This is a thoughtful take from Zac Sicher on why we can be bullish on Africa in terms of investment and job creation (especially “growth jobs” - such a key insight). https://t.co/Rdq1IzBY4r

If you’ve ever felt behind, this one’s for you. Subscribe now to get it in your inbox Saturday morning: 👉 https://t.co/NzGmEk2xfb

You don’t have to be perfect. That’s good news - for you and the mission you carry. This weekend’s Breakthru Guide tells the story of a cross-cultural fundraising misstep, and what it means to grow through mistakes rather than spiral from them.

“Rejection is not fatal. It’s feedback.” - Robert Allen

👉 When have you seen a giver’s deepest emotion unlock a greater vision?

One of my favorite moments was when I chose not to ask for a $50,000 gift - and instead connected that family to another cause their hearts were drawn to. Two years later, they gave far more to both organizations. Generosity thrives when it’s aligned with meaning.

The same forces that shape $100 gifts shape $10M ones - identity, belonging, legacy. Parker’s insight here is powerful: wealth doesn’t replace emotion; it amplifies it. I’ve seen that play out time and again.

Big Giver Truth #3: Emotions Scale With Wealth This is post 2 of 5 on a recent article in Inside Philanthropy called “Beyond Rational Generosity” - see the intro post here ( https://t.co/e6QQdDqClr)

A #tbt that pulls us back to one question. How do we support African entrepreneurs without repeating the mistakes of aid first thinking? https://t.co/Y9ZG77FXt1

It reminds me: this is about trust, timing, and relationship - not persuasion. 👉 How would your work change if you stopped “selling” and started “seeing”?

Parker argues that when we see generosity through an economic lens alone, we flatten its mystery. I’ve learned that the best conversations aren’t about strategy - they’re about story. That’s why I often use the SToR (Strength of Relationship) framework before any ask.

Sometimes we(I) treat giving like a market exchange: value in, money out. But giving is not commerce. It’s connection.

Big Giver Truth #2: The “Rational Actor” Model Misses the Point This is post 2 of 5 on a recent article in Inside Philanthropy called “Beyond Rational Generosity” - see the intro post here ( https://t.co/e6QQdDqClr) https://t.co/qpQmaaHjEo

There is no greater eloquence than the truth in a remembered detail.

Merry Christmas (from left to right) to Matthew Rohrs, Keegan White, Hannah Echols Grieser, Tom Burggraf, Sage (Isaac's daughter), Isaac Ezell, Jeanne Rohrs, and Ivana Salloum (on screen from Sao Paulo)! Appreciate you all so much and looking forward to a great 2026!

It's an honor to work with this exceptional group of people in my new role at Sinapis.

If you’re new to the Breakthru Guide, you can now subscribe right here on LinkedIn to get weekly insights for fundraisers who think deeply about generosity. https://t.co/LfxacreCjy

Today’s feature: A (secret) Superpower of Great Fundraisers 🎧 Includes the audio version if you’d rather hear my sweet, soothing voice.

🕺 Breakthru Guide “Top Performer” Series 💃 Every Tuesday or Wednesday, I’m resharing one of the most-read and talked-about Breakthru Guides from the past two years - the ones that really hit a nerve with major gift fundraisers.

Some losses stop you in your tracks. The passing of Dr. Salali is deeply sad. His life and work touched entrepreneurs and communities far beyond what many of us will ever see. May we keep building in ways that honor lives like his. https://t.co/3BLH5jhsFZ