Prosper Fundraising Strategies
Specializing in Major Gift Fundraising, Board and Staff Development,
and Development Planning
Katie Gardella, President, www.prosperfundraising.com
[email protected], PO Box 274, Peterborough, NH 03458,
1.866.229.2422
Specializing in Major Gift Fundraising, Board and
Staff Development, and Development Planning
LEADERSHIP GIVING
Presented by:
Katie Gardella, Prosper Fundraising Strategies
Stacy LeBaron, Merrimac River Feline Rescue Society
Susan Ruderman, Animal Rescue League Boston
Katie Gardella, President, www.prosperfundraising.com
[email protected], 1.866.229.2422
Specializing in Major Gift Fundraising, Board and
Staff Development, and Development Planning
What is Leadership Giving?
A systematic program by which an
organization educates, motives, and
rewards its most generous donors
thereby building loyalty and increased
giving
Katie Gardella, President, www.prosperfundraising.com
[email protected], 1.866.229.2422
Specializing in Major Gift Fundraising, Board and
Staff Development, and Development Planning
Who Are These People?
•Those who display a deeper
commitment to the organization
through thoughtful, increased support
•Mission, Vision, Values based giving
Katie Gardella, President, www.prosperfundraising.com
[email protected], 1.866.229.2422
Specializing in Major Gift Fundraising, Board and
Staff Development, and Development Planning
And Where Can I Find Them?
•Your Database!
•A word about the wealthiest people in town…
•Connection, Concern, Capacity
Katie Gardella, President, www.prosperfundraising.com
[email protected], 1.866.229.2422
Specializing in Major Gift Fundraising, Board and
Staff Development, and Development Planning
Why is Leadership Giving Important?
•Competition
•Long term health of organization
•Individuals make up the bulk of giving in the
U.S.
Katie Gardella, President, www.prosperfundraising.com
[email protected], 1.866.229.2422
Specializing in Major Gift Fundraising, Board and
Staff Development, and Development Planning
The Cycle of Giving
•Identification
•Information
•Inform
•Involve
•Investment
•Stewardship
•Deepening Relationship
Katie Gardella, President, www.prosperfundraising.com
[email protected], 1.866.229.2422
Specializing in Major Gift Fundraising, Board and
Staff Development, and Development Planning
What Do I Need to Start?
•Database
•Qualified prospects
•Case for support/Strategic Plan
•Person or persons to make consistent contact
•Plan for what you would like to accomplish
Katie Gardella, President, www.prosperfundraising.com
[email protected], 1.866.229.2422
Specializing in Major Gift Fundraising, Board and
Staff Development, and Development Planning
The $1,000+ Giving Club:
The Threshold to Philanthropy
•Creating a major gifts club is the first
step in creating a true major gifts
program. With the proper treatment,
today’s $1,000 donor will be
tomorrow’s $10,000 donor
Katie Gardella, President, www.prosperfundraising.com
[email protected], 1.866.229.2422
Specializing in Major Gift Fundraising, Board and
Staff Development, and Development Planning
Naming Your Club
•Names can be generic or they can be
specific to the organization:
•founder of the organization
•benefactor
•notable community figure or asset.
Katie Gardella, President, www.prosperfundraising.com
[email protected], 1.866.229.2422
Specializing in Major Gift Fundraising, Board and
Staff Development, and Development Planning
Name Your Club
•Sample generic names include
• Leadership Circle
• Founder’s Society
• Director’s Circle
Katie Gardella, President, www.prosperfundraising.com
[email protected], 1.866.229.2422
Specializing in Major Gift Fundraising, Board and
Staff Development, and Development Planning
katie tyler leadership circle
The Katie Tyler Leadership Circle is a special giving club
of dedicated supporters who make annual gifts of $1,000
or more to help the mission of the Humane Society of
Charlotte which is to provide love and hope to all animals
by ensuring the humane treatment of companion animals
through adoption, spay/neuter and education.
Leadership Circle gifts provide the resources needed to
continue caring for animals until they find their forever
homes.
Katie Tyler, president and founder of Tyler 2 Construction,
has been an instrumental member of the Humane Society
of Charlotte, serving and formerly chairing the Board of
Trustees. Katie has provided leadership, guidance and
support which has allowed the Humane Society of
Charlotte to become the organization it is today. We are
grateful to Katie for all that she has done for the Humane
Society of Charlotte and the thousands of animals we
serve.
Katie Gardella, President, www.prosperfundraising.com
[email protected], 1.866.229.2422
Specializing in Major Gift Fundraising, Board and
Staff Development, and Development Planning
THE AMBER GIVING CIRCLE
The Amber Giving Circle is a special group of loyal
supporters who make annual gifts to the Monadnock
Humane Society of $1,000 or more to help us achieve
our mission of improving the quality of life for animals
and people through humane education and to provide
shelter and facilitate adoption for lost, abandoned, and
abused animals.
The Giving Circle is named after Amber, who was with
four different families before being adopted from MHS
by two of our benefactors. She proved to be a faithful
companion who lived a long and happy life in her new
home for over 10 years. Amber is greatly missed and
will be long remembered with much affection
Katie Gardella, President, www.prosperfundraising.com
[email protected], 1.866.229.2422
Specializing in Major Gift Fundraising, Board and
Staff Development, and Development Planning
Giving Levels
•At most organizations, $1,000 is the entry
level gift for a major donor giving club
•It makes sense to do a little research in
your community to see what similar
organizations consider the entry “club level”
gift
Katie Gardella, President, www.prosperfundraising.com
[email protected], 1.866.229.2422
Specializing in Major Gift Fundraising, Board and
Staff Development, and Development Planning
Giving Levels
•Check websites of other organizations to see what
they consider an entry level major gift
•If most organizations in your area are already
raising gifts of $1,000 or more, it’s likely that you
will be able to start at that level as well
Katie Gardella, President, www.prosperfundraising.com
[email protected], 1.866.229.2422
Specializing in Major Gift Fundraising, Board and
Staff Development, and Development Planning
Giving Levels
•Create a ladder of levels
•Don’t stop at the $1,000 level!
•Most organizations use the following
ladder:
• $1000-$2,499
• $2,500-$4,999
• $5,000-$9,999
• $10,000+
Katie Gardella, President, www.prosperfundraising.com
[email protected], 1.866.229.2422
Specializing in Major Gift Fundraising, Board and
Staff Development, and Development Planning
Benefits
•Every level of your giving club needs
special benefits attached to it
•Offering benefits is a nice way to thank and
cultivate donors and may be a secondary
reason a donor decides to join your giving
club
Katie Gardella, President, www.prosperfundraising.com
[email protected], 1.866.229.2422
Specializing in Major Gift Fundraising, Board and
Staff Development, and Development Planning
Benefits
•Philanthropic donors do not give solely
based on benefits. They give because they
believe in the mission of the institution.
•When thinking about benefits for this
group of people, think about perks that are
mission based and will help you advance the
relationship with the donor.
Katie Gardella, President, www.prosperfundraising.com
[email protected], 1.866.229.2422
Specializing in Major Gift Fundraising, Board and
Staff Development, and Development Planning
Amber Giving Circle Benefits
•$1,000-$2,499
•Invitation to special events and special newsletter.
Recognition in print, and on website
•$2,500-$4,999
•All of the above plus lunch with CEO
•$5,000-$9,999
•All above benefits plus dinner with CEO and Board Chair
•$10,000+
•All above benefits plus table at annual Hairball
fundraising gala
Katie Gardella, President, www.prosperfundraising.com
[email protected], 1.866.229.2422
Specializing in Major Gift Fundraising, Board and
Staff Development, and Development Planning
Creating Your Prospect List
Frequency of giving
• How often does a donor give?
•Longevity of giving
•How long has a donor been a member. Has
he/she upgraded their support consistently?
•Size of last gift
•Has the donor given a gift of $500 or
more?
Katie Gardella, President, www.prosperfundraising.com
[email protected], 1.866.229.2422
Specializing in Major Gift Fundraising, Board and
Staff Development, and Development Planning
Creating Your Prospect List
•All donors who have given $500+ every year
for the past five years
•All donors who have given $500+ every year
for the past three years
•OR (if these do not return a good sized list)
•All donors who have given $250+ every year
for the past three to five years
Katie Gardella, President, www.prosperfundraising.com
[email protected], 1.866.229.2422
Specializing in Major Gift Fundraising, Board and
Staff Development, and Development Planning
Creating Your Prospect List
•Have a “rolodex” party
•Ask Board members/volunteers to think
of contacts who might be interested
Katie Gardella, President, www.prosperfundraising.com
[email protected], 1.866.229.2422
Specializing in Major Gift Fundraising, Board and
Staff Development, and Development Planning
Creating Your Prospect List
•The number of prospects will depend upon
the amount of staff time dedicated to the
major gifts effort
•25% of time = 50 prospects
•50% of time = 100 prospects
•100% of time = 200 prospects
Katie Gardella, President, www.prosperfundraising.com
[email protected], 1.866.229.2422
Specializing in Major Gift Fundraising, Board and
Staff Development, and Development Planning
Now What Do I Do?
•Market giving club on web, in
newsletters, and in annual report
•Send out solicitation letters to
prospects
•Hold quarterly cultivation events
•Prioritize list and start calling!
Katie Gardella, President, www.prosperfundraising.com
[email protected], 1.866.229.2422