Podcast Episodes
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Campaign Planning When the Future Is Fuzzy
Episode 155
"What's our plan if we only raise nine?"
A campaign chair asked that in a planning meeting for a $14 million campaign, and the room went completely qu…
1 day, 17 hours ago
Recognition That Feels Right Today
Episode 154
A donor wall almost cost them their best donor.
At the opening of a gorgeous new wall, one of their most generous donors leaned in and said, "I didn't…
6 days, 10 hours ago
Build for What's Next
Episode 153
Urgency can steal our future.
I’ve watched it happen in nonprofit teams everywhere.
We race from grant deadlines to events to year-end goals, doing eve…
1 week, 1 day ago
Donor Listening That Leads to Action
Episode 152
What if the ask isn't for money? What if it's a question?
A donor of fifteen years told one of my clients, "Nobody ever asked me what I thought. They …
2 weeks, 1 day ago
Culture as Your Ultimate Major Gifts Strategy
Episode 151
If you vanished tomorrow, would anyone else in your building
know how to talk about a donor with warmth?
I've watched two organizations, same size, sa…
3 weeks, 1 day ago
Healthy Boundaries with Major Donors
Episode 150
He asked to sit in on hiring. She almost said yes to that too.
Here's what changed her mind.
On this week's episode, I tell the story of a major gift o…
4 weeks, 1 day ago
It Takes a Village: Internal Partners in Major Gifts
Episode 149
A gift once took eleven months to close. Not because the donor said no.
Because one person was carrying five jobs.
On this week's episode of The Inten…
1 month ago
Events that Actually Move Major Gifts
Episode 148
Her gala cost $40K. Her dinner cost $200.
Guess which one got a bigger gift.
On this week's episode, I tell the story of two events that happened the s…
1 month, 1 week ago
Working Smarter: Automation for Major Gift Officers
Episode 147
6:30 a.m. Calendar chaos already.
By 10 a.m., she hadn't talked to a single donor yet.
Six months later, same alarm, same portfolio. Totally different …
1 month, 2 weeks ago
Inclusive Major Gifts in Practice
Episode 146
A gala put them on stage. Then ghosted them for good.
Three community leaders invited up front, never contacted again. Zero gifts. One hurt feeling th…
1 month, 3 weeks ago