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Big ideas for big donors: A leadership approach to major gift fundraising
Journal of Education Advancement & Marketing,
9
(4),
380-387
(2025)
Abstract
Charitable giving by individuals is declining as a share of overall philanthropy in the USA. One reason involves fewer mega-donors providing fewer gifts of at least US$1m. Expert fundraisers with demonstrated success are not immune to these trends. In addition, even experienced fundraisers can hit a ceiling in their efforts to cultivate large, transformational donations. Research-based leadership practises can be translated into pragmatic fundraising strategies, helping veteran fundraisers sharpen their major gift fundraising skills. Lessons from organisational life cycle theory, effective leadership communication and creative innovation can help fundraisers work with donors to devise large, impactful ideas that inspire large, major gifts. In this challenging fundraising environment, fundraisers can gain confidence that their major gift fundraising strategies and tactics are rooted in evidence-based leadership practises.
Keywords: major gift fundraising; big donors; big ideas; leadership; innovation; communication
The full article is available to subscribers to the journal.
Author's Biography
Bill Stanczykiewicz holds an Ed.D. degree. He serves as the Senior Assistant Dean for external relations at the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, where he also directs The Fund Raising School. Bill’s academic faculty responsibilities include teaching master’s and doctoral courses on leadership in the philanthropic sector, which he then translates into effective fundraising strategies when teaching professional development courses for The Fund Raising School in the USA and internationally. Stanczykiewicz supplements his research-based knowledge with lessons learned from serving as the CEO of the Indiana Youth Institute and from volunteering on numerous nonprofit boards of directors. Throughout these varied experiences, Bill has been associated with raising more than US$100m from individuals, foundations, corporations and government sources.
