Have you ever feared that your worst fundraiser’s nightmare was about to come true? Maybe it was an event, a mailing or a donor visit that nearly careened off track from an internal glitch or miscommunication. Such challenges don’t have to turn into nightmares or horror stories!  Join our guest Claire Johnson, National Director of Development for the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, as she shares stories of how fundraising professionals can gracefully manage through such surprises.  Fundraising “Nightmares and Horror stories” can instead become “Sweet Dream Stories of Generosity” and everyone wins!  Today’s episode is hosted by Gay Gonnerman, from The Food Group Minnesota; and Mark Beenken from Augsburg University.  Claire has a super-positive, creative, and energetic outlook and approach to fundraising and her stories and examples will entertain and inform!

It's our one-year anniversary! In this special episode, you will get to know each of our six podcast hosts a little bit better, hear more about the show and dream with us for the future. This volunteer crew has learned a lot over the last year and we're ready to make the new season even better. Carl leads this fun episode with Ali, Gay, Kristi, Marie, & Mark.

We’ve spoken with many fundraising professionals on this podcast and now we want to get a donor’s perspective. Susan Rostkoski has been on both sides of the conversation and provide a unique view of the relationship between fundraisers and donors. It is important to understand where donors are coming from so we can strengthen their bonds to these causes they care so much about. Susan has been a donor and volunteer to many organizations she is passionate about. She also worked at Neighborhood House in St. Paul, MN for over 20 years and ended her tenure as the Director of Donor Relations. She is now a consultant with Strategic Consulting and Coaching. 

Your hosts for this episode are Ali Schneider from Animal Humane Society and Kristi Ackley from Fair Winds Consulting, LLC. 

Join us as we visit with Susan Murray from Tickets for Kids about the benefits of a mentoring relationship for both the "mentee" and mentor, the benefits of seeking out a mentor from outside your employer organization, and why you might want to consider becoming a mentor to others as well.  We also discuss MGPA's Hargrovesmentoring program and the benefits of a "formal" mentoring relationship with specific goals, action steps, and accountability

Your hosts for this episode are Mark Beenken from Augsburg University and Gay Gonnerman from The Food Group.

Fundraisers and nonprofit leaders: put this great idea to use now! It will make you, your career satisfaction, your skillsets, and your organizations more successful. Sarah K. Nathan, Ph.D. used quantitative and qualitative data to show that one proven strategy to retain fundraisers is to provide professional development opportunities that help fundraisers connect and learn from others in the field. In this podcast, Dr. Nathan and co-hosts, Carl Newbanks, CFRE and Marie Ruzek, JD, CFRE, CAP discuss best practices and practical tips on how to implement peer mentoring now. Use Sarah’s article from The Chronicle of Philanthropy for your first peer mentoring conversation: Fundraisers at Small Nonprofits Need More Support. Peer Mentoring May Be the Answer. (philanthropy.com)

The most fulfilling gifts are those where the donor's passions are aligned with the institution's needs. So, how do we secure more of these types of gifts? Join co-hosts Kristi Ackley & Ali Schneider as they dive into this topic with planned giving expert, Craig Wruck charitable giving career spans over 40 years in both the nonprofit & for-profit world and he’s the author of Planned Giving in a Nutshell. In this episode you’ll hear practical tips for qualifying individuals that have the greatest alignment with your mission, how to let go of those that don’t and tips for great conversations that lead to the most fulfilling gifts.

Join co-hosts Mark Beenken and Gay Gonnerman for a conversation with the author of Fundraise Awesomer: The Five-Day Fundraising Plan. Learn how doing one thing each day = fundraising results. Have you noticed that building donor relationships often takes a backseat to all the busyness of the week? Being intentional and consistent day by day can lead to transformational gifts. Founder of Do Good Better Consulting, Patrick Kirby puts the fun back in fundraising. If you're a development professional or board member who wears 10,000 hats at your nonprofit and wondering how to prioritize your gift planning, Patrick has a simple 5-day framework that lets you focus on building better relationships.

Many fundraisers and gift planners hesitate to engage legal counsel. However, every fundraiser or gift planner should know when they should secure the services of an attorney. In this episode, Sheryl Morrison - Partner at Lathrop GPM, discusses several key points to consider when engaging legal counsel. This insightful discussion will benefit organizations that regularly access legal counsel and those seeking legal advice for the first time. The conversation with Sheryl covers how to initiate a relationship with an attorney, how to determine if an attorney is a good fit for your organization, the types of gifts that typically require legal assistance, and additional services lawyers can provide to nonprofit organizations.

Co-hosts for this episode are Carl Newbanks and Ali Schneider. 

Join co-hosts Marie Ruzek and Kristi Ackley as they dive into the world of social media with guest, Jon Ruzek. Jon is a seasoned networking and consulting strategist with years of experience in alumni relations, higher education, nonprofits, personal branding, and social media. In this episode, we'll explore why a professional presence on social media is important for you and the organization you support. Jon will share insights on which platforms to consider and give some great tips on how to use your time to make the biggest impact. Another great episode you won't want to miss!