In this episode of All About Capital Campaigns, Amy Eisenstein and Andrea Kihlstedt unpack a common but costly mistake nonprofits make—treating donors as checkbooks instead of partners. Sparked by recent federal funding cuts to arts organizations, this conversation challenges fundraising teams to rethink how they communicate with their most committed supporters during a crisis.
Too often, when a major grant disappears or budgets fall short, nonprofits react with urgency but little strategy. A mass email plea might generate a trickle of support, but it rarely strengthens long-term donor relationships or builds confidence. Amy and Andrea argue there’s a better way—one that starts by treating your top donors like trusted advisors.
The episode digs into the difference between reactive fundraising and relationship-based fundraising. The key? Seeing your donors as people who want your mission to succeed and are willing to help in more ways than writing a check. Andrea shares a personal example of how a missed opportunity left her feeling like "just another wallet," and Amy discusses the psychological impact of mass appeals versus personalized outreach.
You’ll hear:
Amy and Andrea offer a practical framework that fundraising professionals can adopt immediately—starting with a simple mindset shift: Donors are institutional friends, not vending machines. If that sounds soft, think again. This approach can lead to larger gifts, more meaningful partnerships, and long-term campaign success.
This conversation is especially timely for nonprofit leaders facing funding cuts, uncertainty, or stalled campaigns. If you’re tired of short-term fixes and want to start building lasting support, this episode offers a clear path forward.
To learn more about capital campaign strategy and donor engagement, visit capitalcampaignpro.com, where you’ll find free resources and ways to work directly with expert advisors like Amy and Andrea.
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.