Fundraising Unfiltered

Danielle M. Locke
  • 5.0 (1)
  • NON-PROFIT
  • UPDATED SEMIWEEKLY

Welcome to Fundraising Unfiltered—my love letter to nonprofit leaders who are done with sugar-coated advice and tired tactics that don’t work. I’m Danielle Locke, your Nonprofit Success Partner. I’ve raised tens of millions for organizations of all sizes, and now I help leaders like you fund your mission with confidence—without fear or burnout. We talk fundraising, staff drama, board issues, budget cuts—even bullet holes. Real stories. Smart solutions. Laugh-out-loud moments. Let’s go.

Episodes

  1. MAR 20

    Ep 5 - Monthly Donor Magic!

    In this episode, I sit down with Ronald Pruitt, Founder of 4aGoodCause, to unpack why monthly (recurring) giving is one of the most powerful tools for small nonprofits. We dive into how monthly donors tend to stay longer, give more over time, and create a stable, predictable revenue stream. I also share how to remove the fear around asking for recurring support, the tools that make it simple to set up, and how to invite your donors into something bigger, a community of committed, long-term supporters. 💡 Key Takeaways include: - Average monthly gift between $24 and $36, that’s between $288 and $432 a year! - 6% of monthly donors make at least one extra gift during the year, when asked - 12% of monthly donors upgrade their monthly gift once a year, when asked - Monthly donors are 6 (six) times more likely to leave you in their will. - Monthly giving does not replace events or year-end giving,  it complements them. - Simplicity and automation are key to making recurring giving sustainable. A good platform matters. Not all platforms let you leave with your monthly info! - Monthly giving is an invitation to join a community of like-minded supporters. Subscribe to my email newsletter.  Share this with your nonprofit bestie who needs the pep talk! Here’s the link to avail 4aGC’s free month when you sign up. 🔗 LINKS & RESOURCES FROM OUR GUEST 4aGC 3 "pillar articles" on monthly giving: Monthly Giving Programs: The Guide to Convincing Yourself, Team, and Board That You Need One How to Start a Monthly Giving Program: The Clarity You Need to Finally Do It How to Get Monthly Donors and Grow Your Recurring Giving Program 4aGC Donation Page Audit Checklist Use this resource to see how well your donation form is optimized. Why Our Charity Needs a Monthly Giving Program slide deck (from 4aGC) Link to the slide deck. CONTACT OUR GUEST 🔗 LinkedIn – Ronald Pruitt 🌐 Website – 4 a Good Cause WORK WITH ME 📅 Book a Free 30-Minute Discovery Call Complete a Client Interest Form Courses & Downloads 🌐 www.LockeStep.com 📩 Email me to get it: Danielle@LockeStep.com 📱 LET’S GET SOCIAL 🔗 LinkedIn 📸 Instagram 📘 Facebook ▶️ YouTube

    33 min
  2. Ep 4 - “Crack the Code to a Successful Year-End Fundraising”

    10/14/2025

    Ep 4 - “Crack the Code to a Successful Year-End Fundraising”

    How to Finish the Year Strong (Without Losing Your Mind) Summary: Overwhelmed by all the “shoulds” of year-end fundraising? Take a breath — Danielle Locke’s here to help. In this episode, she walks you through how to use what you already have — your stories, your donors, your mission — to create a heartfelt, high-impact campaign. Because effective fundraising isn’t about doing it all. It’s about doing what matters most, with purpose. In this episode, you’ll learn: How to focus on what truly drives donor engagement.The art of reusing and recycling content that still resonates.Tips for building urgency without pressure or burnout.Why skipping Giving Tuesday might be the smartest move this year.How to approach Q4 planning with clarity and confidence. Subscribe to my email newsletter.⁠ Share this with your nonprofit bestie who needs the pep talk! FREE RESOURCE✅⁠ - Online Donation Systems & CRMs - an oldie but a goodie! ⁠ WORK WITH ME📅 ⁠Book a Free 30-Minute Discovery Call⁠ ⁠⁠ 📱 LET’S GET SOCIAL🔗 ⁠LinkedIn⁠📸 ⁠Instagram⁠📘 ⁠Facebook⁠▶️ ⁠YouTube⁠🌐 ⁠www.LockeStep.com⁠ 📩 Email me to get it: Danielle@LockeStep.com #FundraisingTips #NonprofitStrategy #YearEndAppeal #YearEndFundraising #DonorRetention #NonprofitGrowth #CampaignPlanning #EmailMarketingForNonprofits #GivingSeason #NonprofitLeadership #DonorStories #MarketingForGood #FundraisingPodcast #DanielleLocke #Lockestep

    13 min
  3. Ep 3 - Tech Tools That Actually Save You Time (Even If You're Not Techie)

    07/31/2025

    Ep 3 - Tech Tools That Actually Save You Time (Even If You're Not Techie)

    🎧 Episode 3 – “Tech Tools That Actually Save You Time (Even If You're Not Techie)” Think you’re too busy—or too “non-techie”—to use AI and tech tools in your nonprofit? Think again. In this episode of Fundraising Unfiltered, I'll break down the no-fluff, real-life tech tools I actually use in my day-to-day to save time, stay organized, and build stronger donor relationships. From AI note takers and file sharing to CRMs and ChatGPT, sharing the practical ways tech can help you do more without doing the most. 💥 If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by the tech talk, this one’s for you. 🎯 You’ll learn: The #1 AI tool that saves hours on meeting notesHow to stop the version-control nightmare and collaborate betterWhy CRMs aren’t just for big orgs (and which low-cost one to start with)How AI can give you a 75% head start on your next grant or appeal Subscribe to my email newsletter. Share this with your nonprofit bestie who needs the pep talk! FREE RESOURCE ✅ - Online Donation Systems & CRMs - an oldie but a goodie! WORK WITH ME 📅 Book a Free 30-Minute Discovery Call 📱 LET’S GET SOCIAL 🔗 LinkedIn 📸 Instagram 📘 Facebook ▶️ YouTube 🌐 www.LockeStep.com 📩 Email me to get it: Danielle@LockeStep.com

    11 min
  4. Ep 2 - There's Still Money, Honey: Funding Sources You’re Overlooking

    07/30/2025

    Ep 2 - There's Still Money, Honey: Funding Sources You’re Overlooking

    In this eye-opening episode, we’re unpacking where the real money is hiding—and spoiler: it’s not just federal grants. We’re talking about underestimated goldmines like churches, local businesses, small family foundations, giving circles, and service clubs that are still giving generously. Whether you’re new to fundraising or a seasoned pro, this episode is your reminder:If you’re not asking, you’re not getting. 💡 Takeaways include:• Why individual donors still lead in giving• Small family foundations are everywhere—are you looking?• Local businesses, churches, and Rotary Clubs want to support you• Fundraising isn’t begging—it’s inviting people to invest in impact ⁠Subscribe to my email newsletter.⁠ Share this with your nonprofit bestie who needs the pep talk! ✅ FREE RESOURCENew Donor Brainstorming Worksheet!Use this creative tool to unearth prospects you never thought of. Even better? Assign it as Board homework!📩 Email me to get it: Danielle@LockeStep.com WORK WITH ME📅 Book a Free 30-Minute Discovery Call🎓 Check out the mini course: “All the Places You Can Ask for Money” for even more gems 📱 LET’S GET SOCIAL🔗 LinkedIn📸 Instagram📘 Facebook▶️ YouTube🌐 www.LockeStep.com

    9 min
  5. Ep 1 - The Time I got Fired and Started Locke Step Partners

    07/18/2025

    Ep 1 - The Time I got Fired and Started Locke Step Partners

    Kicking off Fundraising Unfiltered with the story that started it all—where we trade in sugar-coated nonsense for real talk, hard-earned wisdom, and the occasional F-bomb (because fundraising is not for the faint of heart). I’m Danielle Locke, your Nonprofit Success Partner, and in this very first episode, I’m taking you behind the scenes of the moment that flipped my life upside down... and set me on a path to build a thriving business helping nonprofits like yours stop scrambling and start scaling.   Here’s the tea: I raised $30 millionBuilt 130+ endowment fundsand had the respect of my board, my team, and my community. I was killing it in my job at a community foundation.   Then one day? BOOM—fired. No warning. But here’s the thing: getting fired was the best damn thing that ever happened to me.   In this episode, I spill: Whether you’ve ever been blindsided by leadership drama, underestimated by your board, or just wondered how the hell to turn your nonprofit’s big messy mission into something funders can actually get behind—this one’s for you.   And because this podcast isn’t just about me and my dramatic origin story, I’m also handing over the practical advice your strategic plan forgot to include: 👉 Why you need to toot your own damn horn 👉 How to break down your impact so donors actually understand it 👉 What fundraising is really about (hint: not sales, not manipulation, just meaningful connections with the people who care most)  So, pour yourself a strong one, hit play, and let’s go! 🔥BONUS: When you’re ready to dig deeper, hit up ⁠⁠www.LockeStep.com⁠⁠ for tools, training, and totally doable strategies to help your nonprofit grow without the grind. Subscribe to my email newsletter. Share this with your nonprofit bestie who needs the pep talk! WORK WITH ME📅 Book a Free 30-Minute Discovery Call📱 LET’S GET SOCIAL🔗 LinkedIn📸 Instagram📘 Facebook▶️ YouTube📩 Email me to get it: Danielle@LockeStep.com

    10 min
  • 5 Episodes

About

Welcome to Fundraising Unfiltered—my love letter to nonprofit leaders who are done with sugar-coated advice and tired tactics that don’t work. I’m Danielle Locke, your Nonprofit Success Partner. I’ve raised tens of millions for organizations of all sizes, and now I help leaders like you fund your mission with confidence—without fear or burnout. We talk fundraising, staff drama, board issues, budget cuts—even bullet holes. Real stories. Smart solutions. Laugh-out-loud moments. Let’s go.

Information

  • Creator
    Danielle M. Locke
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    5
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Danielle M. Locke
  • Show Website
    Fundraising Unfiltered