America’s biggest donors gave away $22.4 billion last year, according to the Chronicle’s latest “Philanthropy 50” list of the nation’s top donors. That’s 35 percent more than in 2024, and the largest sum since 2021. Yet even as more dollars are raised, the number of donors continues to fall — and the competition for big gifts is fiercer than ever.
How can your organization keep major donors close, attract new wealthy supporters, and land large gifts in 2026?
Join this 75-minute webinar to learn from two leaders at nonprofits with thriving major giving programs: Thomas Moore, executive director of American Friends of the Louvre, and Kathryn Van Sickle, director of parent gifts at Yale University.
They’ll share key tactics driving major giving at their organizations, including creative events — from galas to intimate dinners — that deepen ties with existing donors and spark interest among prospects. They’ll also offer tips for identifying potential new major donors outside your networks, building authentic connections, and charting the steps that most likely will lead to a big gift.
Plus, you’ll get detailed guidance on how to prepare for donor meetings and make the most of them, including how to recognize when a supporter may be ready to give — and what to say when they are.
You’ll learn:
- Tips for creating events that appeal to major donors and inspire generous gifts
- How to approach conversations with wealthy supporters — and what to avoid
- Ways to find and get to know prospects, even without a personal connection