The Intentional Fundraiser Podcast

He went quiet for two months. She thought she'd blown the ask. She hadn't. The donor had watched his business take a hit, watched the news every night, and frozen. He wasn't saying no to her $250,000 proposal. He was saying he didn't know how to say yes to anything right now. Here's what she finally did. She sent a note that had nothing to do with the gift. She just asked how he was thinking about the year ahead. He called at 8:15 the next morning and talked for forty minutes. About his company. His kids. How unsure everything felt. She didn't re-pitch. She asked one question near the end: what would make a commitment feel manageable for you right now? Five years instead of three, he said. And a conversation each January. He signed for $300,000. The gift got bigger because the risk got smaller. In this week's episode of The Intentional Fundraiser, I'm walking you through the emotional layer of giving in 2026, the four conversational moves I use with anxious donors, and five gift structures that help people feel safe saying yes to something big. Here's my question for you. When a donor hesitates, is your first instinct to shrink the number or to shrink the risk? Listen to the episode, then share it with someone on your team who has an anxious donor conversation coming up this week. More from Tammy Zonker Author of Calling All Heroes: Combining the Best of Donor-Centered and Community-Centered Fundraising for Greater Impact Founder of Fundraising Transformed President of Modern Institute for Charitable Giving Book Tammy to Keynote Your Next Event Reserve your spot at the upcoming Excellence in Major Gift Fundraising Seminar Subscribe to the Scaling Major Gifts newsletter Connect with Tammy Zonker on LinkedIn Resources: Show notes, links, and resources mentioned in this episode . Review my show: Please review my show . After you click the link, scroll to the bottom, first tap to rate with five stars, and then tap “Write a Review.” Then, let me know what you liked most about this particular episode or how you find my podcast helpful, valuable, insightful, or inspiring in some way. Privacy Policy: See Privacy Policy at https://www.fundraisingtransformed.com/policies

She gave me four minutes. It changed my career. Almost thirty years ago, I had a donor meeting with a man who genuinely intimidated me. My development director stopped by my desk and asked what I planned to ask him. I recited my agenda. She listened, then said, "That's fine. But what do you really want to know about him?" I said I wanted to know why he kept giving to us when he clearly didn't need us. She said, "Ask him that." He talked for twenty minutes about his mother, a scholarship, and a debt he'd been paying back for forty years. He made our largest gift that year. Four minutes at my desk. No budget. No program. No conference. That's the whole thing I want us to understand about developing the next generation of major gift fundraisers. We keep trying to hire our way out of what is really a coaching problem. If someone on your team told a story like that about you ten years from now, what would they say you did? This week on The Intentional Fundraiser Podcast, I walk through what's different about the fundraisers coming up now, the four competencies they need, five coaching moves that cost nothing, and what it quietly costs your donors when you skip all of it. Give it a listen, then share it with a manager who's carrying a team and wondering why hiring hasn't fixed it. More from Tammy Zonker Author of Calling All Heroes: Combining the Best of Donor-Centered and Community-Centered Fundraising for Greater Impact Founder of Fundraising Transformed President of Modern Institute for Charitable Giving Book Tammy to Keynote Your Next Event Reserve your spot at the upcoming Excellence in Major Gift Fundraising Seminar Subscribe to the Scaling Major Gifts newsletter Connect with Tammy Zonker on LinkedIn Resources: Show notes, links, and resources mentioned in this episode . Review my show: Please review my show . After you click the link, scroll to the bottom, first tap to rate with five stars, and then tap “Write a Review.” Then, let me know what you liked most about this particular episode or how you find my podcast helpful, valuable, insightful, or inspiring in some way. Privacy Policy: See Privacy Policy at https://www.fundraisingtransformed.com/policies

The lobby test. Your website is the lobby of your building. It never closes the gift. But it absolutely sets the tone for everything that happens around it. In this week's episode of The Intentional Fundraiser, I tell the story of a six-figure donor who tried to give on her phone in December, gave up three screens in, and mailed a check instead. The gift still came. The dashboard still looked healthy. And a loyal donor quietly filed away one piece of information about the organization she loves: this is harder than it should be. We talk about why digital shapes what your largest donors believe about you, even the ones you have lunch with. The four elements that matter most to a donor giving at the top of your file. And the digital behavior signals sitting in your data right now that point toward your next major gift conversation. Then I give you a twenty-minute audit you can run before your next staff meeting. Here's my question for you: if a financial advisor researched your organization tomorrow, what one sentence would they report back to your donor? Give it a listen, and share it with the person on your team who owns your website. This one is better as a conversation than a solo listen. More from Tammy Zonker Author of Calling All Heroes: Combining the Best of Donor-Centered and Community-Centered Fundraising for Greater Impact Founder of Fundraising Transformed President of Modern Institute for Charitable Giving Book Tammy to Keynote Your Next Event Reserve your spot at the upcoming Excellence in Major Gift Fundraising Seminar Subscribe to the Scaling Major Gifts newsletter Connect with Tammy Zonker on LinkedIn Resources: Show notes, links, and resources mentioned in this episode . Review my show: Please review my show . After you click the link, scroll to the bottom, first tap to rate with five stars, and then tap “Write a Review.” Then, let me know what you liked most about this particular episode or how you find my podcast helpful, valuable, insightful, or inspiring in some way. Privacy Policy: See Privacy Policy at https://www.fundraisingtransformed.com/policies

"What's our plan if we only raise nine?" A campaign chair asked that in a planning meeting for a $14 million campaign, and the room went completely quiet. She wasn't being negative. She'd run a manufacturing business for thirty years, and she said, "I've never run a three-year plan that came in exactly where the model said it would." So we built an answer. Three of them, honestly. Conservative, moderate, and optimistic, all built around one internal working goal. Eighteen months later, the $4 million lead gift came in at $1.8 million. In most campaigns, that's an emergency board meeting. In this one, it was a Tuesday, because everyone already knew what to do. They finished at $11.4 million, and the board called it a success. In this episode, I walk through what a working goal really is, the three scenarios you build around it, how to write triggers you can see coming, and the five sentences that keep a board steady when the number moves. Give it a listen, then share it with someone on your team who's been waiting for a better moment to launch. More from Tammy Zonker Author of Calling All Heroes: Combining the Best of Donor-Centered and Community-Centered Fundraising for Greater Impact Founder of Fundraising Transformed President of Modern Institute for Charitable Giving Book Tammy to Keynote Your Next Event Reserve your spot at the upcoming Excellence in Major Gift Fundraising Seminar Subscribe to the Scaling Major Gifts newsletter Connect with Tammy Zonker on LinkedIn Resources: Show notes, links, and resources mentioned in this episode . Review my show: Please review my show . After you click the link, scroll to the bottom, first tap to rate with five stars, and then tap “Write a Review.” Then, let me know what you liked most about this particular episode or how you find my podcast helpful, valuable, insightful, or inspiring in some way. Privacy Policy: See Privacy Policy at https://www.fundraisingtransformed.com/policies

A donor wall almost cost them their best donor. At the opening of a gorgeous new wall, one of their most generous donors leaned in and said, "I didn't give so my name could be up there. I gave for the kids. I wish the wall told me about them." That one sentence is the whole episode. On this week's Intentional Fundraiser Podcast, Recognition That Feels Right Today, I dig into what donors are signaling about recognition now, fresh mission-centered practices you can borrow, and how to handle sensitive naming questions without walking into a landmine. Recognition, done right, isn't a plaque. It's a window into the change a donor made possible. Is your recognition making donors feel important, or connected? Give it a listen, then share it with someone wrestling with their own donor wall. More from Tammy Zonker Author of Calling All Heroes: Combining the Best of Donor-Centered and Community-Centered Fundraising for Greater Impact Founder of Fundraising Transformed President of Modern Institute for Charitable Giving Book Tammy to Keynote Your Next Event Reserve your spot at the upcoming Excellence in Major Gift Fundraising Seminar Subscribe to the Scaling Major Gifts newsletter Connect with Tammy Zonker on LinkedIn Resources: Show notes, links, and resources mentioned in this episode . Review my show: Please review my show . After you click the link, scroll to the bottom, first tap to rate with five stars, and then tap “Write a Review.” Then, let me know what you liked most about this particular episode or how you find my podcast helpful, valuable, insightful, or inspiring in some way. Privacy Policy: See Privacy Policy at https://www.fundraisingtransformed.com/policies

Urgency can steal our future. I’ve watched it happen in nonprofit teams everywhere. We race from grant deadlines to events to year-end goals, doing everything possible to meet today’s needs. But somewhere along the way, the relationship-building work that creates tomorrow’s major gifts gets pushed aside. In my conversation with Mark Stuart, President and CEO of San Diego Foundation, I was reminded that fundraising is not just a development department responsibility. It is a team sport. 🤝 When we make room for curiosity, courageous conversations, and long-term planning, we give donors something more meaningful than a transaction. We give them agency to help shape a better future. So here’s my question: What important fundraising work are you protecting this quarter, even when urgency is loud? 🎧 Listen to this episode for practical inspiration on building for what’s next, then share it with a fundraiser, executive leader, or board member who needs this reminder. More from Tammy Zonker Author of Calling All Heroes: Combining the Best of Donor-Centered and Community-Centered Fundraising for Greater Impact Founder of Fundraising Transformed President of Modern Institute for Charitable Giving Book Tammy to Keynote Your Next Event Reserve your spot at the upcoming Excellence in Major Gift Fundraising Seminar Subscribe to the Scaling Major Gifts newsletter Connect with Tammy Zonker on LinkedIn Guest: Mark Stuart, President and CEO of San Diego Foundation Resources: Show notes, links, and resources mentioned in this episode . Review my show: Please review my show . After you click the link, scroll to the bottom, first tap to rate with five stars, and then tap “Write a Review.” Then, let me know what you liked most about this particular episode or how you find my podcast helpful, valuable, insightful, or inspiring in some way. Privacy Policy: See Privacy Policy at https://www.fundraisingtransformed.com/policies

What if the ask isn't for money? What if it's a question? A donor of fifteen years told one of my clients, "Nobody ever asked me what I thought. They just told me what they'd done." He'd made peace with being a checkbook. I keep hearing versions of that story. Loyal donors who'd give more, and stay longer, if we simply asked them what they see. On this week's episode of The Intentional Fundraiser, I make the case that listening is a fundraising strategy, not a courtesy. We get into how to design listening sessions and donor advisory councils, and the one step almost everyone skips: closing the loop so donors see what changed because they spoke up. When's the last time you asked a major donor, "What are we missing?" Listen to this week's episode, then share it with someone who needs the reminder that donors want to be heard, not just thanked. More from Tammy Zonker Author of Calling All Heroes: Combining the Best of Donor-Centered and Community-Centered Fundraising for Greater Impact Founder of Fundraising Transformed President of Modern Institute for Charitable Giving Book Tammy to Keynote Your Next Event Reserve your spot at the upcoming Excellence in Major Gift Fundraising Seminar Subscribe to the Scaling Major Gifts newsletter Connect with Tammy Zonker on LinkedIn Resources: Show notes, links, and resources mentioned in this episode . Review my show: Please review my show . After you click the link, scroll to the bottom, first tap to rate with five stars, and then tap “Write a Review.” Then, let me know what you liked most about this particular episode or how you find my podcast helpful, valuable, insightful, or inspiring in some way. Privacy Policy: See Privacy Policy at https://www.fundraisingtransformed.com/policies

If you vanished tomorrow, would anyone else in your building know how to talk about a donor with warmth? I've watched two organizations, same size, same budget, same tactics. One had a major gift officer carrying every donor relationship alone. The other had a program director who told donor stories unprompted, because she'd been invited to sit in on a visit once and it stuck. Same resources. Completely different trajectory. On this week's episode of The Intentional Fundraiser, I dig into what a real culture of philanthropy looks like, why it might be your most important major gifts strategy, and one small internal campaign you can try this month. What would change at your organization if donor relationships weren't yours alone to carry? Listen to this episode and share it with someone on your leadership team. More from Tammy Zonker Author of Calling All Heroes: Combining the Best of Donor-Centered and Community-Centered Fundraising for Greater Impact Founder of Fundraising Transformed President of Modern Institute for Charitable Giving Book Tammy to Keynote Your Next Event Reserve your spot at the upcoming Excellence in Major Gift Fundraising Seminar Subscribe to the Scaling Major Gifts newsletter Connect with Tammy Zonker on LinkedIn Resources: Show notes, links, and resources mentioned in this episode . Review my show: Please review my show . After you click the link, scroll to the bottom, first tap to rate with five stars, and then tap “Write a Review.” Then, let me know what you liked most about this particular episode or how you find my podcast helpful, valuable, insightful, or inspiring in some way. Privacy Policy: See Privacy Policy at https://www.fundraisingtransformed.com/policies

He asked to sit in on hiring. She almost said yes to that too. Here's what changed her mind. On this week's episode, I tell the story of a major gift officer whose biggest donor had slowly taken over her evenings, her weekends, and nearly her hiring decisions. We walk through the power dynamics that show up in almost every major gift relationship, the red flags worth naming early, and the reset language that protected both her dignity and the gift. What's one boundary you've had to set with a generous donor? Listen to this episode and share it with anyone on your team navigating a tricky donor dynamic right now. More from Tammy Zonker Author of Calling All Heroes: Combining the Best of Donor-Centered and Community-Centered Fundraising for Greater Impact Founder of Fundraising Transformed President of Modern Institute for Charitable Giving Book Tammy to Keynote Your Next Event Reserve your spot at the upcoming Excellence in Major Gift Fundraising Seminar Subscribe to the Scaling Major Gifts newsletter Connect with Tammy Zonker on LinkedIn Resources: Show notes, links, and resources mentioned in this episode . Review my show: Please review my show . After you click the link, scroll to the bottom, first tap to rate with five stars, and then tap “Write a Review.” Then, let me know what you liked most about this particular episode or how you find my podcast helpful, valuable, insightful, or inspiring in some way. Privacy Policy: See Privacy Policy at https://www.fundraisingtransformed.com/policies

A gift once took eleven months to close. Not because the donor said no. Because one person was carrying five jobs. On this week's episode of The Intentional Fundraiser, I tell the story of a major gift that stalled for nearly a year, and what finally unstuck it. Spoiler: it wasn't a better pitch. It was the right people in the room. We talk about: Why cross-functional collaboration is non-negotiable in 2026 Who belongs at your major gifts table How to run a focused 30-minute coalition meeting that gets real results Who on your team, outside of development, deserves more credit for your last big gift? Listen to this episode and send it to a colleague who's ready to stop carrying major gifts alone. More from Tammy Zonker Author of Calling All Heroes Founder of Fundraising Transformed President of Modern Institute for Charitable Giving Learn more about the Excellence in Major Gift Fundraising Seminar Subscribe to Tammy Zonker's Scaling Major Gifts newsletter Connect with Tammy Zonker on LinkedIn Resources: Show notes, links, and resources mentioned in this episode . Review my show: Please review my show . After you click the link, scroll to the bottom, first tap to rate with five stars, and then tap “Write a Review.” Then, let me know what you liked most about this particular episode or how you find my podcast helpful, valuable, insightful, or inspiring in some way. Privacy Policy: See Privacy Policy at https://www.fundraisingtransformed.com/policies

Her gala cost $40K. Her dinner cost $200. Guess which one got a bigger gift. On this week's episode, I tell the story of two events that happened the same spring, one an eleven-month gala, one a Wednesday dinner for eight people. Only one of them led to real major gift conversations. It wasn't the expensive one. We walk through the 3P framework I now use with clients: purpose, people, program, plus the follow-up system that turns a good event into an actual gift instead of a nice memory. What's one event on your calendar right now that could use a smaller, more focused redesign? Listen to this episode and share it with anyone on your team planning a donor event this year. More from Tammy Zonker Author of Calling All Heroes Founder of Fundraising Transformed President of Modern Institute for Charitable Giving Learn more about the Excellence in Major Gift Fundraising Seminar Subscribe to Tammy Zonker's Scaling Major Gifts newsletter Connect with Tammy Zonker on LinkedIn Resources: Show notes, links, and resources mentioned in this episode . Review my show: Please review my show . After you click the link, scroll to the bottom, first tap to rate with five stars, and then tap “Write a Review.” Then, let me know what you liked most about this particular episode or how you find my podcast helpful, valuable, insightful, or inspiring in some way. Privacy Policy: See Privacy Policy at https://www.fundraisingtransformed.com/policies

6:30 a.m. Calendar chaos already. By 10 a.m., she hadn't talked to a single donor yet. Six months later, same alarm, same portfolio. Totally different morning. On this week's episode of The Intentional Fundraiser, I walk through what changed for a major gift officer named Renee, and exactly which categories of work she handed off to AI and automation, and which she never will. In this episode, Working Smarter: Automation for Major Gift Officers, I cover: → The real numbers behind a 45-hour week, and where they were really going → Three categories of tasks that are safe to delegate to AI and automation → Two workflows you can set up this week, no technical background required What's one task on your calendar right now that drains you and barely touches a donor? Listen to the episode and share it with a teammate who's ready to get their week back. More from Tammy Zonker Author of Calling All Heroes Founder of Fundraising Transformed President of Modern Institute for Charitable Giving Learn more about the Excellence in Major Gift Fundraising Seminar Subscribe to Tammy Zonker's Scaling Major Gifts newsletter Connect with Tammy Zonker on LinkedIn Resources: Show notes, links, and resources mentioned in this episode . Review my show: Please review my show . After you click the link, scroll to the bottom, first tap to rate with five stars, and then tap “Write a Review.” Then, let me know what you liked most about this particular episode or how you find my podcast helpful, valuable, insightful, or inspiring in some way. Privacy Policy: See Privacy Policy at https://www.fundraisingtransformed.com/policies

A gala put them on stage. Then ghosted them for good. Three community leaders invited up front, never contacted again. Zero gifts. One hurt feeling that traveled fast. On this week's episode of The Intentional Fundraiser, I tell that story next to a very different one. A major gift officer who spent four months building trust with a community before she ever made an ask. No agenda. No pitch. Just curiosity, and a lot of listening. The result? A yes within a week, and two more families who joined in the following year. In this episode, Inclusive Major Gifts in Practice, I walk through: → Why inclusive fundraising is now core major gifts strategy, not a side initiative → The tokenism traps that quietly cost you trust and gifts → The internal work, representation, language, policy, and power, that makes your outreach believable What's one practice you'd like to start, or stop, in how your organization engages diverse donors? Listen to the episode and share it with someone on your team who's ready for this conversation. More from Tammy Zonker Author of Calling All Heroes Founder of Fundraising Transformed President of Modern Institute for Charitable Giving Learn more about the Excellence in Major Gift Fundraising Seminar Subscribe to Tammy Zonker's Scaling Major Gifts newsletter Connect with Tammy Zonker on LinkedIn Resources: Show notes, links, and resources mentioned in this episode . Review my show: Please review my show . After you click the link, scroll to the bottom, first tap to rate with five stars, and then tap “Write a Review.” Then, let me know what you liked most about this particular episode or how you find my podcast helpful, valuable, insightful, or inspiring in some way. Privacy Policy: See Privacy Policy at https://www.fundraisingtransformed.com/policies

What if your major donors wanted to commit longer? Most of them already do. They just haven't been asked. In this week's episode of The Intentional Fundraiser podcast, I'm talking about one of the most underused strategies in major gifts: recurring and multi-year commitments. Not because donors resist them. Because most fundraisers don't have the language to invite them in. Here's what we cover: Why predictable revenue lets your organization plan in mission mode, not survival mode The exact invitation language I've seen open multi-year conversations naturally A stewardship framework called Renewal Cues and Milestone Moments How automation and AI can help you make sure no touchpoint gets missed And your challenge: draft one multi-year invitation this week. Email, letter, or phone script. Just get it on paper. Here's a question to sit with: What would change in your organization if you knew, right now, what your major gift revenue would look like for the next three years? That's what these conversations can make possible. Listen to the episode and share it with someone on your team who handles major donor relationships. More from Tammy Zonker Author of Calling All Heroes Founder of Fundraising Transformed President of Modern Institute for Charitable Giving Learn more about the Excellence in Major Gift Fundraising Seminar Subscribe to Tammy Zonker's Scaling Major Gifts newsletter Connect with Tammy Zonker on LinkedIn Resources: Show notes, links, and resources mentioned in this episode . Review my show: Please review my show . After you click the link, scroll to the bottom, first tap to rate with five stars, and then tap “Write a Review.” Then, let me know what you liked most about this particular episode or how you find my podcast helpful, valuable, insightful, or inspiring in some way. Privacy Policy: See Privacy Policy at https://www.fundraisingtransformed.com/policies

$5k a year. For 12 years. Then she sold her business. The fundraiser said, "congratulations," and changed the subject. Sixty days later, with one different question, that same donor transferred $400,000 in appreciated stock before the sale closed. Same donor. Same relationship. Different question. This week on The Intentional Fundraiser, I'm pulling back the curtain on what most major gift teams are quietly missing in 2026: asset-based gifts. Stock. DAFs. Closely held business interests. Real estate. These are not "planned giving department" conversations anymore. They are the next frontier of major gifts for nonprofits of every size. In this episode, Beyond Cash: Unlocking Asset-Based Major Gifts, I walk through: → The donor signals that say "I'm ready for this conversation" → Two conversation openers that stay donor-centered and advisor-friendly → The four asset types every major gift officer should be fluent in → Stewardship moves that turn one complex gift into long-term partnership → The internal readiness check you can do with your CFO this week If cash giving in your shop feels flat, this is the door I want to open for you. Listen to this week's episode and share it with your CEO and finance lead. The fundraisers who get comfortable with complex gifts now will quietly outpace everyone else over the next three years. What's the one part of asset-based giving that still feels intimidating in your work? More from Tammy Zonker Author of Calling All Heroes Founder of Fundraising Transformed President of Modern Institute for Charitable Giving Learn more about the Excellence in Major Gift Fundraising Seminar Subscribe to Tammy Zonker's Scaling Major Gifts newsletter Connect with Tammy Zonker on LinkedIn Resources: Show notes, links, and resources mentioned in this episode . Review my show: Please review my show . After you click the link, scroll to the bottom, first tap to rate with five stars, and then tap “Write a Review.” Then, let me know what you liked most about this particular episode or how you find my podcast helpful, valuable, insightful, or inspiring in some way. Privacy Policy: See Privacy Policy at https://www.fundraisingtransformed.com/policies

Your CEO is not your critic. They might be your scariest internal customer. Once I understood that, everything changed. For years I walked into meetings with my ED ready to defend my portfolio. Why hadn't the gift closed. Why we were behind. Why the donor needed more time. I left those meetings smaller. He left them more anxious. And the donor at the center of it had no idea any of it was happening. Then I learned the move that changed my career. I stopped reporting at my leader and started equipping my leader. ✨ One-page briefings. One donor story per meeting. A predictable rhythm of updates. A 45-minute alignment agenda I now use with every coaching client. In this week's episode of The Intentional Fundraiser, I walk through: → The empathy shift that changes the whole dynamic. → Four managing-up moves that work in 2026. → The exact briefing format and meeting agenda you can use this month. If you've ever felt squeezed between donor reality and leadership expectations, this one is for you. When was the last time you had a structured strategy meeting with your ED or CEO that you walked out of feeling good? Listen, then share with one fundraiser or one nonprofit leader who needs it. More from Tammy Zonker Author of Calling All Heroes Founder of Fundraising Transformed President of Modern Institute for Charitable Giving Learn more about the Excellence in Major Gift Fundraising Seminar Subscribe to Tammy Zonker's Scaling Major Gifts newsletter Connect with Tammy Zonker on LinkedIn Resources: Show notes, links, and resources mentioned in this episode . Review my show: Please review my show . After you click the link, scroll to the bottom, first tap to rate with five stars, and then tap “Write a Review.” Then, let me know what you liked most about this particular episode or how you find my podcast helpful, valuable, insightful, or inspiring in some way. Privacy Policy: See Privacy Policy at https://www.fundraisingtransformed.com/policies

$150,000 gift. One question. 90 seconds. "Who is this changing for?" A development director walked into a meeting with a fund-of-funds founder and a 12-page impact report. He flipped through it in ninety seconds and asked one question: "Who is this changing for, and how do you know?" She closed the report. Told one story. Showed one chart. One photo. Nine minutes. Six days later, the $150K gift came in. When she called to thank him, he said something I think about every week: "I don't need more pages. I need to feel and verify what's working." 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 → Why dignity-first storytelling is the new bar in 2026 Here's the question I want to leave you with. When did you last test your most-told impact story against a sophisticated donor's hardest question? Listen to the episode, then rewrite one story this week. I'd love to hear how it lands. More from Tammy Zonker Author of Calling All Heroes Founder of Fundraising Transformed President of Modern Institute for Charitable Giving Learn more about the Excellence in Major Gift Fundraising Seminar Subscribe to Tammy Zonker's Scaling Major Gifts newsletter Connect with Tammy Zonker on LinkedIn Guest: Name, Title, Company Resources: Show notes, links, and resources mentioned in this episode . Review my show: Please review my show . After you click the link, scroll to the bottom, first tap to rate with five stars, and then tap “Write a Review.” Then, let me know what you liked most about this particular episode or how you find my podcast helpful, valuable, insightful, or inspiring in some way. Privacy Policy: See Privacy Policy at https://www.fundraisingtransformed.com/policies

"You brought me a brochure, not a conversation." A donor said that to one of my clients. It changed how we prep every donor visit now. In this week's episode of The Intentional Fundraiser podcast, I share the story of a $250,000 ask that became a $400,000 partnership plus two warm introductions, all because we changed one thing. We stopped presenting. We started designing. Inside the episode you'll get: The five-part co-design meeting flow you can use this week The donor psychology that makes this work so well The tools, visuals, and AI-supported follow-up habits I use after every donor visit Your best donors are not waiting for a better update. They are waiting to be invited into the work. Here is my question for you today. When was the last time you walked out of a donor visit feeling like you had truly built something together? Listen now, then forward this episode to one teammate who is about to prep a big donor visit. More from Tammy Zonker Author of Calling All Heroes Founder of Fundraising Transformed President of Modern Institute for Charitable Giving Learn more about the Excellence in Major Gift Fundraising Seminar Subscribe to Tammy Zonker's Scaling Major Gifts newsletter Connect with Tammy Zonker on LinkedIn Resources: Show notes, links, and resources mentioned in this episode . Review my show: Please review my show . After you click the link, scroll to the bottom, first tap to rate with five stars, and then tap “Write a Review.” Then, let me know what you liked most about this particular episode or how you find my podcast helpful, valuable, insightful, or inspiring in some way. Privacy Policy: See Privacy Policy at https://www.fundraisingtransformed.com/policies

A $100,000 gift, made in a kitchen. The major gift officer wasn't there. Another donor was. ☕ She invited three friends over for coffee. She told them why she gave. She didn't pitch. She didn't ask. Six weeks later, one of those friends called me ready to make a major gift. That moment changed how the major gift officer thinks about major gift strategy. 🎙️ On this week's episode of The Intentional Fundraiser podcast, I unpack peer power, ambassadors, and giving circles, and why peer voices carry more weight than staff voices in 2026. We cover: → The four peer roles that work in real programs (Host, Advocate, Champion, Circle Convener) → How to design peer-led experiences that feel like invitation, not pressure → The guardrails that protect against mission drift, peer pressure, and bubble dynamics Here's the question I want to leave you with. Who in your donor base is already telling friends about your work without being asked? That person is your starting point. Listen to the episode, and share it with another fundraiser who's building a peer strategy. The doors you've been knocking on may already be wide open from the other side. More from Tammy Zonker Author of Calling All Heroes Founder of Fundraising Transformed President of Modern Institute for Charitable Giving Learn more about the Excellence in Major Gift Fundraising Seminar Subscribe to Tammy Zonker's Scaling Major Gifts newsletter Connect with Tammy Zonker on LinkedIn Resources: Show notes, links, and resources mentioned in this episode . Review my show: Please review my show . After you click the link, scroll to the bottom, first tap to rate with five stars, and then tap “Write a Review.” Then, let me know what you liked most about this particular episode or how you find my podcast helpful, valuable, insightful, or inspiring in some way. Privacy Policy: See Privacy Policy at https://www.fundraisingtransformed.com/policies

Bad metrics ruin good fundraisers. Slowly. Quietly. Cycle after cycle. And almost nobody on the team is allowed to say it out loud. In this week's episode of The Intentional Fundraiser, 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. I'm walking through: → The hidden cost of using lagging indicators to coach behavior → Five leading indicators worth tracking instead → Why AI inside your CRM should help you ask better questions, not deliver verdicts → How to turn the next quarterly board report into a coaching opportunity for leadership Here's the question I want to leave you with: If your scoreboard disappeared tomorrow, what would your gift officers actually do differently? If the answer is "not much," your metrics may not be doing the work you think they are. Listen to this episode, then send it to one development director or board member who could use a different conversation about reporting this quarter. More from Tammy Zonker Author of Calling All Heroes Founder of Fundraising Transformed President of Modern Institute for Charitable Giving Learn more about the Excellence in Major Gift Fundraising Seminar Subscribe to Tammy Zonker's Scaling Major Gifts newsletter Connect with Tammy Zonker on LinkedIn Guest: Name, Title, Company Resources: Show notes, links, and resources mentioned in this episode . Review my show: Please review my show . After you click the link, scroll to the bottom, first tap to rate with five stars, and then tap “Write a Review.” Then, let me know what you liked most about this particular episode or how you find my podcast helpful, valuable, insightful, or inspiring in some way. Privacy Policy: See Privacy Policy at https://www.fundraisingtransformed.com/policies