137. Crafting Offers for Transformational Giving
Trent Thompson Trent Thompson

137. Crafting Offers for Transformational Giving

In this week's episode of The Intentional Fundraiser, I walk through the anatomy of a truly transformational gift offer. The five elements that belong on one page. The multi-year and blended structures that feel doable to your donor. And the co-creation conversation that turns a good offer into a great partnership.

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Trent Thompson Trent Thompson

The New Nonprofit Tech Stack for Major Gifts

This week's Scaling Major Gifts newsletter is all about cutting through the noise. I walk you through the four core tech categories that actually matter for major gifts work (hint: it's not that many), a simple five-criteria check to evaluate anything in your stack, where AI genuinely fits (and where it honestly doesn't), and a 90-day "stack tune-up" plan to help you retire what's not working and feel good about what is.

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135. A Modern Tech Stack for Major Gift Success
Trent Thompson Trent Thompson

135. A Modern Tech Stack for Major Gift Success

Today, we're talking about your tech stack, what belongs in it, how to evaluate what you've already got, where AI actually fits in major gifts work, and how to do a ninety-day tune-up that genuinely frees your team to focus on what matters most: donors.

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134. Writing Donor Messages with AI, Not by AI
Trent Thompson Trent Thompson

134. Writing Donor Messages with AI, Not by AI

On this week’s Intentional Fundraiser Podcast, I’m sharing how I use AI to draft and refine messages that still sound like me, while saving precious time for deeper donor connections.

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Trent Thompson Trent Thompson

Time Blocking for High-Value Major Gift Work

In this week’s Scaling Major Gifts, I share how I finally took back my week using time blocking, clear communication, and a few smart AI helpers to protect high-value donor time and grow major gifts.

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133. Take Back Your Week, Grow Your Major Gifts
Trent Thompson Trent Thompson

133. Take Back Your Week, Grow Your Major Gifts

Some weeks, your calendar looks full of “important” meetings, but your top donors barely hear from you. In my experience, your calendar will tell the truth about your priorities long before your strategic plan does. The good news is, you can change that story. Here’s a new way to look at your week.

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Trent Thompson Trent Thompson

Generational Giving: Engaging Next-Gen and Values-Driven Donors

Have you noticed how different donor conversations feel these days? I’m hearing it everywhere. The donors leading with values, especially women and next‑gen wealth holders, are changing what generosity looks like in 2026. They ask sharper questions. They expect quicker answers. And they want their giving to align with their worldview and social circles, not just their wallets.

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130. Next-Gen Major Donors and the New Rules of Engagement
Trent Thompson Trent Thompson

130. Next-Gen Major Donors and the New Rules of Engagement

We’re unpacking the new rules of engagement with next‑gen donors in greater depth. You’ll hear stories of fundraisers who’ve built trust faster, simplified reporting, and created shared experiences with donors who lead with their values. If you’ve wondered how to shorten cultivation cycles without feeling transactional, this episode is for you.

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129. Your 2026 Case for Transformational Gifts
Trent Thompson Trent Thompson

129. Your 2026 Case for Transformational Gifts

In a 2026 world, with AI on everyone’s radar, economic uncertainty, and donors asking sharper questions about impact and equity, an outdated case for support is a real liability.

In my experience, updating your case is one of the most leveraged things you can do to inspire six and seven-figure gifts.

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128. Making Your Major Gift Portfolio Shock-Resistant
Trent Thompson Trent Thompson

128. Making Your Major Gift Portfolio Shock-Resistant

In my experience, many nonprofits are one donor decision away from a serious budget problem. The good news is, you can make your portfolio far more shock‑resistant with a few intentional shifts.

Here’s how I think about it.

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Trent Thompson Trent Thompson

Make Your Discovery Calls Feel Natural Again

You feel the pressure to qualify donors fast in 2026.

Budgets are tight, boards want forecasts, and donors expect personalization every time.

Scripted discovery calls can start to feel like an interrogation, for you and for them.

This week, I want to help you redesign those conversations so they feel more like mutual exploration and less like a checklist.

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