What does it really look like to run a focused fundraising SPRINT™ without a gala, a big team, or running yourself into the ground?

In this episode, I’m joined by Megan Ihnen, Executive Director of Live Music Project, for an honest conversation about what actually changed when she simplified her approach and trusted momentum over perfection. In just two weeks, Megan raised 108% of her campaign goal, not by doing more, but by doing the right things in the right order. We talk about what happens when you stop overcomplicating fundraising, shorten the timeline, lean into direct, human asks, and activate the network you already have. We also get real about burnout, fear of asking, donor psychology, matching gifts, peer-to-peer fundraising, and why speed and clarity almost always outperform polish. If you’re feeling stretched thin, second-guessing your strategy, or stuck repeating tactics that aren’t moving the needle, this episode will help you see what’s possible when fundraising finally works with you instead of against you.

Topics:

• Why collapsing timelines creates fundraising momentum
• Moving from burnout to clarity with sprint-style campaigns
• Activating your personal network without guilt or fear
• The power of texting and direct human asks
• Matching gifts as momentum multipliers
• Board and peer-to-peer fundraising done simply
• Navigating rejection, silence, and donor non-response
• Using AI as a thought partner, not a replacement
• Stewardship and nurturing after a successful SPRINT™
• Turning one campaign into a repeatable fundraising system

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.

Live Wed, 1/21 - Sign Up For Free 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

In this episode, I’m joined again by Nathan Ruby, Executive Director of Friends of the Children of Haiti (FOTCOH), who has spent more than twenty years raising major gifts, and doing it without relying on galas, grants, or flashy events. Instead, Nathan has built a deeply effective fundraising engine through micro events: small, relationship-centered gatherings hosted by board members and key volunteers.

Nathan walks us through the exact structure of these 45-minute “CPM events,” why they consistently attract the right donors, and how they eliminate the burnout, costs, and low ROI that plague traditional events. We talk about capacity-based invitations, board coaching, donor psychology, follow-up strategy, and why the biggest gifts usually happen after the event, not during. If you want a practical, high-impact, board-friendly strategy for securing major gifts in 2026 and beyond, this conversation will give you the blueprint.

Topics:

• Why traditional galas are expensive, draining, and rarely profitable long-term
• What micro events (CPMs) are, and why they outperform large events
• How to structure a 45-minute micro event for maximum connection
• Why small groups (even 2–3 couples) lead to stronger donor relationships
• How to help board members invite the right people with capacity
• The role of the ED in follow-up and major gift cultivation
• How international or remote nonprofits can use micro events to expand nationally
• Why fundraising is ultimately about relationships

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.

Live Wed, 1/21 - Sign Up For Free 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

In Part 2 of my 2026 Fundraising Trends series, we’re going deeper into the tools, tech, and leadership shifts that will define nonprofit growth this year.

If Part 1 was about strategy and visibility, this episode is about the systems and decision-making that actually make those strategies possible. I discuss upgrading outdated CRMs and donation tools, the rise of AI-assisted fundraising, the acceleration of donor-advised fund (DAF) giving, why leaders must color outside the lines to stay relevant, and how decision speed has become a key competitive advantage for nonprofits. I close with a look at the tech-driven donor experience, a world where frictionless giving, mobile-first design, SMS, and fast follow-up matter more than ever. If you’re committed to modernizing your fundraising and leading boldly in 2026, these two-part episodes are your roadmap.

Topics:

• Why Q1 is the perfect time to evaluate and upgrade CRMs, donation tools, and ESPs
• How outdated tech silently kills conversion, retention, and reporting
• The rise of AI-assisted fundraising as a normal accelerator
• How to use AI without losing your voice, authenticity, or accuracy
• Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs) are becoming a mainstream giving vehicle
• Why nonprofits must “color outside the lines” and break legacy rules
• The need to drop slow, outdated tactics (raffles, auctions, galas) for modern, efficient ones
• Decision speed is a leadership advantage that drives revenue
• Perfectionism and committees as momentum killers in 2026
• The shift toward frictionless giving: SMS, mobile-first donations, automations, and welcome flows

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.

Live Wed, 1/21 - Sign Up For Free 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