Welcome to Using Events as Cultivation/Stewardship Opportunities for Major Donors Please take this time before the start of the session to silence your cell phone or pager. Your feedback is valuable. At the end of the session, we ask that you take a moment to complete an evaluation form. Thank you.

Using Events as Cultivation/Stewardship Opportunities for Major Donors Jeffrey Bell, WNED Bradley Hurlburt, WPBT Ellen Oppenheimer, WPBT Virginia Thumm, WHRO

Using Events as Cultivation/Stewardship Opportunities for Major Donors MGI – Culture Change Why do an event? How do you create a successful event?

Using Events as Cultivation/Stewardship Opportunities for Major Donors Event Strategies Types of events and speakers Who to invite - lists Regional events Working with Hosts Committees Invitations Assign prospects to staff and board

Using Events as Cultivation/Stewardship Opportunities for Major Donors Event Planning –Research attendees –Staff ratio and assignments –Presentations Station background Giving opportunities Speaker Video

Using Events as Cultivation/Stewardship Opportunities for Major Donors Invitations –Don’t forget that the invitation is a “touch” too –Formal and fancy may not be the best option –Mailed invitations only one part of multimedia process –Mix it up –Examples

Using Events as Cultivation/Stewardship Opportunities for Major Donors

At the event –Engage everyone in the building for event –Pre-game meeting with everyone, including board members, committee members –Designated ‘runner’ –Importance of check-in desk –Be prepared for tours

Using Events as Cultivation/Stewardship Opportunities for Major Donors At the event (continued) –Have renewal / pledge cards handy –Wine, wine, wine –Use department camera –Write things down –Take away materials Always include an opportunity to give Major donor magazine Gift related to event program

Using Events as Cultivation/Stewardship Opportunities for Major Donors staff meeting to review what information was gained – what needs to be entered into database thank you letters to all attendees from President/GM plan appropriate follow-up for each attendee

Using Events as Cultivation/Stewardship Opportunities for Major Donors Further Engagement –Lunch/dinner –Station taping/tour –Testimonial –Committees –Screening lists –Host event –Top Tiers & Strategies

Using Events as Cultivation/Stewardship Opportunities for Major Donors Examples of how events lead to major gifts. – Fay Aronson – Bob Elmore – Marion Gendron – Richard Schmidt – (other examples)

Using Events as Cultivation/Stewardship Opportunities for Major Donors Examples (continued) Questions and Answers