KITTIWAKE ACADEMY
Major Gift Intensive
Next Cohort Starts September 10, 2026
A 6-month Major Gift Fundraising program designed for nonprofit professionals ready to strengthen donor relationships, build a healthier pipeline, and grow their fundraising confidence.
Build the skills, confidence, and fundraising pipeline needed to secure transformational gifts and lead sustainable growth.
Key Highlights
Fully Virtual
Program
Participate from anywhere, with all training, coaching, and peer sessions delivered online for maximum flexibility.
Open to organizations across Canada
Join a national cohort of nonprofit professionals and fundraisers from communities across the country.
Cohort-Based
Learning
Learn alongside a small group of peers who provide accountability, shared insights, and valuable networking opportunities.
Maximum 10 Participants
An intentionally small cohort size ensures personalized attention, meaningful discussion, and individualized coaching support
Why Kittiwake Academy's Major Gift Intensive?
Fundraising success doesn't come from training alone—it comes from applying what you learn to real donor relationships and real fundraising opportunities. Kittiwake Academy combines expert-led education, personalized coaching, and peer learning to help nonprofit professionals strengthen their fundraising practice, build a healthier donor pipeline, and create lasting impact for their organizations.
Education
Monthly 2.5-hour training sessions
Learn the frameworks, systems, and strategies behind major gift fundraising.
Coaching
Bi-weekly one-on-one coaching
Personalized support to apply concepts directly to your donor portfolio and fundraising goals.
Peer Learning
Monthly peer mastermind groups
Share challenges, celebrate wins, and learn from nonprofit leaders facing similar opportunities.
By the End of the Program You'll Have
A stronger major gift pipeline. Build a qualified pipeline of prospects and develop a clear strategy for moving donors toward deeper engagement and investment.
Increased confidence in donor conversations. Strengthen your ability to initiate meaningful donor conversations, communicate impact, and make asks with confidence.
A clear cultivation and stewardship strategy. Learn how to create intentional donor journeys that deepen relationships, strengthen loyalty, and inspire long-term support.
A practical moves management system. Implement a structured approach to tracking donor activity, managing opportunities, and prioritizing next steps.
Greater fundraising leadership capacity. Develop the strategic thinking, fundraising mindset, and leadership skills needed to drive growth within your organization.
An actionable fundraising plan. Leave with a customized roadmap that translates learning into action, with clear priorities you can implement immediately.
Program Curriculum
Each session combines practical instruction, discussion, and application to your organization's fundraising priorities.
Building Your Fundraising Foundation
Learning Goals
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Assess your current fundraising maturity
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Identify fundraising strengths and gaps
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Establish goals for the Academy journey
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Understanding Your Donor Pipeline
Learning Goals
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Build a qualified prospect pipeline
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Segment donors effectively
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Prioritize cultivation opportunities
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Donor Relationships & Qualification
Learning Goals
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Move prospects toward meaningful conversations
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Develop qualification strategies
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Build authentic donor relationships
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Cultivation & Strategic Engagement
Learning Goals
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Create cultivation plans
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Increase donor engagement
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Develop personalized donor journeys
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Making the Ask
Learning Goals
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Prepare for solicitation conversations
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Overcome common objections
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Increase confidence in gift conversations
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Stewardship & Retention
Learning Goals
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Create stewardship systems
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Strengthen donor retention
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Increase lifetime donor value
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Sustaining Momentum
Learning Goals
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Evaluate fundraising progress
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Build an ongoing action plan
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Establish long-term fundraising habits
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Designed for Immediate Application
Unlike traditional professional development programs, Kittiwake Academy's Major Gift Intensive is built around your real fundraising work.
Throughout the program, participants apply strategies directly to their donor portfolios, fundraising plans, and active prospects. As a result, many organizations begin seeing stronger donor engagement, more meaningful conversations, and increased fundraising momentum while still participating in the Academy.
While individual results will vary, participants leave with practical systems, stronger donor pipelines, and skills that continue generating value long after the program concludes.
Investment
$12,000 per participant
Potential Return
A stronger fundraising pipeline, more qualified donor relationships, and sustainable revenue growth.
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