Description

Join KNN for Developing Major Gifts - a NEW multi-day training and peer learning experience designed to help nonprofits strengthen donor relationships and grow major gifts. 

Developing Major Gifts is designed to help nonprofits identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward major donors in ways that deepen relationships and advance mission impact. Participants will learn how to build a strong major gifts strategy, assess readiness for major giving, prioritize prospects, and implement proven practices that strengthen donor relationships over time.

The interactive three-day training is led by experts from The Fund Raising School from the nationally recognized Indiana University Lilly School of Philanthropy and focuses on the full major gifts cycle, including donor qualification, moves management, solicitation strategies, stewardship, and ethical fundraising practices, with a strong emphasis on real‑world application and practical planning.

The training is paired with a cohort of peer and consultant support to help your organization stay on track with its major gifts goals.

Developing Major Gifts combines expert instruction with hands‑on planning and ongoing support to help your organization build a major gifts program that delivers lasting results.

This program helps nonprofits: 

• Identify and prioritize major gift prospects
• Build meaningful, long‑term relationships with individual donors
• Develop a clear, actionable major gifts strategy
• Strengthen board and staff roles in major gifts fundraising
• Apply ethical, donor‑centered practices to increase major gift success

To support your success, you’ll receive:

• Three-day training with experts from The Fund Raising School
• An easy-to-use, comprehensive study guide to use for future reference
• Practical tools, exercises, and planning resources for major gifts fundraising
• Support from a Coach/Facilitator dedicated to helping your cohort succeed
• Networking and peer support from other professionals in the cohort 
• An online community platform for communicating and connecting with your Coach/Facilitator and cohort members

Three-Day Training Details - Developing Major Gifts:

• Dates: 
  • Monday, July 20: 9:00am-5:00pm ET (8:30am check in and breakfast)
  • Tuesday, July 21: 8:30am-5pm ET
  • Wednesday, July 22: 8:30am-5pm ET 
  • Continental breakfast and lunch are provided to participants all three days of the training.
• Location: Central Kentucky Community Foundation, Elizabethtown, KY
• You'll learn how to:
  • Use your mission to motivate volunteers
  • Develop an organizational vision for major gifts
  • Organize your major gift program
  • Provide and cultivate leadership for your major gifts program
  • Help volunteers overcome their resistance to asking for gifts
  • Respond to objections in your presentation
  • Define the roles of board and staff in major gift fundraising
  • Manage the eight-step major gifts process
  • Use current research to guide your approach
  • Forge leadership partnerships

Coaching & Implementation Support Details: Program participants receive support on goal-setting and progress as part of the Developing Major Gifts cohort, including:

• Two online group coaching calls with your cohort following training
• Two 1:1 coaching sessions
• Ongoing guidance on setting realistic metrics and measuring progress
• Access to an online communications platform to maintain connections with your cohort peers for questions, resources, and more

Reduced Fee:

• Generous support from the Fidelity Charitable Catalyst Fund allows KNN to offer this program to KNN members at a significantly reduced fee of $599 (the regular price for the three-day training alone is $1,495). For this deeply reduced fee, participants receive registration for the 3-day training (including meals) and coaching and peer support to help you reach your goals!

Program Components: 

• Onsite training (July 20-22 in Elizabethtown): The interactive three-day training is led by experts from The Fund Raising School from the nationally recognized Indiana University Lilly School of Philanthropy.
• Goal setting & progress check-ins: To support participant success and help us understand program impact, all participating organizations are required to complete brief goal‑setting and progress check‑ins (via online forms) between July 2026 and January 2027. This information is used for program learning, improvement, and required funder reporting.
• 1:1 coaching check‑ins: Two individual coaching sessions are available for each organization, including one 30‑minute post‑training check‑in and one additional 30‑minute check‑in later in the year to support goal progress, troubleshoot challenges, and refine next steps. Additional coaching time may be purchased by organizations if desired.
• Group coaching calls: Two cohort‑based group calls designed to deepen learning, share challenges and wins, and learn from peers.
• Online cohort engagement: Access to an online community platform for peer conversation, resource sharing, questions, and ongoing connection with your Coach/Facilitator and cohort.

Registration Details: 

• We encourage organizations to register multiple team members to engage in a unified fundraising approach and strengthen internal collaboration.
• No cancellations or refunds are available. If you are no longer able to attend after registering, you may transfer your registration to a colleague at your organization.
• Note: This program is limited to 40 participants - register now to reserve your spot! 
• Your organization must have an active KNN membership to participate.
• The Developing Major Gifts three-day training qualifies for 20.25 CFRE Education Points/Hours and fulfills education point requirements for the CFRE International application for initial certification and/or recertification.
  
  
  

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