December brings in more than a third of nonprofits' annual online revenue, and this year a lot of appeals will be drafted with the same AI tools. The risk: every inbox fills with the same "season of giving" language.

Sean breaks down where AI genuinely helps during year-end (segmentation, versioning, testing, calendars, fast thank-yous) and where it shouldn't make the call (your story, your voice, your numbers, anything sensitive). Then he lays out five moves for the next 30 days, including the one most organizations skip: planning January now, when only about 1 in 4 new online donors gives again.

Sources: GivingTuesday 2025 results; M+R Benchmarks 2026.

Sean Kramer is the founder of Magnolia Philanthropic Services, with 30+ years in nonprofit development as a frontline fundraiser, CDO, and CEO.

Years ago, while working for a non profit organization, Sean realized he wasn't going to get the promotion. They were bringing in someone from the outside.

He knew he had the skills. What he hadn't done was position himself to make the leap. He worked out what he was actually worth, and he left for another role.

In this episode, Sean shares that moment openly and explains why plateaus are information: they show you what people can't see about your work. He also covers where AI genuinely helps your career (turning vague duties into quantified accomplishments, rehearsing for interviews, drafting outreach) and where it can't (telling you how decision-makers really see you).

You'll get three questions to ask yourself this week to find out whether you've plateaued. You'll also hear about Magnolia Career Academy, the career program Sean built from that experience, which is now open for enrollment.

Sean is the founder of Magnolia Philanthropic Services, advising nonprofits nationwide on development strategy, with 30+ years in the field.