Hey Fundraiser! Podcast

    Scripts, strategy, and the shorter path to major gifts.

    Hosted by Mary Petersen, a major gift practitioner with 25+ years in the trenches. No theory, no fluff. Every episode gives you one practical move you can use this week.

    Latest Episodes

    Oct 09, 2026

    Your Donor Isn’t Stuck. Your Cultivation Strategy Is.

    Is your donor really stuck, or is your cultivation strategy stuck? In this episode of Hey Fundraiser!, Mary explains the difference between a touch and a move, and why activity alone does not create major gifts. You’ll learn how to give every donor ...

    Oct 02, 2026

    Stop Selling Programs: How to Position Offers and Outcomes So Donors Understand Them

    If your major gift opportunities sound like a menu of programs, you may be unintentionally teaching donors to restrict their giving. In this episode of Hey Fundraiser!, Mary goes deeper on Offers & Outcomes and shows how to position your work around...

    Sep 25, 2026

    You Found a Great Major Gift Prospect. Now How the Heck Do You Get in the Door?

    You found the perfect major gift prospect. Great capacity, strong giving history, real connection to your mission...and they will not respond. In this episode of Hey Fundraiser!, Mary tackles one of the hardest parts of major gift fundraising: getti...

    Sep 18, 2026

    If I Had to Build a Major Gift Program From Scratch, Here’s Exactly What I’d Do

    If Mary walked into a nonprofit tomorrow and had one year to build a major gift program from scratch, what would she do first, what would she ignore, and where would she spend her time? In this episode of Hey Fundraiser!, Mary breaks down the seven ...

    Sep 11, 2026

    How to Inspire Unrestricted Major Gifts and Build Donor Trust

    Why do donors happily fund programs but hesitate to fund the people, systems, and infrastructure that make those programs possible? In this episode of Hey Fundraiser!, Mary breaks down how to inspire more unrestricted major gifts by building deeper ...

    Sep 04, 2026

    5 Questions I Get As a Major Gift Coach

    How many times can you follow up with a donor before you become annoying? How do you actually know when it’s time to ask? What happens if you ask for too much? Do you need a polished proposal before you ever talk about money? And where do you even b...

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