Next to blood relatives, if you’re one of the nonprofit sector’s 13 million professionals or approximately one of the 80 million unpaid volunteers you comprise one of the most close-knit families on the planet. In a real sense everyone is a kindred spirit. Though our stories, motivations, missions, size of organizations and geography might differ, we are all profoundly bonded by the commitment through our different paths to leave the world better than it was given to us.
We are the ultimate equal opportunity over-worker. We don’t care about race, gender, religion, age, where you were born, identity, physical capability or any other socioeconomic factor. We can’t wait to put you to work or more appropriately overwork in one of the 1.5 million inspiring organizations that touch, and improve and save more lives, especially helping those who are struggling.
This spirit of family has vividly come to life in the upcoming Major Gifts Ramp-Up (MGRU) conference in San Antonio. This event will convene a broad cross section of San Antonio professional and volunteer nonprofit leaders to learn from national experts on how to build nonprofit financial capacity.
This represents an historic collaboration between National Development Institute, Association of Fundraising Professionals – San Antonio, The Nonprofit Council, Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce and Eskin Fundraising Training. More than 125 leaders have already registered to participate on July 23-24, 9 am to 4 pm each day, in the Alfaro Hall at the Mexican American Catholic College (MACC), 3115 West Ashby Place.
Led by MGRU faculty who rely on proprietary data, unique strategies and proven best practices, San Antonio nonprofit leaders will be equipped to elevate resource development operations to the next level.
The conference theme recognizes that more and more resource development success depends on obtaining major gifts. An estimated 90% of American philanthropy’s vast near $600 billion annual enterprise comes from just 10% of the donors. The curriculum specifically targets the discovery, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship of major gifts of 5-, 6- and 7-figure amounts that unlock exciting opportunities and open doors to transformational possibilities.
Though the conference is focusing on San Antonio, nonprofit leaders have registered from throughout Texas including the Houston, Dallas, Corpus Christi and Hill Country markets, and even Mexico.
As interest mushroomed, the San Antonio based MGRU outgrew the capacity of the first two designated venues. The Mexican American Catholic College came to the rescue generously and graciously accommodating every conceivable venue requirement including comfortable classroom seating for a such a large crowd, computer and projection equipment, state of the art sound system, unlimited Wi-Fi access, space for refreshments and even overnight lodging.
We keenly recognize that there is deep concern that the problems surrounding us are so overwhelming that we don’t know where to start. That’s where each of you in the nonprofit family makes a huge difference. By reading to one child at a time, putting a smile on the face of one senior at a time, fostering one stray cat or dog at a time, introducing culture and the arts to one underserved person at a time and a host of other ways one person at a time, you reinvigorate the feeling of hope and that more is possible in the world. And you proudly and enthusiastically do it again, again, again and again.
The nonprofit family joyfully celebrates gifts of all amounts, but we make an unstinting commitment to place major gifts at the top of the list. Major gifts are the surest — if not only — path to financial viability and sustainability and rewarding staff, volunteers and especially beneficiaries of the resources they so richly deserve.
San Antonio’s MGRU conference is a powerful example of the nonprofit family’s unity, commitment to lifelong learning and lifelong sharing and shared investment in shaping a brighter, stronger and more socially just future. We’ve never been so proud to be part of the planet’s best family embracing Abraham Lincoln’s better angels of our nature.
Jim Eskin
Founder
Eskin Fundraising Training
10410 Pelican Oak Drive
San Antonio, TX 78254-6727
Cell: 210.415.3748
E-Mail: jeskin@aol.com
www.eskinfundraisingtraining.com
