Let’s be honest, most fundraisers in nonprofits spend at least 60% of their week in meetings that have nothing to do with their portfolio. Event planning, committee work, campus tours, internal brainstorming sessions fill up your calendar. And while some of that has value, a lot of it pulls us away from the work that…

I know how overwhelming major gift fundraising can feel. You’re juggling dozens of prospects, trying to keep proposals moving, and still getting pulled into meetings that have nothing to do with closing gifts. Whether you’re looking to tighten up your proposal strategy, build better systems, or just need a sounding board from someone who’s been…

One of the most valuable things we can do as fundraisers is learn from each other’s approaches—what’s working, what language is resonating, and how we’re making the case for giving. I recently asked eight of our fundraisers who are great at closing gifts in our annual giving society to send me their go-to pitches. I…

Let’s face it—keeping board members fully engaged during meetings can be a challenge. These are successful individuals with packed calendars and countless competing priorities. So when they show up, your agenda better be worth their time. Too often, nonprofit board meetings fall into the trap of talking at members rather than engaging them. That’s where…

Discover the book that’s changing how fundraisers close major gifts.Pathways to Philanthropy is a practical, story-driven guide for fundraisers who want to deepen relationships, secure transformational gifts, and grow with confidence. Follow the journey of Sarah Williams, a new major gift officer navigating the real challenges—and triumphs—of higher education fundraising. Packed with real-life scenarios, proven…

Your best prospects are often your busiest—balancing demanding careers, family responsibilities, and packed schedules. Yet, one of the most effective ways to engage these high-potential individuals is by involving them on advisory or leadership boards. The challenge? Board meetings typically require a significant time commitment and, in many cases, travel. So how do you ensure…

AI tools like ChatGPT are giving major gift fundraisers a whole new way to work smarter and faster. But to truly unlock their potential, you need to understand prompt engineering—the art of crafting strategic prompts that guide AI to deliver high-quality results. At its core, prompt engineering is about giving AI the right instructions. With…

Bringing on a new major gift fundraiser is both exciting and critical for the growth of your organization. But here’s the truth: if they don’t learn to do the job in a way that works best for your organization, they’ll end up being ineffective — and you will have wasted valuable time and resources. One…

One of the biggest challenges for major gift fundraisers is getting “stuck” with a prospect. They’ve made the ask, but the donor isn’t moving forward—or worse, they’re unresponsive. When a gift stalls, it takes creativity and strategy to get it across the finish line. One of the most effective ways to overcome this roadblock is…