Getting your donor cultivation event right

You need as many fundraisers in the room as you can, so if you are a small team assign an event manager who can look after the practicalities during the event. This may mean a full and in-depth handover of responsibility to a trusted colleague. You cannot expect to concentrate on a conversation about your donor’s inspiration in life if you’re worrying about whether the canapés are being served quickly enough. If you do have to be the event manager, you need to brief the staff and Board members in the room beforehand and hound them all for individual feedback before they’re allowed to leave. Also ensure you have specific actions to be able to follow up with everyone.