MDR 3-Day Itinerary
Tuesday
07.30 – 08.30
Breakfast
08.30 – 09.30
Registration and coffee
09.30 – 10.30
Scene setting
10.30 – 12.00
A Compelling Vision – the Case for Support – I
12.00 – 13.00
Lunch
13.00 – 14.30
A Compelling Vision – the Case for Support – II
13.30 – 14.30
Tutorial – introductions, clarifying personal objectives, setting ‘elevator pitch’ task
14.30 – 15.30 Elective A Start-ups (a practical guide to setting up a new major gift fundraising
programme eg resourcing, road map, pre-requisites, targets; is it even right for your organisation) Taking major gifts to the next level (how to achieve a step-change in major gift fundraising performance in an established operation)
Coffee
15.30 – 16.00
16.00 – 17.00 Elective B Prospect identification, research, prioritisation (including
something on the practicalities of record keeping on databases; Data Protection etc) Partnerships (joint campaigns with other charities; coordinating with sister organisations eg HQ versus regions, or UK versus overseas)
17.00 – 17.45
Tutorial – review of the day
17.45 – 18.30
Project work/free time
18.30 – 19.30
Drinks reception – including working the room exercise
19.30 – 21.00
Dinner
Excellent fundraising for a better world
MDR 3-Day Itinerary
Wednesday
07.30 – 08.30
Breakfast
08.30 – 09.30
Fixing meetings
09.30 – 10.30
Tutorial
10.30 – 11.00
Coffee
11.00 – 12.30
Cultivation and Stewardship – including 7 steps model
12.30 – 13.15
Lunch
13.15 – 14.45
Campaigns – what are they; inspiring stories, big and small; practical ‘how to’ guidance
14.45 – 15.15
Coffee
15.15 – 16.15
Elective C
16.15 – 17.15
Elective D
17.15 – 17.30
Break
17.30 – 18.30
Tutorial – including ‘ask’ role play
18.30 – 19.00
Project work/free time
19.00 – 19.45
Drinks reception with sponsors
19.45 – 21.00
Dinner
Lessons from other sectors (why and how do a handful of universities attract more £1m+ gifts than all other charities combined; what can we learn from the arts; what might you need to do differently between causes eg in a health charity versus an overseas aid charity etc) International and cross-cultural fundraising (practical issues like registering in US States, setting up 501c3, tax implications for gifts from the EU; pros and cons of fundraising from UK or having an overseas office; examples of cultural differences and their impact on solicitation process, attitudes to philanthropy and gift recognition)
Resourcing, policies, procedures (the systems and infrastructure that keep everything on track eg what to pay your fundraisers and what else to budget for; what support roles you need, or options for outsourcing eg research; policy for accepting gifts; can you top-slice for core costs; policy for naming things in thanks for a gift) Metrics (what return can you expect from your major gift fundraisers; ‘cash received’ versus ‘new income secured’; non-financial targets for major gift fundraisers; gift pyramids) Career paths and professional networking (do you have what it takes; when’s the right time to move; where can you expect to be 5 years on; what recruiters are looking for; do qualifications help; what peer support is available)
Excellent fundraising for a better world
MDR 3-Day Itinerary
Thursday
07.30 – 08.30
Breakfast
08.30 – 09.15
Tutorial – elevator pitches rehearsal; selection by tutor of finalist
09.15 – 10.45
Leadership and Volunteers
10.45 – 11.15
Coffee
11.15 – 12.45
Donor Panel
12.45 – 13.45
13.45 – 14.30
Lunch with donors Elevator pitches challenge – one per tutorial group; in front of donors
13.30 – 14.30 Elective E Events (the role of events in major gift fundraising; creative ideas;
preparation, who does what on the night, and effective follow up; selling tickets versus invites) Major gift fundraising in smaller charities (how it works in small organisations, when you might be the only fundraiser)
14.30 – 15.00
Coffee
15.00 – 16.00
Tutorial – review of key lessons learnt; what will change now task
Wrap up
16.00 – 17.00
Excellent fundraising for a better world