There is a particular kind of courage that does not get enough credit. Not the courage of the person who has always known what they wanted to do and went straight toward it. That courage is real, but it is a different thing entirely. I am talking about the courage of the person who built […]
To the Emerging Leader: You Were Made for This
There is a letter I have been composing in my head for years. Not to a board member. Not to a CEO. Not to the donor who didn’t call back or the campaign that almost made it. This one is for you. I have been in this field long enough to have watched people arrive […]
Letters We Never Send: When Good Fundraisers Leave
Every year, nonprofits across the country lose talented, mission-driven fundraisers—not because they stopped caring, but because they stopped feeling cared for. The cost is staggering: recruitment, onboarding, lost donor momentum, and a cycle that keeps repeating itself. What if your fundraiser could tell you the truth on their way out the door? This is the […]
Our Love-Hate Relationship with Nonprofit Galas
At the nonprofit where I serve as VP of Advancement, we just wrapped our annual signature event. For 72 hours, I let myself sit in it. The energy. The stories. The moments when someone leans in and says, “This night was magical!” You can feel when an event lands the way you hoped it would. […]
The Psychology of Transformational Philanthropy
Why Seven- and Eight-Figure Conversations Challenge Even Experienced Fundraisers There is a moment that happens in nearly every fundraiser’s career, even among the most accomplished professionals. You are preparing for a donor conversation. The relationship is strong. The vision is compelling. Leadership is aligned. The opportunity could change what is possible for the people you […]
When Fundraisers Become the Story: Why Oversight, Ethics, and Trust Matter More Than Ever
For most of us in philanthropy, the goal is simple: keep the spotlight on mission. On children served. On families stabilized. On breakthroughs funded. On communities strengthened. And yet lately, too often, the headlines aren’t about impact. They’re about how money was raised — not what it accomplished. Aggressive solicitation tactics. Third-party fundraising firms with […]
Lead Them to the Yes: With Fire in Your Belly
Most people think the Yes is born in the ask. But it isn’t. A well-timed question. A persuasive pitch. A direct request that gets someone to do what you need them to do. But here’s the truth seasoned leaders learn (often the hard way): you can’t ask people into alignment. You have to lead them […]
How to Use AI to Turn Fundraising Data into Better Decisions
Nonprofits are awash in fundraising data—campaign results, event performance, email metrics, year-over-year trends. Yet most teams only tap a fraction of it. Modern AI tools (like ChatGPT and Copilot with their spreadsheet/CSV analysis features) can quickly surface trends, predict churn, and point you to the next best action—without touching private donor notes or sensitive PII. […]
Fuel for the Fire: Rediscovering Purpose in Fundraising
Some days in this work feel like a highlight reel. The campaign closes ahead of schedule. You blow your goals out of the water. A donor says, “I’ve been waiting for someone to ask me that.” You get the goosebumps. The “this is why I do this” moment. And then there are the other days. […]
Yes Is Earned: The Campaign Secret No One Tells You
The Secret to Campaign Success Isn’t Chasing Dollars—It’s Building Real Relationships If you’ve ever felt the pressure to “just go get the gift,” you’re not alone. But after decades in advancement and raising $250M+ for causes I love, I can tell you: transformational fundraising isn’t about chasing dollars—it’s about earning trust, readiness, and authentic yeses. […]