About This Event
Join us for our April Meeting!
Where: Bloomington Public Library
When: Wednesday, April 8, 2026 | 11:30 am – 1:00 pm
Cost: Members - $20 | Non-members - $25
Registration Deadline: Tuesday, April 7 at 12:00 pm
The "Middle Donor" Cliff: Fixing the Leaky Bucket
Your $500–$2,500 donors are your most overlooked revenue segment. They're too valuable for mass communication but too numerous for major gift cultivation — so most organizations send a thank-you letter and then silence until the next ask. The result? These donors lapse at alarming rates, taking 20–30% of your annual fund revenue with them. In this 60-minute workshop, we'll expose the real cost of mid-level attrition (hint: it's six figures over three years for a typical organization) and introduce the Mid-Level Officer model — a high-touch but scalable approach that manages 150–300 donors with just eight hours per week.
You'll leave with a month-by-month contact strategy, a donor segmentation framework, CRM configuration steps you can implement immediately, and a complete 90-day plan to go from concept to functioning program. We'll also cover what makes performing arts organizations uniquely positioned to succeed with mid-level cultivation — you already have built-in tools like rehearsal access, program recognition, and artist meet-and-greets that most nonprofits can only dream of. Whether you have a development team of ten or you're a one-person shop, this session will show you how to plug the leaky bucket and turn your most neglected donors into your strongest growth engine.
With nearly 20 years of fundraising experience in the nonprofit sector, Jarel brings exceptional expertise to Harmonic Partners. He has consulted 60+ organizations with fundraising goals between $20k to $8 billion. As a fundraiser, his teams have raised more than $280 million during his career.
Jarel's extensive connections and deep knowledge within the performing arts community, combined with his background as a former performing musician, give him unique insight into the specific challenges facing performing arts nonprofits. This dual perspective allows him to develop tailored strategies that resonate with both organizations and their potential donors.
He currently serves on the Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps board of directors and supports various nonprofits with pro bono work.
About This Event
Join us for our April Meeting!
Where: Bloomington Public Library
When: Wednesday, April 8, 2026 | 11:30 am – 1:00 pm
Cost: Members - $20 | Non-members - $25
Registration Deadline: Tuesday, April 7 at 12:00 pm
The "Middle Donor" Cliff: Fixing the Leaky Bucket
Your $500–$2,500 donors are your most overlooked revenue segment. They're too valuable for mass communication but too numerous for major gift cultivation — so most organizations send a thank-you letter and then silence until the next ask. The result? These donors lapse at alarming rates, taking 20–30% of your annual fund revenue with them. In this 60-minute workshop, we'll expose the real cost of mid-level attrition (hint: it's six figures over three years for a typical organization) and introduce the Mid-Level Officer model — a high-touch but scalable approach that manages 150–300 donors with just eight hours per week.
You'll leave with a month-by-month contact strategy, a donor segmentation framework, CRM configuration steps you can implement immediately, and a complete 90-day plan to go from concept to functioning program. We'll also cover what makes performing arts organizations uniquely positioned to succeed with mid-level cultivation — you already have built-in tools like rehearsal access, program recognition, and artist meet-and-greets that most nonprofits can only dream of. Whether you have a development team of ten or you're a one-person shop, this session will show you how to plug the leaky bucket and turn your most neglected donors into your strongest growth engine.
With nearly 20 years of fundraising experience in the nonprofit sector, Jarel brings exceptional expertise to Harmonic Partners. He has consulted 60+ organizations with fundraising goals between $20k to $8 billion. As a fundraiser, his teams have raised more than $280 million during his career.
Jarel's extensive connections and deep knowledge within the performing arts community, combined with his background as a former performing musician, give him unique insight into the specific challenges facing performing arts nonprofits. This dual perspective allows him to develop tailored strategies that resonate with both organizations and their potential donors.
He currently serves on the Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps board of directors and supports various nonprofits with pro bono work.