Share these talks and lectures with your colleagues
Invite colleaguesPractice paper
No dollar left behind: Leveraging major gifts during days of giving
Journal of Education Advancement & Marketing,
9
(1),
70-84
(2024)
Abstract
Major gifts are crucial to the success of any comprehensive campaign and giving days are crucial to building institutional awareness and annual philanthropy. This paper analyses how Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts merged the two together to leverage multiple six-figure gifts into days of giving that raised historic funds and participation. Through the power of relationship building, peer-to-peer fundraising and volunteer activation, this paper will share how a rural college inspired a community to give and how you can do it too. Whatever size ‘major’ is for you, embrace the opportunity to leave no dollar behind, impact more students and build excitement along the way.
Keywords: annual giving; campaign strategies; donor relations and stewardship; major gifts
The full article is available to subscribers to the journal.
Author's Biography
Kate Gigliotti (she, her, hers) brings over 15 years of experience in nonprofit administration, programme-building and fundraising to her role as Senior Associate Director of Priorities and Initiatives at Harvard University. In the position, Kate serves as a fundraising planner and strategist for university-wide priorities, partnering and collaborating across schools and stakeholders to maximise fundraising success across the institution. Previously, Kate served the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) as Chief Advancement Officer, deputy to the Vice President of Institutional Advancement, overseeing alumni engagement, donor relations, advancement services, Foundation operations and annual fundraising. Before her time at MCLA, Kate was director of alumni programs and events for the University of Houston Law Center and assistant director of alumni affairs with Albany Law School. Her early career was spent in various program administrative capacities in the nonprofit sector. Kate holds BM degrees in music business and vocal performance from SUNY Potsdam and an MA in non-profit management from the University of Houston. She is a 2022–23 cohort member of the Executive Leadership Institute which is housed within Bridgewater State University.
Shela Levante serves as the Campaign Director at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) where she helps educational champions fund initiatives focused on student retention and success. Her responsibilities include overseeing a US$25m optimal needs campaign, supporting volunteer board members in fundraising activities and building relationships with major and legacy donors who want to make a meaningful impact with their philanthropy. With ten years of experience in fundraising and development, Shela has enjoyed being part of higher educational institutions and community foundations in various donor relations roles. Shela earned her master's degree in public administration in 2019 from Northeastern University and a bachelor's degree in non-profit leadership and management from Arizona State University. She is a member of the Women of Color in Fundraising and Philanthropy and the Planned Giving Group of New England.
