The Intentional Fundraiser Podcast Your 2026 Major Gifts Plan: Aspirational but Realistic
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Jan 6, 2026 Discover how to create a realistic major gifts plan for 2026 that balances ambition with practicality. Hear about the challenges fundraisers face with bold goals and how misaligned targets can erode trust. Learn a simple three-scenario planning model to clarify risk and opportunity. Dive into strategies for right-sizing donor portfolios and engaging leadership in the planning process. Plus, Tammy shares success stories that highlight the importance of investing in capacity to achieve those aspirational targets.
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Ambition Needs A Reality Check
- Balancing aspiration and realism prevents burnout and broken trust.
- Tammy Zonker says ambition without a grounded plan erodes confidence across teams.
Mary's Misaligned Fundraising Goal
- Mary was told to raise 33% more with no added resources and finished 9% short.
- Tammy Zonker uses this story to show misaligned goals are planning problems, not performance failures.
Model Goals As Three Scenarios
- Use a three-scenario model: base, target, and stretch to plan goals.
- Define each scenario clearly to reduce anxiety and provide shared language for leadership.