Major Gifts Fundraiser

In this episode of the podcast Clark talks about the book From Strength to Strength by Arthur C. Brooks. Have you ever felt burnt out as a fundraiser? It's one thing to be tired. It's another thing to be exhausted -- to feel like you can't do this anymore. You are not the only one. Major Gifts Fundraiser on Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/majorgiftsfundraiser/⁠ Major Gifts Fundraiser on Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/majorgiftsfundraiser⁠ Major Gifts Fundraiser on LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/major-gifts-fundraiser/⁠ Email Clark: ⁠clark@majorgiftsfundraiser.com⁠ Zoom with Clark: Find an available time on Clark’s calendar and schedule a Zoom call him: ⁠https://calendly.com/clarkvand⁠ Learn more at: ⁠https://majorgiftsfundraiser.com/⁠ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/clark-at-major-gifts-fundraiser/message

11:22 - "If you have a donor who you think could give a million dollars, don't spend two years cultivating them for a million dollar gift." In this episode, Clark Vandeventer emphasizes the importance of balancing relationship-building and asking for gifts in fundraising. While it's crucial to cultivate relationships with potential donors and avoid coming across as someone who is always asking for money, it's also necessary to let people know that you are a fundraiser. Timing is also crucial, as it's recommended to ask for smaller gifts early on in the relationship to gauge a donor's interest and willingness to give, rather than spending a lot of time cultivating them for a larger gift. Clark suggests that fundraisers should identify potential donors who can give early gifts without much cultivation. These early gifts can help fundraisers determine the level of giving that a donor is capable of and can lead to larger donations in the future. Clark advises that fundraisers need to

In general, fundraisers spend too much time thinking about their pitch. Listen the gift. But still, there comes a point when it's time to make your pitch. In this episode, Clark shares 13 tips to keep in mind when making your pitch. You can email Clark for a copy of this list -- or any other resource you've heard about on the podcast. Email is clark@majorgiftsfundraiser.com. You can also find Major Gifts Fundraiser on social media. Just search for Major Gifts Fundraiser on your favorite platform. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/clark-at-major-gifts-fundraiser/message

We’re building a community – it’s people who aspire to be in the Top 5% of their field. Yes, you want to raise more money. Of course you want to raise more money. But our tribe is more than people who want hacks to figure out how to raise more money. It’s people who are committed to excellence. It’s for people who respect craft. Who want to know that they’re among the best. The additional money you’ll raise -- it’s the icing on the cake. In this podcast Clark talks about the consistent work required to become a Peak Performance Fundraiser. Questions? Email Clark at clark@majorgiftsfundraiser.com --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/clark-at-major-gifts-fundraiser/message

Thank you, thank you, thank you! Developing a culture of thanks and gratitude. Don't just do "BIG THINGS" -- do lots of little things (in a system) and then do BIG THINGS on top of that system. Clark mentions two resources in this episode that you can email him for -- his 57 ways to thank and steward a donor, and his checklist for writing a good thank you letter. You can email Clark at clark@majorgiftsfundraiser.com --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/clark-at-major-gifts-fundraiser/message

You should always be working to aquire new donors. But, what are you doing with your current list? How are you loving on the donors who are already giving to your organization? Do you know the full potential of each of your donors? (You don't). You can email Clark to ask him about anything from this episode at clark@majorgiftsfundraiser.com. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/clark-at-major-gifts-fundraiser/message

In this episode of the podcast Clark talks about taking small steps to acheive big dreams. He talks about his goal to run 100 Miles, the movie Moneyball, and your goal to raise a million dollars. What are the small steps we need to take today to achieve these dreams. Talks about Points System and Lead Measures and Lag Measures. Email Clark for any resources he talked about in today's episode at clark@majorgiftsfundraiser.com --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/clark-at-major-gifts-fundraiser/message

Monica is back on the podcast! She copntinues the discussion of "What is the problem you exist to solve" and gets into the process of identifying your ideal donor. You can reach out to Clark or Monica. Clark is at clark@majorgiftsfundraiser.com and Monica is at monica@majorgiftsfundraiser.com Follow Clark on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clarkvand/ Follow Major Gifts Fundraiser on Istagram: https://www.instagram.com/majorgiftsfundraiser/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/clark-at-major-gifts-fundraiser/message

In this episode of the podcast Clark interviews Monica on your WHY. "What is the problem you exist to solve?" You have to answer that question. The problem is not that you need to hit your annual fund goal. What is your why? What is the problem that you exist to solve? Email Monica at monica@majorgiftsfundraiser.com or Clark at clark@majorgiftsfundraiser.com --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/clark-at-major-gifts-fundraiser/message

Force yourself to be more concise and more disciplined in how you tell your story. The Pixar Pitch gives you 6 sentences to tell your story. Fill in these blanks and you've got your pitch. You should enroll in Peak Performance Fundraising. Go to https://majorgiftsfundraiser.com/ to enroll in Peak Performance Fundraising and start your journey today. Use the promo code MGFPodcast for 20 percent off. You can email Clark at clark@majorgiftsfundraiser.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/clark-at-major-gifts-fundraiser/message

13 things to keep in mind when making your pitch. You should enroll in Peak Performance Fundraising. Go to https://majorgiftsfundraiser.com/ to enroll in Peak Performance Fundraising and start your journey today. Use the promo code MGFPodcast for 20 percent off. You can email Clark at clark@majorgiftsfundraiser.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/clark-at-major-gifts-fundraiser/message

These are the must reads. Books that are foundational to Clark's life. If you want to Level up as a fundraiser, you’re going to have to sweat a little. You’re going to have to spend time reading one of these books on your next flight instead of watching a movie. You should be enrolled in one of our virtual training programs. You should enroll in Peak Performance Fundraising. Go to https://majorgiftsfundraiser.com/ to enroll in Peak Performance Fundraising and start your journey today. In this episode Clark recommends loads of books. He also mentions a few podcast interviews. We have linked to most of those here. Lead the Field: https://www.amazon.com/Lead-Field-Earl-Nightingale-audiobook/dp/B00OH7A278 Strangest Secret: https://youtu.be/y5x-KjBME_E Brian Tracy on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Brian-Tracy/author/B001H6OMRI? Harry Beckwith on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Harry-Beckwith/author/B000AP8Q0Q Jim Collins Good to Great on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Good-Great-Some-Companies-Others/

For you to be the kind of fundraiser you want to be -- you’ve got to put in the work. If you want to Level up as a fundraiser, you’re going to have to sweat a little. You’re going to have to spend time reading one of these books on your next flight instead of watching a movie. You should be enrolled in one of our virtual training programs. You should enroll in Peak Performance Fundraising. Go to https://majorgiftsfundraiser.com/ to enroll in Peak Performance Fundraising and start your journey today. In this episode Clark recommends loads of books. He also mentions a few podcast interviews. We have linked to most of those here. You can learn more about Seth Godin by going to https://www.sethgodin.com/ Seth's interview with Tim Ferriss: https://tim.blog/2020/10/26/seth-godin-the-practice/ Learn more about Brené Brown and her work: https://brenebrown.com/ Brené Brown TedTalk: https://youtu.be/iCvmsMzlF7o Brené Brown interview with Tim Ferriss: https://tim.blog/2020/02/06/brene-brown-striving-self-acceptance-sav

In this episode Clark shares 2 of his 12 goals for the year and discusses how they practically move from back-burner to front-burner to done. Questions? Comments? Need help? Want to bring in Clark for a Strategic Fundraising Workshop? Email Clark at clark@majorgiftsfundraiser.com. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/clark-at-major-gifts-fundraiser/message

In the last episode (#141: Assertive Sales Position > "I don't want to seem pushy...") Clark briefly mentioned how we need an assertive sales positon coupled with excellence throughout the sales process. That episode focused on the assertive sales position and only mentioned excellence throughout the process. This episode is about excellence throughout the process. Everything matters. Tiny details, all added up, not only create an impression -- they are who you are. Questions? Comments? Need help? Want to bring in Clark for a Strategic Fundraising Workshop? Email Clark at clark@majorgiftsfundraiser.com. Books mentioned by Clark in this episode: Starbucks Experience: https://www.amazon.com/Starbucks-Experience-Principles-Ordinary-Extraordinary/dp/0071477845 Selling the Invisible: https://www.amazon.com/Selling-Invisible-Field-Modern-Marketing/dp/0446672319 Nordstrom Way: https://www.amazon.com/Nordstrom-Customer-Experience-Excellence-Values-Driven/dp/1119375355 Be Our Guest: https://www.amazon.com/Our-Guest

So you don't want to seem pushy? That's fine, but just so you know, studies show that an assertive, assumptive sales position outperforms the "non-pushy" positin, by a lot! And why wouldn't you have an assumptive position? You have something of great value that you offer to the donor. You are a world-changer making things happen, and you are inviting people to join you in changing the world. Questions? Comments? Need help? Want to bring in Clark for a Strategic Fundraising Workshop? Email Clark at clark@majorgiftsfundraiser.com. Here's the book Objections by Jeb Blount on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Objections-Ultimate-Mastering-Science-Getting/dp/1119477387 --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/clark-at-major-gifts-fundraiser/message

Basic fundraising advice for anyone getting started in fundraising, whether you are asking for gifts of $100 or gifts of $1,000,000. This is advice that will help you maintain a high view of fundraising, a high view of your donors, and high view of yourself. Questions? Comments? Need help? Email Clark at clark@majorgiftsfundraiser.com. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/clark-at-major-gifts-fundraiser/message

You spent so much time at the end of the previous calendar year worried about your LYBUNT List. And then you turned the calendar to a new year and forgot about it. Before you move onto bigger and better things, take another look at it. If you don't engage these donors now, the chances of these donors ever giving to your organization again drops significantly. Email Clark at clark@majorgiftsfundraiser.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/clark-at-major-gifts-fundraiser/message

Climbing a mountain takes time. If we set big goals and have high standards of ourselves, we don't hit our goals overnight. It takes time to climb a mountain. Clark takes inspiration from the life of legendary basketball coach John Wooden in this episode of the podcast. Email Clark at clark@majorgiftsfundraiser.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/clark-at-major-gifts-fundraiser/message

Are you making plans for an epic year? Don't just hope for an epic year -- like an epic year is going to happen to you. Make plans for an epic year. Email Clark at clark@majorgiftsfundraiser.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/clark-at-major-gifts-fundraiser/message