What might happen if we removed the veil and said that no one was a fundraising expert? I think it might lead to a lot more fundraisers trusting their gut, taking risks, testing, and realizing that their constant learning around fundraising is what matters - not being an ‘expert’. That’s what I’m talking about in this episode of What the fundraising with Tim Kachuriak, Chief Innovation & Optimization Officer at The NextAfter Institute. In the conversation, he highlights the forensic research, applied analysis, and behavioral study that are the basis for the actionable resources and training they offer and share. He’s also explaining why he prefers to see nonprofits flip the funnel paradigm and make it instead into a mountain built on understanding and respecting actual donor experience. “Using data to monitor how the donors respond is one of the ways that we can evolve our understanding of who our donors are, what they care about, and how we can message them more effectively,” says Tim. He offers fascinating thoughts about all the micro-decisions that impact fundraising outcomes and how to keep donors motivated. (Hint: It’s all part of creating a genuinely personal, engaging journey.)

Much of our conversation focuses on building humility and empathy into nonprofit fundraising culture while also emboldening each of us in our mission to do good from a place of abundance rather than scarcity. The NextAfter Institute’s many original, evidence-based resources and data-driven training have been developed specifically to support long-term, sustainable philanthropic relationships. Tim and I explore what it looks like to use AB testing - a powerful tool for quickly culling what’s working versus what isn’t in terms of metrics like email opens and click-throughs. We also consider the important upsides of failing. The episode wraps with a reminder of why those of us in the nonprofit sector remain committed to the work despite the noisy emphasis on sales and acquisition in our consumption-oriented culture. Two words: Meaning and purpose!

Get all the resources from today’s episode here. 

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If you’re looking to raise more from the right funders, then you’ll want to check out my Power Partners Formula, a step-by-step approach to identifying the optimal partners for your organization. This free masterclass offers a great starting point!