Stop Talking. Start Listening.
One of the biggest mistakes we make in major gift fundraising is believing that our job is to say exactly the right thing.
So we prepare our talking points. We memorize our statistics. We practice our stories. We make sure we can explain every program.
But while we're busy thinking about what we're going to say next, we can miss the most important person in the conversation: the donor.
This week on Huddle Up with Mark The Fund Coach, we're talking about donor discovery and why one of the most powerful skills a Major Gift Leader can develop is the ability to listen. You'll learn how to ask better questions, uncover what truly matters to your donors, and recognize the values, stories, and aspirations that reveal where genuine alignment with your mission exists.
The goal isn't to discover how much someone can give. It's to understand who they are, what they care about, and why your mission might matter to them.
Watch This Week's Episode
Listen to the Podcast
The Fund Coach Tip of the Week
Don't confuse knowing someone's capacity with knowing their heart.
Prospect research can tell you where someone works, what they have given, and what they may have the capacity to give. But it cannot tell you why they care. That understanding only comes through conversation. Go into your next donor meeting with three questions you genuinely want answered, and challenge yourself to listen more than you speak.
Keep Growing as a Major Gift Leader
If conversations like this are helping you think differently about fundraising and your role as an Executive Director, that's exactly why I created The Weekly Huddle.
Each week, I'll share the latest episode along with practical ideas to help you build stronger donor relationships, lead major gifts with greater confidence, and become the Major Gift Leader your mission needs.
If you're already reading this in The Weekly Huddle, you're in the right place. And if someone forwarded this to you, you can join us free at thefundcoach.com/opt-in ā†’
Until next time, keep building trusting relationships that change the lives of the people you serve.
Let's Huddle Up!
Mark L. Duncan
The Fund Coach
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