In an extraordinary show of momentum and commitment to nonprofit excellence, the recent Major Gifts Ramp-Up (MGRU) Experiences held in Columbia, SC, San Antonio, TX, and Roanoke, VA each reached full capacity, energizing nonprofit professionals, executive leaders, board members, and fundraisers across the country. The sold-out events signal a powerful resurgence in philanthropic leadership—and a growing recognition of the urgent need for strategic, scalable, and sustainable funding models to fuel mission-driven impact.
Columbia, South Carolina: Southern Roots and a Movement Reborn
The Columbia MGRU Conference brought together over 75 nonprofit leaders from across the Southeast, eager to sharpen their development strategies and embrace the revolutionary MGRU model.
Held at the Northside Church, this sold-out event was energized by South Carolina’s deep sense of community, its history of grassroots leadership, and a hunger for transformational change.
Attendees ranged from small grassroots organizations to large regional agencies, all seeking one thing: the tools to build a scalable major gifts program. From the first keynote, the energy was palpable. Michelle Collier, CEO of Good Neighbor House, noted, “There’s something special happening here. The room is filled with nonprofit leaders who are tired of surviving. They want to thrive—and they’re ready to do the hard, smart work it takes to get there.”
Jim Richardson, Founder of Front Porth Co-Housing, said, “Louis Fawcett and the MGRU Team have changed my life!”
Sessions covered the full spectrum of the MGRU 13-step model, including topics such as donor discovery, case development, gift range charts, donor offers, and building high-functioning fundraising teams. One participant shared, “It was like drinking from a firehose—but in the best way. I walked out with a real plan and a new mindset.”
San Antonio, Texas: Scaling Big Vision in the Lone Star State
Everything really is bigger in Texas—including the enthusiasm for major gifts fundraising. The MGRU San Antonio Conference, hosted at Mexican American Catholic College, sold out weeks in advance and welcomed more than 100 attendees from across Texas, Hawaii, and Ohio. The energy in the room was contagious as faith-based, human services, healthcare, education, and arts organizations convened under a common goal: securing transformational gifts to match their bold visions.
What made the San Antonio event unique was the level of executive engagement. CEOs, Executive Directors, and Board Chairs showed up not just to observe—but to lead. AFP, Eskin Fundraising, The Nonprofit Council, and the San Antonio Chamber of Commerce partnered in an unprecedented show of support for the nonprofit community.
The conference made clear that organizations must invest in infrastructure, data, relationships, and staff development if they want to attract serious investment. As one San Antonio nonprofit leader put it, “Major Gifts Ramp-Up gave us the blueprint. Now, we just need to follow it with courage and commitment.”
Roanoke, Virginia: Small Town, Big Impact
The Roanoke MGRU Conference proved that you don’t need to be in a major metro area to make major progress. Held in partnership with regional philanthropy champions, this intimate yet sold-out event brought in more than 70 nonprofit professionals from Virginia, and North Carolina. The down home spirit of hard work, resilience, and community pride was woven throughout every session.
Here, the focus shifted toward rural development, regional equity, and how small and mid-sized organizations can compete—and win—at the major gifts level. The MGRU approach provided reassurance and direction to organizations long burdened by limited budgets and chronic underinvestment.
Carol Young, CEO of Healing Strides, reflected, “We hear from so many leaders who feel invisible—like major gifts are only for the big players in big cities. But the Roanoke event shattered that myth. Every nonprofit, no matter its size or location, deserves the opportunity to secure transformational support. And with the right tools and training, they absolutely can.”
Participants in Roanoke left with far more than notebooks full of ideas—they walked away with a donor pipeline, leadership alignment, and clarity around their top funding priorities. The conference reinforced that with focus, discipline, and the right message, any organization can rise above survival mode and become a high-performing, well-funded mission powerhouse.
Happy Hour
In a unique twist for nonprofit conferences, Major Gifts Ramp Up welcomed all participants to a complementary Happy Hour at local establishments. Over great food and libations, guests networked, shared common experiences, and bonded long term friendships.
A Nationwide Movement
The sold-out status of these three MGRU experiences underscores a national shift in nonprofit culture: away from scarcity and burnout, toward abundance and a culture of philanthropy. MGRU’s comprehensive framework is helping organizations break free from reactive fundraising and build long-term systems of generosity, rooted in relationships and purpose.
Looking Ahead
With the success of Columbia, San Antonio, and Roanoke, demand is surging for future MGRU Conferences. New cities like Omaha, NE, Santa Barbara, CA, San Angelo, TX, and Dayton, OH are being announced, and nonprofit leaders nationwide are urging their teams not to miss the opportunity to attend.
The takeaway is clear: major gifts are no longer just for elite institutions or national brands. They are for every organization willing to tell their story, invest in their people, and commit to a high-performance model. MGRU has lit a fire in boardrooms, church basements, school offices, and community centers—and it’s just getting started.
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To learn more or reserve your space at an upcoming conference, visit www.majorgiftsrampup.com.
