Episode Details

You’re told to raise more you need to do more. I “did more”, raised $1.1M, and I lost sleep, and my hair fell out. I met the goal, but it cost me my health. 8 years later, I raised $2,500,000 and was vibrant and healthy. The difference was a different strategy and skill set.

Of course, there was still stress. But there’s a difference between stressed and burnt out.

In this episode of the @Nonprofit CourageLab podcast, I share a glimpse into the typical nonprofit revenue model and the real cost vs. raising 2x more with a simplified model.

I’m tired of hearing:

“The gala nearly killed me” or

“We’re doing too much, and it’s not sustainable”

Here’s what I cover:

• Why doing more keeps revenue flat and what to do instead
• How people-pleasing is killing revenue growth
• Your authentic role as a fundraiser and how to reclaim it
• Revenue growth models that lead to burnout and complexity
• How complexity is the ultimate growth killer
• My own story of raising bigger gifts from fewer people without a gala
• How selling more stuff, bells and whistles actually repels your best donors
• How your view of yourself impacts your fundraising results
• Why the most sustainable strategy is offensively simple
• What to do when your strategy is designed for burnout

If you feel pressure to do more and execute on every idea that comes across your desk to raise 12% more than last year, this episode is for you.

Share it with a friend, colleague, and your team.

Fair warning: I get real fired up in this, so if you are a sensitive flower, it may be too much for ya.

I’m mad. And when I’m mad, I fight. The fight in me is for you. For your health. For your impact. For your legacy. For your time with loved ones. For the vacation you deserve. For the results.

Slide Deck From This Episode: Big Gifts for Operations Workshop Slide Deck

Want 15 leads in 5 minutes? DM me "Breakfast burrito" on LinkedIn and I'll send you a pdf and 6-minute training to help you generate 15 leads for your nonprofit in minutes. It's totally free. All you need is an email to sign up. DM me "Breakfast burrito" - I'm from Texas, what can I say? - to get your pdf and mini training.

If you’re an ED or DD of a $1M+ making a difference in your community and you’re ready to make bigger, bolder asks, then DM me “CL” on LinkedIn and I’ll share details.