The Work of Exploration

Each week I write this Breakthru Guide as a small act of devotion: to join with givers, to honor this great vocation, and to stand with the brave souls who keep showing up everyday and extending invitations.

💖Please share with your friends who are on the frontlines raising funds for amazing causes💖

Welcome to the newcomers!

(This is part 7 of the INSPIRED series - “E is for Exploration”. See previous posts here.)

I’m excited to share that I’ve stepped into a new role at Sinapis - their first full-time Director of Advancement.

It feels like a meaningful step forward, for both of us. Alongside the anticipation and optimism, there’s another sensation too: the feeling of walking into a clearing I didn’t know was there. Open. Promising. Unfamiliar.

Some of my most trusted friends in the giving world - people who are discerning, experienced, and not easily impressed - have long called Sinapis their favorite charity. I first heard about it through one of them. Then I met the team. Then I began to understand the work.

And I caught myself asking: Could this be the next chapter I didn’t know I was ready for?‍

A New Chapter Always Asks Something of You‍

Sinapis has enormous potential, and they’re still growing into it. There’s a bold vision paired with a lean budget. They’ve never had a fully integrated advancement strategy before.

They want to grow - fast. Which means the real challenge isn’t just building a strategy - it’s earning the trust to build it well.

‍The Clarity Came Through People‍

What ultimately confirmed this step for me wasn’t a job description. It was the people.

I saw the quality of the staff. I already knew several members of the advisory board - wise, humble, capable leaders. That matters.  It’s often the clearest marker of whether new territory is worth exploring: Who do you have around you?‍

I listened to how they spoke about the mission. I watched how they showed up. And it became clear - this wasn’t just a worthy cause. This was a team I wanted to serve alongside.

‍Risk and Awareness‍

Every new day, week, month - every season - carries risk. You know this.

You risk being misunderstood. You risk discovering things you didn’t know to ask about. You risk failing publicly - or at least feeling like you might.

But risk isn’t the most important part of beginning something new. Awareness is.

Awareness of your posture.
Awareness of the culture you’re stepping into.
Awareness of how your emotions feel louder, heavier, quicker to respond.

In moments like this, water doesn’t roll off your back the way it normally does - it soaks in. It permeates.

So you move carefully.
Patiently.
Curiously.

It means staying awake to the story you’re stepping into  - not rushing to control or fix it, but listening well enough to learn.

Ask generous questions.
Name what you’re noticing.
Resist the urge to prove yourself before you’ve truly listened.

And if you’re new to a role, a team, or a season of fundraising leadership, hear this: you don’t have to get everything right. You just have to pay attention.

‍How I Want to Show Up‍

I want to be a strong and reliable leader.
I want to hire responsibly.
I want to steward the budget well.
I want to raise a great deal of money for this mission I deeply believe in.

But before all of that - I want to be present.

I want to see the culture clearly.
To earn trust one conversation at a time.
To let this chapter shape me - not just stretch me.

And I want to walk with the Spirit through all of it - especially the parts that feel new. Or unpredictable. Or unfinished.

‍A Word for the Week Ahead‍

New chapters rarely announce themselves with fanfare. They don’t always arrive with clean calendars or five-step plans.

But if you’re paying attention - if you’re listening closely - you may discover the Spirit is already walking ahead of you.  Not pushing you forward, but inviting you onward.

This week, look for the invitation into a new chapter.

You might hear it in a conversation.
In a question.
In an unexpected open door.

Consider how you’ll show up.
Pay attention.
Ask good questions.
And let the Spirit lead the next step.

* * * * * * * * * *

‍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:

* Major Gift Fundraising MRI Scan - A story-based self-assessment that helps you name your instincts, clarify your posture, and grow with intention. Takes less than 20 minutes and gives you a custom coaching summary based on your responses.

* JappaFry Writer - A freely available AI tool that draws from over 175 pages of original teaching, storytelling, frameworks, and strategy from my 30 year career in major gift fundraising.

‍* 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,