Ep 1 - The Time I got Fired and Started Locke Step Partners

Kicking off Fundraising Unfiltered with the story that started it all—where we trade in sugar-coated nonsense for real talk, hard-earned wisdom, and the occasional F-bomb (because fundraising is not for the faint of heart).

I’m Danielle Locke, your Nonprofit Success Partner, and in this very first episode, I’m taking you behind the scenes of the moment that flipped my life upside down... and set me on a path to build a thriving business helping nonprofits like yours stop scrambling and start scaling.

 

Here’s the tea:

• I raised $30 million
• Built 130+ endowment funds
• and had the respect of my board, my team, and my community.
• I was killing it in my job at a community foundation.

 

Then one day? BOOM—fired. No warning.

But here’s the thing: getting fired was the best damn thing that ever happened to me.

 

In this episode, I spill:

Whether you’ve ever been blindsided by leadership drama, underestimated by your board, or just wondered how the hell to turn your nonprofit’s big messy mission into something funders can actually get behind—this one’s for you.

 

And because this podcast isn’t just about me and my dramatic origin story, I’m also handing over the practical advice your strategic plan forgot to include:

👉 Why you need to toot your own damn horn

👉 How to break down your impact so donors actually understand it

👉 What fundraising is really about (hint: not sales, not manipulation, just meaningful connections with the people who care most)

 So, pour yourself a strong one, hit play, and let’s go!

🔥BONUS:

When you’re ready to dig deeper, hit up ⁠⁠www.LockeStep.com⁠⁠ for tools, training, and totally doable strategies to help your nonprofit grow without the grind.

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