Episode
Building Major Donor Relationships from the Ground Up (An Interview With Tom Atema pt 1)
- Published
- Nov 11, 2025
- Duration seconds
- 2035
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- https://nonprofitlaunchplan.transistor.fm/28
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Summary
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 Atema Free 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…