Major Gift Fundraising for Nonprofits

Major Gift Fundraising for Nonprofits is a comprehensive, practice-oriented course designed to help nonprofit professionals build, grow, and sustain a successful major gifts program. Major gifts represent one of the most powerful and cost-effective revenue streams for nonprofits, yet many organizations struggle with donor identification, cultivation, and solicitation strategies. This course provides a structured roadmap to move from foundational readiness to advanced major gift strategies with confidence and clarity.
Participants will explore the full major gift lifecycle, beginning with organizational readiness and prospect research, and progressing through donor cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, and long-term relationship management. The course emphasizes ethical fundraising practices, data-informed decision-making, and relationship-centered approaches that align donor interests with organizational mission and impact. Special attention is given to building internal capacity, engaging leadership and boards, and creating a culture of philanthropy that supports sustainable growth.
Through real-world examples, practical tools, and actionable frameworks, learners will develop the skills needed to identify high-potential prospects, design personalized cultivation plans, confidently make the ask, and steward donors for long-term retention. Advanced modules address planned giving, capital campaigns, and institutional partnerships, as well as methods for measuring return on investment and optimizing program performance.
By the end of the course, participants will leave with a clear implementation roadmap and the confidence to strengthen or launch a major gift program that drives meaningful impact for their organization.