Shows / The Intentional Fundraiser Podcast
The Intentional Fundraiser Podcast
Welcome to The Intentional Fundraiser Podcast. I'm your host, Tammy Zonker, and I'm thrilled you're here. I've spent nearly three decades specializing in major gifts. I’ve seen how major gifts often form the backbone of an organization’s financial stability, and yet, I know many of us find this area particularly challenging. Time and again, I’ve been approached by fundraisers and nonprofit leaders eager to establish or supercharge their major gift programs. It’s become crystal clear that…
Episodes
- The Intentional Fundraiser Podcast
Overcoming Internal Barriers to Major Gifts
A salary is certain. A gift is a gamble. That's what one CFO told his development director. She left his office sure she'd lost. Her program director was…
- The Intentional Fundraiser Podcast
Staying Whole While Raising Big Gifts
Ever sat in your car after a donor visit just to catch your breath? Me too. And I think we need to talk about it. Raising big gifts is emotional work. In one…
- The Intentional Fundraiser Podcast
Human-Centered Major Gifts
A donor rode a city bus at 6:15 a.m. He hadn't been on one since college. The woman next to him had lived in that neighborhood for forty years. She was about…
- The Intentional Fundraiser Podcast
Thinking Global: Cross-Border Major Gifts
A 6:45 a.m. call from London. A donor wanted to give $1.5 million to the children's hospital that saved her little brother. Her gift officer was thrilled…
- The Intentional Fundraiser Podcast
Bringing Relationships Back from the Brink
Her mother's name was spelled wrong. It was on the plaque. On dedication day. In front of her grandkids. The mistake didn't end the relationship. What came…
- The Intentional Fundraiser Podcast
Stacking the Deck for Year-End Major Gifts
My worst December as a fundraiser? I spent it chasing a stock transfer with no name on it. My plan had been "we'll get serious after the gala." The gala ended…
- The Intentional Fundraiser Podcast
Impact Reporting That Deepens Commitment
One page changed everything. A donor said it was the first report she'd ever kept. Two years later, she made the largest gift in the organization's history. It…
- The Intentional Fundraiser Podcast
Today’s Gifts, Tomorrow’s Legacy
One question. A lasting legacy. Andrea almost didn't ask it. She was afraid it would muddy her donor's renewal. Her donor, Walter, had given faithfully for…
- The Intentional Fundraiser Podcast
Calming the Waters: Supporting Anxious Donors
He went quiet for two months. She thought she'd blown the ask. She hadn't. The donor had watched his business take a hit, watched the news every night, and…
- The Intentional Fundraiser Podcast
Growing the Next Wave of Major Gift Talent
She gave me four minutes. It changed my career. Almost thirty years ago, I had a donor meeting with a man who genuinely intimidated me. My development director…
- The Intentional Fundraiser Podcast
When Clicks Meet Conversations: Digital and Major Gifts
The lobby test. Your website is the lobby of your building. It never closes the gift. But it absolutely sets the tone for everything that happens around it. In…
- The Intentional Fundraiser Podcast
Campaign Planning When the Future Is Fuzzy
"What's our plan if we only raise nine?" A campaign chair asked that in a planning meeting for a $14 million campaign, and the room went completely quiet. She…
- The Intentional Fundraiser Podcast
Recognition That Feels Right Today
A donor wall almost cost them their best donor. At the opening of a gorgeous new wall, one of their most generous donors leaned in and said, "I didn't give so…
- The Intentional Fundraiser Podcast
Build for What's Next
Urgency can steal our future. I’ve watched it happen in nonprofit teams everywhere. We race from grant deadlines to events to year-end goals, doing everything…
- The Intentional Fundraiser Podcast
Donor Listening That Leads to Action
What if the ask isn't for money? What if it's a question? A donor of fifteen years told one of my clients, "Nobody ever asked me what I thought. They just told…
- The Intentional Fundraiser Podcast
Culture as Your Ultimate Major Gifts Strategy
If you vanished tomorrow, would anyone else in your building know how to talk about a donor with warmth? I've watched two organizations, same size, same…
- The Intentional Fundraiser Podcast
Healthy Boundaries with Major Donors
He asked to sit in on hiring. She almost said yes to that too. Here's what changed her mind. On this week's episode, I tell the story of a major gift officer…
- The Intentional Fundraiser Podcast
It Takes a Village: Internal Partners in Major Gifts
A gift once took eleven months to close. Not because the donor said no. Because one person was carrying five jobs. On this week's episode of The Intentional…
- The Intentional Fundraiser Podcast
Events that Actually Move Major Gifts
Her gala cost $40K. Her dinner cost $200. Guess which one got a bigger gift. On this week's episode, I tell the story of two events that happened the same…
- The Intentional Fundraiser Podcast
Working Smarter: Automation for Major Gift Officers
6:30 a.m. Calendar chaos already. By 10 a.m., she hadn't talked to a single donor yet. Six months later, same alarm, same portfolio. Totally different morning…
- The Intentional Fundraiser Podcast
Inclusive Major Gifts in Practice
A gala put them on stage. Then ghosted them for good. Three community leaders invited up front, never contacted again. Zero gifts. One hurt feeling that…
- The Intentional Fundraiser Podcast
Building Predictable Major Gifts Revenue
What if your major donors wanted to commit longer? Most of them already do. They just haven't been asked. In this week's episode of The Intentional Fundraiser…
- The Intentional Fundraiser Podcast
Beyond Cash: Unlocking Asset-Based Major Gifts
$5k a year. For 12 years. Then she sold her business. The fundraiser said, "congratulations," and changed the subject. Sixty days later, with one different…
- The Intentional Fundraiser Podcast
Leading from the Major Gifts Seat
Your CEO is not your critic. They might be your scariest internal customer. Once I understood that, everything changed. For years I walked into meetings with…
- The Intentional Fundraiser Podcast
Story and Data: What Major Donors Really Need
$150,000 gift. One question. 90 seconds. "Who is this changing for?" A development director walked into a meeting with a fund-of-funds founder and a 12-page…
- The Intentional Fundraiser Podcast
Designing Impact Together with Donors
"You brought me a brochure, not a conversation." A donor said that to one of my clients. It changed how we prep every donor visit now. In this week's episode…
- The Intentional Fundraiser Podcast
Peer Power: Ambassadors and Giving Circles
A $100,000 gift, made in a kitchen. The major gift officer wasn't there. Another donor was. ☕ She invited three friends over for coffee. She told them why she…
- The Intentional Fundraiser Podcast
Rethinking Major Gifts Metrics in 2026
Bad metrics ruin good fundraisers. Slowly. Quietly. Cycle after cycle. And almost nobody on the team is allowed to say it out loud. In this week's episode of…
- The Intentional Fundraiser Podcast
Pruning Your Portfolio to Grow Your Results
Pruning isn't loss. It's care. For years, fundraisers have been told that a bigger portfolio means a healthier pipeline. In my experience, the opposite is…
- The Intentional Fundraiser Podcast
Crafting Offers for Transformational Giving
"Fuzzy is the enemy of yes." That line came up this week while I was recording the podcast. And I cannot stop thinking about it. Most major gift offers I see…
- The Intentional Fundraiser Podcast
Trust-Building Conversations with Major Donors
Two donors. Same problem. Completely different outcomes. One development officer waited too long to call. By the time she reached out about a delayed project…
- The Intentional Fundraiser Podcast
A Modern Tech Stack for Major Gift Success
Too many tools? Too little clarity? And not enough hours to manage it all? This episode is for you. On this week's episode of The Intentional Fundraiser, I…
- The Intentional Fundraiser Podcast
Writing Donor Messages with AI, Not by AI
AI won’t replace your voice, but it can help amplify it. I’ve been talking with so many fundraisers who want to try AI but worry their donor communication will…
- The Intentional Fundraiser Podcast
Take Back Your Week, Grow Your Major Gifts
My calendar used to tell on me. I’d get to Friday and realize I’d spent the whole week in meetings, email, and “urgent” internal stuff… while my top donors…
- The Intentional Fundraiser Podcast
From Mid-Level to Major: Mapping the Journey
Your next major donor might already be giving I’ve seen so many mid-level donors quietly reading emails, showing up at events, and faithfully giving year after…
- The Intentional Fundraiser Podcast
Corporate Giving as a Major Gifts Lever
When one question unlocks three streams of giving In this week’s episode of The Intentional Fundraiser, I share the story of a longtime donor whose impact…
- The Intentional Fundraiser Podcast
Next-Gen Major Donors and the New Rules of Engagement
The biggest donors aren’t “the future” anymore. They’re already here. In my latest episode of The Intentional Fundraiser, I share what I’m seeing as younger…
- The Intentional Fundraiser Podcast
Your 2026 Case for Transformational Gifts
Your case might be costing you 7‑figure gifts. In my latest episode of The Intentional Fundraiser, I share why so many cases still sound like they were written…
- The Intentional Fundraiser Podcast
Making Your Major Gift Portfolio Shock-Resistant
One donor should never control your budget. In this week’s episode of The Intentional Fundraiser, I share a story of a strong organization that felt “safe”…
- The Intentional Fundraiser Podcast
Discovery That Builds Trust, Not Pressure
Your discovery calls shouldn’t feel like a test. In my latest Intentional Fundraiser episode, I walk through how I help fundraisers turn tense, scripted…
- The Intentional Fundraiser Podcast
Turning Leaders into Effective Major Gift Partners
Leaders keep derailing donor visits? I can’t tell you how many times I’ve watched a beautifully teed‑up donor conversation go sideways the moment a…
- The Intentional Fundraiser Podcast
Making Stewardship Personal, Scalable, Sustainable
“More touches” are burning teams out 😅 I talk with so many fundraisers who are trying to do heartfelt, hyper-personal stewardship for everyone… and ending up…
- The Intentional Fundraiser Podcast
AI-Powered Prep: Human-Centered Conversations
AI is already in your donor meetings. I’ve been hearing from so many fundraisers who feel torn. You want to use AI to save time, but you do not want donors to…
- The Intentional Fundraiser Podcast
Finding Your Real Top 25 Donor Prospects
Drowning in “prospect” names? If your major gift list looks impressive on paper but doesn’t translate into actual conversations or gifts, you’re not alone…
- The Intentional Fundraiser Podcast
Your 2026 Major Gifts Plan: Aspirational but Realistic
Big goals without a real plan? That’s the fastest way to create burnout instead of breakthroughs. I’ve seen it too often: a board sets a bold fundraising…
- The Intentional Fundraiser Podcast
How ‘Calling All Heroes’ Elevates Fundraising and Community Impact
What does it really mean to be a hero in fundraising? After nearly 30 years working alongside major gift officers, executive directors, and nonprofit leaders…
- The Intentional Fundraiser Podcast
Creating Immersive Experiences that Move Donors to Action
Donors don’t remember stats. They remember how you made them feel! My keynote titled "Casting Your Donors in a Lead Role: The Power of Immersion," which I…
- The Intentional Fundraiser Podcast
The Excellence in Major Gift Fundraising Seminar Experience
What if I told you the most powerful major gift fundraising seminar of your life could happen in your favorite chair, no travel required? I just experienced it…
- The Intentional Fundraiser Podcast
Building a Human-Centered Fundraising Pipeline
Are you chasing numbers or building relationships? Most fundraisers are stuck on the hamster wheel. Chasing donors. Juggling events. Burning out. But what if…
- The Intentional Fundraiser Podcast
Why “Tips and Tricks” Are Failing Fundraisers
This one has been simmering inside me for months. It’s about the language we use in the nonprofit sector—and why we need to be more mindful of it…
- The Intentional Fundraiser Podcast
Strategies for Major Donor Retention
Only 45% of first-time major donors come back. Let that sink in. For years, I believed winning that first major gift was the hardest part—until I realized the…
- The Intentional Fundraiser Podcast
Breaking Down Silos: Why the Future of Fundraising is Human-Centered
Feeling stuck between fundraising approaches? Break down the silos! I’ve seen the fundraising divide firsthand—and I believe there’s a better way. I call it…
- The Intentional Fundraiser Podcast
Becoming Ken: What Fundraisers Can Learn about Dignity, Trust, and Self-Worth
Your self-worth ≠ your last “no” That’s what Ken Miller told me during a conversation that left me rethinking how we lead, fundraise, and show up for…
- The Intentional Fundraiser Podcast
How to Build Trust and Stand Firm in Fundraising
Why do we still treat donors like royalty and our teams like afterthoughts? After years in fundraising, I’ve seen how trust, power dynamics, and deep listening…
- The Intentional Fundraiser Podcast
Bridging the Gap: Blending Donor and Community-Centered Fundraising
Burned out by fundraising debates? I know how exhausting it feels when donor-centered vs. community-centered fundraising pulls us apart—while donor fatigue and…
- The Intentional Fundraiser Podcast
From Overwhelm to Opportunity: AI and the Modern Fundraiser
Curiosity beats fear—every single time. Ever felt like AI is just spinning faster than you can keep up? I’ve been there—overwhelmed by “the next big thing”…
- The Intentional Fundraiser Podcast
Honoring Voices: Building an Ethical Storytelling Culture in Nonprofits
We don't need more “poverty porn” in our fundraising. I used to think telling hard stories was the only way to move donors—but I was wrong. If you’ve ever felt…
- The Intentional Fundraiser Podcast
Digital Heartbeats: Engaging Major Donors in a Virtual World
Are your donor relationships thriving—or just surviving? Most nonprofits rely on mass emails and generic updates—then wonder why major donors disappear. Here’s…
- The Intentional Fundraiser Podcast
Embracing the Subscription Model in Nonprofit Giving
Donor counts are dropping—even as giving hits record highs. This isn’t just a headline. It’s the reality I unpacked with Dave Raley on The Intentional…
- The Intentional Fundraiser Podcast
Drawing a Line Between Fundraiser and Donor
Ever felt like your donor relationships are turning into guilt trips? After nearly 30 years in major gifts, I’ve seen how easy it is for the line between…