Building Trust and Consent in Major Gift Fundraising with Rhea Wong
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In this episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, Maria chats with Rhea Wong, a major gift fundraising expert and former nonprofit Executive Director, about building trust with major donors, consent-based fundraising, and the shifting philanthropic landscape. Rhea shares her experience navigating donor relationships, building trust, and tips for creating a successful major gifts program.
Key Episode Highlights:
Building trust in major gift fundraising
Consent-based fundraising
Navigating difficult conversations with donors
Empathy and understanding generational differences
Starting a major gifts program
Quotable Quotes:
"Fundraising is not about closing gifts; it's about opening relationships." - Rhea Wong
"You need to ask for consent before you consider someone a prospect. Just because you have their contact information doesn’t mean they’re ready to give." - Rhea Wong
Actionable Tips:
➜ Ask for consent: Before considering someone as a major gift prospect, ensure you have their consent to engage in deeper conversations. Use surveys and personal interactions to learn about their interests and how they’d like to be involved.
➜ Treat donors as partners: Build relationships based on trust and transparency. Engage donors as equal partners in your mission, focusing on long-term relationships rather than one-time transactions.
➜ Have tough conversations: Don’t shy away from discussing difficult topics like systemic issues or organizational challenges. Addressing these openly can deepen donor trust and lead to stronger partnerships.
➜ Start with strong annual giving: Before jumping into major gift fundraising, ensure your annual donor program is solid. This will give you a foundation of consistent support and help identify engaged donors who could become major prospects.
➜ Be intentional and proactive: Approach donor relationships with a clear plan. Define what an ideal major gift partnership looks like for your organization and communicate that vision early in conversations with donors.
Resources Mentioned:
Rhea Wong’s Website
Rhea Wong’s Ways To Work with Me Quiz
Connect with Us:
Connect with Maria Rio
Connect with Rhea Wong
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Watch this episode on Youtube.
Coming Next Week:
Join us next week as Heather Nelson shares how nonprofits can build values-aligned corporate partnerships by confidently articulating their goals and embracing tough conversations for stronger collaborations.
