Nonprofit CourageLab

I started my career in fundraising during the great recession and that was a great training ground. I was lucky enough to have a boss that agreed to get me training and really hone my skills as a major gifts fundraiser. What I found was that no matter what situation the world is in, the best way to fundraise is by cultivating genuine relationships with your donors.We are taught that it’s rude to talk about money. But, avoiding talking about money in an attempt to be polite isn’t helping your donors to help you. Inside CourageLab, I teach you how to be yourself when talking to rich people. I teach you how to have compelling conversations that lead to opportunities for them to have the impact that they want to have on the world.We are not entitled to someone’s money just because we’re doing good work. Don’t take your major donors for granted. Studies show that gratitude is like oil for your brain. If you’re feeling stuck, it’s likely because you’re getting into entitlement and pride and you’re not practicing gratitude.If you’re ready to double or even triple your individual giving and start 2023 strong, come grab your spot at CourageLab today! https://nonprofitcouragelab.com/Music credit: With the Flow by Fin ProductionsA Podcast Launch Bestie production

I hear many fundraisers and nonprofit leaders worrying that it’s somehow bad or unethical to raise money during a recession. In this episode, I want to talk about that mindset, how it became so prevalent, whether it’s accurate, and what to do about it. I started my fundraising career during the great recession. I was working with a community center and I couldn’t justify not fundraising, because the people we served were the most vulnerable. Their needs were the most dire. Times were hard for most Americans at the time, but I had to do what I could to help people survive.The top 3 things you can do to recession proof your fundraising efforts are:Get to know your donors, and let them get to know you. If they feel seen and valued beyond their monetary contributions, they’ll be on your side no matter what. Decide if your mission is important and urgent. If you don’t believe in your mission, you’ll find reasons not to ask. Build your empathy muscle for rich people. Don’t objectify them - you’re not entitled to their money. They want a connection too. There will always be a crisis. There are times to talk about donations, and there are times to just check in on your donors and connect with them. When you invest in relationships, you’ll know how passionate they are, or aren’t, about your mission. They’ll know they can trust you, even when times are tough, and you can ask them for exponentially more.The fall cohort is open now!If you’re ready to double or even triple your individual giving this year, come grab your spot at CourageLab today! https://nonprofitcouragelab.com/Music credit: With the Flow by Fin ProductionsA Podcast Launch Bestie production

It’s very common to be terrified of hearing “no.” To avoid hearing no, we ask for smaller amounts or avoid asking at all. That’s not the way to raise large gifts. The worst thing that could happen isn’t hearing no. The worst thing that could happen is you not asking for more and your community continuing to suffer.The courage to hear “no” comes from being solid in your why. Is your work urgent? Is it lifesaving, or not? Is the benefit for your community worth your discomfort?There are a few myths that hold us back from asking for more.Some believe that they don’t have to ask for more. In reality, a moment of discomfort is nothing compared to the impact of you holding back.The best major gift fundraisers must hear “yes” all the time. No, they don’t - they hear no more often because they ask more.The first week of CourageLab is designed to get you a $10k gift. By trusting in my framework and following through on the challenges, you will be willing to hear no. Once you’re willing to hear no, and you can handle it gracefully, you will get more yes! Maintain the relationship and that no can turn into a yes. Get clear on how urgent, life-saving, and crucial your mission is. Is it worth hearing no for? How much do you need to ask for in order to get to your goals? Have a plan and be ready to handle the “no” with grace and strengthen the partnership, then watch how that will unlock radical generosity within your organization.The fall cohort is open now!If you’re ready to double or even triple your individual giving this year, come grab your spot at CourageLab today! https://nonprofitcouragelab.com/Music credit: With the Flow by Fin ProductionsA Podcast Launch Bestie production

Part of building relationships and getting your nonprofit to the next level is learning how to activate the catalysts on your board. These are the go-getters, the ones that ask the questions, offer help, and want to do better than their predecessors. Are you really using their skills to their full potential?One reason why you may not be getting the growth you need is because your board members don’t know what to help you with. They may never have done any fundraising before, or served on a board before, but they really do want to make an impact. They want to do a good job, and sometimes they can be quite competitive. Use that to your advantage. Get to know your board members and follow up when they offer to help. Get the buy-in from the influential, catalytic members of your board before the board meeting and they’ll be able to step into a strong leadership role next to you.I challenge you to call a board member and ask them some of these powerful questions and create a plan so you can support them in helping you expand your mission.The fall cohort is open now!If you’re ready to double or even triple your individual giving this year, come grab your spot at CourageLab today! https://nonprofitcouragelab.com/Music credit: With the Flow by Fin ProductionsA Podcast Launch Bestie production

In this episode, I’m going to talk about my CourageLab process and help you decide if it’s the right fit for you. CourageLab is a 6-week program for major gifts training.In CourageLab, you’ll learn:How to identify the right donorsHow to get meetings with those donorsHow to ask them for moreOverall strategy for major giftsAccountability and mindset coachingCourageLab may be right for you if you have donors who are giving a thousand dollars or more per year and you know they could give much more. If you can admit that fear holds you back and you want to expand your impact and you’re ready to create a new relationship with fundraising.Imagine enjoying fundraising. Imagine making one phone call and getting a $10k gift. Imagine a simple system. Imagine being able to identify the best ROI opportunities. In order to grow, you need to become someone new; someone more courageous. You need to invest in yourself. If the budget is small, and fear keeps you small, you’ll never grow.My program promise is that you will raise a $10k gift in 6 weeks or less, or your money back. I can make a bold claim like that because I have helped dozens of leaders do exactly that. The fall cohort is open now!If you’re ready to double or even triple your individual giving this year, come grab your spot at CourageLab today! https://nonprofitcouragelab.com/Music credit: With the Flow by Fin ProductionsA Podcast Launch Bestie production

Fundraising that survives economic downturn and recession comes from a strong relationship with your donors. If you know them, and they know you, they will stick by you.Here are the critical ways to build strong relationships with your donors:Get personal. Share about your life, even if it has nothing whatsoever to do with your mission.Ask powerful questions. Ask them why they give and you may find a much deeper connection with them.Pick up the phone. Why are we so afraid of the phone? Just 2 minutes can accelerate your relationship.Follow up. Not just about gifts and programs, but about things that your donors have shared with you. People want to be connected to you. It’s okay to get to know your donors and create these strong connections with them.If you’re ready to double or even triple your individual giving this year, come grab your spot at CourageLab today! https://nonprofitcouragelab.com/Music credit: With the Flow by Fin ProductionsA Podcast Launch Bestie production

What does it take to raise a million dollars? If you’re struggling, it’s not for lack of work ethic. In this episode I’ll cover the 3 keys to a million dollar strategy.You need impossible goals. If your goals are tiny, they inspire tiny gifts. Impossible goals force us to think bigger and get more creative.Prioritize meaningful fundraising activities. Don’t organize events that aren’t relevant to your people, just because you saw it being successful somewhere else. What is an activity that will bring your donors closer together, closer to your mission, and closer to your team?Create an ownership culture. Stop pretending that you don’t have time if the reality is that you’re afraid. Once you own your attitude, you can change it. Control the controllables, and that includes yourself.What impossible goals are you going to set today? How can you take greater ownership of the results you get (or don’t get)?If you’re ready to double or even triple your individual giving this year, come grab your spot at CourageLab today! https://nonprofitcouragelab.com/Music credit: With the Flow by Fin ProductionsA Podcast Launch Bestie production

Courage isn’t a feeling; it’s a muscle. Courage is feeling the fear and doing the thing anyway. It’s a skill you develop by doing more of what you’re afraid to do.In my CourageLab framework, we build courage in these ways:Build an attitude of abundance. Believe that your donors can give more. Rather than looking for evidence that they are maxed out, look for evidence that they are on your team.Humble yourself. Be willing to experience any emotion and work through it. What are you willing to do that is so uncomfortable but you know is necessary to raise more money?Own your genius. Delegate everything you don’t have to be doing and spend your energy on what really matters.If you’re ready to double or even triple your individual giving this year, come grab your spot at CourageLab today! https://nonprofitcouragelab.com/Music credit: With the Flow by Fin ProductionsA Podcast Launch Bestie production

My CourageLab program focuses on 3 major components to help you become a world class fundraiser and build a strong major gifts program.Courage: Humility that is fully developed looks like courage. It takes courage to have boundaries, to receive help, and ask for gifts. Being an exemplary leader takes guts.Strategy: Learn how to structure your time and which donors to focus on. As an executive, focus on the people you enjoy, maybe the top 20 donors and start there.Relationships: Build authentic relationships with your donors. Ask powerful questions, then genuinely listen with curiosity.If you’re ready to double or even triple your individual giving this year, come grab your spot at CourageLab today! https://nonprofitcouragelab.com/Music credit: With the Flow by Fin ProductionsA Podcast Launch Bestie production

Who you are determines what you do. If your strategy doesn’t line up with who you are, it won’t work. Developing a culture of generosity IS your strategy. When generosity is rampant in your organization, it comes naturally to everyone involved. There are 5 keys to building a culture of generosity:An attitude of abundanceHumilityFocus on people and relationshipsCommunication - both of frequency and qualityTaking ownershipWhatever you celebrate, you will see more of.If you’re ready to double or even triple your individual giving this year, come grab your spot at CourageLab today! https://nonprofitcouragelab.com/Music credit: With the Flow by Fin ProductionsA Podcast Launch Bestie production