It’s a Marathon, Not a Sprint: Building and Maintaining Major Donor Relationships

Individual giving is the largest and often most sustainable source of funding for nonprofit organizations, but establishing a major gift program can be daunting. Join us for this interactive session that will outline the necessary steps to build a relational major donor program based on meaningful connections and mutual respect.

You will walk away with:

• Strategies and tools to help you determine the appropriate time and amount for an ask
• Techniques for building strong relationships with donors
• Ideas on how to establish and manage a major donor pipeline
• Relevant examples of small to midsize organizations in Boston that have successfully shepherded donors from “hello” to “the gift of a lifetime”

Yes, building a major gift program is a marathon, but there are tried and true ways to get started, develop momentum, and secure gifts that once seemed beyond reach.

This program is for beginner to mid-level career fundraisers or for those who would like to refresh their skills.

Our Presenter

With more than two decades of development and non-profit management experience, Lori Smith Britton is a leader in the field, having leveraged millions in critical resources for several of Boston’s most prestigious charities over the course of her career. She is the Founder and Principal of Community Resource Consulting, LLC – a consulting practice dedicated to serving Boston area non-profits, providing strategic counsel and tactile fundraising support for a variety of clients. Currently, she is leading Epiphany School’s effort to ensure the completion of the school’s $25 million Starting Younger, Growing Stronger campaign as well as supporting the design and implementation of strategies to grow ongoing annual support from the local business community, private philanthropists and foundations with a national footprint to sustain Epiphany’s next phase of growth. Lori, a native of Boston and a graduate of Boston Latin School, holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Syracuse University and a Master’s Degree in Urban Affairs from Boston University.