Nonprofit Lowdown

Latest Episodes:

#396 - How a Teacher-Turned-CEO Landed Her First Six-Figure Gift Jul 13, 2026

Show notes

I love a good transformation story, and Lucy Madden's is one of my favorites.

Lucy was a middle school science teacher who ran a snail mail pen pal program in her classroom, pairing her students with STEM professionals around the world. She watched her kids start imagining bigger futures for themselves, so she turned it into an organization: Letters to a Pre-Scientist. Now she's the CEO, and she's fundraising for it as a team of basically one.

When we started working together, Lucy had 10 to 15 donors giving $1,000 or more, and those gifts felt random. In this episode, she walks through what changed: stepping away from grants, getting her board on board, and shedding the ick she felt about asking individuals for real money.

The moment that stuck with me: Lucy called a donor just to say thank you for a $10,000 gift. On that call, the donor did the math on Lucy's growth plan herself and said, "You need $140,000. I think we can do that." It became a multi-year six-figure stock gift, the first stock gift her organization has ever received, on a budget of $500K.

We also talk about why snail mail is her secret weapon (in programs and in fundraising), why she stopped throwing spaghetti at the wall, and what shifted internally that let her show up to donor conversations with actual confidence.

If you've ever told yourself you're not a fundraiser, this conversation is for you.

Important Links:

Connect with Lucy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucy-madden/

Letters to a Pre-Scientist: https://prescientist.org/

My Big Ask Gifts Program: https://go.rheawong.com/big-ask-gifts-program

My Book, Get That Money Honey: https://go.rheawong.com/get-that-money-honey

My Newsletter: https://www.rheawong.com/

#395 - Why Your Major Gift Program Can't Wait Jul 06, 2026

Show notes

This episode is a little different. It's a bit of a public service announcement.

I recently read new nonprofit sector data, and honestly, I haven't been able to stop thinking about it. The numbers tell a pretty clear story: organizations that rely heavily on grants and government funding are feeling more pressure than ever, while nonprofits with strong individual giving and major gift programs are weathering the storm much more successfully.

If your organization has been putting off building a major gift strategy or if your current program just isn't producing the results you need. I hope this conversation gives you permission to rethink where you're investing your time.

In this episode, I share why major gifts are becoming more important than ever, the biggest mistakes I see nonprofits make when trying to build a program, and a few practical steps you can take today to start creating more sustainable fundraising.

If you're feeling overwhelmed by fundraising right now, know this: you don't have to keep doing things the way they've always been done. Sometimes the smallest shift in focus can make the biggest difference.

Important Links:

My Big Ask Gifts Program: ⁠https://go.rheawong.com/big-ask-gifts-program⁠

My Newsletter: ⁠https://www.rheawong.com/

#394- What Pricing Strategy Can Teach Us About Major Gifts with Claire Wang Jun 22, 2026

Show notes

One of my favorite takeaways from this conversation with Claire Wang is that fundraising and pricing have more in common than you might think. At their core, both are about understanding people their values, motivations, and the stories they tell themselves about who they are.

Claire shares how great pricing isn't just about numbers; it's about listening deeply, understanding what someone truly values, and creating an experience that feels meaningful. We also explore how these same principles apply to major gifts, donor relationships, and building trust over time.

If you've ever wondered how to better understand your donors, ask for larger gifts with confidence, or create a more thoughtful donor experience, this episode is full of insights you'll want to take with you.

Important Links:

Connect with Claire: https://www.claire-wang.com/

My Big Ask Gifts Program:⁠https://go.rheawong.com/big-ask-gifts-program⁠
My Book, Get That Money Honey:⁠https://go.rheawong.com/get-that-money-honey⁠
My Newsletter:⁠https://www.rheawong.com/⁠

#393- Burnout, Budget Cuts, and the Future of Fundraising with Glennda Testone Jun 15, 2026

Show notes

I sat down with my friend Glennda Testone, CEO of the Nonprofit Leadership Lab, to talk about what we're both seeing across the sector right now: burnout, funding uncertainty, increasing demand for services, and nonprofit leaders trying to do more with less.

It's easy to get caught up in the anxiety of the moment, but one thing became crystal clear in our conversation: the organizations that will weather this season best are the ones investing in relationships.

We talked about why individual donors matter more than ever, the risks of relying too heavily on grants and government funding, and why fundraising is ultimately about human connection not transactions.

We also got into some hot takes on galas, donor behavior, AI, and what nonprofit leaders should be focusing on when everything feels uncertain.

If you've been wondering how to navigate the current fundraising landscape, I think you'll find this conversation both grounding and encouraging.

Important Links:

Nonprofit Leadership Lab: https://nonprofitleadershiplab.com/?wickedsource=google&wickedid=Cj0KCQjw0JnRBhDJARIsALobnXYMR6sg7UyNnriy98C0t1QkwFu8XqFOpgP5qXL4hJB-Ly5wREp22jYaAlXLEALw_wcB&w_adid=733701107251&w_campaignid=22263756844&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=22263756844&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22263756844&gclid=Cj0KCQjw0JnRBhDJARIsALobnXYMR6sg7UyNnriy98C0t1QkwFu8XqFOpgP5qXL4hJB-Ly5wREp22jYaAlXLEALw_wcB

My Newsletter:⁠https://www.rheawong.com/⁠
My Quiz: https://bit.ly/4vDEBjl

#392- Fundraising Without Fear: Moving from Scarcity to Sustainability with Andrew Murphy Jun 08, 2026

Show notes

One of my favorite parts of this work is watching nonprofit leaders grow into fundraisers not because they become slick salespeople, but because they discover that fundraising is really about relationships.

That's exactly what happened with my guest this week, Andrew Murphy.

When Andrew stepped into the Executive Director role at the Wisconsin Inmate Education Association, he inherited an incredible mission and a passionate community of supporters. What he didn't inherit was a fundraising system. Like so many nonprofit leaders, he found himself staring at a donor list, sending emails, making phone calls, and wondering what he was supposed to do next.

Over the last two years, I've had the privilege of working alongside Andrew as he built a fundraising program from the ground up. In this conversation, he shares what changed when he stopped thinking about fundraising as asking people for money and started thinking about it as inviting people into a meaningful partnership.

We talk about the donor survey strategy that became the foundation of his work, how prison tours helped supporters connect directly with the mission, and why building genuine relationships created more sustainable results than any fundraising tactic ever could.

What I love most about Andrew's story is that it isn't about a magic formula. It's about having a system, staying consistent, and leading with authenticity.

And the results speak for themselves. WIEA has nearly doubled its individual giving, created a stronger pipeline of supporters, and moved from worrying about making budget to dreaming about what's possible next.

If you've ever felt like you're making fundraising up as you go, if you've inherited a donor program without a roadmap, or if you're tired of operating from a place of scarcity and uncertainty, I think you're going to find a lot of encouragement in this conversation.

Enjoy my conversation with Andrew Murphy.

Important Links:

Connect with Andrew: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-murphy-6b960bb8/
My Big Ask Gifts Program:⁠https://go.rheawong.com/big-ask-gifts-program⁠
My Newsletter:⁠https://www.rheawong.com/⁠

#391- What Happens When You Stop Fundraising on Hope with Amy Lester Jun 01, 2026

Show notes

Ever feel like your major gifts program is held together by spreadsheets, good intentions, and crossed fingers?

This week, I'm joined by my client and friend Amy Lester, Major Gifts Officer at Polar Bears International, for a candid behind-the-scenes look at how she transformed her fundraising program in just over a year.

When Amy started, she inherited a portfolio, a giant spreadsheet of prospects, and what she lovingly calls a "hope strategy." Fast forward 15 months, and she's exceeded her fundraising goal by more than $400,000, doubled major donor gifts, increased her conversion rate from 40% to 84%, and brought in 19 new major donors.

My favorite takeaway? Amy's shift from feeling overwhelmed and reactive to confident and strategic. That's the magic of having a system.

If you're sitting on a portfolio full of potential and wondering how to turn donor relationships into real revenue growth, this episode is packed with practical lessons you can apply immediately.

Important Links:

Connect with Amy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-lester-cfre-40166b49/

My Big Ask Gifts Program: ⁠https://go.rheawong.com/big-ask-gifts-program⁠

My Book, Get That Money Honey: ⁠https://go.rheawong.com/get-that-money-honey⁠

My Newsletter: ⁠https://www.rheawong.com/⁠

My Quiz: https://bit.ly/4vDEBjl

#390- The Fundraising Strategy Too Many Nonprofits Ignore with Tess Conrad May 25, 2026

Show notes

This episode honestly changed the way I think about planned giving.

I sat down with Tess Conrad and walked away realizing that planned giving isn’t just for giant institutions with fancy development teams. Tess made the case that even small nonprofits can start building a legacy giving program—and that some of your best future donors may already be quietly sitting in your database.

We talked about why loyal donors matter more than wealthy ones, why monthly donors are often ideal planned giving prospects, and how relationships, not complicated financial knowledge, are really at the heart of this work.

One thing that really stuck with me: the average estate gift is around $50,000, and many of those gifts come from people who never made huge annual donations during their lifetime.

If you’ve ever thought, “We’re too small for planned giving,” this conversation is for you.

Important Links:

Connect with Tess: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/tess-conrad-cfre/

My Big Ask Gifts Program:⁠ ⁠https://go.rheawong.com/big-ask-gifts-program⁠⁠

My Book, Get That Money Honey:⁠ ⁠https://go.rheawong.com/get-that-money-honey⁠⁠

My Newsletter:⁠ ⁠https://www.rheawong.com/⁠⁠

My Quiz: ⁠https://bit.ly/4vDEBjl

#389- The Human Side of AI with Janine Quijije May 18, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of Nonprofit Lowdown, I sat down with Janine Quijije to talk about AI but probably not in the way you’re used to hearing about it.

Instead of asking, “How can AI help us do more?” Janine asks a much more important question: How can AI help us preserve our energy and prevent burnout?

We talk about the reality of being overextended in the nonprofit sector, the pressure to constantly produce, and how AI can actually help us create more sustainable ways of working. One of my favorite takeaways was Janine’s simple exercise of uploading your calendar into ChatGPT and asking it to audit how you’re spending your energy. The results? A little confronting… and incredibly helpful.

This episode is really a reminder that your worth is not tied to how exhausted you are.

My Ai Analysis Report: Your export contained 239 campaigns, but most showed 100% open rates against tiny send

counts — those are automated/triggered sends (welcome flows, single-recipient sends), not list

broadcasts. I filtered to campaigns sent to at least 500 people, which isolated 43 real

broadcasts to your full list (median list size ~6,400).

For each subject line, I tagged structural features (length, emoji, punctuation, opening word,

presence of 'you/your', sender voice, editorial framing, etc.) and compared the top 11 and

bottom 11 performers to identify what actually correlates with open rate on your list specifically

Important Links:

Connect with Janine: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janinequijije/

My Big Ask Gifts Program: ⁠https://go.rheawong.com/big-ask-gifts-program⁠

My Book, Get That Money Honey: ⁠https://go.rheawong.com/get-that-money-honey⁠

My Newsletter: ⁠https://www.rheawong.com/⁠

My Quiz: https://bit.ly/4vDEBjl

#388- The Development Director Exodus May 11, 2026

Show notes

This episode felt personal for me because I’ve been watching so many development directors quietly disappear from organizations lately. And honestly? It’s not just about burnout or “bad hires.” Most of the time, it’s a systems problem.

In this episode, I’m unpacking the two biggest reasons development directors leave, what it’s really costing nonprofits when they do, and why so many organizations are unknowingly operating without the infrastructure needed to sustain fundraising success.

If you’re an ED, board member, or fundraiser, this conversation is your reminder that busy does not always mean effective and that great people cannot thrive in broken systems forever.

Important Links:

Book a Call: https://connect.rheawong.com/

My Big Ask Gifts Program: ⁠https://go.rheawong.com/big-ask-gifts-program⁠

My Book, Get That Money Honey: ⁠https://go.rheawong.com/get-that-money-honey⁠

My Newsletter: ⁠https://www.rheawong.com/⁠

#387- The Real Mental Health Crisis No One Is Talking About May 04, 2026

Show notes

This episode felt personal—because it is.

In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, I sat down with Lauren Carson (Black Girls Smile) and April Walker (Philanthropy for the People), and we got real about what’s actually happening right now—in our work, in our communities, and in our bodies.

If I’m honest, it feels like a lot. And I know I’m not the only one.

We talked about how the pressure out in the world—politics, funding cuts, constant uncertainty—is showing up in our mental health. Especially for Black women and girls, who are so often expected to just… keep going.

And then there’s the funding piece. The promises that didn’t last. The lack of transparency. The constant hustle. It’s exhausting—and it’s impacting how we show up as leaders, as teammates, as humans.

One thing that really stuck with me:
We talk a lot about resilience as “pushing through,” but not enough about healing. And without healing, what are we actually sustaining?

So here’s what I’m taking with me this month:

Rest isn’t a reward—it’s necessary (even in small moments between meetings)
I don’t have to do everything—just focus on what actually matters
My inner voice matters—if I’m resting but still beating myself up, that’s not rest
And honestly… sometimes the most powerful thing I can do is just breathe

If there’s one thing I’d invite you to do this month, it’s this:
Tell yourself the truth about how you’re actually doing—and give yourself a little more space to be human.

We’re all figuring this out. And you don’t have to do it alone.

Important Links:

Black Girl Smile: https://www.blackgirlssmile.org/

Stop Flying Blind: Fix Your Leaky Fundraising System: ⁠https://go.rheawong.com/donorjourneyauditwebinar-2026⁠

My Big Ask Gifts Program:⁠ ⁠https://go.rheawong.com/big-ask-gifts-program⁠⁠

My Book, Get That Money Honey:⁠ ⁠https://go.rheawong.com/get-that-money-honey⁠⁠

My Newsletter:⁠ ⁠https://www.rheawong.com/⁠⁠

My Quiz: ⁠https://bit.ly/4vDEBjl