Podcast: The power of fundraising with Wendy Glick

On this episode of “The Newman Bond” podcast, Wendy Glick shares how she went from running roller-skating rinks to leading major nonprofits and becoming a successful fundraiser.

She talks about the power of storytelling, patience and passion in building relationships with donors and making a real difference in the community. Wendy’s journey shows that fundraising isn’t just about money — it’s about connecting people through generosity and joy.

Overview of conversation topics

Read on to skim or find timestamps of specific topics covered in this episode.

Introducing Wendy Glick and her nonprofit legacy (0:00–0:43)

Laura Hartley, Newman’s director of annual giving, welcomes Glick, a Newman University Board of Trustees member, and briefly reviews her nonprofit career, including her roles at The Lord’s Diner and Catholic Charities.

How a career pivot led to fundraising (1:33–2:20)

Glick describes her transition into fundraising: After working in her family’s roller-skating business, she pivoted to nonprofit work, starting as a volunteer coordinator at Catholic Charities.

Stepping into leadership at The Lord’s Diner (4:14–5:17)

Her first major fundraising role came as executive director of The Lord’s Diner, where she began raising operational funds by telling stories about volunteers and guests.

The hidden reality of executive director fundraising (6:39–7:59)

She reflects on how much fundraising executive directors often underestimate — especially during peak giving seasons (October–December), when she spent up to 70% of her time cultivating and stewarding donor relationships.

Storytelling as the heart of donor engagement (8:32–9:22)

Storytelling is central to Glick’s fundraising strategy. She emphasizes that donors respond most to stories about real people (clients) rather than the institution itself.

Trust-building and the power of donor experience (10:26–11:16)

Building long-term trust with donors takes patience. Glick recounts a powerful story of a couple who first donated $10,000 after dining at The Lord’s Diner.

A 40-year relationship leading to a $1 million gift (12:10–13:27)

One of her most memorable fundraising moments: After decades of cultivating a donor relationship, a couple gave $1 million toward a renovation campaign — because they saw the impact firsthand.

Fundraising as a source of joy for donors and recipients (14:19–15:14)

Glick reframes fundraising as “bringing joy” — matching donors to needs creates meaningful emotional impact, regardless of whether gifts are small or large.

Essential qualities every fundraiser needs (15:48–17:09)

Other essential fundraising qualities include patience, attention to detail (e.g., in keeping donor data), authenticity and caring deeply about the mission.

Advice for aspiring fundraisers: skills, shadowing & passion (17:38–19:04)

Advice for aspiring fundraisers: Shadow nonprofit advancement offices, hone communication skills, practice storytelling and find causes you’re deeply passionate about.

Reflecting on community impact and legacy (20:20–20:53)

Reflecting on her career, Glick said she hopes to be remembered as sincere and kind — and to have helped build lasting support for community nonprofits in Wichita.