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Ep. 39 | Unlocking Fundraising Success: Strategies and Tips with Sandy Rees

In this episode of Beyond the Donation, guest host Val Kleppen speaks with Sandy Rees, founder of Get Fully Funded, who shares her 20 years of expertise in helping small nonprofits achieve significant fundraising results.

Sandy discusses the importance of starting with close networks for donor engagement, setting realistic goals, and using personal relationships to foster trust. She emphasizes the value of good donor management tools and strategic planning. Sandy also addresses common misconceptions in fundraising and the importance of sustaining long-term donor relationships through consistent communication. Listeners will gain practical tips on building and maintaining donor portfolios, leveraging peer-to-peer campaigns, and optimizing fundraising efforts with limited resources.

00:00 Introduction to Beyond the Donation Podcast

00:28 Meet Sandy Rees: Founder of Get Fully Funded

03:13 Strategies for Finding Initial Donors

12:57 Engaging and Retaining Donors

15:33 Essential Tools for Nonprofit Fundraising

17:04 Actionable Tips for New Nonprofits

19:42 Staying Motivated in Fundraising

22:36 Success Stories and Final Thoughts

25:38 Conclusion and Contact Information

To Connect with Sandy and Get Fully Funded:

Website | Fundraising Community

To Connect with Beyond the Donation Podcast:

BTD Podcast | DonorDock LinkedIn | Matt LinkedIn

How do you set a realistic annual fundraising goal?

Start with program need. Cost out programs at the level of impact you want to deliver. Add operating, reserves, and strategic investments. That is your total revenue need. Test it against donor capacity in your database and your pipeline. The final goal is the larger of what you need and what you can credibly raise given current capacity — aim for the need and close the gap with strategy.

Last updated

April 25, 2026

What KPIs should a nonprofit fundraising team track?

Focused fundraising teams track three to five core KPIs reviewed monthly: donor retention rate filtered for $100+ donors (more meaningful than overall retention), grant approval rates (not just submissions), monthly giving growth (new acquisitions minus churn), campaign performance by donor behavior (new vs. repeat, average gift, follow-up retention), and mid-level donor upgrade rate.

Last updated

April 25, 2026

How do small team fundraisers overcome imposter syndrome about asking for major gifts?

Confidence follows competence, not the other way around. Engineer the reps. Build a "mentor triangle" of three monthly 30-minute calls (a seasoned fundraiser outside your org, a peer at a similar shop, and a board ally who'll open two doors per quarter). Keep a micro-wins log after every donor conversation. Use a four-stage moves plan (Hello, Learn, Align, Ask) so you always know the next step. Reps create the calm.

Last updated

April 25, 2026

Why do nonprofit fundraisers under-ask?

Because asking feels risky. Under-asking protects the fundraiser emotionally but costs the organization revenue. Common causes: unclear donor research, fear of rejection, misaligned board expectations, and staff projection (believing the donor cannot afford what the data says they can). Training, rehearsal, and a second-person review of asks help solve all four.

Last updated

April 25, 2026

Author

Elisha Ford

Content Writer

Last updated:

April 28, 2026

Written by

Elisha Ford

Content Writer

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