Major Gift Development Program

Many organizations and institutions would like very much to move from an adequate Annual Fund development program or perhaps an “Annual Appeal” directly into a capital campaign, but they eventually get stalled out in their planning or turned off because of not meeting the “readiness” test. Some organizations and institutions may have had a successful capital campaign and are now asking themselves what to do beyond recognition of those that gave significant gifts. The professional answer that organizations in both of these cases might be seeking is the opportunity to develop a major gift program for their organization or institution.

Stephen E. Cramer & Associates, LLC can assist with this development with an initial audit of the development program to ascertain what resources and capabilities are available to the organization and then develop a set of recommendations, a plan, and a timeline for execution and, if so desired by the client, a period of ongoing coach counseling by the consultant in order to assure the quality control in the program as it is being carried out and growing and developing by the client. Some of the components of such a major gift development program shall include the following:

• Proper donor base segmentation for identifying a pool of major gift prospects
• The development of a proper information, education, motivation, and commitment plan for each identified major gift prospect as well as a “moves management” philosophy and process in order to move the prospect along into self-discovery of his or her own philanthropic commitment to the organization or institution
• A recognition program suitable to major donors that are primarily altruistic in their giving
• A regular communication program that highlights what major gifts and givers are doing for the organization or institution
• The roles and responsibilities of executive, staff, and volunteer leaders in a major gift program