bike Flashcards
How would you look to increase giving over time?
Engagement (surprise and delight). —> deepen their relationship
Motivation: Align the ask with their why
Belonging: Make them part of the future of USA Cycling
What is your philosophy on donor retention?
Connection: Relationship over transactional
Continuity: Rhythm is more than one off asks
Pride: Help them feel seen and proud of their role.
How would you plan to work with the board?
Clarity: Find out what their expectations, roles, value are. Why are they part of the board?
Connect: Spend time with them 1-on-1. Provide updates.
Equip + Confidence: Provide them with the tools and resources so that when they are out representing USA Cycling, they feel empowered.
How would you align internally with staff & leadership
Listen: Build trust. Understand them
Weave in Development: Connect development with the mission. Make sure no one is siloed. They have the strategic thread: athlete stories
Celebrate and spotlight internal wins. Shared mission
What do you see as the Olympic Cycle Arc?
Year 1 - ‘25 - Join the Journey (excitement, identify donors, cultivate, onboard)
Year 2- ‘26 - Invest in the Podium (development, milestomes)
Year 3 - ‘27 - Fuel the Olympic Dream (special events, naming rights, major gifts)
Year 4 - ‘28 - Stand on the Podium Together (events)
Year 5 - ‘29 - Leave a Legacy
What would be your donor strategy
Olympic Cycle
Journey - Arc - start–>legacy
Rhythm- each year focus on emotions + arc
Legacy - Capstone in ‘29. Reflect and Renew
How would you grow and structure giver tiers
Ladders - clear path to grow in the organization
Legacy - mid-tier == future board, long-time givers
Leverage - Board intros, peer-to-peer growth
How do you see us getting to $7M
Segment - identify top 10-15 donors.
Personalized journey - strategy per donor. High-touch tactics: athlete stories/access, insider updates, personalized gratitude
Experience – deep stewardship. High touch, personalized, meaningful engagement.
What would you do if a major donor pulled out?
Understand - full picture. Don’t assume. Clarity before reacting.
Repair - path to re-engage
Resegment/Stablize – evaluate pipeline. Lower reliance on 1. Stablize with mid-tier. Tap mid-tier. Foundational
How do you address donor fatigue or miss targets?
Listen - pause. understand. feedback. Don’t panic. Insight
Refresh–new stories. peer engagement. events (alumni)
Reignite - rebuild with purpose - spark. Remind the why.
Why me? Why Now?
Timing – ready. not just professional + personally.
Opportunity – in a key moment. See potential
Purpose - build things that matter with people who care.
What is 2028 doesn’t go well
Reframe: Dissappoinment–>journey–>mission. Most major donors not about the gold.
Reveal: Be transparent. What works, evolving. How support enables XYZ
Reconnect: Price. Why–not all about the win. Building legacy. Continued belief.
First 90 days
Listen First
→ Meet with staff, athletes, board, and major stakeholders
→ Understand what’s working, where the gaps are, and what unique strengths exist internally
Assess Donor Landscape
→ Map the entire donor lifecycle (from $100 to $1M+)
→ Identify drop-off points, retention challenges, and missed upgrade opportunities
→ Analyze giving trends and major gifts over the past 5 years
Develop a Multi-Year Giving Strategy
→ Present a 3–4 year Olympic Cycle fundraising arc
→ Lay out clear 12–18 month tactical goals
→ Design plan for mid-tier growth, high-touch stewardship for top donors
Cultivate New Donor
How Do You Identify & Cultivate Major Donors?
Be where the donor is.
Focus on gravel, fondos, mass start events—these are growing communities and likely contain high-net-worth individuals passionate about the sport.
Provide value before the ask.
Membership should feel beneficial, inclusive, and mission-driven—it’s not just about access; it’s about impact.
Segment donor tiers clearly.
Create a donor journey that includes tiered levels, with defined paths for growth and stewardship.
Prioritize personal relationships.
Get to know potential donors personally—understand their “why” (Olympics, youth pipeline, legacy, etc.).
Tailor engagement strategies.
Use that understanding to customize donor experiences—give behind-the-scenes access, exclusive events, and genuine thanks.
Avoid transactional relationships.
Not every interaction should involve an ask—nurture trust and pride in the mission.
Make them feel like they belong.
Cultivate a sense of ownership and emotional investment in the organization’s success.
Stewarding a $1M+ Donor Relationship
Start with the relationship, not the ask.
→ Get to know them as a person. What motivates their giving?
→ Is it the Olympics? Athlete development? Leaving a legacy?
Bring them behind the scenes.
→ Invite them into the heart of the mission.
→ Offer meaningful, exclusive experiences aligned with their “why.”
→ Make appreciation visible and genuine—with very few asks.
Anchor them to the future.
→ Discuss legacy, naming rights, or special initiatives.
→ Explore ways to honor their long-term impact.
→ Position them as a builder of the future, not just a supporter of the present.
Make it feel collaborative.
→ Frame the relationship as a shared journey.
→ “We’re building something together.”
Upgrade Mid-tier donors ($1K-25K)
Start with segmentation
→ Who are they? Why are they giving? What connects them to USA Cycling?
Make them feel seen
→ Personalized emails, handwritten notes, direct athlete updates
→ “You matter here”—don’t treat them like a stepping stone
Deepen the relationship before the ask
→ Exclusive experiences: event invites, meet & greets, training visits
→ Highlight their impact: “Because of your gift, we…”
Build a path to the next tier
→ Define clear donor journeys: where they are and where they could go
→ Don’t just ask for more—invite them into a greater role
Track and use engagement data
→ Who’s opening emails, attending events, asking questions?
→ Focus outreach on those leaning in
Make it personal
→ Ask about their goals with their giving—what legacy do they want to leave?
How do you define and measure success in a major donor program?
- Mission-Aligned Giving
Success starts with alignment. Are our donors giving because they deeply believe in our mission? Are we building relationships that go beyond the transaction?
📈 2. Retention & Upgrade Rates
Key metrics: multi-year commitments, donor retention, and upgrading giving levels over time.
A successful program isn’t about just acquiring donors, it’s about retaining and growing them.
💡 3. Personalized Engagement & Stewardship
Are donors receiving experiences that match their interests and motivations?
Success is when donors feel connected, seen, and part of the team’s journey.
🔍 4. Impact Storytelling & Transparency
Are we clearly communicating the impact of their gift?
Do they see how their dollars are fueling athlete development or supporting the next generation of Team USA?
