Abundant Vision Fundraising Podcast

In this two part episode, Tom covers the basics of prospect portfolios.  How to figure out who's in, who's out, how to keep the clean and why you should keep them smaller than you probably think!

In this conversation with Max [Last Name] , we look at what truly moves donors toward meaningful commitments: trust, clarity, and real human connection. Max shares three detailed stories from his work in higher education that show how to design donor meetings that deepen relationships and lead to larger gifts. You’ll hear how a donor who was unsure where to focus her giving found clarity through a...

Fundraising isn’t about groveling—it’s about impact. In this episode we unpack the “make no apologies” mindset, shifting conversations from dollars to outcomes, and valuing your own time as much as a donor’s. We also dig into why coaching beats one-off trainings, how to avoid lethal assumptions, and a powerful re-qualification story that rescued a planned gift after a communication breakdown. You’...

What does burnout really look like, and how do you recover from it? In this episode, Haley Cooper shares her journey from launching a nonprofit in Malawi to founding The Savvy Fundraiser and helping organizations build cultures of connection instead of exhaustion. We talk about the personal and organizational roots of burnout, how fundraisers can set boundaries, the courage it takes to ask for hel...

In this solo episode, Tom Dauber gets highly practical about what really happens in donor meetings when the setting, the people, and the emotions do not follow the script. Tom walks through how to take control of the meeting environment, starting with something as simple as choosing a restaurant that actually allows for a real conversation, reading the menu in advance, and, when possible, steering...

The little things at the table can make or break a gift conversation. In this solo episode, Tom shares field-tested etiquette for donor meals: what not to order (saucy pasta, finger foods), how to avoid garlic/onion pitfalls, pacing drinks so you stay sharp (and avoid untimely bathroom breaks), and why restaurants are often the worst place to start the ask. You’ll also hear a brilliant pre-meeting...

April shares how to “lead up” with a president from a corporate background, translate between Advancement and Finance, and build trust through monthly reconciliations. She opens up about a profoundly meaningful planned-gift journey through illness, the most awkward doorstep moment of her career, and cleaning up after a colleague’s misstep. We close with practical advice for rising fundraisers: lis...

Guest: April Novotny, Vice President of Advancement, Capital University. April shares practical ways leaders can retain fundraising talent: expose staff to new responsibilities, cross-train beyond their job descriptions, and coach emerging managers on real-world budgeting and decision-making. We talk longevity (24 years at one institution!), building cultures that celebrate growth—even when people...

In this solo episode, Tom draws on a decade of managing fundraising teams to share five essential lessons for nonprofit leaders who supervise development officers. From avoiding micromanagement to setting evidence-based goals and staying visibly involved in donor work, Tom lays out what it takes to help fundraisers thrive—and why a great executive can make or break fundraising success. Learn how a...

In this solo episode, Tom breaks down why the most uncomfortable fundraising activities are often the most effective. He maps common tactics—sales, events, crowdfunding, grants, major gifts, and planned giving—on a “comfort vs. effectiveness” chart and explains how to move your time and energy toward what truly drives results. You’ll learn why bake sales and auctions drain ROI, how to rethink staf...

n this episode, Tom continues his conversation with Curtis Eaton, who leads development work at the University of Cincinnati, and they dig into what it really looks like to stand on your values while you raise money. Curtis shares some of the most awkward donor moments he has faced, including bias and harmful assumptions, and talks honestly about when you have to push back, draw a line, or even be...

In this inspiring conversation, Curtis E. Curtis, Assistant Vice President of Development at the University of Cincinnati Foundation, shares how mentorship, persistence, and inclusive leadership have shaped his fundraising journey. Curtis opens up about being a Black leader in a predominantly white profession, the importance of representation in philanthropy, and how inclusive giving can strengthe...

In this solo breakdown, Tom digs into the headline-grabbing “$237M gift” story and uses it to teach how to vet mega-gifts, private stock donations, and flashy in-kind offers before you put your reputation on the line. Learn the red flags, the governance steps that protect your org, and why “announce later” is often the smartest move. You’ll learn: How to assess gifts of privately held stock (and w...

If you have donors who give every year but you are not sure how to ask for more, this episode is your playbook. In this conversation with Jason, Chief Development Officer at Vineyard USA , we walk through the anatomy of a real gift: a consistent mid level donor who moved from annual gifts of $2,500 to $5,000 to a $250,000 estate commitment plus a much larger annual gift through her IRA. Jason brea...

IJason George (Chief Development Officer, Vineyard USA; formerly OSU & Kenyon) breaks down how persistence and radical transparency turn “hard to reach” prospects into joyful half-million-dollar donors—and how to spot hidden capacity fast. In this episode: The 18-month pursuit that became a $500K (cash + estate) gift in ~5 months Reading beyond the wealth rating: clues that a “$50k” alum was a...

In this episode, we dig into the practical habits that help fundraisers succeed in any setting, from small community nonprofits to large universities. I talk with Jason George , Chief Development Officer for Vineyard USA, about what he learned moving from personal support fundraising into major gifts and how those same skills translate to every fundraising role. Jason George shares concrete exampl...

This solo episode breaks down Tom’s definition of “major gift mastery” into seven practical habits you can apply right away. Learn how to cast an abundant, donor-inspiring vision, ask smarter discovery questions, set evidence-based goals, build/strategize a portfolio, run truly strategic donor conversations, develop courageous confidence in the ask, leverage the right giving vehicles (including es...

Cindy Wagman returns to share the exact moment she pivoted from nonprofit employee to fractional fundraiser—negotiating a $125k, 3-days/week, work-from-home consulting deal while on mat leave—and how that two-year contract became a five-year springboard to a thriving practice and global network. She breaks down why 12-month retainers, tight scopes, and saying “no” are the burnout antidotes—and why...

Tom sits down with Cindy Wagman to unpack the “fractional fundraiser” model—why it exists, when it outperforms a junior hire, and how it helps small nonprofits escape the hire→flail→quit→freeze cycle. Cindy explains how fractional fundraisers blend strategy and implementation as embedded generalists (not just advisors), stabilizing programs over 12–24 months so organizations can eventually hire in...

This week Tom moves from “what to track” to “how to use it.” He shows managers how to read stacked activity charts at a glance to spot three patterns—over-aggressive, over-passive, and the Goldilocks “Betty Balance”—and coach fundraisers toward the productive middle: intentional and direct, yet patient, strategic, and relationship-driven. You’ll learn which metrics to weight most (major gift solic...

In this episode, Tom talks about the metrics nonprofits should be using to grow fundraising effectively. He also talks about the pros and cons of different metrics and shares two new metrics you may never have considered before that can reveal a world of helpful information about your approach to fundraising. Tom breaks down the numbers that actually move revenue in major gifts—and how to track th...

In this episode, Jim Langley, President of Langley Innovation talks about the barriers that prevent organizations from raising more money.  He also reflects on some of the most memorable donor encounters he's experienced. In the finale of our three-part series, Jim Langley calls out “1950s” fundraising mindsets and shows how today’s entrepreneurial donors think: they want to fund solutions to...

Jim Langley returns to contrast classic moves management with his facilitation-first approach. We unpack why language like “close” distorts behavior, how to avoid the Hansel-and-Gretel woods of endless cultivation, and what to measure beyond one-year totals: two-year performance, donor retention, and repeat giving tied to the fundraiser. Jim outlines a phased method—test a concept early, use previ...

Consultant and thought leader Jim Langley unpacks why donor-centric partnership beats short-term “close the gift” thinking. He shares data on alarming attrition (four out of five first-time gifts don’t renew), explains how language and incentives can push shops toward doing fundraising to people instead of with them, and offers a management lens that keeps metrics without sacrificing relationships...

Prospect research pro Regina Alhassan returns to unpack when wealth screenings hit, when they miss, and how the human touch fills the gaps. She flags common blind spots (zip-code bias, assets tucked into LLCs), shares how to reassess board capacity with real data, and offers simple tactics to turn email-only followers into fully profiled donors. Regina also weighs in on the “generosity crisis,” wh...