Key Takeaways Fundraising is a Psychological Bottleneck: Struggles are rarely about a lack of knowledge or skill; they are a result of a psychological threat response that causes leaders to avoid or delay “the ask.” The High Cost of Discomfort:…
Good leadership is often the main ingredient for effective fundraising. And now is a season where the world is desperate for principled leaders! In this webinar, Trevor Nelson and James Misner discuss the critical aspects of effective leadership in the…
Unlike the for-profit sector, which sells tangible goods, nonprofits sell intangible outcomes like altruism and social change. This makes the “sales cycle” longer and far more dependent on emotional credibility. When this credibility is damaged, donor retention—which is already at…
Key Takeaways Most nonprofits rush past year-end results without extracting the lessons that drive future growth A successful debrief requires psychological safety — Jim Collins’ “autopsy without blame” approach Mid-size organizations need a simple framework: 6-7 focused questions, not a…
Most fundraising professionals don’t set out to raise money; they fall into it out of a deep desire to see a mission succeed. For small and midsize nonprofits—which make up 95% of the sector—this work requires a “generalist” mindset, where…
Key Takeaways Vision is as much about where you’re coming from as where you’re going – meaningful planning requires honest reflection first Your fundraising patterns reveal your future potential – understanding what worked (and what drained you) unlocks 2026 growth Strategic clarity…
A staggering 98% of nonprofits fail to break the $1 million revenue barrier. This plateau isn’t usually due to a lack of impact, but rather a fundamental disconnect with how money works. Many leaders, driven by a deep sense of…
Key Takeaways Fundraising is farming, not hunting – you’re cultivating long-term relationships, not killing prey The best growth happens underground and unseen – months of cultivation work precede visible results Different revenue streams have different maturation cycles – some take years to become…
Key Takeaways Nonprofits solve problems government can’t fix and business can’t monetize – you’re literally holding communities together when institutions fail Year-end represents 40% of annual giving – the next six weeks determine whether you have an incremental year or a transformational…
When the economy becomes unpredictable, many nonprofits fall into the trap of “deficit pleas” and panicked budget cuts. However, surviving a downturn—and even scaling through it—requires a shift from desperate asking to strategic, donor-centric storytelling and resilient internal leadership. In…