Diana Frazier: 6 Things Every Fundraiser Should Focus On in 2026
About this episode
Diana Frazier discusses six key priorities for fundraisers to focus on in 2026 to enhance their effectiveness and build stronger donor relationships.
Start your year with clarity and direction. In this episode of Real Talk for Real Fundraisers , Jeff Schreifels is joined by Diana Frazier, Senior Client Experience Leader at Veritus Group, for a practical, no-fluff conversation about what actually matters for fundraisers heading into 2026. Whether you’re a frontline major gift officer managing a caseload, a development director overseeing a team, or an executive director trying to remove organizational roadblocks, this episode lays out six priorities that separate reactive fundraising from disciplined, relationship-based growth. Jeff and Diana dig into what they’re seeing every day in coaching conversations with fundraisers across the country. In an era of AI, automation, and constant distraction, the organizations winning in 2026 are the ones that stay relentlessly focused on planning, accountability, and donor relationships, while leaders do the hard work of fixing systems that quietly undermine success. This episode offers clear guidance on how to build donor plans without overwhelm, why mid-level programs are now non-negotiable, and how to leverage tools like AI and donor-advised funds without losing the human connection…
People in this episode
Host: Jeff Schreifels
Guest: Diana Frazier
Topics covered
- fundraising strategies
- donor relationships
- major gifts
- accountability
- planning
- mid-level programs
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Veritus Group
More episodes of Real Talk for Real Fundraisers
- Why Your Best Fundraisers Leave (and What Makes Them Stay)
- What Great Fundraisers Really Understand About Donors
- Diana Frazier: Is Your Donor Database Actually Working for You?
- Holly Rustick: Why Your Non-Profit Needs a Grant Strategist (Not Just a Grant Writer)
- Christopher Beck: Five Questions Every Non-Profit Leader Needs to Answer About Equity
- Diana Frazier: What Makes Great Fundraisers Great at Year-End
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