An Interview with Gary Friedmann

What one thing would you want a potential client to know about you?

Integrity is the cornerstone of my career.

What is your specialty?

Community-based nonprofits.

When the contract has ended, what do you hope your clients have achieved?

A deeper understanding of the development process and the nature of relationships that feed both donors and their favorite charities.

What book do you turn to for fundraising best practices/advice?

Harold Seymour's Designs for Fundraising

What are your top 5 tips for working with a fundraising consultant?

1. Don't be shy -- communicate often!

2. Make sure the board is engaged and committed to the project.

3. Your best value comes from consulting on major donor cultivation strategy.

4. The chemistry has to feel right from the beginning.

5. The consultant should be able to connect viscerally with your mission and articulate the case for support with ease and fluidity.
   

What are your top 5 secrets for Capital Campaign success?

1. The best time to raise money is when you need it the most.

2. When the community is behind you there's plenty of money out there for your cause.

3. Don't be afraid to ask for volunteers and money.  Your friends want to help!

4. Capital campaigns provide opportunities to reach further and deeper into your community and to build leadership at many levels.

5. Consider the efficacy of a major gifts campaign rather than a full-blown capital campaign when critical, discrete objectives may be readily within the capabilities of a handful of your top donors.
   

What are your top 5 tips for Feasibility Studies?

1. The feasibility study can be considered to be phase one of your campaign.

2. Feasibility studies are useful for honing your case, screening prospective donors, and engaging key supporters early in your campaign.

3. By recruiting top donors for the feasibility study/planning committee you get their early buy-in.

4. Asking donors for their opinions during feasibility study interviews deepens their interest.

5. A feasibility study may be unnecessary when the proposed campaign goal is less than 10 times the amount raised through annual giving.

Gary Friedmann has helped dozens of nonprofits raise over $60 million over the last 30 years and trained more than one thousand volunteers and professionals in the theory and practice of successful fundraising in seminars and workshops. He founded Gary Friedmann & Associates in 1992 after serving as Director of Development for College of the Atlantic and Director of Operations for Maine Coast Heritage Trust. Read more about Gary on Our Team Page here.