The Intentional Fundraiser Podcast

A 6:45 a.m. call from London. A donor wanted to give $1.5 million to the children's hospital that saved her little brother.Her gift officer was thrilled. Thirty seconds later, she was terrified.Because the donor was a US citizen living in London. Her husband was British. The money was in pounds. Their business had accounts in two countries.Who gets the tax benefit? Which account does the money come from? What if the exchange rate moves?Here's what I love. She didn't pretend to have the answers. She said, "I want to get this right for you. Can I ask a few questions, then bring in our finance team and your advisors?"Two months later, the gift was structured in a way that worked for everyone. Every payment arrived on time.That's what this week's episode of The Intentional Fundraiser Podcast is all about: "Thinking Global: Cross-Border Major Gifts."I talk about:Why global giving is showing up at organizations of every sizeThe core questions to ask early, and the pitfalls to avoidHow to build the right support team so you're never figuring it out aloneListen at or wherever you get your podcasts, and share it with a colleague or board member who should hear it too.More from Tammy ZonkerAuthor of Calling All Heroes: Combining the Best of Donor-Centered and Community-Centered Fundraising for Greater ImpactFounder of Fundraising TransformedPresident of Modern Institute for Charitable GivingBook Tammy to Keynote Your Next EventReserve your spot at the upcoming Excellence in Major Gift Fundraising SeminarSubscribe to the Scaling Major Gifts newsletterConnect with Tammy Zonker on LinkedInResources: Show notes, links, and resources mentioned in this episode.Review my show: Please review my show. After you click the link, scroll to the bottom, first tap to rate with five stars, and then tap “Write a Review.” Then, let me know what you liked most about this particular episode or how you find my podcast helpful, valuable, insightful, or inspiring in some way.Privacy Policy: See Privacy Policy at https://www.fundraisingtransformed.com/policies

Her mother's name was spelled wrong.It was on the plaque. On dedication day. In front of her grandkids.The mistake didn't end the relationship. What came next almost did.The clinic took six weeks to fix it. Nobody called. The apology email said, "We apologize for any inconvenience."The family went silent for a year.Then a new major gift officer picked up the phone. She named what happened. She said she was sorry. She asked to hear about the donor's mom.Forty-five minutes later, the door was open again.On this week's episode of The Intentional Fundraiser, "Bringing Relationships Back from the Brink," I share:The Four Lenses of Repair for diagnosing what's really going onThree short scripts for silence, missteps, and conflictWhy timing and channel matter more than you thinkHow to know when it's time to step back, and how to document itSo let me ask you:What's one apology your organization owes a donor right now?🎧 Listen to this episode, then share it with a colleague who's been carrying a donor relationship they're nervous to touch.More from Tammy ZonkerAuthor of Calling All Heroes: Combining the Best of Donor-Centered and Community-Centered Fundraising for Greater ImpactFounder of Fundraising TransformedPresident of Modern Institute for Charitable GivingBook Tammy to Keynote Your Next EventReserve your spot at the upcoming Excellence in Major Gift Fundraising SeminarSubscribe to the Scaling Major Gifts newsletterConnect with Tammy Zonker on LinkedInResources: Show notes, links, and resources mentioned in this episode.Review my show: Please review my show. After you click the link, scroll to the bottom, first tap to rate with five stars, and then tap “Write a Review.” Then, let me know what you liked most about this particular episode or how you find my podcast helpful, valuable, insightful, or inspiring in some way.Privacy Policy: See Privacy Policy at https://www.fundraisingtransformed.com/policies

My worst December as a fundraiser?I spent it chasing a stock transfer with no name on it.My plan had been "we'll get serious after the gala."The gala ended in mid-November. You can guess how that year went.Here's what I learned the hard way. December isn't where year-end is won. It's where you find out how well you planned in October.And year-end 2026 raises the stakes. New tax rules. Donors who "bunched" their giving into last year. Complex gifts that need more lead time than ever.On this week's episode of The Intentional Fundraiser Podcast, "Stacking the Deck for Year-End Major Gifts," I walk through:What's changed for donors this year, and the one question to ask about itThe Year-End Countdown, five checkpoints planned backward from December 31A one-page dashboard and a 15-minute Monday huddle that keep your whole team focusedGive it a listen this week, then share it with a colleague who's heading into Q4 with a long list and a short runway.More from Tammy ZonkerAuthor of Calling All Heroes: Combining the Best of Donor-Centered and Community-Centered Fundraising for Greater ImpactFounder of Fundraising TransformedPresident of Modern Institute for Charitable GivingBook Tammy to Keynote Your Next EventReserve your spot at the upcoming Excellence in Major Gift Fundraising SeminarSubscribe to the Scaling Major Gifts newsletterConnect with Tammy Zonker on LinkedInResources: Show notes, links, and resources mentioned in this episode.Review my show: Please review my show. After you click the link, scroll to the bottom, first tap to rate with five stars, and then tap “Write a Review.” Then, let me know what you liked most about this particular episode or how you find my podcast helpful, valuable, insightful, or inspiring in some way.Privacy Policy: See Privacy Policy at https://www.fundraisingtransformed.com/policies

One page changed everything.A donor said it was the first report she'd ever kept.Two years later, she made the largest gift in the organization's history.It wasn't a glossy annual report. No pie charts. No forty pages.Just one number she cared about, one note from a teacher, and one honest line about what the team was learning.The difference? Her development director asked her what success looked like before she made the gift.That's what this week's episode of The Intentional Fundraiser is all about.I talk about:What donors really want to know (hint: it's not how many workshops you held)How to co-create and right-size impact metrics with your major donorsSimple formats that work in 2026, from brief impact notes to 90-second phone videosWhere AI helps, and where your judgment still matters mostListen to "Impact Reporting That Deepens Commitment" and share it with a colleague who's rethinking donor reporting.More from Tammy ZonkerAuthor of Calling All Heroes: Combining the Best of Donor-Centered and Community-Centered Fundraising for Greater ImpactFounder of Fundraising TransformedPresident of Modern Institute for Charitable GivingBook Tammy to Keynote Your Next EventReserve your spot at the upcoming Excellence in Major Gift Fundraising SeminarSubscribe to the Scaling Major Gifts newsletterConnect with Tammy Zonker on LinkedInResources: Show notes, links, and resources mentioned in this episode.Review my show: Please review my show. After you click the link, scroll to the bottom, first tap to rate with five stars, and then tap “Write a Review.” Then, let me know what you liked most about this particular episode or how you find my podcast helpful, valuable, insightful, or inspiring in some way.Privacy Policy: See Privacy Policy at https://www.fundraisingtransformed.com/policies

One question. A lasting legacy. Andrea almost didn't ask it.She was afraid it would muddy her donor's renewal.Her donor, Walter, had given faithfully for eleven years.He was about to renew his major gift. And he kept asking one thing: "Will this program still be here someday?"Andrea realized Walter was already having the legacy conversation. She just hadn't joined it yet.So she asked: "What would you want this program to look like twenty years from now?"That question led to a renewed and increased gift, and a legacy commitment to sustain the program for years to come.On this week's episode of The Intentional Fundraiser, "Today's Gifts, Tomorrow's Legacy," I share:Why integrating planned giving and major gifts matters so much right nowFive signals a donor is ready, plus conversation starters that feel hopeful, not morbidHow to partner with planned giving specialists and donors' advisorsHere's what I'm wonderingWhat's holding you back from raising legacy giving with your major donors?Listen to this episode, then share it with a colleague or board member who cares about your mission's future.More from Tammy ZonkerAuthor of Calling All Heroes: Combining the Best of Donor-Centered and Community-Centered Fundraising for Greater ImpactFounder of Fundraising TransformedPresident of Modern Institute for Charitable GivingBook Tammy to Keynote Your Next EventReserve your spot at the upcoming Excellence in Major Gift Fundraising SeminarSubscribe to the Scaling Major Gifts newsletterConnect with Tammy Zonker on LinkedInResources: Show notes, links, and resources mentioned in this episode.Review my show: Please review my show. After you click the link, scroll to the bottom, first tap to rate with five stars, and then tap “Write a Review.” Then, let me know what you liked most about this particular episode or how you find my podcast helpful, valuable, insightful, or inspiring in some way.Privacy Policy: See Privacy Policy at https://www.fundraisingtransformed.com/policies