Podcast · Business

Nonprofit CourageLab

by Julie Ordoñez · English · Business

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

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New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 32 min
Latest: 13 Oct 2026
Language: English

Latest episode

13 Oct 2026 · 42 minNew

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…

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Earlier episodes 29 most recent

S9 · E6 · 6 Oct 2026 · 33 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…
S9 · E5 · 29 Sep 2026 · 29 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…
S9 · E4 · 22 Sep 2026 · 43 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…
S9 · E3 · 15 Sep 2026 · 36 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…
S9 · E2 · 11 Aug 2026 · 44 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…
S9 · E1 · 4 Aug 2026 · 31 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…
S8 · E12 · 16 Jun 2026 · 8 min
Major Gifts Are Won (Or Lost) in the Summer
Have a big 6 or 7-figure ask coming up? Book a Big Gift 1:1 Strategy Session today. Let's plan your approach before the meeting, the ask, any written proposal, and the follow-up. I've helped nonprofit CEOs raise $95 million in major gifts in the last 7 years. Click here to book your 1-hour private call now. Stop treating summer like a fundraising break. The nonprofits that have a calm, confident September are not scrambling to reconnect with donors. They spent June, July, and August building relationships. In this final episode of Season 8, I explain why summer stewardship is one of the most…
S8 · E11 · 9 Jun 2026 · 14 min
Million Dollar Success Principles Part 2
Most nonprofits are sitting on more donor potential than they realize. In this second part of my live CourageLab coaching session, I walk through some of the fundraising principles that separate organizations stuck at one level from those that break through to the next. If you're raising $1 million and trying to get to $3 million, these are the kinds of mindset shifts and fundraising behaviors that matter. We talk about donor communication, confidence, wealth conversations, and why asking for bigger gifts gives you the best donor data you'll ever get. None of this is complicated. But it does…
S8 · E10 · 2 Jun 2026 · 12 min
Million Dollar Success Principles Part 1
Stop trying to earn donor trust with polished updates. In this episode, I’m giving you a behind-the-scenes look at a training I recently led inside Courage Lab. These are the kinds of conversations we have with nonprofit leaders who are serious about raising more money and leading at a higher level. This is Part 1 of a teaching on Million Dollar Success Principles. Not tactics. Not donor hacks. The deeper truths I’ve learned from raising millions of dollars, learning from incredible mentors, and watching successful nonprofit leaders do this work over and over again. We talk about trust,…
S8 · E9 · 26 May 2026 · 25 min
Kill Your Gala Before It Kills You
This episode might ruffle some feathers. Good. Because we need to talk honestly about the real cost of galas, especially for small nonprofit teams that are already stretched thin. After hearing yet another executive director say, “the gala nearly killed me,” I wanted to pull this conversation into the light. Not because I’m anti-event in every circumstance, but because too many organizations are sacrificing their people in the name of fundraising. And that should bother all of us. In this episode, I break down why sustainability matters more than profitability, why small teams are drowning…
S8 · E8 · 19 May 2026 · 27 min
Profitable Fundraising Swaps I'd Make Every Time
Stop doing fundraising that nearly kills you. Seriously. In this episode, I’m walking through the profitable fundraising swaps I would make every single time after helping clients raise more than $70 million. These are the simpler, more sustainable, higher-return strategies I’d choose over the exhausting nonprofit habits that so many teams normalize. Some of the most common fundraising strategies are draining your team, eating your time, and producing way less ROI than you think. If you’re an ED or fundraiser constantly exhausted by events, campaigns, and “doing all the things,” this episode…
S8 · E7 · 12 May 2026 · 17 min
Ask Julie: “How Much to Make You Stop Asking?”
A donor asked one of my clients, “How much do I have to give for you to stop asking?” Oof. That question hit me right in the chest. And honestly, I think a lot of fundraisers have either been asked something like this or secretly fear hearing it. In this episode, I break down exactly how I would respond and why I believe obligation has no place in major gifts fundraising. None. I’m not interested in convincing, pressuring, manipulating, or cornering someone into giving. That’s not partnership. That’s coercion with a tax receipt. We talk about the difference between fundraising from…
S8 · E6 · 5 May 2026 · 27 min
The 6 Biggest Mistakes Keeping You Stuck at $300K Individual Giving
There are a handful of patterns I see over and over again when organizations get stuck around $300K in individual giving. Not because they don’t care. Not because their mission isn’t strong. But because of how they’re operating day to day. In this episode, I’m breaking down the biggest mistakes that quietly cap your growth. The ones that feel normal. Even smart. But are actually keeping you from getting to $1M in major gifts. From overthinking and waiting for the perfect moment, to chasing random strategies and writing emails no one responds to. And then the deeper shift. Learning how to…
S8 · E5 · 28 Apr 2026 · 22 min
The 3 Biggest Mistakes Stopping Your Board From Fundraising
If your board keeps saying they’ll help fundraise but nothing actually happens, this is for you. This is one of the biggest frustrations I hear from EDs and development leaders. You ask. You remind. You bring it up in meetings. And still… no real results. In this episode, I break down the three mistakes that are keeping your board stuck and what to do instead. Because your board can be one of your strongest pipelines for new donors, but only if you lead them, equip them, and stop assuming they know what they’re doing. I’m also sharing real examples of what happens when this clicks, like a…
S8 · E4 · 21 Apr 2026 · 17 min
Ask Julie: $400K to $1M in Major Gifts (Solo CEO)
You don’t need more time. You need a better strategy. In this Ask Julie episode, I answer a question from a CEO who just lost their head of fundraising and now has to grow individual giving from $400K to $1M… solo. No time. No team. No margin for wasted effort. So we cut the fluff. I walk through exactly what I would do in that situation. What to stop doing immediately. Where to focus instead. And how to grow revenue using the fastest, most sustainable path available to you right now. This is about simplifying your strategy, doubling down on relationships, and actually using your board…
S8 · E3 · 14 Apr 2026 · 34 min
Moves Management is Dead. Do This Instead.
Moves management is slowing you down. And it’s costing you real money. In this episode, I’m breaking down why the traditional donor life cycle is outdated at best and harmful at worst. We’ve been taught to move donors through a neat, predictable pipeline. Discovery, cultivation, solicitation, stewardship. Sounds clean. Doesn’t work in real life. Because donors don’t move on your timeline. And they definitely don’t need to be “managed.” I walk you through what actually works instead. How to recognize when someone is ready right now. How to stop putting up unnecessary barriers. And how to lead…
S8 · E2 · 7 Apr 2026 · 17 min
No Shame Fundraising: How Audacity Raises Six Figures in 90 Days
You’re not stuck. You’re just playing it way too cool. If you’ve been feeling discouraged, checked out, or like fundraising just isn’t working right now, this is your wake-up call. Because the problem isn’t your donors. It’s not the economy. It’s not timing. You’ve lost your edge. In this episode, I’m walking you through what it actually takes to shake yourself out of that half-hearted energy and start raising serious money again. And spoiler: it’s not another strategy. It’s audacity. I’m breaking down exactly what I would do to raise six figures in the next 90 days, even after losses,…
S8 · E1 · 31 Mar 2026 · 29 min
Why Nonprofits Plateau at $1M
If you’ve hit a million in revenue and suddenly everything feels harder, you’re not doing it wrong. You’ve just hit the plateau almost no one talks about. This episode breaks down why growth slows down right when you’re trying to scale. Not because your mission isn’t strong. Not because you need more tactics. But because the way you lead, communicate, and ask has to change. I walk through the exact patterns I see with executive directors and small teams stuck at this level. The good news is none of this requires more hustle. It requires better decisions, clearer messaging, and a lot more…
S7 · E12 · 16 Dec 2025 · 37 min
The Successful Fundraiser Code
In this episode, I’m sharing something I’ve never broken down this clearly before: the core qualities and inner leadership skills I see in fundraisers who consistently close major gifts with more ease, confidence, and integrity. These ideas come directly from my own experience, from the work I do inside Courage Lab, and from watching fundraisers transform their results simply by shifting how they show up—not by adding more tasks to their plate. What you’ll learn in this episode: • Why separating your self-worth from donor responses makes fundraising lighter and far more effective • How your…
S7 · E11 · 9 Dec 2025 · 43 min
How This Development Director Raised $250,000 in 6 months in 2 hours a Week Without Chasing Grants
In today’s episode, I’m bringing you a really special conversation with someone I adore — my friend and Courage Lab grad, Sheena Grosshans If you’ve been around here for a while, you know I love highlighting fundraisers who are doing courageous, meaningful work, and Sheena is truly one of the best examples of what’s possible when you combine heart, boldness, and a willingness to grow. Sheena raised $250,000 in just six months while working only 1–2 hours a week inside Courage Lab. Yep — you read that right. And what makes her story even more powerful is that she’s doing life-changing work at…
S7 · E10 · 2 Dec 2025 · 20 min
Close Major Gifts With Courage (Interview from We Are For Good Podcast)
This episode originally aired on the We Are For Good Podcast in their Working Sessions series. I’m sharing it here on my own channel so you can dive into practical strategies for closing major gifts this season. It’s giving season, and if you want to close major gifts in the next few weeks, this episode is for you. I walk you through exactly who to ask, how to ask, and how to approach these conversations with courage and confidence. No fluff—just actionable steps to help you move forward with clarity and impact. Here’s what we cover: Identifying your warm prospects: I guide you through how…
S7 · E9 · 25 Nov 2025 · 41 min
How This New Solo ED Raised $225,000 in 12 Months
In this episode, I’m bringing you a powerful conversation with someone I’ve had the absolute privilege of working with over the last year and a half: Katherine Powers , Executive Director at Pacific Opera Project (POP). Katherine’s story is one of real transformation — as a leader, as a fundraiser, and as a steward of a growing arts organization that’s doing incredible, joyful, boundary-pushing work in Los Angeles. When Katherine stepped into the ED role, she had no fundraising experience and very little time to figure it out. But what she did have was determination, curiosity, and a…
S7 · E8 · 18 Nov 2025 · 56 min
How This ED Found $235,000 in Her Donor File Without Grants or a Gala
In this episode, I’m digging into the real shifts that happen when leaders stop performing, stop softening themselves, and start showing up with clarity, honesty, and real authority — especially in major gifts work. Regina, an Executive Director in Courage Lab, shares her experience of shedding the “always upbeat, always polished” persona and stepping fully into her CEO energy. She talks about what changed when she stopped trying to be overly cheerful for donors who didn’t need or value that, how being direct actually accelerated trust, and what she’s learning as she leads a new development…
S7 · E7 · 11 Nov 2025 · 32 min
Stop Asking For Advice When You Actually Want Money
Hey friend — this episode is a bit of a rant, because honestly, I just can’t take it anymore. There is some really bad fundraising advice floating around the nonprofit world, and one piece in particular absolutely drives me up the wall. You may have heard it before — “If you want money, ask for advice. If you want advice, ask for money.” The idea behind it is that you should ask donors for their input first as a “relationship building tactic,” and then eventually you’ll be able to ask for money. But here’s what actually ends up happening: nonprofit leaders avoid asking for financial support…
S7 · E6 · 21 Oct 2025 · 30 min
The Easiest Year-End Fundraising Strategy Most Nonprofits Overlook
Hey friend! I’m recording from my new apartment in Chicago, and I’m so excited to bring you Part 3 of my series on end-of-year giving strategies. This episode is a pep talk about the single most important thing I want you to focus on for a successful end of year: asking for more. I know it sounds simple, but asking for more is the strategy that makes the biggest difference in raising money. I’m talking about asking current donors, loyal supporters, and even monthly donors for more — without overthinking it, without worrying about what’s “too much,” and without trying to budget their…
S7 · E5 · 14 Oct 2025 · 34 min
3 Smart Habits for End-of-Year Fundraising Success Without Burnout
Hey friend, I’m coming to you from Chicago (yes, I just moved here a few days ago!) and I’m not missing a beat. Rain or shine, I’m showing up to help you crush your end-of-year fundraising goals. This episode is part two of our mini-series on end-of-year giving. If you haven’t already listened to the workshop replay in the previous episode, go back and queue that up - it’s full of strategy, tactics, and my full roadmap for hitting your year-end goals. Today, I’m sharing three specific practices that keep me focused, grounded, and effective during the chaos of year-end fundraising especially…
S7 · E4 · 7 Oct 2025 · 52 min
Workshop Replay – End-of-Year Fundraising Strategy
Hey friends, Welcome to this week’s episode, a special replay of a workshop I hosted on end-of-year fundraising strategies. If you’re in the nonprofit or fundraising world, this is a must-listen! I’m diving into **practical, tactical advice** for how I approach major gift fundraising to crush ambitious year-end goals. Spoiler alert: this is all about keeping it *simple*—because simplicity is the vibe here. Here’s what you’ll hear in this episode: 1. Mapping Your Fundraising Roadmap We kick things off by setting goals and creating a clear strategy to get there. I break down my personal…
S7 · E3 · 30 Sep 2025 · 35 min
Galas vs. Major Gifts: What the Data Reveals About True Fundraising ROI
If you’ve ever wondered whether your gala is really worth all the time, money, and energy it takes to pull off, this episode is for you. I’ve been in the trenches planning big-name events with celebrity co-chairs and keynote speakers, and I’ve also seen nonprofits raise six- and seven-figure gifts in just a few conversations. When you compare the cost, the time, and the results—it’s not even close. In this episode, I’m breaking down the true ROI of galas versus focusing on major gifts, why galas are almost always more exhausting than they are profitable, and how you can start raising…
S7 · E2 · 23 Sep 2025 · 37 min
How This Solo ED Raised $273,000 in One Night with Zero Cost (and Stopped Overthinking Major Gifts)
Hi friends! I’m so excited to share this episode with you because it’s a conversation with one of my Courage Lab grads, Cara Augspurger. Cara is the Executive Director of the Grace Care Center Foundation just north of Indianapolis, and she’s an all-star leader who has experienced incredible growth over the last six months. When Cara and I started working together, she was confident in operations and communications but hesitant around major gifts and board engagement. Fast forward just half a year, and her board has hosted an event that raised $273,000 in one night - with multi-year…

About Nonprofit CourageLab

Nonprofit CourageLab is a English business podcast from Julie Ordoñez. Melo plays each episode straight from the publisher's own feed — no ads added, no account needed — and remembers where you stopped, in this browser only.

Publisher: Julie Ordoñez
Language: English
Category: Business
New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 32 min
Latest episode: 13 Oct 2026
Feed: RSS — paste into any podcast app
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1631011493

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