
Thursday, July 9th, 2015
8:15 AM - 9:20 AM: Breakout 5
Ask A Whale! An Unfiltered Q&A with High Net Worth Donors About Their Views of Major Gift & Multi-Channel Cultivation
Azalea 1
In this open forum, attendees will have a unique chance to ask unfiltered questions to high-net worth individuals about their perspective as someone frequently solicited as a major donor.

How do they discover organizations? Are they engaging with nonprofits the same way that $19 a month givers are? Why do they give? Do they use online tools? Are they on Facebook? Do they donate on their iPhones? How would they advise an organization to connect with people like them?

These people will not be solicited for donations. Rather, we will use the opportunity to ask them questions that either dispel myths about major gift fundraising, prove points, or most importantly, open fundraisers eyes to new ways of reaching people who might be engaged in their cause if approached properly.

Please come with questions!

Moderated by Leigh Kessler, VP of Marketing at CharityEngine, interviewees will include Alan Meltzer, founder of The Meltzer Group, a 2011 Inductee into the Washington Business Hall of Fame and one of the most recognized philanthropists in Washington, DC. Additional panelists will be announced.
Learning Outcome #1
By attending this session participants will learn:
What channels and actions make a high net-worth donor (HND) get involved in an organization other than a cold-call/MGO solicitation, do they use peer-to-peer or DIY fundraising, and what does that mean to big check writing?
Learning Outcome #2
By attending this session participants will learn:
How can (and should) MGOs and development folks use non-MGO channels to target, engage and cultivate HNDs?
Learning Outcome #3
By attending this session participants will learn:
What are the mistakes that MGO's make or missed opportunities that turn off HNDs or reduce their interest?