Gifts #3) What Board Members and Executive Management Need to Know About Major Gift Strategy

Today: (Major Gifts #4) What's the Return on Investment from a Major Gift Program

Have a terrific weekend, and let us hear from you. Thank you for all that you do!

Here’s to more major gifts for your organization,

Gail

Major Gift Roadmap 2020 Coaching - closes Feb.3rd

If you want to expand your organization’s major gifts, right now, in 2020, then join us for this 10-month structured training and coaching program. Registration closes on February 3rd, and we begin on February 20th.

We can help you develop the systems, mindset, and processes for a long-term productive major gift program that will deliver measurable results for years. Find out more here.

Free Webinar: The Ultimate Guide to Building a Profitable Major Gift Program

January 15, 2pm ET; It WILL be recorded! Our webinar is almost full, so register today.

Learn how to create extraordinary fundraising growth through major gifts. Find out more at gailperry.com/ultimate-guide-to-building-a-profitable-major-gift-program/

SUBSCRIBE TO THE FIRED-UP FUNDRAISING NEWSLETTER.

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Hi Jacob,

Are you and your team ready for a prosperous and productive 2020? Are you hoping for more generous major gifts to flow into your organization?

We think 2020 will be a fantastic year for major gifts. With the economic boom, soaring stock market, and concentration of wealth, there will be plenty of opportunity for smart major gift fundraisers. Don't miss this rare moment - because your organization should be able to capitalize on the good economic times too.

But let’s back up a minute. Are you feeling that there are roadblocks keeping you and your team away from major gifts? If so, I hope you’ll consider joining our Major Gift Roadmap Coaching group for 2020. The organizations in our coaching program are learning how to create mega success for this year – and for the long term future. They get our hands-on support to help them work through any challenges.

Here are the top three critical elements we teach. You need these elements working together in order to be successful raising major gifts in 2020:

1. Closing major gifts takes know-how and training.

Many fundraisers tell us that they are unsure exactly how to approach donors. They feel awkward having conversations with prospects. They feel lost when they try to identify the right prospects to focus on. They feel alone and overwhelmed.

Our Major Gift Roadmap Coaching members learn all the soft skills they need to be successful major gift fundraisers. We teach them advanced conversation and discovery skills to help them feel comfortable with donors.

They learn how to listen for a donor’s passions and interests. And how to take the next steps to move a donor closer to a gift. And we gently push them out the door to go visit their prospects. :)

Our members also learn data analysis skills - how to keep up with all the information they learn about their donors and how to put it use to predict major gift outcomes. We believe strongly that working smarter not harder is what helps busy fundraisers achieve raising more money. Knowing how to put your data to work for you leads to success.

2. Successful major gift fundraising takes a team.

Don’t try to go it alone. Silos in major gifts never work well. You need a few trusted insiders helping in the major gift effort.

They don’t have to be out there soliciting, but they DO have to help identify prospects and help you think through strategies. The first step we take in the Major Gifts Roadmap is to form a small team.

No organization will ever be successful in major gift fundraising with only one dedicated person. You should never be alone in this effort.

3. Successful major gift fundraising takes a solid system.

Raising money from major donors is not really rocket science, but it does take a very careful organized structure. Without a structure, you will never be successful.

Our coaching members all have monthly goals to reach, during the 10-month program. Our goals are doable, and there’s plenty of support to help you work through any questions you face along the way. You’re not alone, because we are just an email away.

Our goal is to help you lay down the infrastructure, systems and thinking inside YOUR organization that will take hold permanently. We want your organization to enjoy major gift success not just this year, but many years to come.

Every single organization can raise much more IF you tackle major gift fundraising seriously. We are here to help and support you. Check out the 2020 Major Gift Coaching program here, and send us a Letter of Interest if you'd like.

Registration closes Feb. 3rd. Make sure you register soon as space is limited and we are filling up fast.

We’ll hop on the phone with you and decide if Major Gift Coaching is right for you and your team. It may not be for you. But then, it may be just the thing that will help you and your team catapult your organization to financial security!

Let’s make 2020 awesome, and close many major gifts for you and your cause!

Dedicated to you!

Gail

PS: Here's our series on Major Gifts Fundraising so far:

• (Major Gifts #1) How to Move from Transactional to Transformational Major Gifts
• (Major Gifts #2) What You Can Expect from a Full Scale Major Gift Program
• (Major Gifts #3) What Board Members and Executive Management Need to Know About Major Gift Strategy
• (Major Gifts #4) What’s the Return on Investment from a Major Gift Program?
• (Major Gifts #5) Major Gift Fundraising by the Numbers
• (Major Gifts #6) What's the Best Structure for a Full-Scale Major Gift Program

You can find them at www.gailperry.com/blog.

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Hi Jacob,

Everyone wants the secret to success for major gift fundraising. Our email series this month is sharing the top "secrets" you need to be successful with major donors.

Today we're talking about two systems that you must, must have. Without them, you and your team are LOST when it comes to major gifts. You’ll be simply shooting from the hip, and guessing your way along.

You need these two tools to provide structure:

• Your Prospect Portfolio List
• A Monthly Prospect Review Meeting

We teach these two systems in our Major Gifts Roadmap 2020 Coaching program. We share our secrets to help you get your portfolios organized, focus on the right prospects, and win the hearts of major donors for your cause.

Registration for Major Gift Roadmap 2020 closes February 3rd, so don’t wait if you want to expand major gifts for your organization this year. Find out more here.

1. The Prospect Portfolio is Your Chief Organizing Tool

This system maintains your master list of qualified major gift prospects. Listed here are the lovely donors who will receive your time and attention. A rating system helps evaluate and manage the donors in your portfolio.

Sets priorities:

The portfolio tool is critically important, because it helps you set priorities for your time. It’s the one place where you can see all your potential donors, so you can decide who needs current attention and who can wait. Your rating and ranking system of prospects helps you make decisions about who to focus on when.

Shows your pipeline:

A well-managed portfolio can show you, instantly, what your giving pipeline looks like. Here, right in front of you, is your assessment of your donors' potential. You should also be able to tell how much money is really in play – who may be giving and when they may give.

It lays out a game plan:

The Prospect Portfolio chart lays out – in black and white, what you have to work with. When it’s up-do-date, you have a clear road map for the next 6-9 months.

This list is your entire upcoming body of work in major gifts. I love a prospect list, because it usually shows me what great potential I have to work with! What wonderful, lovely people to get to know!

2. The Monthly Prospect Review Meeting Organizes Your Progress

You can use a Monthly Prospect Review Meeting as a check-in to bring everyone together to re-focus, evaluate, re-strategize and set next steps with prospects. It’s a tool for keeping the wheels of your major gift program turning – everyone can get on the same page about next steps and key donors who need full-scale attention.

In your Monthly Prospect Review Meeting, you:

1. Review your Portfolio List.

This is when you might add new names to the list. You also might remove donors who are no longer qualified – who for some reason or other, are not in a position to make a major gift anytime soon.

2. Review all the actions or (moves) taken in the past month and the results achieved.

It’s a chance to take account of your recent fundraising activities and take stock of new opportunities and information that you’ve uncovered in the past month.

3. Evaluate where you stand with your major prospects.

Where are they in their cultivation process? When will they be ready to consider a gift? What has changed? What new information has risen lately? How do we need to proceed with each donor?

4. Create Next Step Strategies for EACH major prospect for the next month.

5. Assign clear responsibility for the next step with each prospect.

This way every person knows what his or her job is. (“I need to do what by when.”) You assign accountability.

What do you achieve with a Monthly Prospect Review Meeting?

You’ll create a management mechanism. Your team can track how many prospects are being cultivated, and what the workload looks like.

As a manager, you now have a structure and a format to make sure that your program is implemented and that staff takes action when they need to.

Use this structure to bring key people together to brainstorm strategy. I find that small groups of smart people are much more creative together on cultivation strategies than I can do by myself. There is power in the team.

Your structure also emphasizes accountability. You can be sure that before every monthly meeting, your staff (and volunteers if they are involved) will make sure they got done what they said they’d do.

Bottom line: Use these two tools to max out your major gift potential.

These two tools – the rated Portfolio List and Monthly Prospect Review give a grounding and a consistency to your major gifts program – two vital “must haves" for any fundraising program.

And . . . registration for our Major Gifts Roadmap 10 -month coaching and training program is closing Feb. 3. We are filling up!

If you'd like a phone call with me to find out more, fill out the form at the bottom of this page, www.majorgiftscoaching.com and we'll hope on the phone to discuss.

Dedicated to many, many happy major gifts for your cause,

Gail

PS: If you missed our free webinar, The Ultimate Guide to Building a Profitable Major Gift Program, I'm pleased to share the recordings with you.

We had hundreds of people around the world join us for this robust discussion.

We covered:

• 5 must-have elements for a great major gift program
• Advanced discovery and qualification skills
• The role of your board in major gift fundraising
• How to take an organized, structured approach to major gift
  

PSS: Here's our series on Major Gifts Fundraising so far:

• (Major Gifts #1) How to Move from Transactional to Transformational Major Gifts
• (Major Gifts #2) What You Can Expect from a Full Scale Major Gift Program
• (Major Gifts #3) What Board Members and Executive Management Need to Know About Major Gift Strategy
• (Major Gifts #4) What’s the Return on Investment from a Major Gift Program?
• (Major Gifts #5) Major Gift Fundraising by the Numbers

You can find them at www.gailperry.com/blog.

TO UPDATE YOUR EMAIL PREFERENCES, please click this link.

Hi Jacob,

Have you ever mentioned the word "fundraising" to your board members and they start running away? How about your CEO and the executive team? How do they feel about fundraising?

Much of the squeamishness of board members and CEOs centers in the area of major gifts – working face-to-face with major donors.

But not everyone is nervous. I’m happy to report that many boards and CEO’s I’ve worked with over the years are quite curious. They want to learn more about how this most important area of fundraising works. They ask me, how exactly can we be successful with major gifts? What does it take?

So, today, I would like to share with you my outline of what board members and executive teams need to know about major gift strategy.

To address this important topic, we’ve added two special trainings for board members to our Major Gift Roadmap 2020 – and this topic is one of their favorites. Registration closes Feb 3, so if you are interested let us know now!

1. Fundraising is not about making a “pitch” to a donor.

Major gift fundraising is NOT about asking for money. It is not centered on an aggressive asking situation.

It’s so important for everyone to understand that major gift fundraising is absolutely NOT about asking.

On the contrary, we spend 90% of our time nurturing trusting relationships with our major donors. And only 10% of the time in asking conversations.

In our Major Gift Roadmap, we teach a permission-based strategy – so that the donor is in charge of the relationship and the entire process. In these cases, donors literally say to our participant organizations, “How can I help?” and “What do you need?”

In many, cases, we’ve seen donors make major gifts to our organizations without having to be asked.

This means that: when you are not so focused on the gift and the ask, you are far more successful.

2. Success with major donors takes a long term, consistent effort.

Success doesn’t happen overnight. You have to build a trusting relationship with the donor. They have to know you and like you – and trust you.

It takes time to develop these relationships, and you can’t rush it. Mega major gifts come from long term happy relationships with donors who know you, love you and who believe in your mission.

This means that: you can’t expect a fundraiser to come in out of the blue and immediately work miracles. They have to have something to work with.

3. Investing in fundraising makes money for you. It’s a profit center, not a cost center.

Fundraising costs are NOT a black hole into which you pour money.

Instead, every dollar you spend in fundraising actually pays for itself – and brings in a multiple dollar return on your investment.

This means that: generally, investing one dollar in major gift fundraising will probably yield 10 dollars back. We’ll talk about the ROI of fundraising tomorrow.

4. Events are the least efficient way to raise money. Working with major donors who make major gifts is the most efficient.

Smart nonprofit folks need to consider how much an event will cost in terms of time, money and effort, vs the amount of funding it will bring in.

The return on your investment from an event is typically 50%. Half of what you raise is eaten up with costs. Events are not an effective way to raise money.

The return on individual donor fundraising is much higher, only costing five-10 cents on each dollar raised.

This means that: when you invest in major gifts, then you will have an opportunity to get about a 10-1 return on your investment.

5. Everyone in the organization can help in major gift fundraising, without having to ask.

There are many roles board members and program staffers can play in building happy relationships with major donors. When fundraising is celebrated as an important and mission-centric activity, such that everyone embraces it – that’s when organization are MOST successful and raise the most money.

This means that: When the whole organization embraces and supports fund development, much more revenue flows into help expand your mission.

Don’t forget, we can help you expand your organization’s major gifts, right now, in 2020. Registration for our Major Gift Roadmap 2020 coaching program closes on February 3rd, and we begin on February 20th. We can help you develop the systems, mindset, vision, structure and processes for a long-term productive major gift program that will deliver measurable results for years. Find out more here.

Dedicated to more major gifts for you and your mission!

Gail

Free Webinar: The Ultimate Guide to Building a Profitable Major Gift Program

January 15, 2pm ET; It WILL be recorded! Our webinar is almost full, so register today.

Learn how to create extraordinary fundraising growth through major gifts. Find out more at gailperry.com/ultimate-guide-to-building-a-profitable-major-gift-program/

SUBSCRIBE TO THE FIRED-UP FUNDRAISING NEWSLETTER.

TO UPDATE YOUR EMAIL PREFERENCES, please click this link.

Hi Jacob,

We have a fun story to share with you today. It's the story of Ashley, a bright young fundraiser - and her career adventure.

Ashley was charming, and she was great with her donors.

But she discovered she struggled learning the two most critical aspects of being a successful major gift fundraiser - discipline and metrics!

(Major Gifts #5) Major Gift Fundraising - Finding Success by the Numbers

Leave us a comment! What's been your experience with creating metrics that work for you?

Everybody asks us how to approach major gift fundraising in a structured, organized fashion. Clearly, most managers want to add structure to a process that feels quite fuzzy.

Board members want to know how to evaluate a major gift program. CEO's want to know what their fundraising potential is. And front-line fundraisers want to know the most important thing of all - where to focus their time. Which donors to love and which ones to ignore?

Kathryn and I have added an entire webinar on metrics to our Major Gifts Roadmap coaching program. We're weaving in many aspects of structure:

• Portfolio management
  
• Prospect research data analysis
• Moves/touch management
• How to set a fundraising goal based on the metrics
• How to manage a capital campaign on the metrics

If you'd like to max out your own major gift potential by adding structure and deeper training, then, then we can help. Our Major Gifts Roadmap 2020 coaching program will give you ten months of hands-on training and coaching from us. Applications close on Feb.3rd, so don't miss out!

Hope you have a simply wonderful weekend! We appreciate everything you do!

Dedicated to your amazing major gift and capital campaign success,

Gail

PS: If you missed our free webinar this week, The Ultimate Guide to Building a Profitable Major Gift Program, I'm pleased to share the recordings with you.

We had hundreds of people around the world join us for this robust discussion.

We covered:

• 5 must-have elements for a great major gift program
• Advanced discovery and qualification skills
• The role of your board in major gift fundraising
• How to take an organized, structured approach to major gift
  

PSS: Here's our series on Major Gifts Fundraising so far:

• (Major Gifts #1) How to Move from Transactional to Transformational Major Gifts
• (Major Gifts #2) What You Can Expect from a Full Scale Major Gift Program
• (Major Gifts #3) What Board Members and Executive Management Need to Know About Major Gift Strategy
• (Major Gifts #4) What’s the Return on Investment from a Major Gift Program?

You can find them at www.gailperry.com/blog.

TO UPDATE YOUR EMAIL PREFERENCES, please click this link.

Hi Jacob,

First of all, I wanted to let you know that our Major Gifts Roadmap 2020 coaching program is closing out next Monday, Feb 3rd.

We have three seats left, and would love to save one for you! We won't run this program again till next year.

I’d love to work with you personally to help you and your team set up a highly profitable major gifts fundraising program. A major gifts initiative that takes hold, and becomes part of your organization’s culture now and in the future- that's what you can achieve!

Find out more at majorgiftscoaching.com

FOR YOU

I'm guessing you know that major gift fundraising is changing. How're you and your team doing when it comes to keeping up?

Are you feeling that it's never been more necessary to stay up to date? Are you and your team on top of the strategies that optimize major gift fundraising - that have real, proven value and yield measurable results? Do you have the skills that develop warm donor relationships and result in mega gifts?

Today's post outlines all these skills and more. This is what you need if you want to be a successful major gift fundraiser.

And, surprise! this is the actual curriculum for our Major Gift Roadmap coaching and training program.

See what you think:

Key Skills Every Smart Major Gift Fundraiser Needs to Master

Whether you are just starting a major gift program or want to enhance your current program, you and your team need to start here. You need this systematized, professionalized and data-driven approach.

And you know what - it's fun too.

Thank you for listening, and for your hard work making the world a better place. I so appreciate you and everything you do!

Dedicated to many major gifts for you and your cause!

Gail

PS: Major Gift Roadmap Closes Out Feb 3!

It's your last chance to get our help creating a smarter, systematic approach to raising the money your organization needs. Send us a note today if you want to chat about it!

Check it out here.

TO UPDATE YOUR EMAIL PREFERENCES, please click this link.

Hi Jacob,

Do you ever go to major donors and seek their advice?

I hope so, because Advice Visits are one of our favorite discovery and cultivation strategies for our major gift prospects.

Why do we like Advice Visits?

Because you honor your donor by asking for more than their money. You ask for their insight, their input, their advice on strategy.

When you ask a donor for advice, you get them on your side. You get them thinking about how you can be successful.

In a way, they join your team of strategic thinkers. All of a sudden they are saying “we need to do this” instead of ‘you need to do this.”

Today’s post is a must-read for everyone who struggles with donor conversations. If you or someone on your team is not sure what to say or even how to talk to major donors, you really need this strategy.

How to Ask Major Gift Prospects for Advice and Input

This approach is subtle. It’s fun and - it’s wildly helpful to you and your cause. It deepens your relationship with your donors, and helps them enjoy their time with you. They will look forward to seeing you again!

Advice Visits are one of the Soft Skills of Major Gift Fundraising that we teach in our Major Gifts Roadmap coaching program.

When you join us, you can learn a systematic, organized approach to building donor relationships.

Many of our coaching members have used these Advice Visit strategies with surprising results. One member got a $5k gift without asking. Another member received – on the spot – a $1.5 million challenge gift when she asked her donor for his advice! (Yes she almost fainted!)

When you join our Major Gift Roadmap program, we can show you how to get these kinds of results too.

What’s your experience with Advice Visits? Leave a comment on the blog and let us know!

Dedicated to fun, happy and productive visits with your donors,

Gail

PS: REMINDER - Major Gift Roadmap for 2020 closes out on February 3.

The group is filling up fast but it’s not too late for you and your team to join.

Here’s the high level major gift training you’ve been waiting for. I will be with you -- nurturing your major gift fundraising skills, and teaching you the strategies that will have major donors asking “how can I help?”

If you want to finally achieve your organization’s fundraising potential, then consider joining our group. We will help you get your team organized with a systematic approach to major gifts. When you join,

• You'll start to bring transformational major gifts into your organization, so that you'll finally have the funding to do your important work.

• You'll get an accountability and infrastructure system that will keep major gifts flowing into your nonprofit for years, so you won't have to start over all the time.

• You'll get your major prospects identified, discovered, organized, and prioritized. You’ll set up cultivation plans and make those asks, so that you'll actually close generous gifts.

• You'll get your entire board and team trained in major gift fundraising so that you'll all share the same language and have the same tools and skills.

• You won't be alone any longer. You'll have us as major gift coaches and mentors for 10 months this year, so that you'll have our help when you need it.

Everything is live in our program. Nothing is pre-recorded. We are only an email or phone call away.

We’d love to help you and your team nail the gifts that are out there right now, and finally achieve financial sustainability. Find out more here.

PPS: Here's our series on Major Gifts Fundraising so far:

• (Major Gifts #1) How to Move from Transactional to Transformational Major Gifts
• (Major Gifts #2) What You Can Expect from a Full Scale Major Gift Program
• (Major Gifts #3) What Board Members and Executive Management Need to Know About Major Gift Strategy
• (Major Gifts #4) What’s the Return on Investment from a Major Gift Program?
• (Major Gifts #5) Major Gift Fundraising by the Numbers
• (Major Gifts #6) What's the Best Structure for a Full-Scale Major Gift Program
• (Major Gifts #7) The Three Most Critical Elements of Every Successful Major Gifts Program

You can find them at www.gailperry.com/blog.

TO UPDATE YOUR EMAIL PREFERENCES, please click this link.

Hi Jacob,

Hope your new year is getting off to a happy, positive start. I’d like to help you see lots of major gifts flowing into your organization this year. That would make you happy, I know!

Here’s the first of a series of emails that we’ll be sending you – all devoted to helping you and your team create a full-scale, robust major gifts program at your nonprofit.

One reason we’re sending out all this advice is to encourage you and your team to consider joining our Major Gift Roadmap 2020 coaching program. We can help you develop the systems, mindset, vision, structure and processes for a long-term productive major gift program that will deliver measurable results for years. Find out more here.

From Transactional to Transformational Gifts

If you are wondering why your wonderful $1,000 a year donor just made a $100,000 gift to another organization, stop for a minute and think about your approach and your mindset.

Did you have conversations with your donor about your organization's vision - where your organization hopes to be next year or in five years?

Did you talk about how that vision will change the lives of those you serve? We’re wondering - did you ask your donor what their impressions are of your organization's work?

And, did you ask for their advice/feedback on the vision? In your approach to conversations with your donor were you patient, calm, respectful, listening? Did you follow up?

This way of approach is about transformational giving.

Donors want to give away their money. Their largest gifts align deeply with their values and how they see THEIR role in bringing about good for something they strongly care for.

In other words, a donor's largest gifts go where they feel they are making a transformational difference to some outcome. That could be an endowed scholarship; a new program; an enhanced program; a research fund and much more.

To raise major gifts better known as transformational gifts, you have to have a transformational mindset.

You must understand what motivates your donor - what they value. That understanding only comes from the conversations you have with your donor about the donor! It requires a donor-focused approach.

Bottom Line: The difference between transformational gifts and transactional gifts.

Are you all about the Gift? Or are you about the Donor?

Are you focusing on the money . . . or the person behind the money?

Is it the transaction you want? Or the donor’s allegiance, care and partnership?

Think again. Change your focus. Devote yourself to your donor as a whole person. Then they will do anything they can for you and your organization.

Stay tuned for more emails this week on these topics:

• What You Can Expect from a Full-Scale Major Gifts Program
  
• What Board Members and CEO's Need to Know About Major Gift Strategy
  
• What's the Return on Investment of a Robust Major Gift Program?
  

Here's to many more generous major donors for your organization,

Gail and Kathryn

Free Webinar: ?The Ultimate Guide to Building a Profitable Major Gift Program

January 15, 2pm ET; It WILL be recorded!

Learn how to create extraordinary fundraising growth through major gifts. Find out more at https://www.gailperry.com/ultimate-guide-to-building-a-profitable-major-gift-program/

Survey: What's keeping you and your team away from bringing in more major gifts?

Answer this quick survey: last chance to share what you think. Hundreds of fundraisers have shared their thoughts - join the conversation!

What are your major gifts challenges for 2020?

MAJOR GIFTS ROADMAP is filling up for 2020.

If you and your team need training AND implementation support to ramp up major gifts for your organization, think about joining our 10-month program. We are seeing more interest than ever before, so we’ll fill up early.

Check it out here and let us know if you are interested.

Gail

SUBSCRIBE TO THE FIRED-UP FUNDRAISING NEWSLETTER.

TO UPDATE YOUR EMAIL PREFERENCES, please click this link.

Hi Jacob,

Hope you are having a happy Friday!

Come take a walk with us into major donor land today.

Imagine yourself: there you are, sitting in front of your donor. They’ll say something about their ability to make a gift, but your donor is not being very clear.

And you just don’t know how to probe a bit more to find out what they really mean.

Do you ever feel awkward asking your donor for an explanation?

Today, senior consultant Kathryn Gamble shares with you exactly how to treat this delicate situation.

How to Probe More Deeply in a Major Donor Conversation

Finally, here’s some great coaching for you on how to handle that muddy, unclear moment with a major donor. What did they really say??

Take a quick look at Kathryn's post, and sharpen your own donor conversation skills!

And have a lovely weekend. Thank you for all that you do. Hope you are surviving the rain and snow of winter!

Dedicated to your amazing success,

Gail

PS: Major Gifts Roadmap Coaching registrations closed out for 2020 with a record number of applicants!

I am bowled over by so many awesome organizations who are ready to seriously expand their Major Gifts fundraising.

It will be an amazing year – for our participants, and for Kathryn Gamble and me, too.

We love joining so many teams, and helping to train and encourage people along. We will all be working together to make the world a better place, no doubt.

We will all start together on February 20th.

INSIDERS – Topic of the Month is Board Members and Fundraising

Our Insiders this month will learn how to fire-up their boards for fundraising!

This is our sweet spot – we have so much experience with nervous board members. We’ll be share our well-honed tips for easing board members’ fears about fundraising – and getting them excited, engaged, and ready to help!

TO UPDATE YOUR EMAIL PREFERENCES, please click this link.

Hi Jacob,

Is your organization planning a capital campaign in the future?

Just in case you have one in the woodworks, we thought we'd share the saga of one of our favorite clients.

The ArtsCenter in Carrboro, NC, is a much-loved community-based organization - touching tens of thousands of people a year in our community.

But The ArtsCenter needed a new home for decades. Finally, working with us, The ArtsCenter is on its way to a successful capital campaign for a new facility!

Today's post tells the story of how The ArtsCenter's leaders managed to align all the stars correctly to create unheard-of success. They are a great capital campaign client, and the partnership we've forged with them has been both productive -- and successful.

You'll enjoy this story:

The ArtsCenter: A Capital Campaign Success Story

Take a quick look and let us know what you think - what worked for them that made the biggest difference?

Don't forget - Kathryn and I are happy to take your capital campaign questions - just hit reply and we'll be glad to help you.

And we send our best wishes for you to have a happy weekend - and great success in your fundraising! You deserve it!

Happy Valentine's Day! Dedicated to you and your success,

Gail

Major Gifts Roadmap Coaching will begin Feb 20th!

We're pleased to be working with so many awesome organizations who are ready to seriously expand their Major Gifts fundraising. There's one seat left, if you want to join us!

Capital Campaign Consulting

We're expanding our campaign team, and are advising campaigns all over the country. Let us know if you'd like to discuss your capital campaign plans with us.

INSIDERS – Topic of the Month is Board Members and Fundraising

Our Insiders this month will learn how to fire-up their boards for fundraising - one of my favorite topics.

TO UPDATE YOUR EMAIL PREFERENCES, please click this link.

Hi Jacob,

How''re you getting along?

Please know that we are here to help if you have a question or just need to talk. You can hit reply to this email any time and it will come back to my inbox.

Kathryn Gamble and I are also here for you on Facebook Live every Wednesday at noon, eastern. We are taking questions and providing support to the community. I''d love to see you there too.

Today, I have some good news for you and your team.

We are finding that donors are still giving generously to many of our client organizations. These nonprofits are not on the front lines of the pandemic, and they are receiving five and six figure gifts - right this week.

The organizations we''re working with have gifts coming from current donors, lapsed donors, capital campaign donors, former board members - even brand new donors who are simply showing up with a gift on the website.

The gifts are flowing in - even without any appeals going out. Read about it here:

Take Heart: Many Donors Are Still Giving Generously Right Now

I''m unpacking:

• WHY donors are still giving
• The approach we recommend for asking
• Where you should be looking for contributions right now
• What your loyal donors are probably thinking about your cause - right now

Please, take heart. While the situation is tough for you and for many people, there are silver linings we can look for.

Stay positive. Seek out your most loyal supporters and connect with them.

Most importantly - take good care of yourself - personally! Yes, you are probably exhausted (we are too), and you feel unorganized and unproductive. That''s ok, and it''s normal. There will be a time when all will be back to normal again.

Let us hear from you. We''d love to support you in any way.

We''re all in this together,

PS: Facebook Live

Kathryn and I took a mental health break, and had some fun on our Facebook Live this week. We shared our orchids that rebloomed (a symbol of hope!), and a dancing cat video.

Free Strategy Calls

Need some expert advice? We are offering short consults to our subscribers. Let us know if you need us.

INSIDERS

Our Insiders are getting a full crisis strategy guide in April. We''re covering strategies you need right now - everything from managing philanthropic relationships to building a Continuity Revenue Plan for your nonprofit.

MAJOR GIFTS ROADMAP

Our Major Gifts participants are hard at work on their Top 20 and Next 30 Prospect Lists. In April, they''ll be attending our Discovery and Qualification Boot Camp. This is a great time for deeper major gift work.

TO UPDATE YOUR EMAIL PREFERENCES, please click this link.

Hi Jacob,

Hope you are hanging in there ok!

We are getting tons of interesting questions from our consulting clients and Major Gift Roadmap members.

They are all asking how on earth can they move forward with their major gift programs right now?

And we say, yes, you can move forward - in many ways.

Today on Facebook Live, Kathryn and I will share our guidance about what you can - and can''t do - with major donors right now.

JOIN US AT THIS LINK AT NOON

Warmly,

Hi Jacob,

Join us today on our Facebook page at noon ET, for a conversation about board leadership right now. This is the time for board members to step up and ?focus on strategy!

Kathryn and I will also take your questions. We''ll discuss:

• Leadership strategies and attitudes for times of crisis
• Addressing a "Continuity Plan" for your organization
• Creative revenue strategies for right now
• Can your organization raise money now, or not?
• What staff needs from board members in times of crisis

JOIN US AT THIS LINK AT NOON

Join us and let's discuss how to best lead in this critical situation.

See you soon,

Hi Jacob, Happy Friday!

How''re your board members doing when it comes to spreading the word? Would you say they are solid personal advocates for the cause?

Your board members might be passionate and enthusiastic. But often they don''t know what to say when they have the chance.

So today, let''s tackle the whole issue of messaging for board members. This is the first step in training them to engage in fundraising.

Board members all want to know how to talk about their favorite organization. This is where we start in our Fired-Up Fundraising Board Workshops, and our Capital Campaign Bootcamp for Boards. And it''s a home run with board members. They enjoy this training.

Board members need real sentences and phrases. They need facts and factoids, so they can say to their friends, "Did you know that . . . "

We think arming YOUR board members with interesting stuff to talk about is one of the most important things you can do!

So take a quick look at today''s post to see how YOU can help your board members spread the word and drum up new friends and supporters.

Give Board Members Something to Say: Help them Become Personal Advocates for Your Cause

AND add this as a huge discussion point at your next board meeting!

Dedicated to your fabulous, fired-up board,

Gail

Many Capital Campaigns Are Underway!

We''re advising capital campaigns all over the country. Let us know if you''d like a free campaign strategy phone call.

INSIDERS - Topic of the Month is Board Members and Fundraising

Our Insiders this month are learning my secrets to firing-up their boards for fundraising - one of our favorite topics. Next month we''ll be working with communications guru Sarah Durham of Big Duck in New York to sharpen our messaging and communications.

Major Gifts Roadmap 2020 Coaching has launched!

We''re pleased to be working with so many awesome organizations who are getting a structured, organized approach to expand their Major Gifts fundraising.

TO UPDATE YOUR EMAIL PREFERENCES, please click this link.

Hi Jacob,

Hoping you can join us today at noon for an open call-in about crisis response strategies. Kathryn Gamble and I will share tips for communicating with donors, cancelling events, and protecting your revenue streams.

JOIN US AT THIS LINK AT NOON

Join us and let's share tips on how to best weather this critical situation.

See you soon,

Hi Jacob,

We''re writing an urgent request to U.S. subscribers.

Call your Senators right now. The US Senate will be voting this afternoon on the "Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act". Short-titled the CARES ACT, this emergency financial legislation was drafted by the Republicans in the U.S. Senate, and is on the fast track for approval.

The CARES ACT is also referred to as a coronavirus bailout bill. It includes nonprofits with less than 500 employees under the category of small businesesses, who are eligible for loans and outright grants.

Here is a message that we are printing verbatim from Roger Craver''s newsletter: The Agitator/DonorVoice:

This is LIFESAVING legislation for nonprofits and many for-profit companies that are a key part of the supply chain for the nonprofit sector. Here''s what it offers:

• Four months of an organization''s operating expenses to be used to meet your operating expenses from March 1 (retroactively) through June 30.
• This is NOT a loan. It''s an outright grant provided you use all the money to pay for staff and expenses-your basic monthly nut. If you do that any repayment obligation is completely forgiven.
• If the organization-either nonprofit or for-profit fails to use all the money for staff and operating purposes the part not used for that will become a loan. However, even if some of the money becomes a loan, no collateral, personal guarantees, or organizational guarantees are required The portion that becomes "debt" is guaranteed by the U.S. Government and any repayments will be deferred for a year and probably for very low or no interest.

Too good to be true? Absolutely not. And especially not if we all rally, contact our Senators and Representatives and urge its passage.

So, TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE.

Weigh in with your two Senators and your Representative urging them to support the CARES Act and to make sure these provisions are included in the bill.

1. The need for emergency funds for nonprofits and small businesses so they can retain employees during this critical time; and

2. The need for a universal charitable tax deduction that all donors can claim, regardless of their income, to motivate people to give to all types of nonprofit causes.

You can find the names and contact information for your Senators here.

And the name and contact information for your U.S. Representative here.

Don''t delay. Time is very, very short. Get your CEO, Board Members and other stakeholders on the phone today.

Signed, Roger Craver and Kevin Schulman (for the Agitator/Donor Voice newsletter)

P.S. Here''s the full text of the CARES ACT as it stood as of Saturday, March 21.

P.P.S. The Nonprofit Alliance is on top of this emergency legislation. If you have questions or wish to report how your calls to your Senators and Representatives go you can contact Shannon McCracken at smccracken@tnpa.org

All our best,

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