This is for major gift officers, development directors, and nonprofit leaders who want to grow major gift revenue without leaning harder on the same cash donors. By the end of this post, you'll know how to spot the donors most likely to give a non-cash asset, how to open the conversation warmly, and how to steward the gift so well your donor wants to do it again.

In this week's episode, “Leading from the Major Gifts Seat,” of The Intentional Fundraiser Podcast, I talk about managing up as a leadership practice, including the empathy shift that changes everything and the briefing template I use with my own clients.

On this week's episode of The Intentional Fundraiser podcast, "Story and Data: What Major Donors Really Need," I break down:

Why even your most analytical donor needs an emotional connection; The Story Spine: a 5-beat framework for major donor narratives; How to weave data inside the story, not bolt it on after; and Why dignity-first storytelling is the new bar in 2026.

In this week's episode of The Intentional Fundraiser podcast, “Designing Impact Together with Donors,” I walk through the full co-design meeting flow, the donor psychology behind why it works so well, and the simple tools and digital aids that make it feel natural. If you have ever left a donor meeting thinking "that was fine, but we did not really get anywhere," this episode is for you.

This week's episode of The Intentional Fundraiser podcast is called "Peer Power: Ambassadors and Giving Circles." I share the story behind a gift that came in because of a peer, walk through the four most useful peer roles I've seen, and offer design tips for peer-led gatherings that feel like an invitation, not a pitch.

In this week's episode of The Intentional Fundraiser podcast, I'm sharing why the metrics most major gift programs lean on, raw visit counts, dollars to goal, dials made, often miss the actual work.

In this week's episode of The Intentional Fundraiser podcast, I walk through the four lenses I use to decide who stays on an active portfolio, who graduates to stewardship, and who pauses for now. I also share the language to use with leadership when you propose a leaner, sharper list.

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.

In this week's episode of The Intentional Fundraiser, I'm sharing everything I know about building deep, lasting trust with major donors, even when things don't go as planned.

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.

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.

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.

Let’s talk about how you can turn mid-level donors into your strongest pipeline for transformational support.

Let’s talk about how you can blend major gifts and corporate giving in a way that feels human, strategic, and aligned with your donors’ values.

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.

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.

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.

In my experience, when discovery feels like a test, donors feel it too. I want to share a simpler, more human way to approach discovery calls so they build trust instead of pressure. This is the focus of this week’s Intentional Fundraiser podcast episode, “Discovery That Builds Trust, Not Pressure.”

In my experience, pressure shows up most intensely when a CEO or board member joins a major donor visit at the last minute with little or no briefing. You’ve done the relational groundwork. Then someone “swoops in” and the conversation drifts, the message gets fuzzy, and you walk out wondering what just happened.

Here’s the shift I want to invite you into: instead of treating leaders as last‑minute heroes, start treating them as intentional partners in your major gift work.

You’re working so hard to love on your donors. You want stewardship to feel personal and heartfelt. At the same time, you feel pressure to scale, meet goals, and protect your team from burnout.

In 2026, donor expectations are higher, AI tools are everywhere, and many nonprofit teams feel stretched thin. You’re not imagining the tension between personalization and volume.

In my experience, the answer is not doing more, it’s doing the right things, for the right donors, at the right level.