Best Julie Ordonez Podcasts (2025)

1
Big Abundance Energy in Fundraising 37:09

Play Pause

1d ago37:09

37:09

Hey, friends in this episode, I’m breaking down what it really looks like to operate from an abundance mindset as a fundraiser or nonprofit leader. If you're tired of feeling pressure to chase every donor, scared to hear “no,” or stuck in scarcity, this is for you. I’m sharing real stories and practical signs that show when you’re leading from a pl…

1
From $500k to $700k from 20 donors in 31 minutes (Steal this pitch) 31:12

8d ago31:12

31:12

In this episode, I sit down with Patrick Dunn, Executive Director of the International Pemphigus and Pemphigoid Foundation (IPPF) I walk you through exactly how I would pitch donors if I was looking to pick up an additional 200k in funding. What you’ll learn in this episode: Why storytelling and donor connection matter more than fancy tech The bigg…

1
This Development Director Needed Hope - I Solved Her Fundraising Problem in 53 Minutes 50:38

15d ago50:38

50:38

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 ef…

1
I Helped This ED Find $200k In Her Donor Base 54:03

22d ago54:03

54:03

In this episode, I had the absolute pleasure of chatting with Heather Beam, founder of Practical Education Network (PEN), a nonprofit that’s transforming the way science and math are taught in Africa. Heather shares the story of how building a wind turbine with students in Ghana sparked her mission to make hands-on, project-based learning the new n…

1
Part 2: How I Raise $2.5M With No Gala and a Whole Lotta Boundaries 27:31

1M ago27:31

27:31

In this episode, I’m walking you through exactly how I build quarterly engagement plans for donors- even the ones who haven’t given a dollar yet. Whether you’re working with major donors, connectors, or board members, I’m sharing the strategy behind how I map out touchpoints, meeting goals, and creative ways to bring people closer to the mission. I…

1
Part 1: How I Raise $2.5M With No Gala and a Whole Lotta Boundaries 43:27

1M ago43:27

43:27

Last week, I hosted a 3-day intensive here in sunny Los Angeles with seven of my amazing clients, and let me tell you—it was powerful. Teaching for three full days was both exhausting and energizing in the best way, and I knew I had to bring a piece of it to the podcast. In today’s episode, I’m sharing the very first session I taught on Day 1 of th…

1
The Big Lie Blocking BIG Gifts 45:21

2M ago45:21

45:21

Last year, I worked with a client who was outwardly successful- they had just wrapped a major capital campaign and were bringing in over $2 million annually. But behind the scenes, they were working around the clock, checking emails late into the evening, and spending weekends catching up on work. When we started coaching together, their biggest de…

1
Become Unstoppable and Raise Millions-No Matter What's Happening 21:00

2M ago21:00

21:00

Hey friend — today's episode is one of those real talk moments we all need. If you're a leader or a fundraiser trying to navigate this wild moment in time, I want you to know: you're not imagining things. Things are changing. Funders are pulling back. DEI efforts are being defunded. And the economic and political climate is shaky at best. But here'…

1
How my client raised $10.2M In Unrestricted Individual Giving in 12 mos without Working Til 10pm 30:19

3M ago30:19

30:19

If you’re looking to raise major gifts without working till 10 PM every night, this episode is for you. I’m breaking down exactly how my client raised $10.2 million in unrestricted revenue from individuals in just 12 months without burnout. This episode is especially for you if you already have individual donors (including monthly donors and board …

1
Ask Julie: What Do You Do When a Donor Gives Less Than They Promised 19:51

3M ago19:51

19:51

In this episode, I’m diving into a question that came up inside my six-month coaching and training program, Courage Lab 2.0. If you haven’t checked it out yet, you totally should—people inside are seeing incredible results, making big moves, and getting a huge return on their investment. During one of our recent community Q&A calls, someone asked a…

1
If I Were Samaritan.city This is How I’d Raise $5 Million in 6 Months 27:44

3M ago27:44

27:44

Hey friend! In this episode, I’m walking you through a case study of what I’d do if I were part of Samaritan—a nonprofit that’s tackling homelessness in an innovative way. They’ve built a tech platform that connects unhoused neighbors with social and financial capital to help them move forward. It’s a mission that’s close to my heart, and I see so …

1
Building a Culture of Accountability in Fundraising 26:25

4M ago26:25

26:25

Hey friend, I had an eye-opening strategy session with a client last week, and I have to share it with you. She came to our call struggling with prioritizing the ask in her fundraising efforts. She was caught up in the day-to-day grind, and when I asked her how many asks she made last month, she had no idea. Sound familiar? Here’s the thing: If you…

1
10 Asks in 10 Days Challenge 27:56

4M ago27:56

27:56

This episode is a little different—it's a snippet from a coaching call where we dive deep into the "Ten Asks in Ten Days" challenge. If you’ve ever struggled with making bold asks, whether in fundraising, business, or life, this one’s for you. I started my business nearly seven years ago because I saw so many smart, relationally savvy leaders who w…

1
What I Would Do To Get New Donors 38:02

4M ago38:02

38:02

Building strong relationships with major donors is essential for nonprofits looking to sustain and grow their impact. Major donors provide significant financial contributions, but more importantly, they become long-term supporters and ambassadors for your cause. In this episode, we’ll cover the key strategies to attract and cultivate these high-val…

1
Avoiding Feedback is Holding Your Mission Back 12:03

4M ago12:03

12:03

Hi friend, In this episode, I’m giving you an inside look at one of our Courage Lab coaching calls. During this session, I shared insights about the relationship between executive directors and development directors and how they can create a culture of feedback to thrive. Here’s what you’ll hear: - Why feedback is essential for growth: If your goal…

1
The Mindset Mistakes Holding You Back From Raising More Money 41:37

4M ago41:37

41:37

Hi friend, welcome back to the podcast. Today, we’re diving into the mindset mistakes that keep our impact, budgets, teams, and dreams too small. If you’re here, I know you’re driven to create bold, transformative change—not just in your world, but across systems and communities. Me too. But sometimes, our mindset trips us up, and we don’t even rea…

1
The Organizational Culture that Raises Multi-Millions 30:20

5M ago30:20

30:20

Hi, friend! In this episode of Nonprofit Courage Lab, I dive into what it takes to make serious cultural shifts within your organization. If you’re committed to raising millions in the next few years and creating lasting change, this conversation is for you. Here’s what I cover: - Why culture change is non-negotiable: You can’t just hire a fundrais…

1
The Code We Live By That Raised $63.7M 16:56

6M ago16:56

16:56

Hey friend! This episode is a special one—a snippet from my recent workshop, Best December Ever. In it, I walk through The Generosity Code, a set of principles I live by and teach my clients. I attribute 80-90% of our fundraising success to these foundational beliefs. Whether you’re looking to close out the year strong or need a mindset shift any t…

1
Workshop Replay – End-of-Year Fundraising Strategy 52:14

7M ago52:14

52:14

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 abo…

1
Everything Is Changing 26:20

7M ago26:20

26:20

Hey there, friends! In today’s episode, we’re diving into some big shifts happening in the world of philanthropy and nonprofits—and why it’s more crucial than ever for us to evolve with the times. We’re in a new era. From policy changes on platforms like Facebook that affect nonprofit fundraising to a noticeable decline in DEI and education funding…

1
Pitch-A-Thon Sneak Peek 29:37

7M ago29:37

29:37

Welcome to another episode of Nonprofit CourageLab! Today, I'm sharing a sneak peek into a recent Pitch-A-thon where we dive into the art of nonprofit pitching – not in a Shark Tank kind of way, but more like engaging in a powerful and meaningful conversation. Together, we’ll explore strategies to connect authentically with donors, practice impactf…

1
Something's Gotta Give 44:36

8M ago44:36

44:36

Hey friend! Today’s episode is a little different. I’m coming to you unfiltered, and honestly, I'm fed up. In my work with nonprofit leaders, fundraisers, and development directors across the country, I’m seeing some serious gaps that we need to address. We’ve been talking a lot about mental health and wellness in the nonprofit sector, which is imp…

1
Daily Habits to Raise More Major Gifts 38:52

8M ago38:52

38:52

In this episode, I guide you through the essentials of major gift fundraising, focusing on strategic planning, effective donor engagement, and optimal time management. I'm going to go over how to schedule and prioritize tasks, reach out to loyal donors, and request multi-year pledges and one-time gifts and the importance of aligning donation reques…

1
How I Leveled Up to Get a $6 Million Dollar Gift 38:03

8M ago38:03

38:03

In this episode, I share a case study about helping a New York City-based animal welfare organization secure an unrestricted $6 million gift, which is twice their annual budget of $3 million. The discussion covers mistakes to avoid, strategies to build trust and credibility with donors, and the importance of a strategic plan with a big vision for i…

1
Ask Julie: How Much Do I Ask For? 20:49

9M ago20:49

20:49

In this episode, I dive into a frequently asked question: how to determine the right amount to ask a donor for? I break down my thought process and introduce my special Ask Amount ebook, which is available for free. I explore three key factors: the organization, the donor, and you, the fundraiser. I dive into evaluating an organization's size, effe…

1
How Do I Know If CourageLab Is Right For Me? 17:58

10M ago17:58

17:58

In this episode, I discuss how to determine if Courage Lab, my six-week group coaching accelerator, is the right fit for you. Courage Lab is designed for nonprofit professionals, such as executive and development directors, who are looking to raise unrestricted revenue from individual major gifts of $10k or more. I provide an overview of what the p…

1
8 Habits To Raise 1,000,000 In The Last 4 Months Of The Year 19:40

10M ago19:40

19:40

In this episode of Nonprofit Courage Lab, we explore eight crucial habits to help you raise $1 million from September through December. These habits will position you to achieve your year-end fundraising goals. Additionally, consider joining my training on August 27th and 28th to map out your major gift strategy for the rest of the year. Do you nee…

1
How To Raise Millions Sustainably 31:51

10M ago31:51

31:51

In this episode of the Nonprofit Courage Lab Podcast, host Julie Ordonez shares her insights on how to raise millions sustainably without burning out. Julie emphasizes the importance of simplifying efforts, treating donors as business partners, and negotiating to avoid unnecessary workload. She highlights common mistakes in the sector, such as aski…

1
How My Gun Violence Prevention Client Went From Good To Great 18:31

11M ago18:31

18:31

In this episode, I walk through a case study of how I helped a gun violence prevention client elevate their Major Gifts program from good to great in just six months. We delve into the strategies and coaching techniques used to instill confidence, promote boldness in fundraising, and leverage team strengths to achieve significant results, including…

1
If I were Boys & Girls Club of Bend, this is how I'd raise $2 million in 6 months 34:26

11M ago34:26

34:26

In this episode, I share a comprehensive strategy for the Boys and Girls Club of Bend, Oregon, to raise $2 million in unrestricted funds from individuals within six months. This deep dive covers analyzing their annual report, website, 990 on GuideStar, and existing fundraising efforts. Key suggestions include auditing their messaging, effectively c…

1
Ask Julie: How do we get bolder in our asks? 25:29

11M ago25:29

25:29

In this episode of Nonprofit Courage Lab, we address a common fundraising issue raised by listener Ben: being too conservative in ask amounts. Many nonprofits fail to raise the desired funds because they don't ask for enough, often due to fears of offending donors. It's important to observe your own thinking, understanding donor intentions, and bei…

1
Become The Leader That Raises 7 Figure Gifts 29:38

11M ago29:38

29:38

Welcome back to another episode of Nonprofit Courage Lab. In this episode I talk about becoming a leader that raises 7 figure gifts. I am going to walk you through what I've seen that it takes and what I have seen with my clients who actually become those leaders. Leadership encompasses mindset, character, and team management. Technical skills cove…

1
Ask Julie: How do I ask for a larger gift without ruining the relationship? 47:04

1y ago47:04

47:04

In this episode I am answering questions for my LinkedIn. We cover topics such as building relationships, how to ask for more money, how to get meetings, and more. Do you need to make bolder asks, but you have to figure out what the heck you're going to say? I have a free gift for you. Go to JulieOrdonez. com and get my free donor scripts cheat she…

1
The CourageLab Method: Raise $1-3M in 6 Months 22:06

1y ago22:06

22:06

In this podcast episode, I walk you through The Courage Lab Method for helping you raise $1-3M in 6 months. The method revolves around three key pillars: leadership, technical skills, and strategy. And its also important to develop the right mindset, character, and courage in leadership. You'll also learn about how imortantant it is to master negot…

1
How to Write Emails That Get You Meetings 21:31

1y ago21:31

21:31

Hey there, welcome back to Nonprofit Courage Lab! It's Julie, and today I'm thrilled to dive into a topic that's crucial for every fundraiser: how to score more major donor meetings. We're going to get super practical here, talking about what might be holding you back and what you can actually do to land those meetings. So, let's address a couple o…

1
Becoming a Badass Fundraiser 27:48

1y ago27:48

27:48

In this episode we're diving in to what it takes to become a top-notch fundraiser and how it can transform your results. First off, being a badass fundraiser isn't just about having a cool title – it's about getting the job done. So, what sets badass fundraisers apart? It starts with their attitude. Despite the pressure and stress that often come w…

1
You Are Your Results 20:40

1y ago20:40

20:40

Hello, courageous leaders! In this episode, we dove deep into the concept that "You Are Your Results." We explored the idea that our actions, or lack thereof, directly reflect the outcomes we achieve in our fundraising efforts. Many of you are leading incredible organizations and have the potential to make significant impacts. However, there's ofte…

1
Real Client Case Study: Board Member Intros & Multi-Year Major Gifts 38:52

1y ago38:52

38:52

In this episode of Nonprofit Courage Lab, I had the pleasure of speaking with the exceptional Lindsay Fuller, the Executive Director of The Teaching Well. Lindsay's dedication and innovative approach to leadership in the nonprofit sector, particularly in education, is nothing short of remarkable. Lindsay and her team at The Teaching Well are on a b…

1
Real Client Case Study: 2X Revenue Even After A Capital Campaign 35:54

1y ago35:54

35:54

In this inspiring episode of Nonprofit Courage Lab, I, Julie Ordonez, had the pleasure of speaking with Will Zweigert, the CEO of Flatbush Cats in Brooklyn. Will shared his transformative journey from the corporate world to the nonprofit sector, and how his passion for animal welfare led him to establish Flatbush Cats, an organization dedicated to …

1
Ask Julie: Major Gifts Questions 28:21

1+ y ago28:21

28:21

This episode is a continuation of the Q&A recording of the live masterclass I did on wrapping up your year end strong. I answer questions about real life scenarios that come up with trying to get major gifts from donors. I dig into how to go deeper to find out what your donors are thinking, get insight from them that will help you shape conversatio…

1
End Of Year Major Gifts Strategy 44:24

1+ y ago44:24

44:24

In this episode, we're going to talk about the essential ingredient for major gifts success – courage. In this recording of a live masterclass, I dug into what it takes to wrap the year up with a bang and start the new year off feeling rejuvenated and with the momentum you need to hit your goals. Fancy strategies and consultants are not the keys to…

1
What I Learned From 1,000 Major Donor Meetings 38:36

2y ago38:36

38:36

Over the last 10+ years, I’ve been to over 1,000 major donor meetings and coached hundreds of CEOs, fundraisers, founders, development directors, and major gifts officers. In all those conversations, all those meetings, I’ve learned some things that I hope are helpful to you and will help you decide whether Nonprofit CourageLab is right for you! I …

1
Uncover Your Fundraising Persona 30:57

2y ago30:57

30:57

In this episode I’ll give you a taste of a masterclass that I will soon have available! We will be discovering your fundraising persona. Are you a Stress Sammy? Newbie Nelly? Maybe Timid Trinity, or a combination of 2 or all 3? There are ways to address your struggles with each of these, but it all comes down to your mindset, your skillset, and you…

1
Fundraising is Personal 19:40

2y ago19:40

19:40

Over the last few years, we’ve all been through a lot of stress, loss and grief collectively and it has worn a lot of us down. We feel tired and overworked, and many leaders are pushing beyond burnout. When it comes to fundraising, that translates to overthinking, struggling to give up control, and approaching donors with impatience and uncertainty…

1
All Our Donors Are Maxed Out 21:23

2y ago21:23

21:23

Does this sound familiar? You’re convinced that your donors can’t give any more than they already have, or you’re not sure you even have donors that can give more than $10k. The truth is that the word “all” isn’t accurate. If you want growth, exponential impact, community transformation, and generational change, you need to get out of the cynicism …

1
Courage to Ask in a Recession 12:01

2y ago12:01

12:01

Things can get tough during an economic downturn. When it’s harder to raise money, often I see leaders projecting their financial difficulties onto their donors or assuming that every donor’s situation is the same. Just because you get feedback from a couple of donors that they are struggling doesn’t mean that every donor is struggling. I have a fe…

1
Stop Using Relationship Building As A Crutch 21:27

2y ago21:27

21:27

How much do you know about your biggest donors? How much do you know about the circumstances around the biggest gifts you have closed? These are clues to what is working and what you can do more of. What you need to make sure you’re not doing is using relationship building as an excuse not to ask for donations. If someone is a huge fan of your work…

1
How To Get More Major Donor Meetings 49:10

2y ago49:10

49:10

I recently did a live workshop and I’m thrilled to bring it to you on the podcast! I’m going to give you practical, actionable steps you can do TODAY to get more major donor meetings. There are a few things that hold us back. For some, it’s the skills. You need a better toolkit. For some, it’s the confidence to talk to your donors and ask the big q…

1
Delay Is The Enemy Of Growth 19:30

2y ago19:30

19:30

Have you ever put something off for a long time and when you finally got around to doing it, it wasn’t nearly as hard as you expected? The fear is almost always worse than actually doing the thing. Fear is the signal that you’re about to grow - it doesn’t mean to stop. Make the decision and take the courageous action. Fear will only grow if you wai…

1
Ask Julie: What To Do When Projections Don't Add Up To The Goal 29:33

2y ago29:33

29:33

Your goal is set, you have your donor database, your front line fundraisers are ready to go, but you know before you start that the numbers in your projections won’t reach your goal. What do you do? What do you try next? First, ask yourself a few questions: If you really believe that your largest donors were truly on your team, truly have your back…