How This Development Director Raised $250,000 in 6 months in 2 hours a Week Without Chasing Grants

In today’s episode, I’m bringing you a really special conversation with someone I adore — my friend and Courage Lab grad, Sheena Grosshans If you’ve been around here for a while, you know I love highlighting fundraisers who are doing courageous, meaningful work, and Sheena is truly one of the best examples of what’s possible when you combine heart, boldness, and a willingness to grow.

Sheena raised $250,000 in just six months while working only 1–2 hours a week inside Courage Lab. Yep — you read that right. And what makes her story even more powerful is that she’s doing life-changing work at To Write Love on Her Arms, supporting young people who are struggling with depression, addiction, suicidal ideation, and self-harm. Her commitment, her empathy, and her sheer belief in the mission shine through in everything she does.

In this episode, you’ll hear us talk about:

• How Sheena built a major gifts program from scratch

• The mindset shift that transformed her confidence asking for bigger gifts

• Why being bold, direct, and unapologetic changed the way donors responded

• The tiny follow-up habit that unlocked a $10,000 gift (and a $40,000 annual fundraiser!)

• How one “small” $500 gift turned into a $20,000 annual donor

• The courage it takes to restructure your role so you can actually raise more money

• What it looks like to advocate for your own capacity and get things off your plate

• Why consistency builds trust faster than any fancy stewardship plan

• How relationship-based fundraising helped her donors feel deeply connected to the mission

One of my favorite moments in this conversation is when Sheena shares the internal shift from “maybe you could give if you want” to “we are the best at what we do, and I’m inviting you into something powerful.” That shift alone can change everything — and you’ll hear exactly how it did for her.

If you’ve ever wondered what it looks like to step fully into your leadership as a fundraiser, to believe in the value of your work, and to ask boldly from that place of conviction, Sheena’s story is going to light you up.

I’m so proud of the work she’s done, and even more excited for you to learn from her today. Let’s dive in.

Want 15 leads in 5 minutes? DM me "Breakfast burrito" on LinkedIn and I'll send you a pdf and 6-minute training to help you generate 15 leads for your nonprofit in minutes. It's totally free. All you need is an email to sign up. DM me "Breakfast burrito" - I'm from Texas, what can I say? - to get your pdf and mini training. 

If you're an org with at least $800k annual budget and major gifts is your top priority, but you need a better strategy and approach, get on the waitlist for the next CourageLab cohort here: https://julieordonez.kit.com/couragelab2