Engaging Major Donors: Strategies for Building Sustainable Non-Profit Partnerships

Engaging Major Donors: Strategies for Building Sustainable Non-Profit Partnerships

Author: Dr. Anna Neya Kazanskaia

Publisher: NEYA Global Publishing
Journal: NEYA Global Journal of Non-Profit Studies (ERDO)
Year: 2025
DOI: https://doi.org/10.64357/neya-gjnps-donors-2025

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About the Article

Major donors are a cornerstone of non-profit sustainability, providing transformative resources that enable systemic change. This article explores strategies for identifying, cultivating, and stewarding high-net-worth individuals through donor profiling, network leveraging, and philanthropic history analysis. It highlights relationship-building practices such as personalized communication, exclusive events, and recognition initiatives, alongside tailored proposals and impact reporting. Drawing on international case studies, the article demonstrates how authentic engagement and strategic stewardship secure significant gifts while fostering long-term partnerships built on trust and shared vision.

Key Topics:

  • Identifying and profiling potential donors
  • Donor stewardship and relationship management
  • Tailored communication and engagement strategies
  • Exclusive events and recognition initiatives
  • International case examples of major donor success
  • Challenges of donor fatigue and competition

Academic Value:

This article contributes to the study of philanthropy and fundraising by linking theoretical insights on donor behavior with applied strategies for sustainable partnerships. It emphasizes the balance between strategic rigor and relational authenticity, providing a framework for both academics and practitioners to engage major donors effectively. By situating major donor engagement within broader debates on power, accountability, and sustainability, it offers critical and practical value to the field of non-profit management.

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https://neyaglobal.com/journal-nonprofit/engaging-major-donors-strategies-for-building-sustainable-non-profit-partnerships
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