Hey Fundraiser!

How to Stop Wasting Time on the Wrong Major Gift Prospects


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Interested in Major Gift Momentum? Check it out here!

Are you stuck chasing donors who never call back? Wasting your precious time on high-capacity but low-interest "prospects"? This episode is your rescue mission.

Mary introduces the ABCDE Method—a powerhouse framework to help you quickly spot which donors deserve your energy (and which should be blessed and released). You'll learn how to focus on donors with true potential and stop burning out on low-likelihood long shots.

With witty wisdom and a dose of real talk, Mary breaks down:

  • Affinity + Action – Why caring alone isn't enough
  • Big Gifts Elsewhere – The receipts don't lie!
  • Connections Inside – One warm intro could be worth $100K
  • Donor Behavior Upgrades – Look for spontaneous signs of readiness
  • Engagement – Time and attention are donor love languages

You'll also get tips on how to filter your portfolio using this framework and how to bless and release like a boss.

🧠 What You’ll Learn:

  • Why high-capacity ≠ high-likelihood
  • How to qualify better and stress less
  • The 5 signs that a prospect is actually ready for a major gift convo
  • The art of saying “no” to the wrong people (without guilt)
  • How to turn signals into strategy

🎁 Free Resource:

Download the Prospect Spotting Checklist to make donor strategy meetings faster, smarter, and more effective.

Grab it here 

📣 Don’t forget:

  • Follow the show wherever you listen
  • Leave a review if this helped you
  • Share it with a teammate who's drowning in low-likelihood leads 🙃

Stop having “nice meetings” that go nowhere. If you want meetings that end with momentum (next step + timeline + clarity), start here:

🔥 Major Donor Meeting Mastery — my step-by-step system for better donor meetings.
📘 Mary's book — grab the framework and major gift ask scripts.
🎥 Momentum Webinar — learn the core strategy in one sitting.

💻 Connect with Mary Petersen

  • Website: www.heyfundraiser.com
  • YouTube: @heyfundraisers
  • Instagram: @heyfundraiser
  • LinkedIn: Mary Petersen
  • Email: [email protected]


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Hey Fundraiser!By Mary Petersen

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