Finding My Way Home in Fundraising
When I became a first-time Development Director in 2013, I remember standing outside my office – right at the edge of the sand dunes in San Francisco's Presidio – watering the wild strawberry plants with my tears.
I cared deeply about the mission. I had seven solid years of fundraising experience plus a Masters Degree in the field. But when it came to building and implementing a strategic fundraising plan for this organization, I felt frozen.
M showing off a donated backpack in my first months as a Development Director, plus those sand dunes where I watered the strawberries.
Part of the challenge was my lack of experience in this new context. I knew a lot about what worked at the 14 branch YMCA association with its $50 million budget. But I wasn’t sure what would work now that I was a team of one raising a $900k budget.
Beyond my lack of small-shop experience, my biggest challenge was my confidence. I felt too young, too awkward, and too transparently transactional in reaching out to donors.
I constantly worried: "What if I’m not cut out for this? What if I let everybody down? And surely I’m not someone the donors want to meet with…” (Cue another episode of watering the strawberries.)
What I eventually discovered is that there was nothing wrong with me. Just like there’s nothing wrong with those tiny, wild strawberries.
Fundraising is intrinsically hard. Serving as a Development Director can be deeply lonely. And there isn’t any one-size-fits-all roadmap for how to fundraise at a small organization.
Finding My Way Home in Fundraising
So how did I get from regularly watering the strawberry plants with my tears… to building out a full fundraising department, launching a capital campaign, and finally feeling “at home” in this director role? Some key pieces for me were:
The mentorship of a big-hearted consultant who grounded me in my value as a human while also helping me get that campaign off the ground.
A regular meet-up of fellow fundraisers, where we could compare notes and commiserate about the challenges we were experiencing.
And just putting one foot in front of the other, doing the next right thing. (Confession: I never did create a development plan that first year.)
And what have I seen make the most difference for clients, who are walking in the shoes that I once wore? Folks have shared they really value:
Real-time guidance from an experienced fundraiser who can validate (or invalidate!) what they see in ChatGPT.
Plug and play templates (for house parties, foundation outreach, board engagement etc) so they don’t have to guess or create from scratch
Adopting a new frame around fundraising – one that’s in alignment with their values around integrity, joy, connection, and inclusion.
Building momentum through weekly or biweekly meetings for project management – not letting fundraising get lost in the shuffle.
Looking at all this – what would have helped me back then as well as what my clients have shared is most helpful to them – I feel more and more excited about the two new offerings I’ve dreamed up:
1. The Authentic Fundraising Accelerator
This is an intensive, cohort-based program for leaders at small nonprofits who are ready to build the strategies and systems they’ll need to succeed at fundraising over the long term.
On a weekly basis, I’ll guide a group of 3-5 nonprofits through a structured experience that combines practical training, individualized consulting, my template library, and the wisdom of a small peer cohort. Together, we'll build – and begin implementing – a fundraising roadmap designed specifically for your organization, and we’ll set up your 2026 year-end campaign for success.
This program is absolutely packed with value, as my entire goal is to make strategic fundraising expertise accessible to small nonprofits who most need – but who can least afford – to work with a seasoned guide.
2. Find Your Flow: A Community for Heart-Centered Fundraisers
This is the community I wish I'd had back in 2013. It’s for fundraisers who long for a space where they can be real, where they can laugh (or cry!) among like-minded peers, and where they can bring nuanced or tender questions about their work.
e.g. How long do I wait to reach out after a donor’s spouse dies? What do I do when a donor keeps sending mixed signals? Can I really ask for that much?
I’ll be hosting two Zoom gatherings each month. The first will offer you coaching and peer advising around the real-time challenges that arise in fundraising. The second will be a coworking session – protected time to write your most important donor communications then receive thoughtful feedback from the group.
It’ll be a warm and intimate group of just 8-10 for our four-month founding cohort. My hope is that you’ll leave each session feeling lighter than when you arrived.
Interested in Learning More?
Both of these programs are starting this September so I'm now beginning conversations with folks who are interested in being founding members.
If either one of these offers sparks your curiosity – even a little – I invite you to learn more:
Click here for the Fundraising Accelerator
Click here for Find Your Flow
P.S. I feel moved today to share the poem “Start Close In” by David Whyte. There’s an urgency, immediacy, and warmth to the poem… A balm for anyone with important work at hand, who may find themselves hesitating or doubting.
