Skip to content
Artwork for The Intentional Fundraiser Podcast
The Intentional Fundraiser Podcast · July 14 · 18 min

It Takes a Village: Internal Partners in Major Gifts

A gift once took eleven months to close. Not because the donor said no. Because one person was carrying five jobs. On this week's episode of The Intentional Fundraiser, I tell the story of a major gift that stalled for nearly a year, and what finally unstuck it. Spoiler: it wasn't a better pitch. It was the right people in the room. We talk about: Why cross-functional collaboration is non-negotiable in 2026 Who belongs at your major gifts table How to run a focused 30-minute coalition meeting that gets real results Who on your team, outside of development, deserves more credit for your last big gift? Listen to this episode and send it to a colleague who's ready to stop carrying major gifts alone. More from Tammy Zonker Author of Calling All Heroes Founder of Fundraising Transformed President of Modern Institute for Charitable Giving Learn more about the Excellence in Major Gift Fundraising Seminar Subscribe to Tammy Zonker's Scaling Major Gifts newsletter Connect with Tammy Zonker on LinkedIn Resources: Show notes, links, and resources mentioned in this episode. Review my show: Please review my show. After you click the link, scroll to the bottom, first tap to rate with five stars, and then tap “Write a Review.” Then, let me know what you liked most about this particular episode or how you find my podcast helpful, valuable, insightful, or inspiring in some way. Privacy Policy: See Privacy Policy at https://www.fundraisingtransformed.com/policies

0:00-18:15

transcript

No transcript — this publisher did not publish one.

show notes

A gift once took eleven months to close. Not because the donor said no.

Because one person was carrying five jobs.

On this week's episode of The Intentional Fundraiser, I tell the story of a major gift that stalled for nearly a year, and what finally unstuck it. Spoiler: it wasn't a better pitch. It was the right people in the room.

We talk about:

  • Why cross-functional collaboration is non-negotiable in 2026
  • Who belongs at your major gifts table
  • How to run a focused 30-minute coalition meeting that gets real results

Who on your team, outside of development, deserves more credit for your last big gift?

Listen to this episode and send it to a colleague who's ready to stop carrying major gifts alone.

More from Tammy Zonker

Author of Calling All Heroes

Founder of Fundraising Transformed

President of Modern Institute for Charitable Giving

Learn more about the Excellence in Major Gift Fundraising Seminar

Subscribe to Tammy Zonker's Scaling Major Gifts newsletter

Connect with Tammy Zonker on LinkedIn

Resources: Show notes, links, and resources mentioned in this episode.

Review my show: Please review my show. After you click the link, scroll to the bottom, first tap to rate with five stars, and then tap “Write a Review.” Then, let me know what you liked most about this particular episode or how you find my podcast helpful, valuable, insightful, or inspiring in some way.

Privacy Policy: See Privacy Policy at https://www.fundraisingtransformed.com/policies

links9