In this episode, Mira Boucher tells some incredible stories:

-One that starts with everyone in tears
-A visit uncovering 47 years of life-changing generosity
-A Video Call that led to a 7-figure gift
-Any many more!

Thank you to MarketSmart for sponsoring this episode. Download Gregory Warner's incredibly popular book Engagement Fundraising for FREE: imarketsmart.com/freebook

Find out more about Mira here: miraboucher.com

Want to get in touch with Kevin? Check out his website: OneVisitAway.com

Hear about the biggest waste of time visits I've had as a Major Gift Officer.

Thank you to this episode's sponsor: MarketSmart

Click on this link to get your FREE copy of Greg Warner's very popular book Engagement Fundraising: imarketsmart.com/freebook

Tremendous results starts with small decisions compounded over time.

In this episode I talk about a book called the Slight Edge that has great significance for major gift fundraisers.

I also discuss how the principle of the slight edge allowed me to do 66,613 pushups in 1 year and how that related to my fundraising success that year.

What do we as fundraisers have to learn from sales professionals?

I think there's quite a bit...

When my dad was 8 years old his father passed away leaving behind a wife and 8 children.

A salesman sold him a life insurance policy that changed his legacy forever.

I love salespeople.

Listen to this episode to hear what we can learn as major gift fundraisers.

Step into a story of transformation.

Jeff Schiefelbein is cofounder and Chief Culture Officer of 5.

Jeff has accomplished many incredible feats during his lifetime, but his founding of CARPOOL began with being arrested for drunk driving.

Listen to this episode and realize that even our failures can turn into radical transformation that can impact thousands of people.

Jack Silverstein has over 25 years of experience in the fundraising world. He shares some highly entertaining stories from his career in this episode.

If you'd like to buy Jack's book, Tales From the Trenches, you can do so here:

https://www.amazon.ca/Tales-Trenches-learned-Years-Fundraising-ebook/dp/B08LR29C8M

Check out Jack's website: https://yucks.ca

How in the world did her first visit as a development professional result in a $3 Million Gift?

How does a very cautious couple wind up giving an enormous gift to fund a school wide security system?

Rochelle Platter shares 2 incredible stories of transformational gifts that will inspire you to go schedule more visits!

A spirituality of Fundraising: https://www.amazon.com/Spirituality-Fundraising-Henri-Nouwen/dp/0835810445

I hope you enjoy this episode!

We all screw up.

Listen to my failure and learn how to say "I'm sorry."

You'll walk away laughing either with me or at me.

You're just One Visit Away...

Schedule those visits!

What's it like to hold a check for $1 Million?

Listen to this great episode with Cliff Wilkes, the Director of Major Gifts for the School of Nursing and School of Health Professions at Texas Tech University Health Sciences in Lubbock, TX.

Cliff shares some powerful stories about huge gift as well as a deeply meaningful conversation with a couple where he was able to show them the impact of a scholarship endowed in memory of their deceased daughter.

You will walk away from this episode proud to be part of such a great profession and amped up to schedule more visits!

Listen to this great conversation with Jon Zella if you want to be better prepared to raise money!

Jon shares some great stories focused on the importance of asking good questions and listening. We also get into some great wisdom from the Office and Parks and Rec.

You'll not only be entertained when you listen to this episode, but you'll also walk away ready to schedule more visits and close more gifts for your non-profit!

How does a retired P.E. Teacher decide to give a 7-figure gift?

What's it like to receive a call saying that the benefactor not only is going to give a $1 Million gift, but it was more than you asked for?!

How do you serve someone who has received a terminal illness diagnosis and wants to leave a legacy to help others?

How do you deal with a benefactor who shows up to the visit drunk?

These are all questions you will know the answers to when you listen to this incredible episode with Lora Croley, System Director of Donor Relations for Baptist Health, Kentucky and Indiana.

You will love this incredible conversation with Lora!

In this short episode I share a story that will let you know how to ask for the gift you planned to ask for even when someone cuts you off before you can make the ask.

This tip will help you close more meaningful gifts!

In this episode we hear from Bill Myatt, Director of Philanthropic Engagement at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago.

Bill tells some phenomenal stories about several 6 figure gifts that will have you captivated.

You will leave this episode better equipped to raise major gifts for your organization!

Go check out Bill's website for his new consulting business helping organizations with major gifts: http://www.majorgiftsolutions.com/

In this episode, we hear from Sam Provenzano, the founder of NextGenFundraisers.

Listen to this episode to hear some great stories from Sam as well and see how you can get in touch with Sam to increase the success of your job search on LinkedIn!

In this episode I speak with Greg Warner, the Founder of MarketSmart!

In this episode you'll learn how a development team put Greg's wife in tears and not in a good way...

This is a bonus episode as it is not the typical story-telling format of One Visit Away. There are a few stories about visits, but it mostly is focused on the problems that occur when we do not serve our donors well and how MarketSmart helps solve those problems through the use of surveys and artificial intelligence.

You will enjoy this episode and walk away from it better prepared to raise money for your nonprofit!

The great Jason Lewis!

Jason Lewis is one of the most well known names in the fundraising world.

He is a consultant, author of The War for Fundraising Talent, and Founder of Responsive Fundraising.

Jason tells some great stories in this episode ranging from Million dollar gifts to incredibly meaningful conversations at a small town steakhouse.

You will walk away from this episode better equipped to raise money for your nonprofit!

In this episode I tell one of the first stories of my career.

I wound up sitting next to a gentleman worth several hundred million dollars and got a visit scheduled with him.

I was so excited to make this $1 Million ask!

I learned a lot from this experience, and you, the Major Gift Fundraiser, will walk away from this episode better equipped to schedule more visits and close more gifts.

In this episode we hear from John Knowles with Legatus.

John tells a great story about how our interests can play a role in developing relationships with our benefactors.

He then goes on to give some great advice about asking for help, forging ahead when we're discouraged, and working together as a team.

John's words will inspire you to schedule more visits!

In this episode, we hear from someone who has sat on the other side of the Philanthropic table many times. John Oberg is a founder, board director, advisor, and investor. He gives us a new perspective as a guest on One Visit Away.

He is also the consultant I have referenced several times that had a huge impact on my career by challenging me to have a new framework for what high performance looks like as the status quo in the non profit world is so low.

John is also the host of Daily JO with John Oberg: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dailyjo-by-john-oberg/id1513017500

You can find out more about John by going to his website: https://johnoberg.com

Subscribe to the One Visit Away Email List: https://mailchi.mp/0d508338da5f/onevisitaway

Listen to some great stories from another Major Gifts Officer: Scott Maxwell with Catholic Extension.

Listen to this episode and you'll learn how one visit could lead to close to $700,000 in giving!

Scott has a wealth of experience in fundraising and you will be better equipped to serve your nonprofit after hearing this episode.

Click here to sign up for the one visit away email list: https://mailchi.mp/0d508338da5f/onevisitaway

In this episode we hear from Mike Reardon, The Executive Director of the Catholic Schools Foundation in Boston.

When you listen to this episode you'll learn a great deal about major gift fundraising from a professional who has had tremendous success at The Catholic Schools Foundation and for his clients.

We discuss Kerry Robinson and her incredible work as a fundraiser in this episode. you can find the article we discussed here: https://www.americamagazine.org/issue/662/article/imagining-abundance

Here is the book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B016F1Y1ES/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1

Sign up for the One Visit Away email list here: https://mailchi.mp/0d508338da5f/onevisitaway

In this episode we hear from Peter de Keratry the Executive Director of Stewardship and Development for the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City.

Peter is extraordinarily accomplished as a fundraiser. He led a $350 Million capital campaign among his many successes.

Listen to the incredible stories Peter has to share about some of his most memorable visits. You will be better prepared to raise money for your nonprofit after listening to this episode!

Click on this link to sign up for the One Visit Away email list: https://mailchi.mp/0d508338da5f/onevisitaway

In this episode you'll hear some incredible stories from Jennifer Baugh the Founder and National Executive Director of Young Catholic Professionals.

If you work for a non-profit you will learn a great deal from Jenn's words. She shares a story about how humor and boldness led to a significant gift and another story about how being authentic led to a very large gift that completely funded one of her organization's most important projects.

If you'd like to sign up for the One Visit Away email list, click this link:

https://mailchi.mp/0d508338da5f/onevisitaway

If you'd like to get in touch with me, you can send me an email here: Kevin.Fitzpatrick.Coaching@gmail.com

If you're ready to schedule more visits and raise more money, this episode is for you! Scott is one of the funniest people to be on the show and tells some incredible stories about generosity including some times when he had some epic fails.

We then discuss one of my favorite book, Never Split the Difference, and how we have both firsthand seen the positive results that this book can bring to your professional and personal life.

If you work for a non profit or are a major gift officer, you will be better equipped to closing more gifts after listening to this episode.

To sign up for the One Visit Away email list, click here: https://mailchi.mp/0d508338da5f/onevisitaway

In this episode I tell a story of how one of the benefactors I work with went from $5,000 to $50,000 in one year! You'll learn why asking for a range is a massive mistake for a major gift officer, why you need to ask good questions to determine capacity, and why you need to ask when to follow-up.

Listening to this episode will inspire you to schedule more visits!

Click on this link to sign up for the One Visit Away email list: https://mailchi.mp/0d508338da5f/onevisitaway

In this episode, I speak with Lynn Esmail the Executive Director of OptimALL Services. Lynn has been working in fundraising for nearly 3 decades and has some incredible stories to share that will inspire you to schedule more visits and raise more money. She also will reenergize you about the incredible work we get to do as fundraisers!

If you want to subscribe to the email list for One Visit Away, please click on this link: https://mailchi.mp/0d508338da5f/onevisitaway

In this episode I share a story of how a text message containing a picture of a penny resulted in a $5,000 gift! As a major gift fundraiser you will learn about the importance of texting and the role it plays in scheduling visits and closing gifts.

In this episode we hear from Ellen Rossini with Mission Advancement Professionals. Ellen shares several funny and enlightening stories that will make you a more effective major gifts officer, including one story that could be worth $200,000!

In this episode I tell a story about one of our benefactors who wound up giving a gift after a 7 minute first visit. You'll learn about the importance of asking for a specific amount, the importance of referrals, why you need to ask when is a good time to follow up, and why you need to focus on generating revenue for your organization.

This is a bonus episode where I was interviewed by my friend Jeff Schiefelbein on his radio show Undivided Intention. This is not a typical episode of One Visit Away. It is much more personal and involves many other topics besides fundraising. I hope you enjoy our conversation, but be forewarned since this is a bonus episode I did not edit anything out, so commercials are included.

In this episode I share one of my own stories! In this episode you'll learn why it's important to always be visiting with prospects and benefactors, why you should never make up answers, why you shouldn't give up when you've tried several times to schedule a visit, and why you should listen to suggestions your benefactors make as it could lead to millions of dollars of increased giving for your organization.

In this episode we hear from Maria Puccini the Executive Director and Co-Founder of In My Shoes. Maria shares a story that is my favorite story shared on the show so far! It illustrates many traits that make someone successful in development: an enormous amount of passion, humility, the ability to take painful constructive criticism, a deep desire to put the needs of those your organization serves ahead of your own, and persistence.

All I can say is WOW! I am excited and can’t wait for you all to hear this incredible story from Maria.

Should you travel to visit with a Benefactor or Prospect?
Can someone increase from $2,500 to over $100,000?
Can you teach an old dog new tricks?

If you want to know the answers to these questions, listen to this episode of One Visit Away! Dan Bailey the President and Founder of Just Say Yes tells some great stories about his transformation in major gifts and how it has impacted his organization.

There is a great deal to learn about development in this fun and exciting conversation!

Val Hrbacek is the Director of Development of Birth Choice Dallas. In this episode you will find great insights on how to succeed in major gifts even while bringing your toddler to work everyday! Listen to this episode and among many tips you will understand the importance of making thank you calls as they can lead to more than 1000% increases in giving as well as the importance of not assuming a benefactor's capacity.

How do you go from hearing that someone will never give to your organization to them becoming one of your most important benefactors?

Find out by listening to this episode of One Visit Away, where your host Kevin Fitzpatrick shares one of his favorite stories from the beginning of his career as a major gift officer.

This episode will inspire you to schedule more visits so that you can raise more money for your non-profit!

Joseph Hamaty with the Steier Group tells stories that will get you excited to schedule more visits and raise more money for your organization!

The Steier Group has helped raise over $2 Billion for capital campaigns. Joseph shares several stories that help illustrate why they have had such great success. These stories are equally informative as they are entertaining!

In this episode we hear from Fr. Richard Hermes, S.J. and Nick Suszynski.

If you work in Major gifts, fundraising, or are thinking about starting a capital campaign, this episode will help you tremendously.

Before being named President of Jesuit Tampa, Fr. Hermes had almost no experience in fundraising. After he got to Jesuit Tampa, he and Nick led Jesuit through an incredibly successful capital campaign. The original goal was $35 Million, but due to the bold vision Fr. Hermes presented, the determination of Nick Suszynski in heroic follow-up efforts, the extreme generosity of their benefactors, and of course everyone involved doing everything For the Greater Glory of God, they surpassed their goal and raised $50 Million!

Your organization is not stuck. Listen to this episode now and you’ll realize you’re just One Visit Away from a transformational gift for your organization!

In this episode, you will learn how to schedule more visits through the use of referrals, the importance of never giving up on a relationship, and how to respond to being cursed out of someone's office!

You do not want to miss this episode with Evan Woolsoncroft.

Evan was born and raised in Kansas. He attended Kansas State University. Upon graduation he started missionary work with FOCUS (the Fellowship of Catholic University Students). FOCUS is a collegiate outreach non-profit that shares the Gospel, prays, trains and ministers to college students. As a missionary he raised his own salary and mission expenses to support his work. After serving one year at the University of North Texas and two years at Missouri State University, he stepped into professional development full-time with FOCUS as a philanthropy officer. In this role, Evan, worked with major gift benefactors, foundations, campaigns, annual giving, and planned giving. He recently finished his Masters of Business Administration with a concentration in Catholic Philanthropy from the University of Mary. Evan now works for FOCUS as the Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement Senior Officer. He lives in Fort Worth, Texas with his wife and two young children.

In this episode, I interview Mike Murray, Chief Development Officer of Catholic Charities Dallas. Mike tells many stories from his time working in major gifts including a 5 minute conversation that led to close to $500,000 in giving. If you are a development professional, you will be encouraged to schedule more visits after listening to this!