Leadership Giving Establishing the Mentor Society

Attract gifts of $1000 or more on a recurring basis Provide a pathway for current donors to migrate upward Attract new donors at higher levels Develop and train volunteers for individual gift fundraising Purpose of Establishing the Mentor Society

Annual Giving – Direct Mail and BFKS Leadership Giving – Annual Mentor Society Giving Campaign Major Gifts – Natural evolution from Leadership Giving Planned Giving – Cultivate relationships that lead to the Ultimate Gift A Continuum of Donors

Cultivation Receptions Direct Asks Face-to-face personal contacts Personalized mail requests “ASK” Strategies

 Individually held at a donor’s home or other attractive venue  Lightly touch on fundraising during brief program about the agency (Include any Challenge/Matching opportunities)  Use as platform for cultivating contacts  Small group networking Cultivation Reception

 One-to-one meeting with host(s) to customize the plan  Formal invitation to reception  Personal letter or telephone follow-up by host who has identified guests  Staff follow-up if necessary to insure attendance Before the Reception

 Personal follow-up by host for gifts not collected at Reception  Immediate “thank you” phone call and hand-written note from CEO for gifts  Information on the number of matches sponsored by the gift, with personalized information re: the Big and Little  A thank you gift – e.g. crystal object, or tile hand-made by match, etc. After the Reception

$1,000 Matchmaker Circle $2,500 Ambassador Circle $5,000 Leadership Circle $10,000 Magic Maker Circle Mentor Society Recognition

$25,000 Advocate $100,000 Strategic Sponsor $500,000 Venture Partner $1,000,000 Visionary Any of these can be donated in multiple year pledges Major Gifts Recognition

Find a Board Champion Create a Leadership Giving Team Set a Stretch Goal Within reach but still ambitious Try to double # of gifts of $1000 or more Implementing the Plan

Try to secure a challenge or match established by a donor or outside source “Sell” the Board Identify your Top Prospects: To host a Reception To make a Direct Ask Implementing the Plan

Assess commitment to Agency Track record of recent gifts Assess current involvement with Agency Analyze stage in life and career Determine if their associates have the capacity to give at $1000 or more Identify potential venue How to Identify Top Prospects

Some Boards move faster than others Your Board can only be spread so thin Don’t put all your eggs in one basket (or two or three) Hosts and Venues don’t always come in one package “Heavy Hitters” don’t want to sit on a Committee Volunteers need supportive materials What We’ve Learned So Far