Most people think generosity is about money.
But the more I study leadership, fundraising, and personal growth, the more I realize generosity has levels.
I recently heard Ryan Leak talk about the “8 Levels of Generosity,” and it challenged me to think deeper about what it truly means to give.
One of the principles he referenced comes from Matthew 6:3:
“But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.”
That verse reminds us that the highest forms of generosity are often quiet.
Not performative.
Not transactional.
Not motivated by recognition.
Then there’s the timeless principle:
“Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.”
That’s transformational generosity.
Anyone can occasionally give resources.
But transformational leaders give:
• Opportunity
• Knowledge
• Encouragement
• Access
• Confidence
• Belief
• Empowerment
As someone who has spent years in fundraising and leadership development, I’ve learned this:
The greatest generosity is not just helping people survive.
It’s helping people grow.
And sometimes the most impactful gifts are the ones nobody else ever sees.
#Leadership #Generosity #PersonalGrowth #ServantLeadership #ryanleakinspired
My friend and mentor, Chris Robinson, shares a powerful practice in his book, From Drift to Drive, called the Action Filter.
Using nothing more than a simple 4” x 6” index card, he challenges people to focus their attention and intentionality by asking five questions every single day:
1. What do I need to read today?
2. What do I need to listen to today?
3. Who do I need to call today?
4. What do I need to do today?
5. What am I looking for today?
Notice that every question ends with one word: today.
That matters.
Too often in fundraising, we drift.
We react instead of lead.
We get buried in emails, events, reports, and meetings while the most important priorities get pushed to “tomorrow.”
But imagine if every fundraising professional, Executive Director, and board member started each morning with these questions.
What if:
🔹 You intentionally read something that sharpened your fundraising mindset?
🔹 You listened to content that strengthened your leadership or communication?
🔹 You made the donor call you’ve been putting off?
🔹 You focused on the ONE action that would move a relationship forward?
🔹 You actively looked for opportunities to serve, connect, and inspire generosity?
Fundraising success rarely comes from one giant breakthrough moment.
It comes from consistent intentional actions repeated day after day after day.
Drift happens naturally.
Drive happens intentionally.
What’s one thing you NEED to do today to strengthen your fundraising relationships?
If your organization wants to strengthen leadership alignment, donor communication, and fundraising culture, let’s connect. I’d love to help your team move from drift to drive.
#NonprofitLeadership #FundraisingStrategy #FromDrifttoDrive #troynusssolutions
What if your team could talk openly about leadership—without defensiveness or hesitation?
Most teams don’t struggle because they lack talent.
They struggle because the right conversations never happen.
That’s why I facilitate the John Maxwell Leadership Game Experience—a structured, interactive session that creates a safe space for honest dialogue and real growth.
During this experience, your team will:
🔹 Explore real leadership topics
🔹 Build trust and alignment
🔹 Identify hidden gaps
🔹 Turn insights into clear action steps
90 minutes of gameplay + focused leadership debrief = real results.
Perfect for:
✔ Executive Teams
✔ Boards
✔ Nonprofit Leaders
✔ Growing Organizations
Great leadership doesn’t happen by accident—
it happens through intentional conversations.
📅 Ready to bring this experience to your team?
📩 Email: [email protected]
💬 Or DM me to schedule a Leadership Experience.
#LeadershipDevelopment #TeamLeadership #leadershipexperience #ExecutiveLeadership
Most fundraising problems aren’t strategy problems—
they’re communication problems.
After 20+ years working with nonprofit teams, I’ve seen it again and again:
Staff are working hard.
Executive Directors carry the pressure.
Board members want to help—but aren’t always sure how.
The result?
Missed opportunities.
Inconsistent donor engagement.
Uneven fundraising results.
Not because people don’t care—
but because communication, expectations, and roles aren’t aligned.
That’s why I created the DISC-Based Fundraising Communication Strategy Experience for nonprofit teams.
This team experience includes:
✔ DISC Assessments
✔ Individual Debriefs
✔ Team DISC Workshop
✔ Fundraising Communication Strategy
✔ Clear, actionable next steps
When communication improves, fundraising improves.
This experience is ideal for:
✔ Development Teams
✔ Executive Directors
✔ Board Leadership
✔ Organizations preparing for growth or campaigns
Ready to strengthen your team and your fundraising results?
📩 [email protected]
👤 Troy Nuss | Fundraising Geek™
Troy Nuss Solutions
Or send me a message to start the conversation.
#NonprofitLeadership #Fundraising #BoardEngagement #NonprofitGrowth #fundraisingstrategy
What if better fundraising and leadership started with better self-awareness?
After more than 20 years in fundraising, I’ve learned this:
It’s not just about strategy.
It’s about understanding people.
That’s why I’m now offering a DISC Assessment & Coaching Experience designed to help you understand your communication style and strengthen your relationships.
💲 $249 Includes:
✔ Professional DISC Assessment
✔ Personalized Debrief (45–60 minutes)
✔ Initial 1-on-1 Coaching Session
✔ Practical strategies you can use immediately
Because when you understand:
• How you communicate
• How others respond
• Where your strengths—and blind spots—are
You become more confident, more effective, and more impactful.
This is perfect for:
🔹 Fundraising professionals
🔹 Nonprofit leaders
🔹 Managers and team leaders
🔹 Anyone who works with people
Understanding people is the key to inspiring generosity.
📩 Email: [email protected]
👤 Troy Nuss | Fundraising Geek™
Message me or email to schedule your DISC Assessment today.
I’m honored to share that I have been re-certified as a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE).
Recertification is more than a credential, it represents a continued commitment to ethical fundraising, professional excellence, and lifelong learning in service to the organizations and communities we support.
Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of working alongside incredible leaders, donors, and mission-driven teams who remind me daily that fundraising is ultimately about relationships, trust, and impact.
I’m grateful to be part of a profession that changes lives, and proud to continue upholding the standards that the CFRE represents.
#CFRE #Fundraising #NonprofitLeadership
What if understanding your personality style could improve your fundraising results?
That’s exactly what we’ll explore at the next Thinking Thursday with Troy.
DISC helps you understand:
✔ How you naturally build relationships
✔ How comfortable you are making the ask
✔ How donors respond to your communication
✔ How to strengthen fundraising outcomes
Join us for this interactive session:
📅 Next Thinking Thursday
⏰ 7:30–9:00 AM
📍 Brew HaHa – Ave North
Bring a colleague and come ready to learn.
📩 Questions?
[email protected]
#Fundraising #DISC #ThinkingThursday #LeadershipDevelopment #NonprofitLife
Fundraising doesn’t have to feel overwhelming.
Sometimes what you really need is clarity, structure, and support.
That’s why I created my Fundraising Coaching Program—designed to help nonprofit leaders build confidence and create momentum.
Through 1:1, Group, or Organizational Coaching, we focus on:
✔ Building a clear fundraising strategy
✔ Strengthening donor relationships
✔ Creating systems that work
✔ Growing fundraising confidence
📍 Sessions available in-person or virtually
If you’re feeling stuck or unsure what to do next, this coaching program was built for you.
📩 Ready to get started?
Troy Nuss | Fundraising Geek™
[email protected]
#FundraisingCoach #NonprofitLeadership #FundraisingStrategy #NonprofitLife
Over the years, I’ve had conversations with many nonprofit leaders who feel overwhelmed by fundraising.
Not because they don’t care.
Not because they’re not working hard.
But because they don’t have the structure, clarity, or support they need to move forward confidently.
That’s exactly why I created my Fundraising Coaching Program.
This program is designed to support nonprofit leaders through:
✔ 1:1 Coaching
✔ Group Coaching
✔ Organizational Coaching
Together, we’ll work on:
• Building a clear fundraising strategy
• Strengthening donor relationships
• Creating systems that support growth
• Developing confidence in fundraising leadership
Sessions are available in-person or virtually, so we can work in the way that fits your organization best.
If fundraising feels scattered or overwhelming right now, let’s talk.
📩 Reach out to learn more or schedule a conversation:
Troy Nuss | Fundraising Geek™
[email protected]
#Fundraising #NonprofitSupport #FundraisingCoaching #LeadershipDevelopment #NonprofitGrowth
Being a subject matter expert isn’t about saying yes to every opportunity.
Recently, I was asked to consider a fundraising role for a political campaign. While I have 20+ years in fundraising, I realized campaign fundraising is its own discipline—and saying yes wouldn’t have served the mission well.
Sometimes leadership means stepping up.
Sometimes leadership means stepping aside.
That’s not weakness.
That’s leadership.
Are you living with a “vision beyond your resources” mindset?
In The Circle Maker, Mark Batterson shares a story about National Community Church receiving a $3 million gift because a donor believed the church had a vision bigger than its resources.
That idea has stayed with me.
Too often we limit our vision to what our current budget allows.
But real impact usually starts when the vision is bigger than what we can accomplish alone.
A bold vision invites partnership.
It invites faith.
And sometimes it unlocks generosity we never expected.
So here’s the question:
Are you living with a vision beyond your resources — or a vision limited by them?
#Leadership #Vision #MarkBatterson #thecirclemaker
