Book Tammy Zonker to speak at your next event

Empower and inspire your audience with soul-stirring stories and actionable advice

It’s one thing to talk about fundraising innovation and organizational transformation. Tammy’s contagious passion will bring it to life right before your eyes.

Some of the amazing organizations I’ve had the privilege of training

Watch Tammy in action

Tammy doesn’t just “give speeches” about fundraising. She enchants audiences with her innovative and heart-stirring experiences from the front lines of philanthropy.

Keynote

Calling All Heroes

In today’s nonprofit sector, debates over donor-centered versus community-centered fundraising can divide us—just when unity is needed most. Calling All Heroes bridges these divides by honoring both donor generosity and community wisdom, offering a practical roadmap for organizations to raise more money, accelerate their goals, and ensure everyone has a seat at the table.

Through real-world stories (including the journey of a brave toddler named Sam), actionable strategies, and proven tools, I invite audiences to discover the power of collaboration. Together, we explore a human-centered approach to fundraising—one that emphasizes empathy, equity, transparency, and holistic impact.

Your audience will gain:

  • Practical ways to unite donors, staff, and community members for greater impact

  • Core principles of empathy, equity, inclusion, and collaboration—and how to bring them to life

  • Strategies for building diverse, high-performing teams

  • Tools for navigating power dynamics and maintaining mission integrity

  • New metrics for measuring what really matters—beyond just dollars raised

  • Tips for overcoming resistance to change and leading transformation

  • A look at emerging trends and how to prepare for the future of fundraising

Enhance the Experience: Order copies of Calling All Heroes for Attendees

To extend the impact beyond the event, you can order copies of Calling All Heroes for your conference attendees. The book is packed with frameworks, stories, and resources to help nonprofit professionals turn inspiration into action.

Are you ready to unlock the secrets of nonprofit collaboration for your audience and discover how working together can create a real impact? Book Tammy to deliver this keynote.

It's the best thing I've ever heard that discusses donor-centric and community-centric fundraising. Tammy is respectful to both perspectives and strongly desires to improve the profession and our world. I've seen her many times and she's a great speaker. Tammy is full of wisdom, and compassion, and has the ability to weave a powerful story. This is a critical conversation for us all to have, and I'd love to see her deliver this at every fundraising conference.

– Harvey McKinnon, Harvey McKinnon Associates

Keynote

Thinking Bigger, Braver, and Bolder 

Are we truly making the impact we dream of, or have we settled into a comfort zone of safety and compliance? Have we lost sight of our greater purpose? Are we merely checking boxes, or are we truly transforming lives and communities? Join us on a journey of thinking bigger, bolder, and braver. Reconnect with why you do this work; Gain insights by asking brave questions about your organization; Identify what big, bold, audacious goal you might aim for if you knew you could not fail; Get thought-provoking questions to engage your executive and board leadership in thinking bigger, bolder, and braver!

Your audience will gain:

  • A growth mindset that embraces risk-taking, innovation, and disruptive thinking

  • Strategies to identify and overcome limiting beliefs and self-imposed barriers

  • The ability to craft a compelling, aspirational vision that inspires and galvanizes stakeholders

  • Practical skills in leveraging design thinking principles to develop innovative solutions to complex challenges

  • Methods for building a culture of experimentation, learning, and continuous improvement

  • Tools to cultivate resilience and perseverance in the face of setbacks and failures

“If there are two speakers and one is Tammy Zonker, I go to hear Tammy. If there are 50 speakers and one is Tammy, I go to hear Tammy. Her work is SO clever. Her results are SO exceptional. She always inspires me. And she is always worth my time.”

– Tom Ahern, Ahern Donor Communications, Speaker & Author

Keynote

Ensuring Your Donors (and anyone else) Feels Seen, Heard, and Understood

Genuine connection is the cornerstone of lasting relationships. That’s as true in fundraising as it is in life. In this session, Tammy Zonker will unpack the tools and processes to fostering connections that turn ‘transactional fundraising’ into ‘transformational giving.’

You'll learn how to create powerful connections that resonate deeply with your donors and how to craft engagement opportunities that go beyond ‘asking for a gift’ – opportunities to touch the hearts of your donors and inspire their long-term engagement with your organization. By the end of this session, you'll have the skills to build more meaningful relationships with donors and anyone in your life.

Your audience will gain:

  • Insight into the barriers that hinder connection, along with practical tools to foster deeper relationships

  • Understanding of how power dynamics create division and strategies to effectively mitigate them

  • Clarity on the difference between simply knowing your donor and truly understanding them

  • Techniques to deepen connection, enhance listening skills, and ask more impactful questions

“Tammy's session rated the highest out of the 25 presentations we hosted at the Fundraising Ireland National Conference. She was inspiring and engaged our delegates powerfully. I wholeheartedly endorse her speaking ability.”

– Scott Kelley, Fundraising Ireland

Keynote

The Transformational Power of Immersive Experiences

Today’s donors don’t just want to know they made a difference—they want to feel it. In this interactive session, we’ll explore how immersive donor experiences can deepen emotional connection, build trust, and inspire transformational giving. From mission simulations to multisensory storytelling and behind-the-scenes access, you’ll discover creative,  human-centered ways to move beyond traditional engagement tactics.

We’ll look at real-world examples, break down the core elements of effective immersive design, and give you tools to start crafting unforgettable donor experiences—no big budget required. Whether you’re working with major donors, monthly givers, or campaign supporters, this session will spark fresh ideas and help you turn inspiration into action.

Your audience will gain:

  • Insight into the psychology of immersion

  • A simple framework for designing immersive donor experiences

  • Inspiration from real-life examples spanning various mission types and budget levels

  • Practical ideas to spark your own immersive experiences

  • A renewed sense of what’s possible when leading with heart, story, and imagination

Tammy Zonker is at the top of her game. She is an accomplished speaker who can enchant an audience with her professionalism and charisma. And, she's a masterful, expert fundraiser. You don't often have those two qualities in the same person. She's terrific, and fun to work with too!

Gail Perry, Gail Perry Group, Philanthropy Expert, Speaker & Author

Deep Dives + Hands-On Learning + Interactive Engagement

Breakout Sessions

Educational breakout sessions can be a fantastic addition to your event! They provide an opportunity for deeper dives into specific topics, hands-on learning, and more interactive engagement with event participants. Here's why they can be a game-changer for your attendees:

1. Tailored Learning: Breakout sessions allow us to collaborate in the customization of the content to match the diverse interests and needs of your audience and theme of your event. Attendees can choose sessions that align with their goals and preferences.

2. Deeper Insights: With more focused sessions, participants can explore topics in greater detail. This leads to a deeper understanding and the acquisition of practical skills and knowledge.

3. Interactive Workshops: Breakout sessions typically take the form of interactive workshops, where attendees can actively participate in exercises, ask questions, and collaborate with the speaker and fellow participants. It's a hands-on learning experience.

4. Networking Opportunities: Smaller groups in breakout sessions provide an excellent environment for networking and building connections. Attendees can engage more intimately with the speaker and with each other.

5. Variety and Choice: Offering breakout sessions alongside main presentations adds variety to your event agenda. It keeps attendees engaged and excited throughout the day.

6. Addressing Specific Needs: Breakout sessions can address specific challenges or emerging trends in your industry. This ensures that your attendees leave with actionable insights and solutions.

7. Flexibility: I'm adaptable and can design breakout sessions to complement the overall theme and objectives of your event. Whether it's a deep dive into a niche topic or a skill-building workshop, I've got you covered.

The beauty of breakout sessions is that they cater to a wide range of learning styles and preferences. Whether your attendees want to acquire new skills, explore advanced concepts, or engage in hands-on activities, breakout sessions can enhance their event experience.

If you're interested in offering breakout sessions at your event, let's have a conversation about your goals and the specific topics or formats that would best meet the needs of your audience. Together, we can create a program that adds tremendous value for your participants!

“Tammy has been one of the most in-demand speakers at AFP International Conference, AFP Congress and elsewhere for several years. She gets great reviews, and standing room only in her sessions. Her content is always fresh and innovative and she is considered a true fundraising thought leader.”

– Penelope Cagney, President, The Cagney Company

Tammy Zonker is a passionate leader, strategic thinker, and recognized expert in major gift fundraising with nearly three decades of impactful experience. As the Founder and President of Fundraising Transformed, President of the Modern Institute for Charitable Giving, host of The Intentional Fundraiser Podcast, and author of Calling All Heroes: Combining the Best of Donor-Centered and Community-Centered Fundraising for Greater Impact, Tammy is dedicated to empowering nonprofit organizations to achieve extraordinary results.

Throughout her extensive career, Tammy has guided and trained thousands of nonprofits—including social service organizations, private schools, universities, and healthcare institutions—to collectively raise nearly a billion dollars. Among her many successes is securing an impressive single gift of $27.1 million, highlighting her exceptional strategic insight and ability to inspire generosity.

Internationally sought after for her expertise, Tammy is an Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Certified Facilitator and a seasoned global speaker, sharing her knowledge in Australia, Ireland, Canada, and the Netherlands. The AFP Greater Detroit Chapter honored Tammy’s outstanding contributions by presenting her with the prestigious Dr. John S. Lore Award for Outstanding Fundraising Executive of the Year.

Tammy previously served as Dean of the Institute for Charitable Giving for six years before acquiring the organization in 2025. She then revitalized and rebranded it as the Modern Institute for Charitable Giving, introducing an innovative and refreshed curriculum tailored for today’s fundraising professionals.

In addition to her roles at Fundraising Transformed and the Modern Institute for Charitable Giving, Tammy is a Senior Advisor at Capital Campaign Pro. She also contributes to advancing the fundraising profession through her involvement with the Fundraising.AI Global Advisory Council and Forbes Nonprofit Advisory Council.

Tammy’s experience extends into academia and publishing as well, having served as adjunct faculty at Indiana University and as a technical editor for Wiley Publishing’s third edition of Fundraising for Dummies.

Beyond her professional life, Tammy treasures spending quality time with her grandchildren and cultivating her NABA-certified butterfly garden, reflecting her deep appreciation for nature and family.

Meet Tammy Zonker

Frequently asked questions

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