In this episode, I sit down with Maria from Soft Landing Missoula- an incredible nonprofit helping refugee and immigrant families build new lives in Montana. We talk about how they got started, how they fund their work, and the emotional reality of fundraising in a world that’s constantly shifting.

Maria shares what it’s like to lead fundraising efforts at an organization where over half of their revenue comes from individual donors and what she’s hearing from those donors right now. Spoiler alert: It’s not always about money. Sometimes donors just need to process what’s happening in the world, and Maria’s learning how to hold space for that while keeping her focus.

We also talk honestly about what it means to lead yourself well during tough times, how to listen without taking everything at face value, and why emotional intelligence might be your most important skill as a fundraiser.

What we cover in this episode:

The mission and impact of Soft Landing Missoula
Why people in their community give and keep giving
Navigating the emotional side of donor conversations
The difference between what donors say and what they do
Fundraising challenges in uncertain political and economic times
Why you should trust the data over the noise
What bravery looks like when you're asking for big gifts

My favorite moment? When we talk about how life is always "lifeing" for your donors—even when it’s not making headlines. It’s a powerful reminder that generosity isn’t always logical or linear, but it is resilient.

Donors are still giving. The work still matters. And part of our job is managing our own mindset so we can keep showing up with passion and purpose—no matter what.

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 org with at least $800k annual budget and major gifts is your top priority, but you need a better strategy and approach, get on the waitlist for the next CourageLab cohort here: https://julieordonez.kit.com/couragelab2

This Development Director Needed Hope - I Solved Her Fundraising Problem in 53 Minutes

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