What do you do when you're hit with a tough question—one you didn’t expect and don’t have a polished answer ready for?

Whether it’s a curveball in a donor meeting, a media interview, or a town hall Q&A, today's episode of the 7-Figure Fundraising Podcast breaks down three clear strategies you can use to stay composed and persuasive—even under pressure.

Trevor shares a memorable story from the Miss Teen USA pageant that became one of the first viral “word salad” moments on YouTube—and how most of us would probably stumble in similar high-stakes situations. From there, he walks through three tactics you can practice and deploy to answer confidently, clearly, and concisely.

What You’ll Learn

• The 3 go-to frameworks for answering tough questions:
  1. Two Points – A simple, structured response to organize your thinking.
  2. Story + Insight – A technique to connect emotionally and drive home a takeaway.
  3. Thinking Then and Now – A method for gracefully correcting misinformation.
• Why pausing for just a few seconds before responding can help you sound more thoughtful and credible.

Download the One-Page Cheat Sheet
Click here to download a quick reference guide to the three tactics you can print or keep at your desk. https://7figurefundraising.kit.com/f7370c2df6

To see all the show notes visit: https://www.7figurefundraising.com/podcast/

To learn more about fundraising and our training visit: 7FigureFundraising.com

How many of you know a good story? One you've never forgotten—one that moved you, inspired you, or stuck with you long after you heard it. What made it so compelling?

In this clip, we dive into why stories are the lifeblood of an effective pitch and how you can find and frame great stories to persuade donors. Learn about:

• The Story Safe—a simple habit for collecting powerful stories
• The Story Buckets method for organizing and retrieving compelling narratives
• How to frame your story to maximize its impact

Want to get the full formula for crafting unforgettable fundraising stories? Get the book:

 Paperback & Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/7-Figure-Fundraising-guide-millions-change/dp/B0DC8K1MRD/ 

Audiobook: https://www.audible.com/pd/B0DJRSBL79?source_code=ASSORAP0511160006

To see all the show notes visit: https://www.7figurefundraising.com/podcast/

To learn more about fundraising and our training visit: 7FigureFundraising.com

What do you want your new donors to see and hear from your organization during their first 100 days? This period is your chance to make a lasting impression and turn a first-time donor into a lifelong supporter.

In this clip, we break down how to craft a 100-day plan that keeps donors engaged, including:

• The four-part thank-you strategy that sets the right tone
• How to plan four meaningful touchpoints over the first 100 days
• Proven ideas like behind-the-scenes insights, success stories, and impact updates

Want the full strategy to build donor relationships that last? Get the book:

 Paperback & Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/7-Figure-Fundraising-guide-millions-change/dp/B0DC8K1MRD/

Audiobook: https://www.audible.com/pd/B0DJRSBL79?source_code=ASSORAP0511160006
Make the first 100 days count—and create donors for life.

To see all the show notes visit: https://www.7figurefundraising.com/podcast/

To learn more about fundraising and our training visit: 7FigureFundraising.com

In this episode, Trevor Bragdon and Tarren Bragdon discuss why project fundraising is not a sustainable strategy for nonprofits. They compare project fundraising to a gift card that offers a one-time benefit but does not engage donors in the organization's overall mission. They explain that project fundraising can actually cost money and send a negative message internally. They emphasize the importance of having a compelling vision and avoiding one-off projects that distract from the organization's mission. They provide tips on how to pitch the big vision to donors and build long-term partnerships.

Takeaways

• Project fundraising is not a sustainable strategy for nonprofits as it reduces the organization's vision to one-off projects and can cost money.
• Donors who are engaged in the organization's overall mission are more likely to become long-term partners.
• When pitching to donors, focus on the problem you solve from their perspective, present a solution that feels safe or unique, and explain how it works in a concise and compelling way.
• Share success stories that demonstrate the impact of your organization's work and paint a vision of how lives will be improved in the future.
• Avoid project fundraising and instead focus on building relationships with donors based on the organization's big vision.

To see all the show notes visit: https://www.7figurefundraising.com/podcast/

To learn more about fundraising and our training visit: 7FigureFundraising.com

In this episode of the 7-Figure Fundraising Podcast, hosts Trevor and Tarren Bragdon explore the key strategies outlined in their new book, 7-Figure Fundraising: A Guide to Raising Millions to Change the World. They discuss the practical, step-by-step approach nonprofit leaders can use to transform their fundraising efforts and scale their impact.

• Why We Wrote the Book: To help nonprofit leaders understand fundraising both at the big picture level and with specific tactics. It’s a short, actionable read—just 127 pages.
• Key Lessons:
  • Fundraising is a Skill: No one is born a natural fundraiser—it’s a skill you can work on and improve.
  • Three Levers of Fundraising Growth: GROW your existing donors, KEEP them by increasing retention, and ADD new donors strategically.
• Focus Areas for Success:
  • ASK: Ask once a year with the right timing and a persuasive pitch.
  • PARTNER: Treat major donors like partners with a 4-star level of service.
  • FIND: Add a few new donors each year by securing referrals and hosting strategic events.
• Team Roles:
  • Closer: The person who makes the ask—often the CEO.
  • Conductor: Manages donor relations and ensures they receive top-tier service.
  • Connector: Focuses on finding new donors and setting up prospect meetings.

Get your copy today, available exclusively on Amazon. The audiobook will be released at the end of September.

To see all the show notes visit: https://www.7figurefundraising.com/podcast/

To learn more about fundraising and our training visit: 7FigureFundraising.com

View Episode 49 Show Notes on our website here.

Co-founders Elaine Alowo-Matovu and Takako Mino discuss the founding and fundraising journey of Musizi University, a new university in Uganda, and their vision behind it. 

They discuss their backgrounds and how they came together to start the university. Elaine and Takako also explain the unique programs and curriculum offered at Musizi University, emphasizing the importance of practical skills and indigenous knowledge. 

The podcast includes insights into their fundraising strategy, the importance of warm introductions, building relationships, and crafting compelling pitches. In addition, you’ll hear insights on overcoming university startup challenges, actionable advice for ambitious ideas, donating to Musizi University, and the interesting significance of "Musizi."

• 00:00 Introduction 
• 00:43 Background and Inspiration for starting Musizi University
• 03:53 Unique Approach and Model of Musizi University
• 07:09 Co-founding Musizi University and Takako's Background
• 13:58 The Meaning of Musizi 
• 16:16 Blending Western and Ugandan Talent in the University
• 26:32 Fundraising for a Startup University
• 30:43 Fundraising Success and Building Relationships
• 38:26 Tactics for Warm Introductions and Relationship Building
• 41:52 Crafting a Compelling Pitch
• 47:41 Navigating Challenges of Starting a University
• 48:16 Actionable Advice for Ambitious Ideas
• 49:43 Building Meaningful Relationships with Donors
• 51:07 How to Donate and Learn More About Musizi University

To learn more about Musizi University visit: https://www.musizi.ac.ug/

To see all the show notes visit: https://www.7figurefundraising.com/podcast/

To learn more about fundraising and our training visit: 7FigureFundraising.com

View Episode 48 Show Notes on our website here.

Joey Coleman helps companies keep their customers and employees. As an award-winning speaker, he shares his First 100 Days® methodology for improving customer and employee retention with organizations worldwide (e.g., Whirlpool, Volkswagen Australia, and Zappos). His Wall Street Journal #2 best-selling book, Never Lose a Customer Again, shows how to turn any sale into a lifelong customer or donor.

His new book, Never Lose an Employee Again, details a framework companies and nonprofits can use to reduce turnover, and increase employee engagement.

In this episode we cover

• Employee Retention
  • Treat Employees the same way you would treat a donor
  • Donor/customer experience is similar to the Employee experience
• New Employees Experience
  • The importance of the first 100 days with a new employee
• Job Posting
  • How to entice the right applicants from the start
  • Why you should provide interview questions in advance
  • Off-the-cuff questioning vs. the more common interview questions
  • Learning about the person as a person instead of an employee
• Making a Job Offer
  • What to do during the "quiet period" - the time between the offer and the first day
  • Making a lasting impression on the first day and how to "Give them something to talk about."
  • Making sure a new employee understands their role in the company and why they matter.
• Close
  • Joey's  challenge for the audience
  • Pick up a copy of Joey's book, Never Lose an Employee Again

To see all the show notes visit: https://www.7figurefundraising.com/podcast/

To learn more about fundraising and our training visit: 7FigureFundraising.com

View Episode 47 Show Notes on our website here.

Trevor and Tarren Bragdon discuss how to think about fundraising for a startup nonprofit. 

We have a lot of people new to fundraising who find us through the podcast and we’d wanted to do a podcast specifically for fundraising for a startup nonprofit. 

• 3 phases of a Startup Nonprofit
  • Idea phase - Finding the product and market fit
    • Read the book The Mom Test by Rob Fitzpatrick
  • Proof phase - show your idea works - pilot or small scale success
  • Scale phase - figuring out how to take things that work on a small scale and make them work on large scale
• Theory of Change Formula
  • What is the Problem
  • What is your Solution?
  • Why are you the best team to solve the Problem?
  • Write out your theory of change in less than 140 words.
    • Refine and edit.
    • You'll want to be able to explain it in about 1 minute
• How to introduce yourself - to new people and talk about your nonprofit
  • Problem, Solution and then a Story
  • Introduction from The 1-Page Marketing Plan by Alan Dibs
  • “You know how [state the problem you solve]. Well I’m starting a nonprofit that [insert your solution here]. In fact, [give a story about your solution]”
• Start working on your pitch - 
  • See our short video on How to Build a Pitch
    • Elevator Close Video
  • We have a video on this and a short course on Udemy on how to build a pitch - almost 600 students enrolled
• Phase 2 the Proof phase - showing your idea works - pilot or small scale success
  • Communication with donors key
  • Start thinking about the size of the nonprofit you want to create
  • Building out your team 

Wrap up

• To grow your fundraising as a Startup, focus on these steps. 
  • Idea Phase
    • Ask why isn’t this done already
    • Develop out your theory of change 
    • Create your introduction and begin your pitch
    • Begin testing your idea on a small scale 
    • Pitch donors and listen to their feedback 
    • Expect a lot of No’s 
  • Proof Phase
    • Decide the type of nonprofit you want to build
    • Build out your team
    • Figure out how to scale 

To see all the show notes visit: https://www.7figurefundraising.com/podcast/

To learn more about fundraising and our training visit: 7FigureFundraising.com

View Episode 46 Show Notes on our website here.

To grow your fundraising, focus on these 7 steps.


1. Ask Donors Only Once a Year (1:22) 

• This is how major donors organize their giving 
• Match your ask to their timetable
• Don’t nickel and dime your major donors by asking them for a big donation and later asking them for smaller donations or sponsorships. 

2. Treat Donors Like Partners (5:05)

• Poverty versus the Partnership Mindset 
• What does treating a partner look like
  • See  Episode #42 - Creating a 5-Star Donor Experience
• How to create a great thank you letter: 5-Sentence Thank You Letter
• Creating a 100 day plan for new donors, see Episode #35 - How to Never Lose a Donor

3. Add a Few New Partner Donors Each Year (12:00)

• You don’t need hundreds of new donors. A few can go a long way
  • Focus on warm leads 
  • Referrals - ask your donors for only one referral
    • Script to use: "Is there one person, who is like you, that I should talk to about supporting our work?"
  • Referrals have some of the highest close and retention rates for new donors

4. Have a Big Vision (17:49)

• Why is this important?
• If you are trying to figure out your Big Vision
  • Think about 1 year first 
  • Then 2, then 3
  • Book: Vision Driven Leader by Michael Hyatt 

5. Make a Compelling Pitch (23:06)

• Nonprofits are complicated and do lots of great things, but sometimes it's hard to explain everything
• How to talk about your work and make it memorable
• Watch an overview video of our 8-Step Pitch Template
• Read: The Ultimate Guide to Pitching Major Donors   

6. Execute on the Big Vision (30:17)

• Execution is just as important as a big vision
• Build trust with execution - show you are doing what you say
• Books on building systems for execution
  • Traction by Gino Wickman
  • 4 Disciplines of Execution by Chris McChesney and Sean Covey 

7. Staff with Fundraising Specialist (33:04)

• Connector - the person who reaches out to prospects and works on securing a first meeting. 
• Closer - the person who meets with donors and makes the ask
• Cultivator - the person who manages the donor relationship throughout the year, ensuring they are getting a 5-star experience from the nonprofit.

To see all the show notes visit: https://www.7figurefundraising.com/podcast/7-steps-of-fundraising

To see all the show notes visit: https://www.7figurefundraising.com/podcast/

To learn more about fundraising and our training visit: 7FigureFundraising.com

View Episode 45 Show Notes on our website here.

In this episode of 7-Figure Fundraising, Trevor Bragdon looks into the Psychology of Fundraising with Tarren Bragdon, co-founder of 7-Figure Fundraising and founder and CEO of the Foundation for Government Accountability. 

In this episode, they look at:

• How you create fundraising habits. 
• Habits for the task you want to do but don't. 
• Habits for things you don't want to do but need to do. 
• Lastly,  how do you create habits for those things you hate doing but need to get done? 

Mentioned in the episode:
Tiny Habits by BJ Fogg https://amzn.to/3R25qrU
Show Notes: https://www.7figurefundraising.com/podcast
7-Figure Fundraising Workshop: https://www.7figurefundraising.com/7ff-workshop

To see all the show notes visit: https://www.7figurefundraising.com/podcast/

To learn more about fundraising and our training visit: 7FigureFundraising.com