Every fall, I have the privilege of getting a front row seat to fundraising banquets across America. One weekend I'm speaking at a pregnancy center, the next I'm with a foster care ministry, then a Christian school, rescue mission, or another ministry that's faithfully serving people in the name of Christ. After having the privilege of speaking at fundraising events in communities all across America, I've noticed something that has surprised me. The ministries that raise the

Every few months I see another article, webinar, or social media post confidently declaring that the fundraising banquet is dead. They tell nonprofits that people don't attend events anymore, that banquets no longer raise money, and that organizations should abandon them in favor of the latest fundraising strategy. What I've noticed is that the people making those claims usually have something else they want to sell you. As someone who spends much of the year speaking at fund

I listen to Christian radio most days. It’s usually just on in the background while I’m driving or running errands. The music is familiar, and there’s something steady about it that helps reset my head in the middle of a normal day. It’s not something I overthink, it’s just part of the rhythm of life. But there’s one thing that’s become pretty predictable for me over time. Between songs there are often 60 second devotionals from national speakers. I get why they exist, quick

I’ve been getting asked a lot lately how to get booked more as a fundraising speaker, especially in the PRC, foster care, and adoption space. I’m grateful for those questions, and I don’t take them lightly. The honest answer is that a lot of what looks like a “system” from the outside is actually the result of a long mix of things coming together over time. Some of it is absolutely God given. Some of it is 25 years in ministry. Thirteen of those years preaching and learning h

I can finally put into words what I want in life. It’s taken me 47 years, 26 years of marriage, and 23 years of fatherhood, but I think I’m finally there. I saw it clearly on Valentine’s Day this year. My wife and I had just finished dinner at a fancy restaurant celebrating our love for each other. I had a three level seafood tower. I honestly can’t even remember what she ordered, but I’m guessing steak and lobster. I made the reservations back in October, so this wasn’t an a

I have spent much of my life around nonprofit leaders. Some are leading pregnancy centers. Some are running foster care ministries. Others are serving through churches, schools, rescue missions, or community organizations. No matter the mission, I often hear a similar story: "We are so busy serving people that we don't have time to fundraise." I understand that feeling because I've lived it myself. Most executive directors didn't step into nonprofit leadership because they dr

I am a real fundraiser. Like, for real real. I have CFRM from the Lilly School of Philanthropy and have been in the weeds of fundraising for a long time. Here is what I've learned from doing it as a comedian. When most people think about fundraising and comedy, they assume those two worlds don’t belong in the same sentence. One feels serious, structured, and strategic. The other feels spontaneous, unpredictable, and—well—funny. But after years of standing on stages in bot

If you’ve never asked for sponsorship or underwriting before, it can feel a little intimidating. Most people don’t grow up knowing how to do this. The good news is that it’s actually much simpler than it feels, and donors are often more open to it than you might expect. At its core, you are not asking someone to “help you pay for a speaker.” You are inviting someone to help make a high-impact fundraising event possible that will ultimately raise more money for your mission. T

About a year ago I was sitting at a local community foundation for a networking event for nonprofits. It was one of those gatherings where you walk in not really knowing what to expect, but you hope something meaningful comes out of it. They broke us into four groups of about twenty people each, completely random. No sorting by cause or philosophy. Just a mix of people from all kinds of organizations. As we went around the circle introducing ourselves, something really beauti

I’ve stood in a lot of rooms. Church gyms with folding chairs that squeak every time someone shifts. Elegant hotel ballrooms where the forks are nicer than my first car. Community centers where the microphone works… most of the time. And after enough of those nights, you start to notice something pretty consistent. It’s not the décor that determines generosity. It’s not even the video, the lighting, or how fancy the dessert is. There are a handful of things that, when they’re

Every fundraising banquet has them. The moments where the room subtly shifts. People stop leaning in, conversations get quieter, and someone suddenly becomes very interested in whether their iced tea needs a refill. These are the “cringe moments,” and while they feel small, they are often the exact moments generosity shuts down in real time. The tricky part is nobody plans them. No one gets on stage thinking, “Let’s make this awkward and lose momentum.” It just happens. The g

When you stand on stage at a fundraising banquet, you are not talking to “the audience.” It may look like one big room of people politely eating chicken and nodding at the right times, but it’s not one audience. It’s five very different people… all sitting at the same table, passing the rolls. Those five types are: the ready to give donor, the emotionally moved but unsure guest, the first-time guest, the relational giver, and yes, even the “I’m not giving” guest. And if you t

If your fundraising event isn’t raising as much money as it could, it’s not a program problem. It’s a strategy problem. Too many Christian nonprofits plan an evening that feels meaningful, looks polished, and tells great stories, but leaves generosity on the table. The room is engaged, people are encouraged, and everyone goes home thinking it was a great night. But the real question is whether it produced the level of giving the mission actually needs. In recent years, many o

Recently, I received a comment that I’ve been hearing more and more in nonprofit circles: “I will say that in recent years we have received counsel that we should focus new fundraising efforts on meeting one-on-one with donors instead of adding new events. The data shows that the rate of funds received to the number of staff hours spent is more efficient with direct asks instead of planning and running events.” And honestly, I agree. But also, I don’t. Let me explain. If you’

Hello! “This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” And also… brace yourself a little. Recently, a video I made called “Pastor Tim’s New Pastor Training Training” made the rounds online. It’s a tongue-in-cheek look at what it’s really like to step into pastoral ministry. If you haven’t seen it yet, you can watch it below. It’s funny. It’s exaggerated. It’s uncomfortable. And if you’re a pastor, it’s also… painfully familiar. Seminary teaches yo

(Designed to Protect Giving Momentum and Maximize ROI) I’ve worked with enough Pregnancy Resource Centers and Maternity Homes to know one thing: energy at a banquet is fragile. If you build it intentionally, generosity follows. If you let it wander, giving softens. This Run of Show Template is a simple, proven flow that keeps your banquet emotionally strong, strategic, and positioned for a confident ask. This isn’t flashy—it’s effective. Ideal Total Program Length: 120 Minute

Your Most Generous Banquet Ever Starts Here Use this checklist 6–9 months before your event to maximize return on investment — financially, spiritually, and relationally. DEFINE SUCCESS FIRST (Before You Plan Anything) ☐ Clear financial goal (specific number, not “more than last year”) ☐ Net goal (after expenses) ☐ Number of new monthly partners desired ☐ Number of first-time donors desired ☐ Clear primary audience (major donors? churches? table hosts?) ☐ Clear follow-up plan

If you have ever walked away from a banquet thinking, “The room felt great… so why didn’t the giving match the energy?” you are not alone. I have been in hundreds of banquet rooms as a speaker, host, and fundraising coach. I have seen packed rooms with polite applause and very little generosity. I have also seen modest rooms explode with joyful, sacrificial giving. Banquet giving is not random. It is not luck. And it is not about emotional manipulation. It is about clarity, p

Let’s say the honest thing out loud. A lot of people walk into fundraising banquets already tired. They’ve been to enough events to know the pattern, and if we’re being real, many of them are exhausted by it. They’re tired of heavy, draining banquets. They’re tired of speakers who guilt donors into generosity. They’re tired of programs that run long, feel flat, and leave them emotionally wrung out on the drive home. And here’s the distinction we don’t always name. Feeling emo

Every nonprofit in town is fundraising. How do we stand out without competing with the organizations we love? Great question. And other than hiring a ridiculously good looking clean comedian…(Hi. It’s me. I’m the joke.) But truly, this is one of the most honest and thoughtful questions I hear from nonprofit leaders. Every nonprofit in town is raising money. Everyone is hosting events. Everyone has a banquet on the calendar. And many of us share the same donors, churches, volu