Huddle Up with Mark The Fund Coach

Major Gift Leadership Starts with Your Board: How Great Executive Directors Build Boards That Inspire Generosity

Welcome to the Season 2 finale of Huddle Up with Mark The Fund Coach! Over the past season, we've talked about relationship fundraising, transformational generosity, and what it means to become the kind of leader major d

You're More Than An Executive Director - Become the Major Gift Leader Your Mission Needs

Most Executive Directors didn't choose their role because they wanted to become fundraisers. They accepted the responsibility because they believed in a mission worth fighting for. But at some point, every nonprofit lead

The Major Gift Trajectory : The Journey from Transactional Giving to Transformational Gifts

What if I told you that your next major donor may already be supporting your organization? Too many nonprofit leaders think major gifts begin with wealthy prospects they've never met. In reality, transformational gifts o

Why Your Major Donors Have Gone Quiet (And What to Do About It)

Have you ever looked through your donor database and wondered what happened to some of your best supporters? They gave generously, attended your events, and seemed deeply connected to your mission. Then...they went quiet

Why Leaders Minimize Their Mission and the Impact on Major Gifts

Are you unintentionally making your mission sound smaller than it really is? Many nonprofit leaders are passionate about their work, but when it comes to talking about their organization, they often focus on limitations

Starting a Nonprofit? Avoid These Common Fundraising Mistakes

Starting a nonprofit is an exciting journey, but many founders quickly discover that passion alone isn't enough to sustain an organization. In this episode of Huddle Up with Mark The Fund Coach, Mark shares some of the m

The Costly Major Gifts Mistake: Why Major Gifts Aren't Just for Capital Campaigns

What if one of the biggest limitations on your organization's fundraising success is the belief that major gifts are only for campaigns? Too many nonprofits wait until they're launching a capital campaign or special init

The Board + Executive Director: A Power Partnership That Transforms Fundraising

What happens when the executive director and the board stop operating separately—and start partnering together around fundraising? In this episode of Huddle Up with Mark The Fund Coach , we explore how healthy fundraisin

Small Asks Kill Big Gifts: Why Fear is Costing Your Mission Millions

One of the biggest reasons nonprofit leaders struggle to secure transformational gifts has nothing to do with donor wealth — it has everything to do with the confidence behind the ask. In this episode of Huddle Up with M

Your Fundraising Event Can Level Up Your Major Gifts

In this episode of Huddle Up with Mark The Fund Coach, I break down how to run a fundraising event that does more than sell tickets—it creates real major gift opportunities. We talk about securing sponsorships to cover e

Stop Acting Poor: How to Break the Nonprofit Scarcity Trap

Grants Are Killing Your Mission: Why Winning is Actually Losing

Are you tired of feeling like your nonprofit’s survival is tied to a "Hunger Games" style lottery? In this episode of Huddle Up with Mark The Fund Coach, I dive deep into the hidden dangers of grant dependency and the bu

Stop Hiding Behind Email - Call Them Instead!

Are you communicating with your donors—or actually connecting with them? In a world where email, text, and social media make it easier than ever to reach people, many nonprofit leaders are unintentionally substituting me

Why Donors Leave (It's Not What You Think)

Have you ever wondered why a donor who once gave consistently suddenly disappears? It’s a frustrating and often confusing experience for nonprofit leaders. In this episode of Huddle Up with Mark The Fund Coach, we unpack

Your Money Mindset is Sabotaging Your Fundraising

Why do so many nonprofit leaders hesitate when it’s time to ask for a meaningful gift—even when they believe deeply in their mission? In this episode of Huddle Up with Mark The Fund Coach, we explore something most fundr

Why Your Big Mission Still Isn't Attracting Big Gifts

If you’re leading a nonprofit, you likely feel the tension between a big, meaningful mission and the reality of inconsistent or limited funding. In this episode of Huddle Up with Mark The Fund Coach, we explore why impac

"I'm Not a Fundraiser": The Identity Belief Holding You Back

Many nonprofit leaders say the same thing when fundraising comes up: “I’m not a fundraiser.” And honestly, it makes sense. Most executive directors were hired because they believe deeply in the mission—not because they w

What Do I Say In a Major Donor Meeting?

What do you say when the conversation with a major donor turns toward a gift? For many nonprofit leaders—especially those without formal fundraising training—that moment can feel intimidating and awkward. In this episode

Why You're Avoiding Wealthy Donors

Is there a wealthy donor you’ve been meaning to reach out to… but haven’t? If so, you’re not alone — and you’re not lazy. In this episode of Huddle Up with Mark The Fund Coach, we unpack the real reason so many nonprofit

Major Gifts - Where Do I Even Start?

Your board says, “We need you to raise $1 million in major gifts.” Now what? If you’re an executive director of a small to midsized nonprofit with no in-house fundraising support, that kind of goal can feel overwhelming