You’re about to make a gift to your favorite cause. You click on the campaign page and see they’ve only raised 2% of a $50,000 goal. You care—but do you feel compelled to donate, or hesitant? Now imagine that same campaign is already 75% funded. Suddenly, your response shifts. That’s the power of the Endowed Progress Effect—it can turn hesitation into enthusiasm.

There’s a wonderful little magic trick our brains play on us: when we’re uncertain, we look around to see what other people are doing. And then we often do the same thing. If you’ve ever slowed down to watch a crowd gather around a street performer, or found yourself joining in applause at the end of a performance—even when you weren’t sure it was over—you’ve experienced this firsthand.

You’ve built a compelling campaign. You’ve inspired someone to click “Donate.”They’re aligned with your mission. They’re emotionally invested. And still—they hesitate. Or worse: they close the tab. If you’ve seen this pattern, you’re not alone. 

By understanding why this hesitation happens, we can help nonprofit leaders recognize and remove hidden points of friction.

Every fundraiser knows the feeling—your campaign is live, the messaging is strong… and then, silence. Before you blame the strategy, consider this: the real reason donors hesitate may have less to do with your message—and more to do with what’s happening in their minds.

Hiring a national fundraising consulting firm can feel risky—especially if your nonprofit is rooted in a close-knit community. But many common concerns are based on myths. This post unpacks five widespread misconceptions—and what actually matters when choosing the right partner for your next big fundraising effort.

Would you rather reach your goal through one $5 million leadership gift—or through thousands of smaller ones? Because while every gift matters, not all gifts shape a campaign’s outcome—or its timeline—the same way. Let’s take a look at the math, and the mindset behind why securing a leadership gift early makes all the difference.

An anniversary campaign or a capital campaign launched in conjunction with a milestone anniversary can reenergize your mission, galvanize your supporters, provide ample opportunities to celebrate your organization and mission, and attract new donors and attention. Done without enough lead-time planning, it risks becoming an expensive party with little lasting impact.

It’s a role that demands strategic vision, people leadership, financial savvy, and a deep commitment to your mission. Fundraising leaders carry the responsibility of keeping the whole development engine running smoothly—not just cultivating major gifts, not just writing grant proposals, not just events management—but all of that and the umbrella, too.

Research tells us that even minor achievements activate the brain’s reward system, triggering a dopamine release—the feel-good chemical that fuels motivation. And who doesn’t want that? When fundraisers experience these positive feedback loops, they’re more likely to stay engaged and resilient.

Nonprofit leaders and fundraisers are some of the most passionate people on the planet. That passion can drive incredible change. But left unchecked, it also drives burnout. The constant pressure to do more, say yes, and chase every opportunity creates a treadmill effect—fast-moving, exhausting, and hard to step off.

Board transitions are not a crisis. They’re an opportunity. When a board member steps down, they create space for new leadership—leaders who are aligned with where the organization is headed next. The key is to navigate these transitions with confidence, intentionality, and gratitude.

It’s absolutely possible to establish board giving as an expectation without causing resistance or division. The key is introducing this shift as a natural evolution—one that aligns with the mission, reinforces board members’ roles as leaders, and strengthens the organization’s credibility.