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Building Major Donor Relationships from the Ground Up (An Interview With Tom Atema pt 1)
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In this episode of The Nonprofit Launch Plan Podcast for Startup, Small, and Growing Nonprofits, host Matt Stockman sits down with veteran nonprofit leader Tom Atema, co-founder of Heart for Lebanon and former VP with John Maxwell’s Equip. With more than 50 years of experience in ministry and development work, Tom shares timeless, faith-driven wisdom on what it really means to build meaningful relationships with your donors—what he calls investors.
You’ll discover how to approach every gift, no matter the size, as the start of a relationship… not a transaction. Tom unpacks practical habits that turn small gifts into long-term partnerships and shares powerful stories that will challenge how you think about stewardship, gratitude, and generosity.
In This Episode, You’ll Learn:
- What truly defines a major donor (hint: it’s not about the dollar amount)
- Why every donor deserves a personal thank-you
- How small first-time gifts can become transformational partnerships
- Why stories matter more than numbers in donor communication
- How relational follow-up builds trust and deepens engagement
Memorable Quote
“Some of those $25 gifts are test gifts. They’re not about the money—they’re asking, ‘Do you see me? Do you care?’” — Tom AtemaFree Resource Mentioned
📘 From Dream to Action: Your Nonprofit Pre-Launch Checklist - 10 essential steps to move from nonprofit IDEA to IMPACT.
👉 Download free at nonprofitlaunchplan.com
or email [email protected]
Fearless Fundraising Mini Course - Get it here 👉 Nonprofit Launch Plan | Consulting & Fundraising for Nonprofits
Next Episode Teaser
Don’t miss Part 2 of this conversation with Tom Atema next week!
We’ll dig into scaling your donor relationships, transferring trust to new team members, running quarterly “investor calls,” and how to stop chasing money—and start adding value to people.
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