Keep Showing Up
Alright friends - the JappaFry Writer is officially available to the general public.
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Also - thanks to those who completed the 60-second feedback survey. If you haven’t yet, I’d be grateful if you jumped in and shared your ratings.
While the JappaFry Writer is primarily based on my approach to major gift fundraising strategies, you can also use it to ask questions about the online Catalyst Course, live coaching, pricing, daily pro tips, and how to subscribe to The Breakthru Guide.
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This is the third in a series of five guides to help major gift fundraisers build an online presence that’s clear, sacred, and truly results-driven. You can find the introduction and previous posts by visiting The Breakthru Blog.
You’ve heard me say it before. You don’t need a viral moment.
You need a rhythm.
By now, you know what to post - honest answers to real questions.
You also know you don’t need to pitch - you need to teach.
What most fundraisers underestimate, though, is how much trust is built through quiet, consistent presence.
Not flash. Not flair. Just faithfulness.
Rhythm Over Reach
If you post once, it’s a splash. If you post every week, it’s a pattern. And patterns shape perception.
It’s tempting to think every post has to showcase your best thinking - but it doesn’t.
Your readers just need to know you’re still thinking - and still showing up.
They need to see that you’re in the work - not just when it’s campaign season, or the gala’s near, or a big ask is on the horizon. But when it’s quiet. When it’s Tuesday. When you’re doing the daily faithful work of learning and sharing what’s real inside your mission.
What Rhythm Looks Like
Here’s what I recommend to get started:
* Draft one short-form post per week - Something honest, story-driven, and under 200 words.
* Draft one donor email per month - It doesn’t have to be a full newsletter with multiple articles. Just a short, useful note.
* Keep a running list of questions you’ve been asked - This becomes your content bank - no overthinking required.
This isn’t a publishing strategy.
It’s a presence strategy.
Take some time to experiment with your favorite AI writing tool to help refine your ideas and express yourself clearly.
Most of the time, your posts and emails should skip a call to action (CTA). The primary invitation is to invite interaction by stoking curiosity: more questions leads to more conversation.
It’s natural to have CTAs (to give, volunteer, RSVP, etc.) from time to time, so I recommend throwing one in about 10% of the time, or once every 10 posts.
What to Post When You Feel Boring
Here are a few rhythm-friendly prompts when your brain is tired and your calendar is full:
🧠“Here’s one thing I’ve been thinking about this week…”
🗣“A donor asked me this recently, and I’m still chewing on it…”
📖“This moment reminded me why I believe in this work…”
🙏“We’re praying over some decisions right now. If you’re so inclined, we welcome your prayers too.”
🔄“Here’s a post I wrote six months ago - and why it still matters.”
You’re not showing off. You’re showing up.
The Sacred Rhythm
Those of you who follow my posts on LinkedIn and other platforms will find these suggestions very familiar. I’m not asking you to do something that I haven’t been doing (for over 2 years now).
Some of you have asked me what tools I rely on to stay consistent. Here’s my tech stack:
* Google Docs - for drafting and idea capture
* JappaFry Writer (ChatGPT) - for ideation and voice consistency
* Buffer - to schedule posts and stay visible
* Mailchimp - to deliver The Breakthru Guide each weekend
* PowerPoint + Snipping Tool - to create quick visuals or slides
* Word for Windows (Stock Images) - for simple, royalty-free imagery
* Google Alerts - to stay aware of relevant trends or updates
* A human editor (aka “Mom”) - for clarity, tone, and a final gut check
Most of these tools have free versions - enough to get started without spending a dime. Use what works for your brain. I’m putting out 2,500 to 3,000 words of content per week, so these tools save me hours of time.
Faithfulness isn’t flashy.
But for major gift fundraisers, it may be the most powerful and sacred posture you can hold. Faithfulness to your message. Faithfulness to your givers. Faithfulness to your own voice.
It won’t always be exciting. But it will be effective and sustainable over time.
Trust doesn’t arrive all at once. It’s built layer by layer.
Every post you write, every story you tell, every clear moment you share is another layer.
My charge to you for this week
✅ Carve out 45 minutes to ideate
Set aside time during your most productive time of day and brainstorm ideas.
✅ Pick a day and post.
Post something short, honest, and clear.
✅ Add a “posting” reminder to your calendar.
Set it to repeat weekly. Title it “Teach, don’t pitch.”
Do this consistently and you’re on your way to becoming a trusted guide.
In next week’s post, we’ll explore how the use of video can accelerate trust - and why it might be your most underrated fundraising tool.
Until then, remember:
The algorithm isn’t your audience.
Faithfulness is the goal.
And your voice matters - even when the room is quiet.
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If you haven't taken advantage of some of the resources I've created to help major gift fundraisers, take a look now! Initial calls with me are free and "no strings attached". Sometimes folks feel like they need to wait and not 'bother' me until they have a pressing issue. No need for that...just make the call. 🕺
Here's where you can access a lot of content for free:
* Follow me on LinkedIn - You'll get short pro-tips and reflections on major gift fundraising every day between 5-7am pacific.
* Breakthru Newsletter - As you've seen here, these are longer weekly posts (audio and written) sent directly to your email.
* Breakthru Blog - the newsletter from the previous week gets posted here each week for everyone (so email subscribers get it a week early).
* Breakthru Podcast - Interviews with high net worth givers about how we as fundraisers can get better at inviting them to the party. And audio readings of Breakthru Blog posts.
Before getting to the PAID stuff: My opinion is that no small ministry with a tight budget should be spending more than $3-5k (total) for major gift coaching/consulting. Most of you will be good-to-go spending far less than that. This was a major issue for me when I was a frontline fundraiser - major gift consultants were an expensive 'black-box-of-confusion' for me. That stops now.
Here's the PAID stuff:
* Online Catalyst Course - This is a full brain dump of my 28+ years of experience - good, bad, ugly. It's built around the fundamentals, the sacredness, and the fun, of major gift fundraising. It's infused with Henri Nouwen reflections. Many people can take this course and they will be 'cooking-with-gas' and not need any additional coaching from me on the core systems. I'm grateful that this course has gotten *great* reviews.
* Live coaching with me - I refer to this as "brain rental". The ROI on live coaching, as you might imagine, is extraordinary.
Finally, be sure to connect with my colleague Ivana Salloum. She's super awesome and can help with scheduling and access to resources, etc.
I look forward to hearing about your good work!
Blessings,
