[AI-assisted for speed.]
Fundraising isn’t about asking for money. It’s about building a relationship around shared work—in real time, with real stakes.
That’s hard to do well.
Most people default to pitching. Or they try to win over the donor with detail, charm, or strategy. But the real craft lies in creating a different kind of exchange. One that invites full presence. One that builds authorship. One that creates the conditions where the other person decides: I want to do this with you.
This series lays out the practice—how to structure the conversation, what to listen for, and how to shape the underlying posture that makes fundraising feel more like collaboration than performance.
If you only ever share one link, share this one.
How to Run a Fundraising Meeting
Start here. This is the structure. The pacing. The arc.
Most people show up to your meeting thinking they’re the judge. Your job is to subtly shift that dynamic—to create a shared project. This post lays out the five key moves that help you do that:
- Get them talking (immediately)
- Let them name the stakes
- Build the idea together
- Introduce a real next step
- Unlock the network
This piece reads quickly—but it holds the skeleton of the whole practice.
Why People Give, What Makes Them Stay, and How It All Pays Off
What motivates someone to give? What makes them keep giving?
This post walks through the full range of reasons people engage—intellectual, emotional, spiritual, social, strategic—and shows you how to design for them. It covers:
- The 14 reasons people give (beyond just “believing in the cause”)
- What makes someone feel included and empowered
- How emotional buy-in leads to long-term investment and risk tolerance
It’s not a theory of generosity. It’s a practical design guide for how to make people want to be in the work with you.
The Five Rules for Raising Money
This is the philosophical core.
The Five Rules tell you why it works—and what not to forget along the way. They’re sharp, specific, and deeply field-tested. They cover:
- Why there is no transaction in nonprofit fundraising
- Why you must center the work—not your organization
- Why everything should stay emergent
- Why emotion sells and detail justifies
- Why you must share credit and authorship
Together, they reframe the job: not as pitching, but as inviting someone to claim a piece of the work as their own.
Reading the Room
How do you know if it’s working?
This post helps you diagnose a meeting in real time. What does emotional, intellectual, or creative presence actually look like? What do you do when the conversation stalls? How do you bring someone back into the work when they start to drift?
Includes:
- Signs you’re losing the room
- What to listen for beyond content
- How to adjust the rhythm without breaking trust
- Why closing happens in coats of paint—not a straight line
It’s especially useful if you’re training others or troubleshooting your own meetings.
Geoffrey MacDougall 
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