What Counts as a Good Week in Major Gift Fundraising?

This is post #1 of The Clear-Eyed Series: An Exit Strategy from Confusion

‍Over several weeks we’re taking a clear-eyed look at the work itself - not a checklist to complete or a new system to master, but a steady way of orienting ourselves when anxiety creeps in and the work starts to feel elusive.

If you’re new here, welcome!

And if you’ve been around for a while, consider this your weekly reminder to slow down, take stock, and remember what the work really is.

Take a few moments to sit with this question:
‍What counts as a good week in major gift fundraising?‍

When you think about some of your best weeks in this work, what were you actually doing? What happened that made them feel solid - or even meaningful?

There’s a particular kind of anxiety that lives in major gift work. A low-grade hum that never fully turns off. Questions that keep tapping us on the shoulder:
😬 Did I do enough?
💪 Should I have pushed harder?
🤦 Why hasn’t anyone responded?
👀 Am I missing something everyone else knows?

After three decades in this work, one question rises above the rest. I hear it again and again: “What should I actually be doing in a given week to be doing this well?”

It’s a good question. An honest one. And it deserves a clear answer.

So let me offer you one.

A good week in major gift fundraising is not measured by dollars raised. 

If dollars are the only thing you measure, anxiety will always be in charge.

A good week is measured by faithfulness to the work that actually builds trust.

Here’s what counts:
✔️Relational faithfulness
✔️Good conversations

Two or three meaningful conversations a day is a strong - and sustainable - rhythm. These conversations happen with a mix of active givers, trusted connectors, and prospective partners.

Some conversations are specific about giving.
Some simply deepen trust.
Some surprise.

All of that movement matters.

This is the quiet magic of steady relationship cultivation and long-term stewardship.

A good week might also include a shared experience with a giver or prospect.
A meal.
A walk.
Laughter.
Play.

Occasionally, a good week includes a meaningful interaction with extended family. These moments often signal depth, not speed.

And sometimes - a very good week includes a Journey of Generosity retreat with givers and prospects. These are rare and powerful. They are never routine. They are always a gift.

‍Systems that reduce anxiety‍

A good week includes clean documentation.
Conversations captured.
Details recorded.
Stories noted.

The CRM often feels like a bureaucratic requirement. But in practice, it’s something else entirely: a shared memory. One that steadies the work and frees your mind.

A good week often begins with a handful of meetings already scheduled. Not a full calendar. Just enough to know the week has shape.

A good week includes a healthy mix of productive activity.
Not everything lands.
Not everything pays off immediately.
That’s normal.

Forward motion still counts.

‍Sacred grounding‍

A good week includes specific prayer:
🙏Prayer for clear messaging
🙏Prayer for savvy networking
🙏Prayer for invitations and proposals under consideration
🙏Prayer for givers and their families
🙏Prayer for favor with hearts and spirits
🙏Prayer for spiritual protection

A good week might also include fresh stories from the field - stories that amaze you again. Stories that remind you why this work matters. Stories that steady your heart.

‍Right-sized outcomes‍

A good week sometimes includes a successful invitation extended. Sometimes it includes a positive decision. 

Sometimes it includes a negative decision.

And that still counts.
A decision brings clarity.
Clarity is progress.

A good week might include responses from key people you reached out to.
And sometimes it doesn’t.
Silence is not always a verdict.

A good week might include celebration with staff -
naming good work,
laughing together,
Letting joy surface.

‍A gentle way to hold all of this

Here’s a simple way I think about it:

* Some things are essential and ideally happen every week. You have a lot of control over those things.
* Some things are important and tend to happen a few times a month. You have some control over those things.
* Some things are icing on the cake. These can make a good week great, and you have very little control over those things.‍

If you talked with people this week, tended relationships with care, documented what mattered, and stayed grounded in prayer, you did the work.

Results will follow in their time.

May you be freed from the pressure to force outcomes.
May you notice the quiet progress happening beneath the surface.
May your work be marked by curiosity, kindness, and patience.

And may you remember that faithfulness often looks ordinary - even as it is changing everything.

Here’s your starting point for a good week: 
Reach out to three people today.

* * * * * * * * * *

‍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,