One Visit Away

In this short episode I share a story that will let you know how to ask for the gift you planned to ask for even when someone cuts you off before you can make the ask.   This tip will help you close more meaningful gifts!

In this episode we hear from Bill Myatt, Director of Philanthropic Engagement at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago.   Bill tells some phenomenal stories about several 6 figure gifts that will have you captivated.   You will leave this episode better equipped to raise major gifts for your organization!  Go check out Bill's website for his new consulting business helping organizations...

In this episode, we hear from Sam Provenzano, the founder of NextGenFundraisers.   Listen to this episode to hear some great stories from Sam as well and see how you can get in touch with Sam to increase the success of your job search on LinkedIn!

In this episode I speak with Greg Warner, the Founder of MarketSmart! In this episode you'll learn how a development team put Greg's wife in tears and not in a good way... This is a bonus episode as it is not the typical story-telling format of One Visit Away. There are a few stories about visits, but it mostly is focused on the problems that occur when we do not serve our donors well an...

The great Jason Lewis!  Jason Lewis is one of the most well known names in the fundraising world.   He is a consultant, author of The War for Fundraising Talent, and Founder of Responsive Fundraising.   Jason tells some great stories in this episode ranging from Million dollar gifts to incredibly meaningful conversations at a small town steakhouse.   You will walk away from this episode better equ...

In this episode I tell one of the first stories of my career.   I wound up sitting next to a gentleman worth several hundred million dollars and got a visit scheduled with him.   I was so excited to make this $1 Million ask!  I learned a lot from this experience, and you, the Major Gift Fundraiser, will walk away from this episode better equipped to schedule more visits and close more gifts.  

In this episode we hear from John Knowles with Legatus.   John tells a great story about how our interests can play a role in developing relationships with our benefactors.   He then goes on to give some great advice about asking for help, forging ahead when we're discouraged, and working together as a team.   John's words will inspire you to schedule more visits! 

In this episode, we hear from someone who has sat on the other side of the Philanthropic table many times.  John Oberg is a founder, board director, advisor, and investor.  He gives us a new perspective as a guest on One Visit Away.   He is also the consultant I have referenced several times that had a huge impact on my career by challenging me to have a new framework for what high performance loo...

Listen to some great stories from another Major Gifts Officer: Scott Maxwell with Catholic Extension.    Listen to this episode and you'll learn how one visit could lead to close to $700,000 in giving!  Scott has a wealth of experience in fundraising and you will be better equipped to serve your nonprofit after hearing this episode.   Click here to sign up for the one visit away email list: h...

In this episode we hear from Mike Reardon, The Executive Director of the Catholic Schools Foundation in Boston.   When you listen to this episode you'll learn a great deal about major gift fundraising from a professional who has had tremendous success at The Catholic Schools Foundation and for his clients.   We discuss Kerry Robinson and her incredible work as a fundraiser in this episode.  y...

In this episode we hear from Peter de Keratry the Executive Director of Stewardship and Development for the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City. Peter is extraordinarily accomplished as a fundraiser.  He led a $350 Million capital campaign among his many successes.  Listen to the incredible stories Peter has to share about some of his most memorable visits.  You will be better prepared to raise money for...

In this episode you'll hear some incredible stories from Jennifer Baugh the Founder and National Executive Director of Young Catholic Professionals.   If you work for a non-profit you will learn a great deal from Jenn's words.  She shares a story about how humor and boldness led to a significant gift and another story about how being authentic led to a very large gift that completely fun...

If you're ready to schedule more visits and raise more money, this episode is for you! Scott is one of the funniest people to be on the show and tells some incredible stories about generosity including some times when he had some epic fails.   We then discuss one of my favorite book, Never Split the Difference, and how we have both firsthand seen the positive results that this book can bring...

In this episode I tell a story of how one of the benefactors I work with went from $5,000 to $50,000 in one year! You'll learn why asking for a range is a massive mistake for a major gift officer, why you need to ask good questions to determine capacity, and why you need to ask when to follow-up.   Listening to this episode will inspire you to schedule more visits!  Click on this link to sign...

In this episode, I speak with Lynn Esmail the Executive Director of OptimALL Services.  Lynn has been working in fundraising for nearly 3 decades and has some incredible stories to share that will inspire you to schedule more visits and raise more money.  She also will reenergize you about the incredible work we get to do as fundraisers!  If you want to subscribe to the email list for One Visit Aw...

In this episode I share a story of how a text message containing a picture of a penny resulted in a $5,000 gift! As a major gift fundraiser you will learn about the importance of texting and the role it plays in scheduling visits and closing gifts.  

In this episode we hear from Ellen Rossini with Mission Advancement Professionals.  Ellen shares several funny and enlightening stories that will make you a more effective major gifts officer, including one story that could be worth $200,000!

In this episode I tell a story about one of our benefactors who wound up giving a gift after a 7 minute first visit.  You'll learn about the importance of asking for a specific amount, the importance of referrals, why you need to ask when is a good time to follow up, and why you need to focus on generating revenue for your organization.  

This is a bonus episode where I was interviewed by my friend Jeff Schiefelbein on his radio show Undivided Intention.  This is not a typical episode of One Visit Away. It is much more personal and involves many other topics besides fundraising.  I hope you enjoy our conversation, but be forewarned since this is a bonus episode I did not edit anything out, so commercials are included.  

In this episode I share one of my own stories! In this episode you'll learn why it's important to always be visiting with prospects and benefactors, why you should never make up answers, why you shouldn't give up when you've tried several times to schedule a visit, and why you should listen to suggestions your benefactors make as it could lead to millions of dollars of increase...

In this episode we hear from Maria Puccini the Executive Director and Co-Founder of In My Shoes.  Maria shares a story that is my favorite story shared on the show so far! It illustrates many traits that make someone successful in development: an enormous amount of passion, humility, the ability to take painful constructive criticism, a deep desire to put the needs of those your organization serve...

Should you travel to visit with a Benefactor or Prospect?  Can someone increase from $2,500 to over $100,000?  Can you teach an old dog new tricks?  If you want to know the answers to these questions, listen to this episode of One Visit Away! Dan Bailey the President and Founder of Just Say Yes tells some great stories about his transformation in major gifts and how it has impacted his organizatio...

Val Hrbacek is the Director of Development of Birth Choice Dallas.  In this episode you will find great insights on how to succeed in major gifts even while bringing your toddler to work everyday! Listen to this episode and among many tips you will understand the importance of making thank you calls as they can lead to more than 1000% increases in giving as well as the importance of not assuming a...

How do you go from hearing that someone will never give to your organization to them becoming one of your most important benefactors?  Find out by listening to this episode of One Visit Away, where your host Kevin Fitzpatrick shares one of his favorite stories from the beginning of his career as a major gift officer.   This episode will inspire you to schedule more visits so that you can raise mor...

Joseph Hamaty with the Steier Group tells stories that will get you excited to schedule more visits and raise more money for your organization!  The Steier Group has helped raise over $2 Billion for capital campaigns.  Joseph shares several stories that help illustrate why they have had such great success.  These stories are equally informative as they are entertaining!