Let's Talk Fundraising
Welcome to "Let's Talk Fundraising" with Keith Greer, CFRE! This podcast is your go-to resource for mastering the essentials of fundraising while discovering how innovative tools and technology can supercharge your efforts. Whether you're a new fundraiser looking to level up your skills or a seasoned professional seeking timely reminders and fresh insights, each episode is packed with practical advice, creative ideas, and inspiring stories.
Join Keith as he explores the core principles that drive successful fundraising and uncovers the latest strategies to make your job easier, more enjoyable, and incredibly impactful. From relationship-building and storytelling to leveraging the newest tech, "Let's Talk Fundraising" is here to help you transform your approach and achieve remarkable results for your organization.
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Let's Talk Fundraising
Why Momentum Beats Perfection in Fundraising Writing
Ever found yourself paralyzed by a blinking cursor, struggling to craft the perfect donor message? You're not alone. Fundraising writing can be deeply intimidating—it needs to reflect understanding, empathy, clarity, and warmth all at once while connecting emotionally with donors.
The secret to breaking through this paralysis lies in a simple mindset shift: momentum beats perfection. Every time. Rather than agonizing over creating the perfect message from scratch, what if you could instantly generate a solid first draft and focus your energy on refining it instead? This approach doesn't sacrifice quality—it enhances it by freeing you from the draining process of getting started.
Enter the "Who-Goal-Guardrails" recipe for ChatGPT—a straightforward, three-line framework that transforms how fundraisers approach donor communications. By clearly identifying your audience, defining your objective, and establishing boundaries around tone and style, you provide AI with exactly what it needs to create a useful starting point. From there, your uniquely human perspective shapes the message, adding the personal touches and emotional resonance that only you can provide.
This strategic partnership with AI isn't about replacing your authentic voice—it's about amplifying it. When you're no longer exhausted by blank page anxiety, you can invest your creative energy where it matters most: deepening donor relationships through genuinely personalized communication. The result? Messages that feel warmer, clearer, and more aligned with your fundraising goals.
Ready to transform your writing process? Download the free Quick Start Prompt Pack at podcastletstalkfundraising.com/promptpack for fill-in-the-blank templates and 12 ready-made prompts tailored to common donor scenarios. It's time to reclaim your confidence, improve your messaging quality, and strengthen your donor relationships—all by embracing the power of "good enough to refine" over "perfect from the start."
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Your cursor blinks endlessly at the start of your email Dear, and the silence in your office stretches. We've all felt that moment right Stuck before you even started wondering how you'll craft another thoughtful donor message from scratch. But imagine this what if three straightforward lines of plain English could instantly turn that blinking cursor into a polished, personalized first draft? Keep staring and you risk another evening lost to frustration. Use the simple method and suddenly you're back in control, reclaiming your momentum and your time. So let's talk fundraising. Let's start by acknowledging something we've all experienced Writing is hard, especially when the stakes are high and the audience is important.
Keith Greer, CFRE:Every fundraiser, no matter how seasoned, knows the feeling of staring at a blank page. It's intimidating, it's frustrating and, frankly, it's kind of exhausting. And while perfection feels necessary, in reality it's often our biggest obstacle. The truth is, fundraising writing isn't just any kind of writing. It's deeply relational. Your words need to reflect understanding, empathy, clarity and warmth all at once. They need to sound authentically you and they need to resonate deeply with your donors, connecting emotionally, intellectually and sometimes even spiritually. I mean no pressure, right, but here's the problem when you're aiming for perfection from the very first word, the pressure mounts, your creativity freezes and your time gets swallowed by anxiety and second guessing. You begin doubting not just your words but your ability to communicate it all. Instead of a thoughtful message flowing naturally, the cursor blinks and your thoughts spiral. Suddenly, your valuable time isn't spent nurturing relationships or planning strategies. It's trapped in paralysis. What if there was another way? What if you shifted your approach from perfect from the start to good enough to refine? What if your first draft didn't have to be flawless, but simply had to exist? Imagine how much more quickly and confidently you could move forward if you had a starting point instead of a blank page.
Keith Greer, CFRE:Fundraising thrives on momentum. When you can quickly generate a solid first draft, your creative energy is freed to focus on the deeper, more meaningful elements of donor communication the subtle nuances, the personal anecdotes, heartfelt gratitude and compelling storytelling that truly inspire generosity. In conversations I've had with dozens of fundraisers over the past year, there's one common thread they consistently mention how much mental bandwidth getting consumed by just starting a message. It's not the writing itself or even the editing that's challenging. It's overcoming the inertia of beginning. And that initial hurdle is consistently the most significant barrier to clear and impactful communication. And that initial hurdle is consistently the most significant barrier to clear and impactful communication, and this is exactly where ChatGPT can step in as your strategic partner.
Keith Greer, CFRE:Now, let's clarify this right away Using AI does not mean outsourcing authenticity or losing your unique voice Far from it. Instead, think of ChatGPT as your writing assistant, designed to jumpstart your process. The goal isn't perfection, it's momentum, and when you start with a solid, usable first draft provided by ChatGPT, you've overcome that initial obstacle. You've replaced uncertainty and anxiety with clarity and direction. Your creative energy isn't wasted on endless second guessing. It's channeled into refining, personalizing and enhancing a draft that already has structure and clarity.
Keith Greer, CFRE:And here's the real magic of this approach the quality of your communication often improves significantly. And why is that? Because you're not depleted by the struggle of just getting started. Instead, you approach editing and refining with fresh eyes and clear purpose, enhancing the humanity, the warmth and authenticity of the message. Take a second right now to consider your own experience. What's a donor communication you've been putting off or struggling to write lately? Perhaps it's an annual appeal, a stewardship update, or even a personalized acknowledgement. How much easier would it feel if you already had a first draft on your screen to guide your revisions and your refinements. Another benefit to this approach is consistency. With clear and repeatable methods, like the simple three-line recipe we'll explore in just a moment, you create a system that consistently delivers usable drafts, no matter your energy or your creativity level that day. Instead of fluctuating wildly between inspired and stucked, you cultivate a steady, reliable rhythm that helps you maintain consistent donor communications.
Keith Greer, CFRE:The fundraising principle here is simple, yet transformative Momentum beats perfection. Every time. By leveraging tools like ChatGPT strategically, you shift your energy from overcoming inertia to enriching relationships. You reclaim your creative power, spending less time frozen in front of blank pages and more time connecting genuinely and effectively with your donors. And let's clear up another important point Embracing momentum and speed doesn't mean sacrificing quality. In fact, it's the opposite. By rapidly generating workable drafts, you give yourself the luxury of focusing more deeply on quality. You have more space to infuse your personality, adjust the emotional tone, refine the narrative and truly speak to your donor's motivations.
Keith Greer, CFRE:The next time you sit down to write, instead of feeling dread or uncertainty, you feel curiosity and excitement. Instead of grappling with what do I say first, you immediately engage with how can I make this draft more impactful, warm and resonant? How would your relationship building efforts transform with this shift in focus. Your time as a fundraiser is too valuable to waste struggling with blank page paralysis. Your time as a fundraiser is too valuable to waste struggling with blank page paralysis. You've got relationships to nurture, strategies to craft and missions to move forward. Every minute saved from staring at a blinking cursor is a minute reinvested into meaningful connections, deeper storytelling and, ultimately, better fundraising outcomes.
Keith Greer, CFRE:But let's be clear Shifting your mindset from perfection to momentum doesn't always feel intuitive or easy. It requires intentional effort. It requires a willingness to trust your process and tools enough to let go of immediate perfection. It's about recognizing that a thoughtful first draft, quickly and reliably produced, is infinitely more valuable than a perfectly blank page. And this is precisely why the three-line who, goal, guardrails recipe is so powerful. It simplifies your initial approach to writing.
Keith Greer, CFRE:Instead of wrestling with ambiguity, you answer three clear questions up front who are you writing to, what's your goal and what specific guardrails whether that's tone, length, details need to be in place. Answering these questions isn't difficult or time-consuming. It's simple and intuitive. But this intentional clarity transforms the writing process. It instantly removes ambiguity, provides clear direction and gives ChatGPT exactly what it needs to craft a solid first draft. It's quick enough to fit seamlessly into your workflow, yet powerful enough to break through the inertia. So consider right now a donor message that's had you stuck. Maybe it's an upcoming appeal, a thank you note or a stewardship update. Imagine answering those three simple questions clearly and directly. Picture a useful, engaging first draft appearing almost instantly on your screen. Would that change the way you approach donor communications? Would it boost your confidence, your clarity and your enthusiasm in your writing process?
Keith Greer, CFRE:Momentum truly is more valuable than perfection, because momentum keeps moving you forward. It keeps your donor relationships growing, your mission advancing and your impact expanding. And when your creativity is focused on refining already good drafts rather than wrestling with blank pages, your entire fundraising practice benefits. Your messages feel warmer, your tone feels clearer and your donor relationships feel stronger. So with a clear, simple approach, you can reclaim your writing confidence, improve your messaging quality and strengthen stewardship relationships. Improve your messaging quality and strengthen stewardship relationships Because, at the heart of fundraising, it isn't just words, it's genuine connection, and genuine connections happen best when you're not stuck staring at a blank page, but moving forward confidently. We've established how crucial momentum is when crafting your donor messages and why starting from a rough, solid first draft often beats perfection your donor messages, and why starting from a rough, solid first draft often beats perfection.
Keith Greer, CFRE:Now let's get specific about exactly how ChatGPT can become your ally in quickly overcoming blank page paralysis. The secret is in a straightforward, easy-to-use method called the who Goal Guardrails recipe. This isn't a complicated process or a lengthy learning curve recipe. This isn't a complicated process or a lengthy learning curve. Instead, it's a simple, repeatable structure you can rely on whenever you're stuck or pressed for time. Let's break it down step by step.
Keith Greer, CFRE:First, who are you writing to? Fund raising communication should feel deeply personal. It's not about sending generic messages. It's about genuinely connecting. So first, identify exactly who you're addressing. For example, your who might look like this A longtime major donor passionate about your youth education programs. Or a first-time supporter who attended your recent gala. Or maybe it's a former board member considering a significant planned gift. By clearly identifying your audience, chatgpt can help you draft messaging that immediately resonates, saving you from generic and impersonal content that misses the mark.
Keith Greer, CFRE:Your second step what's your goal with this message? Clearly defined objectives eliminate ambiguity. They give your communication structure, focus and intention. Your goal could be specific, something like encouraging a renewed $10,000 annual scholarship donation or inviting the donor to a behind-the-scenes lab tour. Or maybe it's deepening donor stewardship by showing tangible results from their last gift. Knowing your message's specific goals transforms vague ideas into focused and strategic communication.
Keith Greer, CFRE:And the third step what are your guardrails? Guardrails shape the tone, the length and the content, ensuring ChatGPT produces precisely the right draft. Examples of guardrails could include something like the length. Maybe you want it to stick to 150 words. Or maybe it's the tone that you want to be warm, professional and grateful. Or maybe it's in the details, like avoiding jargon, clearly explaining impact and ending with an invitation to meet students or visit programs. With clear guardrails, your AI-generated draft hits your exact standards and styles.
Keith Greer, CFRE:Putting this recipe into action is simple. Here's a real-life example of what that might look like in practice. Write to donor first name because, remember, we're not including specifics on this a longtime scholarship supporter Goal. Inspire a renewed $10,000 gift by clearly showing this year's students' impact Guardrails. Keep it around 150 words, maintain a warm, professional tone, avoid jargon and conclude by inviting them to our October lab tour. Within seconds, chatgpt generates something like this Dear Donor First Name, your generous support has transformed our scholarship program this year, opening doors to five incredible students who otherwise would not have had the chance to pursue higher education.
Keith Greer, CFRE:Each recipient has already shown tremendous promise from excelling in STEM classes to volunteering with their communities not have had the chance to pursue higher education. Each recipient has already shown tremendous promise from excelling in STEM classes to volunteering with their communities. We're deeply grateful for your ongoing partnership and would love to have you join us for a personal tour of our labs this October. Seeing firsthand the impact your generosity is having can be deeply rewarding, and the students would be thrilled to meet you. Can we count on you to join us and consider renewing your generous $10,000 gift? Your continued support means the world to these aspiring young minds. Warm regards and then your name for the placeholder.
Keith Greer, CFRE:Let's pause for just a moment. How long might drafting something like this normally take you from scratch? Maybe 15 minutes, 20 minutes, maybe even 30 minutes. Now imagine receiving a usable, well-structured draft instantly ready for your personal touches and your refinements. This isn't theoretical. It's entirely achievable right now. So what donor message is currently sitting unfinished on your to-do list? Maybe it's an email appeal, an impact update, a proposal or a thank you note.
Keith Greer, CFRE:Imagine if your next writing session began not with frustration, but with a clear, engaging first draft already waiting on your screen. How would your confidence, your efficiency and your donor relationships improve with this small but profound shift? Here's another crucial benefit consistency. By using the who goal guardrails formula each time, you build a repeatable and reliable process. You're no longer reinventing the wheel every time you sit down to write. Instead, you have a trusted strategy that consistently delivers quality first drafts, regardless of your mood or your energy level. This consistency extends to your team as well. Imagine the cumulative effect if your entire team adopted this approach. Suddenly, your donor communications become reliably excellent, clearly aligned and strategically coherent. Your brand voice strengthens, your messaging resonates more deeply and donor trust deepens because you're communicating clearly, consistently and effectively.
Keith Greer, CFRE:But let's be honest. Skepticism about using AI in donor communications is common and completely understandable, you might wonder. Common and completely understandable, you might wonder will an AI-generated draft really sound authentic? Can it genuinely reflect our unique tone and voice? And these are valid questions. Here's the critical insight.
Keith Greer, CFRE:The goal of using ChatGPT isn't to replace your unique voice. It's to enhance and amplify it. Chatgpt serves as a writing partner, offering a structured starting point, so you're never starting from scratch. Your role then becomes refining, shaping and personalizing exactly where your humanity and creativity matters most. You're freed from the mechanics of first draft writing to invest deeply in the emotional resonance, authenticity and nuance your donors expect and appreciate. Imagine your next donor message quickly produced, clearly structured and then thoughtfully personalized.
Keith Greer, CFRE:This balanced approach not only respects your authenticity, it actively empowers it. This method isn't complicated, it's intuitive. You're simply providing clear context, the who, clear direction with the goal and the clear boundaries, with the guardrails to chat GPT, letting it handle the initial heavy lifting. With that foundation in place, your own unique voice can shine more clearly than ever before. So think again about your own experience. How much more confident would you feel if you had a reliable, repeatable way to produce first drafts instantly? How much stronger would your donor relationships become if your messages consistently reflected clarity, authenticity and care? Because fundraising isn't about perfect sentences. It's about genuine connections, and genuine connections happen best when your energy isn't drained by blank page anxiety, but energized by creativity, clarity and confidence.
Keith Greer, CFRE:With this practical recipe clearly defined, let's now move into a deeper exploration of the mindset shift that allows you to confidently embrace this approach, removing lingering hesitations about speed, authenticity and quality. And, let's be honest, when it comes to using AI for donor communications. The hesitation isn't usually about the tools. It's about what those tools might mean for your values, your voice and your standards. If the idea of asking ChatGPT to generate a draft makes your shoulders tense up a bit, you're not alone.
Keith Greer, CFRE:One of the most common fears I hear is that using AI feels rushed, and rushed means impersonal. You've worked hard to build your personal brand that reflects warmth and professionalism and trust, so when someone suggests letting a machine help write your appeals or your thank you notes, it can feel like letting go of the thing that makes you you. And I hear that because your writing isn't just about your words. It's about connections, and for fundraisers, connection is currency. But here's the shift Using AI to start your draft doesn't erase your voice. It sets the stage for it. The point is not to copy and paste whatever chat GPT gives you. The point is to reclaim your creative energy by skipping the part of the process that's most draining the blank page. You still do the human part. You review the draft, you make your tweaks, you soften the tone, pull in the donor's name or a memory from your last conversation, and that's the part that no machine can do. But instead of spending 30 minutes trying to find a starting point. You're walking into the conversation halfway finished with your voice warmed up and your head already in the right place, and once you experience that momentum, once you feel the shift from dread to direction, it's hard to go back. And there's another mindset shift that I want to name.
Keith Greer, CFRE:Some fundraisers feel a subtle shame around using AI, like maybe it's a cheat code, or like the easy button means that you're somehow less of a writer, and let's reframe that right now. You're not being lazy by letting AI help you start a message. You're being strategic. You're protecting your energy so you can spend it where it really matters On the emotional tone, the relationship, the nuance, the mission alignment. Those are the pieces that only you can bring. So let's put it this way Using AI to get a rough draft is like having a junior writer who takes direction really well, works at lightning speed and doesn't get tired.
Keith Greer, CFRE:You wouldn't feel bad delegating to a human assistant, so why feel guilty using a tool that supports your brain? In the same way? The real danger isn't in moving too fast, it's in getting stuck. It's in losing time and energy battling writer's block instead of deepening donor relationships. That's what we're avoiding here Not authenticity, but we're creating inertia. And there's one more inner resistance that I hear a lot, especially from high-performing fundraisers who care deeply about getting it right, and it sounds a little something like this Keith, I want every message I send to feel like a handshake, not a formula, and I get that and I agree. But here's what I've learned A fast draft doesn't remove the human touch.
Keith Greer, CFRE:It makes room for it. When you start with a structured draft, you free up time to add details that make a message really sing A specific phrase. Your donor used a story that connects back to their passion, a line that shows you truly see them. Ai can't provide that, but it can give you the margin to include it. So think of it this way You're not handing over the conversation, you're just letting ChatGPT hold the pen for the first paragraph. You're still the voice, you are still the steward of trust. You're simply using a tool that gets you out of your own way.
Keith Greer, CFRE:So take a moment here. What would change if you stopped seeing speed as sloppy and started seeing it as a launch pad? How would your energy shift if done for you didn't mean done impersonally, but instead it might mean done enough to move forward Because, at the end of the day, you know your donors better than any algorithm. But knowing them is only half the battle. Getting those insights into the page clearly, consistently and without losing your weekends, that's where this mindset shift becomes a game changer. Let yourself believe that ease doesn't becomes a game changer. Let yourself believe that ease doesn't have to mean compromise. Let yourself trust that using AI to get a first draft is not giving up control, it's taking it back. And once you feel that shift, not just in theory but in your bones, you'll never go back to blinking cursors and late night rewrites ever again. Never go back to blinking cursors and late night rewrites ever again, because this isn't about writing faster, it's about fundraising smarter.
Keith Greer, CFRE:So today we tackled the moment that trips up even the most experienced fundraisers the blank page we walked through why momentum beats perfection, how the who goal guardrails recipe gives ChatGPT exactly what it needs to create a strong and usable first draft, and why speed isn't the enemy of authenticity. It's often what makes space for it. You saw how just three lines of plain English direction can pull you out of the fog and into clarity, and we challenged the old belief that fast means sloppy by showing how quick drafts free you to do the things that only you can do Bring the heart, bring the tone and bring the relationship nuance that no AI could ever think. So here's your next right step Download my free Quick Start Prompt Pack.
Keith Greer, CFRE:Inside you'll find a fill in the blank worksheet for the who goal guardrails recipe, plus 12 ready-made prompts tailored to common donor scenarios thank yous, invites, updates and even more. It's totally free and it's your bridge from blinking cursor to confident copy. You can grab it now at podcastletstalkfundraisingcom. Forward slash prompt pack. I'll also link it in the show notes. Next Monday we'll face the biggest skeptic concern head on. Can you trust what Jachin PT writes? We're talking hallucinations, why they happen, how to spot them and how to make sure your AI output is fact-checked and funder-ready. Until then, may your writing flow, your confidence rise and your donor relationship deepen. I'll see you next time.
