Virtually all large non-profits and educational institutions with highly sophisticated development programs (and very large staffs), spend highly focused time and energy on developing long-term cultivation strategies for their very top prospects. Within the ranks of many colleges and universities, the top prospect level will often be prospects of $10 million or more. For many smaller non-profits, both the threshold and the pool of such prospects is lower and much smaller.

The focus of this on-site 1-2 day consultation is an introduction for the small to medium-size non-profit to a development model appropriate for use in cultivating relationships with very large prospects at your institution. The work begins with a conceptual overview of major gift fundraising then advances to work with development staff and senior level personnel on cultivation and solicitation strategies for each individual within a highly-focused group of prospects drawn from the top 1-2 percent of your donor/prospect pool. As a general rule, the minimum level of gift capability within the prospect pool selected should be one or more prospects with gift capability of $1.0 million or more and all prospects should be capable of a minimum financial investment of $250,000.

The optimum pool of prospects selected is in the range of 4-8 individuals (or families) with the actual number determined by:
a) the length of the on-site consultation,
b) the nature of your relationship with each prospect
c) the gift potential of those selected for inclusion in the analysis and planning process.

Note: While the client may select a larger number of prospects for inclusion in the consultation process, the consultation generally involves a minimum of 1-2 hours of focused discussion and strategy planning for each prospect. Generally speaking, increasing the number of prospects for inclusion in the prospect strategy session is not recommended within the context of a short-term consultation.

Format: 1-2 day on-site consultation with senior level personnel and development staff directly associated with the cultivation and solicitation of top donors.