7-Figure Fundraising Podcast

What if your annual fundraiser could raise nearly $300,000 in a single evening without requiring months of donor fatigue or an all-day event?

In this episode, Trevor Bragdon sits down with Amy Ford, co-founder of Embrace Grace, to unpack the fundraising strategy that helped their organization grow a traditional golf tournament from $60,000 to nearly $300,000 annually. Amy shares the exact framework behind their Topgolf fundraising event, including sponsorship pricing, donor underwriting, silent auctions, premium swag, sponsor retention, and event execution.

Whether you're a nonprofit leader looking for a fresh fundraising idea or trying to increase the ROI of your existing events, this episode offers practical tactics that can be implemented immediately.

Learn More:

Embrace Grace: www.embracegrace.com

To see all the show notes visit: https://www.7figurefundraising.com/podcast/

To learn more about fundraising and our training visit: 7FigureFundraising.com

Growth rarely feels comfortable in the moment.

In this episode of 7-Figure Fundraising, Trevor Bragdon shares a story from a flight home from Orlando where he met a woman flying for the very first time. What started as a simple conversation about turbulence and takeoff became a powerful reminder about what it feels like to learn something new.

Trevor explains how moments of embarrassment, overwhelm, and uncertainty are often unavoidable when developing new skills.. But he also shares the often-overlooked side of growth: people are usually willing to help once you take the first step.

If you’ve been hesitating to try something new, this episode is a reminder that discomfort is temporary, but growth can change everything.

Take the step. Book the flight to Chicago.

To see all the show notes visit: https://www.7figurefundraising.com/podcast/

To learn more about fundraising and our training visit: 7FigureFundraising.com

On this episode of 7-Figure Fundraising, Trevor Bragdon sits down with Matt Paprocki, President and CEO of the Illinois Policy Institute, to break down one of the most important skills in fundraising: storytelling.

Matt explains why most fundraising stories fail before they even begin. Instead of creating emotional connection, many fundraisers summarize facts, report outcomes, or speak in vague language that donors quickly forget. In this conversation, Trevor and Matt unpack a practical storytelling framework built around three core ideas: situation, stakes, and shift.

Throughout the episode, Matt shares real examples from donor meetings, family life, leadership, and nonprofit work to show how stories create trust, emotional engagement, and long-term donor relationships. They also discuss how great storytellers use vivid details, dialogue, and emotion to pull listeners into a moment rather than simply describing it.

Whether you are a nonprofit founder, major gift officer, executive director, or communicator, this episode gives actionable tactics you can immediately use in donor conversations, pitches, presentations, newsletters, and public speaking.

If you want donors to remember your mission, start by giving them stories they can feel.

Follow Matt:

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-paprocki-86337220b
Website: https://www.illinoispolicy.org/author/mpaprocki/

To see all the show notes visit: https://www.7figurefundraising.com/podcast/

To learn more about fundraising and our training visit: 7FigureFundraising.com

“A donor may trust your voice before they ever meet you.”

That idea sits at the center of this conversation between Trevor Bragdon and Dr. Jared Musgrove of Beta Upsilon Chi (BYX), the nation’s largest Christian fraternity.

In this episode, Jared breaks down how BYX turned podcasting into a relationship-building tool that strengthens donor trust, deepens alumni engagement, and creates meaningful conversations at scale. What started as an attempt to better tell the organization’s story evolved into a long-term strategy for reaching supporters across the country without relying solely on travel, donor meetings, or traditional marketing.

Trevor and Jared discuss:

• Why consistency matters more than perfection in podcasting
• How to secure high-level guests for your show
• Why evergreen content compounds over time
• How podcasts create familiarity before donor meetings
• The role storytelling plays in nonprofit fundraising
• How appearing on other podcasts can directly lead to donations

Learn more about BYX:

BYX.org
Man to Men Podcast

To see all the show notes visit: https://www.7figurefundraising.com/podcast/

To learn more about fundraising and our training visit: 7FigureFundraising.com

In this episode of the 7 Figure Fundraising Podcast, Trevor Bragdon breaks down a proven strategy nonprofit leaders are using to attract new donors: persuasive public speaking. Drawing from both personal experience and recent fundraising trends, Trevor explains why getting in front of the right audience can lead directly to meaningful donor relationships — but only when the message is structured to inspire action.

He introduces the Hand Framework, a five-part model designed to help leaders craft speeches that resonate. From defining the audience’s desired action to opening with a powerful hook, maintaining attention with clear structure, addressing objections, and delivering a frictionless next step, Trevor walks through the exact elements that turn presentations into fundraising opportunities.

Whether preparing for a conference talk or a donor pitch, this episode provides a practical blueprint for building persuasive content that motivates giving and deepens engagement.

Here's the link to the article talk about in the episode:

How to Create a Persuasive Speech: The Hand Framework

Here's a link to our handout:

Handout: 5-Part Persuasive Speech Template

To see all the show notes visit: https://www.7figurefundraising.com/podcast/

To learn more about fundraising and our training visit: 7FigureFundraising.com

What do you do when you're hit with a tough question—one you didn’t expect and don’t have a polished answer ready for?

Whether it’s a curveball in a donor meeting, a media interview, or a town hall Q&A, today's episode of the 7-Figure Fundraising Podcast breaks down three clear strategies you can use to stay composed and persuasive—even under pressure.

Trevor shares a memorable story from the Miss Teen USA pageant that became one of the first viral “word salad” moments on YouTube—and how most of us would probably stumble in similar high-stakes situations. From there, he walks through three tactics you can practice and deploy to answer confidently, clearly, and concisely.

What You’ll Learn

• The 3 go-to frameworks for answering tough questions:
  1. Two Points – A simple, structured response to organize your thinking.
  2. Story + Insight – A technique to connect emotionally and drive home a takeaway.
  3. Thinking Then and Now – A method for gracefully correcting misinformation.
• Why pausing for just a few seconds before responding can help you sound more thoughtful and credible.

Download the One-Page Cheat Sheet
Click here to download a quick reference guide to the three tactics you can print or keep at your desk. https://7figurefundraising.kit.com/f7370c2df6

To see all the show notes visit: https://www.7figurefundraising.com/podcast/

To learn more about fundraising and our training visit: 7FigureFundraising.com

How many of you know a good story? One you've never forgotten—one that moved you, inspired you, or stuck with you long after you heard it. What made it so compelling?

In this clip, we dive into why stories are the lifeblood of an effective pitch and how you can find and frame great stories to persuade donors. Learn about:

• The Story Safe—a simple habit for collecting powerful stories
• The Story Buckets method for organizing and retrieving compelling narratives
• How to frame your story to maximize its impact

Want to get the full formula for crafting unforgettable fundraising stories? Get the book:

 Paperback & Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/7-Figure-Fundraising-guide-millions-change/dp/B0DC8K1MRD/ 

Audiobook: https://www.audible.com/pd/B0DJRSBL79?source_code=ASSORAP0511160006

To see all the show notes visit: https://www.7figurefundraising.com/podcast/

To learn more about fundraising and our training visit: 7FigureFundraising.com

What do you want your new donors to see and hear from your organization during their first 100 days? This period is your chance to make a lasting impression and turn a first-time donor into a lifelong supporter.

In this clip, we break down how to craft a 100-day plan that keeps donors engaged, including:

• The four-part thank-you strategy that sets the right tone
• How to plan four meaningful touchpoints over the first 100 days
• Proven ideas like behind-the-scenes insights, success stories, and impact updates

Want the full strategy to build donor relationships that last? Get the book:

 Paperback & Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/7-Figure-Fundraising-guide-millions-change/dp/B0DC8K1MRD/

Audiobook: https://www.audible.com/pd/B0DJRSBL79?source_code=ASSORAP0511160006
Make the first 100 days count—and create donors for life.

To see all the show notes visit: https://www.7figurefundraising.com/podcast/

To learn more about fundraising and our training visit: 7FigureFundraising.com

In this episode, Trevor Bragdon and Tarren Bragdon discuss why project fundraising is not a sustainable strategy for nonprofits. They compare project fundraising to a gift card that offers a one-time benefit but does not engage donors in the organization's overall mission. They explain that project fundraising can actually cost money and send a negative message internally. They emphasize the importance of having a compelling vision and avoiding one-off projects that distract from the organization's mission. They provide tips on how to pitch the big vision to donors and build long-term partnerships.

Takeaways

• Project fundraising is not a sustainable strategy for nonprofits as it reduces the organization's vision to one-off projects and can cost money.
• Donors who are engaged in the organization's overall mission are more likely to become long-term partners.
• When pitching to donors, focus on the problem you solve from their perspective, present a solution that feels safe or unique, and explain how it works in a concise and compelling way.
• Share success stories that demonstrate the impact of your organization's work and paint a vision of how lives will be improved in the future.
• Avoid project fundraising and instead focus on building relationships with donors based on the organization's big vision.

To see all the show notes visit: https://www.7figurefundraising.com/podcast/

To learn more about fundraising and our training visit: 7FigureFundraising.com

In this episode of the 7-Figure Fundraising Podcast, hosts Trevor and Tarren Bragdon explore the key strategies outlined in their new book, 7-Figure Fundraising: A Guide to Raising Millions to Change the World. They discuss the practical, step-by-step approach nonprofit leaders can use to transform their fundraising efforts and scale their impact.

• Why We Wrote the Book: To help nonprofit leaders understand fundraising both at the big picture level and with specific tactics. It’s a short, actionable read—just 127 pages.
• Key Lessons:
  • Fundraising is a Skill: No one is born a natural fundraiser—it’s a skill you can work on and improve.
  • Three Levers of Fundraising Growth: GROW your existing donors, KEEP them by increasing retention, and ADD new donors strategically.
• Focus Areas for Success:
  • ASK: Ask once a year with the right timing and a persuasive pitch.
  • PARTNER: Treat major donors like partners with a 4-star level of service.
  • FIND: Add a few new donors each year by securing referrals and hosting strategic events.
• Team Roles:
  • Closer: The person who makes the ask—often the CEO.
  • Conductor: Manages donor relations and ensures they receive top-tier service.
  • Connector: Focuses on finding new donors and setting up prospect meetings.

Get your copy today, available exclusively on Amazon. The audiobook will be released at the end of September.

To see all the show notes visit: https://www.7figurefundraising.com/podcast/

To learn more about fundraising and our training visit: 7FigureFundraising.com