Episode 125

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Published on:

27th Jan 2026

Making Stewardship Personal, Scalable, Sustainable

“More touches” are burning teams out 😅

I talk with so many fundraisers who are trying to do heartfelt, hyper-personal stewardship for everyone… and ending up exhausted, guilty, and behind by December.

In my latest episode of The Intentional Fundraiser, I share a simple 3-tier stewardship system I have used for years to keep donor care personal, scalable, and sustainable.

We get into:

  1. The burnout story of doing “all the things” for everyone 😵‍💫
  2. Why donors remember moments, not message volume
  3. How to segment your portfolio into high touch, mid touch, and automated care
  4. Where automation and AI belong, without sounding robotic 🤖❤️
  5. How to build a 90 day stewardship map that replaces year end panic with a steady rhythm

I also walk through practical examples you can adapt in a small shop or a large institution, plus a simple challenge you can complete in under an hour.

What would change for you and your team if stewardship felt planned and sustainable instead of last minute and overwhelming

Listen to “Making Stewardship Personal, Scalable, Sustainable,” and share this episode with a colleague, executive director, or board member who cares about both donors and staff wellbeing. 🎧👉

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About the Podcast

The Intentional Fundraiser Podcast
Welcome to The Intentional Fundraiser Podcast. I'm your host, Tammy Zonker, and I'm thrilled you're here.

I've spent nearly three decades specializing in major gifts. I’ve seen how major gifts often form the backbone of an organization’s financial stability, and yet, I know many of us find this area particularly challenging. Time and again, I’ve been approached by fundraisers and nonprofit leaders eager to establish or supercharge their major gift programs. It’s become crystal clear that there’s a growing hunger for training and expertise in this area.

I’ve had the incredible privilege of working with nonprofits from all around the world helping organizations collectively raise nearly one billion dollars. During this time, I’ve developed strategies and tools that have consistently helped organizations transition their mid-level donors into major donors through meaningful engagement. It’s a process that, when done consistently, can truly catapult an organization’s major gift fundraising to the next level.

Whether you’re a seasoned major gift officer looking to refine your approach, a development director aiming to build a powerhouse program, an executive director looking to scale your organization’s capacity for transformational giving, or a board member seeking to understand the transformative potential of major gifts, The Intentional Fundraiser podcast is your source for growth and excellence in major gift fundraising.

So, buckle up! We're about to embark on a journey to take your major gift program to the next level – and beyond. Let's get intentional about major gift fundraising!

Keep transforming,
Tammy Zonker
Major Gift Expert & Keynote Speaker
Fundraising Transformed

#ScaleRaiseDo

About your host

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Tammy Zonker

Hey, There! I’m Tammy Zonker.

I'm the Founder and President of Fundraising Transformed and host of The Intentional Fundraiser Podcast.

I’ve been a major gifts strategist and fundraising expert for more than 25 years. I’m also a certified AFP Master Trainer and international speaker.

I’ve Led and trained thousands of nonprofit social service organizations, private schools, colleges and universities, and healthcare organizations to collectively raise more than a half-billion dollars — and counting — including a single gift of $27.1M.

I have served as adjunct faculty at Indiana University and technical editor for Wiley Publishing’s “Fundraising for Dummies” third edition.

I currently serve as Dean at the Institute for Charitable Giving, a member of the AFP International Conference Education Committee, a member of the Nonprofit Quarterly’s Editorial Advisory Board, a contributing writer to NonProfit PRO, and an advisor at Capital Campaign Pro.

I would love to learn more about the amazing work you do and explore how we can work together to take your fundraising to the next, next level.