How do you get milk from a cow?

Well, you don't start by sending it an email.

Bessie, I have to ask: would you consider a major milk donation today?

Whenever I explain to people what I do as a major gifts fundraiser, I tell them that I am basically a dairy farmer, except instead of milk, I secure enormous donations. When I say this - and I have said this to groups of fundraising professionals, students in nonprofit management clas…