Hey Fundraiser!
Welcome to Hey Fundraiser, the podcast for nonprofit Executive Directors and major gift officers who are done guessing.
Each week, host Mary Petersen pulls back the curtain on what actually works in major gifts. Not theory. Not whiteboard frameworks. Real scripts, real strategy, and the exact moves you can use in your next donor meeting. Mary spent 25+ years as a working major gift officer and built a methodology that closes 5 and 6-figure gifts in months, not years, by going deep with a focused portfolio instead of chasing volume.
If you've ever frozen up before an ask, stared at a "wish list" of donors with no idea who to call first, or wondered why the industry keeps telling you a major gift takes 18 months to close, this is your show.
You'll leave every episode with one clear thing to do on Monday morning. Hit follow and start building real momentum.
Hey Fundraiser!
What to Say: 12 Gift Asks to Get a YES
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
I wrote a short, punchy field guide with word-for-word major gift ask scripts so you can make confident, collaborative solicitations (without the anxiety). In this video I share why I wrote it, what’s inside, and how to use it to book more meetings, tailor your ask to head/heart/gut donors, and handle objections like a pro. This one is for you executive directors, major gift officers, and directors of development!
You’ll learn:
-Why “asking” is a joyful, professional invitation—not “begging”
-The 12 ask scripts and when to use each
-The 5 elements of a strong ask
-How to read head / heart / gut donors and tailor your language
-A simple way to handle money, timing, fit, trust, and curveball objections
-Confidence boosters to beat impostor syndrome (including my pre-ask pep-talk routine)
-Common mistakes to avoid so you shorten time-to-gift
📘 What to Say: 12 Major Gift Asks to Get a Yes → BUY THE BOOK
🚀 Want coaching support? Major Gift Momentum cohorts → https://heyfundraiser.com/momentum
Who this is for:
New and seasoned MGOs, EDs at small–mid nonprofits, and anyone who wants practical, permission-based language to book meetings, design the ask, and handle objections with ease.
#fundraising #majorgifts #nonprofit #donorrelations #whatToSay #askwithconfidence #permissionbasedfundraising
🪑 The Small Table Intensive. Half a day. Build or rebuild your major gift program around fewer donors and deeper relationships, using the methodology from my book Small Table Big Philanthropy.
🎯 The Ask Workshop. Half a day. The exact words to use when it's time to ask for 5 and 6-figure gifts. Walk in nervous about the ask. Walk out with the script.
More from Mary:
📘 Mary's books. What to Say and Small Table Big Philanthropy. The books behind the methodology.
🔥 Major Donor Meeting Mastery. My step-by-step system for donor meetings that move the relationship forward.
👩🏻💻 Momentum Training. My complete packaging + ask system, all in one place.
💻 Connect with Mary Petersen
- Website: heyfundraiser.com
- YouTube: @heyfundraisers
- Instagram: @heyfundraiser
- LinkedIn: ...