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Weekly Challenge – February 26, 2024
This week’s challenge — Major Donor Conversations
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Day three: Craft an ask
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Day three: Craft an ask
Today’s mission, should you choose to accept it, is to create an opportunity for a major donor to take an action with your organization.
To make a gift!
Here’s what you’re going to do.
Look over your fundraising calendar and then your list of major donors. Think about an upcoming opportunity for your donor to make a meaningful gift to support one of your fundraising campaigns.
Then pick one of the options below and craft an ask.
Option 1: “Gift Matching Challenge” — Reach out to a donor with the opportunity to participate in a gift-matching challenge. Emphasize how their gift could be doubled and the additional impact this could create, inviting them to lead the charge. For more information on matching gifts check out this blog post from Jim Shapiro and this one from Steven Screen. (Author’s note: By the way, those two blog posts are absolute 🏆 — Josh)
Option 2: “Personalized Proposal Crafting” — Draft a customized giving proposal for a donor that aligns with their past support and interests. Outline how their gift can advance a particular area of work they care about. Here’s a white paper from our friends at the Veritas Group about major donor proposals
If you don’t have a donor ready to make a major gift — or you don’t have an upcoming campaign — try the option below.
Option 3: “The ‘Why Give’ Conversation” — Have a conversation with a donor focusing on the “why” behind their giving. Discuss their motivations and values, and align these with the giving opportunities at your organization, suggesting they renew or increase their commitment. And here are some great phrases to use in ‘why give’ conversations, courtesy of Beth Ann Locke!
The goal here is to get some reps creating these kids of ‘invitations to action.’ Even if you don’t end up putting one of these offers in front of a donor — go through the process!
Once you’re done, share your work in the comments below.
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2 Replies
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I am about to do a sponsor meeting with a sponsor who sponsored less last year. I am going to ask them to sponsor at a higher level than last year or the year before:
“We are looking for visionary business partners who share our vision on connecting & transforming our community through great live music. Are you interested in being one of those visionary’s?”
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I love this Jenny! Clear and precise – no ambiguity there at all. I’ll challenge ya to take your org. Totally out — “… who want to transform our community through music.”
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