Federal Way workshop teaches nonprofits how to make a 'gift approach' for major donations

A fundraising workshop in Federal Way taught local nonprofit leaders, volunteers and small-business owners how to plan and deliver a face-to-face "gift approach" designed to win major gifts, planned gifts and sponsorships.

The session, led by Linda K. Briggs, founder of the Briggs Group, and Angela (navigator and grant writer), emphasized three organizing principles — passion, preparation and practice — and gave attendees a repeatable talking-point structure for one-on-one donor meetings.

Briggs told the group the most effective gift approaches start with gratitude and move through a brief status update, a clear request and a deliberate pause so the prospect can respond. "Do not use the word script," she said, adding that the conversation should feel natural even when the team follows prepared talking points. Briggs urged fundraisers to make a specific dollar request rather than using vague language: "We don't say whatever you wanna give, we'd just be happy to get it. We never say that." She later summarized the method's record: "I've literally raised 1,000,000 of dollars with these 3 elements."

The workshop covered three donor motivations Briggs said research consistently shows fundraisers should address: that donors want to…