Mastering Fundraising

Mastering Fundraising: A Conversation with Dyan Sublett - Episode 4

Mastering Fundraising with Dyan SublettFollowing Your Heart, Playing the Long Game, and Leading with Integrity
What would you tell your younger self at the start of a fundraising career?
In this powerful and deeply reflective episode of Mastering Fundraising, Chris Looney sits down with Dyan Sublett, President of the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Health Foundation, to explore the lessons she wishes she knew earlier and the principles that have shaped her extraordinary leadership journey .
Dyan’s path spans mission driven higher education, Sundance Institute, UCLA, the YMCA, and now a transformative health system in South Los Angeles. Along the way, she has built programs from the ground up, led through complexity, and helped reimagine what is possible in communities often overlooked.
This conversation is not about tactics alone. It is about character, courage, and clarity.
In this episode, Dyan shares:
Why playing the long game in donor relationships always outperforms short term pressure
The power of saying yes strategically and the equal power of saying no to protect mission and values
How integrity shapes reputation and why that matters more than a single gift
What it means to hire for grit, resilience, and hunger rather than resume alone
How building nontraditional teams through blended staffing can elevate performance
Why listening, silence, and thoughtful questions often unlock transformational gifts
Dyan also offers a deeply personal reflection on service as worship and how following your heart can lead to both professional success and personal fulfillment.
If you are a nonprofit leader who wants to grow not just revenue, but wisdom and impact, this episode will challenge and inspire you.
Listen now and consider: Are you playing the long game?

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

The Long Game: How Donor Engagement Compounds Over Time
What does it really take to grow a $50,000 gift into a seven figure investment?
In this episode of Mastering Fundraising, Chris Looney sits down with John O’Gorman, Senior Vice President of Development and Community Initiatives at Forest Park Forever, for a masterclass in long term donor engagement.
John shares the story of a family foundation relationship that began more than a decade ago with a modest project based gift. Through listening, thoughtful stewardship, transparency during setbacks, and consistent communication, that relationship deepened over time, ultimately leading to a $1 million commitment and now a proposal for a $5 million gift toward a $100 million vision.
This conversation is not about quick wins. It is about patience, trust, and disciplined relationship building.
You will hear practical insight on:
Why listening is the most underrated skill in fundraising
How to use personalized communication to build trust
The importance of tying major gifts to clear outcomes
What transparency during delays or challenges does for credibility
How stable leadership strengthens donor confidence
Why stewardship after the gift is just as important as the ask
John also reflects on his leadership journey from Jesuit Volunteer Corps to consulting to leading development at one of the nation’s great urban parks, offering insight into authenticity, passion for mission, and the value of longevity in nonprofit leadership.
If you are serious about major gifts and sustainable growth, this episode reinforces a powerful truth: meaningful philanthropy is built over years, not months.
Listen in and consider how your organization is cultivating donors not just for the next campaign, but for the next decade.

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.
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Mastering Fundraising: A Conversation with Claudia Looney - Episode 1

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 1 is a conversation with Claudia Looney, a truly extraordinary fundraiser and development professional, who shares tips and guidance on engaging board members successfully in the fundraising process. 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