332: Want Bigger Donations? Ask Better Questions with Jeff Schreifels

Most nonprofits think fundraising is about getting the pitch right—but what if that's the wrong starting point? In this episode of Inspired Nonprofit Leadership, I sit down with Jeff Schreifels of Veritus Group to talk about how asking great questions (not writing great appeals) is the real game-changer in major gifts. We unpack why donors actually want to give more, the overlooked power of high-touch relationships, and how your ROI could be 30:1 if you just focus on what works. This one is a must-listen if you're tired of chasing grants and want a more sustainable path to growth. Episode Highlights 03:02 Fundraising Philosophy and Challenges 03:54 The Joy of Giving and Donor Engagement 05:43 High Touch Relationships in Fundraising 07:01 Major Gifts and Relationship Building 11:58 Effective Fundraising Strategies 14:22 Building Donor Relationships: Tactics and Trends 16:21 The Role of Major Gift Officers 16:47 Balancing Investments in Donor Programs 17:05 Building Mid and Major Gift Programs 18:03 The Power of Asking Questions 19:53 Diversifying Revenue Sources 23:28 Success Stories in Major Gift Programs 25:42 How to Invest in Individual Giving 30:03 Resources and Support for Fundraisers   Jeff Schreifels is the Principal and Owner of Veritus Group, a global consulting agency specializing in major gifts and mid-level fundraising strategy. With over 30 years in the nonprofit sector, Jeff is a pioneer of relationship-centered fundraising. Under his leadership, since 2009 Veritus has helped increase mid and major gift revenue and decrease donor value attrition for hundreds of non-profits worldwide that have adopted the "Veritus Way" of mid and major gifts. Jeff is co-author of the award-winning Passionate Giving Blog, a regular contributor to NonProfit Pro, and author of two bestselling books, It's Not JUST About the Money and It's Not JUST About the Donors. A soughtafter speaker, Jeff has delivered keynotes at top conferences like the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy International Conference and London's Chartered Institute of Fundraising Convention. Jeff's passion for empowering nonprofit leaders with actionable strategies has earned him a reputation as a trusted advisor driving meaningful change in the sector. Connect with Jeff: [email protected] Website: http://www.veritusgroup.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffschreifels/ Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/VeritusGroup/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/veritusgroup/reels/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@veritusgroup Blog: https://veritusgroup.com/blog Podcast: https://veritusgroup.com/podcasts Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Jeff-Schreifels/e/B085TCSHCK Sponsored Resource Join the Inspired Nonprofit Leadership Newsletter for weekly tips and inspiration for leading your nonprofit! Access it here >> Be sure to subscribe to Inspired Nonprofit Leadership so that you don't miss a single episode, and while you're at it, won't you take a moment to write a short review and rate our show? It would be greatly appreciated! Let us know the topics or questions you would like to hear about in a future episode. You can do that and follow us on LinkedIn.