Hey Fundraiser!
Join Mary Petersen as she shares inspiring and actionable advice for the busy nonprofit fundraiser | WWW.HEYFUNDRAISER.COM
Episodes
42 episodes
How Heather Closed $280,000 in 6 Weeks
In this episode of the Hey Fundraiser podcast, Mary Petersen interviews Heather Withrow, a member of the Major Gift Momentum program. Heather shares her transformative journey in fundraising, detailing her impressive successes, including securi...
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39:46
Mastering the Major Gift Ask: 5 Solicitation Scripts To Set You Up for Success
In this episode, Mary Petersen tackles one of the most-asked questions in fundraising: “What exact words do I use to close a major gift?” Mary breaks down the anatomy of an effective ask—clarity, confidence, and connection—and shares ...
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29:41
The 5 Habits and Mindsets of High-Performing Major Gift Officers
In this episode, Mary Petersen pulls back the curtain on the habits, mindsets, and metrics that consistently drive 5-, 6-, and 7-figure gifts. Whether you’re new to major gifts or ready to elevate your game, this episode breaks down what...
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16:47
What to Do When a Major Donor Gives Before You Ask
Ready to pour rocket fuel on your major gift efforts? Major Gift Momentum is the solution. Check it out here!In this episode of Hey F...
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16:24
Stop Low-balling Your Donors: How to Confidently Ask for the Right Amount
Ready to pour rocket fuel on your major gift efforts? Major Gift Momentum is the solution. Check it out here!Today we’re tackling one of the most common (and costly) mistakes...
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18:59
How to Break Through Donor Silence (Without Feeling Desperate)
Ready to pour rocket fuel on your major gift efforts? Major Gift Momentum is the solution. Check it out here!Welcome back, fundraiser! In this episode, we're tackling one of ...
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15:59
How to Close Major Gifts Faster—Without Rushing the Donor
Ready to pour rocket fuel on your major gift efforts? Major Gift Momentum is the solution. Check it out here!Do you really need to spend 18 months cultivating a dono...
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22:41
How to Stop Wasting Time on the Wrong Major Gift Prospects
Interested in Major Gift Momentum? Check it out here!Are you stuck chasing donors who never call back? Wasting your precious time on high-capacity but low-interest "prospects...
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14:30
A Week in the Life of a Major Gift Coach
📅 Episode Summary: Ever wonder what a major gift coach actually does? In this episode, Mary pulls back the curtain on a single Monday filled with coaching sessions, new client strategy, proposal rewrites, and prospect deep d...
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28:43
Permission-Based Fundraising: The Secret to Better Donor Relationships and Bigger Gifts
Hey fundraiser! In this episode, I’m sharing a major mindset (and strategy) shift that changed everything for me in major gifts: Permission-Based Fundraising.Years ago, I blew a solicitation—not because I asked for the wrong amoun...
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22:39
3 Mindsets Holding You Back in Your Major Gift Work (and What to Do About Them)
Description:Ever feel like you're stuck in your major gift work — second-guessing your proposals, over-preparing for donor meetings, or trying to sound more “professional” than you feel?You’re not alone — and you’re not bro...
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19:18
How to Close Your First $100,000 Gift
Fundraiser, this is a BIG one! 🎉 Closing your first six-figure gift is a milestone moment in your career—and today, I’m walking you through exactly how to make it happen.Whether you’re brand new to major gifts or just haven...
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32:36
5 Biggest Mistakes Fundraisers Make During Solicitation
Episode Summary:Raise your hand if you’ve ever walked out of a donor meeting thinking, “Oh my gosh, I totally messed that up.” 🙋♀️ We've all been there! Asking for a major gift can feel stressful, but it doesn’t have to be....
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24:27
Building Your Major Gift Plan for a New Fiscal Year
Welcome to the first podcast of 2025! Starting a new year can feel like both a blank slate and a daunting challenge—especially when your fundraising total resets to zero. But don’t worry, fundraiser, we’ve got you covered.In this episode...
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15:05
How I Closed a $100 Million Gift
It should not take you more than a year to close a major gift. The days of cultivating for 18+ months is OVER. I hope this story inspires you to:embrace permission-based fundraisingtrim your portfolio so that you have...
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22:58
The #1 Trait That Sets Top MGOs Apart (And How You Can Develop It)
What sets the most successful major gift officers (MGOs) apart from the rest? In this episode, we explore the single most important trait that top-performing MGOs share—a quality that helps them thrive in the face of challenges, build meaningfu...
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15:41
How to Find New Major Gift Prospects
In today’s episode, we tackle one of the most vital elements of major gift fundraising—finding new prospects! Whether you're a seasoned fundraiser looking to sharpen your strategy or a newcomer eager to build your prospect pipeline, this episod...
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28:15
How to Overcome The Fear of Making a Major Gift Ask
In this episode, Mary dives into the number one challenge faced by her major gift coaching clients—fear of making the ask. Whether it’s the fear of rejection or the fear of damaging a relationship, many fundraisers struggle with taking that fin...
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16:32
Transform Your Board Into Storytelling Fundraisers
In this episode, Mary dives into transforming board members into effective storytelling fundraisers. She highlights the significance of board members feeling comfortable and skilled in connecting with donors through the organization's stories. ...
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43:30
How Your Infrastructure Can Make or Break Your Fundraising Efforts
In this episode, Mary discusses the importance of fundraising operations and how it can make or break a fundraising program. She outlines six pillars of strong fundraising operations, including strong technology and systems management, enhancin...
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26:45
KPIs For Annual Giving
In this podcast episode, Mary Hackett discusses the importance of metrics in annual giving. She emphasizes the need to measure what truly matters and avoid vanity metrics. Mary then dives into specific key performance indicators (KPIs) for annu...
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20:05
How To Set Your Board Members Up for Fundraising Success
In this week's Hey Fundraiser! episode, Mary Hackett discusses the importance of creating an effective fundraising board and how to engage board members based on their unique profiles. She highlights common mistakes organizations make with boar...
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25:03
Fundraising Failures: Don't Make These Three Mistakes
Join our host, Mary Hackett, as she bravely shares three impactful stories of fundraising failures, revealing valuable lessons and pitfalls to avoid in this very personal Hey Fundraiser! episode.Link mentioned in today's episode >&...
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16:16
Creative Cultivation Techniques: Stories from the Field
In this episode, we are diving into two inspiring and creative cultivation stories from my experience as a major gift officer. Join us as we explore the lessons learned and the power of personalized connections in cultivating lasting donor rela...
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26:45