My Worst Investment Ever Podcast · 2026-04-20 · 26 min
BIO: Tony Martignetti is the evangelist for Planned Giving fundraising for small- and mid-size nonprofits. STORY: Two years into building his business, Tony convinced himself he could become the nation's thought leader on planned giving fundraising - not just for nonprofits, but for all Americans. He walked into a swanky Midtown Manhattan PR agency, got dazzled by a four-inch binder, and signed up at $6,750 per month. Two months and $13,500 later, his only return was a single bylined op-ed in a free subway newspaper. LEARNING: Check your ego. Vet your big ideas with honest, trusted people before spending any money. Understand that PR, even when it works, rarely converts to actual revenue. "This was an ego investment. I did it for my vanity project. I got one placement in a giveaway newspaper on a federal holiday when nobody was in the subway. That was it." Tony Martignetti Guest profile Tony Martignetti is the evangelist for Planned Giving fundraising for small- and mid-size nonprofits.
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