From a former student of the Master, who now works at un'onp in the U.S., here is an email that I get asked for advice and I am happy to say between the lines (in italics). Good reading. VM

Dear Prof. Valerio Melandri
How are you?
I am writing by Garibaldi-Meucci Museum, New York, where I work happily as Resource Developer. In 2008 I attended a master's degree in fundraising (I was the one that surge from Germany) and now I turn to you for advice.
Look, I remember very well of you! and your patience with our Don Paul when translating things ..
Next year will be the 150th anniversary of `` Unity of Italy, and I thought it might be interesting for an anniversary to launch a capital raising. The goal is to be a Unrestricted Endowment Fund large enough to be able to use the interest to support the operating costs of the museum-which is small. I'd like to venture into a Capital Campaign abnormal, and quite ambitious, The New Mille (The New Mille), 1000, and that is, collecting donations from many donors, or rather 1089, exactly how I had landed in Marsala Garibaldi from $ 1000US each .
nice!
The concept is to big lines: how, thanks to the thousands of volunteers, Garibaldi `pote achieve its ideals of justice and freedom and unification of Italy` well, thanks to the New Mill, the museum named after him will continue to operate, keeping alive the Italian cultural heritage in America. `Naming plays an essential role due to the nature of the highly symbolic and emotional campaign.
beautiful, but after what's left to donors? Only naming opportunities? and where in the hall? at? where?
So `flat, the campaign would massacre all the teachings he received the master (in terms of% of large, medium and small donations)-a kind of communist capital campaign (!) - Or I aggiusatrla in the sense that those who give $ 10,000 has naming rights to 10.
I would say that by virtue 'of what gives one receives more' space under an agreement cm / euro (see festival fundraising and sponsors lectures)
Another thought. How to reach 10,000 or more people? I have to find a assoulutamente access to means of mass communication, move some scholar / journalist major, short of opinion leaders, otherwise it never arrives.
I would say that is not with the mass media you can get such gifts. It is about doing a 1 for donors (I would say between 7000 and 8000) by the face-to-face personalized, especially if the museum is quite small I would not use such means as direct, limit the phone, face to face better.
But many of you ask? 1000 to 1000 is 1000,000 euros, I really hope you do not feel all alone to be able to do this type of collection. Keep in mind that when you managed to make 500 appointments in a year is a great success (I would say that 300 is more 'reasonable), then you do the accounts 7000/500 means that at least 7 or 8 people in two years I have help.
It 'obvious that if you fail to go, if you can get some super custom donation through letters (not mailing) you can lower the percentage, and take home a donation every three appointments in which case you need at least 3000 or 5 appointments -6 people for two years. No less!
It is true that the testimonials are important, but again, it is important to play the orchestra, it is useful, it creates excitement, elevates the heart, etc., but the fundraiser is the ticket seller who charges admission to the concert, is what ensures that everyone pays to get on stage and not only that unleashes the passion.
Why do not we feel skype? skype and 'Economic and you can easily see, see you later and thanks and good luck!
VM