Mastering Fundraising

Mastering Fundraising: A Conversation with John Scola - Episode 11

A huge thank you to John Scola for joining me on the Mastering Fundraising podcast for a powerful and timely conversation on Ethical Fundraising — a topic that sits at the very heart of our profession. As Chair of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Ethics Committee and a respected leader with decades of advancement experience, John shared deep insights into what it really means to uphold integrity while navigating the complex realities of philanthropy today. 💡 Key Takeaways from our conversation: ✅ Why defining and living out your ethical framework matters more than ever ✅ How to navigate gray areas when donor intent and mission don’t perfectly align ✅ The importance of transparency, accountability, and values-based leadership ✅ How to build an organizational culture where ethics aren’t just policies—but practice ✅ What the future holds for ethics in an age of data, AI, and shifting donor expectations If you care about elevating trust, integrity, and impact in fundraising, this episode is a must-watch.

Mastering Fundraising: A Conversation with Keegan Bell - Episode 10

A huge thank you to Keegan M. Bell, CFRE, Executive Vice President at the Irvine Public Schools Foundation, for joining me on Episode 10 of the Mastering Fundraising podcast.
Keegan shared powerful insights on how to create layered donor relationships—connections that go beyond a single point of contact to involve development staff, executive leaders, and program teams. His approach reframes donor cultivation as a shared organizational responsibility and a reflection of leadership, not just fundraising.
A few takeaways that really stood out:
Donors should experience at least three types of relationships within an organization: development, executive, and program.
Fundraising work is leadership work—it’s about vision, alignment, and shared purpose.
Keegan’s personal philosophy of “refilling the cup of others” reminds us that supporting and sustaining our colleagues is just as vital as stewarding our donors.
This conversation will resonate with anyone striving to build a stronger, more collaborative culture around fundraising and leadership.
🎧 Listen to Episode 10 of Mastering Fundraising to hear Keegan’s full insights and practical advice for every nonprofit leader.
https://youtu.be/usBFf6FfYLk
#Fundraising #NonprofitLeadership #Philanthropy #DonorEngagement #MasteringFundraising #FulcrumLeader #IrvinePublicSchoolsFoundation
Fulcrum Nonprofit Leadership (Fulcrum) Christopher "Chris" Looney The Five Tool Fundraiser
https://youtu.be/usBFf6FfYLk

Mastering Fundraising: A Conversation with Brian Hervey - Episode 9

🚨 New Episode Alert! 🚨 We’re thrilled to share the latest episode of the Mastering Fundraising Podcast, featuring an incredible conversation with Brian Hervey, Vice Chancellor for University Advancement and Alumni Relations at UC Irvine. Brian is a nationally recognized fundraising leader who guided UC Irvine through its historic $2 billion capital campaign—the largest in the university’s history. That effort didn’t just break records, it transformed the campus and expanded its impact on the region. 🎙 Why should you tune in? -Because this conversation offers a masterclass in: -Designing and executing a multi-billion-dollar campaign -Aligning philanthropy with institutional vision and strategy -Cultivating transformational donors while engaging the broader community -Building and motivating high-performing advancement teams -Navigating challenges, pivots, and lessons learned along the way -Spotting the trends shaping the future of fundraising If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to lead a campaign at this scale—or if you want to sharpen your own skills as a fundraiser—this episode is for you. #fundraising #philanthropy #masteringfundraising #ucirvine #leadership

Mastering Fundraising: A Conversation with Kenya Beckman - Episode 8

Today on the Mastering Fundraising Podcast, I'm thrilled to welcome Kenya Beckmann, a respected leader in healthcare and higher education philanthropy and a key executive at Providence in California, one of the nation's largest health systems. Kenya brings extensive experience navigating the complexities of large, multi-entity fundraising environments. In this episode, we explore the shared support model—a strategic approach to fundraising that coordinates infrastructure and services across multiple foundations or agencies within a broader system. Kenya will share insights, lessons learned, and best practices that can help any fundraiser working in a federated or multi-unit setting. Whether you're supporting a local hospital foundation or leading enterprise-wide advancement operations, this conversation will shed light on what it takes to make shared services work—for fundraisers, for donors, and most importantly, for the mission.

Mastering Fundraising: A Conversation with Jim Boyle - Episode 7

Mastering Fundraising is a show for nonprofit leaders of all titles and all experience levels. Mastering Fundraising endeavors to cover the most important fundraising topics with the goal of helping the audience reach their full potential as fundraisers. Today on the Mastering Fundraising Podcast, we’re joined by Jim Boyle, who serves as the chief fundraiser on staff with the Charles Darwin Foundation based in the Galápagos Islands. Jim is working on one of the most ambitious and inspiring fundraising campaigns in the world to restore ecological balance to islands that are home to some of the planet’s most unique species. Beyond the boldness of that vision, Jim brings a deep perspective on what it takes to remain hopeful, optimistic, and motivated in the face of enormous challenges—whether it’s the soaring number of unhoused individuals in our communities, unchecked habitat loss, or the staggering scale of global ecosystem collapse. He reminds us that the fundraising journey isn’t just about dollars raised, but about sustaining our own spirit and energy for the long road ahead. Please like and follow this channel and the Mastering Fundraising Podcast as well as the Lead for Good and Nonprofit Edge Podcasts.

Mastering Fundraising: A Conversation with Duane Rohrbacher - Episode 6

Today on the Mastering Fundraising Podcast, I’m thrilled to welcome Duane Rohrbacher, Executive Director of Development at UC Irvine. With extensive experience leading development operations in a major research university setting, Duane has been at the forefront of integrating innovative technologies — including artificial intelligence — to streamline fundraising processes, enhance donor engagement, and drive philanthropic impact. In this conversation, we’ll dive into how AI is transforming fundraising operations, what fundraisers need to know to leverage AI effectively, and the practical steps to adopt AI tools without losing the personal touch that makes philanthropy meaningful.

Mastering Fundraising: A Conversation with Dr. Sheryl A. Bourgeois - Episode 5

Mastering Fundraising is a show for nonprofit leaders of all titles and all experience levels. Mastering Fundraising endeavors to cover the most important fundraising topics with the goal of helping the audience reach their full potential as fundraisers. Today on Mastering Fundraising, we’re honored to welcome Dr. Sheryl A. Bourgeois, President and CEO of the Saint John’s Health Center Foundation in Santa Monica, California. Since her appointment in May 2023, Dr. Bourgeois has led the Foundation through its 50th anniversary year and surpassed its ambitious 2024 fundraising goal, raising more than $41 million to advance cutting‑edge medical care, research, and patient services. With a background in philanthropy leadership and a passion for community-driven impact, she guides strategic initiatives that fuel innovation at Providence Saint John’s Health Center—supporting areas from oncology and neuroscience to women’s health and community wellness. In our conversation, we’ll explore what inspired her journey into healthcare philanthropy, how she attempts to reinvent organizations that she leads, builds a culture of philanthropy, and build strategic planning with proper reporting. Mastering Fundraising is a collaboration between Fulcrum Nonprofit Leadership and The Five Tool Fundraiser. #fundraising #masteringfundraising #development @advancement #charity #nonprofit #nonprofitleader #nonprofitleadership #nonprofits @FulcrumNonprofitLeadership @The5ToolFundraiser

Mastering Fundraising: A Conversation with Dyan Sublett - Episode 4

Mastering Fundraising is a show for nonprofit leaders of all titles and all experience levels. Mastering Fundraising endeavors to cover the most important fundraising topics with the goal of helping the audience reach their full potential as fundraisers. Episode 4 is a conversation with Dyan Sublett, an extraordinary fundraiser and development professional, who shares about all the things she wished she knew as a fundraiser when she got her start in nonprofit leadership. She calls these the lessons learned from a fundraiser who followed her heart. Specifically, the audience will learn about the following concepts: The power of Yes; The importance of No; Staying or Leaving; Hiring for Grit; Budgeting and Building a Nontraditional Team; and Listening and Silence. Mastering Fundraising is a collaboration between Fulcrum Nonprofit Leadership and The Five Tool Fundraiser. #fundraising #masteringfundraising #development @advancement #charity #nonprofit #nonprofitleader #nonprofitleadership #nonprofits @FulcrumNonprofitLeadership @The5ToolFundraiser

Mastering Fundraising: A Conversation with John O'Gorman - Episode 3

Mastering Fundraising is a show for nonprofit leaders of all titles and all experience levels. Mastering Fundraising endeavors to cover the most important fundraising topics with the goal of helping the audience reach their full potential as fundraisers. Episode 3 is a conversation with John O'Gorman, an extraordinary fundraiser and development professional, who shares tips and guidance around donor engagement over an extended period of time. Mastering Fundraising is a collaboration between Fulcrum Nonprofit Leadership and The Five Tool Fundraiser. #fundraising #masteringfundraising #development @advancement #charity #nonprofit #nonprofitleader #nonprofitleadership #nonprofits @FulcrumNonprofitLeadership @The5ToolFundraiser

Mastering Fundraising: A Conversation with Bill Littlejohn - Episode 2

What if the future of your fundraising program does not hinge on one major gift, but on mastering three fundamentals?
In this episode of Mastering Fundraising, host Chris Looney sits down with one of the most respected leaders in healthcare philanthropy, Bill Littlejohn, to explore the essential building blocks that sustain organizations for decades: acquisition, retention, and growth of individual donors.
With more than 40 years of experience spanning the American Cancer Society, national consulting, and over two decades at Sharp HealthCare, Bill shares hard-earned insights on how strong philanthropic cultures are built. This conversation moves beyond theory and into practical strategy, metrics, leadership mindset, and institutional alignment.
In this episode, you will learn:
Why fundraising is not complicated, but it is complex
The difference between philanthropy and fundraising and why that distinction matters
Why acquisition must be continuous to avoid long-term donor decline
Why the second gift is the most important gift
How retention fuels your future major gift pipeline
Why growth must include both moving donors up and deepening relationships
How to build dashboards and track meaningful metrics beyond dollars raised
Why activity metrics matter just as much as revenue totals
How institutional culture determines fundraising success
Bill also shares how Sharp HealthCare embraced philanthropy as an institutional value, not just a functional necessity, and how that cultural commitment shaped long-term growth and impact.
If you are concerned about donor attrition, the so-called donor crisis, or the increasing competition in a crowded nonprofit landscape, this episode offers clarity and direction.
Fundraising success is not about chasing quick fixes. It is about disciplined strategy, data-driven decisions, and a relentless focus on acquiring, retaining, and growing donor relationships.
If you want to earn your advanced degree in fundraising, this is the conversation for you.
🎧 Subscribe to Mastering Fundraising for more conversations with extraordinary nonprofit leaders.Learn more at fulcrumleader.com and fivetoolfundraiser.com.