And be sure to enclose a self-addressed envelope. If you go beyond sending a few letters to your friends and associates, you may have the beginnings of a direct mail program. Click on this excellent summary of direct mail fund raising by Mary Ellen Barnes at the Information for Nonprofits site. Follow-up phone calls to those who haven't responded to a letter can pay big dividends, especially if you can recruit volunteers to make the calls. It's best to let people know to expect a call.
Some organizations mail postcards to donors before calling.
The definition of a major gift will depend on the size of your organization. Take a look at this advice from Kim Klein, brought to you by the Alliance for Nonprofit Management. Certainly many charitable organizations send out request letters near the end of the year. Accepted wisdom is that the combination of holiday spirit and imminent tax bills will increase the chance of getting a donation. But you should be fund raising on a year-round basis.