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

If you want to grow in 2026, you cannot rely on outdated playbooks or wait for a perfect case study to tell you what to do. In this two-part series, I’m breaking down the real fundraising trends I’m seeing across every organization in my ecosystem, not theory, not headlines, not generic Google wisdom. These trends are based on live data, donor behavior, digital strategy sessions, leadership conversations, and thousands of campaigns across my programs, and they’re already reshaping how nonprofits grow.

In Part 1, I cover six strategic and visibility shifts that will define the highest-performing organizations in 2026, from audience growth as a core revenue engine to the rise of laptop fundraising, human amplifiers, scrappy leader-driven content, superfan retention, and the ROI of LinkedIn thought leadership. If you want to reduce lag time, lead with clarity, and raise more with less friction, this episode provides the roadmap.

Topics:

• Audience growth as a primary revenue engine for 2026
• The rise of laptop fundraising and email-first digital campaigns
• Short, fast “sprint” campaigns outperforming long, traditional plans
• The power of human amplifiers and Social Street Teams®
• Why authenticity-driven, “break the fourth wall” content converts better
• Creating long-term superfans instead of one-time donors
• LinkedIn is the most underutilized high-ROI visibility channel
• Why clarity, action, and visibility will outperform caution in 2026

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.

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

If you believed the headlines this year, you’d think generosity was shrinking. Inflation up. Layoffs everywhere. Grant budgets tightening. Every sector talking about a downturn and uncertainty. But inside my world (thousands of podcast listeners, email subscribers, clients, and community members), the story was completely different. This year was record-breaking! Record-breaking campaigns, major gifts, digital fundraising wins, growth for my clients, and for my own business.

In this episode, I share the seven biggest lessons that created growth in a year everyone expected to be hard, lessons about donor behavior, clarity, courage, visibility, momentum, risk, and the kind of leadership that drives revenue even when the headlines say otherwise. If you want a roadmap for your next year (one grounded in data, psychology, and lived experience), this is the episode to bookmark.

Topics:

• Why donor behavior outperformed negative economic headlines
• How fast, clear digital sprint campaigns outperformed long, traditional fundraising plans
• Where donor friction still kills revenue (and what to fix immediately)
• Why decisive, courageous action beats cautious planning in a slow economy
• How confidence compounds (and fear compounds) in fundraising leadership
• Why do the biggest revenue days happen at the very end of a campaign
• The relationship between bold visibility, clear messaging, and attracting the right donors
• Why criticism is a normal (and often healthy) sign of growth
• The importance of letting go (donors, systems, or staff) to make room for the next level
• Why you must stop putting donors in boxes and upgrade based on relationship, not assumptions

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

If you’re worried you’re behind on year-end fundraising, take a breath; December isn’t over. In fact, the most generous days of the year are still ahead.

In this episode, I break down the three hidden psychological reasons donors give again before year-end, even if they've already given this month. I go deep into donor momentum, identity and reciprocity, and why “donor fatigue” is one of the biggest myths in our sector. You’ll learn how to use progress updates, public-facing goals, segmentation, tailored messaging, and consistent communication to activate second gifts without feeling repetitive or overwhelming. If you’ve been worried about asking again or feeling late in the game, this episode will give you the clarity, confidence, and data-backed strategy to finish the year strong.

Topics:

• Why December remains the most generous month of the year
• The psychology behind donors giving twice in a short window
• How the Zeigarnik Effect makes donors want to “finish the goal”
• Why public-facing goals and progress bars dramatically increase conversions
• How donor identity and reciprocity activate second gifts
• The myth of monthly donor “offense” and why you should ask them again
• Why internal fatigue is misinterpreted as donor fatigue
• How staying visible sustains momentum (and silence breaks it)
• Why December 31 outperforms GivingTuesday nearly 3:1
• The importance of resending emails to non-openers

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.

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

Major gift fundraising is where many nonprofit leaders freeze, but not because they lack passion or skill. The fear lives in the body, the brain, and the stories we tell ourselves long before we walk into the room.

In this episode, I’m joined by Nathan Ruby, Executive Director of FOTCOH (Friends of the Children of Haiti), one of the rare EDs who has raised millions of dollars from individual donors, not foundations. Nathan brings 20+ years of experience in major gifts, donor psychology, cross-cultural fundraising, and what it actually takes to have confident, courageous donor conversations. Together, we discuss the neuroscience behind fear and rejection, how imposter syndrome shows up during big asks, why culturally we struggle to talk about money, and why donors actually want us to be honest and direct. If you struggle with fear, freezing, or overthinking around major gift asks, this conversation will change how you fundraise forever.

Topics:

• Why major gift fear is not a personality flaw, it’s neuroscience
• How to reframe donor conversations by focusing on the people you serve
• Why donors are used to talking about money (and why you don't need to be scared)
• The science behind rejection and why “no” activates the same regions as physical pain
• Nathan’s background in sales and how it shaped his fearless fundraising mindset
• How to use donor questions to inform the right ask amount
• Why genuine honesty is more magnetic than a perfect pitch
• Why your donors want you to win and how to invite them into partnership

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

If you’ve hit that post-campaign wall, tired, drained, and wondering if anyone else feels the same, this episode is for you.

In today’s episode, I share what to do when you’re completely wiped from GivingTuesday or a year-end push but still have fundraising goals to hit. You’ll learn how to recover strategically (without going silent), re-engage donors who gave once, and use short “sprint campaigns” to rebuild your energy and results. Because burnout isn’t a sign that you’re doing it wrong, it’s a signal that you need structure, rest, and a smarter rhythm to your fundraising.

Topics:

• What is the campaign hangover, and why is it completely normal
• How to recover from fundraising fatigue without losing momentum
• Why rest and structure are non-negotiable for sustainable growth
• How to design “sprint-style” campaigns that prevent burnout
• Why donors often give again within the same 30-day window
• The importance of shifting your message post-campaign, not going silent
• Quick two-minute tweaks to boost conversions without new content
• How to reuse winning posts, emails, and videos from earlier campaigns
• The three ways to reset your energy fast (walk, talk, or move your body)
• How to push smarter, not harder, through the end of the year

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.

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