Peter Golden 04

September 8, 2003

Abstract

Max Fisher's biographer, Peter Golden, details Fisher's extensive experience as a highly successful fundraiser.
Credit: Mort Crim Communications

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Well, you know, you say beyond giving the first check—that’s a big part of it. I mean, a lot of people will tell you that there are lot’s of people out there trying to raise money. None of them give any of their own, or very little of their own. Max always gave a lot and demanded a lot. And don’t forget, again, Max is 95 years old; he’s been around the game a long, long time. He’s been raising money for over fifty years. Think about that. How many other people have over fifty years experience raising money? And he knows a lot about money. I mean, he’s not working for a fund-raising group. He earned it, he gave it away, and he knows a lot about getting other people to do the same. And so, that was part of it. The other part of it was his profile. He’s very honorable. He’s been involved with a lot of high-level people and people know, and to some degree, there are people that are honored to be involved with him. And so they say, "Well gee, Max is giving so I’ll give too, and Max is doing so I’ll do too." But this—that’s an advantage that comes to him much later in life. Early on, it was because he got the people in this house, in his living room, or out there in that common area out there—the Florida room it’s been called—and said, "This is what I’m giving. This is what I think you should give." And people did it.