It is rare that a person’s first gift is a $10,000 plus gift—or even their 2nd or 3rd gift. Rather, I find that a major gift is the result of a 4th plus ask—with a truly transformational major gift occurring sometime after a person’s 10th plus gift.”
— Gregg Carlson, President Carlson Fundraising, LLC

30+ Years’ Experience

With over 30 years of development counsel experience, Carlson Fundraising, LLC provides integrated fundraising solutions. Having partnered with more than 150 non-profit organizations and designed over 200 individual campaigns, our focus is the art and science of systematically generating a “pipeline” of major and planned giving prospects.

Gregg Carlson

Gregg Carlson began his career in 1985 with the major gift counsel firm, CCS Fundraising. Upon his scheduled departure from CCS, Gregg joined IDC—the firm which revolutionized donor acquisition through the PHONE/MAIL® Telecommunications Program—becoming IDC’s President in 1998, and then Chairman and CEO in 2006.

Gregg is a past Chair of the Giving USA Foundation—the definitive source on trends in US fundraising through the annual report Giving USA—researched by the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University. With the view that technology must be driven by the essential principles of fundraising, Gregg often is invited to discuss the cutting edge issues facing the field today.

Brad Carlson

With over 20 years of development counsel experience, Brad Carlson is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy. Following his service, Brad joined IDC and spearheaded the development of increased service solutions, winning the AFP award for innovation in internet fundraising with the creation of “Virtual Volunteer”. Brad believes that the key to building a donor base and maximizing the number of qualified major and planned giving prospects lies in a “donor centered” multi-channel moves management approach.

A Great Team

Working with a great team and a forward thinking group of clients, the Carlsons established IDC as the premier provider of donor acquisition services. In 2010, the Carlsons successfully sold their firm. Carlson Fundraising was launched in 2012 to meet the growing needs of clients wanting to generate more major and planned gifts.

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