A huge thank you to Keegan M. Bell, CFRE, Executive Vice President at the Irvine Public Schools Foundation, for joining me on Episode 10 of the Mastering Fundraising podcast. Keegan shared powerful insights on how to create layered donor relationships—connections that go beyond a single point of contact to involve development staff, executive leaders, and program teams. His approach reframes donor cultivation as a shared organizational responsibility and a reflection of leadership, not just fundraising. A few takeaways that really stood out: Donors should experience at least three types of relationships within an organization: development, executive, and program. Fundraising work is leadership work—it’s about vision, alignment, and shared purpose. Keegan’s personal philosophy of “refilling the cup of others” reminds us that supporting and sustaining our colleagues is just as vital as stewarding our donors. This conversation will resonate with anyone striving to build a stronger, more collaborative culture around fundraising and leadership. 🎧 Listen to Episode 10 of Mastering Fundraising to hear Keegan’s full insights and practical advice for every nonprofit leader. https://youtu.be/usBFf6FfYLk #Fundraising #NonprofitLeadership #Philanthropy #DonorEngagement #MasteringFundraising #FulcrumLeader #IrvinePublicSchoolsFoundation Fulcrum Nonprofit Leadership (Fulcrum) Christopher "Chris" Looney The Five Tool Fundraiser https://youtu.be/usBFf6FfYLk

🚨 New Episode Alert! 🚨 We’re thrilled to share the latest episode of the Mastering Fundraising Podcast, featuring an incredible conversation with Brian Hervey, Vice Chancellor for University Advancement and Alumni Relations at UC Irvine. Brian is a nationally recognized fundraising leader who guided UC Irvine through its historic $2 billion capital campaign—the largest in the university’s history. That effort didn’t just break records, it transformed the campus and expanded its impact on the region. 🎙 Why should you tune in? -Because this conversation offers a masterclass in: -Designing and executing a multi-billion-dollar campaign -Aligning philanthropy with institutional vision and strategy -Cultivating transformational donors while engaging the broader community -Building and motivating high-performing advancement teams -Navigating challenges, pivots, and lessons learned along the way -Spotting the trends shaping the future of fundraising If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to lead a campaign at this scale—or if you want to sharpen your own skills as a fundraiser—this episode is for you. #fundraising #philanthropy #masteringfundraising #ucirvine #leadership

Today on the Mastering Fundraising Podcast, I'm thrilled to welcome Kenya Beckmann, a respected leader in healthcare and higher education philanthropy and a key executive at Providence in California, one of the nation's largest health systems. Kenya brings extensive experience navigating the complexities of large, multi-entity fundraising environments. In this episode, we explore the shared support model—a strategic approach to fundraising that coordinates infrastructure and services across multiple foundations or agencies within a broader system. Kenya will share insights, lessons learned, and best practices that can help any fundraiser working in a federated or multi-unit setting. Whether you're supporting a local hospital foundation or leading enterprise-wide advancement operations, this conversation will shed light on what it takes to make shared services work—for fundraisers, for donors, and most importantly, for the mission.

Mastering Fundraising is a show for nonprofit leaders of all titles and all experience levels. Mastering Fundraising endeavors to cover the most important fundraising topics with the goal of helping the audience reach their full potential as fundraisers. Today on the Mastering Fundraising Podcast, we’re joined by Jim Boyle, who serves as the chief fundraiser on staff with the Charles Darwin Foundation based in the Galápagos Islands. Jim is working on one of the most ambitious and inspiring fundraising campaigns in the world to restore ecological balance to islands that are home to some of the planet’s most unique species. Beyond the boldness of that vision, Jim brings a deep perspective on what it takes to remain hopeful, optimistic, and motivated in the face of enormous challenges—whether it’s the soaring number of unhoused individuals in our communities, unchecked habitat loss, or the staggering scale of global ecosystem collapse. He reminds us that the fundraising journey isn’t just about dollars raised, but about sustaining our own spirit and energy for the long road ahead. Please like and follow this channel and the Mastering Fundraising Podcast as well as the Lead for Good and Nonprofit Edge Podcasts.

Today on the Mastering Fundraising Podcast, I’m thrilled to welcome Duane Rohrbacher, Executive Director of Development at UC Irvine. With extensive experience leading development operations in a major research university setting, Duane has been at the forefront of integrating innovative technologies — including artificial intelligence — to streamline fundraising processes, enhance donor engagement, and drive philanthropic impact. In this conversation, we’ll dive into how AI is transforming fundraising operations, what fundraisers need to know to leverage AI effectively, and the practical steps to adopt AI tools without losing the personal touch that makes philanthropy meaningful.

Mastering Fundraising is a show for nonprofit leaders of all titles and all experience levels. Mastering Fundraising endeavors to cover the most important fundraising topics with the goal of helping the audience reach their full potential as fundraisers. Today on Mastering Fundraising, we’re honored to welcome Dr. Sheryl A. Bourgeois, President and CEO of the Saint John’s Health Center Foundation in Santa Monica, California. Since her appointment in May 2023, Dr. Bourgeois has led the Foundation through its 50th anniversary year and surpassed its ambitious 2024 fundraising goal, raising more than $41 million to advance cutting‑edge medical care, research, and patient services. With a background in philanthropy leadership and a passion for community-driven impact, she guides strategic initiatives that fuel innovation at Providence Saint John’s Health Center—supporting areas from oncology and neuroscience to women’s health and community wellness. In our conversation, we’ll explore what inspired her journey into healthcare philanthropy, how she attempts to reinvent organizations that she leads, builds a culture of philanthropy, and build strategic planning with proper reporting. Mastering Fundraising is a collaboration between Fulcrum Nonprofit Leadership and The Five Tool Fundraiser.

Mastering Fundraising is a show for nonprofit leaders of all titles and all experience levels. Mastering Fundraising endeavors to cover the most important fundraising topics with the goal of helping the audience reach their full potential as fundraisers. Episode 4 is a conversation with Dyan Sublett, an extraordinary fundraiser and development professional, who shares about all the things she wished she knew as a fundraiser when she got her start in nonprofit leadership. She calls these the lessons learned from a fundraiser who followed her heart. Specifically, the audience will learn about the following concepts: The power of Yes; The importance of No; Staying or Leaving; Hiring for Grit; Budgeting and Building a Nontraditional Team; and Listening and Silence. Mastering Fundraising is a collaboration between Fulcrum Nonprofit Leadership and The Five Tool Fundraiser. #fundraising #masteringfundraising #development @advancement #charity #nonprofit #nonprofitleader #nonprofitleadership #nonprofits @FulcrumNonprofitLeadership @The5ToolFundraiser

Mastering Fundraising is a show for nonprofit leaders of all titles and all experience levels. Mastering Fundraising endeavors to cover the most important fundraising topics with the goal of helping the audience reach their full potential as fundraisers. Episode 3 is a conversation with John O’Gorman, an extraordinary fundraiser and development professional, who shares tips and guidance around donor engagement over an extended period of time. Mastering Fundraising is a collaboration between Fulcrum Nonprofit Leadership and The Five Tool Fundraiser. #fundraising #masteringfundraising #development @advancement #charity #nonprofit #nonprofitleader #nonprofitleadership #nonprofits @FulcrumNonprofitLeadership @The5ToolFundraiser

Mastering Fundraising is a show for nonprofit leaders of all titles and all experience levels. Mastering Fundraising endeavors to cover the most important fundraising topics with the goal of helping the audience reach their full potential as fundraisers. Episode 1 is a conversation with Bill Littlejohn, a truly extraordinary fundraiser and development professional, who shares tips and guidance on fundraising fundamentals like acquisition, retention, and growing giving levels. Mastering Fundraising is a collaboration between Fulcrum Nonprofit Leadership and The Five Tool Fundraiser. #fundraising #masteringfundraising #development @advancement #charity #nonprofit #nonprofitleader #nonprofitleadership #nonprofits @FulcrumNonprofitLeadership @The5ToolFundraiser ​

Mastering Fundraising is a show for nonprofit leaders of all titles and all experience levels. Mastering Fundraising endeavors to cover the most important fundraising topics with the goal of helping the audience reach their full potential as fundraisers. Episode 1 is a conversation with Claudia Looney, a truly extraordinary fundraiser and development professional, who shares tips and guidance on engaging board members successfully in the fundraising process. Mastering Fundraising is a collaboration between Fulcrum Nonprofit Leadership and The Five Tool Fundraiser. #fundraising #masteringfundraising #development @advancement #charity #nonprofit #nonprofitleader #nonprofitleadership #nonprofits @FulcrumNonprofitLeadership @The5ToolFundraiser