Nonprofit Fundraising: Growing Your Early Fundraising The Right Way (E38)
Thu Feb 05 2026
There is a critical moment in the early life of almost every nonprofit when leaders feel pressure to go bigger.
More marketing. More emails. More social posts. A bigger event. A broader appeal.
And when those efforts fall flat, it is easy to assume something is wrong with the mission.
In this episode, I explain why the problem usually is not your mission at all. It is timing.
This is part three of a three-part series on securing your first nonprofit dollars. In this final installment, we focus on why early fundraising does not grow through reach, but through depth and relationships.
In This Episode, You Will Learn:
Why broad fundraising campaigns almost always fail in the early stagesThe difference between transactions and trust transfersWho your true early believers actually are and how to find themWhy one-to-one conversations outperform mass communication early onHow to handle introductions from board members and supporters with professionalism and respectWhat success really looks like in early fundraising and what it does notKey Takeaways:
Early supporters are not strangers who click a donation link.They are people who already care deeply about the problem you are trying to solve.
Your nonprofit does not create that concern.It becomes the vehicle through which they can act on it.
That is why early believers are found through conversations, not campaigns.
Introductions from board members, donors, and friends are not transactions. They are trust transfers. How quickly and thoughtfully you respond matters more than you think.
At this stage, your goal is not to walk away with a check. Your goal is to build understanding, trust, and long-term relationships that can grow into partnership.
Practical Strategies Covered:
How to follow up on introductions within 24 hoursHow to approach meetings without leading with an askSimple networking ideas that lay strong foundations for future funding
Series Recap:
Part 1: Start with people who already believe in you. Your inner circle is where momentum begins.Part 2: Board giving and board networks validate the mission and build credibility.Part 3: Early believers beyond your immediate circle are found through trust, conversations, and shared concern for the problem you are solving.Together, these three groups form the foundation of healthy early nonprofit funding.
Free Resource Mentioned:
If fundraising still feels intimidating or unclear, download the Fearless Fundraising Mini Course. It includes a PDF workbook and five short videos covering the five core steps of the Fearless Fundraising Framework:
You can access it for free at NonprofitLaunchPlan.com by clicking the pink banner at the top of the homepage.
Email: matt@nonprofitlaunchplan.comSchedule a FREE call with Matt: Contact | Nonprofit Launch PlanMatt's LinkedIn: Matt Stockman | LinkedIn
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There is a critical moment in the early life of almost every nonprofit when leaders feel pressure to go bigger. More marketing. More emails. More social posts. A bigger event. A broader appeal. And when those efforts fall flat, it is easy to assume something is wrong with the mission. In this episode, I explain why the problem usually is not your mission at all. It is timing. This is part three of a three-part series on securing your first nonprofit dollars. In this final installment, we focus on why early fundraising does not grow through reach, but through depth and relationships. In This Episode, You Will Learn: Why broad fundraising campaigns almost always fail in the early stagesThe difference between transactions and trust transfersWho your true early believers actually are and how to find themWhy one-to-one conversations outperform mass communication early onHow to handle introductions from board members and supporters with professionalism and respectWhat success really looks like in early fundraising and what it does notKey Takeaways: Early supporters are not strangers who click a donation link.They are people who already care deeply about the problem you are trying to solve. Your nonprofit does not create that concern.It becomes the vehicle through which they can act on it. That is why early believers are found through conversations, not campaigns. Introductions from board members, donors, and friends are not transactions. They are trust transfers. How quickly and thoughtfully you respond matters more than you think. At this stage, your goal is not to walk away with a check. Your goal is to build understanding, trust, and long-term relationships that can grow into partnership. Practical Strategies Covered: How to follow up on introductions within 24 hoursHow to approach meetings without leading with an askSimple networking ideas that lay strong foundations for future funding Series Recap: Part 1: Start with people who already believe in you. Your inner circle is where momentum begins.Part 2: Board giving and board networks validate the mission and build credibility.Part 3: Early believers beyond your immediate circle are found through trust, conversations, and shared concern for the problem you are solving.Together, these three groups form the foundation of healthy early nonprofit funding. Free Resource Mentioned: If fundraising still feels intimidating or unclear, download the Fearless Fundraising Mini Course. It includes a PDF workbook and five short videos covering the five core steps of the Fearless Fundraising Framework: You can access it for free at NonprofitLaunchPlan.com by clicking the pink banner at the top of the homepage. Email: matt@nonprofitlaunchplan.comSchedule a FREE call with Matt: Contact | Nonprofit Launch PlanMatt's LinkedIn: Matt Stockman | LinkedIn