This first Field Note explores a question that comes up again and again when someone considers making a bold fundraising ask: Am I asking for too much?

Starting from the practical and moving deeper, Tzviki reflects on knowing your numbers, reframing the ask as an invitation rather than pressure, and reconnecting to the true value of the work we do.

A short reflection for shluchim navigating fundraising, leadership, and the inner world behind the work.

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To learn more about my work with shluchim, visit coachingbytzviki.com.

Baruch Hashem, Wisdom from the Field has been running for a number of months, and the feedback has been deeply encouraging — hearing how these conversations have been helpful, practical, and meaningful in real ways.

As the podcast has grown, and inspired by the Rebbe’s teaching of ילכו מחיל אל חיל and the Chanukah message of continually adding light, I felt there was an opportunity to add something new that could be especially helpful.

Across my coaching work with shluchim and the interviews on this podcast, the same themes, challenges, and insights come up again and again. And often, what’s most helpful isn’t a full, long-form conversation, but a short, clear insight you can sit with or apply right away.

That’s why I’m introducing a new segment called Field Notes.

Field Notes are short, practical reflections drawn from real conversations and work in the field — offering grounded insights around fundraising, leadership, and growth.

Bez”H, you’ll start seeing Field Notes appear regularly alongside the interviews. I hope you find them helpful, relevant, and insightful.

Stay tuned for the first Field Notes episode, coming soon.

This week on Wisdom from the Field, I sit with my uncle, Rabbi Moshe Krasnanski, whose life story is anything but typical.

As a young bochur, he helped pioneer Chabad activities across the country. Later, he entered the business world — intentionally — because he “never wanted to fundraise.” But in the middle of financial success, something shifted. The call to shlichus returned. And with a family of five children, he stepped away from business and began building Chabad of the Town, one person, one class, one relationship at a time.

We talk about the emotional and practical realities of that transition, how Torah learning became his most powerful tool for connection, why he embraces trying things even if they fail, and how he grew a team and a community that now includes over 1,100 grassroots supporters.

His message throughout: when you show up with humility, positivity, and a real belief in every Yid, the Rebbe sends the brachos.

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For more about the work I do with Shluchim, check out my website: www.coachingbytzviki.com

Subscribe to my email: https://mailchi.mp/c0f254880cc4/new-subscribers

In this farbrengen-style conversation, Shmuly Rothman returns to explore a healthier, happier, and far more effective approach to year-end fundraising.

We discuss how a shliach can show up b’simcha u’betuv leivav, drop the pressure of “I need this guy,” and enter each conversation with the intention of uftzuhoiben — uplifting the donor, regardless of the outcome.

Inside the episode:

Why simcha is a core fundraising tool

How to let go of anxiety and approach donors with clarity and respect

The mistake of “saying no for the donor”

Who to reach out to at year-end and how to think about matchers, anchors, and amcha

How to set smart but ambitious campaign goals

Year-end as part of a 12-month fundraising strategy

If you’re stepping into a year-end campaign — or want fundraising to feel calmer, clearer, and more aligned — this conversation will lift you up.

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Anchor doc: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1P1kMgKedIDTgebQEfnX3IP7JiZVaS_Pm/view?usp=drivesdk

If you would like to customize this for your moised, email Shmuly - with your logo, the goal of your campain, and the matching and anchor levels you would like displayed on your document- at: [email protected]

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For more about the work I do with Shluchim, check out my website: www.coachingbytzviki.com

Subscribe to my email: https://mailchi.mp/c0f254880cc4/new-subscribers

In this candid and insightful episode, Rabbi Avi Rabin, Shliach to West Hills, CA, reflects on twenty years of fundraising, community-building, and inner growth. What begins as a discussion about end-of-year campaigns evolves into a masterclass in fundraising mindset—how a shliach’s inner clarity, self-worth, and relationship to money determine everything.

Rabbi Rabin describes how he shifted from running small one-day matching campaigns to building a strategic annual campaign—a transparent, honest system that gives donors a sense of partnership and gives the shliach stability and confidence. He explains how he learned to structure commitments, track annual budgets, and avoid the illusion of “big campaign success” that hides financial stress underneath.

But the heart of the conversation lies in the internal transformations behind those systems:

Throughout the episode, Rabbi Rabin’s mix of humor, candor, and deep emunah offers a grounded reminder that clarity is power: when a shliach knows what he needs, believes in the value of his work, and asks from a place of partnership, abundance follows naturally.

For more about the work that I do with Shluchim, check out my website: coachingbytzviki.com 

When Rabbi Chaim Hanoka looks back on three decades of building Chabad of Pasadena, one phrase sums up his approach: “No guts, no glory.” From renting a storefront with no idea how he’d pay for it, to announcing a building campaign on Simchas Torah and making it happen, Rabbi Hanoka shares the grit and faith it takes to build something from nothing.

But the real heart of this conversation lies beyond bold moves and big campaigns. Rabbi Hanoka opens up about the sting of rejection, the resilience required to keep going, and the importance of showing up for fellow shluchim who may be struggling. He speaks candidly about balancing family with shlichus, and why true success is measured not only in buildings and budgets, but in the strength we give each other along the way.

This episode is both raw and uplifting — a window into the courage, compassion, and commitment that define the shlichus journey.

For more about the work I do with shluchim check out my website: coachingbytzviki.com

In this brilliant episode of Wisdom from the Field, Rabbi Yosef Plotkin of Greensboro, NC shares how friendship became the foundation of his fundraising success.

Seventeen years ago, he arrived in a small community full of established institutions and plenty of skepticism about Chabad. What could have been an uphill battle turned into a thriving center — powered by relationships, transparency, and courage to ask.

Rabbi Plotkin takes us inside the milestones that shaped his journey:

Why friendship first means you almost never get a no.

How publishing donor names and amounts created peer momentum.

The $1,800 ask that turned into $18,000 — and the lesson behind it.

Building a system that keeps hundreds of donors engaged year after year.

How personal tragedy deepened his understanding of community support.

This is a masterclass in friend-raising — showing that when you lead with genuine care, fundraising follows naturally.

For more about the work that I do with Shluchim, check out my website: coachingbytzviki.com

To receive my emails for shluchim subscribe here: https://mailchi.mp/c0f254880cc4/new-subscribers

In this episode of Wisdom from the Field, I sit down with Rabbi Shmuly Novak, shliach to the University of North Florida, the Town Center community, and Ganenu Preschool in Jacksonville, FL.

Rabbi Novak shares his candid journey of learning that fundraising isn’t a side job — it’s part of your shlichus. We discuss how to balance multiple communities, why clarity of audience is crucial, and what it takes to ask with confidence instead of hesitation.

Key themes include:

How to move from apologetic asking to confident, authentic asking.

The role of a coach or colleague — and accountability — in keeping fundraising alive.

Why celebrating your accomplishments gives you the strength to fundraise.

Real stories—from tough challenges to unexpected donor breakthroughs—that remind us Hashem sends support when we step up with courage.

If you’ve ever struggled with making the ask, this episode will give you a refreshing and empowering perspective.

For more about the work that I do with shluchim check out my website: coachingbytzviki.com

In this powerful episode of Wisdom from the Field, I sit down with Rabbi Sholom Duchman, director of Colel Chabad — the oldest continuously operating charity in Israel, founded by the Alter Rebbe in 1788.

Rabbi Duchman shares over four decades of fundraising experience, from starting with no donor base to building a global network of supporters — all while staying deeply connected to the Rebbe’s guidance. You’ll hear how the Rebbe shaped Colel Chabad’s approach, including:

Reversing the usual fundraising mindset — seeing donor engagement as part of the mission, not just a means to fund it

The power of continuous giving — why the pushka model still works in the digital age

Engaging donors with Torah — turning every meeting into a chance to share inspiration

Thinking out of the box — never settling for “what worked last year”

Extreme care with donor funds — treating every dollar as sacred

We also dive into the power of asking — why a bad ask is better than no ask — and the importance of being unafraid to hear “no.”

Finally Rabbi Duchman shares his feeling that people don’t connect with us because of how impressive we are, but because we bring them something authentic, something real — the Rebbe’s vision and a mission worth partnering with.

If you’ve ever hesitated to make the ask, feared rejection, or wanted to infuse your fundraising with more authenticity and spiritual connection, this conversation will give you clarity, courage, and real-world tools.

🎧 Listen in and be inspired to “take the bull by the horns” in your own fundraising journey.

For more on the work that I do with Shluchim check out my website: coachingbytzviki.com

This isn’t a regular episode—just a quick and important announcement  from your host, Tzviki Krasniansky.

If you’re a shliach who’s been feeling stuck, plateaued, or just ready to grow—in your fundraising, shlichus, and your personal life—this may be exactly what you’ve been looking for.

The next round of my group coaching program is starting soon, and there only a few sots left. 

It's a small, intimate, and powerful program - Real growth. Real breakthroughs. Real support.

👉 To learn more or grab one of the last spots, reach out: