Our cohosts deliver a practical conversation on cultivating relationships with high net worth (HNW) donors. They explore how nonprofit organizations of all sizes can define what “high net worth” means in their context, identify aligned individuals, and thoughtfully steward them toward transformational giving.

Tony Beall opens with a foundational point: “We need to define what high net worth means for our own organization—because it looks different depending on your size, mission, and goals.” This nuance sets the stage for a broader conversation that deconstructs common assumptions about wealth and reminds nonprofit professionals that big gifts are rooted in deep, intentional relationships—not cold outreach.

Rather than chase only new wealth, Tony urges nonprofits to begin by mining existing donor data. “Let’s start with who already cares about our mission. We can often elevate those relationships before even casting a wider net,” he shares. The advice is practical and encouraging, especially for smaller teams with limited capacity.

Julia Patrick and Tony also touch on the human side of fundraising—empathy, trust, and consistency. Julia shares a personal story about securing her first $1 million donation, which came not over a fancy lunch, but at a modest cafeteria. “He told me he had grown up without enough to eat, and seeing all that food reminded him of how far he’d come. For him, that was luxury,” she recounts. It’s a moving reminder that motivations are deeply personal—and often surprising.

From prospecting strategies like leveraging SEC filings, Google Alerts, and local business journals to understanding the long timelines involved in major gift cultivation, the episode offers a balanced blend of emotional intelligence and tactical guidance.

As Tony puts it, “Patience and consistency are what build trust—not just with donors, but with the broader community.” And that trust, over time, is what unlocks major gifts.

00:00:00 Welcome to Fundraisers Friday

00:00:20 Julia praises Tony's impact on the sector

00:02:00 What does “high net worth” really mean?

00:03:50 Why your organization needs its own HNW definition

00:07:05 Start with your current donors

00:10:15 Tools for identifying HNW prospects

00:13:20 Using local journals and social registers

00:18:10 Understanding donor motivations

00:22:00 A powerful story about humility and generosity

00:23:30 The two-year major gift timeline

00:26:00 How trust drives long-term giving

00:29:00 Closing thoughts and sponsor thank you

#MajorGiftStrategy #DonorEngagement #NonprofitLeadership

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Our national co-hosts and amazing guests discuss management, money and missions of nonprofits!
12:30pm ET 11:30am CT 10:30am MT 9:30am PT

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Visit us on the web:The Nonprofit Show

What does it take to reimagine child welfare on a global scale? Caroline Boudreaux, Founder of the Miracle Foundation, shares her extraordinary evolution from corporate life to global changemaker. Her journey began on a spontaneous trip to India where, on Mother’s Day in 2000, she met a group of orphaned children—and one moment changed her forever.

“I put a hungry orphan on a wooden bed and heard her bones hit the wood. I’ve never been the same,” Boudreaux recalls.

Originally launching Miracle Foundation as an international adoption agency, Caroline soon realized that adoption couldn’t scale fast enough to match the need. She pivoted. Then, another revelation: 80% of institutionalized children actually had living family. “We couldn’t just make orphanages better anymore—we had to help children go home,” she shares. That shift required a new model, a bold strategy, and a lot of resilience.

The organization began empowering ‘kinship care’—supporting extended families to take children back in by addressing barriers like housing, education, or income. Then came Thrive Well: a transformative app that puts this care model into the hands of over 30,000 social workers, enabling systems change at scale.

This inspiring discussion adds in the role of healthy board dynamics, founder self-awareness, and breaking through the myth that only “rich people” give. “You're not looking for donors with money,” Caroline says. “You’re looking for souls who want to do something bigger than themselves.”

Her metaphor? “We’re all jumping into the river to save babies. But someone has to look upstream to stop them from falling in.”

This conversation will challenge your assumptions, ignite your passion for systemic change, and offer inspiration for every nonprofit leader navigating evolving missions and growing impact.

00:00:00 Welcome to Caroline Boudreaux

00:01:29 How a trip to India sparked a mission

00:04:14 The moment that changed everything on Mother’s Day

00:07:10 Founding the Miracle Foundation

00:08:50 Early struggles and pivot from adoption

00:11:18 Discovering most “orphans” had families

00:13:03 The kinship care model explained

00:16:19 Partnering with Indian government and local leaders

00:17:40 Launching the Thrive Well app

00:20:01 Founder syndrome and building a strong board

00:21:22 Metaphor: saving babies vs. stopping them from falling in

00:23:22 Finding the right donors: look for souls, not dollars

00:25:27 The journey of learning, pivoting, and systemic change

00:27:08 Vision for a world without orphanages by 2040

#FamilyFirst #MiracleFoundation #SystemsChange

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Our national co-hosts and amazing guests discuss management, money and missions of nonprofits!
12:30pm ET 11:30am CT 10:30am MT 9:30am PT

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Paul Preziotti, CPA and partner at Johnson Lambert, joins co-hosts Julia Patrick and Meico Marquette Whitlock to provide a grounded, real-time financial snapshot of the nonprofit sector in 2025. As Paul begins, “Each month, it’s like, oh, that happened… now that happened,” capturing the fast-moving nature of today’s funding landscape.

The hosts and guest explore lessons learned from past crises and how nonprofits must evolve their planning models, including annual board and staff financial trainings, contingency-based budgets, and integrating cash flow analysis into strategic decision-making. Paul emphasizes that scenario planning is not a one-time task, but an organizational mindset: “You can’t do this overnight… you need to build in review time at all levels—starting with the board.”

The conversation digs deep into scenario planning—why it’s essential, and how it gives nonprofits a flexible roadmap when the future is uncertain. Gone are the days of assuming government funding is reliable. Preziotti says, “Even if your agency isn’t one of the ones in the news, I think you have to think about a scenario in the future where that funding doesn’t exist.”

The trio also address the communication gap between finance professionals and non-financial staff or board members. Paul and Meico discuss creating a budgeting culture that empowers all roles with the right knowledge and confidence to engage in financial discussions—without fear of judgment—adding that staying calm and building a supportive tone at the top helps organizations weather instability with resilience.

Outsourcing is presented as a flexible and cost-efficient solution, especially for smaller nonprofits. Whether outsourcing payroll, the CFO role, or just the budget process, it’s all about customizing help where it's most needed e.g.tailoring financial communication for diverse board members, using dashboards, infographics, or narrative reporting as appropriate.

00:00:00 Welcome and Introduction
00:01:52 Meet Paul Preziotti from Johnson Lambert
00:03:14 Nonprofit Budget and Funding Uncertainty in 2025
00:05:22 Why Scenario Planning Matters for Nonprofits
00:07:18 Lessons Learned from COVID and Natural Disasters
00:08:54 What Non-Financial Board Members Should Know
00:11:14 How Smaller Nonprofits Can Manage Scenario Planning
00:12:00 Outsourcing Financial Roles as a Cost-Saving Strategy
00:14:50 Building a Culture of Budgeting and Communication
00:17:23 Training Financial Staff to Communicate Clearly
00:21:02 How to Communicate Finances to the Board
00:23:35 What Boards Should Really Focus On Financially
00:25:44 How to Stay Calm During Financial Uncertainty
00:28:16 Sector-Wide Warnings and Final Thoughts

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Our national co-hosts and amazing guests discuss management, money and missions of nonprofits!
12:30pm ET 11:30am CT 10:30am MT 9:30am PT

Send us your ideas for Show Guests or Topics: HelpDesk@AmericanNonprofitAcademy.com
Visit us on the web:The Nonprofit Show