The Joy Conspiracy: Wisdom for Joy-Centered Fundraising

Fundraising is sacred work. We've just forgotten how to treat it that way. For decades, the fundraising profession has been governed by a silent pact of scarcity-a belief that resources are finite and generosity must be begged for. This is the conspiracy you never agreed to join.

Maybe you're burned out. Maybe you lie awake replaying donor conversations and questioning whether you still belong in this work. And maybe-if you're honest-you feel guilty for being exhausted by a job that's supposed to be so meaningful.

The Joy Conspiracy is your defection.

Here's what most people don't know: "conspiracy" comes from the Latin "conspirare," which means "to breathe together." The original meaning had nothing to do with secrets or schemes. It meant acting in harmony toward a common goal. That's what this book is about. Breathing together. Building together. Bringing more joy into work that matters.

Joy, as Amber Kendall defines it, isn't forced positivity. It's the steady, defiant joy that survives tough campaigns, broken systems, and impossible goals. The kind that keeps you human when the work tries to grind you down.

If you've ever wondered why "doing good" can feel so heavy-or caught yourself resenting a job that's supposed to be noble-this book meets you there. You'll find real-world advice you can use Monday morning. Expect to laugh, reflect deeply, and see yourself in moments you thought only you experienced.

Drawing from twenty-five years in the field and candid conversations with fifteen experts across fundraising, technology, film, data science, corporate partnerships, recruitment, and burnout recovery, Kendall reveals how to move from extraction to architecture, from scarcity thinking to abundance systems.

What you'll discover:

• Why your most modest donors might leave you millions
• How storytelling transforms spreadsheets into narratives that inspire action
• What space exploration teaches us about legacy giving
• How to build donor experiences that feel effortless
• Cross-cultural approaches to generosity that traditional fundraising ignores

The future of fundraising isn't about working harder. It's about building better.

You're not alone in this. Welcome to the conspiracy.