Fundraising Training, Nonprofit Leadership Seminars, & Board Retreats

“Marc is just plain inspiring. He makes everything about asking so easy & filled with joy. You can see the audience sit up straighter & grow in confidence as he speaks.”

Tom Ahern

Donor Communications Expert, Ahern Communications Ink

“Marc utilizes stories, research, and tools to help us take our leadership to the next level. He challenges participants to engage in self-reflection to learn more about the stories we believe and the ways in which our life impacts our leadership style.”

Dr. Jessica Sharp

Sharp Brain Consulting

Nonprofits, associations, and conferences around the world invite Marc to come speak on issues of personal and organizational leadership, marketing, time management, personalities, and fundraising.

Since he firmly believes fundraising is all about leadership, just about the only thing Marc loves more than asking for money is training board members and “normal” people to ask!

“We LOVED your ‘Exactly What to Say for Nonprofit Leaders’ session!! In fact, the Monday after we got back, I called a major donor and asked for a $15,000 matching gift by saying ‘I don’t know if this is for you, but…’ and the donor said ‘Okay.’

Just like that. I was so shocked.

We’re a little nonprofit just getting going and $15,000 is HUGE for us. Thank you for your communication wisdom! Your tips on what to say have lifted so much pressure off me, the people I’m working with, and the amazing donors who are doing this work with us. Talking to everyone feels easier, lighter, more like a rally and less like a self-afflicted guilt trip from not knowing how exactly to put things.”

Madison Vulkanblomst

CEO, The Avenir Project

Sample Trainings

Marc is always willing to work with a team’s goals. But we know it can be helpful to see a list of trainings. So we’ve here are some of the sessions he’s given. Put all together, he calls this “The Nonprofit Fundraising Institute.”

Ask Without Fear!

Asking for money is as scary for people as death and public speaking. But it doesn’t have to be! Learn a simple “R.E.A.L.” method that takes much of the fear out of the process. This workshop is perfect for nonprofit employees and volunteers and will give you proven techniques to improve your fundraising skills

You’ll learn:

a 4-part system to structure your solicitation
actual phrases to use during your solicitations
and a powerful way to overcome objections, even before they happen!

In the full day training, you’ll also learn:

the 7 most common mistakes nonprofits make in asking for money
a simple 3-step tool to help you articulate your message

“Marc A. Pitman’s ‘Ask Without Fear’ training is the most inspiring ask-training on the market. This workshop opens up the door for tremendous resource gain for those that attend. Marc provides invaluable advice, great stories, tools and overall stellar experience in addition to the fun and energy!”

Becky Taylor

Development Coordinator, Oklahoma City, OK

Let Us Know You'd Like to Explore Having Marc do a Training

Exactly What To Say™ in Nonprofit Fundraising

Have you ever gotten into a conversation with a donor prospect and lost your words? The worst time to figure out what you’re going to say in a fundraising conversation is when you’re in the conversation. Don’t let that happen to you!

In this session, Marc shares:

how to start the fundraising ask, long before the appointment
how curiosity creates the environment for donations more effectively than pitches
ways to structure the entire asking conversation
and the exact phrases to use to raise the money your nonprofit needs.

You’ll leave this session inspired and reinvigorated with a practical set of tools to immediately apply across your organization.

“Marc brought great energy and information to our chapter’s annual, daylong February Focus on Fundraising program. We had the highest attendance the event had seen in many years. I am still hearing positive feedback from attendees.”

Jennifer J.E. Wampler, MBA, CFRE

President, AFP Mid-America Chapter, Kansas City

Telling Your Nonprofit’s Story

We are natural born storytellers. But all too often, we in the nonprofit world aren’t good at telling our story. This session will equip you and your board members to be master nonprofit storytellers and help you cast your vision and mission in ways people will remember!

You’ll learn:

the basic components of all compelling stories
how a trip to the supermarket can help you make your story engaging
what an “elevator pitch” is and why it can quickly become stale, and
a really easy way to keep all your communications fresh and “on story.”

For more information, go to: Who’s Telling Your Story?

“Marc is a gifted presenter. He has a knack of speaking to a group but making each person in the group feel as if he were talking directly to them. He thinks on his feet and incorporates what he’s learned about people in the group into his presentation in a constructive way. Thoroughly enjoyed his presentation.”

Christina Turner

Taranaki Regional Coordinator, Computers in Homes, Hawera, New Zealand

Fundraising 101

Raising money for nonprofits isn’t rocket science but it’s not all common sense either. This seminar geared for nonprofit board members and others new to nonprofit fundraising will share some easy-to-apply principles based on decades of fundraising excellence. This is helpful both for people new to the field, but experienced pros find this session full of useful reminders.

You’ll learn:

the only 3 types of communication you’ll need
how many times to say “thank you” between solicitations
the difference between annual funds, capital campaigns, and endowments
a simple model for your setting up a fundraising effort

Let Us Know You'd Like to Explore Having Marc do a Training

Boards 101

Whether you work for a nonprofit or you’re on the board, chances are you haven’t been trained in the appropriate roles of the board. Come and learn the roles a board is supposed to play and ways to increase effective communication with the board and the nonprofit staff. There’s even a bit on nonprofit storytelling! This seminar is great for both board members and employees of nonprofits.

You’ll learn:

the 2 major jobs of the board
tips to help board meetings be more productive
4 major mistakes board members make
simple tools to help the board chair communicate with the executive director

“Afraid of asking for money? Marc has the cure.”

Joanne Fritz

About.com

Looking for online training?

Are you looking for online training and CFRE continuing education credits? Check out: The Nonprofit Academy with over 100 trainings, tools, and templates on-demand and more added each month!