Mastering Fundraising with Dr. Cheryl A. Bourgeois

In this episode of Mastering Fundraising, Chris Looney welcomes Dr. Cheryl A. Bourgeois, President and CEO of the St. John’s Health Center Foundation in Santa Monica, California .

Since stepping into her role in 2023, Dr. Bourgeois has led the foundation through its 50th anniversary while surpassing ambitious fundraising goals, raising more than $41 million to advance medical care, research, and patient services. But this conversation goes far beyond revenue totals.

Dr. Bourgeois offers a candid look at what it takes to step into long established institutions and thoughtfully lead change without dishonoring legacy. She shares how listening tours, data analysis, and board engagement laid the groundwork for reinvention while preserving trust.

You will hear practical insights on:

Dr. Bourgeois also challenges leaders to reject complacency. Continuous improvement is not optional. It is essential for relevance, growth, and long term impact.

If you are a nonprofit executive, chief advancement officer, or board leader seeking clarity on strategic planning, culture building, and execution, this episode delivers both inspiration and a practical roadmap.

Listen now and consider: Is your organization evolving fast enough to remain essential?

Mastering Fundraising with Dyan Sublett

What would you tell your younger self at the start of a fundraising career?

In this powerful and deeply reflective episode of Mastering Fundraising, Chris Looney sits down with Dyan Sublett, President of the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Health Foundation, to explore the lessons she wishes she knew earlier and the principles that have shaped her extraordinary leadership journey .

Dyan’s path spans mission driven higher education, Sundance Institute, UCLA, the YMCA, and now a transformative health system in South Los Angeles. Along the way, she has built programs from the ground up, led through complexity, and helped reimagine what is possible in communities often overlooked.

This conversation is not about tactics alone. It is about character, courage, and clarity.

In this episode, Dyan shares:

Dyan also offers a deeply personal reflection on service as worship and how following your heart can lead to both professional success and personal fulfillment.

If you are a nonprofit leader who wants to grow not just revenue, but wisdom and impact, this episode will challenge and inspire you.

Listen now and consider: Are you playing the long game?

The Long Game: How Donor Engagement Compounds Over Time

What does it really take to grow a $50,000 gift into a seven figure investment?

In this episode of Mastering Fundraising, Chris Looney sits down with John O’Gorman, Senior Vice President of Development and Community Initiatives at Forest Park Forever, for a masterclass in long term donor engagement.

John shares the story of a family foundation relationship that began more than a decade ago with a modest project based gift. Through listening, thoughtful stewardship, transparency during setbacks, and consistent communication, that relationship deepened over time, ultimately leading to a $1 million commitment and now a proposal for a $5 million gift toward a $100 million vision.

This conversation is not about quick wins. It is about patience, trust, and disciplined relationship building.

You will hear practical insight on:

Why listening is the most underrated skill in fundraising

How to use personalized communication to build trust

The importance of tying major gifts to clear outcomes

What transparency during delays or challenges does for credibility

How stable leadership strengthens donor confidence

Why stewardship after the gift is just as important as the ask

John also reflects on his leadership journey from Jesuit Volunteer Corps to consulting to leading development at one of the nation’s great urban parks, offering insight into authenticity, passion for mission, and the value of longevity in nonprofit leadership.

If you are serious about major gifts and sustainable growth, this episode reinforces a powerful truth: meaningful philanthropy is built over years, not months.

Listen in and consider how your organization is cultivating donors not just for the next campaign, but for the next decade.

What if the future of your fundraising program does not hinge on one major gift, but on mastering three fundamentals?

In this episode of Mastering Fundraising, host Chris Looney sits down with one of the most respected leaders in healthcare philanthropy, Bill Littlejohn, to explore the essential building blocks that sustain organizations for decades: acquisition, retention, and growth of individual donors.

With more than 40 years of experience spanning the American Cancer Society, national consulting, and over two decades at Sharp HealthCare, Bill shares hard-earned insights on how strong philanthropic cultures are built. This conversation moves beyond theory and into practical strategy, metrics, leadership mindset, and institutional alignment.

Why fundraising is not complicated, but it is complex

The difference between philanthropy and fundraising and why that distinction matters

Why acquisition must be continuous to avoid long-term donor decline

Why the second gift is the most important gift

How retention fuels your future major gift pipeline

Why growth must include both moving donors up and deepening relationships

How to build dashboards and track meaningful metrics beyond dollars raised

Why activity metrics matter just as much as revenue totals

How institutional culture determines fundraising success

Bill also shares how Sharp HealthCare embraced philanthropy as an institutional value, not just a functional necessity, and how that cultural commitment shaped long-term growth and impact.

If you are concerned about donor attrition, the so-called donor crisis, or the increasing competition in a crowded nonprofit landscape, this episode offers clarity and direction.

Fundraising success is not about chasing quick fixes. It is about disciplined strategy, data-driven decisions, and a relentless focus on acquiring, retaining, and growing donor relationships.

If you want to earn your advanced degree in fundraising, this is the conversation for you.

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Mastering Fundraising is a show for nonprofit leaders of all titles and all experience levels. Mastering Fundraising endeavors to cover the most important fundraising topics with the goal of helping the audience reach their full potential as fundraisers. Episode 1 is a conversation with Claudia Looney, a truly extraordinary fundraiser and development professional, who shares tips and guidance on engaging board members successfully in the fundraising process. Mastering Fundraising is a collaboration between Fulcrum Nonprofit Leadership and The Five Tool Fundraiser. #fundraising #masteringfundraising #development @advancement #charity #nonprofit #nonprofitleader #nonprofitleadership #nonprofits @FulcrumNonprofitLeadership @The5ToolFundraiser