April 10, 2025
April 10, 2025
From the Desk of
Jaci A. Thiede ¦ Partner
A little over a month ago, I received a text from a former colleague that began with, “Thank you for taking a chance on me 14 years ago; doing so helped change the trajectory of my career.” He then shared the news that he had been named the Chief Philanthropy Officer of a major university in Australia. I love seeing people I care about grow and succeed, so this would be a happy story, even without an additional twist. However, there is one, and I’ve been reflecting on it ever since I received his message.
The twist is that he was a completely “non-traditional” candidate for a major gifts position when we hired him. He had no direct professional fundraising or even sales experience. However, he had: 1) consistently expressed his desire to enter the development profession; 2) demonstrated a deep belief in and passion for the mission of the organization through many years of service in a completely unrelated department; and 3) a lengthy history of volunteer service with various non-profit organizations.
He also had skills that truly matter in major gift work: emotional intelligence, genuine curiosity about people, excellent listening skills, the ability to adapt and learn quickly, and the rare ability to connect deeply with people, no matter their background. All those qualities and characteristics were enough for us to take a calculated risk and hire him. The risk was well worth it.
I share this story because, in the competitive world of nonprofit fundraising, conventional wisdom often leads us—me included—to seek candidates with proven track records in closing major gifts. We look for candidates who can hit the ground running, who speak our fundraising language, and who know exactly how to navigate the delicate dance of donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship. All that makes good strategic sense.
COVID has changed the hiring landscape for major gift officers over the past five years. It remains very much a “seller’s market” when it comes to recruiting and retaining top-notch major gift officers. No doubt hiring experienced fundraisers who can successfully navigate the development landscape holds tremendous value. However, in today’s marketplace, it’s crucial to remember that while the technical knowledge of fundraising can be learned, the intrinsic qualities that make someone truly exceptional at building meaningful donor relationships are much harder to teach.
I encourage anyone seeking to recruit major gift talent to remain open to candidates who offer diverse gifts, talents, and experiences. Of course, you should still pursue experienced major gift officers, but also stay receptive to considering unconventional candidates if they demonstrate:
Major gift work requires patience, diligence, creativity, and passion. So does hiring someone to do such important work. Stay open to possibilities and candidates who don’t seem like layups…they may just turn out to be slam dunks!
Happy March Madness!
Our March Madness brackets were filled with our Current and Alumni Client Partners and they did not disappoint as both winners are our Alumni Client Partners! Congratulations to the University of Connecticut, whose women’s team won the 2025 NCAA Women’s Final! And to the University of Florida who took home the men’s trophy. We won…well they won and out bracket was hot!
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Higher Education Giving Up $3.5B in FY24
Giving to U.S. higher education institutions increased by $3.5 billion to reach $61.5 billion in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024 (FY24), according to a survey by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE). The report noted a 3% inflation-adjusted year-over-year increase in contributions to higher education from the $58 billion reported in 2023.
Key Findings
CASE Insights on Voluntary Support of Education: 2024 Key Findings, reflecting data collected from 675 colleges and universities that participated in the survey and can be found here.
Rethinking Big Gifts 5 Years After the Pandemic
Five years ago, in the early days of Covid-19’s arrival, it would have been impossible to predict how the era of pandemic lockdowns would ultimately upend the status quo of fundraising. The pandemic reshaped how donor relationships are forged and major gifts are won. Many of these changes were overdue, say experienced leaders, and they could even be positive in the long run.
Here are some key ways to attract major gifts in a post-pandemic world.
Take a Hybrid Approach to Donor Meetings
Video calls have become the default in donor outreach. However, there are tradeoffs. A hybrid approach is arranging an in-person visit after getting to know a prospect online or to keep the relationship going.
Throw Mission-Aligned Events
Black-tie galas are out. These days, your wealthiest supporters are more likely to want to see your group in action, which can be done in ways that are more innovative and mission-focused than hosting an exclusive party.
Connect with Donors’ Values
Many wealthy philanthropists who became richer during the pandemic are eager to do more to tackle systemic inequities. Trust-based philanthropy is gaining importance, and unrestricted donations have risen among philanthropists inspired by MacKenzie Scott’s approach of no-strings-attached giving.
Use Multiyear Campaigns to Inspire New and Existing Supporters
The multiyear campaign attracted new supporters and inspired existing donors to augment their giving, resulting in an increase in gifts over the $25,000 threshold
Enhance Stewardship With AI
Generative AI has become an indispensable tool for streamlining operations at nonprofits since ChatGPT hit the market in 2022. Fundraisers can judiciously use the new technology while still satisfying donors’ needs for authenticity and personal connection, the experts say. The technology also enables staff to increase the number of donors they can cultivate. COP, 3-11
We Know Colleges & Universities
For more than 35 years, Alexander Haas has been a fixture in the nonprofit community. We are honored to have worked with so many large and small college and universities; both public and private institutions, across the country. These schools that help mold today’s young adults into tomorrow’s leaders. Take a look at our list of higher education clients, past and present.
A Fresh Approach to Fundraising
Our services aren’t cookie cutter. We don’t operate with a boilerplate, merely changing names and locations. We craft each and every service we provide to match your organization’s unique needs, wants and abilities. We work hard and expect you to do the same. Together we can help you transform your institution, your fundraising, and the community you serve.
Whether your need is in Capital Campaign, Annual Fund Campaign, Major Gifts, Leadership Annual Giving, Planned Giving or all of the above, we take a fresh approach to nonprofit fundraising.
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