Hey friend! Today’s episode is a little different. I’m coming to you unfiltered, and honestly, I'm fed up. In my work with nonprofit leaders, fundraisers, and development directors across the country, I’m seeing some serious gaps that we need to address.

We’ve been talking a lot about mental health and wellness in the nonprofit sector, which is important—but what’s missing from the conversation is a real accountability check. We need to give ourselves grace, yes, but we also need discipline. Something has to change, and it starts with us getting real about what isn’t working.

In this episode, I dive deep into the challenges we’re all facing in the fundraising world. I see people in leadership roles with no real training or support, fundraising teams stretched too thin, and an overall lack of reflection on what’s actually working. The reality is, we’re repeating the same mistakes over and over again and expecting different results. That needs to stop.

I talk about:

- The alarming turnover in fundraising roles and why the average tenure is only 18 months.

- The rise of fractional fundraisers and why that’s a positive shift.

- Why so many people in leadership feel burnt out and stuck—and how to move past that.

- The importance of focusing on prospects who *actually* care, instead of wasting time chasing people who aren’t interested.

- The hard truth about accountability and why leaders need to step up and have direct, honest conversations.

This episode is all about getting real. It’s time to reflect, stop making excuses, and take control of what we can. If you're ready to be part of a revolution of courage and accountability in the nonprofit sector, this one’s for you.

Key Takeaways:

- Grace vs. Discipline: We need to balance grace with discipline. Sometimes, we’re too lenient with ourselves, and it’s holding us back from progress.

- Stop Chasing Dead Ends: If a prospect isn’t interested after 18 months, let them go. Focus your energy on those who are engaged and willing to give.

- Leadership Accountability: Leaders need to have the courage to address the elephant in the room and hold people accountable, whether it’s your CEO, board members, or yourself.

- Reflect and Adjust: Are you taking time to reflect on what’s working? If you’re stuck in “go-go-go” mode, it’s time to pause and reassess your strategies.

Want 15 leads in 5 minutes? DM me "Breakfast burrito" on LinkedIn and I'll send you a pdf and 6-minute training to help you generate 15 leads for your nonprofit in minutes. It's totally free. All you need is an email to sign up. DM me "Breakfast burrito" - I'm from Texas, what can I say? - to get your pdf and mini training. 

If you're an org with at least $800k annual budget and major gifts is your top priority, but you need a better strategy and approach, get on the waitlist for the next CourageLab cohort here: https://julieordonez.kit.com/couragelab2