Major Donors in a Small Shop: Adapting Your Major Gifts Strategy in Uncertain Times

With federal funding freezes and shifting donor behaviors, nonprofits must diversify their revenue streams to maintain financial stability. In this session, we’ll focus on how to strengthen major donor strategies even in a “small shop,” where staff capacity, time, and budgets are often stretched thin. You’ll learn practical approaches for identifying, cultivating, and securing major gifts without the need for a large development team. We’ll share tools for building authentic relationships with donors and demonstrate how small shops can leverage their close-knit nature as an advantage. Participants will leave with a customized roadmap to grow their major gifts portfolio in a way that fits their organization’s size and culture. Most importantly, you’ll leave with a deeper understanding of how to adapt and engage major donors in uncertain times, ensuring your nonprofit is positioned for resilience and long-term impact.