Score Mega Gifts With This Six‐Step Innovation Process

The constant pressure to secure fundraising dollars may contribute to major gift officer burnout and turnover in the workplace.This has a negative impact on donor relationships and ultimately fundraising success.However, Tom Kissane, vice chairman of CCS Fundraising (New York, NY) says leaders can produce a fiery passion within team members by posing this simple question: "During your job interview, we asked why you were interested in serving in our development office. What was the reason that you gave us?"This question, he says, is crafted to remind employees of your mission and the value alignment that first brought them through your doors."Even when gift officers do great work, they can begin to feel disconnected from the cause over time," Kissane explains."That's why it's critical to ask them to recall the high level of enthusiasm they possessed on interview day -it pays to recapture that energy.

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Publication Details

Journal
˜The œmajor gifts report
Published
2025-12-05
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/mgr.32751
Primary Topic
Innovation and Socioeconomic Development
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
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article

Score Mega Gifts With This Six‐Step Innovation Process

Daniel Lindley
˜The œmajor gifts report
Innovation and Socioeconomic Development
article

Score Mega Gifts With This Six‐Step Innovation Process

Daniel Lindley
article en

Abstract

The constant pressure to secure fundraising dollars may contribute to major gift officer burnout and turnover in the workplace.This has a negative impact on donor relationships and ultimately fundraising success.However, Tom Kissane, vice chairman of CCS Fundraising (New York, NY) says leaders can produce a fiery passion within team members by posing this simple question: "During your job interview, we asked why you were interested in serving in our development office. What was the reason that you gave us?"This question, he says, is crafted to remind employees of your mission and the value alignment that first brought them through your doors."Even when gift officers do great work, they can begin to feel disconnected from the cause over time," Kissane explains."That's why it's critical to ask them to recall the high level of enthusiasm they possessed on interview day -it pays to recapture that energy.

˜The œmajor gifts reportVol. 28(1)
United Hospital Fund (US)
Openalex Percentile: Top 37%
Innovation and Socioeconomic Development
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