Nonprofit Lowdown

I got to chat with my friend and former student Amber Buck Hamilton, founder of Fig Leaf Development and a total rockstar in the fundraising world.

We talked about:

✅ Why she left her high-level nonprofit job to start her own consulting biz

✅ How burnout, family, and values drove her decision

✅ What it really feels like to take the leap (spoiler: terrifying AND amazing)

✅ That pesky imposter syndrome

✅ And why there’s more than enough work to go around

Amber is proof that you can build a career that aligns with your life and your purpose. If you’ve been toying with the idea of starting your own thing but feel overwhelmed by the “what ifs,” this episode is for you.

It’s honest, real, and packed with gems.

Important Links:

Fig Leaf Development: https://www.figleafdevelopment.com/ 

Amber’s LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amber-buck-hamilton-5a533287/ 

Upcoming Events: https://www.rheawong.com/events/ 

My Big Ask Gifts Program: https://go.rheawong.com/big-ask-gifts-program 

My Book, Get That Money Honey: https://go.rheawong.com/get-that-money-honey 

My Newsletter: https://www.rheawong.com/ 

I had the absolute pleasure of sitting down with my friend and fundraising rockstar Maria Griffin on the latest episode of Nonprofit Lowdown — and trust me, you need to hear this one.

Maria is the Chief Advancement Officer at DREAM (yes, the same DREAM from the episode with Rich Berlin!) and she's about to launch her own consultancy to help nonprofits raise big money with big strategy. 💸

In this convo, we got real about what it actually takes to raise $20M+ annually, build a high-functioning development team, and stop spinning our wheels with gala after gala.

Here’s what we cover:

✅ Why your gala might be a B2B event (and why that matters)

✅ The power of small, intimate gatherings for actual donor conversion

✅ How to build the right team based on strategy (not just more people)

✅ How Maria uses weekly pipeline meetings and KPIs to drive results

✅ Why comms and development need to be besties, not siloed

If you're a fundraiser, nonprofit leader, or just someone trying to make fundraising make sense — this is the episode you don’t want to miss.

Important Links:

Maria’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maria-griffin-32663823/ 

Griffin Associated: https://www.griffinassociated.com/ 

Upcoming Events: https://www.rheawong.com/events/ 

My Big Ask Gifts Program: https://go.rheawong.com/big-ask-gifts-program 

My Book, Get That Money Honey: https://go.rheawong.com/get-that-money-honey 

My Newsletter: https://www.rheawong.com/ 

Hey friends—I'm turning my recent Leadership Connect session into a podcast episode because the conversation was too real not to share with a wider audience.

If you’re a fundraiser, ED, or nonprofit leader navigating today’s uncertainty, this one’s for you. Yes, the economy is wobbly. Yes, federal and state dollars are shrinking. But no, that doesn't mean the money isn’t out there.

In this episode, I break down:

• The 5 hidden leaks in your fundraising pipeline
  

• 5 power moves you can implement today to keep money flowing
  

• Why people don’t stop giving during recessions—and the data to prove it
  

• The neuroscience behind why we sabotage our own fundraising (spoiler: survival brain)
  

• Why your email list is more valuable than your social media following
  

• And how to stop seeing yourself as a fundraiser and start showing up as a philanthropic advisor
  

This is the mindset and math that will keep you afloat—and thriving—even in turbulent times.

Important Links:

Nonprofit Connect: https://www.nonprofitconnectnj.org/ 

Upcoming Events: https://www.rheawong.com/events/ 

My Big Ask Gifts Program: https://go.rheawong.com/big-ask-gifts-program 

My Book, Get That Money Honey: https://go.rheawong.com/get-that-money-honey 

My Newsletter: https://www.rheawong.com/ 

I had the absolute pleasure of speaking with Karla Altmayer, co-founder of Healing to Action, on Nonprofit Lowdown this week — and wow, this conversation is a must-listen.

We talked about how her team is flipping the script on both gender-based violence and traditional fundraising. Instead of fancy decks or transactional asks, they’re hosting underground dinners that focus on authentic connection, shared values, and deep community building.

As Karla said, donors aren’t just checkbooks — they’re part of the movement. 🙌

If you’ve ever felt stuck in the grind of fundraising or disconnected from your mission, this episode will inspire you to rethink everything.

Important Links:

Karla’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karlaaltmayer/ 

Healing to Action: https://www.healingtoaction.org/  

Upcoming Events: https://www.rheawong.com/events/ 

My Big Ask Gifts Program: https://go.rheawong.com/big-ask-gifts-program 

My Book, Get That Money Honey: https://go.rheawong.com/get-that-money-honey 

My Newsletter: https://www.rheawong.com/ 

This week on Nonprofit Lowdown, I had the absolute pleasure of reconnecting with my friend Yully Cha, SVP of Research & Policy and Senior Advisor at Embrace Boston.

We dove into a deep and inspiring conversation about what it really means to lead equity work in today’s climate—and why joy and belonging are central to the fight for justice. 💥

We talked about:

✨ The story behind the Embrace MLK monument in Boston ✨ The power of public space in shaping belonging and democracy

✨ Fundraising as storytelling (and yes, I coached her through it back in the day!)

✨ Why we must be LOUD and unafraid in this political moment

✨ How we get young people engaged in democracy again

There’s so much heart in this one. Yully is brilliant, bold, and deeply committed—and I know you’ll walk away feeling fired up.

“You can always get another dollar—but never another moment of time.” That hit me hard.

🎧 Take a listen and let me know what you think!

Important Links:

Yully’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yullycha/  

Upcoming Events: https://www.rheawong.com/events/ 

My Big Ask Gifts Program: https://go.rheawong.com/big-ask-gifts-program 

My Book, Get That Money Honey: https://go.rheawong.com/get-that-money-honey 

My Newsletter: https://www.rheawong.com/ 

If you’re struggling with donor retention (let’s be real — who isn’t?), you need to hear this convo I had with my friend Sean Littman, founder of GiveSuite.com.

We got into the real talk about why retention in the nonprofit sector is so dismal (below 40% — yikes), and more importantly, what to actually do about it. 💡

Here’s a taste of what we covered: 

 -Why “continuing the conversation” works better than traditional follow-up

-How to build trust before you ask someone to coffee

-Why your quarterly impact report isn’t moving the needle

-How storytelling emails and small, creative offers can transform donor relationships

-The power of giving first to create real reciprocity

Sean dropped so many gems in this one — if you want to raise more money without burning out constantly chasing new donors, give it a listen. 🎧

Important Links:

Sean’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-littman-catch22nonprofit/ 

Upcoming Events: https://www.rheawong.com/events/ 

My Big Ask Gifts Program: https://go.rheawong.com/big-ask-gifts-program 

My Book, Get That Money Honey: https://go.rheawong.com/get-that-money-honey 

My Newsletter: https://www.rheawong.com/ 

Nonprofit fam, you do not want to miss this one.

On the latest episode of Nonprofit Lowdown, I sit down with the brilliant, bold, and beautifully authentic Jacob Adams — founder + CEO of Inner Spark — to talk about what it really means to lead and fundraise with authenticity. 🙌🏽🔥

We go deep on: 

• Being unapologetically real in funder relationships

• Why authenticity isn't just a buzzword — it's a strategy

•  Navigating political + environmental uncertainty while staying rooted in equity

• Fundraising as relationship-building, not performance

Jacob drops truth bombs about compliance culture in schools, the myth of professionalism, and why he refuses to "obey in advance." You’ll laugh, you’ll nod, you’ll probably rewind a few times.

Important Links:

Jacob’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobadams706/ 

Jacob’s Newsletter: https://www.innersparklab.org/ 

Upcoming Events: https://www.rheawong.com/events/ 

My Big Ask Gifts Program: https://go.rheawong.com/big-ask-gifts-program 

My Book, Get That Money Honey: https://go.rheawong.com/get-that-money-honey 

My Newsletter: https://www.rheawong.com/ 

Nonprofit Leaders, it's time to wake up and take action! 

In the latest episode of Nonprofit Lowdown, I sit down with two experts, Michelle Flores Vryn and Evan Wildstein, to dive deep into a critical issue facing our sector: nonprofit staffing struggles.

They discuss trends from their groundbreaking Social Impact Staff Retention Report, revealing that 7 out of 10 nonprofit staff are actively looking for new jobs in 2025 — a number that's still alarmingly high, and indicative of widespread burnout, insufficient support, and unrealistic workload expectations. 

In this eye-opening conversation, they explore:

• The true reasons behind nonprofit staff turnover (hint: it's not just about pay 💸)
  

• How to better support your team by letting go of outdated practices and fostering growth 🔄
  

• AI in the nonprofit sector: Can it help reduce burnout by taking over repetitive tasks? 🤖
  

One of the most important takeaways? Leaders need to model healthy work-life balance to retain staff and create sustainable success. 🌟

Important Links:

Evan’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/evan-a-wildstein/ 

Michelle’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mvryn/ 

The Nonprofiteers: https://www.thenonprofiteers.com/ 

SISR:

https://www.thenonprofiteers.com/sisr

Upcoming Events: https://www.rheawong.com/events/ 

My Big Ask Gifts Program: https://go.rheawong.com/big-ask-gifts-program 

My Book, Get That Money Honey: https://go.rheawong.com/get-that-money-honey 

In this episode of Nonprofit Lowdown, I’m joined by my friend and former student, Kriste Peoples, the Executive Director of Women's Wilderness in Colorado. We talk about the power of community, what it’s like being a BIPOC leader in the outdoor space, and how we’re challenging the idea that the outdoors is only for certain people. 🌿✨

Kriste shares the incredible work Women’s Wilderness is doing to create outdoor experiences for women and non-binary folks, especially those from underrepresented communities. From rock climbing to birdwatching, they're making nature more accessible for everyone.

We also dive into the impact of community dinners—simple gatherings where people come together, share stories, and advocate for the outdoors. It’s all about lowering barriers and making sure everyone knows that nature belongs to them, too. 🍽️💬

This conversation is full of insights on leadership, inclusivity, and how to find connection in times of uncertainty. It’s a reminder that the outdoors is for everyone, no matter your background or where you come from.

Important Links:

Kriste's LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristepeoples 
Upcoming Events: https://www.rheawong.com/events/ 

My Big Ask Gifts Program: https://go.rheawong.com/big-ask-gifts-program 

My Book, Get That Money Honey: https://go.rheawong.com/get-that-money-honey 

My Newsletter: https://www.rheawong.com/ 

I’m so excited to share the latest episode of Nonprofit Lowdown where I sit down with my good friend and former student, Faith Galati, Executive Director of Breakthrough Sacramento. She’s here to talk about her incredible journey of turning her nonprofit’s fundraising around, and how she more than doubled her budget!

💡 What we dive into:

• Shifting your mindset: Faith shares how she went from a place of fundraising fear to an abundance mindset, unlocking new opportunities.
  

• Building a high-performing board: She breaks down how to recruit, train, and hold your board members accountable (without doing everything yourself).
  

• The $50,000 rum cake 🥮: Trust me, it’s not what you think, but it helped Faith land some serious funds.
  

• The power of asking: Faith learned the importance of confidently making the ask and how it changed everything for her nonprofit.
  

Faith’s story is truly inspiring, and you’ll want to hear how she landed a $900,000 grant and turned a fear-based approach into a fundraising machine! 🌟

Important Links:

Free Training for Community Dinners: https://courses.rheawong.com/offers/4686d410-8de8-4605-8cb5-1cbf8bd39c24

Link to connect with Faith: https://www.linkedin.com/in/faith-galati-2400b3239/

Upcoming Events: https://www.rheawong.com/events/ 

My Big Ask Gifts Program: https://go.rheawong.com/big-ask-gifts-program 

My Book, Get That Money Honey: https://go.rheawong.com/get-that-money-honey 

My Newsletter: https://www.rheawong.com/