When you’re a small organization, you may look at larger institutions and the gifts they secure as impossible for you to get. But small shops can make connections and build relationships to develop big gifts, too. In this session, we’ll review the process of developing a major donor relationship; develop a case for support that inspires big gifts; and pinpoint how you can be strategic in your development approach when you don’t have a lot of hands to do the work.
Alice L. Ferris, MBA, CFRE, ACFRE and James Anderson are partners in GoalBusters, providing philanthropic leadership services, specializing in outsourced development for small nonprofits; integrated fundraising, marketing and strategic planning; and customized education and training programs. GoalBusters has clients in many sectors, including public and community broadcasting, education, arts and culture, social service, healthcare, and Native American causes. In their careers to date, Alice and Jim have helped raise over $9 million for organizations and philanthropic causes.
Jim Anderson has more than 25 years of sales and sales training experience through his positions with local media and national research companies such as Nielsen Media, Simmons and Scarborough Research. Consistently recognized as a top revenue producer ($30 million+), Jim earned “Sales Executive” and “Negotiator of the Year” awards. He migrated into the nonprofit arena in 2005, and specializes in analyzing donor motivations, implementing marketing and social media campaigns, finding compelling stories for organizational case statements, improving nonprofit communications, and making any special event more effective and fun. In 2010, Jim was selected at the AFP Northern Arizona Fundraising Professional of the Year.
Alice Ferris has over twenty years of professional fundraising experience, and is a two-time honoree
as AFP-Northern Arizona Fundraising Professional of the Year. Alice is a member of the AFP International Board, was 2009-2010 Vice Chair, Member Services for AFP International and was the 90th professional in the world to receive the Advanced Certified Fundraising Executive credential. She specializes in strategic and development planning, board development, annual giving, and nonprofit operations.
Alice and Jim, who are both AFP Master Teachers, have presented at AFP Chapters throughout North
America and at the AFP International Conference.