Doing Less to Raise More: The Fundraising Focus Most Nonprofits Miss

What does it really take to build *strong donor relationships that last*?

In this episode of The Focused Fundraiser, Rob Burke and Serena Steele, Development Director at the Center for Working Families, talk about relationship-based fundraising, donor stewardship, and why _doing less—but better—leads to greater impact_.

Serena shares her unconventional path into nonprofit fundraising, practical systems she uses to steward donors long-term, and how setting healthy boundaries makes you a better fundraiser—not a weaker one. This conversation is packed with grounded wisdom for fundraisers navigating year-end pressure, burnout, and the constant tension between short-term revenue goals and long-term donor retention.

If you’re a nonprofit professional looking to focus on what truly matters in fundraising, this episode is for you.

🎯 WHAT YOU’LL LEARN
How to steward donors without fancy systems or automation
Why Google Alerts are an underrated fundraising tool
How relationship-based fundraising drives retention and sustainability
Setting boundaries to avoid burnout in nonprofit work
Balancing year-end fundraising with long-term donor trust
Why “doing more” can actually hurt your fundraising results

Chapters
00:00 Welcome to The Focused Fundraiser
00:28 Serena’s Path Into Nonprofit Fundraising
02:32 Turning Volunteering Into a Career
04:48 Stewarding Long-Term Donor Relationships
05:16 Practical Donor Stewardship Systems
07:55 Using Google Alerts for Donor Engagement
08:46 Staying Focused During Uncertain Times
11:32 Short-Term Revenue vs Long-Term Relationships
15:28 Doing Less to Raise More
16:11 Setting Boundaries as a Fundraiser
18:12 Recognizing Seasons of Work and Rest
18:54 Tactical Takeaway for Fundraisers