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Nonprofit CourageLab: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Julie Ordoñez
Julie Ordoñez is a major gifts coach, fundraiser, and founder of CourageLab, a 6-month major gifts training program for nonprofit founders, EDs, and fundraisers to raise 6-figures in 6 months in just 1-2 hours a week without grants or a gala. Nonprofit CourageLab shares soul-shaking insights on how to become a more courageous leader and raise more money for your nonprofit. No one changed the world without first changing themselves. If you want to raise more money to change the world, you are in the right place.
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- 2 days ago32 min
These EDs Raise $100K a Month in Major Gifts Without a Gala (Even in Summer)
Four of my CourageLab clients told me THIS WEEK they’re now averaging an extra $100k in major gifts per month. Here’s what they do on Monday that changes everything.They know who is on their list.They have their prospect list locked in.They know whom to call and say thank you to.No, fundraising doesn’t take up their entire day.They only spend 40 minutes to an hour on this, and it moves the needle because they have a clear roadmap.They have the courage to ask for big gifts.Like $120k on a Tuesday lunch. That’s just normal for them.They have a dialed-in pitch that doesn’t take 20 minutes to explain and leaves the donor cross-eyed.In this episode of Nonprofit CourageLab podcast, we cover:What solo EDs do and STOP doing to raise an extra $100K a month on averageHow they see their job as EDWhat they focus on so they win at major gifts and it doesn’t take up their entire dayWhat they do to inspire donors in 90 secondsHow they lead donors to their best gifts without talking for 20 minutes leaving them cross-eyedWhat they do first thing Monday morning that changes everythingWhy more experience doesn’t mean more successWhy making it up as you go is costing you 6-figures a monthWhat changed in their strategy that made the biggest difference in their resultsHow to handle when you struggle to say No for peopleIf you’re sick of chasing grants, hate galas, and you’re great at relationships, but need to crack the major gifts nut, DM me “CL” on LinkedIn and let’s talk about your fundraising goals.There are 90 days left in the year. We are headed into the biggest opportunity of the year. Your donors will give again. Will you be ready?Want 15 leads in 5 minutes? DM me "Breakfast burrito" on LinkedIn and I'll send you a pdf and 6-minute training to help you generate 15 leads for your nonprofit in minutes. It's totally free. All you need is an email to sign up. DM me "Breakfast burrito" - I'm from Texas, what can I say? - to get your pdf and mini training.If you’re an ED or DD of a $1M+ making a difference in your community and you’re ready to make bigger, bolder asks, then DM me “CL” on LinkedIn and I’ll share details.
- 1 weeks ago29 min
Why Raising An Extra $300K Is So Hard
Most nonprofits think to raise more you have to do more. “We need to raise 25% next year so we need to do another fundraiser.” Except that has a quick ceiling AKA an exhaustion ceiling, and you’re limited by how many events you can do, how many people you can get there, and it only scales by adding hours into your work day. How do you raise more money without adding hours into your work week? What if your workweek is maxed out?I’ve helped 652 nonprofits raise $101M - teams of 1 or 2 - and I use a simple strategy that raises $300K more without adding more hours of work every week.Here’s what I cover in this episode:What obstacles are in the way of our warmest, biggest opportunitiesHow my client raised a $10k gift from a donor who had only ever given $100 in one conversationHow my director development client got 70 new donors in 7 months from board intros (the same board made only 5 intros the year before)What I did to help my board chair raise $225,000 from their network in 12 monthsWhy you can’t see the six-figures uncaptured in your current community of supportersWhy the way you’re doing events isn’t raising more moneyThe one thing you can change to raise more from the same donorsThe strategy that raises bigger gifts in 40 minutes without more time-consuming, heavy special eventsWhat opportunities might you be overlooking because you’re just too close to it?It’s not that you’re bad at this, or that you aren’t working hard enough. Good grief, you’re THE HARDEST WORKING PERSON. It’s a different roadmap entirely.The roadmap you’ve been using is taking you where you’ve already been. If you want to get somewhere new, you need a new route. And you need a guide who’s been there before. Stop trying to go it alone. We all have blind spots. The biggest difference between nonprofits that stay flat and the ones that grow a new roadmap, the skills to walk the path and a guide who can show you the way.Want 15 leads in 5 minutes? DM me "Breakfast burrito" on LinkedIn and I'll send you a pdf and 6-minute training to help you generate 15 leads for your nonprofit in minutes. It's totally free. All you need is an email to sign up. DM me "Breakfast burrito" - I'm from Texas, what can I say? - to get your pdf and mini training.If you’re an ED or DD of a $1M+ making a difference in your community and you’re ready to make bigger, bolder asks, then DM me “CL” on LinkedIn and I’ll share details.
- 2 weeks ago43 min
Ask Julie: How to Ask for a Major Gift Without Damaging Donor Relationships
You value relationships. You genuinely care about your donors.And then it’s time to ask for $100,000 and suddenly you’re saying:“Whatever you can give would be great!”Would it, though?Your mission requires serious money.In this episode of the Nonprofit CourageLab podcast, we’re talking about the fear that making a big ask will damage the donor relationship—and what might actually be hiding underneath it.We’re getting into:What your real fear is and it’s likely not talking about moneyThe difference between relationship building and people pleasing and how to know which one you’re doingWhy clear is not the same as coerciveHow to stop budgeting donor’s philanthropy for themWhy your relationship with “No” matters more than you thinkHow to handle when things go sidewaysWhy avoiding discomfort is costing you big giftsYour job is to tell the truth about what your organization needs, make the ask, and let another grown adult decide what they want to do. That’s it.If you’ve been needing some mindset coaching around major gifts and support to stop backing down at the most important moment - when it’s time to ask - then this episode is for you.Want 15 leads in 5 minutes? DM me "Breakfast burrito" on LinkedIn and I'll send you a pdf and 6-minute training to help you generate 15 leads for your nonprofit in minutes. It's totally free. All you need is an email to sign up. DM me "Breakfast burrito" - I'm from Texas, what can I say? - to get your pdf and mini training.If you’re an ED or DD of a $1M+ making a difference in your community and you’re ready to make bigger, bolder asks, then DM me “CL” on LinkedIn and I’ll share details.
- 3 weeks ago35 min
Your Strategy Is Keeping Your Revenue Too Small
You’re told to raise more you need to do more. I “did more”, raised $1.1M, and I lost sleep, and my hair fell out. I met the goal, but it cost me my health. 8 years later, I raised $2,500,000 and was vibrant and healthy. The difference was a different strategy and skill set.Of course, there was still stress. But there’s a difference between stressed and burnt out.In this episode of the @Nonprofit CourageLab podcast, I share a glimpse into the typical nonprofit revenue model and the real cost vs. raising 2x more with a simplified model.I’m tired of hearing:“The gala nearly killed me” or“We’re doing too much, and it’s not sustainable”Here’s what I cover:Why doing more keeps revenue flat and what to do insteadHow people-pleasing is killing revenue growthYour authentic role as a fundraiser and how to reclaim itRevenue growth models that lead to burnout and complexityHow complexity is the ultimate growth killerMy own story of raising bigger gifts from fewer people without a galaHow selling more stuff, bells and whistles actually repels your best donorsHow your view of yourself impacts your fundraising resultsWhy the most sustainable strategy is offensively simpleWhat to do when your strategy is designed for burnoutIf you feel pressure to do more and execute on every idea that comes across your desk to raise 12% more than last year, this episode is for you.Share it with a friend, colleague, and your team.Fair warning: I get real fired up in this, so if you are a sensitive flower, it may be too much for ya.I’m mad. And when I’m mad, I fight. The fight in me is for you. For your health. For your impact. For your legacy. For your time with loved ones. For the vacation you deserve. For the results.Slide Deck From This Episode: Big Gifts for Operations Workshop Slide DeckWant 15 leads in 5 minutes? DM me "Breakfast burrito" on LinkedIn and I'll send you a pdf and 6-minute training to help you generate 15 leads for your nonprofit in minutes. It's totally free. All you need is an email to sign up. DM me "Breakfast burrito" - I'm from Texas, what can I say? - to get your pdf and mini training.If you’re an ED or DD of a $1M+ making a difference in your community and you’re ready to make bigger, bolder asks, then DM me “CL” on LinkedIn and I’ll share details.
- Aug 11, 202643 min
Unshakeable Fundraiser Energy: Stop Backing Down in Major Donor Meetings
Ever go into a meeting with a major donor with a plan to ask for a gift, and something throws you off?You leave the meeting kicking yourself because you didn’t make the ask. You had a purpose for the meeting, but somehow you got off track, and now you feel like you wasted your time with this major donor.This has happened to me what feels like 10,000 times in my career. And after coaching 651 nonprofit CEOs, development directors, and major gifts fundraisers over the last eight years, I’ve seen the same thing happen again and again.In this episode, I’m sharing a behind-the-scenes clip from one of my weekly CourageLab coaching calls. We get into the hidden dynamics behind why we back down in major donor meetings, especially with rich, powerful, assertive donors, and what you can actually do about it.What you'll learn in this episodeHow difference and power dynamics can take you off track in a donor meetingHow to relate to rich, powerful people without giving away your own powerWhy you must reclaim your power when a conversation gets uncomfortableThe dynamics you need to understand when it feels hardest to hold your groundWhat really stops you from making the askWhy asking donors for advice can be a dumb ideaWhere confidence actually comes from, and how to strengthen it in tough circumstancesHow to develop a no-pressure fundraising cultureWhy great partnerships are built on honesty, not just transparencyWhy giving donors more information can actually create more confusionIf you’ve ever felt like your best-laid plans are hard to stick to when you’re sitting across from a powerful, rich, assertive donor, this episode is for you. If I were sitting down with you over coffee and sharing the truths I hope would get into your bones, this is that conversation.Every nonprofit founder, CEO and fundraiser needs this conversation. share this with a colleague or friend. DM me the letters CL on LinkedIn if you’d like to learn more about CourageLab and raise more unrestricted major gifts.Want 15 leads in 5 minutes? DM me "Breakfast burrito" on LinkedIn and I'll send you a pdf and 6-minute training to help you generate 15 leads for your nonprofit in minutes. It's totally free. All you need is an email to sign up. DM me "Breakfast burrito" - I'm from Texas, what can I say? - to get your pdf and mini training.If you’re an ED or DD of a $1M+ making a difference in your community and you’re ready to make bigger, bolder asks, then DM me “CL” on LinkedIn and I’ll share details.
- Aug 4, 202630 min
Bold Fundraising: The Method That Raised $91M in Unrestricted Major Gifts
If you're constantly bending over backwards for difficult donors, accepting restricted gifts that create more work than they're worth, or letting wealthy people dictate your strategy, this episode is going to challenge you.This episode breaks down the philosophy behind Bold Fundraising. It isn't about being louder or more aggressive. It's about having the courage to lead your nonprofit with clear standards, clear values, and the confidence to stop chasing money that pulls you away from your mission.Sharing the mindset shifts that have helped organizations raise millions in unrestricted revenue, scale without burnout, and build donor communities based in trust instead of transactions. If you've ever felt like your fundraising strategy depends on keeping everyone happy, this episode offers a completely different way forward.What you'll learn in this episodeWhy self-respect is one of the biggest competitive advantages in fundraisingHow to define the kind of donor community you actually want to buildWhy unrestricted revenue should become your fundraising standardThe difference between trust-based donors and high-maintenance donorsWhy you should stop asking your board, "Who do you know that's rich?"The three relationship shifts every fundraiser needs to make before walking into a major donor meetingHow to stay in the driver's seat when meeting with confident, successful donorsWhy saying "we don't accept restricted gifts" often leads to better conversations, not fewer giftsHow your calendar and budget should reflect the leader you're becoming, not the nonprofit you've outgrownWhy scaling your organization starts with saying no to work that no longer serves your missionThe organizations that grow the fastest aren't saying yes to every opportunity. They're crystal clear about where they're going, who belongs on the journey, and what they're no longer willing to tolerate. That's what Bold Fundraising looks like.Want 15 leads in 5 minutes? DM me "Breakfast burrito" on LinkedIn and I'll send you a pdf and 6-minute training to help you generate 15 leads for your nonprofit in minutes. It's totally free. All you need is an email to sign up. DM me "Breakfast burrito" - I'm from Texas, what can I say? - to get your pdf and mini training.If you’re an ED or DD of a $1M+ making a difference in your community and you’re ready to make bigger, bolder asks, then DM me “CL” on LinkedIn and I’ll share details.
- Jun 16, 20268 min
Major Gifts Are Won (Or Lost) in the Summer
Have a big 6 or 7-figure ask coming up? Book a Big Gift 1:1 Strategy Session today. Let's plan your approach before the meeting, the ask, any written proposal, and the follow-up. I've helped nonprofit CEOs raise $95 million in major gifts in the last 7 years. Click here to book your 1-hour private call now. Stop treating summer like a fundraising break.The nonprofits that have a calm, confident September are not scrambling to reconnect with donors. They spent June, July, and August building relationships.In this final episode of Season 8, I explain why summer stewardship is one of the most overlooked opportunities in major gifts fundraising. While many organizations focus on events, planning, or internal projects, the strongest fundraisers are staying close to their top donors.The truth is simple: the work you do this summer determines how your year ends. If you want bigger gifts, more unrestricted revenue, and stronger donor partnerships, now is the time to invest in relationships.What you'll learn in this episodeWhy summer is one of the most important seasons for major gifts fundraisingHow donor relationships built in June, July, and August impact year-end resultsThe mistake many nonprofits make after a busy spring fundraising seasonWhy consistent communication creates trust and leads to larger giftsHow to stay connected with donors without feeling transactionalWhat true donor partnerships look like beyond writing a checkWhy unrestricted revenue grows when trust growsHow strong stewardship helps donors feel connected to your missionThe difference between taking donors for granted and intentionally investing in relationshipsHow to create a more peaceful, successful end-of-year fundraising seasonAt the end of the day, major gifts are not built in November and December. They're built months earlier through trust, communication, and consistent relationship-building. Summer stewardship isn't extra work. It's the work.Want 15 leads in 5 minutes? DM me "Breakfast burrito" on LinkedIn and I'll send you a pdf and 6-minute training to help you generate 15 leads for your nonprofit in minutes. It's totally free. All you need is an email to sign up. DM me "Breakfast burrito" - I'm from Texas, what can I say? - to get your pdf and mini training.If you’re an ED or DD of a $1M+ making a difference in your community and you’re ready to make bigger, bolder asks, then DM me “CL” on LinkedIn and I’ll share details.
- Jun 9, 202613 min
Million Dollar Success Principles Part 2
Most nonprofits are sitting on more donor potential than they realize.In this second part of my live CourageLab coaching session, I walk through some of the fundraising principles that separate organizations stuck at one level from those that break through to the next. If you're raising $1 million and trying to get to $3 million, these are the kinds of mindset shifts and fundraising behaviors that matter.We talk about donor communication, confidence, wealth conversations, and why asking for bigger gifts gives you the best donor data you'll ever get. None of this is complicated. But it does require courage, consistency, and a willingness to stop making assumptions about your donors.The organizations raising transformational gifts are not waiting for perfect conditions. They're staying in touch, telling the truth, having wealth conversations, and asking boldly. That's what this episode is about.What you'll learn in this episode• Why staying in touch with donors is not optional and is actually ethical fundraising• How consistent donor communication builds trust long before a larger gift arrives• Why confidence transfers to donors and apologetic energy does too• How bold leaders naturally attract bold philanthropists• What wealth events are and why they happen every single day regardless of the economy• How conversations about stock gifts, donor advised funds, and assets can unlock gifts far larger than cash donations• Why asking for a major gift reveals more useful information than any wealth screening tool ever will• The questions that help you understand a donor's true giving capacity and timeline• How to stop making assumptions about donor loyalty, priorities, and long-term commitment• Why better donor conversations lead to more accurate fundraising projections and stronger planningThe best way to find out what a donor is capable of is not another report, dashboard, or wealth screen. It's a conversation. Stay in touch, tell the truth, ask boldly, and let donors show you who they are. Most of the certainty you're looking for is sitting on the other side of a bigger ask.Want 15 leads in 5 minutes? DM me "Breakfast burrito" on LinkedIn and I'll send you a pdf and 6-minute training to help you generate 15 leads for your nonprofit in minutes. It's totally free. All you need is an email to sign up. DM me "Breakfast burrito" - I'm from Texas, what can I say? - to get your pdf and mini training.If you’re an ED or DD of a $1M+ making a difference in your community and you’re ready to make bigger, bolder asks, then DM me “CL” on LinkedIn and I’ll share details.
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About Nonprofit CourageLab
Julie Ordoñez is a major gifts coach, fundraiser, and founder of CourageLab, a 6-month major gifts training program for nonprofit founders, EDs, and fundraisers to raise 6-figures in 6 months in just 1-2 hours a week without grants or a gala. Nonprofit CourageLab shares soul-shaking insights on how to become a more courageous leader and raise more money for your nonprofit. No one changed the world without first changing themselves. If you want to raise more money to change the world, you are in the right place.
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