Fundraising Leadership

David and Margaret dive into the ways that Leadership and Emotional Intelligence can help when relationships get hard. They announced a free masterclass on June 4th, 2025, to provide tools for improving emotional awareness and communication. Reading the Space Margaret shares that for the recording of the podcast, she is wearing an orange sticky note. […] The post Ep 159: Leadership and Emotional Intelligence appeared first on Fundraising Leadership .

Margaret and David discuss David’s new book, “Using Your Mind for a Healthier and Happier Life.” David’s most recent book is a series of short essays inspired by Buddhist teachings. It blends principles of psychology, mindfulness, and leadership to provide actionable strategies that foster happiness, health, and resilience in life. Nuggets of Wisdom, Nuggets of […] The post Ep 158: Using Your Mind for a Healthier and Happier Life appeared first on Fundraising Leadership .

Choice in Personal Growth and Leadership Margaret and guest and fellow fundraising professional Jenny Mitchell address the power of choice and its impact on personal growth, leadership and decision-making. The conversation opened with the age-old nonprofit challenge about how navigating board relationships is challenging for most nonprofit leaders. They explored how choice can help these […] The post Ep 157: Choice in Personal Growth and Leadership appeared first on Fundraising Leadership .

David and Margaret and their special guest, Amy Daughters, tackle the dying art of using handwritten letters to foster relationships. Wait, like handwritten letters? With a pen? These days, kids can’t even read cursive. They don’t know where to put stamps on an envelope. It might be a dying art. But our hosts want our […] The post Ep 155: Handwritten Letters to Foster Relationships appeared first on Fundraising Leadership .

Dealing with the Death of a Loved One In this episode, David and Margaret discussed the topic of dealing with the death of a loved one — an admittedly uncomfotable topic. Margaret had just learned about the death of a person she cared deeply about — and was feeling the loss. Margaret shared that her […] The post Ep 154: Dealing with the Death of a Loved One appeared first on Fundraising Leadership .

With People, slow is fast and fast is slow David and Margaret discussed the significance of Stephen Covey’s saying, “With people, slow is fast and fast is slow.” Inspired by David’s slow recover from knee surgery — including his choice of entertainment during his convalescence — our hosts talk about what “slow” might mean. David […] The post Ep 153: With People Slow is Fast and Fast is Slow appeared first on Fundraising Leadership .

Embracing Disruptive Events: The Paradox of Planned Disruption Embracing disruptive events and emotions? How in the world is one supposed to do that? In the episode, as David prepares for an upcoming surgery, David and Margaret have a look at the seeming paradox of planned disruptive events. Examples might include a surgery or significant life […] The post Ep 152: Embracing Disruptive Events and Emotions appeared first on Fundraising Leadership .

What’s in your 2024 rearview mirror and 2025 windshield? This episode takes a look backwards in 2024 (the rearview mirror) and what’s ahead (through the windshield) for 2025. Margaret and David aren’t fans of making resolutions. But they are all about being intentional about who you want to BE in the coming year. Tune in […] The post Ep 151: 2024 Rearview Mirror and 2025 Windshield appeared first on Fundraising Leadership .

In this episode, David and Margaret discuss the power of bringing your heart to work. “Empathy Techniques” vs. Genuine Empathy Our hosts heard the term “empathy techniques” recently while listening to a refresh of the Positive Intelligence programs — and felt compelled to double click on this concept. How is an empathy technique different from […] The post Ep 150: Bringing Your Heart to Work appeared first on Fundraising Leadership .

David and Margaret share their strategies for dealing with uncertainty and making decisions. How DO leaders make decisions, particularly when the stakes are high? The conversation originated from David’s process when he and his wife had to decide whether or not to evacuate as Hurricane Milton approached. As a resident of the West Coast of […] The post Ep 149: Dealing with Uncertainty and Making Decisions appeared first on Fundraising Leadership .

Taking on challenges: what goes into whether you say yes or no? David and Margaret discussed their experiences with taking on challenges. They talk about how to evaluate their feasibility and impact. Taking on Challenges: Jumping into Really Cold Water … and a Big Social Media Goal David shared his experiences with taking on a […] The post EP 148: Taking on Challenges appeared first on Fundraising Leadership .

Here’s a sometimes shocking concept: when someone makes a request of you, you can say “yes,” “no,” or make a “counteroffer.” That is the power of choice. And people are sometimes quite surprised by this concept. David and Margaret dive into the importance of making and accepting requests in personal and professional relationships. They explore the […] The post Ep 146: The Power of Choice: Yes, No, or Counteroffer appeared first on Fundraising Leadership .

Michelle, Margaret, and David discussed their experiences dealing with exhaustion and depletion. It’s hard for them — and many others to balance personal responsibilities with professional leadership roles. And sometimes it feels even more challenging as one ages. David shared his recent experiences with moving, which felt exhausting and overwhelming. And both Michelle and Margaret […] The post Ep 145: Dealing with Exhaustion and Depletion appeared first on Fundraising Leadership .

Ever wondered what unleashing your inner second grader could teach you about leadership? And fundraising? It turns out quite a bit! When we become adults, we want to look good and avoid looking bad. We become complex. We move away from who we were as children. But children offer raw and unfiltered perspectives. They offer […] The post Ep 144: Unleashing Your Inner Second Grader appeared first on Fundraising Leadership .

In this season of graduations, Margaret and Michelle "double-click" on the importance of intentional completion. They look at when a completion is intentional, as it is with a graduation. Such intentional completions offer ritual and celebration. They also have a positive impact on family members. And when we look beyond graduation, our culture kind of […] The post Ep 143: Completion or Decay appeared first on Fundraising Leadership .

In this episode, Margaret and David delve into handling rejection and embracing new perspectives. No one likes getting a no. Not during a fundraising ask. Not during a potential sale. And not from a request to a family member. Sometimes, after getting a run of no’s, we feel like we should be due for a […] The post Ep 142: Handling Rejection and Embracing New Perspectives appeared first on Fundraising Leadership .

It was an unexpected twist. A seemingly benign LinkedIn training sent Margaret and David into a spiral to silence the inner critic. Here’s what happened. Margaret and David attended what promised to be a mundane topic: a training on how to write better posts on LinkedIn. David left the training beating himself about all he […] The post Ep 141: Discover the Secret to Silence the Inner Critic appeared first on Fundraising Leadership .

Coaching for Accountability What happens when a coach holds a client’s feet to the fire? And the follow-up question might reasonably be, “Why would anyone sign up for that??” Actually, accountability — which can feel a lot like having someone hold our feet to the fire — is one of the many tools coaches use […] The post EP 140: Coaching for Accountability appeared first on Fundraising Leadership .

Forgiveness and Self-Forgiveness Discussion Do you have a pain in your neck? Any chance it’s related to the practice of forgiveness? In this episode, David and Margaret share their insights on the practice of forgiveness. They focus particularly on self-forgiveness. Drawing from his experience managing self-criticism, David reveals how forgiveness has been a transformative practice […] The post Ep 139: The Practice of Forgiveness appeared first on Fundraising Leadership .

Master the Art of Coaching: Essential Skills for Leaders Leadership is no longer defined by barking orders and expecting compliance; in today’s dynamic work environments, the leaders who stand out are the ones who master the art of coaching. Coaching is a subtle yet powerful art of guiding, not directing, and helping individuals and teams […] The post Ep 138: Master the Art of Coaching appeared first on Fundraising Leadership .

Most of us set goals. Whether to finish our studies, get a promotion, meet a deadline for a project, or achieve a sales or fundraising target. But what happens when we fail to achieve what we aim for? We can sometimes feel disappointed, discouraged, and even ashamed. However, contrary to popular belief, failing to achieve […] The post Ep 135: Confronting Failure appeared first on Fundraising Leadership .

Margaret and David recently discussed the topic of (sometimes not so) graceful endings. You know the ones: a project ends, a marriage dissolves, or a loved one passes. You can read more about that topic in David’s Blogpost here. If you’re coming to the end of something in your life, feel free to reach out […] The post Ep 134: On Graceful Endings appeared first on Fundraising Leadership .

Join Margaret and Janice as they explore the topic and the science of feeling stuck with guest Britt Frank, a clinician, educator, and trauma specialist. Most people beat themselves up when they feel stuck or unmotivated, but there is science behind our stuck-ness that might invite us into a different relationship with it. Britt offers […] The post Ep: 133 The Science of Stuck appeared first on Fundraising Leadership .

Do you create detailed plans, set goals, and schedule your days to control every aspect of your life? Do you also find that as much as you try to maintain a sense of predictability, life throws curveballs that can leave you frustrated and unfulfilled? In this episode, Margaret and David discuss a better approach: setting […] The post Ep: 132 Let Go of Control appeared first on Fundraising Leadership .

Discover the power of Leadership Stakes in the nonprofit world. Join Janice, David, Margaret, and Michelle in lively conversations, offering thought-provoking insights and practical demonstrations. Want to learn more? you can read our blog post about the importance of creating a stake here. We challenge our listeners to contemplate an upcoming conversation or group activity […] The post Ep: 131 Creating Leadership Stakes appeared first on Fundraising Leadership .

David and Michelle talk with the founder of ReD Associates, Christian Madsbjerg. Christian shares insights on seeing beyond the obvious, understanding social silences, and the power of deep observation in a world dominated by screens and opinions. You can read an excerpt of Christian’s latest book on our blog here. Get your copy of Look: How […] The post Ep: 130 How to Pay Attention in a Distracted World with Christian Madsbjerg appeared first on Fundraising Leadership .

Janice and Margaret chat with Homaira Kabir, a leadership coach and Founder and CEO of the Goodbye Perfect Project. They discuss her new book, Goodbye Perfect, and delve into the elements that contribute to a woman’s confidence, highlighting the distinctions between different levels and types of confidence. Homaira challenges listeners to try the SING exercise […] The post Ep: 129: How Women Can Say Goodbye to Perfect and Hello to Confidence appeared first on Fundraising Leadership .

The Fundraising Leadership team interview our very own David Langiulli regarding his latest book Wisdom From the Middle Ages For Living and Leading in Modern Times. The book is a translation and modern commentary on a collection of essays written by Thomas à Kempis. David explains the process behind choosing this particular topic and the […] The post Ep: 128 Wisdom From the Middle Ages with David Langiulli appeared first on Fundraising Leadership .

David and Margaret talk with Andre Sólo, a best-selling author and co-founder of the Sensitive Refuge. They explore the true essence of being a sensitive person. During their discussion, they delve into the scientific aspects of sensitivity and also the numerous advantages and talents that accompany it. Andre encourages listeners who question whether they are […] The post Ep: 127 Sensitivity with Andre Sólo appeared first on Fundraising Leadership .

Janice and Michele talk with Gretchen Rubin, one of today's most influential and thought-provoking observers of happiness and human nature. They discuss Gretchen’s latest book Life in Five Senses: How Exploring the Senses Got Me Out of My Head and Into the World. Gretchen shares the inspiration behind her book and the five senses project […] The post Ep: 126 Life in Five Senses With Gretchen Rubin appeared first on Fundraising Leadership .

Janice and Michelle welcome Sally Helgesen, a renowned authority on women’s leadership, best-selling author, and highly sought-after international speaker. In this episode, Sally shares practical insights on fostering inclusion, drawing from her extensive experience in this field. She discusses her new book, Rising Together: How We Can Bridge Divides and Create a More Inclusive Workplace. Sally […] The post Ep: 125 Rising Together With Sally Helgesen appeared first on Fundraising Leadership .

David and Michelle talk with Anita Nowak, certified coach and founder of Purposeful Empathy by Design, about her new book Purposeful Empathy. Anita shares the importance of purposeful empathy in creating a thriving workplace culture. She identifies five key challenges leaders commonly face and provides practical strategies for addressing them. She shares personal examples and […] The post Ep: 124 Six Steps to Purposeful Empathy with Anita Nowak appeared first on Fundraising Leadership .

The Fundraising Leadership Team discuss the hard lessons they have learned, or are learning, on their personal development journeys. Spoiler alert! It gets real and personal. We invite you to reflect on the lessons you continually have to learn. Our free resource today is an invitation to have a conversation with us. Please reach out […] The post Ep: 123 Learning Those Hard Personal Development Lessons appeared first on Fundraising Leadership .

Margaret and David talk with Valerie Tiberius about her new book What Do You Want Out of Life? A Philosophical Guide to Figuring Out What Matters. Valerie, an author and professor of philosophy, shares why she tackled such a lofty topic for a book. We delve deeply into values, and how we need to take […] The post Ep: 122 What Do You Want Out of Life? with Valerie Tiberius appeared first on Fundraising Leadership .

Janice and Margaret talk with Mike Rucker about his new book The Fun Habit. Mike, an author and organizational psychologist, shares the personal stories that inspired him to write this book and explains how focusing on fun (versus the pursuit of happiness) led him to a more fulfilled and happy life. We explore the importance […] The post Ep: 121 The Fun Habit With Mike Rucker appeared first on Fundraising Leadership .

As we begin the new year, we have a special episode with the entire Fundraising Leadership team. We each share our personal development origin stories and talk about why we are so passionate about doing this work in the nonprofit sector. It’s important to note that personal development isn’t easy and it can be uncomfortable […] The post Ep: 120 Personal Development with the Fundraising Leadership Team appeared first on Fundraising Leadership .

The nonprofit sector is constantly changing and staying ahead of the curve is essential. Advanced listening is a skill set you can use daily to help your organization grow. In this episode, David and Margaret talk with Mark Vincent, founder of the Design Group International. Mark shares his expertise in advanced listening as well as process […] The post Ep: 119 Advanced Listening for Fundraisers with Mark Vincent appeared first on Fundraising Leadership .

The Holiday season can be a magical time, but it can also be very challenging. In this mini-episode, David and Margaret chat about saboteurs that can show up to crash your party during the holiday season. They share tips on what to do when the stress and anxiety get overwhelming. If you want to learn more […] The post Growing Nonprofit Leaders - Holiday Saboteurs appeared first on Fundraising Leadership .

A culture of accountability is critical to keeping donors happy and growing your organization. What happens when deadlines are missed? In this mini-episode, Janice and Michelle continue their conversation on getting stuff done with a focus on creating a culture of accountability. They share why it is essential, how to create and maintain it, and what […] The post Growing Nonprofit Leaders - Creating a Culture of Accountability appeared first on Fundraising Leadership .

In this episode, David and Margaret talk with Lisa Gruenloh, Founder and President of Purpose Journey, Inc. Lisa is passionate about journaling. In this conversation, she shares how it not only helps with creativity and innovation, but also unlocks inner wisdom and self-compassion. You can read Lisa's full blog here. Lisa’s challenge for listeners is to start […] The post Ep 118: Journaling as a Leadership Practice with Lisa Gruenloh appeared first on Fundraising Leadership .

Do you indirectly try to gain acceptance and affection by helping, pleasing, rescuing, or flattering others? Well, you might be suffering from the Pleaser Saboteur. In this mini-episode, David and Margaret continue their conversation on Positive Intelligence with the Pleaser Saboteur. They discuss some of the causes and impacts of this Saboteur and what leaders can do […] The post Growing Nonprofit Leaders – The Pleaser Saboteur appeared first on Fundraising Leadership .

In this episode, Michelle and Janice talk with return guest Kimberley MacKenzie. This conversation echoes many that are currently happening in the nonprofit sector. What happens when we lose our passion for our work? We talk about the importance of values and Kimberley shares a powerful question that helped her regain her passion. Kimberley challenges […] The post Ep 117: Finding your way with Kimberley MacKenzie appeared first on Fundraising Leadership .

When things go unfinished in a workplace, it can create negativity, blame, and shame. How can leaders help create accountability without judgment? In this mini-episode, Janice and Michelle discuss three ways leaders can get things done and empower their teams in the process. Our challenge this week is to utilize the 3 questions during your next […] The post Growing Nonprofit Leaders - 3 Ways to Get Stuff Done appeared first on Fundraising Leadership .

It is extremely important that women talk about money, not only to help themselves but for the good of the world. In this episode, Michelle and Margaret talk with Jane Finette, Founder & Executive Director at The Women’s Impact Alliance. She shares why it is important for women to talk about money. She discusses the […] The post Ep 116: Actually Talking About Money with Jane Finette appeared first on Fundraising Leadership .

It’s easy to reward things that are straightforward to document. But how can we reward fundraising metrics that don’t appear in our CRM? In this episode, Janice and Margaret talk with Joe Torres, Executive Director of the Grand Challenges Canada Foundation. Joe shares his thoughts on fundraising metrics and rewards and why we must keep […] The post Ep 115: Expanding Fundraising Metrics with Joe Torres appeared first on Fundraising Leadership .

Have you ever been to a meeting, and after it was said and done, it left you feeling like it should have been an email? What makes meetings suck, and how can we improve them? In this mini episode, Janice and Michelle talk about how to make meetings more impactful, engaging and enjoyable. Remember to download […] The post Growing Nonprofit Leaders - 5 Ways to Run a Meeting That Doesn’t Suck appeared first on Fundraising Leadership .

It’s no secret that the grant landscape has changed in the last couple of years. But how can you use tech to maximize your efforts? Today, Michelle and Margaret talk with Gauri Manglik, the Co-founder, and CEO of Instrumentl. Gauri has a bird’s eye view of the changing grant space and shares how we can […] The post Ep 114: Grant Trends and Technology with Gauri Manglik appeared first on Fundraising Leadership .

Continuing with our exploration of the Positive Intelligence (PQ) program, we decided to take a break from the negative mind patterns and focus on some positives. David and Margaret discuss the Sage Perspective, which is the mindset that anything can be turned into a gift or opportunity. Now we aren’t going to say it will […] The post Growing Nonprofit Leaders - Sage Perspective appeared first on Fundraising Leadership .

What is Social Change Philanthropy, and why is it so difficult to fundraise for? Today, Janice and Margaret welcome back returning guest Cathy Mann, Founder, and President of the Fundraising Lab. We explore social change philanthropy and it’s challenges when compared to traditional fundraising. We also discuss opportunities to engage in the deeper conversations that […] The post Ep 113: Social Change Philanthropy with Cathy Mann appeared first on Fundraising Leadership .

What is healthy conflict, and why is it important in your organization? Today Janice and Michelle are talking about healthy conflict and why it is vital to have in your organization. They share a new model for healthy conflict and an example of dealing with conflict on your team. If you haven’t listened to their previous […] The post Growing Nonprofit Leaders - A New Model to Create Healthy Conflict appeared first on Fundraising Leadership .

You might ask yourself, what does Fundraising Leadership do, and how can we help your organization? In this special episode of the podcast, the whole team is together to talk about the benefits of coaching and training for nonprofit teams. If you would like to contact us to learn more, you can do that here […] The post Ep 112: What Does Fundraising Leadership Actually Do? appeared first on Fundraising Leadership .