Finding big donors

7 Post author: NancyLebovitz 05 April 2012 07:31AM

How large foundations look for donors

I don't know how much of this SIAI is already doing, but I thought it would be of interest to anyone who's building up an organization which needs donors. It's also interesting (at least to me-- I've spent my life in a very small business) for how much serious thought can be brought to a project.

One surprising fact: "A large not for profit did a study a few years ago which told them that most of the people who left a million dollars or more to them in their will, unasked-for, gave an average of $17 a year to them during their life."

Comments (7)

Comment author: John_Maxwell_IV 05 April 2012 08:18:18AM 0 points [-]

Interesting stuff. I wasn't clear on what the "prospect research shop"'s business model was, though. I guess they simultaneously try to find donors for lots of different clients?

I wonder how much other nonprofit best practices type stuff SI could benefit from.

Comment author: gjm 05 April 2012 12:46:33PM 0 points [-]

The article implies that usually large charities have their own prospect research shops. (I'd guess that small charities don't bother.)