Nonprofit Lowdown

I sat down with my friend Glennda Testone, CEO of the Nonprofit Leadership Lab, to talk about what we're both seeing across the sector right now: burnout, funding uncertainty, increasing demand for services, and nonprofit leaders trying to do more with less.It's easy to get caught up in the anxiety of the moment, but one thing became crystal clear in our conversation: the organizations that will weather this season best are the ones investing in relationships.We talked about why individual donors matter more than ever, the risks of relying too heavily on grants and government funding, and why fundraising is ultimately about human connection not transactions.We also got into some hot takes on galas, donor behavior, AI, and what nonprofit leaders should be focusing on when everything feels uncertain.If you've been wondering how to navigate the current fundraising landscape, I think you'll find this conversation both grounding and encouraging.Important Links:Nonprofit Leadership Lab: https://nonprofitleadershiplab.com/?wickedsource=google&wickedid=Cj0KCQjw0JnRBhDJARIsALobnXYMR6sg7UyNnriy98C0t1QkwFu8XqFOpgP5qXL4hJB-Ly5wREp22jYaAlXLEALw_wcB&w_adid=733701107251&w_campaignid=22263756844&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=22263756844&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22263756844&gclid=Cj0KCQjw0JnRBhDJARIsALobnXYMR6sg7UyNnriy98C0t1QkwFu8XqFOpgP5qXL4hJB-Ly5wREp22jYaAlXLEALw_wcB My Newsletter: ⁠https://www.rheawong.com/⁠My Quiz: https://bit.ly/4vDEBjl

Ever feel like your major gifts program is held together by spreadsheets, good intentions, and crossed fingers?This week, I'm joined by my client and friend Amy Lester, Major Gifts Officer at Polar Bears International, for a candid behind-the-scenes look at how she transformed her fundraising program in just over a year.When Amy started, she inherited a portfolio, a giant spreadsheet of prospects, and what she lovingly calls a "hope strategy." Fast forward 15 months, and she's exceeded her fundraising goal by more than $400,000, doubled major donor gifts, increased her conversion rate from 40% to 84%, and brought in 19 new major donors.My favorite takeaway? Amy's shift from feeling overwhelmed and reactive to confident and strategic. That's the magic of having a system.If you're sitting on a portfolio full of potential and wondering how to turn donor relationships into real revenue growth, this episode is packed with practical lessons you can apply immediately.Important Links:Connect with Amy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-lester-cfre-40166b49/ 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/⁠ My Quiz: https://bit.ly/4vDEBjl

In this episode of Nonprofit Lowdown, I sat down with Janine Quijije to talk about AI but probably not in the way you’re used to hearing about it.Instead of asking, “How can AI help us do more?” Janine asks a much more important question: How can AI help us preserve our energy and prevent burnout?We talk about the reality of being overextended in the nonprofit sector, the pressure to constantly produce, and how AI can actually help us create more sustainable ways of working. One of my favorite takeaways was Janine’s simple exercise of uploading your calendar into ChatGPT and asking it to audit how you’re spending your energy. The results? A little confronting… and incredibly helpful.This episode is really a reminder that your worth is not tied to how exhausted you are.My Ai Analysis Report: Your export contained 239 campaigns, but most showed 100% open rates against tiny sendcounts — those are automated/triggered sends (welcome flows, single-recipient sends), not listbroadcasts. I filtered to campaigns sent to at least 500 people, which isolated 43 realbroadcasts to your full list (median list size ~6,400).For each subject line, I tagged structural features (length, emoji, punctuation, opening word,presence of 'you/your', sender voice, editorial framing, etc.) and compared the top 11 andbottom 11 performers to identify what actually correlates with open rate on your list specificallyImportant Links:Connect with Janine: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janinequijije/ 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/⁠ My Quiz: https://bit.ly/4vDEBjl

This episode felt personal—because it is.In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, I sat down with Lauren Carson (Black Girls Smile) and April Walker (Philanthropy for the People), and we got real about what’s actually happening right now—in our work, in our communities, and in our bodies.If I’m honest, it feels like a lot. And I know I’m not the only one.We talked about how the pressure out in the world—politics, funding cuts, constant uncertainty—is showing up in our mental health. Especially for Black women and girls, who are so often expected to just… keep going.And then there’s the funding piece. The promises that didn’t last. The lack of transparency. The constant hustle. It’s exhausting—and it’s impacting how we show up as leaders, as teammates, as humans.One thing that really stuck with me:We talk a lot about resilience as “pushing through,” but not enough about healing. And without healing, what are we actually sustaining?So here’s what I’m taking with me this month:Rest isn’t a reward—it’s necessary (even in small moments between meetings)I don’t have to do everything—just focus on what actually mattersMy inner voice matters—if I’m resting but still beating myself up, that’s not restAnd honestly… sometimes the most powerful thing I can do is just breatheIf there’s one thing I’d invite you to do this month, it’s this:Tell yourself the truth about how you’re actually doing—and give yourself a little more space to be human.We’re all figuring this out. And you don’t have to do it alone.Important Links:Black Girl Smile: https://www.blackgirlssmile.org/Stop Flying Blind: Fix Your Leaky Fundraising System: ⁠https://go.rheawong.com/donorjourneyauditwebinar-2026⁠ 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/⁠⁠ My Quiz: ⁠https://bit.ly/4vDEBjl

I hear this all the time: “Why won’t my board fundraise?” And I get it—it’s frustrating. But here’s the truth I’ve learned: it’s usually not because they don’t care. It’s because no one ever showed them a version of fundraising that feels human.Most board members think fundraising means awkwardly asking friends for money. Of course they avoid it. When we shift the definition to something more relational—making introductions, building connections, saying “join me”—everything starts to soften.We also have to talk about the money stuff. The beliefs we all carry about money? They don’t magically disappear just because someone joined a board. Creating space to unpack that can be a game changer.A few things that really move the needle:Everyone gives something—it creates ownershipMake fundraising visible and celebrate the effortBe specific: don’t ask for “help,” ask for responsibilityCreate real connection between board membersAnd I’ll be honest—changing board culture takes time. Some people will lean in, some won’t. But when it clicks? When your board actually wants to bring people in? There’s nothing more powerful.If this is something you’re working through, you’re not alone—and there is a way forward.Important Links:Board Fundraising Training: https://go.rheawong.com/forboardmembers-929795 Webinar: https://bit.ly/4emZZCXStop Flying Blind: Fix Your Leaky Fundraising System: https://go.rheawong.com/donorjourneyauditwebinar-2026 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/⁠ My Quiz: https://bit.ly/4vDEBjl

I’ve been thinking a lot about this lately: before you even say a word, your donor can feel you. Your energy—your calm, your stress, your urgency—it all shows up in the conversation.In this episode, I’m making the case that equanimity isn’t just a nice-to-have… it’s a real fundraising strategy. Because when you’re anxious or rushing to “get it right,” donors feel that—and they pull back. But when you show up grounded and curious? Everything shifts.Especially right now, when the world feels loud and uncertain, your donors don’t need more urgency. They need someone steady. Someone who’s actually there to understand them—not just make an ask.A few things I’m practicing:Preparing to listen, not performTaking a quick pause to check my own state before callsTrusting my system so I’m not operating from panicIf there’s one thing I want you to take away, it’s this: your presence is your pitch.Show up calm. Stay curious. That’s the work.Important Links:Book a Call: https://connect.rheawong.com/ 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/⁠

What if your fundraising challenges aren’t really about strategy—but about culture?In this episode, I sit down with Marcia Beckner to unpack how trust, safety, and leadership shape everything—from team performance to donor relationships.We dig into why fear holds fundraisers back, how toxic team members quietly drain revenue, and what it actually takes to build a culture where people (and fundraising) thrive.Important Links:Connect with Marcia: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marciabeckner/ Culture CARES: https://culturecares.com/Book a Call: https://connect.rheawong.com/ 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/⁠

Capital campaigns sound exciting—big vision, big gifts, big impact. But they’re also one of the most misunderstood parts of fundraising.In this episode, I sat down with my friend Amy Eisenstein, CEO and co-founder of Capital Campaign Pro, to talk about what a capital campaign actually is, how to know if your organization is ready, and why planning matters far more than people realize.If you’ve ever wondered whether your nonprofit should launch a campaign—or worried it might cannibalize your annual fund—this conversation is for you.Important Links:Connect with Amy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amyeisensteinacfre/ Capital Campaign Pro: https://capitalcampaignpro.com/ Webinar: https://go.rheawong.com/donorjourneyauditwebinar-2026 Book a Call: https://connect.rheawong.com/ 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/⁠

Real talk: I tried very hard to avoid this episode. Because boards + fundraising can get… messy.But if we’re serious about major gifts, we can’t keep skipping this conversation.In this episode, I unpack why boards and executives keep blaming each other for fundraising results and why the real issue usually isn’t effort, motivation, or commitment.It’s the system.Most of us are driving a fundraising “car” that was built for a different era. When it breaks down, boards say, “You’re driving wrong,” and executives say, “You’re not giving me enough gas.” Meanwhile, everyone’s exhausted and nothing changes.If fundraising feels heavy, risky, or dependent on one or two people, this episode is for you.Bring a partner. Come ready to be honest.No replay because real change needs shared presence.Let’s stop blaming the driver, the gas, or each other and fix the dang car.Important Links:Register Here: https://go.rheawong.com/murkytomoneysignup 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 is not a normal episode of Nonprofit Lowdown.In this one, I’m sharing something deeply personal: my experience with ayahuasca and why it mattered so much to me as a nonprofit leader.From the outside, my life looked great. The business was working. The mission was working. I was working. But joy wasn’t part of the equation.I talk about burnout that doesn’t look like collapse—but like numbness. About over-functioning becoming a leadership identity. About how so many of us in the nonprofit sector are competent, ethical, respected… and quietly exhausted.I share why I chose a medically licensed ayahuasca retreat in Costa Rica, and how the experience helped me move from self-surveillance to self-trust.This episode isn’t about telling you to do ayahuasca. It’s about asking a bigger question:What happens when being “good” replaces being whole?If you’re a nonprofit leader who feels like the hallway monitor—holding it all together while losing touch with yourself—this one’s for you.Healing isn’t a detour from leadership. It’s part of it.Important LinksRetreat: https://www.rythmia.com/open/worldsfirst?utm_source=post_affiliate_pro&utm_pap_affiliate_id=68cc7cb81ebf5&a_aid=68cc7cb81ebf5 How to Train ChatGPT: ⁠https://go.rheawong.com/annual-fundraising-plan-tracker1-3127-4300⁠ 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 friends — I’ve been thinking a lot about why so many of us feel exhausted heading into 2026. And honestly? It’s not because we’re lazy or unmotivated. It’s because we’re trying to do everything.This week on Nonprofit Lowdown, I talk about focus — real focus. Not the kind that adds another priority to the list, but the kind that asks us to choose one thing and let the rest go. The kind that replaces fundraising chaos with clarity, and pressure with consent.So much of our burnout comes from fundraising theater — lots of motion, not enough impact. And leadership, real leadership, is about subtraction. Saying no. Protecting your energy. Deciding what actually moves the needle and having the courage to stop doing the rest.If you’re craving a calmer, more intentional way to lead fundraising this year — one that honors your time, your donors, and yourself — this episode is for you.And if you want to go deeper, I’m hosting a free training on January 21 at 12 PM ET on building a major gift system that feels aligned, focused, and human. No forcing. No chasing. Just clarity.Important Links:Free Webinar:⁠https://go.rheawong.com/MajorGiftSystem2026⁠ How to Train ChatGPT: ⁠https://go.rheawong.com/annual-fundraising-plan-tracker1-3127-4300⁠ 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 final episode for 2025 has no tips, no tactics, no strategies. Just a moment to acknowledge the grief, exhaustion, and weight so many of us—especially in the nonprofit sector—are carrying right now.If leadership feels heavier than usual…If fundraising feels harder…If you’re tired but still showing up anyway…This episode is for you.Nonprofits are the quiet machinery of hope. When the world burns, we’re the ones stitching it back together. That work isn’t glamorous, but it matters deeply.You don’t need to fix the whole world today.You just need to keep your corner lit.Give yourself permission to rest, to feel, and then—when you’re ready—to come back steady in 2026. Because hope isn’t passive. Hope is funded.Happy holidays, friends. Take care of yourselves.And as always—get that money, honey. 💛Important Links:How to Train ChatGPT: ⁠ ⁠https://go.rheawong.com/annual-fundraising-plan-tracker1-3127-4300⁠⁠ 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/⁠⁠