Hey Fundraiser!

In this episode, Mary Petersen talks about a simple yet powerful framework to personalize your fundraising conversations based on donor decision-making styles—head, heart, or gut—and significantly increase your success.

#fundraising #majorgifts #fundraisingstrategies

🎓 The Professional Development Budget Kit. Free Download! Everything you need to get your organization to say "yes" to funding your growth: templates, talking points, and an ROI calculator.

💸 Major Gift Intensives. We're headed to 6 cities in 2027. Are we headed to yours? Join us for a 3 day deep dive into major gifts! Only 30 seats per city.

🌻 The 2027 Growth Pass. Only 5 seats available. The Growth Pass bundles Mary's three flagship live experiences into one powerful year of learning. One Major Gift Intensive. One Ask Workshop. One Small Table Intensive.

🪑 The Small Table Intensive. Half a day. Build or rebuild your major gift program around fewer donors and deeper relationships, using the methodology from my book Small Table Big Philanthropy.

🎯 The Ask Workshop. Half a day. The exact words to use when it's time to ask for 5 and 6-figure gifts. Walk in nervous about the ask. Walk out with the scripts.

💻 Connect with Mary Petersen

• Website: heyfundraiser.com
• YouTube: @...

In this episode, Mary Petersen talks about the key difference between describing your organization’s activities and showcasing the real results that inspire donors to give. Explore practical strategies to reframe your messaging around impactful outcomes that resonate emotionally and logically with donors.

#fundraising #nonprofit #fundraisingstrategies #fundraisingsuccess

🎓 The Professional Development Budget Kit. Free Download! Everything you need to get your organization to say "yes" to funding your growth: templates, talking points, and an ROI calculator.

💸 Major Gift Intensives. We're headed to 6 cities in 2027. Are we headed to yours? Join us for a 3 day deep dive into major gifts! Only 30 seats per city.

🌻 The 2027 Growth Pass. Only 5 seats available. The Growth Pass bundles Mary's three flagship live experiences into one powerful year of learning. One Major Gift Intensive. One Ask Workshop. One Small Table Intensive.

🪑 The Small Table Intensive. Half a day. Build or rebuild your major gift program around fewer donors and deeper relationships, using the methodology from my book Small Table Big Philanthropy.

🎯 The Ask Workshop. Half a day. The exact words to use when it's time to ask for 5 and 6-figure gifts. Walk in nervous about the ask. Walk out with the scripts.

💻 Connect with Mary Petersen

• Website: heyfundraiser.com
• YouTube: @...

In this episode, Mary Petersen provides a master class on the critical first five minutes of donor meetings, emphasizing their importance in setting the tone, creating depth, and leading the conversation towards meaningful engagement. She outlines common pitfalls to avoid, offers a structured framework for effective donor engagement, and discusses various scenarios that fundraisers may encounter during meetings. The episode concludes with strategies for structuring the remainder of the meeting to ensure progress in donor relationships.

#donormeetings #fundraising #majorgifts #fundraisingstrategies

🎓 The Professional Development Budget Kit. Free Download! Everything you need to get your organization to say "yes" to funding your growth: templates, talking points, and an ROI calculator.

💸 Major Gift Intensives. We're headed to 6 cities in 2027. Are we headed to yours? Join us for a 3 day deep dive into major gifts! Only 30 seats per city.

🌻 The 2027 Growth Pass. Only 5 seats available. The Growth Pass bundles Mary's three flagship live experiences into one powerful year of learning. One Major Gift Intensive. One Ask Workshop. One Small Table Intensive.

🪑 The Small Table Intensive. Half a day. Build or rebuild your major gift program around fewer donors and deeper relationships, using the methodology from my book Small Table Big Philanthropy.

🎯 The Ask Workshop. Half a day. The exact words to use when it's time to ask for 5 and 6-figure gifts. Walk in nervous about the ask. Walk out with the scripts.

💻 Connect with Mary Petersen

• Website: heyfundraiser.com
• YouTube: @...

In this Valentine's Day special episode, Mary Petersen discusses the challenges of fundraising burnout and offers practical advice for rekindling passion for the work. She emphasizes the importance of relationship-building over task-oriented approaches and provides actionable steps to reconnect with donors and protect one's energy while maintaining high goals. The episode serves as a reminder that fundraisers are not alone in their struggles and can find meaning in their work through intentional actions.

#fundraising, #relationshipbuilding, #donorengagement, #Valentine'sDay

🎓 The Professional Development Budget Kit. Free Download! Everything you need to get your organization to say "yes" to funding your growth: templates, talking points, and an ROI calculator.

💸 Major Gift Intensives. We're headed to 6 cities in 2027. Are we headed to yours? Join us for a 3 day deep dive into major gifts! Only 30 seats per city.

🌻 The 2027 Growth Pass. Only 5 seats available. The Growth Pass bundles Mary's three flagship live experiences into one powerful year of learning. One Major Gift Intensive. One Ask Workshop. One Small Table Intensive.

🪑 The Small Table Intensive. Half a day. Build or rebuild your major gift program around fewer donors and deeper relationships, using the methodology from my book Small Table Big Philanthropy.

🎯 The Ask Workshop. Half a day. The exact words to use when it's time to ask for 5 and 6-figure gifts. Walk in nervous about the ask. Walk out with the scripts.

💻 Connect with Mary Petersen

• Website: heyfundraiser.com
• YouTube: @...

In this episode of the Hey Fundraiser podcast, Mary Petersen discusses the critical importance of silence after making a major gift ask. She emphasizes that the moments following the ask are crucial for allowing donors to process their decision. Mary provides practical strategies for fundraisers to effectively use silence, avoid common pitfalls, and respond appropriately to donor reactions. The episode serves as a training session on how to enhance fundraising success through confident communication and understanding donor psychology.

#fundraising #majorgifts #silence #donorengagement #fundraisingstrategies

🎓 The Professional Development Budget Kit. Free Download! Everything you need to get your organization to say "yes" to funding your growth: templates, talking points, and an ROI calculator.

💸 Major Gift Intensives. We're headed to 6 cities in 2027. Are we headed to yours? Join us for a 3 day deep dive into major gifts! Only 30 seats per city.

🌻 The 2027 Growth Pass. Only 5 seats available. The Growth Pass bundles Mary's three flagship live experiences into one powerful year of learning. One Major Gift Intensive. One Ask Workshop. One Small Table Intensive.

🪑 The Small Table Intensive. Half a day. Build or rebuild your major gift program around fewer donors and deeper relationships, using the methodology from my book Small Table Big Philanthropy.

🎯 The Ask Workshop. Half a day. The exact words to use when it's time to ask for 5 and 6-figure gifts. Walk in nervous about the ask. Walk out with the scripts.

💻 Connect with Mary Petersen

• Website: heyfundraiser.com
• YouTube: @...

In this episode, Mary Petersen discusses the common experience of receiving 'no' from donors in fundraising. She emphasizes that a 'no' often signifies a need for more information or clarity rather than a definitive rejection. Petersen outlines five key reasons why donors say no, including lack of clarity, misalignment of values, timing issues, decision-making dynamics, and the nature of the ask itself. She provides actionable strategies for fundraisers to address these concerns and turn potential rejections into opportunities for engagement and understanding.

#fundraising #nonprofit #fundraising strategies #fundraising success

🎓 The Professional Development Budget Kit. Free Download! Everything you need to get your organization to say "yes" to funding your growth: templates, talking points, and an ROI calculator.

💸 Major Gift Intensives. We're headed to 6 cities in 2027. Are we headed to yours? Join us for a 3 day deep dive into major gifts! Only 30 seats per city.

🌻 The 2027 Growth Pass. Only 5 seats available. The Growth Pass bundles Mary's three flagship live experiences into one powerful year of learning. One Major Gift Intensive. One Ask Workshop. One Small Table Intensive.

🪑 The Small Table Intensive. Half a day. Build or rebuild your major gift program around fewer donors and deeper relationships, using the methodology from my book Small Table Big Philanthropy.

🎯 The Ask Workshop. Half a day. The exact words to use when it's time to ask for 5 and 6-figure gifts. Walk in nervous about the ask. Walk out with the scripts.

💻 Connect with Mary Petersen

• Website: heyfundraiser.com
• YouTube: @...

In this episode, Mary Petersen discusses the concept of permission-based fundraising, emphasizing the importance of clarity and collaboration in donor relationships. She outlines five key questions that fundraisers can use to create a natural transition to asking for donations, ensuring that donors feel respected and engaged throughout the process. The episode also addresses how to handle vague responses from donors and provides practical homework for fundraisers to practice their skills.

#fundraising #solicitation #nonprofit #majorgifts, #donorrelationships #fundraisingstrategy

🎓 The Professional Development Budget Kit. Free Download! Everything you need to get your organization to say "yes" to funding your growth: templates, talking points, and an ROI calculator.

💸 Major Gift Intensives. We're headed to 6 cities in 2027. Are we headed to yours? Join us for a 3 day deep dive into major gifts! Only 30 seats per city.

🌻 The 2027 Growth Pass. Only 5 seats available. The Growth Pass bundles Mary's three flagship live experiences into one powerful year of learning. One Major Gift Intensive. One Ask Workshop. One Small Table Intensive.

🪑 The Small Table Intensive. Half a day. Build or rebuild your major gift program around fewer donors and deeper relationships, using the methodology from my book Small Table Big Philanthropy.

🎯 The Ask Workshop. Half a day. The exact words to use when it's time to ask for 5 and 6-figure gifts. Walk in nervous about the ask. Walk out with the scripts.

💻 Connect with Mary Petersen

• Website: heyfundraiser.com
• YouTube: @...

In this podcast episode, Mary Petersen discusses the critical signals that indicate when a donor is ready to be asked for a major gift. She emphasizes the importance of understanding engagement, values alignment, capacity, timing, and ownership signals. By recognizing these signals, fundraisers can approach potential donors with confidence and integrity, ensuring that the ask feels natural and appropriate. Petersen also introduces the concept of permission-based fundraising, which helps build a relationship that leads to successful major gift solicitations. Finally, she provides a scoring system to assess donor readiness and encourages fundraisers to focus on the right prospects to achieve their goals.

#majorgifts #fundraising #permission-based fundraising #philanthropy #donorrelationships

🎓 The Professional Development Budget Kit. Free Download! Everything you need to get your organization to say "yes" to funding your growth: templates, talking points, and an ROI calculator.

💸 Major Gift Intensives. We're headed to 6 cities in 2027. Are we headed to yours? Join us for a 3 day deep dive into major gifts! Only 30 seats per city.

🌻 The 2027 Growth Pass. Only 5 seats available. The Growth Pass bundles Mary's three flagship live experiences into one powerful year of learning. One Major Gift Intensive. One Ask Workshop. One Small Table Intensive.

🪑 The Small Table Intensive. Half a day. Build or rebuild your major gift program around fewer donors and deeper relationships, using the methodology from my book Small Table Big Philanthropy.

🎯 The Ask Workshop. Half a day. The exact words to use when it's time to ask for 5 and 6-figure gifts. Walk in nervous about the ask. Walk out with the scripts.

💻 Connect with Mary Petersen

• Website: heyfundraiser.com
• YouTube: @...

In this episode of the Hey Fundraiser podcast, Mary Petersen discusses the importance of portfolio triage in fundraising. She emphasizes that the scarce resource in major gifts is the fundraiser's time and attention, not the donors themselves. By categorizing donors into three priorities, fundraisers can focus their efforts on those most likely to give, ensuring that their time is spent effectively. Mary provides practical strategies for engaging with priority donors and highlights common mistakes to avoid in donor management. The episode concludes with a structured weekly triage plan to help fundraisers maintain focus and momentum in their efforts.

Check out the Momentum Webinar here - it's pre-recorded so you can watch it immediately!

#fundraising #donor management #major gifts #nonprofit strategy #donor engagement #fundraising tips

🎓 The Professional Development Budget Kit. Free Download! Everything you need to get your organization to say "yes" to funding your growth: templates, talking points, and an ROI calculator.

💸 Major Gift Intensives. We're headed to 6 cities in 2027. Are we headed to yours? Join us for a 3 day deep dive into major gifts! Only 30 seats per city.

🌻 The 2027 Growth Pass. Only 5 seats available. The Growth Pass bundles Mary's three flagship live experiences into one powerful year of learning. One Major Gift Intensive. One Ask Workshop. One Small Table Intensive.

🪑 The Small Table Intensive. Half a day. Build or rebuild your major gift program around fewer donors and deeper relationships, using the methodology from my book Small Table Big Philanthropy.

🎯 The Ask Workshop. Half a day. The exact words to use when it's time to ask for 5 and 6-figure gifts. Walk in nervous about the ask. Walk out with the scripts.

💻 Connect with Mary Petersen

• Website: heyfundraiser.com
• YouTube: @...

If your major gifts work is running on vibes—if you only do outreach when you feel confident, or you avoid the ask until you feel “100% ready”—this episode is your intervention (said with love).

In this conversation, Mary breaks down the Momentum Method, a simple system that helps you build steady progress in major gifts without relying on motivation, a perfect week, or a magical burst of confidence. You’ll learn the 4 core elements that create momentum—and a weekly rhythm to keep them moving.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• What “mood-based major gifts” looks like (and why it’s so common)
• The 4 elements of the Momentum Method:
  • Portfolio
  • Major Gift Materials (Outcomes + Offers)
  • Cultivation
  • Solicitation
• A simple weekly operating rhythm to build real major gift momentum
• The biggest reasons you feel stuck—and how to fix them with structure, not willpower
• How to stop “prepping” forever and start moving donors forward with confidence

Your simple challenge for this week:

Pick 5 donors you’re moving this week.
Write one clear next step for each.
Schedule two outreach blocks on your calendar.
That’s it. That’s the system.

Want the full Momentum system?

If you liked this episode, you’ll love Mary’s Momentum webinar—a 60-minute training that walks you through the full 4-part system and shows you how to apply it to your real-life donor portfolio (even if you’re busy, overwhelmed, or new-ish to major gifts). This is an on-demand webinar so you can watch it anytime :)

Watch the Momentum webinar here

🎓 The Professional Development Budget Kit. Free Download! Everything you need to get your organization to say "yes" to funding your growth: templates, talking points, and an ROI calculator.

💸 Major Gift Intensives. We're headed to 6 cities in 2027. Are we headed to yours? Join us for a 3 day deep dive into major gifts! Only 30 seats per city.

🌻 The 2027 Growth Pass. Only 5 seats available. The Growth Pass bundles Mary's three flagship live experiences into one powerful year of learning. One Major Gift Intensive. One Ask Workshop. One Small Table Intensive.

🪑 The Small Table Intensive. Half a day. Build or rebuild your major gift program around fewer donors and deeper relationships, using the methodology from my book Small Table Big Philanthropy.

🎯 The Ask Workshop. Half a day. The exact words to use when it's time to ask for 5 and 6-figure gifts. Walk in nervous about the ask. Walk out with the scripts.

💻 Connect with Mary Petersen

• Website: heyfundraiser.com
• YouTube: @...