Hi John, Do you ever go to major donors and seek their advice? I hope so, because Advice Visits are one of our favorite discovery and cultivation strategies for our major gift prospects. Why do we like Advice Visits? Because you honor your donor by asking for more than their money. You ask for their insight, their input, their advice on strategy. When you ask a donor for advice, you get them on your side. You get them thinking about how you can be successful. In a way, they join your team of strategic thinkers. All of a sudden they are saying “we need to do this” instead of ‘you need to do this.” Today’s post is a must-read for everyone who struggles with donor conversations. If you or someone on your team is not sure what to say or even how to talk to major donors, you really need this strategy. This approach is subtle. It’s fun and - it’s wildly helpful to you and your cause. It deepens your relationship with your donors, and helps them enjoy their time with you. They will look forward to seeing you again! Advice Visits are one of the Soft Skills of Major Gift Fundraising that we teach in our Major Gifts Roadmap coaching program. When you join us, you can learn a systematic, organized approach to building donor relationships. Many of our coaching members have used these Advice Visit strategies with surprising results. One member got a $5k gift without asking. Another member received – on the spot – a $1.5 million challenge gift when she asked her donor for his advice! (Yes she almost fainted!) When you join our Major Gift Roadmap program, we can show you how to get these kinds of results too. What’s your experience with Advice Visits? Leave a comment on the blog and let us know! Dedicated to fun, happy and productive visits with your donors, Gail |