Ready to stop fundraising the old way and start doubling results? Join nonprofit strategist Christina Tzavaras Edwards for bold, fast-action tactics that help you 2X your next fundraiser and build a community fueled by generosity. From leveraging the Social Street Team®: Influencer Marketing Method to mastering courageous fundraising asks, this podcast equips you with the mindset and strategies needed to spark deep engagement and sustainable growth—no extra workload required. Music by The Selmanaires, featuring "Selmanaire Rock." Visit http://www.splendidatl.com/podcast for more.
208: The Fundraising Lesson Behind a $149K Giving Circle with Kids Hub
What does it look like when a nonprofit team thinks like a business, not a charity? In this episode, I sit down with the powerhouse team behind Kids Hub Child Advocacy Center: founder and CEO DiDi Ellis, Director of Development Erica Smith, and Donor Relations Manager Paige Thames. In 11 years, Kids Hub has grown from 1 paid employee to 21, from 1,300 square feet to nearly 7,000, and from grant-dependent to running one of the most creative individual donor programs I've heard of, including a Power of 100 Women giving circle that raised $149,000 this year alone. We dig into how they think about donor acquisition in a rural southern community, why the chicken plant became one of their sponsors, how they tell emotionally compelling stories without ever showing a child's face, and why Paige says fundraisers have the cushiest job in the building and should act like it. This conversation will change how you think about the ask. All of it. Topics: The Power of 100 Women giving circle: from $0 to $149K and how peer-to-peer became their #1 donor acquisition pipeline Why a chicken plant , a yeast company , and a paper mill are now sponsors, and the mindset that made the ask possible How to tell emotionally compelling stories when you can never show a child's face or share specific details Building donor relationships that go beyond the gift: volunteer days, feedback conversations, and year-round connection The relay race model: splitting donor acquisition and donor retention between two people with different gifts Why DiDi paid cash for a $680K renovation while still raising the money, and what that business mindset means for any nonprofit For a full list of links and resources mentioned in this episode, click here . Bloomerang is the complete donor, volunteer, and fundraising management solution that helps thousands of nonprofits like yours. Book your demo here . Read The 2026 Giving Signals Report here . If you've listened to the show and found it valuable, would you leave a review? It helps more nonprofit leaders find the podcast, and I read every one. Thank you for being here for episode 200 and beyond. Resources: Easy Emails For Impact™ : The $5K+ Fundraising Campaign System Purpose & Profit Club® Fundraising + Marketing Accelerator The SPRINT Method™: Your shortcut to 10K fundraisers Instagram , LinkedIn , website , weekly newsletter [FREE] The Brave Fundraiser’s Guide : Stop getting ignored. Start raising more. May contain affiliate links
207: Why Being Realistic Is Keeping Your Nonprofit Small: The Healthy Delusion™ Effect
Most nonprofit leaders play it too safe . In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on why a little “healthy delusion” might be the missing ingredient in your fundraising and leadership success. You’ll learn why being overly realistic can quietly cap your revenue potential, and how the right dose of ambitious, slightly unreasonable belief in your vision can get you into rooms, conversations, and opportunities you didn’t think were possible. This isn’t about ignoring reality. It’s about expanding it. Topics: Defining “healthy delusion” : What it means and why it works for nonprofit leaders Breaking free from playing small: How being “too realistic” keeps you in the same lane year after year Why wait for evidence before acting slows your growth Real client wins sparked by leaning into healthy delusion How to test bigger asks, expand your network, and approach opportunities without self-disqualifying This is part two of a two-part mindset series we're re-releasing. For a full list of links and resources mentioned in this episode, click here . Bloomerang is the complete donor, volunteer, and fundraising management solution that helps thousands of nonprofits deliver a better giving experience and create sustainable, thriving organizations. Read Bloomerang's 2026 Giving Signals Report here . If you've listened to the show and found it valuable, would you leave a review? It helps more nonprofit leaders find the podcast, and I read every one. Thank you for being here for episode 200 and beyond. Resources: Easy Emails For Impact™ : The $5K+ Fundraising Campaign System Purpose & Profit Club® Fundraising + Marketing Accelerator The SPRINT Method™: Your shortcut to 10K fundraisers Instagram , LinkedIn , website , weekly newsletter [FREE] The Brave Fundraiser’s Guide : Stop getting ignored. Start raising more. May contain affiliate links
206: Why Most Nonprofits Stall Before They Ever Grow: The Inner Grit Effect
Something is missing in your recipe for success. Not a tool. Not a strategy. But something deeper: your inner grit . This isn’t about hustling harder or pushing yourself until you burn out. It’s about the strength you draw on when you’re tired, when the campaign feels heavy, when the grant report is due, and when your to-do list is longer than your capacity. In this episode, I’m sharing why grit matters just as much as skill in fundraising, the mindset shifts that make it sustainable, and how to build your own reserve of inner strength so you can lead with clarity, joy, and resilience, even when the work gets hard. If you’ve ever felt like you’re running on fumes or questioning if you’ve got what it takes, this episode will remind you: you do . You just need to reconnect with it. Topics: Why inner grit is the missing ingredient in many nonprofit leaders’ success How grit differs from hustle culture (and why that matters) Practical ways to build mental and emotional resilience The connection between grit and long-term fundraising success Signs you’re running low on grit (and what to do about it) Why skill without grit leads to stalled progress How to rally yourself when you’re tired, overwhelmed, or uninspired This is part one of a two-part mindset series we're re-releasing. Listen to this, then go straight to Episode 207. For a full list of links and resources mentioned in this episode, click here . Bloomerang is the complete donor, volunteer, and fundraising management solution that helps thousands of nonprofits deliver a better giving experience and create sustainable, thriving organizations. Read Bloomerang's 2026 Giving Signals Report here . If you've listened to the show and found it valuable, would you leave a review? It helps more nonprofit leaders find the podcast, and I read every one. Thank you for being here for episode 200 and beyond. Resources: Easy Emails For Impact™ : The $5K+ Fundraising Campaign System Purpose & Profit Club® Fundraising + Marketing Accelerator The SPRINT Method™: Your shortcut to 10K fundraisers Instagram , LinkedIn , website , weekly newsletter [FREE] The Brave Fundraiser’s Guide : Stop getting ignored. Start raising more. May contain affiliate links
205: From Grant-Only to $20K in 20 Days: How Aftersight Transformed Its Fundraising
What does it look like when a 35-year-old organization that has never fundraised decides to go all in on individual donors? In this special episode recorded live at GiveCon, I sit down with Penn Street, returning podcast guest, Development & Outreach Director at Aftersight, and host of The Blind Chick podcast. Penn walks us through Aftersight's transformation from a grant-only model to running successful sprint campaigns, including a $20K in 20 Days campaign that exceeded its goal and changed how the entire organization thinks about fundraising. We also dig into something most nonprofits completely overlook: accessibility as a revenue strategy. Penn makes the case that blind and low vision donors have money and want to give it to you, but your fundraising materials, events, and technology are making it impossible. Plus we talk about turning podcast audiences into email subscribers, using past guests as Social Street Team® members, and why your volunteer list might be the most underused donor pipeline in your organization. Topics: How Aftersight went from zero individual fundraising to exceeding its first $20K in 20 Days campaign goal Why your podcast guests, volunteers, and past event attendees are untapped donor pipelines Using lead magnets to move podcast listeners into your email list , and why that matters for campaigns Accessibility as a revenue strategy: what nonprofit events and emails are missing and what it's costing them The Social Street Team® method is applied to an organization with a national and international audience Live Q&A: lapsed donor strategy, CRM migration, and alt text for inclusive email storytelling For a full list of links and resources mentioned in this episode, click here . Bloomerang is the complete donor, volunteer, and fundraising management solution that helps thousands of nonprofits like yours. Book your demo here . Read The 2026 Giving Signals Report here . If you've listened to the show and found it valuable, would you leave a review? It helps more nonprofit leaders find the podcast, and I read every one. Thank you for being here for episode 200 and beyond. Resources: Easy Emails For Impact™ : The $5K+ Fundraising Campaign System Purpose & Profit Club® Fundraising + Marketing Accelerator The SPRINT Method™: Your shortcut to 10K fundraisers Instagram , LinkedIn , website , weekly newsletter [FREE] The Brave Fundraiser’s Guide : Stop getting ignored. Start raising more. May contain affiliate links
204: Scared Money Doesn't Make Money: The Donor Relationship Truth Nobody Says Out Loud
What's the real difference between a donor who gives once and disappears and one who goes to bat for your organization in rooms you've never been in? In this conversation, I sit down with Jaz' Vick , Managing Director of Development at One Goal Georgia , a pastor, and one of the most genuinely gifted relationship builders I've ever met. We dig into what it actually means to fundraise from a place of connection instead of transaction, why assumptions about donor capacity destroy trust faster than almost anything else, and the simple habits that have made Jaz' one of the most effective development professionals in the sector. We also talk about what scared fundraising costs organizations, what great leadership actually looks like for a development team, and why the next generation of donors gives Jaz' so much hope for the future of philanthropy. This one is equal parts tactical and deeply human, and I think you'll feel it. Topics: Why transactional fundraising destroys donor trust, and what relationship-based fundraising actually looks like in practice The simple 10-second habit that has changed Jaz' donor relationships How to build deep donor relationships at scale without burning out Why assumptions about donor capacity are one of the fastest ways to breach trust What strong ED support looks like for a development team, and what it doesn't Scared money doesn't make money: how fear-based fundraising keeps organizations stuck in the same cycle For a full list of links and resources mentioned in this episode, click here . Bloomerang is the complete donor, volunteer, and fundraising management solution that helps thousands of nonprofits deliver a better giving experience and create sustainable, thriving organizations. Read Bloomerang's 2026 Giving Signals Report here . If you've listened to the show and found it valuable, would you leave a review? It helps more nonprofit leaders find the podcast, and I read every one. Thank you for being here for episode 200 and beyond. Resources: Easy Emails For Impact™ : The $5K+ Fundraising Campaign System Purpose & Profit Club® Fundraising + Marketing Accelerator The SPRINT Method™: Your shortcut to 10K fundraisers Instagram , LinkedIn , website , weekly newsletter [FREE] The Brave Fundraiser’s Guide : Stop getting ignored. Start raising more. May contain affiliate links
203: Summer Is the Most Underrated Fundraising Season: Your 90-Day Game Plan
Americans gave $592 billion to charity last year. That was a record year, in the same economy, in the same tumultuous climate, with the same donors everyone says are pulling back. So why does it feel so hard? In this special session recorded live, I break down the summer fundraising forecast and make the case for why right now (not September, not year-end) is the most wide-open fundraising opportunity of the year. I cover what's actually keeping organizations stuck (it's not donor fatigue, it's messaging), why 60% of nonprofits are fighting over 0.4% of grant money, and how to run a focused sprint campaign this summer that seeds your strongest year-end ever. Plus real client results, live Q&A, and details on how to work with me inside The SPRINT Method™ and The Purpose & Profit Club® . Topics: Why there is no generosity crisis , only a messaging and strategy crisis The summer fundraising opportunity most organizations completely miss Why 60% of nonprofits are fighting over 0.4% of grant money, and what to do instead Email as the foundational backbone of online fundraising , and why "it doesn't work" usually means the recipe was wrong Monthly giving as the most sustainable revenue stream, and why most organizations don't have enough monthly donors Sprint campaigns vs. endless soft asks , and why short, focused bursts beat marathon fundraising every time For a full list of links and resources mentioned in this episode, click here . Bloomerang is the complete donor, volunteer, and fundraising management solution that helps thousands of nonprofits deliver a better giving experience and create sustainable, thriving organizations. Read Bloomerang's 2026 Giving Signals Report here . If you've listened to the show and found it valuable, would you leave a review? It helps more nonprofit leaders find the podcast, and I read every one. Thank you for being here for episode 200 and beyond. Resources: Easy Emails For Impact™ : The $5K+ Fundraising Campaign System Purpose & Profit Club® Fundraising + Marketing Accelerator The SPRINT Method™: Your shortcut to 10K fundraisers Instagram , LinkedIn , website , weekly newsletter [FREE] The Brave Fundraiser’s Guide : Stop getting ignored. Start raising more. May contain affiliate links
202: Stop Crying Wolf: How to Fundraise Without Burning Out Your Donors
There's a marketing concept that applies directly to how nonprofits fundraise: some messages are painkillers, and some are vitamins. Painkillers solve immediate problems: urgent, scarce, make-or-break. Vitamins build something sustainable: aspirational, visionary, long-term. Most nonprofits accidentally built their entire fundraising strategy around one extreme or the other, and both extremes are costing them donors. In this episode, I break down the difference between painkiller and vitamin fundraising, when each one belongs in your strategy, and what happens when you overuse either. I also dig into the dangerous gray zone I call vague vitamin messaging, content that sounds nice, means nothing, and converts nobody. If your campaigns are flatlining, your donors are churning, or your monthly giving program isn't growing, this episode will show you exactly why and what to do instead. Topics: The painkiller vs. vitamin fundraising framework , and why most organizations are stuck in one extreme Why chronic panic messaging trains donors to churn, distrust, and disappear What vague vitamin messaging looks like, and why it's just as dangerous as over-urgency How the Chicks for Change campaign hit 115% of its goal in under two weeks using a pure vitamin strategy Why monthly giving is the ultimate vitamin , and what a small monthly donor program signals about your messaging How to balance both painkiller and vitamin in a sustainable fundraising calendar For a full list of links and resources mentioned in this episode, click here . Bloomerang is the complete donor, volunteer, and fundraising management solution that helps thousands of nonprofits deliver a better giving experience and create sustainable, thriving organizations. Read Bloomerang's 2026 Giving Signals Report here . Resources: Easy Emails For Impact™ : The $5K+ Fundraising Campaign System Purpose & Profit Club® Fundraising + Marketing Accelerator The SPRINT Method™: Your shortcut to 10K fundraisers Instagram , LinkedIn , website , weekly newsletter [FREE] The Brave Fundraiser’s Guide : Stop getting ignored. Start raising more. May contain affiliate links
201:From Pinterest Board to Panama: How One Founder Fundraised Before She Had Proof
What does it look like to fundraise tens of thousands of dollars before a single wall is built? In this episode, I sit down with Louise Henry , founder of Tim's Club , a nonprofit community space in Panama being built from scratch to support individuals with autism and intellectual disabilities. Inspired by her younger brother Tim, Louise spent years building an online business first so she could dedicate herself to bringing this vision to life. We dig into how she transferred her entrepreneurial and email marketing skills to nonprofit fundraising, how she uses Pinterest vision boards to hold belief before there's evidence, what a hard hat tour does for donor trust, and how her monthly progress reports keep international supporters connected and coming back. This is a conversation about clarity, courage, and what it really means to fundraise before you have proof, and it's one of my favorites. Topics: Building a nonprofit capital campaign from scratch (land, structures, and programming) in Panama How entrepreneurial and email marketing skills transfer directly to nonprofit fundraising Using Pinterest vision boards to hold donor belief before there's tangible proof Creative low-lift campaigns: stepping stone sponsorships, bench naming, product bundles, and peer-to-peer Why hard hat tours are one of the most underused donor engagement tools Monthly progress reports and live workshops as donor retention and connection tools For a full list of links and resources mentioned in this episode, click here . Bloomerang is the complete donor, volunteer, and fundraising management solution that helps thousands of nonprofits deliver a better giving experience and create sustainable, thriving organizations. Read Bloomerang's 2026 Giving Signals Report here . If you've listened to the show and found it valuable, would you leave a review? It helps more nonprofit leaders find the podcast, and I read every one. Thank you for being here for episode 200 and beyond. Resources: Easy Emails For Impact™ : The $5K+ Fundraising Campaign System Purpose & Profit Club® Fundraising + Marketing Accelerator The SPRINT Method™: Your shortcut to 10K fundraisers Instagram , LinkedIn , website , weekly newsletter [FREE] The Brave Fundraiser’s Guide : Stop getting ignored. Start raising more. May contain affiliate links
200: Live Panel from GiveCon: The Advice We Don't Put on Slides
This is a special episode recorded live at GiveCon 2026 , sponsored by Bloomerang . I joined three powerhouse experts, fundraising event strategist Samantha Swaim, digital marketing consultant Julia Campbell, and Bloomerang CMO Ann Fellman, for a candid panel called "The Advice We Don't Put on Slides." No safe takes, no polished talking points, just the real stuff consultants say behind closed doors. We cover what nonprofits consistently get wrong, the trade-offs nobody wants to make, what actually moves the needle, and the advice we give all the time but wish we didn't have to. From a scarcity mindset to the 17 touchpoints it takes to convert a donor, from abandoning friend-raisers to stepping into CEO energy, this conversation is packed with the kind of honest, actionable insight you don't usually get in a conference session. Topics: The most expensive mistakes nonprofits repeat Why the call is coming from inside the house when donor numbers decline , and what to do about it Why "just do a raffle" and "friend-raiser" events are costing organizations more than they raise The 15–17 touch points it takes before revenue comes in, and why that changes everything For a full list of links and resources mentioned in this episode, click here . Bloomerang is the complete donor, volunteer, and fundraising management solution that helps thousands of nonprofits deliver a better giving experience and create sustainable, thriving organizations. Read Bloomerang's 2026 Giving Signals Report here . If you've listened to the show and found it valuable, would you leave a review? It helps more nonprofit leaders find the podcast, and I read every one. Thank you for being here for episode 200 and beyond. Resources: Easy Emails For Impact™ : The $5K+ Fundraising Campaign System Purpose & Profit Club® Fundraising + Marketing Accelerator The SPRINT Method™: Your shortcut to 10K fundraisers Instagram , LinkedIn , website , weekly newsletter [FREE] The Brave Fundraiser’s Guide : Stop getting ignored. Start raising more. May contain affiliate links
199: Stop Making Your Fundraising Campaign Feel Like a Final Exam
What if the pressure you're putting on your fundraising campaign is actually the thing slowing it down? In this episode, I'm talking about something I watched play out on a Little League field this weekend: two coaches, same-age kids, same skill level, completely different energy, and completely different outcomes. And I couldn't stop thinking about how much it looked like what I see inside fundraising campaigns every single week. When you hold too tightly to a goal, when every quiet day feels like failure, when the whole campaign starts to feel like a final exam, that pressure changes everything: your messaging tightens, your team feels it, and your donors feel it. And ironically, the pressure creates the very outcome you were trying to avoid. I talk about what pressure actually does to campaign performance, why three of my clients inside The Purpose & Profit Club® thought they were behind when they were actually ahead, the difference between a dirty win and a beautiful loss, and what it really means to lead a campaign well all the way to the end. Topics: How white-knuckling a fundraising campaign changes the outcome, and not in the way you hope The payoff of pressure and why we hold onto it even when it hurts us What pressure actually does to campaign pacing , messaging , and team energy Why three clients thought they were behind , and were actually ahead The difference between a dirty win and a beautiful loss in fundraising How to lead a campaign well without making it a final exam For a full list of links and resources mentioned in this episode, click here . Bloomerang is the complete donor, volunteer, and fundraising management solution that helps thousands of nonprofits deliver a better giving experience and create sustainable, thriving organizations. Read Bloomerang's 2026 Giving Signals Report here . Resources: Easy Emails For Impact™ : The $5K+ Fundraising Campaign System Purpose & Profit Club® Fundraising + Marketing Accelerator The SPRINT Method™: Your shortcut to 10K fundraisers Instagram , LinkedIn , website , weekly newsletter [FREE] The Brave Fundraiser’s Guide : Stop getting ignored. Start raising more. May contain affiliate links
198: The Give-Get Fundraising Trap That's Costing You More Than You Think
Your donors don't need a goodie bag, a raffle prize, an auction item, a t-shirt, or a chicken dinner. If your fundraising strategy is built around giving them something in order to get something back, that's the give-get model , and it might be exactly what's slowing your organization down. In this episode, I'm breaking down the difference between a real SPRINT™ campaign and an old-school fundraising method wrapped in new language. I talk about why events, raffles, auctions, and 5Ks aren't inherently bad, but why building your entire fundraising strategy around them adds friction, drains people's power, and quietly signals that you don't trust the mission to be enough on its own. If you've ever said, "Why don't we just do a raffle?" , this episode is for you. Topics: What a SPRINT™campaign actually is, and what it isn't Why wrapping an old-school fundraiser in SPRINT™ language doesn't make it a sprint How events add friction for donors and where the money gets lost in the process The give-get mentality and why donors don't need to be bribed to give Questions to ask before choosing your next campaign vehicle Why defaulting to events usually means you don't yet trust the ask, and what to do instead For a full list of links and resources mentioned in this episode, click here . Bloomerang is the complete donor, volunteer, and fundraising management solution that helps thousands of nonprofits deliver a better giving experience and create sustainable, thriving organizations. Read Bloomerang's 2026 Giving Signals Report here . Resources: Easy Emails For Impact™ : The $5K+ Fundraising Campaign System Purpose & Profit Club® Fundraising + Marketing Accelerator The SPRINT Method™: Your shortcut to 10K fundraisers Instagram , LinkedIn , website , weekly newsletter [FREE] The Brave Fundraiser’s Guide : Stop getting ignored. Start raising more. May contain affiliate links
197: Why Sending 3+ Emails on the Final Day Can 2X–9X Your Campaign
I recently got an email from a development manager telling me I send too many emails. She's not wrong for feeling that way, but that feeling is rooted in one of the most expensive beliefs in nonprofit fundraising. And that's exactly what I'm unpacking in this episode. Today, I'm breaking down the data behind email frequency, what it actually costs your organization when you hold back, and why the inner monologue of "I don't want to bother people" is quietly limiting your mission. I talk about what the M+R benchmarks report actually shows about how many emails high-revenue nonprofits are sending, why campaign-based intensity is where your revenue is sitting, and what happened when one development manager followed the Easy Emails For Impact™ process and 9x'd their typical campaign results, without a single new donor on the list. P.S. Easy Emails For Impact™ enrollment is now open with 50% off. Go to splendidcourses.com/email for all the details. Topics: Why "you send too many emails" is rooted in one of the most expensive beliefs in fundraising What the M+R benchmarks report actually shows about email frequency and revenue growth The difference between sending more emails and sending more emails at the right time Why holding back during a campaign window is limiting your mission, not protecting your donors How one development manager 9x'd campaign results by staying in the conversation longer Why you're not building your strategy around your donors Why email revenue grew 16% last year, and what that means for organizations not tapping into it For a full list of links and resources mentioned in this episode, click here . Bloomerang is the complete donor, volunteer, and fundraising management solution that helps thousands of nonprofits deliver a better giving experience and create sustainable, thriving organizations. Read Bloomerang's 2026 Giving Signals Report here . Resources: Easy Emails For Impact™ : The $5K+ Fundraising Campaign System Purpose & Profit Club® Fundraising + Marketing Accelerator The SPRINT Method™: Your shortcut to 10K fundraisers Instagram , LinkedIn , website , weekly newsletter [FREE] The Brave Fundraiser’s Guide : Stop getting ignored. Start raising more. May contain affiliate links
196: The Right Way to Use AI for Nonprofit Fundraising Emails
AI is everywhere right now, and in the nonprofit sector, it's making some organizations' fundraising sharper and others completely generic. The difference isn't the tool; it's how you're using it. In this episode, I'm breaking down exactly where AI helps and where it quietly hurts your fundraising emails. I talk about the most expensive mistake I see nonprofits making - handing the wheel over to AI completely and treating the first draft like the final answer. I share how my clients inside The SPRINT Method™ and The Purpose & Profit Club® are actually using AI as a thought partner, not a ghostwriter, and what the difference looks like in results. If you've been using AI to write your emails faster but wondering why nothing is converting, this episode will show you why, and what to do instead. P.S. Easy Emails For Impact™ enrollment opens May 7 with 50% off the course. Go to splendidcourses.com/email to get first access and learn more. Topics: Why AI is making some nonprofit emails sharper and others completely generic, and what determines the difference The GPS analogy: why AI should help you get there faster, not decide where you're going What to use AI for and what to never hand over to it in your fundraising How to spot an AI-written email , and why they raise nothing even when they look polished Using AI as a thought partner to push your ideas deeper, not replace them A simple three-question filter to run before you hit send For a full list of links and resources mentioned in this episode, click here . Bloomerang is the complete donor, volunteer, and fundraising management solution that helps thousands of nonprofits deliver a better giving experience and create sustainable, thriving organizations. Read Bloomerang's 2026 Giving Signals Report here . Resources: Easy Emails For Impact™ : The $5K+ Fundraising Campaign System Purpose & Profit Club® Fundraising + Marketing Accelerator The SPRINT Method™: Your shortcut to 10K fundraisers Instagram , LinkedIn , website , weekly newsletter [FREE] The Brave Fundraiser’s Guide : Stop getting ignored. Start raising more. May contain affiliate links
195: 7 Reasons Your Emails Aren't Converting Into Donations
If sending emails feels like something you dread, rush, or quietly avoid, this episode is for you. I walk through the seven reasons nonprofit emails aren't converting into donations, and I want you to listen not for what sounds good, but for where you recognize yourself, because the second you see it, you can change it. From writing emails that are polished but completely forgettable to stopping too soon just as momentum is about to build, these are the patterns I see across organizations of every size, from solo founders to teams with 100,000 subscribers. None of this is about making yourself feel bad. It's about getting clear on what's actually getting in the way, because most of these are simple fixes that just take a little courage to do differently. Topics: Why "fine" emails that aren't wrong are still completely forgettable, and what a converting email actually does How your energy and relationship with email show up in your writing and affect results Why assuming your donors hate email is one of the most expensive beliefs in nonprofit fundraising The difference between repetition that annoys and repetition that actually lands your message How to find the micro moments inside your everyday work that make the most powerful emails Why most campaigns die in the middle, and how to stay in it when it feels quiet For a full list of links and resources mentioned in this episode, click here . Bloomerang is the complete donor, volunteer, and fundraising management solution that helps thousands of nonprofits deliver a better giving experience and create sustainable, thriving organizations. Read Bloomerang's 2026 Giving Signals Report here . Resources: Easy Emails For Impact™ : The $5K+ Fundraising Campaign System Purpose & Profit Club® Fundraising + Marketing Accelerator The SPRINT Method™: Your shortcut to 10K fundraisers Instagram , LinkedIn , website , weekly newsletter [FREE] The Brave Fundraiser’s Guide : Stop getting ignored. Start raising more. May contain affiliate links
194: The Story You’re Telling Is Costing You Funding
Somewhere along the way, many nonprofit leaders start carrying a version of their story that is heavier than it needs to be. A missed goal becomes proof they should be further along; a hard year becomes evidence they're behind; and what's tricky is that this story can sound incredibly responsible, measured, even accurate, but it's still a story. And it's costing you funding. In this episode, I introduce the concept of the wound version versus the hero's version, and why the story you're telling about your organization (to your donors, your board, your team, and yourself) changes everything about how people experience your leadership and your asks. I walk through how to identify your wound story, rewrite it as the hero's version, and why this isn't about spin or fake positivity. It's about refusing to lead from a place that weakens you. Same facts → Different meaning → Different results. Topics: Why the story nonprofit leaders tell about their organization directly impacts funding The wound version vs. the hero's version , and how to tell the difference How a wound story leaks into donor conversations, campaign language, and board updates Why "realistic" language often shrinks leadership and repels donors A step-by-step process for rewriting your wound story into the hero's version Real examples of how the same facts can be told in two completely different ways For a full list of links and resources mentioned in this episode, click here . Bloomerang is the complete donor, volunteer, and fundraising management solution that helps thousands of nonprofits deliver a better giving experience and create sustainable, thriving organizations. Read Bloomerang's 2026 Giving Signals Report here . If you've listened to the show and found it valuable, would you leave a review? It helps more nonprofit leaders find the podcast, and I read every one. Thank you for being here for episode 200 and beyond. Resources: Easy Emails For Impact™ : The $5K+ Fundraising Campaign System Purpose & Profit Club® Fundraising + Marketing Accelerator The SPRINT Method™: Your shortcut to 10K fundraisers Instagram , LinkedIn , website , weekly newsletter [FREE] The Brave Fundraiser’s Guide : Stop getting ignored. Start raising more. May contain affiliate links
193: The Fundraising Skill No One Taught You
Online fundraising isn't hard because your donors aren't online. It's hard because most nonprofit leaders were never actually taught how to fundraise in the first place, and that's exactly what I'm fixing in this episode. In this follow-up to last week's episode on campaign frequency, I dig into why so many organizations try online fundraising once, don't hit their goal, and walk away convinced it doesn't work for them. I break down what a real SPRINT™ campaign looks like versus what most nonprofits do (sending one email, posting a donation link, and hoping for the best). I cover the data behind email fundraising, why your donors aren't as offline as you think, and why a donate button is not a strategy. If you've ever told yourself online fundraising just doesn't work for your organization, this episode will change how you see that. Topics: Why 99% of nonprofit leaders were never actually taught how to run a campaign The difference between fundraising activity and a real campaign strategy Why your donors aren't as offline as you think , and how to invite them into a new giving habit What a real SPRINT™ campaign looks like versus one email and a donation link The snowball effect , and why momentum makes giving psychologically contagious Why a small email list isn't a barrier when the message is strong For a full list of links and resources mentioned in this episode, click here . Bloomerang is the complete donor, volunteer, and fundraising management solution that helps thousands of nonprofits deliver a better giving experience and create sustainable, thriving organizations. Read Bloomerang's 2026 Giving Signals Report here . Resources: Easy Emails For Impact™ : The $5K+ Fundraising Campaign System Purpose & Profit Club® Fundraising + Marketing Accelerator The SPRINT Method™: Your shortcut to 10K fundraisers Instagram , LinkedIn , website , weekly newsletter [FREE] The Brave Fundraiser’s Guide : Stop getting ignored. Start raising more. May contain affiliate links
192: Why Million-Dollar Nonprofits Run SPRINT™ Campaigns
Most nonprofit leaders assume that million-dollar organizations are doing something they can't: bigger teams, bigger events, bigger budgets. But when you actually look at how high-growth nonprofits raise unrestricted money at scale, the secret isn't size; it's speed. Today, I break down why million-dollar-plus organizations run five to ten times as many fundraising campaigns per year as smaller nonprofits, and why that rhythm (not the gala or the grant cycle) is what actually drives sustainable funding growth. I make the case for short, focused, online SPRINT™ campaigns as the modern fundraising engine your organization can start using now, regardless of team size, budget, or donor list size. If you've been waiting for the perfect moment, the bigger team, or the windfall grant to grow your funding, this episode is your wake-up call. Topics: Why high-growth nonprofits run 5–10x more campaigns per year (not bigger ones) How over-reliance on galas, grants, and signature events keeps organizations stuck waiting for funding Why speed is the real fundraising advantage, and how SPRINT™ campaigns collapse timelines The difference between posting a donation link and running an actual campaign Real client results: from Live Music Project to Sharing Hope Africa Why a small donor list isn't a reason to fundraise less; it's a reason to sprint smarter For a full list of links and resources mentioned in this episode, click here . Bloomerang is the complete donor, volunteer, and fundraising management solution that helps thousands of nonprofits deliver a better giving experience and create sustainable, thriving organizations. Read Bloomerang's 2026 Giving Signals Report here . Resources: Easy Emails For Impact™ : The $5K+ Fundraising Campaign System Purpose & Profit Club® Fundraising + Marketing Accelerator The SPRINT Method™: Your shortcut to 10K fundraisers Instagram , LinkedIn , website , weekly newsletter [FREE] The Brave Fundraiser’s Guide : Stop getting ignored. Start raising more. May contain affiliate links
191: From $3K to $12K: The SPRINT Campaign That Changed Everything
What does it look like when a solo nonprofit founder stops playing small and finally breaks through her fundraising ceiling? In this episode, I’m joined by Mary Muroski, founder and Executive Director of the Children's Legacy Partnership Foundation. After 20 years of teaching middle school and nearly a decade building her Uganda-based foundation (largely alone), Mary hit a wall. She was doing everything, raising from the same small circle of friends and family, and couldn't figure out what came next. Then she discovered The SPRINT Method™ . Mary shares how she went from a $3,000 year-end campaign to hitting a $12,000 goal, achieving her first five-figure revenue month, and building the systems, confidence, and board accountability that will carry the organization forward. This is a must-listen for any small nonprofit founder who feels like they've taken their organization as far as they can go alone. Topics: Building a nonprofit solo while working full-time, and knowing when to go all in How weekly emails became the foundation for consistent donor engagement and campaign conversions Running a focused SPRINT Method™ campaign that raised $12K to fully fund a girls' vocational center in Uganda Why monthly donors are your biggest evangelists (not a group to protect from your asks) The difference between therapy and coaching, and how accountability drives fundraising results Board building done right: applications, term limits, and having the hard conversations For a full list of links and resources mentioned in this episode, click here . Bloomerang is the complete donor, volunteer, and fundraising management solution that helps thousands of nonprofits deliver a better giving experience and create sustainable, thriving organizations. Read Bloomerang's 2026 Giving Signals Report here . If you've listened to the show and found it valuable, would you leave a review? It helps more nonprofit leaders find the podcast, and I read every one. Thank you for being here for episode 200 and beyond. Resources: Easy Emails For Impact™ : The $5K+ Fundraising Campaign System Purpose & Profit Club® Fundraising + Marketing Accelerator The SPRINT Method™: Your shortcut to 10K fundraisers Instagram , LinkedIn , website , weekly newsletter [FREE] The Brave Fundraiser’s Guide : Stop getting ignored. Start raising more. May contain affiliate links
190: The $20K Pivot: Canceling a Gala and Raising More with Sharing Hope Africa
Sometimes the most powerful shifts in fundraising start with a simple decision: we’re not doing it the old way anymore. That’s exactly what happened for Sophia Caputo and Jami Porzl, co-founders of Sharing Hope Africa . Balancing full-time careers, they were preparing for a large gala when they decided to pause and rethink their approach. What followed was a completely different fundraising path, one built on clarity, community, and focused campaigns using The SPRINT Method™ . In this conversation, we discuss what shifted when they stopped guessing and started fundraising with intention: activating their board, building donor momentum, growing their confidence in making asks, and planning for long-term sustainability, including a community chicken coop designed to eventually fund the preschool permanently. This episode is a powerful look at what happens when strategy replaces burnout, and when small nonprofits step into bold leadership. Topics: Building a nonprofit while working full-time jobs Pivoting from a high-cost gala to a lower-lift fundraising event Using a focused SPRINT™ strategy to raise $20K in months Moving from friends-and-family donors to a real donor pipeline Activating board members as fundraisers The impact of funding on a preschool in Mozambique Long-term sustainability through community-led solutions The moment they hit their fundraising goal in the first 10 minutes of an event For a full list of links and resources mentioned in this episode, click here . Bloomerang is the complete donor, volunteer, and fundraising management solution that helps thousands of nonprofits deliver a better giving experience and create sustainable, thriving organizations. Read Bloomerang's 2026 Giving Signals Report here . If you've listened to the show and found it valuable, would you leave a review? It helps more nonprofit leaders find the podcast, and I read every one. Thank you for being here for episode 200 and beyond. Resources: Easy Emails For Impact™ : The $5K+ Fundraising Campaign System Purpose & Profit Club® Fundraising + Marketing Accelerator The SPRINT Method™: Your shortcut to 10K fundraisers Instagram , LinkedIn , website , weekly newsletter [FREE] The Brave Fundraiser’s Guide : Stop getting ignored. Start raising more. May contain affiliate links
189: The Habit That Grows Your Nonprofit’s Funding (But Almost No Leaders Practice It)
If your nonprofit feels stuck at the same funding level year after year, the problem might not actually be your donors. It might be your calendar. In this episode, I’m introducing a leadership habit I call CEO Time. It’s the protected time where nonprofit leaders step out of the constant reaction cycle and focus on the work that actually generates revenue. Too often, nonprofit leaders spend their weeks managing operations, responding to emails, preparing board materials, and solving daily problems. All of that work matters, but none of it directly builds the funding pipeline that allows an organization to grow. CEO Time is different. It’s where leaders focus on donor conversations, relationship-building, partnerships, campaign strategy, and the work that drives real fundraising momentum. I’m sharing why so many nonprofits plateau financially, even when their missions are powerful, how leadership time gets misallocated, and what happens when leaders begin to protect even a few hours each week for revenue-generating work. If you’ve ever ended the day exhausted but unsure whether you actually moved your organization forward, this episode will help you rethink how leadership time shapes your nonprofit’s future funding. Topics: Why many nonprofits plateau financially despite strong missions The concept of CEO Time and why it matters for nonprofit growth How operational overload prevents leaders from focusing on revenue The difference between busy work and revenue-generating leadership work The burnout cycle caused by constant reaction and operational pressure Strategic activities that actually build funding pipelines Donor conversations and relationship-building as revenue drivers Why courage and boundaries are essential leadership skills How protecting strategic time can rebuild fundraising momentum How the SPRINT Method™ supports focused fundraising campaigns For a full list of links and resources mentioned in this episode, click here . Bloomerang is the complete donor, volunteer, and fundraising management solution that helps thousands of nonprofits deliver a better giving experience and create sustainable, thriving organizations. Read Bloomerang's 2026 Giving Signals Report here . Resources: Easy Emails For Impact™ : The $5K+ Fundraising Campaign System Purpose & Profit Club® Fundraising + Marketing Accelerator The SPRINT Method™: Your shortcut to 10K fundraisers Instagram , LinkedIn , website , weekly newsletter [FREE] The Brave Fundraiser’s Guide : Stop getting ignored. Start raising more. May contain affiliate links
