The Major Gifts Institute for Independent Schools

This four-hour, interactive virtual program helps independent school advancement and fundraising staff build stronger donor relationships, conduct more meaningful conversations, and prepare confident, thoughtful major-gift invitations.

Led by four Lighthouse Counsel advisors, the Institute combines practical listening skills, behavioral insights into donor motivation, and Lighthouse Counsel’s Strategic Donor Engagement framework. Participants apply the learning to a real donor relationship through guided reflection, paired practice, and feedback, with examples relevant to independent school fundraising.

Participants will leave prepared to:

• Lead discovery conversations that reveal a donor’s interests, values, motivations and readiness.
• Connect donor interests with school priorities and meaningful opportunities for support.
• Prepare and practice a complete major-gift invitation, including a specific request, listening and an agreed next step.
• Assess priority donor relationships and determine where to focus their time and attention.
• Develop a practical 30-day action plan with clear responsibilities and dates.