Huddle Up with Mark The Fund Coach

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 event costs, setting a clear net fundraising goal, and most importantly, building meaningful connections with attendees that lead to transformational follow-up conversations. If you want your next event to strengthen donor relationships and grow major gifts instead of just creating another transactional experience, this episode is for you. Let's Huddle Up!

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 burnout that comes from chasing every "restricted" dollar. We’re breaking down why Competition Fatigue is a choice and how you can reclaim your organization’s sovereignty. Learn how to shift from a scarcity mindset to a strategy of abundance, allowing you to stop twisting your mission to fit grant criteria and start building a sustainable, independent funding engine. It’s time to stop playing the game and start baking your own pie. Tune in and Huddle Up.

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 the real reasons donors stop giving—and it’s not always what you think. More often than not, it comes down to the relationship, not the dollars. I’ll walk you through the most common pitfalls that quietly erode donor trust and connection, and more importantly, how you can lead differently to keep your donors engaged, committed, and inspired to give. Register today for my LIVE free training: Big Mission Bigger Gifts scheduled for April 16th, 2026 at 12:00 pm ET

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 impactful work doesn’t automatically attract major gifts, the hidden assumptions that keep nonprofit leaders stuck, and why traditional fundraising approaches often feel uncomfortable or ineffective. More importantly, you’ll learn the mindset shift from transactional fundraising to relationship-based fundraising—and how building the right donor relationships can unlock the transformational support your mission truly needs. ***FREE TRAINING ALERT*** Register today for my LIVE free training: Big Mission Bigger Gifts  scheduled for April 16th, 2026 at 12:00 pm ET  

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 of Huddle Up with Mark The Fund Coach, Mark shares practical, natural language you can use in real donor conversations. You’ll learn how to open the discussion, transition toward an ask, respond to hesitation, and close with clarity—without sounding pushy or salesy. If you’ve ever walked into a donor meeting hoping you’d find the right words, this episode will help you show up calm, confident, and ready to lead the conversation.

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 fast. In this episode of Huddle Up with Mark The Fund Coach, we break down exactly where to begin. You’ll learn how to shrink the big number into practical next steps, identify the right donors to focus on, and start building meaningful major gift relationships—without panic, pressure, or pretending to be someone you’re not. Tune in, and let’s huddle up!

What would it take for your nonprofit to receive a six-figure gift—and are you truly ready to ask for one? In this week’s episode of Huddle Up with Mark The Fund Coach, we talk about the leap every nonprofit leader must make to move from smaller fundraising efforts into major, transformational giving. Securing six-figure gifts isn’t just about finding the right donor—it requires a shift in mindset, leadership, and clarity about the true scale of your mission. Join me as we explore the internal and practical changes necessary to confidently step into big-gift conversations and invite donors into deeper impact. Tune in, and let’s huddle up!

If your board feels hesitant—or invisible—when it comes to fundraising, the problem may not be motivation… it may be altitude. In this episode of Huddle Up with Mark The Fund Coach, I’m breaking down why boards stuck in the weeds of day-to-day operations are far less effective in fundraising—and how elevating them to 30,000 feet unlocks their most powerful role: opening doors to people with capacity. When board members focus on mission, vision, and strategy instead of operations, they gain the confidence to leverage their relationships—and that’s where major gifts begin. Tune in, and let’s huddle up!

In this episode of Huddle Up with Mark The Fund Coach, we explore what’s happening beneath the surface when nonprofit leaders freeze around major asks. Often, the fear isn’t about the donor or the size of the gift—it’s about our personal relationship with money, the memories we carry, and the beliefs we learned long before we ever became leaders. This conversation will help you understand where that fear comes from, how it shows up in your fundraising, and how to begin asking for big gifts with greater clarity, confidence, and purpose.

Have you ever wondered if that popular fundraising mantra—“Ask for advice and you’ll get money”—is actually helping you, or quietly holding you back? In this week’s episode of Huddle Up with Mark The Fund Coach, we dig into one of the most misunderstood lines in fundraising and unpack why it can mislead new nonprofit leaders, create false confidence, and derail authentic donor relationships. If you’ve ever questioned whether this advice is strategy or superstition, this episode is for you.

As we head into the final stretch of the year, every nonprofit leader feels that familiar mix of urgency and opportunity. Year-end giving is when nearly 40% of annual donations come in — but here’s the secret most leaders miss: this season isn’t just about finishing strong. It’s your best chance to plant the seeds for sustainable major gift growth. In this week’s Huddle Up with Mark The Fund Coach, I’ll unpack how to turn December generosity into year-round momentum — so you’re not just closing gifts, you’re opening lasting relationships. #majorgifts #relationshipfundraising #fundraising #nonprofitfunding #nonprofitleadership #nonprofit ***FREE RESOURCE ALERT!*** FREE GUIDE: 5 Habits of Executive Directors Who Land Big Gifts: bit.ly/4hFkOth Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mlduncan/ To get this video podcast in your inbox, visit and subscribe here: https://www.thefundcoach.com/opt-in Need 1:1 Coaching? Click here to schedule a strategy session to discuss your fundraising needs: https://www.thefundcoach.com/discovery-call-booking-page Windfall - Wealth Analytics Report: https://analytics.windfall.com/partner/the-fund-coach Subscribe to the podcast on Apple -https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/huddle-up-with-mark-the-fund-coach/id1799766114 or Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/03LPM7zjoDMLV0OGPJBxTO?si=c730fc5b97a04854 Bonus Resource: Windfall’s Kyle Curry discusses how to leverage segments in the Windfall application to enhance our Giving Tuesday and year-end fundraising efforts. He highlights the importance of reaching out to high net worth individuals who have previously donated on Giving Tuesday and in December, as they are likely to give again, especially for tax write-off purposes. He also emphasizes the value of re-engaging past donors, even those who contributed smaller amounts, to build relationships for larger gifts in the future. Additionally, He encourages you to utilize the matching gift information to maximize donations before the year ends. Please take action by prioritizing these segments and incorporating them into your outreach strategy. https://www.loom.com/share/6645d50c0c1248c6901f2ac4fdcbdb3c

This week on Huddle Up with Mark The Fund Coach, we’re tackling one of the biggest blind spots in fundraising: assuming a donor’s past gifts tell the whole story. Too often, nonprofit leaders read giving history like a price tag — when in reality, those gifts were made without the benefit of a personal relationship. In this episode, I’ll show you why those numbers only scratch the surface of a donor’s potential, how trust and vision transform transactional givers into true partners, and how to use donor data as a launchpad for deeper connection.