• How to Close Your First $100,000 Gift

  • Feb 21 2025
  • Length: 33 mins
  • Podcast

How to Close Your First $100,000 Gift

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  • Summary

  • Fundraiser, this is a BIG one! 🎉 Closing your first six-figure gift is a milestone moment in your career—and today, I’m walking you through exactly how to make it happen. Whether you’re brand new to major gifts or just haven’t hit that $100K mark yet, this episode will give you the step-by-step framework to find the right donor, cultivate the relationship, make a powerful ask, and steward the gift for future giving. And hey—if you’ve already closed a six-figure gift, stick around! You’ll relive the glory of your first “YES” and pick up tips to help you land your next one even faster. 🚀 In This Episode, You’ll Learn: ✅ How to find the right donor—no more chasing whales!✅ Why high affinity + high capacity = your ideal six-figure prospect✅ The #1 mistake that keeps fundraisers from making big asks✅ How to cultivate with purpose (so you’re always moving toward the ask)✅ The permission-based fundraising strategy that guarantees you’re asking at the right time✅ What to do after the donor says YES to keep them engaged for future gifts Key Takeaways: 🛠 Step 1: Find the Right Prospect No more guessing! You need both high affinity & high capacityLook at past giving trends—who is already engaged and increasing their gifts? ⏳ Step 2: Make Time to Fundraise Major gifts don’t happen by accident! Protect your time & focus on deep relationshipsWhat you focus on = what gets results 📣 Step 3: Have a Strong Case for Support What are your fundable impact areas? Don’t just build new programs—fund what’s already making a differenceCreate clear, compelling cases for why this gift matters 💡 Step 4: Cultivate with Purpose Every interaction should move the donor closer to the askUse personalized, high-touch engagement (events, site tours, board meetings, peer-to-peer connections) 🤝 Step 5: Get Permission to Ask Before you end any donor meeting, secure the next stepExample: “Next time we meet, I’d love to talk to you about a significant financial commitment. Would that be okay?” 💰 Step 6: Make the Ask Be specific: “Would you consider a leadership gift of $100,000 to make X program possible?”Then, STOP TALKING. Let the donor think & respond—don’t rush to fill the silence! 🎉 Step 7: Steward the Gift Like a Pro Call the donor the next day to celebrate their commitmentKeep them updated as their gift makes an impact (this sets up their next big gift!) Resources & Links: 📌 FREE 7-Figure Fundraising Success Method Webinar – Take the 30-minute audit & see if you’re ready for six-figure gifts Watch it HERE📌 Major Donor Meeting Mastery Course – Learn how to land meetings & move donors toward a YES: Get The Masterclass HERE📌 Connect with Me on LinkedIn – Let’s talk fundraising! Follow & Connect HERE Your Next Steps: 🎧 Loved this episode? Leave a review and share your biggest takeaway!📢 Know a fellow fundraiser who needs this? Send them this episode!📩 Have a question or topic request? Send me a voice message Leave A Message for Mary Thanks for tuning in, fundraiser! Now go out there and close that first six-figure gift! 🚀💰 Until next time,Mary
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