# Building Major Donor Relationships from the Ground Up Pt. 2 (An Interview with Tom Atema)

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/nonprofit-launch-plan-podcast-for-startup-small-and-growing-nonprofits-7220374/building-major-donor-relationships-from-the-ground-up-pt-2-an-interview-with-tom-atema
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/nonprofit-launch-plan-podcast-for-startup-small-and-growing-nonprofits-7220374/building-major-donor-relationships-from-the-ground-up-pt-2-an-interview-with-tom-atema.md
Podcast: [Nonprofit Launch Plan Podcast for Startup, Small, and Growing Nonprofits](https://stenobird.com/podcast/nonprofit-launch-plan-podcast-for-startup-small-and-growing-nonprofits-7220374)
Published: 2025-11-18T15:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://nonprofitlaunchplan.transistor.fm/29
Audio file: https://media.transistor.fm/2096683c/d004784b.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/nonprofit-launch-plan-podcast-for-startup-small-and-growing-nonprofits-7220374/episodes/building-major-donor-relationships-from-the-ground-up-pt-2-an-interview-with-tom-atema
Duration seconds: 1614

## Resource

In this second part of his conversation with veteran nonprofit leader Tom Atema , host Matt Stockman dives deeper into the heart of leadership and fundraising . With over 50 years of experience leading organizations like Heart for Lebanon , John Maxwell’s Equip , and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association , Tom shares timeless wisdom for nonprofit founders and fundraisers on how to build meaningful relationships, steward donors well, and lead from a place of value—not pressure. If you’ve ever struggled with donor burnout, awkward asks, or the tension between mission and money, this episode is for you. 💡 In This Episode You’ll Learn: Why “everything rises and falls on leadership.” Leadership is more than strategy—it’s about helping people see their God-given value and leading with integrity and purpose. The ideal size of a donor portfolio. Tom breaks down how many donor relationships a development officer can realistically manage (and why major donors require more care). The “cell phone test” for measuring real relationships. How to know whether your donor connections are truly personal—and why you should never give away a donor’s number before trust is earned. How to handle donor handoffs the right way. Step-by-step, Tom explains how to introduce a new development officer without losing relationships or momentum. Quarterly “Investor Calls” that mirror Wall Street. A brilliant idea from Heart for Lebanon—30-minute calls that combine storytelling, financial transparency, and donor engagement. How to build a healthy, accountable board. Tom outlines the difference between funding, operational, and governing boards—and why accountability boards drive sustainable impact. Why development officers burn out—and how to prevent it. Stop chasing money. Start developing people.…

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