Mastering Major Donor Fundraising

Mastering Major Donor Fundraising is a four-part training series that covers every aspect of developing and running a successful major donor programme.

Over four days, you will learn the theory and the implementation of all of the essential elements that create a successful major donor fundraising programme: compelling donor-friendly proposals, a pipeline of potential donors, genuine relationships, organisational commitment, and asking for gifts.

A PRACTICAL AND IN DEPTH TRAINING PROGRAMME

DELIVERED BY KITTY HAZELL

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1st May 2025

Persuasive Proposals

Persuasive Proposals is about the pitch to the donor, which may or may not be in writing. You will leave the day knowing what donors want to hear about, with tactics to help you acquire that information internally. You will understand what makes a persuasive proposal and the psychology of philanthropy that’s at play here. You’ll have ideas as to how to keep the members of your home-team on-message about this proposal. Bring with you the most common objections you hear and we will work on robust answers to those objections, together.

15th May 2025

Prospect Pipeline

Prospect Pipeline is about both finding and engaging with your prospective major donors. You will leave the day knowing how to uncover potential major donors from within your database without necessarily using wealth screening. You will know how to do network mapping interviews with those people you know who are well-connected, and what to do with the information that comes from those meetings. You will understand the purpose and value of cultivation and how to do it well. You will practice conversation skills through exercises and in more genuine situations, so that you build confidence in using these different techniques in your work every day.

5th June 2025

Practical Management

Practical Management is about the business of running a major donor programme from record keeping to budget setting. You will leave the day knowing what the management of a major donor programme looks like, from individual plans all the way up to annual plans and budget. You will know how to demonstrate progress, give confidence in your programme and push back against unrealistic targets. You will know how to structure and manage a major donor fundraising team. Bring an extract from your portfolio with you and we will undertake a portfolio review exercise with you on the day so that you understand exactly what a portfolio review is and how to do it.

19th June 2025

Powerful Asking

Powerful Asking is about the right person asking for the right amount, at the right time, with the right set up. You will leave the day knowing when the right time is to ask, and how much to ask for.

You will know what to do after you have asked, whether the answer is yes, no or maybe. You will know what to do if you get it wrong. You will practice asking, and you will be asked.

Investment - £489 + VAT per day.

Receive discounts when booking multiple days

Book 1 day - No discount

Book 2 days - 10% discount

Book 3 days - 15% discount

Book 4 days - 20% discount

When you know who to approach, what to approach them with and how to do it well, major donor fundraising will provide you with a step change in your fundraising income.

Learn more about Major Donor Fundraising

Eimear Kellett - St Francis Hospice

“I attended all 4 sessions as part of the masterclass and in each session there were really practical steps I could take to improve our campaign. Some were incremental, some more significant. It was the prompt at the end of each session to take an action or actions and to hold yourself accountable that was very useful.

I highly recommend this course. As a presenter, Kitty was brilliant, extremely knowledgeable and approachable, and the small classroom size allows for collaboration, knowledge sharing and encourages you to learn from your peers in the room. I really benefited from some one-to-one support from Kitty when stuck on an issue.”