Curiosity. Authenticity. Accountability.

Three elements that help turn transactions into meaningful donor relationships. And my plan was to dig into what these look like in action... until a client coaching call reminded me that the first step is actually making room for them. Which is often the the bigger struggle for smaller fundraising shops.

Because teams are busy. Planning the next event. Writing the annual report. Preparing for the board meeting. And somewhere in all of that, the phone call to say thank you — where you ask "what inspired you to give?" — never gets made.

The conversation with a long-time donor about the impact they hope to have? It keeps getting pushed.

The smaller gathering where donors get face time with staff and leadership? There's no space for it on the calendar.

A recent poll I ran on LinkedIn confirmed: the biggest challenge for newer fundraising leaders? Everything feels urgent.

And that frantic pace has a cost. Because the things that build relationships — phone calls, smaller events, one-on-one visits — those require slowing down, and sometimes saying 'no'.

We know people give to people. Renewed gifts, legacy giving, donors who become your biggest advocates. All of it is driven by connection. And it's typically not happening at a gala or through a polished newsletter. It happens in smaller settings. In 1:1 conversations.

So the question I keep coming back to is:

What can you stop doing — this week, this month, this year — to make more room for real connection?

P.S. The original email I set out to write (what these three things look like in action) will be coming next issue...