Advisory, Coaching, and Courses
Whether you need a thought partner for your next campaign, a methodology for your entire development program, or direct coaching on your next major gift ask — this is where we start.
Every engagement is different and designed for you.
The leaders we work with are at different stages, facing different challenges, and carrying different levels of urgency. What's consistent is the framework we bring: Message, Messenger, Machine — and a bias toward what actually moves donors, not just what looks good in a development plan.
Below is an overview of how we work. If you don't see your situation exactly, reach out. The right container for your work usually becomes clear in a single conversation.
“Alex is a game-changer. He provided me with the strategies, narrative, and confidence to secure a $2 million lead gift from a relatively new donor, which fueled massive growth for our organization.
"His insights on messaging, donor engagement, and helping me embody my leadership were invaluable. I highly recommend him to anyone looking to take their fundraising to the next level.”
David Esselman
Former Executive Director, Brain Futures
Here’s What We Offer
Fundraising Leadership Advisory
For: Executive directors, Founders, and Development Directors leading or building a major gifts program and looking to expand their overall fundraising. This is for you if you are raising or planning to raise $500K–$5M+, and you want a seasoned thought partner who has done it at scale.
What it is: Ongoing strategic partnership with Alex directly. We work on your donor narrative, your pipeline strategy, your major gift conversations, your annual giving strategy, and your leadership presence as a fundraiser — in real time, with real donors.
This is not a coaching program with a fixed curriculum. It's a tailored advisory relationship designed around your specific fundraising goals and timeline.
What we typically address:
Case for support and donor narrative development
Donor pipeline review and strategy
Major gift conversation preparation and debrief
Board engagement and fundraising culture
Campaign strategy and readiness
Foundation giving and corporate sponsorship
Messaging and Donor Narrative Development
For: Organizations that need a sharper story — for major gifts, a campaign, a board retreat, or a rebrand.
What it is: A focused engagement to develop, refine, and field-test your core donor narrative. This includes your case for support, your verbal pitch, your donor engagement deck, and the language your leadership team uses consistently across conversations.
Deliverables typically include:
Refined organizational narrative and case for support
Donor-ready pitch framework
Updated or original donor engagement deck
Key message guide for leadership and board
Timeline: Usually 4–8 weeks depending on scope.
Board and Team Fundraising Workshops
For: Boards, development teams, and leadership groups who need alignment around fundraising identity, strategy, and roles
What it is: Half-day or full-day workshops that do two things most trainings don't: they address the mindset side of fundraising (why people avoid it, what changes when you shift from persuasion to invitation) and the tactical side (how to open a conversation, how to make an ask, how to cultivate a major donor).
Topics available include:
Introduction to Donor Alignment — for boards new to fundraising culture
The Art of the Major Gift Conversation — for development staff and board fundraising committees
Building a Donor Pipeline from Scratch — for organizations launching a major gifts program
Fundraising as Leadership — for executive teams
From Message to Money — The Signature Course
For: Individual leaders and their teams who want the full methodology in a cohort learning experience so they can raise more money this year.
What it is: An 8-week interactive course that covers all three pillars of the Donor Alignment Methodology — Message, Messenger, and Machine — with live coaching, high-impact videos and tools, peer accountability, and direct application to your actual donors.
This is the most complete way to experience the framework outside of direct advisory work. Past participants have gone on to raise millions within their first year of applying it.
Starts: August 2026
Foundations of Donor Alignment — Free Course
For: Anyone who wants to understand the methodology before committing to more.
What it is: A 60-minute on-demand course that reframes how you think about fundraising, donors, and your role as a leader. Plus we walk you through how to use this in a donor conversation. This is the paradigm shift that makes everything else possible.
If you are unsure whether this approach is right for you, start here.
Not Sure Where to Start?
If your situation doesn't fit neatly into one of the above, that's normal. Most of the organizations we work with come to us with a complex mix of needs. The best first step is a 30-minute call.
No pitch. No pressure. Just a conversation about what you're working on and whether there's a fit.
