Heart Over Pocket - a Relationship-First Approach to Fundraising with Brian Seeley

This session traces the arc from a single volunteer relationship, through a chain of introductions, to a million-dollar donor and $6M raised for Gospel Village, a housing community for people experiencing homelessness. Drawing on Jim Collins' Good to Great, it shows how the Hedgehog Concept, the Flywheel, and a clear logic model create compounding fundraising momentum, then introduces Dream Pilot and Wheel of Generosity.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES After this session, attendees will be able to: 1. Apply the Hedgehog Concept to clarify your organization's unique fundraising position 2. Build a logic model that connects fundraising activities to mission outcomes 3. Identify the flywheel dynamics that compound relationship investments into major gifts 4. Shift from transactional sponsorship asks to relationship-first donor engagement 5. Evaluate tools for building and delivering professional event collateral at every stage

ABOUT THE SPEAKER Brian Seeley is the founder of Dream Pilot and Wheel of Generosity. Before building software, Brian spent years in direct service alongside people experiencing homelessness, leading fundraising efforts that raised $6M from 2021 to 2023 for Gospel Village in property acquisition, capital improvements, and construction pledges. His fundraising methodology, rooted in Jim Collins' strategic frameworks and grounded in authentic relationship, is what both platforms were built to scale.