Leadership Giving Programs

Summary Leadership giving, also referred to as mid-level giving, is a growing area of development at colleges and universities. This report examines the structure, goals, and effectiveness of leadership giving programs and societies. Key observations from our research: 1. Leadership giving programs seek to recognize donors who give larger, more consistent gifts than the average annual fund donor, but whose donations do not qualify as major gifts. 2. Directors of leadership giving programs establish leadership giving societies to incentivize consistent donations and organize giving levels within the societies in tiers to encourage donors to increase their gifts. 3. Contacts address concerns about an aging population of leadership donors by offering discounted membership for leadership giving societies to young alumni. 4. Development directors share that successful contact with leadership giving donors is more targeted and personal than in other areas of development. 5. Directors of leadership giving programs collect feedback from conversations with donors and email surveys. DOWNLOAD THE REPORT