Major donors - Charity Talk

How does your organisation find, recruit and look after 'big gift' supporters?

Simon Morris, Chief Executive of Jewish Care talked about his experience of building relationships with major donors at a Charity Talk organised by the Centre for Charity Effectiveness (CCE) on 4 February 2009.

He said that relationships take time to build and need to involve the top lay leaders/trustees opening doors for the Chief Executive to meet and involve potential major donors. He thought that frontline staff can support the relationship-building with first hand presentation of the cause – “telling the story".

Simon's full PowerPoint presentation and video of the event has been published to CCE's Charity Talks page. Click on the Major Donors Talk link in the middle of the page.

Jeff Shear from Solid Management responded to Simon's presentation.

Podcast

In this interview, Simon talks about building relationships with major donors, how to manage the potential risks and pitfalls of their over-involvement and their role as ambassadors of the organisation. He also talks about his strategies for running an organisation in economically uncertain times.

• Listen to the major donors podcast (mp3, 5mins, 15s)
• Read the major donors podcast transcript (Word)

Have your say

Talk to others about the issues raised on the major donors Charity Talks forum.

Further information

• Find out more about major donor fundraising written by Jeff Shear.
• Campaigning Charity Talk (May 09) - John Stewart and Brian Lamb talk about effective campaigning.
• Direct marketing Charity Talk (March 09) with Mamood Hussan and Stephen Pidgeon.
• Leadership Charity Talk (December 08) with Camila Batmanghelidjh, CEO of Kid's Company
• Keep in touch about future Charity Talks and other events.