Fundraising is relationship building, but too many donor conversations feel disconnected, repetitive, and transactional. Enter the “Donor Waltz”. A three-step sequence of conversations designed to move donors from discovery to alignment, to meaningful commitment. Donors experience philanthropy emotionally, not operationally, and organizations that fail to find the emotional journey risk losing momentum, trust, and transformational opportunities. When fundraisers learn to sequence conversations, donor relationships begin to feel less like a checklist and more like a partnership.
Read MoreListen to the weekly podcast “Around with Randall” as he discusses, in just a few minutes, a topic surrounding non-profit philanthropy. Included each week are tactical suggestions listeners can use to immediately make their non-profit, and their job activities, more effective.
Find “Around with Randall” on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your podcasts.
Email Randall with a show topic: podcast@hallettphilanthropy.com
Email Randall with a thought regarding a specific show: reeks@hallettphilanthropy.com
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Andrew Carnegie did not believe philanthropy was simply about relieving immediate need. He believed it was about creating opportunities that could create generational change. In this special episode, we look at how Carnegie’s philosophy shaped modern giving through libraries, education, research, and long-term investment in human potential. Challenging nonprofits to think beyond short-term charity and ask a harder question. Are we only responding to problems, or are we helping people escape them? A reflection on wealth, responsibility, and the deeper purpose of philanthropy.
Read MoreFundraisers often spend enormous amounts of time pursuing prospects who will never make a gift. Not because they lack capacity, but because nobody properly qualified their intent. In this episode, we look at one of the biggest hidden problems in fundraising: confusing wealth with philanthropic interest. Let’s explore how better qualification questions, smaller portfolios, and clearer disqualification standards can improve donor relationships and fundraising outcomes. Effective fundraising is not about collecting more names, it’s about identifying alignment and moving the right relationships forward.
Read MoreA tragedy in the Apollo program revealed a powerful truth: the greatest failures aren’t always technical; they’re failures of imagination. In this milestone 300th episode, Randall challenges nonprofit leaders to rethink how they see risk, innovation, and the future itself. Drawing lessons from NASA and the space race, he outlines five practical ways to break free from limiting assumptions and uncover new possibilities. Because in a rapidly changing world, the organizations that thrive won’t just react, they’ll imagine what others never considered.
Read MoreSuccession planning isn’t just a CEO issue. It’s a frontline necessity in a nonprofit sector where turnover is constant and stability is fragile. When organizations fail to plan, they risk revenue disruption, donor attrition, and cultural erosion that can take years to rebuild. The strongest nonprofits don’t react to transitions. They prepare for them by developing internal talent, protecting relationships, and creating clear operational frameworks. Done right, succession planning isn’t about replacing people. It’s about strengthening the entire organization before change ever happens.
Read MoreFractional employees are quickly becoming a practical solution for nonprofits facing talent shortages and budget constraints, but they’re not a simple fix. This episode explores how fractional roles can unlock high-level expertise without full-time costs, while also exposing the hidden risks to continuity, culture, and donor relationships. The key insight: success isn’t about whether you use fractional talent, but how intentionally you design and manage it.
Read MoreThe title “Chief Philanthropy Officer” doesn’t fully capture the real job, because much of the role is political, relational, and deeply strategic. CPO's navigate power dynamics, align competing priorities, translate donor realities, and build trust across the organization. Success isn’t about control or title; it’s about influence, diplomacy, and internal partnerships. When CPO's educate simply, make invisible work visible, invite leaders into the process, and stay calm under pressure, alignment follows. The result is stronger internal cohesion and better outcomes for donors.
Read MoreGratitude isn’t just a warm feeling, it’s a physiological, psychological, and relational reaction that reshapes how we live and lead. Research proves that it lowers stress, improves heart health, helps with sleep, and strengthens resilience. Yet, we rarely slow down long enough to notice its impact. Thanksgiving gives us permission to pause, but the real transformation comes when we choose gratitude intentionally, not seasonally. When we shift from “what’s happening to me” to “how do I respond,” our relationships deepen, work sharpens, and our well-being expands. If you give yourself a few quiet moments this week to reflect, you may walk away clearer, calmer, and more connected.
Read MoreGreat boards don’t just meet—they measure. When boards track their own performance, they shift from opinion-driven debate to data-informed decisions. Transparent metrics build trust, align strategy, and keep every member accountable to the mission. Start small, stay consistent, and let dashboards reveal where progress is thriving—and where course correction is needed. The result? A more engaged, effective board that owns its success.
Read MoreIn today’s digital world, one false post can damage a nonprofit’s reputation faster than any press release can repair it. False information spreads up to six times faster than truth—and small organizations often lack the resources to respond effectively. The key is preparation: monitor social platforms, respond calmly and transparently, and have a crisis protocol ready before misinformation strikes. Rebuilding trust takes time, but protecting it starts with awareness, clarity, and steady leadership. Don’t wait for a storm—build your umbrella now.
Read MoreNonprofits often face a silent crisis: they can’t fund the very infrastructure that keeps their mission alive. While donors love to support visible programs, few realize that unrestricted gifts – the ones that cover salaries, compliance, and basic operations – are what make real impact possible. When organizations underfund their “overhead,” they enter a starvation cycle that weakens long-term sustainability. By reframing unrestricted giving as mission fuel, nonprofits can help donors see that trust, not just passion, drives meaningful change. Restricted gifts show commitment. Unrestricted gifts show belief in leadership.
Read MoreNonprofits can’t afford to ignore mental wellness. Stretching employees too thin leads to burnout, turnover, and lost donor trust—costs that ripple across mission, fundraising, and community impact. Leaders who invest in staff well-being not only do the right thing but also protect retention, efficiency, and donor relationships. From normalizing mental health conversations to flexible workspaces and empathetic leadership, the path is clear: taking care of your team is both a moral and strategic imperative.
Read MoreWhen a nonprofit’s founder or small group wields too much influence, mission drift can quietly erode trust, credibility, and board strength. The result? Confusion among donors, disengaged board members, staff turnover, and even reputational risk. The cure lies in proactive governance: clear roles, term limits, strong bylaws, intentional recruitment, and the courage (both from inside the board and, when needed, from outside voices) to keep the mission front and center.
Read MoreWhen crisis hits—whether it's a struggling department or the entire organization—your response defines your future. This episode explores how to talk about financial distress without sounding desperate, and how to frame fundraising efforts as strategic, not survivalist. The difference? Donors don’t want to save a sinking ship—they want to fuel a mission with momentum. If you can communicate change, trust, and a path forward, you’ll do more than survive—you’ll transform.
Read MoreRight now, too many nonprofits are frozen in place—boards and CEOs so paralyzed by funding cuts and political chaos that they’ve stopped thinking strategically altogether. When organizations stall, donors lose confidence, talented development staff grow frustrated, and transformational gifts slip through the cracks. In this episode, we unpack four practical ways fundraising professionals can respectfully ‘manage up’—from reframing strategy as a leadership duty to enlisting donor voices and phasing in focused roadmaps. You’ll hear real-world examples of how anonymous donor feedback and targeted feasibility studies have reignited momentum and unlocked six- and seven-figure gifts. Tune in to discover how to break the paralysis and turn chaos into catalytic, strategic philanthropy.
Read MoreToday marks a milestone—250 episodes of Around with Randall! This journey has been one of service, storytelling, and sincere gratitude for those unseen moments of influence we have on each other. What started as a simple goal to make a difference in just one life has blossomed into a community of listeners across the globe. I never imagined the reach or the impact, but I am deeply humbled and more inspired than ever to keep showing up, sharing insights, and building this classroom of compassion and purpose. Here’s to the next 250!
Read MoreWho really owns a nonprofit? Unlike for-profit businesses with clear ownership, nonprofits are technically owned by no one—but that doesn't mean responsibility is absent. In reality, the community is the true owner, and the board of directors serves as its steward.
But what happens when boards become passive? CEOs can gain too much control, leading to governance failures, weakened oversight, and long-term risks for the organization. What makes this shift happen? What are the consequences? And—most importantly—how do you restore strong nonprofit governance?
Read MoreIn this week’s episode of Around with Randall, we discuss the impact of positive and negative influences in our personal and professional lives, especially in the nonprofit sector. What is the science of emotional contagion, how others' emotions affect our well-being and productivity, and the importance of surrounding ourselves with positive individuals? We end with some practical advice for evaluating potential hires based on their emotional impact, highlighting the value of creating a supportive, uplifting environment for personal and organizational success.
Read MoreIn this week’s episode, we focus on the importance of endowing positions, particularly outside higher education, to create financial stability and attract top talent to nonprofits. Look at universities that have successfully endowed faculty chairs. How much could those endowments help nonprofits manage rising costs and ensure critical roles are funded? The goal is to help nonprofits adopt this model, enabling long-term sustainability and greater impact in their communities.
Read MoreBalancing personalization and automation in donor stewardship is a challenge every nonprofit faces. In this episode, Randall dives into the critical question of how to effectively engage donors at all levels—ensuring major donors feel valued while nurturing smaller donors with potential. He explores practical tactics for segmenting, automating, and personalizing stewardship efforts, from data-driven donor screening to leveraging volunteers for thank-you calls. The key takeaway? Thoughtful stewardship isn’t just about efficiency—it’s about strategically building relationships that elevate giving over time.
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