Major Gifts Fundraiser

In this episode Clark interviews Monica about how she got started in fundraising -- raising money to go on a year-long mission with her church to Ireland. Clark sometimes tells big stories about million dollar gifts. Do the same principles apply to smaller gifts? Monica was asking for $100 gifts 20 years ago and she talks about the process -- and winning the hearts of her donors. The other big thing that grew out of Monica's first fundraising experience? She and Clark started dating, fell off a cliff together, and eventually got married! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/clark-at-major-gifts-fundraiser/message

People choose what's most familiar. Make it easy for your donors to choose you by becoming familiar to your donors. In this episode Clark recounts a story from his 2010 run for United States Congress, and how he lost to a name that was more familiar. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/clark-at-major-gifts-fundraiser/message

In this episode Clark talks about the short book, "A Spirituality of Fundraising" by the beloved author and theologian Henri Nouwen. Clark talks about why he hates the term "donors" and why he prefers to the term "partners" and the joy of being all wrapped up with others in a shared mission and vision.  For more information about anything Clark mentions in this episode you can email him at clark@majorgiftsfundraiser.com. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/clark-at-major-gifts-fundraiser/message

Getting started in estate planning does not have to be hard, or expensive. Just start talking to your donors about including your organization in their will. Clark goes through 5 easy steps to take that cost little or no money and talks about an experience on the road with an organization where that organization was talking about estate planning for the very first time.  --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/clark-at-major-gifts-fundraiser/message

In this episode Clark shares insights from several hours of interviews with major donors asking them why they give. This is an important episode for fundraisers who struggle with the challenge of raising unrestricted funds -- and also for fundraisers who have an exciting project to sell as Clark has a word of caution from major donors about your exciting project. To get a free copy of the audio program that Clark references, "Major Donor Giving Secrets Revealed" just 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 the Mondays! Are you excited to go to work on Monday? Sure, there may be a tinge of sadness, but you ought to be excited to go to work to accomplish your goals and your mission. If you're not, maybe it's time for a gut check. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/clark-at-major-gifts-fundraiser/message

In this episode Clark talks about the importance of setting big goals and then breaking those down so that we see what we need to do month by month. He specifically talks about the number of meetings you should be having with your donors and prospective donors, and how to determine the right number of meetings you should have in a year. Set big goals! Your number should be big enough so that when you achieve it, you feel awesome. Quotes from Daniel Burnham and Machiavelli on setting big goals and making mistakes of ambition. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/clark-at-major-gifts-fundraiser/message

In this episode Clark talks about how to establish a calendar that ensures you are doing the basics of a professional development operation. The higher your "minimum acceptable" the better off you'll be. Don't  be intimidated by "big" organizations. You aren't competing against them. You're just trying to improve yourself and be better than you were last year. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/clark-at-major-gifts-fundraiser/message

Season 2 of the podcast is here! In this episode Clark talks about the untimely death of Kobe Bryant, and how Clark was inspired by Kobe's intensity of purpose. He was disciplined, focused on his goals, and emulated excellence.  --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/clark-at-major-gifts-fundraiser/message

Clark talks about lessons learned from a round of recent donor meetings and how a donor's philanthropic disposition can be more important than their financial capacity. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/clark-at-major-gifts-fundraiser/message

Getting started in estate planning does not have to be hard. It starts with a simple question. Just ask your donors if they've included any organizations in their will. Or ask if they'd consider including your organization in their will. Clark talks about conversations he had with donors on a recent donor trip about estate planning. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/clark-at-major-gifts-fundraiser/message

Clark often mentions how much he's learned about life and fundraising through endurance athletic events, but rarely does he go into exactly what he's learned. In this episode Clark talks about some of the big lessons from the past and his recent 100K run. You can reach out to Clark directly 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 it should be easy to thank our donors because our thanks should come from a place of genuine gratitude. Shares a few ideas to help you dig deep within yourself to find that gratitude. Talks about Thanksgiving traditions with family and with donors. Email Clark at clark@majorgiftsfundraiser.com to share your Thanksgiving traditions.  --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/clark-at-major-gifts-fundraiser/message

Clark's simple prayer

It would be foolish to think that all you have to do to raise a lot of money on Giving Tuesday is put up a post and tag #GivingTuesday or email your donors and tell them "today's giving Tuesday!" Donors don't give because you tell them today's the day they're supposed to give. They give beacuse they are excited about your mission. Here's how to get your donors excited about your mission, and then use Giving Tuesday as the forcing function that prompts people to give.  --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/clark-at-major-gifts-fundraiser/message

Are you afraid to ask strategic questions? Fearful of what might happen when you ask a pointed "development type" question. 2,200+ donor meetings into his career, Clark is yet to be thrown out of someone's home! When you ask strategic questions, you indicate where the relationship is going. More obvious, the donor answers the question! Clark walks through 5 different strategic questions, and actual answers he has gotten from donors when asking these questions. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/clark-at-major-gifts-fundraiser/message

Have you ever heard the rule, "If you're not early you're late."? Clark heard his old mentor, the late, great Jerold Panas use that line many times. So Clark was impressed with himself as a young development officer when he was with Jerry Panas to go to a meeting and they arrived at the donor's home early. That's when Clark learned the exception to the "if you're not early you're late" rule. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/clark-at-major-gifts-fundraiser/message

Do you have a list of things that need to change at your organization? Would it be easier to raise money if you had more prospects? More territory? A better donor database program? A bigger vision? A special campaign or capital campaign? Stop making excuses. The best fundraisers take the names that they have and they do well with those names. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/clark-at-major-gifts-fundraiser/message

Great service comes from the heart, and there may not be a better story of heartfelt service than the story of Johnny the Bagger. Think about how you can create memorable experiences with your organization for everyone you interact with, donors, volunteers, and recipients of your services. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/clark-at-major-gifts-fundraiser/message

Getting in the way of success. Success is like a river -- it's flowing -- and if you just get out of your office you can't help but get swept up in it. going on donor trips generates a plethora of moves on our donors. There are visit letters, visit calls, and visit emails -- and then the visits -- and then the follow-up from the visits. And then the follow-up on all the people you couldn't get meetings with. Preparing for, going on, and following up on donor visits is THE work of a fundraiser. When you stop planning, going, and following up on visits, all you're doing is going to staff meetings -- and you don't raise money going to staff meetings! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/clark-at-major-gifts-fundraiser/message