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:<ul><li>Why donor behavior outperformed negative economic headlines</li><li>How fast, clear digital sprint campaigns outperformed long, traditional fundraising plans</li><li>Where donor friction still kills revenue (and what to fix immediately)</li><li>Why decisive, courageous action beats cautious planning in a slow economy</li><li>How confidence compounds (and fear compounds) in fundraising leadership</li><li>Why do the biggest revenue days happen at the very end of a campaign</li><li>The relationship between bold visibility, clear messaging, and attracting the right donors</li><li>Why criticism is a normal (and often healthy) sign of growth</li><li>The importance of letting go (donors, systems, or staff) to make room for the next level</li><li>Why you must stop putting donors in boxes and upgrade based on relationship, not assumptions</li></ul> For a full list of links and resources mentioned in this episode, click <a href='https://www.splendidatl.com/podcast/7-lessons-from-a-record-breaking-year-in-fundraising'>here</a>.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 <a href="https://christinaedwards.krtra.com/t/PiO4GhENXudT">here</a>.Resources: <ul> <li> <a href='https://splendidcourses.com/email'>Easy Emails For Impact™</a>: The $5K+ Fundraising Campaign System</li> <li> <a href='https://christinaedwards.krtra.com/t/c8gkTeJFwlYf'>Purpose &amp; Profit Club® </a>Fundraising + Marketing Accelerator </li> <li> <a href='https://www.splendidcourses.com/sprint'>The SPRINT Method™:</a> Your shortcut to 10K fundraisers </li> <li> <a href='https://www.instagram.com/splendidconsulting'>Instagram</a>, <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/christinatza/'>LinkedIn</a>, <a href='https://www.splendidatl.com'>website</a> ,<a href='https://www.splendidcourses.com/list'> weekly newsletter</a> </li> <li> [FREE] <a href='https://christinaedwards.krtra.com/t/yVo03j6Dzga4'>The Brave Fundraiser’s Guide</a>: Stop getting ignored. Start raising more. May contain affiliate links </li> </ul>

<description>&lt;p&gt;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.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;In this episode, I share &lt;b&gt;the seven biggest lessons&lt;/b&gt; 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.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;b&gt;Topics:&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;Why &lt;b&gt;donor behavior &lt;/b&gt;outperformed negative economic headlines&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;How &lt;b&gt;fast, clear digital sprint campaigns &lt;/b&gt;outperformed long, traditional fundraising plans&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Where&lt;b&gt; donor friction&lt;/b&gt; still kills revenue (and what to fix immediately)&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Why &lt;b&gt;decisive, courageous action&lt;/b&gt; beats cautious planning in a slow economy&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;How &lt;b&gt;confidence &lt;/b&gt;compounds (and fear compounds) in fundraising leadership&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Why do &lt;b&gt;the biggest revenue days&lt;/b&gt; happen at the very end of a campaign&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;The relationship between &lt;b&gt;bold visibility, clear messaging, and attracting the right donors&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Why &lt;b&gt;criticism&lt;/b&gt; is a normal (and often healthy) sign of &lt;b&gt;growth&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;b&gt;The importance of letting go &lt;/b&gt;(donors, systems, or staff) to make room for the next level&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Why you must &lt;b&gt;stop putting donors in boxes&lt;/b&gt; and upgrade based on relationship, not assumptions&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;For a full list of links and resources mentioned in this episode, click &lt;a href='https://www.splendidatl.com/podcast/7-lessons-from-a-record-breaking-year-in-fundraising'&gt;here&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;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 &lt;a href="https://christinaedwards.krtra.com/t/PiO4GhENXudT"&gt;here&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Resources:&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;ul&gt; &lt;li&gt; &lt;a href='https://splendidcourses.com/email'&gt;Easy Emails For Impact™&lt;/a&gt;: The $5K+ Fundraising Campaign System&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li&gt; &lt;a href='https://christinaedwards.krtra.com/t/c8gkTeJFwlYf'&gt;Purpose &amp;amp; Profit Club® &lt;/a&gt;Fundraising + Marketing Accelerator &lt;/li&gt; &lt;li&gt; &lt;a href='https://www.splendidcourses.com/sprint'&gt;The SPRINT Method™:&lt;/a&gt; Your shortcut to 10K fundraisers &lt;/li&gt; &lt;li&gt; &lt;a href='https://www.instagram.com/splendidconsulting'&gt;Instagram&lt;/a&gt;, &lt;a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/christinatza/'&gt;LinkedIn&lt;/a&gt;, &lt;a href='https://www.splendidatl.com'&gt;website&lt;/a&gt; ,&lt;a href='https://www.splendidcourses.com/list'&gt; weekly newsletter&lt;/a&gt; &lt;/li&gt; &lt;li&gt; &lt;b&gt;[FREE] &lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href='https://christinaedwards.krtra.com/t/yVo03j6Dzga4'&gt;&lt;b&gt;The Brave Fundraiser’s Guide&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;: Stop getting ignored. Start raising more. &lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;em&gt;May contain affiliate links&lt;/em&gt; &lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt;</description>

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,...

177: 7 Lessons from a Record-Breaking Year in Fundraising

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&apos;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:<ul><li>Why December remains the most generous month of the year</li><li>The psychology behind donors giving twice in a short window</li><li>How the Zeigarnik Effect makes donors want to “finish the goal”</li><li>Why public-facing goals and progress bars dramatically increase conversions</li><li>How donor identity and reciprocity activate second gifts</li><li>The myth of monthly donor “offense” and why you should ask them again</li><li>Why internal fatigue is misinterpreted as donor fatigue</li><li>How staying visible sustains momentum (and silence breaks it)</li><li>Why December 31 outperforms GivingTuesday nearly 3:1</li><li>The importance of resending emails to non-openers</li></ul> For a full list of links and resources mentioned in this episode, click <a href='https://www.splendidatl.com/podcast/3-psychological-triggers-that-drive-donors-to-give-again-before-year-end'>here</a>.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 <a href="https://christinaedwards.krtra.com/t/PiO4GhENXudT">here</a>.Resources: <ul> <li> <a href='https://splendidcourses.com/email'>Easy Emails For Impact™</a>: The $5K+ Fundraising Campaign System</li> <li> <a href='https://christinaedwards.krtra.com/t/c8gkTeJFwlYf'>Purpose &amp; Profit Club® </a>Fundraising + Marketing Accelerator </li> <li> <a href='https://www.splendidcourses.com/sprint'>The SPRINT Method™:</a> Your shortcut to 10K fundraisers </li> <li> <a href='https://www.instagram.com/splendidconsulting'>Instagram</a>, <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/christinatza/'>LinkedIn</a>, <a href='https://www.splendidatl.com'>website</a> ,<a href='https://www.splendidcourses.com/list'> weekly newsletter</a> </li> <li> [FREE] <a href='https://christinaedwards.krtra.com/t/yVo03j6Dzga4'>The Brave Fundraiser’s Guide</a>: Stop getting ignored. Start raising more. May contain affiliate links </li> </ul>

<description>&lt;p&gt;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.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;In this episode, I break down the three hidden psychological reasons donors give again before year-end, even if they&amp;apos;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.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;b&gt;Topics:&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;Why &lt;b&gt;December &lt;/b&gt;remains&lt;b&gt; the most generous month&lt;/b&gt; of the year&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;The psychology behind &lt;b&gt;donors giving twice in a short window&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;How the &lt;b&gt;Zeigarnik Effect&lt;/b&gt; makes donors want to “finish the goal”&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Why &lt;b&gt;public-facing goals &lt;/b&gt;and &lt;b&gt;progress bars&lt;/b&gt; dramatically increase conversions&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;How &lt;b&gt;donor identity and reciprocity &lt;/b&gt;activate second gifts&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;b&gt;The myth of monthly donor “offense” &lt;/b&gt;and why you should ask them again&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Why internal fatigue is misinterpreted as &lt;b&gt;donor fatigue&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;How &lt;b&gt;staying visible &lt;/b&gt;sustains momentum (and silence breaks it)&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Why &lt;b&gt;December 31 &lt;/b&gt;outperforms GivingTuesday nearly 3:1&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;The importance of &lt;b&gt;resending emails&lt;/b&gt; to non-openers&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;For a full list of links and resources mentioned in this episode, click &lt;a href='https://www.splendidatl.com/podcast/3-psychological-triggers-that-drive-donors-to-give-again-before-year-end'&gt;here&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;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 &lt;a href="https://christinaedwards.krtra.com/t/PiO4GhENXudT"&gt;here&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Resources:&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;ul&gt; &lt;li&gt; &lt;a href='https://splendidcourses.com/email'&gt;Easy Emails For Impact™&lt;/a&gt;: The $5K+ Fundraising Campaign System&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li&gt; &lt;a href='https://christinaedwards.krtra.com/t/c8gkTeJFwlYf'&gt;Purpose &amp;amp; Profit Club® &lt;/a&gt;Fundraising + Marketing Accelerator &lt;/li&gt; &lt;li&gt; &lt;a href='https://www.splendidcourses.com/sprint'&gt;The SPRINT Method™:&lt;/a&gt; Your shortcut to 10K fundraisers &lt;/li&gt; &lt;li&gt; &lt;a href='https://www.instagram.com/splendidconsulting'&gt;Instagram&lt;/a&gt;, &lt;a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/christinatza/'&gt;LinkedIn&lt;/a&gt;, &lt;a href='https://www.splendidatl.com'&gt;website&lt;/a&gt; ,&lt;a href='https://www.splendidcourses.com/list'&gt; weekly newsletter&lt;/a&gt; &lt;/li&gt; &lt;li&gt; &lt;b&gt;[FREE] &lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href='https://christinaedwards.krtra.com/t/yVo03j6Dzga4'&gt;&lt;b&gt;The Brave Fundraiser’s Guide&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;: Stop getting ignored. Start raising more. &lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;em&gt;May contain affiliate links&lt;/em&gt; &lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt;</description>

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, segmentat...

176: 3 Psychological Triggers That Drive Donors to Give Again Before Year-End

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:<ul><li>Why major gift fear is not a personality flaw,  it’s neuroscience</li><li>How to reframe donor conversations by focusing on the people you serve</li><li>Why donors are used to talking about money (and why you don&apos;t need to be scared)</li><li>The science behind rejection and why “no” activates the same regions as physical pain</li><li>Nathan’s background in sales and how it shaped his fearless fundraising mindset</li><li>How to use donor questions to inform the right ask amount</li><li>Why genuine honesty is more magnetic than a perfect pitch</li><li>Why your donors want you to win and how to invite them into partnership</li></ul> For a full list of links and resources mentioned in this episode, click <a href='https://www.splendidatl.com/podcast/fear-and-fundraising-how-to-make-major-gift-asks-that-dont-scare-you-with-nathan-ruby'>here</a>.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 <a href="https://christinaedwards.krtra.com/t/PiO4GhENXudT">here</a>.Resources: <ul> <li> <a href='https://splendidcourses.com/email'>Easy Emails For Impact™</a>: The $5K+ Fundraising Campaign System</li> <li> <a href='https://christinaedwards.krtra.com/t/c8gkTeJFwlYf'>Purpose &amp; Profit Club® </a>Fundraising + Marketing Accelerator </li> <li> <a href='https://www.splendidcourses.com/sprint'>The SPRINT Method™:</a> Your shortcut to 10K fundraisers </li> <li> <a href='https://www.instagram.com/splendidconsulting'>Instagram</a>, <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/christinatza/'>LinkedIn</a>, <a href='https://www.splendidatl.com'>website</a> ,<a href='https://www.splendidcourses.com/list'> weekly newsletter</a> </li> <li> [FREE] <a href='https://christinaedwards.krtra.com/t/yVo03j6Dzga4'>The Brave Fundraiser’s Guide</a>: Stop getting ignored. Start raising more. May contain affiliate links </li> </ul>

<description>&lt;p&gt;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.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;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.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Topics:&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;Why &lt;b&gt;major gift fear &lt;/b&gt;is not a personality flaw,  it’s neuroscience&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;How to &lt;b&gt;reframe donor conversations&lt;/b&gt; by focusing on the people you serve&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Why donors are used to &lt;b&gt;talking about money&lt;/b&gt; (and why you don&amp;apos;t need to be scared)&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;The &lt;b&gt;science behind rejection &lt;/b&gt;and why “no” activates the same regions as physical pain&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Nathan’s background in &lt;b&gt;sales &lt;/b&gt;and how it shaped his &lt;b&gt;fearless fundraising mindset&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;How to use &lt;b&gt;donor questions&lt;/b&gt; to inform &lt;b&gt;the right ask amount&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Why &lt;b&gt;genuine honesty&lt;/b&gt; is more &lt;b&gt;magnetic&lt;/b&gt; than a perfect pitch&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Why &lt;b&gt;your donors want you to win&lt;/b&gt; and how to invite them into partnership&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;For a full list of links and resources mentioned in this episode, click &lt;a href='https://www.splendidatl.com/podcast/fear-and-fundraising-how-to-make-major-gift-asks-that-dont-scare-you-with-nathan-ruby'&gt;here&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;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 &lt;a href="https://christinaedwards.krtra.com/t/PiO4GhENXudT"&gt;here&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Resources:&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;ul&gt; &lt;li&gt; &lt;a href='https://splendidcourses.com/email'&gt;Easy Emails For Impact™&lt;/a&gt;: The $5K+ Fundraising Campaign System&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li&gt; &lt;a href='https://christinaedwards.krtra.com/t/c8gkTeJFwlYf'&gt;Purpose &amp;amp; Profit Club® &lt;/a&gt;Fundraising + Marketing Accelerator &lt;/li&gt; &lt;li&gt; &lt;a href='https://www.splendidcourses.com/sprint'&gt;The SPRINT Method™:&lt;/a&gt; Your shortcut to 10K fundraisers &lt;/li&gt; &lt;li&gt; &lt;a href='https://www.instagram.com/splendidconsulting'&gt;Instagram&lt;/a&gt;, &lt;a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/christinatza/'&gt;LinkedIn&lt;/a&gt;, &lt;a href='https://www.splendidatl.com'&gt;website&lt;/a&gt; ,&lt;a href='https://www.splendidcourses.com/list'&gt; weekly newsletter&lt;/a&gt; &lt;/li&gt; &lt;li&gt; &lt;b&gt;[FREE] &lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href='https://christinaedwards.krtra.com/t/yVo03j6Dzga4'&gt;&lt;b&gt;The Brave Fundraiser’s Guide&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;: Stop getting ignored. Start raising more. &lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;em&gt;May contain affiliate links&lt;/em&gt; &lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt;</description>

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, cros...

175: Fear & Fundraising: How to Make Major Gift Asks That Don’t Scare You with Nathan Ruby

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:<ul><li>What is the campaign hangover, and why is it completely normal</li><li>How to recover from fundraising fatigue without losing momentum</li><li>Why rest and structure are non-negotiable for sustainable growth</li><li>How to design “sprint-style” campaigns that prevent burnout</li><li>Why donors often give again within the same 30-day window</li><li>The importance of shifting your message post-campaign, not going silent</li><li>Quick two-minute tweaks to boost conversions without new content</li><li>How to reuse winning posts, emails, and videos from earlier campaigns</li><li>The three ways to reset your energy fast (walk, talk, or move your body)</li><li>How to push smarter, not harder, through the end of the year</li></ul> For a full list of links and resources mentioned in this episode, click <a href='https://www.splendidatl.com/podcast/the-campaign-hangover'>here</a>.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 <a href="https://christinaedwards.krtra.com/t/PiO4GhENXudT">here</a>.Resources: <ul> <li> <a href='https://splendidcourses.com/email'>Easy Emails For Impact™</a>: The $5K+ Fundraising Campaign System</li> <li> <a href='https://christinaedwards.krtra.com/t/c8gkTeJFwlYf'>Purpose &amp; Profit Club® </a>Fundraising + Marketing Accelerator </li> <li> <a href='https://www.splendidcourses.com/sprint'>The SPRINT Method™:</a> Your shortcut to 10K fundraisers </li> <li> <a href='https://www.instagram.com/splendidconsulting'>Instagram</a>, <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/christinatza/'>LinkedIn</a>, <a href='https://www.splendidatl.com'>website</a> ,<a href='https://www.splendidcourses.com/list'> weekly newsletter</a> </li> <li> [FREE] <a href='https://christinaedwards.krtra.com/t/yVo03j6Dzga4'>The Brave Fundraiser’s Guide</a>: Stop getting ignored. Start raising more. May contain affiliate links </li> </ul>

<description>&lt;p&gt;If you’ve hit that post-campaign wall, tired, drained, and wondering if anyone else feels the same, this episode is for you.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;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.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;b&gt;Topics:&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;What is the &lt;b&gt;campaign hangover&lt;/b&gt;, and why is it completely normal&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;How to &lt;b&gt;recover from fundraising fatigue&lt;/b&gt; without losing momentum&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Why &lt;b&gt;rest and structure&lt;/b&gt; are non-negotiable for &lt;b&gt;sustainable growth&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;How to &lt;b&gt;design “sprint-style” campaigns&lt;/b&gt; that prevent burnout&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Why &lt;b&gt;donors often give again&lt;/b&gt; within the same 30-day window&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;The importance of &lt;b&gt;shifting your message post-campaign&lt;/b&gt;, not going silent&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;b&gt;Quick two-minute tweaks&lt;/b&gt; to boost conversions without new content&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;How to &lt;b&gt;reuse winning posts, emails, and videos&lt;/b&gt; from earlier campaigns&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;The three ways to &lt;b&gt;reset your energy fast &lt;/b&gt;(walk, talk, or move your body)&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;How to push smarter, not harder, through the &lt;b&gt;end of the year&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;For a full list of links and resources mentioned in this episode, click &lt;a href='https://www.splendidatl.com/podcast/the-campaign-hangover'&gt;here&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;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 &lt;a href="https://christinaedwards.krtra.com/t/PiO4GhENXudT"&gt;here&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Resources:&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;ul&gt; &lt;li&gt; &lt;a href='https://splendidcourses.com/email'&gt;Easy Emails For Impact™&lt;/a&gt;: The $5K+ Fundraising Campaign System&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li&gt; &lt;a href='https://christinaedwards.krtra.com/t/c8gkTeJFwlYf'&gt;Purpose &amp;amp; Profit Club® &lt;/a&gt;Fundraising + Marketing Accelerator &lt;/li&gt; &lt;li&gt; &lt;a href='https://www.splendidcourses.com/sprint'&gt;The SPRINT Method™:&lt;/a&gt; Your shortcut to 10K fundraisers &lt;/li&gt; &lt;li&gt; &lt;a href='https://www.instagram.com/splendidconsulting'&gt;Instagram&lt;/a&gt;, &lt;a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/christinatza/'&gt;LinkedIn&lt;/a&gt;, &lt;a href='https://www.splendidatl.com'&gt;website&lt;/a&gt; ,&lt;a href='https://www.splendidcourses.com/list'&gt; weekly newsletter&lt;/a&gt; &lt;/li&gt; &lt;li&gt; &lt;b&gt;[FREE] &lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href='https://christinaedwards.krtra.com/t/yVo03j6Dzga4'&gt;&lt;b&gt;The Brave Fundraiser’s Guide&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;: Stop getting ignored. Start raising more. &lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;em&gt;May contain affiliate links&lt;/em&gt; &lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt;</description>

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, ...

174: The Campaign Hangover: What To Do When You’re Exhausted (and Still Need to Raise More)

If you’ve ever caught yourself overthinking a donor email, hesitating to post, or waiting for “the perfect timing” to launch your next campaign, this episode is for you. In today’s episode, I reveal the mindset pattern that’s quietly keeping you stuck: fear disguised as strategy. You’ll learn how to recognize when your “planning” is really just procrastination, why bravery always comes before clarity, and how to finally stop waiting for confidence to arrive before taking action. This is your invitation to stop playing small, lead boldly, and start moving your mission forward, even when it feels uncomfortable. Topics:<ul><li>The real reason fundraisers hold back from taking action</li><li>How fear disguises itself as overplanning and perfectionism</li><li>The myth that confidence comes before action (it doesn’t!)</li><li>Why “just one more draft” is often procrastination in disguise</li><li>Simple mindset shifts to replace hesitation with courageous leadership</li><li>Real examples of clients who learned to take messy, brave action</li><li>Why bravery builds trust with donors faster than polish ever will</li><li>The power of momentum in building confidence and clarity</li></ul> For a full list of links and resources mentioned in this episode, click <a href='https://www.splendidatl.com/podcast/the-hidden-reason-you-keep-holding-back-in-fundraising'>here</a>.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 <a href="https://christinaedwards.krtra.com/t/PiO4GhENXudT">here</a>.Resources: <ul> <li> <a href='https://splendidcourses.com/email'>Easy Emails For Impact™</a>: The $5K+ Fundraising Campaign System</li> <li> <a href='https://christinaedwards.krtra.com/t/c8gkTeJFwlYf'>Purpose &amp; Profit Club® </a>Fundraising + Marketing Accelerator </li> <li> <a href='https://www.splendidcourses.com/sprint'>The SPRINT Method™:</a> Your shortcut to 10K fundraisers </li> <li> <a href='https://www.instagram.com/splendidconsulting'>Instagram</a>, <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/christinatza/'>LinkedIn</a>, <a href='https://www.splendidatl.com'>website</a> ,<a href='https://www.splendidcourses.com/list'> weekly newsletter</a> </li> <li> [FREE] <a href='https://christinaedwards.krtra.com/t/yVo03j6Dzga4'>The Brave Fundraiser’s Guide</a>: Stop getting ignored. Start raising more. May contain affiliate links </li> </ul>

<description>&lt;p&gt;If you’ve ever caught yourself overthinking a donor email, hesitating to post, or waiting for “the perfect timing” to launch your next campaign, this episode is for you.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;In today’s episode, I reveal the mindset pattern that’s quietly keeping you stuck: fear disguised as strategy. You’ll learn how to recognize when your “planning” is really just procrastination, why bravery always comes before clarity, and how to finally stop waiting for confidence to arrive before taking action. This is your invitation to stop playing small, lead boldly, and start moving your mission forward, even when it feels uncomfortable.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;b&gt;Topics:&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;The &lt;b&gt;real reason&lt;/b&gt; fundraisers hold back from &lt;b&gt;taking action&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;How &lt;b&gt;fear &lt;/b&gt;disguises itself as &lt;b&gt;overplanning and perfectionism&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;The &lt;b&gt;myth&lt;/b&gt; that &lt;b&gt;confidence&lt;/b&gt; comes before action (it doesn’t!)&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Why “just one more draft” is often &lt;b&gt;procrastination in disguise&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Simple mindset shifts to replace hesitation with &lt;b&gt;courageous leadership&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Real examples of clients who learned to take &lt;b&gt;messy, brave action&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Why &lt;b&gt;bravery builds trust with donors&lt;/b&gt; faster than polish ever will&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;b&gt;The power of momentum&lt;/b&gt; in building confidence and clarity&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;For a full list of links and resources mentioned in this episode, click &lt;a href='https://www.splendidatl.com/podcast/the-hidden-reason-you-keep-holding-back-in-fundraising'&gt;here&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;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 &lt;a href="https://christinaedwards.krtra.com/t/PiO4GhENXudT"&gt;here&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Resources:&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;ul&gt; &lt;li&gt; &lt;a href='https://splendidcourses.com/email'&gt;Easy Emails For Impact™&lt;/a&gt;: The $5K+ Fundraising Campaign System&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li&gt; &lt;a href='https://christinaedwards.krtra.com/t/c8gkTeJFwlYf'&gt;Purpose &amp;amp; Profit Club® &lt;/a&gt;Fundraising + Marketing Accelerator &lt;/li&gt; &lt;li&gt; &lt;a href='https://www.splendidcourses.com/sprint'&gt;The SPRINT Method™:&lt;/a&gt; Your shortcut to 10K fundraisers &lt;/li&gt; &lt;li&gt; &lt;a href='https://www.instagram.com/splendidconsulting'&gt;Instagram&lt;/a&gt;, &lt;a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/christinatza/'&gt;LinkedIn&lt;/a&gt;, &lt;a href='https://www.splendidatl.com'&gt;website&lt;/a&gt; ,&lt;a href='https://www.splendidcourses.com/list'&gt; weekly newsletter&lt;/a&gt; &lt;/li&gt; &lt;li&gt; &lt;b&gt;[FREE] &lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href='https://christinaedwards.krtra.com/t/yVo03j6Dzga4'&gt;&lt;b&gt;The Brave Fundraiser’s Guide&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;: Stop getting ignored. Start raising more. &lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;em&gt;May contain affiliate links&lt;/em&gt; &lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt;</description>

If you’ve ever caught yourself overthinking a donor email, hesitating to post, or waiting for “the perfect timing” to launch your next campaign, this episode is for you.  In today’s episode, I reveal the mindset pattern that’s quietly keeping you stuck: fear disguised as strategy. You’ll learn how to recognize when your “planning” is really just procrastination, why bravery always comes before clarity, and how to finally stop waiting for confidence to arrive before taking action. This is your...

173: The Hidden Reason You Keep Holding Back in Fundraising

Ready to stop fundraising the old way and start doubling results? Join nonprofit strategist Christina Tzavaras Edwards for bold, fast-action tactics that help you 2X your next fundraiser and build a community fueled by generosity. From leveraging the Social Street Team®: Influencer Marketing Method to mastering courageous fundraising asks, this podcast equips you with the mindset and strategies needed to spark deep engagement and sustainable growth—no extra workload required. Music by The Selmanaires, featuring "Selmanaire Rock." Visit http://www.splendidatl.com/podcast for more.

Purpose & Profit Club® – The Nonprofit Fundraising & Marketing Podcast

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