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How to Make a Major Gift

Introduction

"A major gift is a creative act – an opportunity for a funder to transform an institution or catalyze a new stage of growth for an organization."-Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors “Major Gifts and Naming Opportunities: When Giving Becomes Leading”

In previous publications we have written on topics such as how to get started with your philanthropy or how to involve your family in your philanthropy. Over time, as you continue to support an organization with your time, talent and treasure, you may have an opportunity to make a more significant financial gift to that organization to support its growth or increase its impact. Giving generously through a major gift to a nonprofit organization is one way you can fulfill your goals to improve the world and express your care for that organization’s mission. 

Making a major gift can be an exciting and rewarding way for you to partner with a nonprofit organization at a higher level. Making a major gift can also be an overwhelming process requiring more planning and thoughtful decision-making involving accounting, legal, and philanthropy expertise than smaller gifts. To that end, we have written this publication to help you think through five important questions you should answer as you consider making a major gift to a nonprofit organization. 

  1. What is a major gift? 
  2. What are the different types of major gifts? 
  3. What should I contemplate before making a major gift? 
  4. What are some practical considerations associated with making a major gift? 
  5. How can my major gift inspire others?  

Oftentimes a donor is excited about making a major gift and the recipient organization is anxious to receive the gift. As a result, proper planning around how to craft the gift to best meet both parties’ needs is given short shrift. The purpose of this publication is to offer donors guidance and options for how to proceed with structuring a major gift to fulfill your philanthropic goals. We encourage you to consider the answers to each of these questions and determine how you might want to proceed with (or perhaps reconsider) making a major gift. 

To read the full report, click here.

This material is intended for educational purposes only and is provided solely on the basis that it will not constitute investment advice and will not form a primary basis for any personal or plan’s investment decisions. While it is based on information believed to be reliable, no warranty is given as to its accuracy or completeness and it should not be relied upon as such. Information and opinions provided herein are as of the date of this material only and are subject to change without notice. Goldman Sachs is not a fiduciary with respect to any person or plan by reason of providing the material herein. Information and opinions expressed by individuals other than Goldman Sachs employees do not necessarily reflect the view of Goldman Sachs. Information and opinions are as of the date of the event and are subject to change without notice.

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