Abundant Vision Fundraising Podcast

Most fundraisers have never heard the term “gift theory.” Yet it may explain many of the frustrations we experience in our work.In this conversation, 

Jason Lewis and I explore a foundational question: what actually makes a gift different from a sale or a tax?

Jason introduces the concept of “modes of exchange” and explains how societies have historically organized themselves around three different ways of relating: gift, market, and coercion. 

We examine how modern fundraising may have borrowed too heavily from sales and bureaucratic models, and why that matters for donor retention, trust, and...

This bonus episode features the full Q&A from the Brady Ware webinar. Thomas answers practical questions about overcoming fear, stretching vision responsibly, building donor confidence, and creating the structures that keep fundraising focused and sustainable. This final installment brings together the most actionable insights from the entire series.
Looking for fundraising coaching? Check out www.abundantvision.net
Looking for accounting or advisory services? Visit bradyware.com

In Part Three of the Brady Ware training, Thomas focuses on the structures and weekly habits that drive major gift momentum. You will learn a simple rhythm for donor engagement, a practical meeting script that centers purpose, and a framework for aligning your time, message, and goals. Whether you lead a small shop or a large team, these disciplines help create steadiness, clarity, and long-term growth.
Looking for fundraising coaching? Check out www.abundantvision.net
Looking for accounting or advisory services? Visit bradyware.com

Part Two continues the Brady Ware webinar series with a deep dive into leadership vision and the emotional steadiness required for transformational philanthropy. Thomas walks through why donors respond to clarity, why vague vision creates doubt, and how leaders can cast a compelling future that donors want to join. The story of two university deans illustrates the difference between shrinking an opportunity and rising to it.
Looking for fundraising coaching? Check out www.abundantvision.net
Looking for accounting or advisory services? Visit bradyware.com

In Part One of this special three-part training, Thomas shares the opening portion of a webinar he delivered for Brady Ware’s nonprofit division. This session explores how personal history, family money messages, and early experiences with asking quietly shape the way fundraisers show up with donors. Thomas offers practical tools for grounding yourself in mission, understanding the roots of fear, and beginning the shift toward confidence and clarity in your solicitations.
Looking for fundraising coaching? Check out www.abundantvision.net
Looking for accounting or advisory services? Visit bradyware.com

December has a way of messing with a fundraiser’s head.

If you hit your goal, there is relief. If you came up short, it can feel like the year somehow failed. In this end of year episode, Tom Dauber reframes what a truly positive year-end looks like and why December does not define your worth as a fundraiser.

This episode is not about last-minute tactics or magical December hacks. It is about finishing the calendar year with integrity, clarity, and professionalism. Tom walks through how to redefine winning at year end, why gratitude must be...

After decades in fundraising, Joe Bull has seen nearly everything—from million-dollar surprises to the conversations that quietly define a donor’s legacy. In this episode, he joins Tom Dauber to share the stories, near-misses, and timeless lessons that shaped his approach to planned giving and donor relationships that last a lifetime.

In this conversation, Joe and Tom discuss:

Economic downturns test every fundraiser’s patience and creativity—but Joe Bull has seen enough recessions to know that generosity doesn’t disappear, it just shifts form. In this conversation, Joe and Tom Dauber unpack how planned giving holds steady when annual and major gifts tighten, and what leaders can do now to build resilience before the next market slide.

In this episode, Joe shares:

Joe Bull never set out to become one of the most respected voices in planned giving. Trained in law and athletic administration, he thought he’d spend his career on the sidelines of college sports—not in development offices. One unplanned job at Duke University changed everything, launching a forty-year journey through higher ed, national nonprofits, and the evolution of modern fundraising.

In this episode, Joe talks with host Tom Dauber about:

A pop-culture detour with a purpose: Tom breaks down how Netflix’s Wednesday (Season 2) portrays fundraising—manipulative galas, predatory leaders, “mind-control” asks—and contrasts it with ethical, mission-centered practice. If your board’s first idea is “throw a gala,” this one’s for you.

In this episode

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In this final segment of Tom’s conversation with Phil Washburn, President and CEO of the Furniture Bank of Central Ohio, the focus turns squarely to the inner game of fundraising, the power of relationships, and what it takes to lead a mission-focused organization through major campaigns and big transitions.Phil shares honestly about his own journey from nervous asker to more confident, conversational fundraiser, and how deep donor trust, clear vision, and strong board partnership all work together to fuel impact.In this episode, we cover:
How Phil’s “baptism by fire” into fundraising shaped his relational approach...

In this episode, Tom continues his conversation with Phil Washburn, President and CEO of the Furniture Bank of Central Ohio and a black belt in Lean Six Sigma. Phil pulls back the curtain on how process improvement tools, ownership culture, and clear values can transform the way any nonprofit operates, serves clients, and supports fundraising.

You do not have to be a data geek or a manufacturing nerd to benefit from this one. If you have ever thought, "We are so busy, but are we actually working efficiently," this conversation is for you.

In this...

In this episode, Tom sits down with his longtime friend and fellow Bowling Green alum, Phil Washburn, President and CEO of the Furniture Bank of Central Ohio. Phil shares honestly about what it looks like to lead an entire organization while still staying personally engaged with donors and major gifts work.Whether you are a frontline fundraiser or in senior leadership, this conversation will help you think more clearly about boundaries, priorities, and what a healthy partnership between a CEO and development team can look like in any nonprofit setting.In this episode, we cover:
How Phil thinks...

Too many fundraising leaders fall into the trap of focusing on what’s missing—trying to “fund the gap” instead of casting a bold vision for what’s possible. In this solo episode, Thomas Dauber challenges nonprofit professionals to shift their mindset from scarcity to abundance. He explains why donors are more inspired by dreams than deficits, and how articulating a compelling future vision—not just this year’s shortfall—can unlock greater generosity.

Thomas unpacks what it means to dream responsibly: planning strategically, understanding true costs, involving your CFO and board, and building a roadmap donors can believe in...

In part two of our conversation, Brianna Quinn flips the script: she talks about what hiring managers get wrong, how organizations unintentionally repel great candidates, and what both sides can do to create a better process. From pay transparency to interview equity, this is a practical guide for anyone building a team—or considering their next move.

In this candid conversation, Brianna Quinn, VP of Development at Let’s Get Ready, shares what it was like to conduct a public job search after leaving a role that wasn’t the right fit. She talks about how to spot red flags in job descriptions, how she thought about values alignment, and the challenges of vetting organizational culture from the outside. Whether you're hiring or job hunting, Brianna’s insights are refreshingly honest and deeply practical.

In this episode of the Abundant Vision Fundraising Podcast, Tom Dauber breaks down the hidden costs of underinvesting in fundraising staff—and why small, understaffed teams often struggle to unlock their full revenue potential. He explores how specialization (rather than forcing generalists to do everything) leads to healthier donor relationships, less staff burnout, and greater returns. From team structure to portfolio math, this episode offers compelling data, real-life stories, and practical scripting to help you persuade your board or CEO to scale your fundraising team the right way—before it’s too late.

Many nonprofit leaders hesitate to invest in additional fundraising staff—often out of a scarcity mindset. But what if that hesitation is actually costing your organization the opportunity to grow?

In this episode of the Abundant Vision Fundraising Podcast, Tom Dauber breaks down how to make the case for hiring fundraisers, development officers, and donor-facing staff. Whether you're a CEO, CDO, or senior development leader, you'll learn:

Do fundraisers bring their own money trauma to donor conversations? Absolutely—and Courtney offers powerful advice for confronting your own beliefs about money before asking someone else for theirs. From missionaries with $100 to major gift officers asking for $25,000, this episode explores how our past shapes our comfort with fundraising. Learn how fundraisers can shift from imposter syndrome to service, and what high-net-worth individuals really want in a meaningful donor relationship.

Key Themes:

In this episode, Courtney shares eye-opening stories of how unresolved trauma and attachment to wealth can block generosity—even for those who deeply want to give. Tom and Courtney unpack how fundraisers can show up with empathy, curiosity, and a willingness to challenge donors based on their stated values. Plus, Courtney explains how giving can be an act of spiritual freedom and how fundraisers can help donors live more fully into their purpose.

Key Themes:

Courtney Markley, founder of the Center for Financial Discipleship, shares her journey from bridal fashion designer to financial counselor. She and Tom discuss how wealth doesn’t solve money-related anxiety and how our past—especially childhood trauma—can deeply influence generosity. This episode explores the surprising truth that even high-net-worth individuals often struggle to talk about money, revealing how fundraisers can become safe, nonjudgmental conversation partners.

Key Themes:

In this episode Tom discusses how organizations dependent on federal funding can prepare themselves to find private support.

In this episode, David Chambliss gets into the part of fundraising most people secretly dread: actually asking for the gift, living with the number you chose, and staying present when donor conversations get weird, emotional, or way too personal.

David and Tom unpack how to frame solicitations as invitations to invest in impact, not desperate cash grabs, and why under-asking can be more disrespectful than naming a bold, well-reasoned number. David shares the story of an early-career ask that was accepted so quickly the donor immediately asked whether he should have been asked for more, and what...

In this episode, David Chambliss pulls back the curtain on the messy, very human side of major gifts: the things you wish you could take back, the political landmines in donor conversations, and the behind-the-scenes work it takes to turn a surprise inquiry into a transformational gift.

Whether you’re at a tiny nonprofit or a big institution, David’s stories translate directly to your world: how you brief your leaders, how you manage your own mouth in the living room, and how you rally a team around a donor’s vision so the gift actually happens.

D...

In this episode, Tom continues his conversation with David Chambliss, Associate Dean for Development at Vanderbilt University, and gets practical about something every shop is wrestling with: how to structure work so people stay, perform, and grow. Even though David sits in a large university campaign, the principles he shares apply whether you are a one-person development office or leading a small team in a local nonprofit.

Tom and David talk through what hybrid work looks like when it is built on trust, clear expectations, and real metrics instead of chair time. They explore how to stay...

In this episode, Tom sits down with David Chambliss, Associate Dean for Development and Executive Director for Strategic Initiatives at Vanderbilt University’s Peabody College of Education and Human Development, to talk about what it really takes to build and run a modern higher ed campaign at scale.

David shares what life and work look like at Vanderbilt in Nashville, including how he uses campus life and events as part of a thoughtful engagement strategy with prospects and donors.

From there, the conversation dives into the engine behind Vanderbilt’s “Dare to Grow” campaign and what fun...

In this episode, Tom discusses common assumptions fundraisers make about donors, why they prevent good fundraising and how to do better by embracing transparent curiosity.

Looking for Fundraising Coaching?
Check out www.abundantvision.net

In this episode, Tom continues his discussion on how to have a presolicitation conversation with a potential donor and shares some thoughts the state of the podcast for the new year.

Do you have a question you'd like Tom to address on the podcast or have a suggestion for a show topic? Let us know by emailing Tom at thomasdauber@abundantvision.net

Looking for Fundraising Coaching?
Check out www.abundantvision.net

In this episode, Tom discusses how you can dramatically increase your success as a major gift fundraiser, by learning to ask for permission to have a gift discussion.

Looking for Fundraising Coaching?
Check out www.abundantvision.net

In this episode, Tom wraps up his conversation with Bernice “Bea” Martin Lee, CEO of the Epilepsy Foundation, by diving into the real-world messiness behind big gifts, pulled commitments, and what it takes to build sustainable major gift growth.

Bea begins with a powerful corporate solicitation story from her current role: how a pharma summit turned into a genuine partnership when she helped a company reframe its language around a new epilepsy rescue medication. From there, she unpacks what it looks like to come to the table as a true partner, not a supplicant, and how that post...

In this episode, Tom continues his conversation with Bernice Martin Lee (“Bea”), CEO of the Epilepsy Foundation and longtime major gift leader, and they get very practical about what it takes to move donors from warm conversation to real commitments.Bea talks honestly about a moment she wishes she could redo: walking into a high-value corporate relationship meeting and realizing her team had never been taught how to actually close a gift. From there, she shares how she began retraining her fundraisers, why they hired a “closer” as CDO, and how a clear expectation at the end of every meeting...

In this episode, Tom sits down with Bernice Martin Lee ("Bea"), CEO of the Epilepsy Foundation and a former major gift officer and CDO, to talk about what happens when a fundraiser steps into the CEO seat and brings her own lived experience with epilepsy to the center of the mission.

Bea shares how she went from keeping her diagnosis private because of stigma to publicly naming it on LinkedIn and using her story to champion health equity for a community that often feels isolated and unseen. She walks through her first year as CEO, where she...

In this solo episode, Tom shares a deeply personal story about being sexually harassed early in his fundraising career and uses it to unpack the uncomfortable reality many fundraisers face: donor power, money, and access can create real vulnerability, regardless of gender.

Tom talks about what happened in that donor meeting, how his freeze response affected his choices in the moment, and what he wishes he had done differently. He also reflects on what he has learned since then as a manager and why he now speaks openly about this experience with his own teams.

...

In this episode, Stephen shares more stories and advice on how development staff can communicate and work more effectively with fiscal staff.

Fractional CFO Stephen Newland shares his wisdom in this two part series about how fiscal officers and development officers can work together more effectively and learn to speak one another's language.  

Need some Fractional CEO Support?  

Contact Stephen at https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephenmnewland/

Looking for Fundraising Coaching?
Check out www.abundantvision.net

In this episode Tom shares how you can start evaluating your own database for free, using simple methodologies that anyone can learn.

In this episode Tom discusses the types of questions you should be asking your constituents to confirm wealth screening results and make sure they are the major gift prospects you are looking for.

In this episode Tom shares some of the realities of wealth screening results, where they fall short and how to understand what those optimistic results really mean.

in this episode Tom shares his thoughts on the ways wealth screenings can be helpful to your fundraising efforts.  

In this episode, Tom continues his conversation with Tim Meier and gets very practical about what it really takes to cultivate, solicit, and steward major donors over the long haul, especially in complex ministry or networked environments.

Tim shares the story of a donor who gave the same seven-figure gift twelve years in a row, and what finally unlocked a fourfold and then fivefold increase when the vision caught up with the donor’s passion. He also talks about why you can never assume capacity based on appearance, and how “ordinary” people often carry extraordinary potential for genero...