Beyond The Donation

Our Guest:
John Fisher, Executive Director of Friends of the Children Fargo/Moorhead. 

About Friends of the Children Fargo/Moorhead: Founded in 2019 in Fargo/Moorhead. Serve children that are facing some of life’s biggest obstacles, by partnering them with adult mentors, or “Friends”.  

(3:00) Plans for Staff in Fargo/Moorhead 

(4:34) Founding of FOTC FM Chapter 

(10:00) Strategy for Securing Funding 

(13:19) “I always use the word ‘team’, not ‘family’. Because we’re not a family. We’re a team, and I am unapologetic about that. I don’t fire family; I don’t hire family. I do hire and fire a team.” - John Fisher 

(14:50) Autonomy in a Chapter 

(19:07) Chapter Individuality 

(20:35) Pros and Cons of a National Organization Umbrella 

(22:35) Advice for Those in Similar Situations 

Golden BTD Nugget: Be a person of integrity and trust. Also, when you’re coming behind a founder, look under the hood. Make sure the organization you’re signing up to run aligns with your values. Look at the fine print, and know what you’re getting into. 

(26:45) Leading Philosophy 

(28:42) The Importance of a Good Development Hire 

(32:58) Brunch Event Insight 

(31:13) Lessons Learned from Primary Fundraising Events 

(39:00) Camaraderie in National Organizations 

John’s Pro Tip: It’s all about relationships. It’s looking past what the person can do for you and looking to who they are, and wanting to connect with them on that level.  

More About Friends Fargo/Moorhead: 

Website        Instagram        Facebook        LinkedIn 

More About John Fisher: 

LinkedIn 

To Connect with Beyond the Donation Podcast: 

BTD Podcast        DonorDock LinkedIn         Matt LinkedIn 

Our Guest:  Anna Larson, Development & Communications director at CCRI  

About CCRI:  CCRI provides services for people with disabilities, using five different programs that currently support 450 people who need assistance. 

CCRI has 550 team members, 475 of whom are direct care caregivers, with 75 case managers and administrative staff. Fundraising team is four of those administrative team members, none of whom are able to be dedicated to fundraising full time. 

(3:57) Tablescapes Event: Equivalent to a "gala" event, but less formal. 

(10:55) Post Event Process following Tablescapes

OneCause Fundraising 

(15:40) Economical [Inflation] Impacts & Budget Planning Process 

(19:00) How to not oversaturate donors  

Golden BTD Nugget: Find what works and what donors respond best to. Find what is most successful and focus on that rather than focusing on every available fundraising opportunity.  

“We pick and choose what is the most successful for us and what hasn’t been as much so we’re not spending all our time and effort on something that isn’t going to be very fruitful.” - Anna Larson 

“Keeping good data and being good stewards of data is really important for modern nonprofits.” - Matt Bitzegaio 

Anna’s Pro Tip: A personal touch is so very important. Picking up the phone to call, thank, and update donors, inviting donors to see the impact of their donation, and keeping them informed by utilizing personal contact with individualized interaction is key.

More About CCRI:

Facebook

Twitter

LinkedIn

Instagram

More About Anna Larson:

 LinkedIn

Twitter

To Connect With Beyond The Donation Podcast:

DonorDock on FB        DonorDock on LinkedIn        DonorDock on Twitter        Matt on LinkedIn