Federal Way workshop urges nonprofits to diversify donors and prioritize stewardship

At a Federal Way fundraising workshop, Linda K. Bridal, founder of the Briggs Group, outlined best-practice steps nonprofits can use to diversify revenue and retain donors, emphasizing donor research, a “silent phase” for top supporters and ongoing stewardship.

Bridal told attendees that fundraising succeeds when organizations identify likely prospects, provide clear information about needs and impact, cultivate interest and involvement, and then ask at the right time. “The only reason people don't give is because we don't ask them,” Bridal said. She also warned against treating supporters like “an ATM machine,” urging deeper relationship-building instead.

Bridal presented a giving “pyramid” she used in campaigns, in which the board, executive leadership and long-term major donors are asked first in a silent phase before any public appeal. She said public launches usually happen after a significant portion of the goal is pledged—commonly 30–50% but sometimes as high as 70%—and cited a Habitat for Humanity campaign that reached roughly 70% of a reduced $7,000,000 goal before a public announcement.

Practical guidance in the session included segmenting donors (e.g., lifetime donors, lapsed donors, event attendees, corporate partners and vendors), assessing each prospect for affinity, capacity and relationship, and tracking interactions inside donor-management software rather than spreadsheets. Bridal recommended using a purpose-built donor system and named Boomerang as an example used by several of her clients.

She walked the group through “moves management,” a five-step cycle—identify, inform, test interest, involve, invest—that Bridal said helps prospects move from curiosity to major gifts over months or a year. “This allows you to continue to educate your donor and to move the donor in their donor time,” Bridal said, adding that fundraisers should expect and respect that timeline.

Workshop examples emphasized practical stewardship: calling lapsed donors to apologize and re-engage, thanking event attendees even if they did not give, and assigning board and volunteer roles in cultivation. Bridal shared an anecdote from her hospital fundraising work where patient affinity and regular contact converted a long-term small donor into a six-figure annual supporter after persistent, personalized cultivation.

Attendees asked operational questions about limited volunteer time and software costs; Bridal suggested one-time, targeted fundraising investments (for example, to buy donor software or support a focused campaign) and encouraged volunteers to bring their networks into cultivation work. Angela (workshop facilitator) announced follow-up sessions offering grant-editing and impact-statement review, to be held online based on attendee preference.

The workshop focused on practical, repeatable steps nonprofits can use immediately—board participation and 100% board giving in campaigns, documented donor contact plans, and simple language in donor asks that emphasizes impact rather than organizational need. Bridal closed by asking organizations to test campaign cases that are specific and compelling—digital-literacy programs or summer arts access, for example—rather than broad appeals for operating reserves.

Bridal and the facilitator offered attendees follow-up help with grant and impact-statement drafting and encouraged organizations to build simple donor contact routines and to track donor interactions in appropriate software.