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A Week in the Life of a Major Gift Coach

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šŸ“… Episode Summary:
Ever wonder what a major gift coach actually does? In this episode, Mary pulls back the curtain on a single Monday filled with coaching sessions, new client strategy, proposal rewrites, and prospect deep dives. Youā€™ll hear what it really takes to help fundraisers grow their confidence, build a major gift pipeline, and start closing six- and seven-figure giftsā€”no guesswork, no fluff.

šŸ’” Whether you're a solo development officer, a board chair taking on fundraising, or a seasoned MGO needing structure and strategyā€”this episode is packed with real-life scenarios, coaching advice, and actionable takeaways.

šŸ”„ In this episode, youā€™ll hear about:

  • Heatherā€™s journey from $0 to $35K and how sheā€™s prepping a $250K ask
  • A theatreā€™s $3M challengeā€”and why their $10K/month consultant isnā€™t cutting it
  • Coaching a one-person development shop through donor meeting language and confidence building
  • Why your 15-page proposal is probably doing more harm than good
  • How to build a prospect strategy map and cultivation touchpoint calendar
  • Welcoming a new Major Gift Momentum member and creating systems from scratch
  • Helping a large nonprofit structure messaging to inspire seven-figure gifts

āœØ Links & Resources:

šŸ’¬ Quotable Moment:
"A major gift coach doesnā€™t just tell you what to doā€”weā€™re in the trenches with you, building your confidence, your materials, and your strategy." ā€“ Mary Petersen

Stop having ā€œnice meetingsā€ that go nowhere. If you want meetings that end with momentum (next step + timeline + clarity), start here:

šŸ”„ Major Donor Meeting Mastery ā€” my step-by-step system for better donor meetings.
šŸ“˜ Mary's book ā€” grab the framework and major gift ask scripts.
šŸŽ„ Momentum Webinar ā€” learn the core strategy in one sitting.

šŸ’» Connect with Mary Petersen