Nonprofit CourageLab

Hosted by Julie Ordoñez

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106

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Oct 2026

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About the show

Julie Ordoñez is a major gifts coach, fundraiser, and founder of CourageLab, a 6-month major gifts training program for nonprofit founders, EDs, and fundraisers to raise 6-figures in 6 months in just 1-2 hours a week without grants or a gala. Nonprofit CourageLab shares soul-shaking insights on how to become a more courageous leader and raise more money for your nonprofit. No one changed the world without first changing themselves. If you want to raise more money to change the world, you are in the right place.

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November 3, 202652 min

This CEO raised $592,000 in 6 months without a gala

2-Day Strategy Intensive in Orange, CA December 3-4, 2026: https://julieordonez.com/strat-intensive-dec-26 Best December Ever Challenge: https://julieordonez.thrivecart.com/best-december-ever-workshop-2026/ Sara raised $592,000 in major gifts in six months without a gala. Her goal was $310,000. She did it without any development team and during the summer months, when most folks feel the dip in major gifts. Sara is the CEO of Ignite, a nonpartisan nonprofit that has trained 50,913 young women across 46 states to run campaigns, run for office, move policy forward, and mobilize voters. When her development partner of ten years moved on, Sara was left with a big gap: major gifts. She came up as a program person. She knew how to build and scale programs. She did not know what was happening behind the scenes to actually raise the money. She messaged me on LinkedIn at 10pm and signed up for CourageLab that same night. She didn’t wait to hire someone first. She decided that if she couldn’t figure out major gifts herself, she couldn’t expect anyone else to. In this conversation, Sara gets honest about what changed. She stopped guessing where the next check was coming from. She started asking for bigger gifts with clarity and confidence. And now she’s saying out loud that Ignite will run a $10 million campaign. What you’ll learn in this episode: How she landed 20 meetings in July and August, with half of them brand new people How she closed a $40,000 gift in a first meeting with a brand new donor who lives in another country Why Sara chose to learn major gifts herself as CEO instead of waiting to backfill the role The mindset shift she attributes to her success The tools she used to plan her projections, get organized, and set bolder goals Why she stopped spending time on people who won’t open or respond, and started looking for partners who move quickly How her board now makes major donor calls, hosts events, and helped grow one donor from $25,000 to $50,000 She didn’t need more time. More staff. To backfill the role first. She got a plan that works, and she worked it. The numbers don’t lie. Want 15 leads in 5 minutes? DM me "Breakfast burrito" on LinkedIn and I'll send you a pdf and 6-minute training to help you generate 15 leads for your nonprofit in minutes. It's totally free. All you need is an email to sign up. DM me "Breakfast burrito" - I'm from Texas, what can I say? - to get your pdf and mini training. If you’re an ED or DD of a $1M+ making a difference in your community and you’re ready to make bigger, bolder asks, then DM me “CL” on LinkedIn and I’ll share details.

October 27, 202636 min

Stop Expecting to Raise $250K Gifts When Everyone Around You Is Raising $5K

If you want to raise $250,000 gifts, but everyone you’re learning from is celebrating $5,000 gifts as their biggest wins, we need to talk about the rooms you’re putting yourself in. Early in my fundraising career, I was working 12-hour days, Googling my way through donor meetings, and barely raising what we needed. Everything changed when I started surrounding myself with fundraisers who were raising WAY more than me. I’m talking about people who were closing million-dollar gifts and actually showing me how they did it. Not another conference presentation about declining generosity. The real, nitty-gritty stuff that happens behind closed doors in donor meetings. In this episode, we’re talking about: * The million-dollar donor call I got to listen in on that changed my fundraising philosophy * How I went from white-knuckling fundraising alone to raising $2.5 million and bringing in 150 new donors * The fastest way to achieve fundraising growth and get new skills * What successful major gift fundraisers know about navigating objections, complicated donor relationships, and making bigger asks * Why the people you surround yourself with influence not just how much you raise, but how you raise it * Why getting in the room with people who are already doing what you want to do is the fastest way to accelerate your growth Here’s what I want you to understand: Success is contagious. So is playing small. If you’re tired of figuring everything out on your own and ready to start raising the kind of gifts that actually move your mission forward, this episode is for you. Ready to get in the room? Join me for my upcoming 2-Day CourageLab Strategy Intensive, where you’ll surround yourself with ambitious nonprofit leaders who are making bigger, bolder asks, raising unrestricted revenue, and refusing to settle for fundraising as usual. No sitting in a windowless conference room listening to information that could’ve been an email. We’re talking real strategy, real conversations, and real action. If you’re a CEO or ED of a nonprofit doing great work, and you need to escape the echo chamber of struggling EDs who haven’t figured out fundraising yet, and get around CEOs who have, you should join us. Early bird tickets are on sale now. Apply below. Only 12 guest spots available. ➡️ 2-Day Strategy Intensive hosted by Julie Ordoñez 📆 December 3-4, 2026 📍Orange, CA 👩🏽‍💻 Get the details and apply here: https://julieordonez.com/strat-intensive-dec-26 P.S. There is a special team discount if you wanna bring a colleague. Want 15 leads in 5 minutes? DM me "Breakfast burrito" on LinkedIn and I'll send you a pdf and 6-minute training to help you generate 15 leads for your nonprofit in minutes. It's totally free. All you need is an email to sign up. DM me "Breakfast burrito" - I'm from Texas, what can I say? - to get your pdf and mini training. If you’re an ED or DD of a $1M+ making a difference in your community and you’re ready to make bigger, bolder asks, then DM me “CL” on LinkedIn and I’ll share details.

October 20, 202633 min

Ask Julie: How Do I Get New Donors Every Month

What are the easiest and simplest ways to get new donors that cost nothing? I’ll walk you through the 3 proven strategies we do inside CourageLab to get new donors every month without a gala, chasing people or buying lists. Or standing on street corners convincing strangers with their Airpods in on their way to get their latte to become a monthly donors AKA canvassing. In this episode we cover: How my board chair raised $225,000 from new donors in his first 12 months Why asking for referrals isn’t working for you Why everyone says they’ll help but they never do (and what to do about it) The shift that I made to attract instead of chase in desperation The micro-event strategy that cost nothing and brings in $60k and 12 new donors in one night What may be blocking new donors even though you have raving fans Proven new donor strategies for even the busiest CEOs who can’t meet with everyone one-on-one Get new donors every month inside my program CourageLab in just 40 minutes a day. DM me “CL” on LinkedIn to get more info. Only EDs of $800K+ effective nonprofits should apply. Want 15 leads in 5 minutes? DM me "Breakfast burrito" on LinkedIn and I'll send you a pdf and 6-minute training to help you generate 15 leads for your nonprofit in minutes. It's totally free. All you need is an email to sign up. DM me "Breakfast burrito" - I'm from Texas, what can I say? - to get your pdf and mini training. If you’re an ED or DD of a $1M+ making a difference in your community and you’re ready to make bigger, bolder asks, then DM me “CL” on LinkedIn and I’ll share details.

October 13, 202642 min

How to Stop Doing Your Gala With an Event That Raises More and Costs Nothing

This is for the CEO who is EXHAUSTED. You are doing everything. You plan and execute the gala with a team of - you, yourself and you. Sure, there are committee members, but sometimes it feels more like you’re working for them than they’re helping you. Deep inside you know — you’re going to sunset the gala. You don’t wanna chase corporate sponsors, hawk tickets, and spend months planning an event, only to net $200k. There’s just one problem: You can’t afford to lose the revenue. Sunsetting the gala feels like a pipe dream because you need that $200k. What if you could replace your gala with an event that costs your nonprofit NOTHING, requires no planning on your part, and actually raises MORE money? I’m not talking about another “innovative” fundraising event that adds more work to your plate. I’m talking about The Events That Don’t Suck Method : intimate, donor-hosted gatherings. They do the planning, pay for everything, invite their networks, and YOU get to show up and build relationships with people who actually want to give to your mission. This is especially great for nonprofits with one or two board members eager to help with fundraising, they just need the tools. And maybe for *you* to make the ask. In this episode of Nonprofit CourageLab, I’m sharing how my clients have done exactly that, including: Dan , a solo nonprofit CEO who replaced a gala that raised $50k and took 6 months to plan with a donor-hosted gathering that raised $60K on a random Thursday night. At zero cost and no extra planning. Cara , a solo ED with no fundraising staff, whose donors hosted an event that raised $273,000 in ONE NIGHT and brought in 18 new donors making three-year commitments. Ready to ditch the gala and start raising more unrestricted revenue? If you’re an ED of an $800K and you’re past the point of tired, and you want a real strategy you can do in 40 minutes a day to raise 6 figures in the next 6 months, DM me “CL” on LinkedIn. Plus, I’m breaking down: The 4 steps to get your board on board with ditching the gala How to create a new donor pipeline year-round at zero-cost Why you don’t need another ballroom full of people who you’ll never see again What strategy the most resilient and financially strong nonprofits prioritize How to raise more money for operations The mindset shift you need to raise more money without adding more to your plate Your mission is worthy of millions without selling a single auction item, sponsorship, or ticket. You don’t need to work harder to raise more money. You need a different strategy. And maybe a little more guts. Want 15 leads in 5 minutes? DM me "Breakfast burrito" on LinkedIn and I'll send you a pdf and 6-minute training to help you generate 15 leads for your nonprofit in minutes. It's totally free. All you need is an email to sign up. DM me "Breakfast burrito" - I'm from Texas, what can I say? - to get your pdf and mini training. If you’re an ED or DD of a $1M+ making a difference in your community and you’re ready to make bigger, bolder asks, then DM me “CL” on LinkedIn and I’ll share details.

October 6, 202632 min

These EDs Raise $100K a Month in Major Gifts Without a Gala (Even in Summer)

Four of my CourageLab clients told me THIS WEEK they’re now averaging an extra $100k in major gifts per month. Here’s what they do on Monday that changes everything. They know who is on their list. They have their prospect list locked in. They know whom to call and say thank you to. No, fundraising doesn’t take up their entire day. They only spend 40 minutes to an hour on this, and it moves the needle because they have a clear roadmap. They have the courage to ask for big gifts. Like $120k on a Tuesday lunch. That’s just normal for them. They have a dialed-in pitch that doesn’t take 20 minutes to explain and leaves the donor cross-eyed. In this episode of Nonprofit CourageLab podcast, we cover: What solo EDs do and STOP doing to raise an extra $100K a month on average How they see their job as ED What they focus on so they win at major gifts and it doesn’t take up their entire day What they do to inspire donors in 90 seconds How they lead donors to their best gifts without talking for 20 minutes leaving them cross-eyed What they do first thing Monday morning that changes everything Why more experience doesn’t mean more success Why making it up as you go is costing you 6-figures a month What changed in their strategy that made the biggest difference in their results How to handle when you struggle to say No for people If you’re sick of chasing grants, hate galas, and you’re great at relationships, but need to crack the major gifts nut, DM me “CL” on LinkedIn and let’s talk about your fundraising goals. There are 90 days left in the year. We are headed into the biggest opportunity of the year. Your donors will give again. Will you be ready? Want 15 leads in 5 minutes? DM me "Breakfast burrito" on LinkedIn and I'll send you a pdf and 6-minute training to help you generate 15 leads for your nonprofit in minutes. It's totally free. All you need is an email to sign up. DM me "Breakfast burrito" - I'm from Texas, what can I say? - to get your pdf and mini training. If you’re an ED or DD of a $1M+ making a difference in your community and you’re ready to make bigger, bolder asks, then DM me “CL” on LinkedIn and I’ll share details.

September 29, 202629 min

Why Raising An Extra $300K Is So Hard

Most nonprofits think to raise more you have to do more. “We need to raise 25% next year so we need to do another fundraiser.” Except that has a quick ceiling AKA an exhaustion ceiling, and you’re limited by how many events you can do, how many people you can get there, and it only scales by adding hours into your work day. How do you raise more money without adding hours into your work week? What if your workweek is maxed out? I’ve helped 652 nonprofits raise $101M - teams of 1 or 2 - and I use a simple strategy that raises $300K more without adding more hours of work every week. Here’s what I cover in this episode: What obstacles are in the way of our warmest, biggest opportunities How my client raised a $10k gift from a donor who had only ever given $100 in one conversation How my director development client got 70 new donors in 7 months from board intros (the same board made only 5 intros the year before) What I did to help my board chair raise $225,000 from their network in 12 months Why you can’t see the six-figures uncaptured in your current community of supporters Why the way you’re doing events isn’t raising more money The one thing you can change to raise more from the same donors The strategy that raises bigger gifts in 40 minutes without more time-consuming, heavy special events What opportunities might you be overlooking because you’re just too close to it? It’s not that you’re bad at this, or that you aren’t working hard enough. Good grief, you’re THE HARDEST WORKING PERSON. It’s a different roadmap entirely. The roadmap you’ve been using is taking you where you’ve already been. If you want to get somewhere new, you need a new route. And you need a guide who’s been there before. Stop trying to go it alone. We all have blind spots. The biggest difference between nonprofits that stay flat and the ones that grow a new roadmap, the skills to walk the path and a guide who can show you the way. Want 15 leads in 5 minutes? DM me "Breakfast burrito" on LinkedIn and I'll send you a pdf and 6-minute training to help you generate 15 leads for your nonprofit in minutes. It's totally free. All you need is an email to sign up. DM me "Breakfast burrito" - I'm from Texas, what can I say? - to get your pdf and mini training. If you’re an ED or DD of a $1M+ making a difference in your community and you’re ready to make bigger, bolder asks, then DM me “CL” on LinkedIn and I’ll share details.

September 22, 202643 min

Ask Julie: How to Ask for a Major Gift Without Damaging Donor Relationships

You value relationships. You genuinely care about your donors. And then it’s time to ask for $100,000 and suddenly you’re saying: “Whatever you can give would be great!” Would it, though? Your mission requires serious money. In this episode of the Nonprofit CourageLab podcast, we’re talking about the fear that making a big ask will damage the donor relationship—and what might actually be hiding underneath it. We’re getting into: What your real fear is and it’s likely not talking about money The difference between relationship building and people pleasing and how to know which one you’re doing Why clear is not the same as coercive How to stop budgeting donor’s philanthropy for them Why your relationship with “No” matters more than you think How to handle when things go sideways Why avoiding discomfort is costing you big gifts Your job is to tell the truth about what your organization needs, make the ask, and let another grown adult decide what they want to do. That’s it. If you’ve been needing some mindset coaching around major gifts and support to stop backing down at the most important moment - when it’s time to ask - then this episode is for you. Want 15 leads in 5 minutes? DM me "Breakfast burrito" on LinkedIn and I'll send you a pdf and 6-minute training to help you generate 15 leads for your nonprofit in minutes. It's totally free. All you need is an email to sign up. DM me "Breakfast burrito" - I'm from Texas, what can I say? - to get your pdf and mini training. If you’re an ED or DD of a $1M+ making a difference in your community and you’re ready to make bigger, bolder asks, then DM me “CL” on LinkedIn and I’ll share details.

September 15, 202635 min

Your Strategy Is Keeping Your Revenue Too Small

You’re told to raise more you need to do more. I “did more”, raised $1.1M, and I lost sleep, and my hair fell out. I met the goal, but it cost me my health. 8 years later, I raised $2,500,000 and was vibrant and healthy. The difference was a different strategy and skill set. Of course, there was still stress. But there’s a difference between stressed and burnt out. In this episode of the @Nonprofit CourageLab podcast, I share a glimpse into the typical nonprofit revenue model and the real cost vs. raising 2x more with a simplified model. I’m tired of hearing: “The gala nearly killed me” or “We’re doing too much, and it’s not sustainable” Here’s what I cover: Why doing more keeps revenue flat and what to do instead How people-pleasing is killing revenue growth Your authentic role as a fundraiser and how to reclaim it Revenue growth models that lead to burnout and complexity How complexity is the ultimate growth killer My own story of raising bigger gifts from fewer people without a gala How selling more stuff, bells and whistles actually repels your best donors How your view of yourself impacts your fundraising results Why the most sustainable strategy is offensively simple What to do when your strategy is designed for burnout If you feel pressure to do more and execute on every idea that comes across your desk to raise 12% more than last year, this episode is for you. Share it with a friend, colleague, and your team. Fair warning: I get real fired up in this, so if you are a sensitive flower, it may be too much for ya. I’m mad. And when I’m mad, I fight. The fight in me is for you. For your health. For your impact. For your legacy. For your time with loved ones. For the vacation you deserve. For the results. Slide Deck From This Episode: Big Gifts for Operations Workshop Slide Deck Want 15 leads in 5 minutes? DM me "Breakfast burrito" on LinkedIn and I'll send you a pdf and 6-minute training to help you generate 15 leads for your nonprofit in minutes. It's totally free. All you need is an email to sign up. DM me "Breakfast burrito" - I'm from Texas, what can I say? - to get your pdf and mini training. If you’re an ED or DD of a $1M+ making a difference in your community and you’re ready to make bigger, bolder asks, then DM me “CL” on LinkedIn and I’ll share details.

August 11, 202643 min

Unshakeable Fundraiser Energy: Stop Backing Down in Major Donor Meetings

Ever go into a meeting with a major donor with a plan to ask for a gift, and something throws you off? You leave the meeting kicking yourself because you didn’t make the ask. You had a purpose for the meeting, but somehow you got off track, and now you feel like you wasted your time with this major donor. This has happened to me what feels like 10,000 times in my career. And after coaching 651 nonprofit CEOs, development directors, and major gifts fundraisers over the last eight years, I’ve seen the same thing happen again and again. In this episode, I’m sharing a behind-the-scenes clip from one of my weekly CourageLab coaching calls. We get into the hidden dynamics behind why we back down in major donor meetings, especially with rich, powerful, assertive donors, and what you can actually do about it. What you'll learn in this episode How difference and power dynamics can take you off track in a donor meeting How to relate to rich, powerful people without giving away your own power Why you must reclaim your power when a conversation gets uncomfortable The dynamics you need to understand when it feels hardest to hold your ground What really stops you from making the ask Why asking donors for advice can be a dumb idea Where confidence actually comes from, and how to strengthen it in tough circumstances How to develop a no-pressure fundraising culture Why great partnerships are built on honesty, not just transparency Why giving donors more information can actually create more confusion If you’ve ever felt like your best-laid plans are hard to stick to when you’re sitting across from a powerful, rich, assertive donor, this episode is for you. If I were sitting down with you over coffee and sharing the truths I hope would get into your bones, this is that conversation. Every nonprofit founder, CEO and fundraiser needs this conversation. share this with a colleague or friend. DM me the letters CL on LinkedIn if you’d like to learn more about CourageLab and raise more unrestricted major gifts. Want 15 leads in 5 minutes? DM me "Breakfast burrito" on LinkedIn and I'll send you a pdf and 6-minute training to help you generate 15 leads for your nonprofit in minutes. It's totally free. All you need is an email to sign up. DM me "Breakfast burrito" - I'm from Texas, what can I say? - to get your pdf and mini training. If you’re an ED or DD of a $1M+ making a difference in your community and you’re ready to make bigger, bolder asks, then DM me “CL” on LinkedIn and I’ll share details.

August 4, 202630 min

Bold Fundraising: The Method That Raised $91M in Unrestricted Major Gifts

If you're constantly bending over backwards for difficult donors, accepting restricted gifts that create more work than they're worth, or letting wealthy people dictate your strategy, this episode is going to challenge you. This episode breaks down the philosophy behind Bold Fundraising. It isn't about being louder or more aggressive. It's about having the courage to lead your nonprofit with clear standards, clear values, and the confidence to stop chasing money that pulls you away from your mission. Sharing the mindset shifts that have helped organizations raise millions in unrestricted revenue, scale without burnout, and build donor communities based in trust instead of transactions. If you've ever felt like your fundraising strategy depends on keeping everyone happy, this episode offers a completely different way forward. What you'll learn in this episode Why self-respect is one of the biggest competitive advantages in fundraising How to define the kind of donor community you actually want to build Why unrestricted revenue should become your fundraising standard The difference between trust-based donors and high-maintenance donors Why you should stop asking your board, "Who do you know that's rich?" The three relationship shifts every fundraiser needs to make before walking into a major donor meeting How to stay in the driver's seat when meeting with confident, successful donors Why saying "we don't accept restricted gifts" often leads to better conversations, not fewer gifts How your calendar and budget should reflect the leader you're becoming, not the nonprofit you've outgrown Why scaling your organization starts with saying no to work that no longer serves your mission The organizations that grow the fastest aren't saying yes to every opportunity. They're crystal clear about where they're going, who belongs on the journey, and what they're no longer willing to tolerate. That's what Bold Fundraising looks like. Want 15 leads in 5 minutes? DM me "Breakfast burrito" on LinkedIn and I'll send you a pdf and 6-minute training to help you generate 15 leads for your nonprofit in minutes. It's totally free. All you need is an email to sign up. DM me "Breakfast burrito" - I'm from Texas, what can I say? - to get your pdf and mini training. If you’re an ED or DD of a $1M+ making a difference in your community and you’re ready to make bigger, bolder asks, then DM me “CL” on LinkedIn and I’ll share details.