In The Chronicle recent report on America's 50 most-generous donors, the challenges facing fund raisers are clear: Even the wealthiest Americans are slowing their giving as they try to regain their footing in the bad economy.

Nevertheless, many charities are succeeding in winning gifts of $1-million or more, and many more are continuing to make vigorous efforts to cultivate wealthy donors in the hopes that such efforts will eventually pay off.

You can learn the techniques that work best for seeking big gifts in a conversation with three seasoned fund raisers. Find out what these experts are learning from wealthy donors and how you can shape effective solicitations to affluent donors throughout 2010.

The conversation, which takes place on Tuesday, February 9, at noon Eastern time, can be accessed by clicking on the window below.

A full archive will also be available.

The Guests

Robert E. Carter is vice chairman of Changing Our World, a fund-raising  consulting firm. He also leads Archimede, a company that helps wealthy people  develop and expand their philanthropy.

Robert F. Hartsook, founder of the fund-raising consulting firm Hartsook Companies, is author of Closing That Gift: How to Get Million Dollar Gifts and Have Donors Thank You For It.

Lisa Thomson, associate director of gift planning at the Nature Conservancy, has spent 28 years with her organization, initially as a conservationist. For the past several years, she has worked to seek major and planned gifts.

The discussion window is below: