How to Raise Money: What past participants have to say.

Scroll to check out what folks have said about their experience working with Aspiration on strategic fundraising.

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My monthly sessions with him have been a space for me to learn from one of the best fundraising leaders in the sector and openly share my challenges and receive targeted and specialised advice (plus hands-on help) on tackling them. Geoffrey constantly challenges me to get out of my comfort zone and has shifted my mindset from being a recipient to that of building strategic and mutually beneficial funding relationships.

I've had the privilege of working with Geoffrey since I took on my role as Executive Director at Ushahidi in late 2019. I was introduced to him by Ushahidi board member, Desigan Chinniah. After our initial conversation, Geoffrey generously offered to set up regular mentorship sessions to help me create a solid fundraising strategy. My monthly sessions with him have been a space for me to learn from one of the best fundraising leaders in the sector and openly share my challenges and receive targeted and specialised advice (plus hands-on help) on tackling them. Thanks to his support, I've been steadily increasing the amount of giving Ushahidi gets on an annual basis. Geoffrey constantly challenges me to get out of my comfort zone and has shifted my mindset from being a recipient to that of building strategic and mutually beneficial funding relationships. He has ultimately built my confidence in creating and executing a strategic development plan for Ushahidi. He is beyond brilliant. And any non-profit leader would benefit significantly from working with him.

Angela Oduor Lungati, Executive Director, Ushahidi

Geoffrey has been able to guide me in thinking about the partnership of philanthropy in a new way. He has talked me through communication structures and storytelling to help me recenter human experience as the core of work that can very quickly become mired in scientific and technical details and helped me to reconnect to my circles of colleagues through a process that has left me feeling supported, inspired, and hopeful about achieving the difficult things I’ve set out to do.

In Summer of 2021, I began thinking about hiring a fundraising professional for my new organization. But we don’t do work that cleanly sits in one field or another and I’d learned from my previous decade as an Executive Director of another organization that sometimes it’s just easier to do the work of fundraising myself rather than try and train someone into essentially experiencing the passion for the work in the same way I do. After some thought, I knew I wanted to think about the process of fundraising and development in a different way. I wanted to emulate the long term partnership that I’d felt with several of my previous funders, partnerships that led to us collaboratively thinking about impact, field wide direction, and provided me with sustainable support to then lead the way. Geoffrey was recommended to me and I cannot think of a better fit for the support and guidance I was looking for to think, do, and act differently around fundraising in my new organization. The work I’m doing on public health, climate and environment is urgent and yet at the same time requires long-term systems change. Geoffrey has been able to guide me in thinking about the partnership of philanthropy in a new way. He has talked me through communication structures and storytelling to help me recenter human experience as the core of work that can very quickly become mired in scientific and technical details and helped me to reconnect to my circles of colleagues through a process that has left me feeling supported, inspired, and hopeful about achieving the difficult things I’ve set out to do.

Shannon Dosemagen, Founder, Open Environmental Data Project & Shuttleworth Fellow

Each session was engaging and the workshop, taken as a whole, presents a complete framework: tools, tactics, and overarching strategy. No matter where an organization is in their fundraising journey, I can imagine this HtRM being beneficial.

I would personally recommend HtRM to anyone staring down a fundraising challenge. Each session was engaging and the workshop, taken as a whole, presents a complete framework: tools, tactics, and overarching strategy. No matter where an organization is in their fundraising journey, I can imagine this HtRM being beneficial.

Dean Jansen, Executive Director, Participatory Culture Foundation

I sat, staring at the blank page for a few minutes trying to imagine a less trite way of starting this testimonial. But I really can't - I am not exaggerating when I say that taking Geoffrey’s course has transformed the way I understand power, philanthropy and fundraising. I now have the tools and the fundamentals to enter philanthropic spaces with my eyes wide open. I feel powerful in those spaces- powerful because of how Geoffrey has helped me frame and own my power and powerful because I know what I am looking for, when to listen, when to ask and when to speak.

I will admit that I sat, staring at the blank page for a few minutes trying to imagine a less trite way of starting this testimonial. But I really can't - I am not exaggerating when I say that taking Geoffrey’s course has transformed the way I understand power, philanthropy and fundraising. I have said more than once that this course is a game changer- the opportunity to get the keys, or the secret access, to an invaluable set of knowledge and techniques. I now have the tools and the fundamentals to enter philanthropic spaces with my eyes wide open. I feel powerful in those spaces- powerful because of how Geoffrey has helped me frame and own my power and powerful because I know what I am looking for, when to listen, when to ask and when to speak. I really cannot imagine a more useful course for anyone that has a mission and is looking for the tools, the community and the support to translate it from their heart/mind into good trouble that catalyzes change.

Karen Andrade,

Fundraising can be a daunting task, with many so-called experts hawking their own fundraising consulting services to nonprofits--with mixed results. Geoffrey is the real deal. Every coaching session, I leave with concrete steps for improving the Tor Project's fundraising program and transforming the limiting assumptions I have about money, power, and people.

Geoffrey is an incredible source of wisdom in the world of nonprofit fundraising and relationship building for the sake of a better world. Fundraising can be a daunting task, with many so-called experts hawking their own fundraising consulting services to nonprofits--with mixed results. Geoffrey is the real deal. Every coaching session, I leave with concrete steps for improving the Tor Project's fundraising program and transforming the limiting assumptions I have about money, power, and people. I am a better fundraiser and the Tor Project is a stronger organization as a result of Geoffrey's support.

Al Smith, Fundraising Director, The Tor Project

I have been frustrated by all other fundraising seminars that I've tried over the years. I never left feeling competent in the skills needed or as if I had a theoretical foundation. How To Raise Money by Aspiration Tech has changed all that. Geoffrey balances the practical and theoretical perfectly in our cohort discussions and really hammered home the usefulness of each session in our one-on-one coaching calls. Geoffrey was extremely organized, a wonderful dialogue partner and created a space of deep learning for the cohort. This training is the perfect Aspiration blend: excellence in the field without being precious about the expertise. I'm grateful for what I learned and for Geoffrey's time.

Tim Haydock, Chief Development & Communications Officer, Youth Leadership Institute

Geoffrey’s coaching style is extremely dynamic and intuitive, leading to significant transfer of skills and advancement in less experienced charity leaders. The benefit of working directly with Geoffrey is his emotional intelligence and adaptation to the individual being coached.

Daniel McCarthy, VP, Finance and Operations, VoteAmerica

Geoffrey encouraged me to build from my experience to grow authentic partnerships. He identifies powerful patterns and helps you learn how to apply them—from establishing a pipeline, to an introduction email, an important meeting, a written proposal, all the way to landing a grant and opening the door for more support. Geoffrey is an excellent teacher who approaches fundraising as an art form, and it is clear that he’s committed to demystifying the practice so that more people, especially emerging leaders who may not have ready access to these resources, can land the partnerships they need.

I recently began fundraising for the first time for a new initiative. The course with Geoffrey MacDougall and Aspiration was just what I needed to gain confidence in this new trajectory and learn how to bring partners along with my vision in the spirit of collaboration and mutual success. Geoffrey encouraged me to build from my experience to grow authentic partnerships. He identifies powerful patterns and helps you learn how to apply them—from establishing a pipeline, to an introduction email, an important meeting, a written proposal, all the way to landing a grant and opening the door for more support. Geoffrey is an excellent teacher who approaches fundraising as an art form, and it is clear that he’s committed to demystifying the practice so that more people, especially emerging leaders who may not have ready access to these resources, can land the partnerships they need. Combined with Aspiration’s long-time dedication to nonprofit technology and facilitative leadership, this course is really one of the most unique and compelling offerings I’ve had the opportunity to learn from. I can highly recommend this course and appreciate the care and experience Geoffrey and the team at Aspiration bring to it.

Michelle Thorne, Sustainable Internet Lead, Mozilla

Fundraising is strategy—Geoffrey will help you focus and structure your approach to fundraising, but you’ll find you’re actually focusing and structuring your approach to creating impact. So you won’t just walk away with the 101 of grants, gifts, and partnerships—and the steps to standing up an effective fundraising practice—you’ll get an entirely new outlook on non-profit management.

Everything I know about fundraising, I credit to Geoffrey. He’s gifted me with tools for thinking that have served me in every professional role, from catalyzing multi-million dollar initiatives to securing continuing support. Geoffrey taught me the mindsets and magic formulas for finding and building relationships with the right partners; writing effective proposals; and getting to yes. Fundraising is strategy—Geoffrey will help you focus and structure your approach to fundraising, but you’ll find you’re actually focusing and structuring your approach to creating impact. So you won’t just walk away with the 101 of grants, gifts, and partnerships—and the steps to standing up an effective fundraising practice—you’ll get an entirely new outlook on non-profit management. I can’t recommend Geoffrey highly enough as a mentor, sounding board, and sherpa.

Benjamin Moskowitz, Director, Digital Lab, Consumer Reports

As someone who is newer to fundraising, Geoffrey’s coaching has been invaluable to me and my professional growth as a fundraiser. He has encouraged me to step outside my comfort zone and given me helpful tools to help develop meaningful relationships with donors that go beyond a transaction. He has been instrumental in helping my team focus on the bigger picture. Geoffrey is patient, thoughtful, and overall an excellent teacher. I would recommend working with Geoffrey to anyone looking to grow their skills as a fundraiser.

Emma Kraus, Manager of Donor Experience, VoteAmerica

Geoffrey has been an invaluable partner as our team has launched a new not-for-profit. As Geoffrey quickly (and helpfully) diagnosed in our first meeting, our team spans the pendulum swing from having experience in organizations with extremely mature, fully built programs to members who have for-profit/ tech start-up experience, but less with philanthropy. The act of distinguishing this state immediately helped us address issues of language, expectations, planning and how to sit with donors. Geoffrey has a deep, nuanced understanding of the theory and design, but is able to immediately translate his knowledge and experience to practical, actionable guidance that makes doing the work sound fun and energizing.

Mikel Ellcessor, Check My Ads

During the course, I made genuine connections, received honest feedback and gathered valuable knowledge that will help me further the mission of the non-profit. Fundraising is intimidating and can be a daunting task but HtRM coursework addresses not just the technical but also the human aspects, which is why, I highly recommend anyone wanting to learn more about non-profit fundraising to take this course.

As a founder and CEO of a tech focused non-profit, I feel incredibly fortunate to have received this HtRM training by Geoffrey MacDougall. The training has equipped me with not only the tools necessary but the most important aspect of raising funds - the Soft Skills and the attitude as a fundraiser. During the course, I made genuine connections, received honest feedback and gathered valuable knowledge that will help me further the mission of the non-profit. Fundraising is intimidating and can be a daunting task but HtRM coursework addresses not just the technical but also the human aspects, which is why, I highly recommend anyone wanting to learn more about non-profit fundraising to take this course. Finally, it has been a great honor to learn from the industry’s best.

Kavya Pearlman, Founder & CEO - XRSI

HtRM has been invaluable to our early stage nonprofit. Geoffrey covered every aspect of fundraising and donor development, gave us opportunities to practice what we learned and receive detailed feedback, and provided materials and tools we’ve already used and will probably be using for years to come.

Alex Moss, Founder, Public Interest Patent Law Institute

Geoffrey’s coaching has been tremendously helpful in both providing structure, clarity and purpose to my approach to fundraising and added a much-needed layer of strategic thinking to my fundraising approach. It’s been an incredible learning experience so far and the regular coaching sessions have been extremely helpful in thinking through some of the challenges you encounter in building something from scratch.

I started working with Geoffrey in the summer of 2021, as I started building a new initiative, Systemic Justice, having founded and led the Digital Freedom Fund previously. Geoffrey’s coaching has been tremendously helpful in both providing structure, clarity and purpose to my approach to fundraising and added a much-needed layer of strategic thinking to my fundraising approach. It’s been an incredible learning experience so far and the regular coaching sessions have been extremely helpful in thinking through some of the challenges you encounter in building something from scratch –– it has been fabulous having a sparring partner in this endeavour. Oh and I absolutely love the reference materials and tools he developed, which have been tremendously useful as well. I would highly recommend working with Geoffrey, whether you are a first-timer or have done successful fundraising in the past. You’ll find that there is always more to learn and understand about this sometimes confusing and challenging world of fundraising!

Nani Jansen Reventlow, Founding Director, Digital Freedom Fund, Founder, Systemic Justice

This program, has shifted my thinking on how to be most effective in my work in a number of truly powerful ways. I appreciate the care that was put into acknowledging the problematic nature of intergenerational wealth/theft of wealth, and how our work in fundraising is always in this context. This acknowledgement, for me, helped take my guard down as Geoffrey and colleagues went into explaining how wealth works to increase the legibility of structures we might be navigating. I am left feeling empowered as to how this transformative education will position the organizations I work with.

This program, and Geoffrey's mentorship through it, has shifted my thinking on how to be most effective in my work in a number of truly powerful ways. As someone who comes from a low-income working class background for many generations, I appreciate the care that was put into acknowledging the problematic nature of intergenerational wealth/theft of wealth, and how our work in fundraising is always in this context. This acknowledgement, for me, helped take my guard down as Geoffrey and colleagues went into explaining how wealth works to increase the legibility of structures we might be navigating - from asset giving to the timing of annual cycles for philanthropists. Other big takeaways for me were of course around effective funder collaboration (really the central pillar of the program), including how to engage the expertise in the folks we approach, and how to strategically protect ourselves and our projects when we are in pursuit of big gifts. I am left feeling empowered as to how this transformative education will position the organizations I work with. I'm very grateful.

Laura June Albert, Development & Community Initiatives Manager, Indian Summer Arts Society

There were three things that I loved about the workshops. First, it was clearly built from lived experience. Secondly, it's designed with clarity and purpose, which makes it well-suited for busy people. And finally, the philosophy behind it is empowering: donors need you as much as you need them. That's the starting point for every move, and it is a welcome shift from a lot of common thinking about fundraising.

There were three things that I loved about the workshops. Well, four, including the fact that it has already helped me secure a transformational gift for my organization. But I'll list three. First, it was clearly built from lived experience. Successes were recounted. And maybe more importantly, some goofs as well which is where the learning really takes place. It's a course built for results, by someone who has gotten results. Secondly, it's designed with clarity and purpose, which makes it well-suited for busy people. There's not an ounce of fluff. And finally, the philosophy behind it is empowering: donors need you as much as you need them. That's the starting point for every move, and it is a welcome shift from a lot of common thinking about fundraising. I would recommend this course for anyone who would like to benefit from a shot of fundraising wisdom, pure and uncut.

Roderick Schrock, Executive Director, Eyebeam

How to Enroll in HtRM

Just reach out for a chat! The first step is to learn more about each other so we can make sure the workshop will be a meaningful and productive experience. During our conversation, we will answer any questions you may have, explore potential start times, and discuss the fee (if any). Use the button below to get started, or email Geoffrey at geoffrey@aspirationtech.org.

Get after it!

How to Raise Money (HtRM)