Nonprofit CourageLab

In this episode, I guide you through the essentials of major gift fundraising, focusing on strategic planning, effective donor engagement, and optimal time management. I'm going to go over how to schedule and prioritize tasks, reach out to loyal donors, and request multi-year pledges and one-time gifts and the importance of aligning donation requests with your organization's strategic plan and the...

In this episode, I share a case study about helping a New York City-based animal welfare organization secure an unrestricted $6 million gift, which is twice their annual budget of $3 million. The discussion covers mistakes to avoid, strategies to build trust and credibility with donors, and the importance of a strategic plan with a big vision for impact. Emphasizing the high capacity and trust wit...

In this episode, I dive into a frequently asked question: how to determine the right amount to ask a donor for? I break down my thought process and introduce my special Ask Amount ebook, which is available for free. I explore three key factors: the organization, the donor, and you, the fundraiser. I dive into evaluating an organization's size, effectiveness, vision, and fundraising goals. For dono...

In this episode, I discuss how to determine if Courage Lab, my six-week group coaching accelerator, is the right fit for you. Courage Lab is designed for nonprofit professionals, such as executive and development directors, who are looking to raise unrestricted revenue from individual major gifts of $10k or more. I provide an overview of what the program entails, including live training, recorded...

In this episode of Nonprofit Courage Lab, we explore eight crucial habits to help you raise $1 million from September through December. These habits will position you to achieve your year-end fundraising goals. Additionally, consider joining my training on August 27th and 28th to map out your major gift strategy for the rest of the year. Want 15 leads in 5 minutes? DM me "Breakfast burrito" on Lin...

In this episode of the Nonprofit Courage Lab Podcast, host Julie Ordonez shares her insights on how to raise millions sustainably without burning out. Julie emphasizes the importance of simplifying efforts, treating donors as business partners, and negotiating to avoid unnecessary workload. She highlights common mistakes in the sector, such as asking for too little and overcomplicating messaging....

In this episode, I walk through a case study of how I helped a gun violence prevention client elevate their Major Gifts program from good to great in just six months. We delve into the strategies and coaching techniques used to instill confidence, promote boldness in fundraising, and leverage team strengths to achieve significant results, including securing six and seven-figure gifts. Join me as I...

In this episode, I share a comprehensive strategy for the Boys and Girls Club of Bend, Oregon, to raise $2 million in unrestricted funds from individuals within six months. This deep dive covers analyzing their annual report, website, 990 on GuideStar, and existing fundraising efforts. Key suggestions include auditing their messaging, effectively communicating their impact, leveraging compelling d...

In this episode of Nonprofit Courage Lab, we address a common fundraising issue raised by listener Ben: being too conservative in ask amounts. Many nonprofits fail to raise the desired funds because they don't ask for enough, often due to fears of offending donors. It's important to observe your own thinking, understanding donor intentions, and being bold in asks. Having a strong conviction in an...

Welcome back to another episode of Nonprofit Courage Lab. In this episode I talk about becoming a leader that raises 7 figure gifts. I am going to walk you through what I've seen that it takes and what I have seen with my clients who actually become those leaders. Leadership encompasses mindset, character, and team management. Technical skills cover donor communication, negotiation, and understand...

In this episode I am answering questions for my LinkedIn. We cover topics such as building relationships, how to ask for more money, how to get meetings, and more. Want 15 leads in 5 minutes? DM me "Breakfast burrito" on LinkedIn and I'll send you a pdf and 6-minute training to help you generate 15 leads for your nonprofit in minutes. It's totally free. All you need is an email to sign up. DM me "...

In this podcast episode, I walk you through The Courage Lab Method for helping you raise $1-3M in 6 months. The method revolves around three key pillars: leadership, technical skills, and strategy. And its also important to develop the right mindset, character, and courage in leadership. You'll also learn about how imortantant it is to master negotiation skills and understanding the wealth dynamic...

Hey there, welcome back to Nonprofit Courage Lab! It's Julie, and today I'm thrilled to dive into a topic that's crucial for every fundraiser: how to score more major donor meetings. We're going to get super practical here, talking about what might be holding you back and what you can actually do to land those meetings. So, let's address a couple of common reasons why you might not be getting as m...

In this episode we're diving in to what it takes to become a top-notch fundraiser and how it can transform your results. First off, being a badass fundraiser isn't just about having a cool title – it's about getting the job done. So, what sets badass fundraisers apart? It starts with their attitude. Despite the pressure and stress that often come with fundraising, they remain cool under pressure a...

Hello, courageous leaders! In this episode, we dove deep into the concept that "You Are Your Results." We explored the idea that our actions, or lack thereof, directly reflect the outcomes we achieve in our fundraising efforts. Many of you are leading incredible organizations and have the potential to make significant impacts. However, there's often a disconnect between what we say we want and the...

In this episode of Nonprofit Courage Lab, I had the pleasure of speaking with the exceptional Lindsay Fuller, the Executive Director of The Teaching Well. Lindsay's dedication and innovative approach to leadership in the nonprofit sector, particularly in education, is nothing short of remarkable. Lindsay and her team at The Teaching Well are on a bold mission to address educator attrition by creat...

In this inspiring episode of Nonprofit Courage Lab, I, Julie Ordonez, had the pleasure of speaking with Will Zweigert, the CEO of Flatbush Cats in Brooklyn. Will shared his transformative journey from the corporate world to the nonprofit sector, and how his passion for animal welfare led him to establish Flatbush Cats, an organization dedicated to solving the issue of overcrowded animal shelters....

This episode is a continuation of the Q&A recording of the live masterclass I did on wrapping up your year end strong. I answer questions about real life scenarios that come up with trying to get major gifts from donors. I dig into how to go deeper to find out what your donors are thinking, get insight from them that will help you shape conversations and give you more confidence to ask. ...

In this episode, we're going to talk about the essential ingredient for major gifts success – courage. In this recording of a live masterclass, I dug into what it takes to wrap the year up with a bang and start the new year off feeling rejuvenated and with the momentum you need to hit your goals.  Fancy strategies and consultants are not the keys to success, there will always be the need for...

Over the last 10+ years, I’ve been to over 1,000 major donor meetings and coached hundreds of CEOs, fundraisers, founders, development directors, and major gifts officers. In all those conversations, all those meetings, I’ve learned some things that I hope are helpful to you and will help you decide whether Nonprofit CourageLab is right for you! I have learned that: Fundraisers usually value money...

In this episode I’ll give you a taste of a masterclass that I will soon have available! We will be discovering your fundraising persona.  Are you a Stress Sammy? Newbie Nelly? Maybe Timid Trinity, or a combination of 2 or all 3? There are ways to address your struggles with each of these, but it all comes down to your mindset, your skillset, and your character. I’ll share a few mantras to hel...

Over the last few years, we’ve all been through a lot of stress, loss and grief collectively and it has worn a lot of us down. We feel tired and overworked, and many leaders are pushing beyond burnout. When it comes to fundraising, that translates to overthinking, struggling to give up control, and approaching donors with impatience and uncertainty. Remember - your donors are people and they need...

Does this sound familiar? You’re convinced that your donors can’t give any more than they already have, or you’re not sure you even have donors that can give more than $10k. The truth is that the word “all” isn’t accurate.  If you want growth, exponential impact, community transformation, and generational change, you need to get out of the cynicism that has you convinced that your donors are...

Things can get tough during an economic downturn. When it’s harder to raise money, often I see leaders projecting their financial difficulties onto their donors or assuming that every donor’s situation is the same. Just because you get feedback from a couple of donors that they are struggling doesn’t mean that every donor is struggling. I have a few pointers to help you build the courage you need...

How much do you know about your biggest donors? How much do you know about the circumstances around the biggest gifts you have closed? These are clues to what is working and what you can do more of. What you need to make sure you’re not doing is using relationship building as an excuse not to ask for donations. If someone is a huge fan of your work and is really involved in your mission and has th...