Major gift fundraising is where many nonprofit leaders freeze, but not because they lack passion or skill. The fear lives in the body, the brain, and the stories we tell ourselves long before we walk into the room.

In this episode, I’m joined by Nathan Ruby, Executive Director of FOTCOH (Friends of the Children of Haiti), one of the rare EDs who has raised millions of dollars from individual donors, not foundations. Nathan brings 20+ years of experience in major gifts, donor psychology, cross-cultural fundraising, and what it actually takes to have confident, courageous donor conversations. Together, we discuss the neuroscience behind fear and rejection, how imposter syndrome shows up during big asks, why culturally we struggle to talk about money, and why donors actually want us to be honest and direct. If you struggle with fear, freezing, or overthinking around major gift asks, this conversation will change how you fundraise forever.

Topics:

• Why major gift fear is not a personality flaw, it’s neuroscience
• How to reframe donor conversations by focusing on the people you serve
• Why donors are used to talking about money (and why you don't need to be scared)
• The science behind rejection and why “no” activates the same regions as physical pain
• Nathan’s background in sales and how it shaped his fearless fundraising mindset
• How to use donor questions to inform the right ask amount
• Why genuine honesty is more magnetic than a perfect pitch
• Why your donors want you to win and how to invite them into partnership

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. Combining robust, easy-to-use technology with people-powered support and training, Bloomerang empowers nonprofits to work efficiently, improve supporter relationships, and grow their donor and volunteer bases. Learn more 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

If you’ve hit that post-campaign wall, tired, drained, and wondering if anyone else feels the same, this episode is for you.

In today’s episode, I share what to do when you’re completely wiped from GivingTuesday or a year-end push but still have fundraising goals to hit. You’ll learn how to recover strategically (without going silent), re-engage donors who gave once, and use short “sprint campaigns” to rebuild your energy and results. Because burnout isn’t a sign that you’re doing it wrong, it’s a signal that you need structure, rest, and a smarter rhythm to your fundraising.

Topics:

• What is the campaign hangover, and why is it completely normal
• How to recover from fundraising fatigue without losing momentum
• Why rest and structure are non-negotiable for sustainable growth
• How to design “sprint-style” campaigns that prevent burnout
• Why donors often give again within the same 30-day window
• The importance of shifting your message post-campaign, not going silent
• Quick two-minute tweaks to boost conversions without new content
• How to reuse winning posts, emails, and videos from earlier campaigns
• The three ways to reset your energy fast (walk, talk, or move your body)
• How to push smarter, not harder, through the end of the year

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. Combining robust, easy-to-use technology with people-powered support and training, Bloomerang empowers nonprofits to work efficiently, improve supporter relationships, and grow their donor and volunteer bases. Learn more 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

If you’ve ever caught yourself overthinking a donor email, hesitating to post, or waiting for “the perfect timing” to launch your next campaign, this episode is for you.

In today’s episode, I reveal the mindset pattern that’s quietly keeping you stuck: fear disguised as strategy. You’ll learn how to recognize when your “planning” is really just procrastination, why bravery always comes before clarity, and how to finally stop waiting for confidence to arrive before taking action. This is your invitation to stop playing small, lead boldly, and start moving your mission forward, even when it feels uncomfortable.

Topics:

• The real reason fundraisers hold back from taking action
• How fear disguises itself as overplanning and perfectionism
• The myth that confidence comes before action (it doesn’t!)
• Why “just one more draft” is often procrastination in disguise
• Simple mindset shifts to replace hesitation with courageous leadership
• Real examples of clients who learned to take messy, brave action
• Why bravery builds trust with donors faster than polish ever will
• The power of momentum in building confidence and clarity

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. Combining robust, easy-to-use technology with people-powered support and training, Bloomerang empowers nonprofits to work efficiently, improve supporter relationships, and grow their donor and volunteer bases. Learn more 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

Every year, billions are donated on GivingTuesday, but only a small percentage of nonprofits turn that day into real momentum.

In this episode, I share exactly what the top 1% of nonprofits do differently to make GivingTuesday their biggest fundraising win of the year (without burnout, perfectionism, or chaos). You’ll learn the seven steps to lead with clarity, confidence, and courage, from creating a curated donation page to leading on email, activating your team, and treating the day like a 24-hour relay, not a morning sprint. Whether you’re a small shop or scaling organization, this episode is your roadmap to modern, high-converting campaigns that work, even when you’re short on time. Because GivingTuesday isn’t about doing it all, it’s about doing the right things, decisively.

Topics:

• The seven skills that set the top 1% of nonprofits apart on GivingTuesday
• Why perfectionism kills momentum, and how to lead with confidence instead
• The difference between generic donation forms and curated GivingTuesday pages
• How to prime donors without overwhelming them
• Myths that keep small orgs from participating, and how to bust them
• How to activate your board, volunteers, and community so you’re not fundraising alone
• Why email outperforms social, and how to write messages that convert
• The “It ain’t over till it’s over” mindset: treating GivingTuesday like a 24-hour relay
• How to hit your goal even if your morning looks slow

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. Combining robust, easy-to-use technology with people-powered support and training, Bloomerang empowers nonprofits to work efficiently, improve supporter relationships, and grow their donor and volunteer bases. Learn more 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

If you’re ending your workday exhausted but can’t point to how you actually moved your fundraising forward, you might be caught in the fundraising busywork trap.

In this episode, I’m breaking down why so many nonprofit leaders confuse “activity” with “progress,” and how fear, comfort, and overthinking keep your mission stuck in motion but not momentum. You’ll learn how to identify low-ROI tasks, make courageous decisions that drive funding, and replace cluttered calendars with confident action that actually grows your organization. Because the opposite of busy isn’t lazy, it’s focused.

Topics:

• The fundraising busywork trap and how to recognize it
• Why working harder doesn’t always mean raising more
• The difference between “activity” and “aligned action”
• Adam Grant’s concept of cognitive comfort and how it stalls growth
• Why procrastination often disguises itself as preparation
• Real client examples: saying no to low-ROI events and sponsorship decks
• The three ingredients of brave leadership: boundaries, focus, and support
• Why coaching and systems prevent burnout and build momentum

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. Combining robust, easy-to-use technology with people-powered support and training, Bloomerang empowers nonprofits to work efficiently, improve supporter relationships, and grow their donor and volunteer bases. Learn more 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

If you’re done following the same old fundraising playbook, the polite one that keeps your goals small and your growth stuck, this episode is your permission slip to break the rules.

In The Rule-Breaker’s Guide to Year-End Fundraising, I share how safe, “board-approved” strategies are quietly capping your potential, and how modern fundraisers are rewriting the rules to build momentum, trust, and record-breaking campaigns. You’ll hear how one of my clients ran two back-to-back campaigns that both exceeded goals by leading with authenticity, urgency, and story, not fear or etiquette. Because the truth is, safe doesn’t scale. It’s time to stop waiting for approval, stop softening your message, and start leading with conviction. Rule breakers don’t just raise more money, they raise more energy, excitement, and impact.

Topics:

• Why playing it safe keeps your campaigns stuck on repeat
• The biggest lie in year-end fundraising (and what to do instead)
• How to release the “parking brake” on your campaigns and gain real traction
• What modern, momentum-driven fundraising looks like
• How one client ran two campaigns in a row, and hit both goals
• Why innovation looks risky until it works (and then everyone copies it)
• How to stop fundraising like it’s 2005 and lead with courage 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. Combining robust, easy-to-use technology with people-powered support and training, Bloomerang empowers nonprofits to work efficiently, improve supporter relationships, and grow their donor and volunteer bases. Learn more 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

If you’ve ever hesitated to hit send, make the call, or follow up because you didn’t want to “bug” your donors, this episode is for you.

That fear isn’t really about your donors, it’s about you. It’s your ego trying to keep you safe from rejection, discomfort, or embarrassment. But every time you let that fear win, you lose more than a donation. You lose momentum, trust, and connection. In this episode, I share how I coach fundraisers to move from me mode to mission mode. Because when you stop performing and start leading, everything changes. You’ll learn how to reframe rejection, build confidence, and lead with courage instead of apology. Your donors aren’t tired of hearing from you; they’ve just stopped hearing you. Generosity doesn’t happen in silence, it happens because you asked.

Topics:

• The real reason fundraisers fear “bugging” donors (and what it costs your mission)
• How ego and self-protection masquerade as “strategy”
• Moving from “me mode” to “mission mode” in your fundraising approach
• Why consistency builds donor trust and silence erodes it
• The mindset and language shift from apologetic to confident asking

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. Combining robust, easy-to-use technology with people-powered support and training, Bloomerang empowers nonprofits to work efficiently, improve supporter relationships, and grow their donor and volunteer bases. Learn more 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

GoFundMe launched a new “Nonprofit Pages” feature — automatically creating donation pages for over 1.4 million nonprofits across the U.S. without direct consent -- here's the latest update on the pages being unpublished and de-indexed.

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. Combining robust, easy-to-use technology with people-powered support and training, Bloomerang empowers nonprofits to work efficiently, improve supporter relationships, and grow their donor and volunteer bases. Learn more 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