Developing A Major Gift Program At The Local Level Of The American Cancer Society

The purpose of this study was to develop an effective model for local units of the American Cancer Society to use in identifying and soliciting prospective major gift donors. A literature review identified ten components which are normally part of a successful major gifts program. Interviews of executive directors of other nonprofit organizations were conducted, and these determined that when an organization's major gift program contains the ten components, it is more successful in obtaining major gift donations. District representatives with fund raising responsibilities for the Minnesota Division of the American Cancer Society were surveyed to determine their experience with and attitude toward major gift programs.