Major Gifts Fundraiser

What were your BEST DAYS from 2022? If you want to set the right goals for 2023, the first thing you need to do is think about what your BEST DAYS were from 2022 -- becausae what you say were your BEST DAYS say something about what you value -- and you want your goals to be in line with your values. If you want to take Clark up on his offer to review the WHY behind your Best Days, email him at clark@majorgiftsfundraiser.com. You can also email Clark about brining him in for a Strategic Fundraising Workshop in 2023. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/clark-at-major-gifts-fundraiser/message

Don't ask people to give because it's year-end! What's your big, audacious goal? How are you accomplishing it? Then, year-end is the forcing function to give. But year-end is not the case for support. It's the forcing function, but that's all it is. Questions? Or want to connect with Clark about a Strategic Fundraising Workshop? Email Clark at clark@majorgiftsfundraiser.com. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/clark-at-major-gifts-fundraiser/message

Part 3 of a 3 Part Series. We interviewed donors who have given 5, 6, and 7 figure gifts. We asked them what motivates them to give, what organization's do that works (and what doesn't) and talked with them about what they like (and don't like) in fundraisers. This 3 Part Series is a compilation with highlights from the interviews. You can get the written report on Major Donor Giving Secrets and request the full audio from all of the interviews by emailing Clark at clark@majorgiftsfundraiser.com. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/clark-at-major-gifts-fundraiser/message

Part 2 of a 3 Part Series. We interviewed donors who have given 5, 6, and 7 figure gifts. We asked them what motivates them to give, what organization's do that works (and what doesn't) and talked with them about what they like (and don't like) in fundraisers. This 3 Part Series is a compilation with highlights from the interviews. You can get the written report on Major Donor Giving Secrets and request the full audio from all of the interviews by emailing Clark at clark@majorgiftsfundraiser.com. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/clark-at-major-gifts-fundraiser/message

Part 1 of a 3 Part Series. We interviewed donors who have given 5, 6, and 7 figure gifts. We asked them what motivates them to give, what organization's do that works (and what doesn't) and talked with them about what they like (and don't like) in fundraisers. This 3 Part Series is a compilation with highlights from the interviews. You can get the written report on Major Donor Giving Secrets and request the full audio from all of the interviews by emailing Clark at clark@majorgiftsfundraiser.com. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/clark-at-major-gifts-fundraiser/message

In this episode Clark talks about Aristotle's 3 types of friendships and the experience he gave his customers selling hot chocolate at a University of Alabama Football game. You can email Clark at clark@majorgiftsfundraiser.com and follow Major Gifts Fundrasier on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/majorgiftsfundraiser/ --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/clark-at-major-gifts-fundraiser/message

Wikipedia says that "Potpourri" is a mixture of dried, naturally fragrant plant materials, used to provide a gentle natural scent, commonly in residential settings. That's at least partly true of this episode. It's a mix of topics, gently presented. Gratitude. Who gives big gifts? What constitutes a major gift? What does intentional small talk look like? How can microcommitments help move us toward a major gift? Questions or comments, email Clark at clark@majorgiftsfundraiser.com. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/clark-at-major-gifts-fundraiser/message

In this episode Clark talks about how the gratitude we express during Thanksgiving month puts us in a great position for Giving Tuesday -- and then, what to do after Giving Tuesday with those who still have not given yet this year. Also, Giving Tuesday is NOT a case for support. Giving Tuesday is a forcing function that can be used to get people to give, but Giving Tuesday alone is NOT a case for support. Questions? Comments? Email clark@majorgiftsfundraiser.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/clark-at-major-gifts-fundraiser/message

At the end of October it's time to run your LYBUNT List. That's people who gave last year but unfortunately not this year. In the month of November we then express gratitude -- and get names to "magically" drop off the list. Also, when a donor doesn't give -- or they give more than they usually give -- we should make a big deal about it! Reach our to Clark at clark@majorgiftsfundraiser.com. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/clark-at-major-gifts-fundraiser/message

The podcast is back. In this episode Clark talks about a simple strategy for expressing gratitude to your donors during the Thanksgiving season. Questions, comments? Email Clark at clark@majorgiftsfundraiser.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/clark-at-major-gifts-fundraiser/message

What can we learn about fundraising from Ronald Reagan, Mitt Romney, Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal? Two stories that demonstrate that demonstrate passion and a burning desire to succeed, which are two qualities of great fundraisers. If you want to hear more podcasts like this one, email Clark at clark@majorgiftsfundraiser.com. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/clark-at-major-gifts-fundraiser/message

In life there are times that we put things on auto-pilot. In this episode, Clark guides you through an honest self-assessment, asking you the question, "Where you at?" You even get a quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson in this episode. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/clark-at-major-gifts-fundraiser/message

Encouragement from Clark to be curious and to be bold. We ask good questions in meetings not because we are trying to find the right numbers to punch into the ATM so the ATM will spit out cash. We ask good questions because we are genuinely curious, and because we are genuinely curious, we are then bold enough to ask the questions.  --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/clark-at-major-gifts-fundraiser/message

In this episode Clark talks about why his meetings almost always go as planned -- and how and why he is able to almost always ask his strategic questions, in the order in which he anticipated asking those questions -- and why this is NOT the case for many development professionals he talks with. Plus -- an important point -- these questions don't just lead to better meetings and move your organization forward. These questions lead to better relationships with your donors. Thoughts? Questions? Email Clark at clark@majorgiftsfundraiser.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/clark-at-major-gifts-fundraiser/message

What are you willing to do and what are you willing to give up in order to become the person that you want to be? You can email Clark your answers and he will hold you accountable. Email Clark at clark@majorgiftsfundraiser.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/clark-at-major-gifts-fundraiser/message

If you identify as an empathetic person who wants to make a difference in the world, it's easy to grow entitled our resentful of others when we feel like they "don't get it." How do we deal with that? Questions or comments? Email Clark at clark@majorgiftsfundraiser.com. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/clark-at-major-gifts-fundraiser/message

In this episode Clark shares the story of how he came to spend his entire adult life as a fundraiser, how he and Monica developed the system that is Peak Performance Fundraising, and some of the individual pieces that are part of that system. Shout outs to Jerry Pattengale, Floyd Brown, Ron Robinson, Jerold Panas, Darren and Nancy Campbell, and the amazing Monica Vandeventer. Questions or comments? Email Clark at clark@majorgiftsfundraiser.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/clark-at-major-gifts-fundraiser/message

You want to write a great donor report that makes your boss think you're awesome. Start writing your report before the meeting. If you want your donor to tell you awesome stuff that will make for an awesome report, ask awesome questions to get them to tell you awesome stuff. And do that before the meeting, not after. Thoughts? Email Clark at clark@majorgiftsfundraiser.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/clark-at-major-gifts-fundraiser/message

In this episode Clark talks about looking for ways to connect with people -- finding tiny things, grabbing on, and going for a ride. We can connect with people my being observant and then by being bold and curious. Questions, comments? Email Clark at clark@majorgiftsfundraiser.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/clark-at-major-gifts-fundraiser/message

Clark wraps up the series of 5 Takeaways from our series of interviews with donors who gave 5, 6, and 7 figure gifts and talks about the 5th and final takeaway: significance. Donors want to know that they matter and that therir gifts make a difference! Questions? Need help? Email Clark at clark@majorgiftsfundraiser.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/clark-at-major-gifts-fundraiser/message