Cultivating Donors

Working with Individual Donors

The basics of building ongoing support from individual donors

9 AM - 3 PM on all dates and at all locations listed:

Class Description:

Once your organization has begun raising money, it can be challenging to determine how to move beyond grant writing and special events and build ongoing support from individual donors.  Participants in this workshop will learn how to develop and implement a basic program of appealing to individual donors at all levels, including:

• The trends in charitable giving by all types of households
• The motivations of individual donors – what they want, and how to provide it
• How to identify and prioritize potential individual donors
• Techniques for cultivating prospects, asking for support, and thanking donors
• Staff and Board roles in working with individual donors
• The highly personalized techniques involved in working with the most generous major contributors

Presenter's Bio : 

Donna McGinnis, MBA, CFRE, has served the nonprofit sector for nearly 20 years as an active leader and mentor, and was named the 2008 Outstanding Fundraising Professional by the Association of Fundraising Professionals-St. Louis Regional Chapter.  She currently leads the Nonprofit Management Program at Washington University in St. Louis and serves as a consultant and instructor for the Nonprofit Services Center. 

Earlier in her career, Donna served as a consultant with The Rome Group, where she provided counsel to more than 60 nonprofit organizations in St. Louis and around the country.  She also held the positions of Executive Director of the Miriam Foundation, Director of Development at Dance St. Louis, and Assistant Director of Development at Opera Theatre of Saint Louis.

Donna is a dedicated volunteer for her favorite causes.  She has served on the Boards of Directors of the St. Louis Learning Disabilities Association, Young Audiences, and Friends of the Shakespeare Festival.  She serves on the Development Advisory Council of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, and is an active presence in her church and her children’s school.  She has served her profession in many leadership roles.

Donna holds an MBA and a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications.  She is a graduate of Leadership St. Louis and the CORO Women in Leadership Program.  She has held the Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) credential for ten years. 

Registration:

Registration for each workshop is $40 per person and is opened to health-related organizations.  Space is limited to 20 individuals; we encourage two individuals from any one organization register to attend.