Nonprofit Major Donor Stewardship Program Audit
Major donors require intentional, personalized stewardship to maintain and grow their giving. This annual audit ensures every major donor receives adequate touchpoints, meaningful impact updates, and the relationship attention necessary to inspire ongoing generosity.
- Industry: Nonprofit
- Frequency: Quarterly review; Annual comprehensive audit
- Estimated Time: 3-4 hours
- Role: Development Director / Major Gifts Officer
- Total Items: 29
Touchpoint Frequency
Verify donors are receiving adequate touchpoints.
- Annual touchpoint goals by donor tier defined (e.g., 6+ for major donors)?
- All major donors meeting minimum touchpoint frequency goal?
- Touchpoints include variety (in-person, phone, email, events, notes)?
- All touchpoints documented in CRM within 24 hours?
- Non-solicitation stewardship contacts majority of touchpoints?
Gift Acknowledgment Quality
Verify acknowledgment quality and timeliness.
- All major gifts acknowledged within 48 hours of receipt?
- Acknowledgment letters personalized (not form letters) for major donors?
- Handwritten notes from Executive Director for top donors?
- Board members thanking major donors for significant gifts?
- Tax receipts for all gifts meeting IRS substantiation requirements?
Impact Reporting to Donors
Verify donors receive meaningful impact updates.
- Annual impact report sent to all major donors?
- Personalized impact updates showing how their specific gift was used?
- Restricted fund donors receiving specific reports on their fund's use?
- Regular program updates connecting donors to mission work?
- Site visits or program observation opportunities offered to major donors?
Portfolio Management
Assess major donor portfolio management.
- MGO portfolio size appropriate for capacity (typically 75-150 donors)?
- Portfolio includes appropriate proportion of discovery and qualification prospects?
- Donors with upgrade potential identified and cultivation plans in place?
- Planned gift conversations occurring with appropriate donors?
- Lapsed major donors in re-engagement strategy?
Donor Intelligence and Research
Verify donor research is current.
- Wealth screening or prospect research current for all portfolio donors?
- Donor philanthropic interests, passions, and personal information documented?
- Major life events (retirement, inheritance, home sale) tracked for conversations?
- Board and staff relationships with donors mapped to maximize cultivation?
Ethics and Donor Rights Compliance
Verify ethics and donor rights compliance.
- Organization adheres to Donor Bill of Rights principles?
- No high-pressure solicitation tactics used with major donors?
- All restricted gifts used precisely for stated purpose?
- Donor privacy and anonymity requests respected?
- Recognition and naming opportunities only offered with donor consent?
Related Nonprofit Checklists
- Nonprofit Pledge Tracking and Fulfillment Management
- Nonprofit Annual Fund Performance Analysis
- Nonprofit Major Gift Cultivation and Solicitation Strategy
- Nonprofit Donor Acknowledgment and Gift Substantiation Audit
- Nonprofit Office Safety and Facilities Inspection
- Nonprofit Equipment Maintenance and Inventory Management
- Nonprofit Facility Lease Compliance and Space Management
- Food Bank Donation Intake and Inspection Checklist
Related Donor Relations Checklists
- Nonprofit Donor Database Hygiene and Data Quality Audit - FREE Download
- Nonprofit Pledge Tracking and Fulfillment Management - FREE Download
- Nonprofit Annual Fund Performance Analysis - FREE Download
- Nonprofit Major Gift Cultivation and Solicitation Strategy - FREE Download
- Nonprofit Donor Acknowledgment and Gift Substantiation Audit - FREE Download
- Nonprofit Gift Acceptance Policy and Unusual Gift Review - FREE Download
Why Use This Nonprofit Major Donor Stewardship Program Audit?
This nonprofit major donor stewardship program audit helps nonprofit teams maintain compliance and operational excellence. Designed for development director / major gifts officer professionals, this checklist covers 29 critical inspection points across 6 sections. Recommended frequency: quarterly review; annual comprehensive audit.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Nonprofit Major Donor Stewardship Program Audit cover?
This checklist covers 29 inspection items across 6 sections: Touchpoint Frequency, Gift Acknowledgment Quality, Impact Reporting to Donors, Portfolio Management, Donor Intelligence and Research, Ethics and Donor Rights Compliance. It is designed for nonprofit operations and compliance.
How often should this checklist be completed?
This checklist should be completed quarterly review; annual comprehensive audit. Each completion takes approximately 3-4 hours.
Who should use this Nonprofit Major Donor Stewardship Program Audit?
This checklist is designed for Development Director / Major Gifts Officer professionals in the nonprofit industry. It can be used for self-assessments, team audits, and regulatory compliance documentation.
Can I download this checklist as a PDF?
Yes, this checklist is available as a free PDF download. You can also use it digitally in the POPProbe mobile app for real-time data capture, photo documentation, and automatic reporting.