In the latest episode of Mastering Fundraising, Chris Looney, CEO of Fulcrum, sat down with Gloria Crockett to explore how fundraising can move beyond transactions and into true movement building.

The conversation centers on a critical distinction: the difference between running a campaign and building a movement.

A campaign has a defined goal and timeline. A movement builds ongoing momentum, deepens relationships, and invites donors to become advocates, partners, and champions.

Gloria shares practical insights from decades of nonprofit leadership, including:

• Why disruption is necessary in today’s crowded philanthropic landscape • How shifting from “Will you give?” to “Will you join us?” changes donor engagement • What it takes to elevate a major gifts program with courage and clarity • Why donor experience and authenticity drive transformational growth • How teams build internal confidence to innovate rather than repeat what has always been done

This episode challenges leaders to rethink not the importance of revenue, but the approach to generating it.

If your organization wants stronger relationships, greater momentum, and more sustainable results, this conversation is worth your time.

Check out the full episode on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/MkoZpLZ8OWY

What does it really take to align your board and CEO around a successful campaign?

In this episode of Mastering Fundraising, Chris Looney sits down with LaMont Hayes, Associate Vice President of Development at the National WWII Museum, to unpack one of the most critical and misunderstood dynamics in campaign fundraising: managing board and CEO involvement.

With more than 20 years of experience leading major campaigns across healthcare, higher education, arts and culture, and now one of the nation’s premier museums, LaMont shares practical, candid insight into:

• The distinct roles of the board and CEO in a campaign • Why preparation is the ultimate sign of respect for a CEO’s time • How to make trustees effective ambassadors without forcing them to “ask” • The power of dashboards, clarity, and defined roles • Why early board giving is non negotiable • Lessons learned from misaligned donor strategy • The simple truth that drives philanthropy: people want to feel special

LaMont also shares stories from campaigns that exceeded goal and ones that did not, offering real-world wisdom about listening to donors, aligning strategy, and building long-term relationships beyond a single campaign.

If you are preparing for a campaign, in the middle of one, or simply trying to better partner with your board and CEO, this conversation is packed with actionable insight you can use immediately.

Watch the full episode and subscribe for more conversations with nonprofit leaders mastering their craft.

The fundraising playbook is being rewritten in real time.

In this episode of Mastering Fundraising, Tom Mitchell draws on decades of leadership in higher education advancement to confront a hard truth: many institutions are hesitating at the very moment bold leadership is required.

Tom has spent his career helping universities build strong advancement programs, develop talent, modernize strategy, and raise transformational resources in service of their communities. From campaign strategy to leadership development to innovation in data and analytics, his work has shaped institutions and influenced professionals across the country. In this conversation, he reflects on the inflection points that defined his journey and what they reveal about the future of fundraising.

Together, we explore:

• The Great Hesitation and why leaders are stuck between stability and change • The five inflection points that shaped Tom’s philosophy on leadership, talent, data, and AI • Why most advancement models are optimized for incremental growth, not exponential impact • The future advancement officer and the competencies that will matter most • Radical connectivity and the idea that donors give through institutions, not to them • Expanding beyond treasure to the Five T’s: time, talent, treasure, ties, and testimony • What higher education must do now to prepare for multi generational shifts in donor behavior

If you lead advancement, development, alumni engagement, or philanthropy strategy, this episode challenges assumptions and invites you to think bigger.

The question is not whether fundraising will change. It is whether we are ready to lead that change.

Listen now and join the conversation shaping the future of our profession.