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with AI on everyone’s radar, economic uncertainty, and donors asking sharper questions about impact and equity, an outdated case for support is a real liability.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

If you feel pressure to “keep up” with AI and still stay true to your values, you are not alone.

Donors are living in an on-demand world, and they notice when your outreach feels generic or underprepared.

In my experience, the answer is not to avoid AI, but to use it carefully so your work becomes more thoughtful, not less human.

Listen to “AI-Powered Prep, Human-Centered Conversations,” then share this episode with a colleague or board member who is asking big questions about AI and major gifts.

Drowning in “prospect” names?

If your major gift list looks impressive on paper but doesn’t translate into actual conversations or gifts, you’re not alone.

I’ve sat with teams staring at hundreds of “top prospects” and quietly thinking, “Where do we even start?”

In my latest episode of The Intentional Fundraiser podcast, I share how I helped one nonprofit narrow 600+ “major gift prospects” down to a focused Top 25 using simple donor signals, capacity, affinity, and engagement, not just wealth.

Creating a major gifts plan that’s both aspirational and realistic is more challenging than ever in 2026.

If you’ve ever felt that pull between wanting to say yes to your leadership’s ambition and knowing your current portfolio can’t stretch that far yet, you have plenty of company.

Today, I want to walk you through a practical framework that helps you set aspirational goals that are grounded in data, strengthened by alignment, and fueled by possibility.

If there’s one thing my nearly three decades as a major gifts professional have taught me, it’s that our work is never just about dollars. It’s about people, purpose, and possibility. This week is especially meaningful for me as I celebrate the official release of my new book, Calling All Heroes: Combining the Best of Donor-Centered and Community-Centered Fundraising for Greater Impact. I wrote this book for you: the major gift officers, development directors, executive directors, and board leaders who show up each day with passion for your mission and a commitment to making real, lasting change.