As we wrap up 2025 and look forward to 2026, it seems right to look back at what we accomplished and learned both with the podcast, my business, and community volunteer.
My guests covered a lot of ground and shared with us incredible insights into what to consider within the industry this year and the people moving the industry forward in North Texas.
Eliza Solender on real estate for nonprofits. Steve Latham on gifts from assets rather than cash, Ty Wilson on the global impact of giving circles, Greg Warner, and founder of MarketSmart, on technology and fundraising.
We also had guests who brought a different perspective to table, like Michelle Monse and her work with donors and nonprofits in rural West Texas; and Alicia Peoples and Diana Hoyt who both shared their creative passions outside of fundraising.
About Fundraising: The Podcast continues to evolve and in 2026 you will hear more solo episodes about challenges we all deal with as fundraisers.
If you have a suggestion for 2026 or would like to work with my team, please visit https://dmgroupconsulting.com/
CHAPTERS:
01:29 – Steve Latham, founder of DonateStock. Donations from assets are 30% greater than cash gifts.
02:12 – Invited by Wendolyn Abel, VP of Grants Ministry, to be a guest speaker at The Gathering, presented by Texas Methodist Foundation.
04:50 – Greg Warner, founder of MarketSmart, technology and the nonprofit sector
06:31 – End-of-Year fundraising 3-part solo episodes
07:07 – Share your favorite episode
08:25 – Inspiration to colleagues and successful work for clients
09:20 – Sneak peek at 2026
Ty Wilson with Philanthropy Together shares the latest trend in fundraising and philanthropy: Giving Circles. Learn how your nonprofit can benefit from the collective generosity women, youth, and men who pool their money for greater impact. Ty believes that everyone is a philanthropist, you just have to show up and do good.
3-part series on End of Year Fundraising Success
Episode 3: There’s more than one way to thank donors
Donations should be acknowledged within 72 hours, or 3 days, of receipt. Thanking donors is another opportunity to engage board members, other volunteers and staff. Thank you emails are standard but phone calls and handwritten notes are the exception. Authentic gratitude keeps donors giving.
3-part series on End of Year Fundraising Success
Episode 2: Making the Ask is a team effort
Board members, other volunteers, and staff can all be involved in the End-of-Year appeal. Peer-to-peer fundraising is very effective. Remind donors to take advantage of their employer’s charitable matching gift program and compose letters and emails that appeal to each segment of donors.
3-part series on End of Year Fundraising Success
Episode 1: Prep work for End-of-Year Appeal
Start with a compelling message for each segment of your donors, set a realistic goal, and give your donors options to support your mission. Carefully use client stories in your appeal, use donations history to set your goal, and offer the options of monthly giving or donating stock to support your organization.
Two-thirds of the state of Texas has fewer elected representatives than any major city in the state. Find out what that imbalance means to your community. And, the second half of my conversation with Michelle Monse, former CEO of the King Foundation, gives us an inside look at family foundations.
Karen White Hughes, CEO of the Texas Women’s Foundation, and I will talk about the power of women in philanthropy, the recent study on the wage gap in the U.S. and how the next generation of young women are giving back.
Greg Warner developed the DAF widget and other tools to help nonprofit organizations "remove the friction" for their donors. He is also the author of "Engagement Fundraising" and creator of the Fundraising Report Card. Join us for an interesting conversation about wealth, philanthropy, and donor engagement.
Dr. Froswa' Booker-Drew is the President and CEO of Soulstice Consultancy providing philanthropic guidance, community engagement strategies, leadership development, and organizational culture support for companies and nonprofits. Our conversation covers leadership development, CFRE, and a preview of her new book, "Front Porch Wisdom."
Juliette Coulter and Rhonda Aghamalian, two of Dallas' best PR professionals join host, Diana Marquis in a conversation about the relationship between communications and fund raising. They answer questions like, how to tell your story, who's your audience and why Marcom is important.
Eliza Solender is a nationally recognized authority on nonprofit and small business real estate issues. As President of Solender/Hall, Inc., she has worked with hundreds of nonprofit organizations and small businesses to help them achieve their real estate visions.
Guests on the next podcast episode are Alicia Peoples and Diana Hoyt. Two fundraisers who are also doing what they love: standup comedy and creative writing. Tune in to learn more about fundraisers who do more than raise money.
Dr. Dena Jackson has a wide range of interests and experience. Our conversation starts with learning about consultant as executive extender to asset poverty to the current state of the nonprofit sector.
Steve Latham, co-founder of DonateStock, is my guest this month. DonateStock was created to help donors give gifts of stock to their favorite charities without the hassles and delays Steve experienced when he tried to give stock to a scholarship fund. Listen in to learn how you can support your favorite nonprofit and how nonprofits can increase their donations with gifts of stock.
Harriet Boorhem, PhD, author, leadership consultant, and therapist has studied and taught leadership development. She has strong opinions and is not shy about sharing them. My conversation with Harriet will give you some insight into the difference between a good leader and a great one.
Our guest for December’s podcast is a person I’ve long admired as I’ve watched her grow her career from a grant writer to Vice President of Grants Ministry for the Texas Methodist Foundation. Wendy Abel and I will talk about all things grant related from her number one tip: “read the directions,” to her personal journey as a nonprofit professional.
Our guest for November is a person who is a leader in the nonprofit sector, and entrepreneur, a mentor, and a good friend: Roslynn Dawson Thompson. Some of you may remember her as the CEO of the Texas Women’s Foundation. She retired from that position after serving 11 years. She now is running a consulting business and serving on the board of the Tides Foundation, a community foundation with a national reach. Roslyn and I will talk about women as leaders, advice for people who have recently started their careers, and what comes after your first or second career.
Lisa Chimola, Chair of the AFP Global Government Affairs committee, and I will talk about the difference between lobbying and advocacy work; the Charitable Act, and how staff and board members can effectively speak up for their agency and their cause.
Michael is a certified professional coach, with 100+ hours of coaching, mentoring, and performance evaluation under his belt. Join us to find out how working with a professional coach can boost your career.
Customer experience (CX) and donor relations have a lot in common. Please enjoy our conversation with Lis Hubert and Diana Sonis, founders of CX by Design.