Why Working With a Fundraising Coach Changes More Than Your Results

 Every fundraiser and nonprofit leader I meet is trying to accomplish meaningful transformation for some part of their community, their world, or the people around them.

They’re working toward a better world. They typically care deeply about the mission of their nonprofit. And more often than not, they’re carrying far more responsibility than their title — or their calendar — suggests.

Development Directors and Executive Directors, in particular, are often making big decisions with limited time, limited staff, and a constant sense that they should already have the answers. Frontline fundraisers feel this too — especially those who know they’re capable of more but feel stuck, isolated, or unsure how to move the next big gift forward. 

This is usually the moment someone reaches out to me.

Not because they’re failing. But because they’re ready to stop guessing.

Why coaching matters in major gifts

Most successful nonprofit leaders invest in training. They read articles, journal or books, attend webinars, and stay up to date on current fundraising tactics. And when it comes time to make a major donor Ask — or to figure out why a relationship isn’t moving forward — they often welcome outside guidance.

That’s where coaching becomes transformative.

A fundraising coach doesn’t replace your expertise — they sharpen it.

I work as a coach and major gift catalyst to help fundraisers and leaders move gifts forward with confidence, clarity, and connection. That means we focus on major gifts first, grounded in a connection-based approach that honors both the donor and the fundraiser. 

Not formulas for the sake of formulas. Not rigid repeatable systems. Not pressure. Not performative confidence.

But strategy rooted in relationship, values, and real-world context.

Focus in a world full of noise

One of the most common things I hear is this:

“I know what I should be doing. I just can’t seem to get to it.”

Time, budgets, and internal capacity are stretched thin. Fundraisers get pulled into the fires and fears of the moment — urgent emails, internal requests, last-minute demands — while the work that actually grows revenue gets sidelined.

Coaching helps bring focus back to what matters most.

Together, we look at where your energy, time, and effort are actually going—and whether they’re aligned with your fundraising goals. We identify which donors need attention now, which conversations are ready to move forward, and where you might be overthinking instead of engaging.

 Sometimes the most valuable part of coaching is having someone say, calmly and clearly:
“This is the conversation to have next. And here’s how to have it.”

Fresh perspective when you need it most

Fundraising can be surprisingly lonely.

Whether you’re leading a team, working in a small shop, or serving as both strategist and doer, there are moments when you simply need another perspective. Someone who understands donors, organizational dynamics, and the realities of asking for meaningful gifts — especially in uncertain times.

Coaching offers a new lens.

I draw on decades of lived fundraising experience, current donor behavior, and what I’m seeing across organizations right now: shifting donor expectations, increased desire for transparency, and a growing need for conversations rooted in shared values and identity.

Often, a small reframing — how you approach a donor, how you position an opportunity, how you follow up—can unlock momentum that’s been stalled for months.

From ideas to outcomes

Many fundraisers I work with already have good instincts. They have ideas they want to test, strategies they’re curious about, or donors they believe could do more — but they want to think it through with someone who’s been there.

 Coaching provides a space to explore those ideas thoughtfully.

 We look at what’s working elsewhere, what fits your organization, and when to move—or wait. We talk through how to engage decision-makers, how to deepen donor relationships, and how to design next steps that feel natural rather than forced.

I’ve seen this lead to very real outcomes: exceeded fundraising goals, stronger major gift pipelines, donors increasing their giving significantly, and teams feeling far less alone in their work.

Just as important, it helps fundraisers trust themselves again.

Support for your role — and your future

Coaching isn’t only about this quarter or this campaign. 

It’s also about you. 

Whether you’re stepping into a larger leadership role, navigating growth in a startup nonprofit, or preparing for the “big job” you’ve worked toward for years, having someone in your corner matters. 

We talk through sticky situations. We plan for what’s next. We build confidence not just in what you do, but in how you show up as a leader.

We discuss what to say to donors or prospects - with real-life examples and using your context and experience level. 

Because fundraising success isn’t just about raising more money—it’s about sustaining yourself in work that asks a lot of you.

A partner focused on your success

At its core, coaching is about partnership.

When you work with me — whether through Major Gifts Catalyst, a Portfolio Review + Action Plan or 90-Day Momentum engagement — my focus is simple: your success.

That might look like turning a long-time prospect into a committed donor. It might mean creating a clearer major gifts strategy. Or it might be about having a trusted sounding board as you navigate uncertainty and growth.

You’re not doing this wrong. 
You don’t need another generic tactic.
You may simply need a partner who understands the work—and believes you’re capable of more.

 And if that resonates, I’d love to explore what working together could look like.