At 60, Maryanne discovered her hair had been naturally wavy all along — she'd just never created the conditions for it to show. In this solo episode, she turns that surprise into a fundraising lesson: your next donor, partner, and big idea are probably already in your orbit, waiting to be activated. Key Takeaways: Capacity is usually present; conditions are what's missing. "I need more" often means you haven't fully seen or used what you already have. Most people give because they were asked — the connection-to-action gap is usually a missing invitation, not a missing audience. Your email list and existing relationships outperform purchased lists and cold social media. One simple question activates a network: Who do you know that needs this? Certainty and control are myths; chasing them manufactures frustration, while experimentation makes room for something new. “Sometimes we are asked to look outside of ourselves for tools and solutions that may already be in us.” “There are people who want to act; they just haven't been asked.” “Influence isn't about forcing movement; it's about creating the conditions in which movement becomes possible.” - Maryanne Dersch
At 60, Maryanne discovered her hair had been naturally wavy all along — she'd just never created the conditions for it to show. In this solo episode, she turns that surprise into a fundraising lesson: your next donor, partner, and big idea are probably already in your orbit, waiting to be activated.
Key Takeaways:
“Sometimes we are asked to look outside of ourselves for tools and solutions that may already be in us.”
“There are people who want to act; they just haven't been asked.”
“Influence isn't about forcing movement; it's about creating the conditions in which movement becomes possible.”
- Maryanne Dersch