The Intentional Fundraiser Podcast
Tammy Zonker
Welcome to The Intentional Fundraiser Podcast. I'm your host, Tammy Zonker, and I'm thrilled you're here.
I've spent nearly three decades specializing in major gifts. I’ve seen how major gifts often form the backbone of an organization’s financial stability, and yet, I know many of us find this area particularly challenging. Time and again, I’ve been approached by fundraisers and nonprofit leaders eager to establish or supercharge their major gift programs. It’s become crystal clear that there’s a growing hunger for training and expertise in this area.
I’ve had the incredible privilege of working with nonprofits from all around the world helping organizations collectively raise nearly one billion dollars. During this time, I’ve developed strategies and tools that have consistently helped organizations transition their mid-level donors into major donors through meaningful engagement. It’s a process that, when done consistently, can truly catapult an organization’s major gift fundraising to the next level.
Whether you’re a seasoned major gift officer looking to refine your approach, a development director aiming to build a powerhouse program, an executive director looking to scale your organization’s capacity for transformational giving, or a board member seeking to understand the transformative potential of major gifts, The Intentional Fundraiser podcast is your source for growth and excellence in major gift fundraising.
So, buckle up! We're about to embark on a journey to take your major gift program to the next level – and beyond. Let's get intentional about major gift fundraising!
Keep transforming,
Tammy Zonker
Major Gift Expert & Keynote Speaker
Fundraising Transformed
#ScaleRaiseDo
I've spent nearly three decades specializing in major gifts. I’ve seen how major gifts often form the backbone of an organization’s financial stability, and yet, I know many of us find this area particularly challenging. Time and again, I’ve been approached by fundraisers and nonprofit leaders eager to establish or supercharge their major gift programs. It’s become crystal clear that there’s a growing hunger for training and expertise in this area.
I’ve had the incredible privilege of working with nonprofits from all around the world helping organizations collectively raise nearly one billion dollars. During this time, I’ve developed strategies and tools that have consistently helped organizations transition their mid-level donors into major donors through meaningful engagement. It’s a process that, when done consistently, can truly catapult an organization’s major gift fundraising to the next level.
Whether you’re a seasoned major gift officer looking to refine your approach, a development director aiming to build a powerhouse program, an executive director looking to scale your organization’s capacity for transformational giving, or a board member seeking to understand the transformative potential of major gifts, The Intentional Fundraiser podcast is your source for growth and excellence in major gift fundraising.
So, buckle up! We're about to embark on a journey to take your major gift program to the next level – and beyond. Let's get intentional about major gift fundraising!
Keep transforming,
Tammy Zonker
Major Gift Expert & Keynote Speaker
Fundraising Transformed
#ScaleRaiseDo
Episodes
Mentioned books
Mar 31, 2026 • 19min
Writing Donor Messages with AI, Not by AI
A lively conversation about using AI to draft fundraising messages while keeping a real human voice. Practical steps for training AI to mirror your tone are shared. Tips for safe, ethical use and avoiding brand drift come up. Concrete use cases include thank you notes, event follow-ups, proposal edits, and segmented messages.
15 snips
Mar 24, 2026 • 21min
Take Back Your Week, Grow Your Major Gifts
A fundraiser recounts how a calendar full of meetings starved top donors of attention. Learn about a three-block time structure for outreach, meetings, and follow-up that protects donor-facing hours. Tips include negotiating protected donor time with leadership, using AI as an assistant, and running a two-week experiment to reclaim focused fundraising hours.
Mar 17, 2026 • 20min
From Mid-Level to Major: Mapping the Journey
Your next major donor might already be givingI’ve seen so many mid-level donors quietly reading emails, showing up at events, and faithfully giving year after year, without ever being invited into a deeper conversation.When we finally slow down, notice their behavior, and map a simple journey from “thank you” to “tell me what matters most to you,” everything starts to change. Gifts grow, trust deepens, and fundraising feels more relational and less transactional.What if your best future major donor is already in your mid-level file, just waiting to be seen a little more personally?In this week’s episode of The Intentional Fundraiser, I talk about “From Mid-Level to Major: Mapping the Journey” and share practical steps you can take with your own donorsListen to the episode and share it with your team, your executive director, or a board member who cares about growing major gifts in a more intentional way.More from Tammy ZonkerAuthor of Calling All HeroesFounder of Fundraising TransformedPresident of Modern Institute for Charitable GivingMajor Gifts Training: Excellence in Major Gift Fundraising SeminarConnect with Tammy Zonker on LinkedInResources: Show notes, links, and resources mentioned in this episode.Review my show: Please review my show. After you click the link, scroll to the bottom, first tap to rate with five stars, and then tap “Write a Review.” Then, let me know what you liked most about this particular episode or how you find my podcast helpful, valuable, insightful, or inspiring in some way.Privacy Policy: See Privacy Policy at https://www.fundraisingtransformed.com/policiesNewsletter: Subscribe to my Scaling Major Gifts weekly newsletter.
Mar 10, 2026 • 23min
Corporate Giving as a Major Gifts Lever
When one question unlocks three streams of giving In this week’s episode of The Intentional Fundraiser, I share the story of a longtime donor whose impact multiplied once we connected his personal philanthropy with his role as a corporate leader. We walk through practical ways to spot those “blended” opportunities, bring corporate options into donor conversations without feeling salesy, and use AI to uncover hidden corporate influence in your portfolio.Are you leaving corporate partnership potential sitting quietly inside your major gift file right now?Listen to this episode of “Corporate Giving as a Major Gifts Lever” and share it with your team, your executive director, and your board.More from Tammy ZonkerAuthor of Calling All HeroesFounder of Fundraising TransformedPresident of Modern Institute for Charitable GivingMajor Gifts Training: Excellence in Major Gift Fundraising SeminarConnect with Tammy Zonker on LinkedInResources: Show notes, links, and resources mentioned in this episode.Review my show: Please review my show. After you click the link, scroll to the bottom, first tap to rate with five stars, and then tap “Write a Review.” Then, let me know what you liked most about this particular episode or how you find my podcast helpful, valuable, insightful, or inspiring in some way.Privacy Policy: See Privacy Policy at https://www.fundraisingtransformed.com/policiesNewsletter: Subscribe to my Scaling Major Gifts weekly newsletter.
Mar 3, 2026 • 24min
Next-Gen Major Donors and the New Rules of Engagement
The biggest donors aren’t “the future” anymore. They’re already here. In my latest episode of The Intentional Fundraiser, I share what I’m seeing as younger, women, and values‑driven donors rewrite the rules of major giving. From shorter cultivation cycles to co‑designing impact and bringing families and circles into the conversation, I walk you through real stories and practical moves you can start testing right away.If donors want speed, transparency, and a true voice at the table, what needs to change first in your approach🎧 Listen to this episode and share it with a colleague, your executive director, or a board member who needs to hear this conversation.More from Tammy ZonkerAuthor of Calling All HeroesFounder of Fundraising TransformedPresident of Modern Institute for Charitable GivingMajor Gifts Training: Excellence in Major Gift Fundraising SeminarConnect with Tammy Zonker on LinkedInGuest: Name, Title, CompanyResources: Show notes, links, and resources mentioned in this episode.Review my show: Please review my show. After you click the link, scroll to the bottom, first tap to rate with five stars, and then tap “Write a Review.” Then, let me know what you liked most about this particular episode or how you find my podcast helpful, valuable, insightful, or inspiring in some way.Privacy Policy: See Privacy Policy at https://www.fundraisingtransformed.com/policiesNewsletter: Subscribe to my Scaling Major Gifts weekly newsletter.
28 snips
Feb 24, 2026 • 24min
Your 2026 Case for Transformational Gifts
They explore why many fundraising cases feel stuck in the past and list five red flags that turn donors off. Learn the five core elements of a modern case: problem, vision, path, proof, and invitation. Practical tactics include crafting time-bound visions, concise paths, tailored addenda, using AI for personalization, and pressure-testing drafts with trusted supporters.
22 snips
Feb 18, 2026 • 23min
Making Your Major Gift Portfolio Shock-Resistant
A nonprofit tale about what happens when one major supporter pauses and budgets wobble. Practical topics include mapping your top donors, spotting concentration and sector risk, and using simple spreadsheets to analyze exposure. Strategies for securing multi-year commitments and involving leadership to diversify support are highlighted. Listeners get quick, actionable steps to strengthen portfolio resilience.
13 snips
Feb 10, 2026 • 21min
Discovery That Builds Trust, Not Pressure
A practical guide to turning tense discovery calls into relaxed, donor-centered conversations. A four-part framework for building trust through warm context, curiosity, deep listening, and clear next steps. Five open questions that invite donors to share values and stories. A simple AI workflow to capture notes and craft follow-ups. A seven-day challenge to practice these conversational skills.
Feb 3, 2026 • 16min
Turning Leaders into Effective Major Gift Partners
Leaders keep derailing donor visits?I can’t tell you how many times I’ve watched a beautifully teed‑up donor conversation go sideways the moment a well‑intentioned CEO or board member “pops in” unbriefed. You’ve done the research, built the relationship, framed the invitation…and then the message gets fuzzy, the energy shifts, and the donor walks away more confused than inspired.In my latest episode of The Intentional Fundraiser, I share how I’ve learned to turn those moments from chaotic to coordinated over nearly 30 years in major gifts. I walk you through the exact one‑page pre‑brief I use, how I coach leaders before we ever step into the room, and the subtle phrases I rely on to gently steer things back on track when conversations drift.You’ll hear stories from real visits, practical language you can borrow with your own executives and board members, and a few ways AI can quietly help you prep and debrief meetings without losing the human touch.What would change for your major gift program if every leader who joined a donor meeting showed up prepared, concise, and aligned with you?Listen to “Turning Leaders into Effective Major Gift Partners,” and if it’s helpful, share it with a colleague or board member who often joins you in donor conversations.Guest: Name, Title, CompanyResources: Show notes, links, and resources mentioned in this episode.Review my show: Please review my show. After you click the link, scroll to the bottom, first tap to rate with five stars, and then tap “Write a Review.” Then, let me know what you liked most about this particular episode or how you find my podcast helpful, valuable, insightful, or inspiring in some way.Privacy Policy: See Privacy Policy at https://www.fundraisingtransformed.com/policiesNewsletter: Subscribe to my Scaling Major Gifts weekly newsletter.
15 snips
Jan 27, 2026 • 21min
Making Stewardship Personal, Scalable, Sustainable
They tackle donor-care burnout and why trying to do everything for everyone fails. A three-tier stewardship system for high, mid, and automated touches is laid out. Practical uses of automation and AI are discussed without losing warmth. A 90-day stewardship map and a quick 45–60 minute challenge help teams move from frantic to steady.
