This is the 194th Fundraising Writing Newsletter. If you find value here, please tell a fundraising friend. (Your fundraising friend can ​subscribe here for free.)​

Wednesday, April 15, 2026

Hi Reader,

Once in a while, I feel like Pam from The Office.

I want to stand up and shout, "NO MORE MEETINGS!"

But once in a rarer while, I walk out of a meeting GLOWING. Like this.

Which is what happened to me the other day.

And it got me thinking:

Fundraising thoughts: gifts, dreams, and concerns

"We keep track of their gifts, dreams, and concerns," Garrett told us.

This was about the time that I began to realize I didn't want the meeting to end.

Garrett was opening up about his process.

He was spilling pearls of wisdom and experience.

Brett and I couldn't get enough.

(If ever you want to get fundraisingly nerdy with the details, we're here for it!)

Garrett became a fundraiser about six years ago. Before that, he worked in programs. Today, he's the Executive Director.

Through it all, he's a storyteller.

Every day, to improve his craft, Garrett writes down a story meant to capture something about the human spirit, usually from his day's work helping community members, working with colleagues, or talking to donors.

Some of these stories he turns into speeches. For every minute of a speech, he spends an or more hour writing, polishing, practicing, and memorizing. He gives these speeches at churches. Then he asks for donations.

At least six times a year, Garrett turns one of his stories into an appeal letter. People stop him on the street sometimes, to thank him for one of his letters. Others read them aloud to students during Sunday School.

People adore Garrett because of how much he cares, and the pains he takes to do so.

Which is why I'd let go of my meeting grumpies by the time Garrett said to Brett and me:
​
​"We keep track of their gifts, dreams, and concerns."

This system he developed during his program days.

Back then, Garrett's focus was visiting community members in their houses to see what they needed and to offer support as much as possible. He learned to focus on the positives as more important than the negatives, and began to ask his neighbors in need about their gifts (their unique strengths), their dreams, and their concerns.

He'd write them down, carefully, methodically, always.

That way, he could remember. That way, he could figure out unique solutions to problems. That way, he could connect to each person powerfully every time they met.

When Garrett became Executive Director, he figured his approach would work with donors as well as with community members. He was right. Donors have responded overwhelmingly with enthusiasm. Giving has increased dramatically.

Because he's gathered so much information about what moves the people he helps, works with, and asks for donations, Garrett is able to connect people with similar interests. This helps individuals who are otherwise isolated. The community grows stronger.

Once, Garrett invited two dozen or so people interested in gardening for a meetup at someone's garden. Introductions were made. Tips and good times were shared. It was left to the group to decide whether and how to keep meeting.

Another thing: Garrett handwrites 1,000 thank-you notes per year, three to four per day. In each he adds a simple, personal note (asking about a person's dog, for example).

There's more. Too much to share.

See why I didn't want to that meeting to end?

I'm sharing this with you in hopes that will feel that tickle in your aspirational bones, and go forth GLOWING! 😊

Randomly yours

For your brain, heart, and funny bone...

• Fundraisingly Informative — Donors don't leave causes. They leave charities. And sometimes, they come back by Mark Phillips (a thoughtful blog post about how nonprofits can stray from messaging that resonates with their donors ... and how they can get back to what works)
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• Unusually Human — Accounting clerk creates artwork on patient's billing statement... via On the Road with Steve Hartman (a 3-minute FaceBook video about how a woman in charge of billing decided to create colorful, intricate artwork on the envelope of a patient's healthcare bills, and now they're friends)
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• Truly Romantic — ​Love on the Spectrum U.S. | Season 4 Official Trailer via Netflix (a 2-minute video trailer for Season 4 of the show Brett and I think is the most feel-good thing possibly in the whole wide world)

Until next time: May you always be inspired by others' gifts and dreams, and concerned for their concerns.

Grateful,

Julie Cooper & Brett Cooper
Fundraising Copywriters​
​FundraisingWriting.com​
​Fundraising Copywriting & Design​​
​100% human, thank you very much.