Meet the major donors you haven’t met yet.
We help charities find aligned donors, start real conversations and build major giving programs that generate revenue.
From strategy and prospect research to outreach, team training and hands-on execution, we help your organization turn major giving into work that actually gets done.
30 minutes. No preparation required.
Qualify more, ask early, close often.
Major giving has changed
Most charities haven’t changed with it.
The share of charitable dollars coming from major donors keeps growing. But many charities still spend most of their fundraising time reaching the people giving the least.
That leaves leadership working harder on events, campaigns, grants and small-dollar appeals while major donor relationships remain underdeveloped.
You don’t need another campaign.
You need a major giving system your organization can actually sustain.
Let’s talk about what is keeping major giving stuck.
In a 30-minute call, we will learn about your organization, discuss where fundraising currently stands and identify what could help you make meaningful progress.
If we are a strong fit, we will explain how we could work together.
Built for registered charities or nonprofits with a program delivery partnership.
Strike-Day
QR Code WIN
"During the Canada Post strike end of last year,
I made a list of local private foundation directors and hand-delivered mail to their homes.
One of them scanned the printed QR code and
made a major gift by credit card
online that same day."
Takeaway → Precision-targeted hyperlocal direct mail
can convert immediately into online major gifts,
even during a mail strike.
Timing makes a difference
Quick Case Study → Mid-Sized Charity
6-Week Year-End Snapshot
150 prospects · 25 replies · 12 calls · 3 major gifts · 3 pledges
No major-gift officer. Gifts before year-end, plus warm leads for next year.
More Money Doesn’t Have to Mean More Work
GREENLIGHT METHOD
Major-Giving Support
Stop Waiting for Introductions, Start Reaching New Major Donors Today.
Market Stall Major Donor
"While tabling at an artisan market, a casual initial in-person conversation became an invitation to connect on social media. The contact turned out to work with the social impact team of a corporate foundation.
That chance encounter became a lead for an annual
major gift and employee volunteer commitment."
Takeaway → Every public event is a potential
major donor lead-gen moment.
Ask early, honour consent, let donors choose the pace.
Book a call to discuss major-donor strategy, training or execution for your charity.
“I've learned so much from Eric and my career in fundraising would not be where it is without his guidance as a Senior Manager. He's not only great at the art of fundraising, but has an extraordinary ability to build great connections with his teams and donors. He's an empathetic and caring soul who believes in changing the world for the better. He's also just a great guy to have around the workplace.”
Iain Conlon
Senior Fundraising Manager, Public Outreach Canada
The Stand-Up Marathon
"While canvassing on a downtown campus street, I recognized a popular comedian and stopped him in his tracks with a quick pitch.
He agreed on the spot to do a fundraising dare for the campaign, and the next month raised over $25,000 by streaming a 24-hour standup marathon."
Takeaway → Spotting opportunity and asking quickly
can trigger outsized impact.
Eric Shinn,
Fundraising Expert
"It’s not about knowing the right people anymore—it’s about reaching values aligned new people. Even one yes can transform your fundraising results."
25 yrs of experience
The Hospital Door Knock
"Canvassing door-to-door for a hospital capital campaign, I cold knocked
on the home of a family tied to one of the construction firms working on the build.
I gave them the same pitch as anyone else—no special treatment. They followed up
with a significant gift and explicit thanks for approaching them
like people in the community, not prospects."
Takeaway → Authentic, equal-handed outreach builds
trust and inspires generosity.
Fundraising Mastery: 10,000 hours over 10 years
"Over ten years at Public Outreach and as a consultant, I have dedicated my career to working on client campaigns for social justice, humanitarian, animal welfare and environmental causes, including the following" - Eric Shinn
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Here’s How to Find Major Donors
YOU HAVEN'T MET YET!
The Hidden Foundation Find
"I came across a newly incorporated family foundation on
the CRA site with no giving history. My cold outreach got a “we’ve already spent our money” reply. I sent back a simple thank-you and the next message was, “Actually, we found some.”
That turned into a five-figure donation and, the following year, a three-year pledge at an even higher level."
Takeaway → Smart research and persistence can uncover
hidden funders who are mission-aligned
and grateful to be found.
Timing is everything
Most giving happens OCT to DEC
so line up new meetings and make respectful asks now
The Million-Dollar Multi-Touch
"A classic case showing what it often takes to land a new donor meeting from cold outreach involved following up with three phone calls, three emails, and a mailed letter over three months.
That steady rhythm led to a phone meeting, then an email invite to submit a funding request, then an invite to make a million-dollar in-person pitch."
Takeaway → Major gifts often take layered, multi-channel
touchpoints to unlock high-stakes in-person
solicitation opportunities.
The Two-Minute Lifetime Donor
"During a monthly campaign, a homeowner in a wealthy neighbourhood invited me in. My 20-second pitch about the urgent need for recurring gifts led to an immediate four-figure annual commitment, spread across monthly donations.
Three years later, he remembered me, confirmed he was still giving monthly, and pledged to match that same support to an adjacent charity."
Takeaway → A clear, concise ask can spark loyalty that lasts
for years and spreads across causes.
Who is GREENLIGHT METHOD for?
Major-giving support,
built around your needs
Frequently asked questions
Ideas that Move Big Donations
Insights for major-gift growth
We collaborate with trusted nonprofit tools to speed up setup, training, and results
Software Partners
Keela is our go-to Donor Management System for clean data, tracking, and reporting
Fundraise Up powers high-converting online giving.
We are platform-neutral, we work with what you already use, and your data stays yours.
Partnerships simply mean faster support, smoother integrations, and best-practice configurations for your team.
