Tammy Zonker
CFRM, AFP Master Trainer
MI, USTammy is an award-winning nonprofit fundraiser, author, keynote speaker, trainer, and enchanting storyteller well-versed in modern fundraising trends and strategies. She will inspire your audience and leave them with powerful insights to transform their fundraising and their communities.
Tammy Zonker is a passionate leader, strategic thinker, author, and recognized expert in major gift fundraising with nearly three decades of impactful experience. As the Founder and President of Fundraising Transformed, President of the Modern Institute for Charitable Giving, and host of The Intentional Fundraiser Podcast, Tammy is dedicated to empowering nonprofit organizations to achieve extraordinary results.
Throughout her extensive career, Tammy has guided and trained thousands of nonprofits—including social service organizations, private schools, universities, and healthcare institutions—to collectively raise nearly a billion dollars. Among her many successes is securing an impressive single gift of $27.1 million, highlighting her exceptional strategic insight and ability to inspire generosity.
Internationally sought after for her expertise, Tammy is an Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Certified Facilitator and a seasoned global speaker, sharing her knowledge in Australia, Ireland, Canada, and the Netherlands. In 2024, the AFP Greater Detroit Chapter honored Tammy’s outstanding contributions by presenting her with the prestigious Dr. John S. Lore Award for Outstanding Fundraising Executive of the Year.
Most recently she authored the book, Calling All Heroes: Combing the Best of Donor-Centered and Community-Centered Fundraising for Greater Impact, published through Wiley.
Tammy previously served as Dean of the Institute for Charitable Giving for six years before acquiring the organization in 2025. She then revitalized and rebranded it as the Modern Institute for Charitable Giving, introducing an innovative and refreshed curriculum tailored for today’s fundraising professionals.
In addition to her roles at Fundraising Transformed and the Modern Institute, Tammy is a Senior Advisor at Capital Campaign Pro. She also contributes to advancing the fundraising profession through her involvement with the Fundraising.AI Global Advisory Council and Forbes Nonprofit Advisory Council.
Tammy’s experience extends into academia and publishing as well, having served as adjunct faculty at Indiana University and as a technical editor for Wiley Publishing’s third edition of “Fundraising for Dummies.”
When she's not delivering a keynote, leading a masterclass, or training a group of fundraisers and nonprofit leaders, you can find her spending time with her family or tending to her flower gardens.
Tammy Zonker is a passionate leader, strategic thinker, author, and recognized expert in major gift fundraising with nearly three decades of impactful experience. As the Founder and President of Fundraising Transformed, President of the Modern Institute for Charitable Giving, and host of The Intentional Fundraiser Podcast, Tammy is dedicated to empowering nonprofit organizations to achieve extraordinary results.
Throughout her extensive career, Tammy has guided and trained thousands of nonprofits—including social service organizations, private schools, universities, and healthcare institutions—to collectively raise nearly a billion dollars. Among her many successes is securing an impressive single gift of $27.1 million, highlighting her exceptional strategic insight and ability to inspire generosity.
Internationally sought after for her expertise, Tammy is an Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Certified Facilitator and a seasoned global speaker, sharing her knowledge in Australia, Ireland, Canada, and the Netherlands. In 2024, the AFP Greater Detroit Chapter honored Tammy’s outstanding contributions by presenting her with the prestigious Dr. John S. Lore Award for Outstanding Fundraising Executive of the Year.
Most recently she authored the book, Calling All Heroes: Combing the Best of Donor-Centered and Community-Centered Fundraising for Greater Impact, published through Wiley.
Tammy previously served as Dean of the Institute for Charitable Giving for six years before acquiring the organization in 2025. She then revitalized and rebranded it as the Modern Institute for Charitable Giving, introducing an innovative and refreshed curriculum tailored for today’s fundraising professionals.
In addition to her roles at Fundraising Transformed and the Modern Institute, Tammy is a Senior Advisor at Capital Campaign Pro. She also contributes to advancing the fundraising profession through her involvement with the Fundraising.AI Global Advisory Council and Forbes Nonprofit Advisory Council.
Tammy’s experience extends into academia and publishing as well, having served as adjunct faculty at Indiana University and as a technical editor for Wiley Publishing’s third edition of “Fundraising for Dummies.”
When she's not delivering a keynote, leading a masterclass, or training a group of fundraisers and nonprofit leaders, you can find her spending time with her family or tending to her flower gardens.
Calling All Heroes
In today’s nonprofit sector, debates over donor-centered versus community-centered fundraising can divide us—just when unity is needed most. Calling All Heroes bridges these divides by honoring both donor generosity and community wisdom, offering a practical roadmap for organizations to raise more money, accelerate their goals, and ensure everyone has a seat at the table.
Through real-world stories (including the journey of a brave toddler named Sam), actionable strategies,...
Thinking Bigger, Braver, and Bolder for Greater Impact
Are we truly making the impact we dream of, or have we settled into a comfort zone of safety and compliance? Have we lost sight of our greater purpose? Are we merely checking boxes, or are we truly transforming lives and communities? Join us on a journey of thinking bigger, bolder, and braver. Reconnect with why you do this work; Gain insights by asking brave questions about your organization; Identify what big, bold, audacious goal you might aim for if you knew you...
Ensuring Your Donors (and anyone else) Feel Seen, Heard, and Understood
Genuine connection is the cornerstone of lasting relationships. That’s as true in fundraising as it is in real life. In this session, Tammy Zonker will unpack the tools and processes to fostering connections that turn ‘transactional fundraising’ into ‘transformational giving.’
You'll learn how to create powerful connections that resonate deeply with your donors and how to craft engagement opportunities that go beyond ‘asking for a gift’ – opportunities to touch the...
The Transformational Power of Immersive Experiences
Today’s donors don’t just want to know they made a difference—they want to feel it. In this interactive session, we’ll explore how immersive donor experiences can deepen emotional connection, build trust, and inspire transformational giving. From mission simulations to multisensory storytelling and behind-the-scenes access, you’ll discover creative, human-centered ways to move beyond traditional engagement tactics.
We’ll look at real-world examples,...
The Five Courageous Stories Every Fundraiser Must Tell
Wouldn’t it be great to know you can navigate any major donor conversation with confidence and make a lasting impact? In this session, Tammy Zonker will share five essential stories you need in your major donor storytelling repertoire. These stories are the keys to unlocking meaningful connections and transformational gifts for your organizations.
Learn how to craft and confidently share:
- The Impact Story
- The Problem Story
- The...
Channel Your Inner Buffalo Keynote
Do you know why cows and buffalo react so differently when storms roll in? It turns out, there's a powerful metaphor here that can revolutionize the way you approach your nonprofit work.
You see, cows tend to run away from storms, but they can never quite outrun them. They end up stuck in the chaos, enduring prolonged suffering. On the other hand, buffalo exhibit a remarkable response—they charge headlong into the tempest, boldly confronting the turbulence and powering through it in...
8 recommend Tammy
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Creative Partnerships Australia
On-Site
M.M., Executive Director, Strategy & Programs, Creative Partnerships Australia
Absolutely brilliant full-day learning experience from a master, sharing highly achievable, practical and transferrable skills, and best practice strategies for generating greater philanthropic relationships and support. Tammy was absolutely amazing and this experience was transformational! So many incredible insights and real-life examples to learn from. Fantastic, really valuable, and insightful, great to walk away with a whole toolkit. Seeing the pre-reading I had been concerned that it wouldn't be relevant enough for someone just starting off in this space, but that wasn't the case at all. Looking forward to getting started on our strategy! The workbook of slides was an excellent addition to follow along with Tammy's presentation, as well as to refer back to. The masterclass was also very practical, which was a huge boost of confidence. Tammy was fantastic — loved the way she delivered the content and worked with the people in the room. It was brilliant. I am so inspired by Tammy's knowledge and approach — not just her content, but the beautiful warm manner she approached and acknowledged participants and their input.
Fundraising Ireland
On-Site
S.K., Business Development Director, Fundraising Ireland
Tammy's session rated the highest out of the 25 presentations we hosted at the Fundraising Ireland National Conference. She was inspiring and engaged our delegates powerfully. I wholeheartedly endorse her speaking ability.
Harvey McKinnon Associates
On-Site
H.M., President, Harvey McKinnon Associates
Verified @harveymckinnon.comI was thrilled to see Tammy Zonker's Calling All Heroes keynote. It's the best thing I've ever heard that discusses donor-centric and community-centric fundraising. Tammy is respectful to both perspectives and strongly desires to improve the profession and our world. I've seen her many times and she's a great speaker. Tammy is full of wisdom, and compassion, and has the ability to weave a powerful story. This is a critical conversation for us all to have, and I'd love to see her deliver this at every fundraising conference.
The Focus Group
On-Site
J.S., Consultant, The Focus Group
Tammy is an exceptional communicator and trainer. She can keep a diverse audience engaged and involved. Thoroughly professional, Tammy blends humor, practical insight, and personal experience to move and motivate her audience.
Ready Habits, Inc.
On-Site
D.C.M., Owner, Ready Habits, Inc.
I love working with Tammy. She has so much energy and passion that it's exciting to listen to her presentations. People leave her sessions motivated to take action… reignited in their passion for their missions.
The Cagney Company
On-Site
P.C., President, The Cagney Company
Verified @thecagneycompany.comTammy has been one of the most in-demand speakers at the AFP International Conference, AFP Congress, and elsewhere for several years. She gets great reviews, and standing room only in her sessions. In a couple of words, I’d describe her presentation style as practical how-to and inspiration. Her content is always fresh and innovative and she is considered a true fundraising thought leader.
Gail Perry & Associates
On-Site
G.P., CEO, Gail Perry & Associates
Tammy Zonker is at the top of her game. She is an accomplished speaker who can enchant an audience with her professionalism and charisma. And, she's a masterful, expert fundraiser. You don't often have those two qualities in the same person. She's terrific, and fun to work with too!
Ahern Donor Communications
On-Site
T.A., Donor Communications Expert, Ahern Donor Communications
Verified @aol.comIf there are two speakers and one is Tammy Zonker, I go to hear Tammy. If there are 50 speakers and one is Tammy, I go to hear Tammy. Her work is SO clever. Her results are SO exceptional. She always inspires me. And she is always worth my time.
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