Most organizations focus their fundraising activity and resources on the bottom of the donor pyramid - the 90 percent of the donors who usually account for 10 percent, or less, of the money raised. This occurs because most organizations, and the majority of development professionals, have little or no experience in the development of a major gift program, and the identification, cultivation, and solicitation of major gifts. *

Because of the extensive experience H. Freeman Associates has in this
area, a key component of most contracts centers around maximizing
the client's ability to secure large gifts in support of their program. It is
through our approach to the major gift process that we assist an
organization or school in the task of assessing and evaluating the
institution's overall development program and determining what
structural and organizational changes are need to increase dollars raised.

Major gift programs should include focused activity directed toward the cultivation and solicitation of large gifts from a variety of donor sources including individuals, foundations, and corporations. Services provided to the client range from one day training sessions to four-day per month contracts that may or may not include direct work with major gift prospects and donors.

* Depending on the size of the organization's donor pyramid and the availability of resources, the minimum level for a major gift ranges institutionally anywhere from $250 to $100,000 or more.