IJason George (Chief Development Officer, Vineyard USA; formerly OSU & Kenyon) breaks down how persistence and radical transparency turn “hard to reach” prospects into joyful half-million-dollar donors—and how to spot hidden capacity fast.
In this episode:
- The 18-month pursuit that became a $500K (cash + estate) gift in ~5 months
- Reading beyond the wealth rating: clues that a “$50k” alum was actually a $250k+ donor
- How to frame first calls so strangers say yes (own the fundraiser role, lead with story)
- Turning annual donors into major donors with matching and clear next steps
- DEI in fundraising: being a safe, candid educator as a person of color on predominantly white teams
- Using alumni storytelling, magazines, and classroom connections as value-adds that open doors
Looking for fundraising coaching? Check out www.abundantvision.net
