Workshop Replay – End-of-Year Fundraising Strategy

12 snips

Oct 7, 2025

C Stewart, an attendee representing a nonprofit, dives into donor stewardship and capital campaign asks during a practical workshop replay. They explore strategies for upgrading consistent donors, emphasizing the importance of one-on-one interactions over events. Key topics include how to effectively request higher amounts based on donor passion, establishing clear projections for fundraising goals, and the significance of building courage in asking for big gifts. C Stewart's insights make the case for simplicity in fundraising efforts.

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ADVICE

Work Backward From Your Goal

Work backward from your fundraising goal to identify which donors can cover large chunks of it.
Focus on high-capacity, mission-aligned donors and ask bigger amounts instead of small percentage increases.

INSIGHT

Prioritize Your Top 20 Donors

The top ~20 donors typically produce ~80% of major-donor revenue.
Prioritize your top donors over broad, time-consuming outreach to thousands of prospects.

ADVICE

Ask For Non‑Cash Gifts

Leverage non-liquid assets like donor-advised funds, appreciated stock, and retirement accounts for large gifts.
Ask DAF holders and older donors about these giving options because they may hold untapped funds.

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Hey friends, Welcome to this week’s episode, a special replay of a workshop I hosted on end-of-year fundraising strategies. If you’re in the nonprofit or fundraising world, this is a must-listen! I’m diving into **practical, tactical advice** for how I approach major gift fundraising to crush ambitious year-end goals. Spoiler alert: this is all about keeping it *simple*—because simplicity is the vibe here.

Here’s what you’ll hear in this episode:

1. Mapping Your Fundraising Roadmap

We kick things off by setting goals and creating a clear strategy to get there. I break down my personal two-page strategy document and how it helps me stay focused.

2.The Magic of Working Backward

Learn how I approach setting ambitious goals—like raising $500K—and break them down into manageable steps. Whether it’s identifying top donors or focusing on one-on-one asks, I’ll walk you through my thought process.

3.Ask Amounts & Projections

I introduce my “Ask Amount Framework” and show you how to determine the right ask based on a donor’s passion, trust level, and capacity. Then, we dig into projections: how to estimate potential gifts with realistic confidence levels.

4. Courage in Fundraising

Let’s get real—asking for big gifts takes guts! I share my journey from sweating over a $2K ask to confidently asking for millions. You’ll hear how to build your courage muscle and get more comfortable with the big asks.

5. Simple Over Busy

Whether it’s skipping unnecessary events or learning to advocate for your time, I’ll show you how to cut the noise and focus on what really drives results.

6. Donor Engagement Tips

From sending meaningful updates to personalizing your outreach, I share ways to keep donors engaged, invested, and excited to give—without overwhelming yourself.

This is like sitting down with a fundraising coach who’s giving you the playbook to simplify and amplify your efforts. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to refine your approach, you’ll walk away with actionable tools to hit your goals.

Take Action:

I encourage you to workshop your own fundraising strategy as you listen. Think about:

- Your big fundraising goal.

- Who your top 20 donors are.

- What ask amount feels bold but achievable.

Let’s make this end-of-year campaign your best one yet! Enjoy the episode.

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