Real Talk for Fundraisers: Goals, Gratitude, and Getting It Done

It’s Fundraisers Friday, and Julia C. Patrick and Tony Beall are back with an episode full of big opinions, thoughtful advice, and even a little Kung Fu Panda wisdom. This time, they dive into real questions from viewers—and they don’t hold back, with an honest and supportive conversation about the ins and outs of development work, from transparency in fundraising goals to the fine line of donor privacy.

One of the first questions tackled: Should fundraising goals be shared organization-wide, or kept within the C-suite? Tony makes the case for balance: “The way you communicate goals matters—empathy and intention are key.” Julia adds that fundraisers often get put under pressure when goal updates trickle down without context or support.

They also unpack a tricky topic—sharing top donor info with board members. Julia suggests, “Having a policy is key. Without it, you risk someone casually announcing a donor’s gift in public.” Tony agrees but reminds us, “Unless the donor asked for anonymity, listing them for board review isn’t a breach of privacy.”

Perks for development staff? This duo has thoughts. Forget just bagels—Tony encourages nonprofits to ask staff what’s actually meaningful to them. From car washes donated by board-owned businesses to flexible scheduling, he reminds us, “Perks don’t have to cost much to show value.”

Perhaps the most surprising take came on newsletters vs. annual reports. Tony challenged the typical approach, saying monthly newsletters can feel stale, while an annual report can be a dynamic, story-driven tool: “If I had to choose, I’d go with the annual report every time.”

To close, Julia teases upcoming episodes (like managing fundraiser stress) and celebrates The Nonprofit Show nearing its 1300th episode. The vibe? Honest, empowering, and always real.

—“There’s no such thing as bad news or good news. There’s just news.” —Tony Beall, quoting Kung Fu Panda, but owning the sentiment.

Timestamps:

00:00:00 Welcome to Fundraisers Friday!
00:01:18 The joy of working with nonprofit leaders
00:03:19 Teaser: Upcoming episode on fundraiser stress
00:04:21 Should fundraising goals be shared org-wide?
00:06:55 Communication, stress, and fear in fundraising updates
00:09:49 Good news vs. bad news (Kung Fu Panda style)
00:11:14 Donor privacy: Should boards know top givers?
00:14:55 Low-cost perks for development staff
00:19:20 Annual report vs. monthly newsletters—what’s more important?
00:24:08 How to maximize your annual report
00:25:34 Tony’s news from AFP and upcoming events
00:27:11 Julia's Innovate Conference appearance
00:28:13 Celebrating 1300 episodes!

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