Who we are

We started Pleiades nearly four years ago to help organizations build a thoughtful, consistent approach to major and planned gifts of assets without adding strain or additional staff to their team. The results have consistently been beneficial for the organizations we serve, far exceeding our fees each year.

​

The problem we solve

Many organizations rely on events or annual giving because they are familiar and manageable. However, nearly 98% of donor wealth is outside cash, and larger gifts result from donor and organization alignment. Narrowing the gap between cash and major gifts of assets, including estate gifts, requires that we help donors learn of their options, invite them into missional partnership, and pave a clear pathway for them to give successfully from their assets. This requires a streamlined infrastructure, messaging, analytics, donor engagement, and a simple overall process to secure larger gifts.

​

What we do

Pleiades provides a turnkey, cost-effective way to build and manage a gift planning program that runs alongside your existing individual giving efforts. We handle the strategy, marketing, and systems required to identify donor interest, while your team focuses on relationships and creating alignment between donors and your organization. If needed, we can also provide seasoned gift officers to help cultivate relationships and structure gifts.

​

How it works (the simple path)

• We implement consistent, branded outreach that educates and invites donor response. With our Concierge-level service, we also begin with an audit of your donor base to identify hidden existing opportunities.

• We identify donors signaling interest and prioritize clear next steps.

• We provide ongoing education for all frontline fundraisers, giving them the confidence to engage donors in gift planning conversations.

• With our Concierge, Comprehensive, or a three-year commitment with our Marketing Implementation service level, we offer a discovery officer to identify gift opportunities.

• We provide estate planning and retirement seminars to empower donors and prospects to strategically complete their estate and retirement plans.

• We support engagement, coordination, and opportunities between donors and the professional advisor community.

​

This pathway reflects a progression, starting with awareness, moving towards engagement, and eventually helping to complete structured gifts.

​

What makes it work

• Consistent marketing and education

• Clear identification of newly interested donors

• Structured follow-through with your team and professional advisors

• A system that runs without interruption, instead of trying to restart each year

​

What this allows your team to do

Your team can focus on the many demands placed on a development team while also fostering donor conversations and relationships. Meanwhile, behind the scenes, we manage the messaging and infrastructure to enhance your program significantly.

​

What this leads to

• Measurable growth in non-cash and planned gifts in the first year, with even greater growth in the second year and beyond  

• Stronger donor interest and trust through thoughtful messaging and guidance

• A much more robust, stable, and predictable pipeline of future support

​

How you engage with us

We offer four service levels based on your staffing and budget, ranging from foundational marketing support to a more comprehensive, concierge-level partnership.

​