Your best donors aren't strangers—they're the people who already gave to you but stopped.

In this [re-uploaded] episode of Hey Nonprofits! fundraising expert Julie Ordoñez breaks down why chasing new donors is harder than winning back old donors, and shares the exact approach to have those awkward "we miss you" conversations that actually work.

Check out Julie's episode about Daily Habits to Raise More Major Gifts: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pAC5ad6pSA

What we cover:

✅ Why lapsed donors are easier (and cheaper) to reactivate than finding new ones

✅ How to get past the awkwardness of reaching out to donors who ghosted you

✅ The scarcity mindset that keeps nonprofits stuck chasing instead of reconnecting

✅ Julie's framework for building donor relationships that last beyond one gift

✅ How to ask past donors for larger gifts without feeling pushy

✅ The role emotional intelligence plays in donor conversations

✅ Practical scripts for re-engagement that feel genuine, not salesy

✅ Why honesty beats perfection when talking to donors who stopped giving

Have a question or topic you'd like us to cover? Let us know https://hgafundraising.com/ask-your-questions/

🔗 *CONNECT WITH US* 🔗

Connect with Trevor on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trevor-nelson-b8922a167/

Follow Hey Nonprofits! on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/hey-non-profits-raise-more-money/

🔗 *CONNECT WITH OUR GUEST* 🔗

🔗 Julie Ordoñez on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julieordonez/

🎙️ Subscribe to the Courage Lab Podcast: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzrPhkYspcFax4qsLm3cclO6xK-66b5XE&si=kFUFutqYCH9mlI0g

🌐 CourageLab: https://julieordonez.com/

📌 *CHAPTERS* 📌

0:00 Honest Tips for Awkward Donor Moments

1:58 Update Your Old Fundraising Tactics

6:44 Julie’s Path to Fundraising Success

9:13 $5M Raised by Teaching Fundraising

13:54 Change Your Money Mindset Now

16:08 Handle Board Pushback on Big Asks

20:35 Ask Bigger, Get Bigger Donations

22:58 Overcome Fundraising Fear with Courage

26:52 Learn and Grow from Fundraising Wins

29:21 Accountability Leads to Fundraising Success

33:44 Wealthy Donors Want Connection

36:03 Wealthy Donors Struggle Too

40:26 Go Beyond Money with Donor Support

42:12 Honest Fundraising Builds Trust

46:03 Understand Donors Before You Ask

47:58 Rebuild Trust with Past Donors

51:45 Use Silence to Seal the Deal

53:50 Prep for Big Donor Talks

57:19 Engage Your Board Without Asking

59:08 Personal Touches Strengthen Donor Bonds

1:03:11 Don’t Fundraise Alone

1:05:35 Build Confidence to Ask Big

1:09:20 Gratitude Changes Everything

1:11:29 Give More, Receive More

1:15:09 Follow Julie Ordoñez’s Journey

💙 *ABOUT HGA FUNDRAISING* 💙

This episode was brought to you by HGA Fundraising. The team at HGA helps event fundraisers create auction success with the most profitable (and mission focused) auction items in the space. Trips and experiences that excite donors, ignite bidding, and help your organization RAISE MORE MONEY.

To learn more about HGA Fundraising click here: https://hgafundraising.com/trips-and-experiences/

Sign up to receive the HGA Fundraising newsletter to receive fundraising insights from the brightest minds in the space: https://hgafundraising.com/subscribe-to-newsletter/

Feeling stuck with your fundraising? No matter where you are at in your journey, HGA offers FREE coaching for fundraisers:

https://hgafundraising.com/nonprofit-coaching/

Your Best Donors Already Exist (Here's How to Get Them Back)