The annual nonprofit fundraising cycle is relentless. It can feel like a high-stakes game of "hit the numbers.” Between donor conversion rates, average gift sizes and acquisition costs, nonprofits can sometimes lose sight of the human beings who have chosen to open their wallets. Automated thank-you notes get sent, new campaigns launch with urgent calls to action... and donors feel more like ATMs than VIPs. “Donor fatigue” sets in, but mostly as a symptom of a relationship that lacks heart.

It’s time for nonprofits to move beyond the all-too-usual "transactional" model of fundraising, especially when it yields diminishing returns. That’s why we’re hosting our upcoming webinar, From Transactions to Trust: How to Build Donor Relationships That Actually Last, featuring nonprofit leaders who’ve experienced what it takes to prioritize and deepen sincere human connection over conversion.

The changing landscape of donor generosity

It feels like trust is more important now than it was a decade ago. Following the pandemic and given this current era of social and political division, donors seem to be reassessing their priorities. They want to do something enduringly meaningful that improves the world for others and themselves. There is a hunger for authentic connection as a remedy for skepticism about "norms."

Given this, when a nonprofit is too focused on the donation transaction, it may inadvertently push donors away. That can happen when too much emphasis is placed on short-term fundraising goals, one-size-fits-all communications and urgency more than mission.

To move to an emphasis on relationships requires a mental shift. It’s not about how much one can get from a donor, but how much value one can create together with them.

Webinar details & registration

From Transactions to Trust: How to Build Donor Relationships That Actually Last

Date/Time: February 26, 2026, 1 pm EST

Featuring 

• Ishan Johnson, CFRE, Deputy Chief Philanthropy Officer at Boston Lyric Opera
• Alisha Johnson Perry, CFRE, Director of Development at SAAFON 
• Mike Spadraro (host), Lead, Acquisitions & Partnerships at Give Lively

Can’t make it live? Register anyway and, after the session, we’ll send the recording plus a link to our “Practical Guide to Donor Connection."

Expert insight: the trust lever

In the webinar, we’ll hear from Ishan Johnson, CFRE, Deputy Chief Philanthropy Officer for Boston Lyric Opera. Ishan is a veteran of nonprofit fundraising with experience handling major gifts, capital campaigns and board governance. He believes that trust, not clever tactics, is the real growth lever for any nonprofit, that relationship-building is not just a "nice to have,” but the foundation of sustainability.

He plans to touch on things like:

• the case for connection – the value of "slowing down" to build trust
• trust-breakers – common, subtle mistakes that may make donors feel more like numbers
• repair practices – small, high-impact changes that can be made today to signal respect and transparency.

Real-world transformation: the SAAFON story

While theory is great, seeing it put to use is better. We’ll also be joined by Alisha Johnson Perry, CFRE, Director of Development at SAAFON (Southeastern African American Farmers’ Organic Network) to provide just that.

Alisha will share the "before and after" of SAAFON's donor engagement approach. She’ll talk through the moment SAAFON realized a new approach was needed and the specific adjustments it made.

She’ll address:

• surprising shifts – unexpected donor behaviors that emerged when connection came first
• scale without burnout – how her organization's small staff managed personalization
• “slow” myth pushback – advice for nonprofit leaders who worry that relationship-based fundraising is too "slow" for budget demands.

Join the conversation

This webinar isn’t just a panel discussion; it’s a community deep-dive. We’ll want to read the reactions, field questions and search for answers together.

After it’s all over, attendees can expect to walk away with:

• a new mental model – a new conception of how to build a sustainable donor base, not just hit targets
• practical strategies – especially a donor relations structure adapted to the post-COVID world
• board alignment tips – language to shift leadership mindsets toward relationship-based fundraising
• a practical guide – a link to our “Practical Guide to Donor Connection," a human-first guide to managing close relationships with donors.

It’s time to move past the "ask-thank-repeat" cycle and start building a movement of loyal, trusted supporters.