Episode Details

If you have donors who give every year but you are not sure how to ask for more, this episode is your playbook.

In this conversation with Jason, Chief Development Officer at Vineyard USA, we walk through the anatomy of a real gift: a consistent mid level donor who moved from annual gifts of $2,500 to $5,000 to a $250,000 estate commitment plus a much larger annual gift through her IRA.

Jason breaks down the exact steps, questions, and habits that led there in a way that newer fundraisers can copy.

In this episode, we cover:

• How to read a donor record and spot the signs that someone might be ready for a much larger gift
• Why a long history of “small but steady” giving can be a huge upgrade signal
• How Jason raised a $250,000 legacy gift from his very first prospect at Kenyon College
• Simple language you can use to bring up estate planning without making it awkward
• How to talk about required minimum distributions (RMDs) in plain English and turn them into larger annual gifts
• Practical ways to steward a donor over time so they feel seen, known, and valued
• What it really means to “put in the reps” as a fundraiser so you are ready when a big opportunity appears
• Jason’s concept of “earning your no” and why most no responses are really “not right now”

If you are a one person development shop or a newer fundraiser trying to grow beyond basic annual giving, this episode will help you see your donor file with fresh eyes and give you concrete steps to start moving faithful donors toward major and planned gifts.

Looking for fundraising coaching?  Check out www.abundantvision.net