Major Donor Fundraising

The millionaire on your doorstep ~ the millionaire on your database. Do you know who these are? And if so, do you know how to engage with them effectively?

There are 619,000 millionaires in the UK today (Barclays Wealth Management, UK Wealth Map, March 2011) and it is estimated there will be another 200,000 by 2020. Some of them will have an interest in your area of work and may already be major donors to good causes. Others will have set up charitable trusts to channel their giving tax effectively.

Identifying who these people are, what causes they are interested in and whether they are already on your database, is just the starting point in developing an effective major donor campaign. We can help you with database screening and prospect research to help you identify who you should be targeting. On average, a typical donor file contains around 1% of people who can be regarded as wealthy, so the chances are you are in contact with such people, even if you do not know who they are. Very often, the opportunity is there waiting to be developed.

If working with major donors is new to your trustees and staff then we can support you in every aspect - from how to keep it legal at all times, to adopting best practice so that you develop long term relationships and lasting commitment. We can also help you devise your major gift strategy and provide training in "making the ask."

The ability of major donors to provide gifts for core operations, as well as capital appeals and project work, makes them an essential element in a sustainable funding plan. However, depending on how well you already know them, it can take over a year to build links with major donors and so it is important to start this work early in your appeal plan.

Please call us today on 01785 663600 to discuss this opportunity.