The Gift Isn't The Finish Line: What To Do After Getting A Major Gift

The Gift Isn't The Finish Line: What To Do After Getting A Major Gift

Most nonprofit leaders spend months—sometimes years—working to secure a major gift. But what happens after the donor says "yes"? Too often, organizations celebrate, send a thank-you letter, and move on to raising the next gift. That's a missed opportunity. In this episode of *Huddle Up with Mark The Fund Coach*, I'm talking about one of the biggest mistakes executive directors make after receiving a major gift and why stewardship is about so much more than gratitude. You'll learn how to turn a one-time donor into a lifelong partner by building trust, demonstrating impact, and creating meaningful relationships that lead to future transformational gifts. If you want to stop thinking of fundraising as a series of transactions and start building lasting partnerships with your donors, this episode is for you. Remember, the gift isn't the finish line—it's the beginning of an even greater opportunity to deepen the relationship and advance your mission. ***NEW RESOURCE*** The Board Member's Guide to Fundraising (Without the Ask) - Check it Out: https://www.thefundcoach.com/the-board-member-s-guide-to-fundraising-without-the-ask [https://www.thefundcoach.com/the-board-member-s-guide-to-fundraising-without-the-ask] FREE GUIDE: 5 Habits of Executive Directors Who Land Big Gifts: https://bit.ly/4hFkOth Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mlduncan/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mlduncan/] To get this video podcast in your inbox, visit and subscribe here: https://www.thefundcoach.com/opt-in [https://www.thefundcoach.com/opt-in] Check out the Relationship Fundraising Academy: https://www.thefundcoach.com/rfa [https://www.thefundcoach.com/rfa] Need 1:1 Coaching? Click here to schedule a strategy session to discuss your fundraising needs: https://www.thefundcoach.com/discovery-session-booking-page [https://www.thefundcoach.com/discovery-session-booking-page] Windfall - Wealth Analytics Report: https://analytics.windfall.com/partner/the-fund-coach [https://analytics.windfall.com/partner/the-fund-coach] Subscribe to the podcast on Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/huddle-up-with-mark-the-fund-coach/id1799766114 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/huddle-up-with-mark-the-fund-coach/id1799766114] or Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/03LPM7zjoDMLV0OGPJBxTO?si=c730fc5b97a04854 [https://open.spotify.com/show/03LPM7zjoDMLV0OGPJBxTO?si=c730fc5b97a04854]

Why Leaders Minimize Their Mission and the Impact on Major Gifts

Are you unintentionally making your mission sound smaller than it really is? Many nonprofit leaders are passionate about their work, but when it comes to talking about their organization, they often focus on limitations instead of possibilities. They downplay the vision, minimize the impact, and hesitate to communicate the full potential of what their mission could achieve. In this episode of *Huddle Up with Mark The Fund Coach*, we're exploring why donors aren't inspired by small thinking—and why your ability to cast a compelling vision may be one of the most important fundraising skills you can develop. If you want to engage major donors, inspire greater generosity, and lead with confidence, it starts by helping others see what's possible. Starting a nonprofit is an exciting journey, but many founders quickly discover that passion alone isn't enough to sustain an organization. In this episode of Huddle Up with Mark The Fund Coach, Mark shares some of the most common fundraising and startup mistakes nonprofit leaders make—and how to avoid them. From researching whether your community truly needs another nonprofit to understanding that incorporation is only the beginning, you'll learn practical steps to build a stronger foundation for long-term success. Whether you're launching a new nonprofit or considering starting one, this episode will help you think strategically about fundraising, sustainability, and creating lasting impact. ***NEW RESOURCE*** The Board Member's Guide to Fundraising (Without the Ask) - Check it Out: https://www.thefundcoach.com/the-board-member-s-guide-to-fundraising-without-the-ask [https://www.thefundcoach.com/the-board-member-s-guide-to-fundraising-without-the-ask] FREE GUIDE: 5 Habits of Executive Directors Who Land Big Gifts: https://bit.ly/4hFkOth [https://bit.ly/4hFkOth] Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mlduncan/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mlduncan/] To get this video podcast in your inbox, visit and subscribe here: https://www.thefundcoach.com/opt-in [https://www.thefundcoach.com/opt-in] Check out the Relationship Fundraising Academy: https://www.thefundcoach.com/rfa [https://www.thefundcoach.com/rfa] Need 1:1 Coaching? Click here to schedule a strategy session to discuss your fundraising needs: https://www.thefundcoach.com/discovery-session-booking-page [https://www.thefundcoach.com/discovery-session-booking-page] Windfall - Wealth Analytics Report: https://analytics.windfall.com/partner/the-fund-coach [https://analytics.windfall.com/partner/the-fund-coach] Subscribe to the podcast on Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/huddle-up-with-mark-the-fund-coach/id1799766114 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/huddle-up-with-mark-the-fund-coach/id1799766114] or Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/03LPM7zjoDMLV0OGPJBxTO?si=c730fc5b97a04854 [https://open.spotify.com/show/03LPM7zjoDMLV0OGPJBxTO?si=c730fc5b97a04854]

Starting a Nonprofit? Avoid These Common Fundraising Mistakes

Starting a nonprofit is an exciting journey, but many founders quickly discover that passion alone isn't enough to sustain an organization. In this episode of Huddle Up with Mark The Fund Coach, Mark shares some of the most common fundraising and startup mistakes nonprofit leaders make—and how to avoid them. From researching whether your community truly needs another nonprofit to understanding that incorporation is only the beginning, you'll learn practical steps to build a stronger foundation for long-term success. Whether you're launching a new nonprofit or considering starting one, this episode will help you think strategically about fundraising, sustainability, and creating lasting impact. ***NEW RESOURCE*** The Board Member's Guide to Fundraising (Without the Ask) - Check it Out: https://www.thefundcoach.com/the-board-member-s-guide-to-fundraising-without-the-ask [https://www.thefundcoach.com/the-board-member-s-guide-to-fundraising-without-the-ask] FREE GUIDE: 5 Habits of Executive Directors Who Land Big Gifts: https://bit.ly/4hFkOth [https://bit.ly/4hFkOth] Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mlduncan/ To get this video podcast in your inbox, visit and subscribe here: https://www.thefundcoach.com/opt-in [https://www.thefundcoach.com/opt-in] Check out the Relationship Fundraising Academy: https://www.thefundcoach.com/rfa [https://www.thefundcoach.com/rfa] Need 1:1 Coaching? Click here to schedule a strategy session to discuss your fundraising needs: https://www.thefundcoach.com/discovery-session-booking-page [https://www.thefundcoach.com/discovery-session-booking-page] Windfall - Wealth Analytics Report: https://analytics.windfall.com/partner/the-fund-coach [https://analytics.windfall.com/partner/the-fund-coach] Subscribe to the podcast on Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/huddle-up-with-mark-the-fund-coach/id1799766114 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/huddle-up-with-mark-the-fund-coach/id1799766114] or Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/03LPM7zjoDMLV0OGPJBxTO?si=c730fc5b97a04854 [https://open.spotify.com/show/03LPM7zjoDMLV0OGPJBxTO?si=c730fc5b97a04854]

The Costly Major Gifts Mistake: Why Major Gifts Aren't Just for Capital Campaigns

What if one of the biggest limitations on your organization's fundraising success is the belief that major gifts are only for campaigns? Too many nonprofits wait until they're launching a capital campaign or special initiative before they begin engaging major donors. The problem is that meaningful donor relationships can't be rushed when a funding need arises. In this episode of Huddle Up with Mark The Fund Coach, we're exploring why major gifts should be a year-round fundraising strategy, not a campaign tactic. You'll learn how organizations unintentionally limit donor engagement when they only pursue major gifts during campaigns, and why building consistent relationships with major donors can lead to stronger fundraising, greater sustainability, and transformational support for your mission. Let's Huddle Up! FREE GUIDE: 5 Habits of Executive Directors Who Land Big Gifts: https://bit.ly/4hFkOth [https://bit.ly/4hFkOth] Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mlduncan/ To get this video podcast in your inbox, visit and subscribe here: https://www.thefundcoach.com/opt-in [https://www.thefundcoach.com/opt-in] Check out the Relationship Fundraising Academy: https://www.thefundcoach.com/rfa [https://www.thefundcoach.com/rfa] Need Private Coaching? Click here to schedule a strategy session to discuss your fundraising needs: https://www.thefundcoach.com/discovery-session-booking-page [https://www.thefundcoach.com/discovery-session-booking-page] Windfall - Wealth Analytics Report: https://analytics.windfall.com/partner/the-fund-coach [https://analytics.windfall.com/partner/the-fund-coach]

The Board + Executive Director: A Power Partnership That Transforms Fundraising

What happens when the executive director and the board stop operating separately—and start partnering together around fundraising? In this episode of Huddle Up with Mark The Fund Coach, we explore how healthy fundraising cultures are built through strong relationships, shared ownership, and intentional collaboration between nonprofit leaders and their boards. Too often, fundraising becomes the burden of one person while board members remain unsure of their role. But when boards understand how to engage relationally—without pressure to make the ask—everything changes. This conversation will help nonprofit leaders rethink board engagement and discover how stronger partnerships can lead to deeper donor trust, greater impact, and more sustainable fundraising success. FREE GUIDE: 5 Habits of Executive Directors Who Land Big Gifts: https://bit.ly/4hFkOth [https://bit.ly/4hFkOth]   Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mlduncan/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mlduncan/]    To get this video podcast in your inbox, visit and subscribe here: https://www.thefundcoach.com/opt-in [https://www.thefundcoach.com/opt-in]   Check out the Relationship Fundraising Academy: https://www.thefundcoach.com/rfa [https://www.thefundcoach.com/rfa]     Need 1:1 Coaching? Click here to schedule a strategy session to discuss your fundraising needs: https://www.thefundcoach.com/discovery-session-booking-page [https://www.thefundcoach.com/discovery-session-booking-page]     Windfall - Wealth Analytics Report: https://analytics.windfall.com/partner/the-fund-coach [https://analytics.windfall.com/partner/the-fund-coach]