Originally posted July 24, 2003 – Re-posted.
We all know (intuitively or from real experience) that MAJOR GIFTS is the best way to raise the most money… at the least cost!!!
To help you understand Major Gifts… and to help understand why it’s so important to focus on your best and most QUALIFIED PROSPECTS… check out the following story/metaphor.
LIONS, MICE & ANTELOPE
A lion can actually capture, kill and eat a field mouse.
However, it turns out that the energy to do that is greater than the caloric content of the mouse. So, if a lion spent his whole day hunting and eating field mice… it would slowly starve itself to death!
A lion cannot live on mice. Lions need antelopes. Antelopes are big. While they take more speed and strength to capture and kill, once killed, they provide a huge feast for a lion and its pride.
A lion can live a long and happy life on a diet of antelope.
The difference between mice and antelopes is really, really important relative to Major Gifts!
If you’re spending all of your time and energy going after ‘field mice’… your short-term rewards are a feeling of activity and maybe even accomplishment. However, in the long run, you’re going to die.
Do you spend your day chasing mice or hunting antelope???
