If I Had to Build a Major Gift Program From Scratch, Here’s Exactly What I’d Do

If Mary walked into a nonprofit tomorrow and had one year to build a major gift program from scratch, what would she do first, what would she ignore, and where would she spend her time? In this episode of Hey Fundraiser!, Mary breaks down the seven things she would prioritize to build a focused, effective major gift program without getting buried in software, policies, giant portfolios, or endless database cleanup. She walks through how to build a Money Map of the donors who can actually move your goal, create compelling Offers & Outcomes that fund change instead of budget lines, get in the door with your best prospects, establish a consistent Relationship Rhythm, identify donors who may already be ready for a larger conversation, build confidence around asking, and steward major donors like true partners after the gift. She also shares what she would deliberately not spend time on in the first six months and what she would want accomplished within the first 90 days. The goal is not more activity. It is more focus: the right people, the right opportunities, the right relationships, the right asks, and exceptional stewardship. Mary also shares how the 2027 Major Gift Intensives will help fundraisers do this work shoulder-to-shoulder using their own prospects, donors, challenges, and fundraising goals, with stops planned in Los Angeles, Dallas, Chicago, Washington, DC, Philadelphia, and New York. 🎓 The Professional Development Budget Kit. Free Download! Everything you need to get your organization to say "yes" to funding your growth: templates, talking points, and an ROI calculator.💸 Major Gift Intensives. We're headed to 6 cities in 2027. Are we headed to yours? Join us for a 3 day deep dive into major gifts! Only 30 seats per city.🌻 The 2027 Growth Pass. Only 5 seats available. The Growth Pass bundles Mary's three flagship live experiences into one powerful year of learning. One Major Gift Intensive. One Ask Workshop. One Small Table Intensive.🪑 The Small Table Intensive. Half a day. Build or rebuild your major gift program around fewer donors and deeper relationships, using the methodology from my book Small Table Big Philanthropy.🎯 The Ask Workshop. Half a day. The exact words to use when it's time to ask for 5 and 6-figure gifts. Walk in nervous about the ask. Walk out with the scripts.💻 Connect with Mary PetersenWebsite: heyfundraiser.comYouTube: @...