Driving Participation Podcast: What Is Working in Marketing & Fundraising | Nonprofits | Schools | Associations

Content is much more than a blog, its really anything that you're trying to put out there to share your message. Organizations are finding that they need to become their own mini entertainment studio because it's not enough just to send out your end of year appeal for fundraising dollars. This week Beth talks to Michael Bellavia, CEO of Los Angeles, CA based HelpsGood about incorporating the art of entertainment into your content mix. There is a niche for every interest and if you can create interesting, engaging content people will seek it out in all forms.

Finding money to do the work of your nonprofit is hard enough. Now try getting funds to market and communicate to grow your organization. Its not easy, especially if you don't know where to look. But Mandy Pearce does. Mandy is a grantwriter and owner of Fundraising for Good. She has secured millions of dollars in grant funding for organizations and helped craft plans that support funding for marketing infrastructure projects like websites to promotion for capital campaigns. Beth and Mandy talk about how to define your project and find the right funders so you can market like a pro.

Detroit's economic challenges have made people more willing to change and try new things out of necessity. Targeting millenials as givers has been key in Tammy Zonker and Trent Thompson's efforts to grow a dynamic new donor base for The Children's Center. Beth talks with the team about creating attractive events and capitalizing on the social nature of young people to bring their friends along.

In just three years, the 92Y has generated real, measurable action around an idea. With #GivingTuesday, they have created something more than an "event", they have launched a movement. And that's no easy task. As we head into its third year, Beth talks with Kait Sheridan, Director, Partnerships & Programs for 92Y about the enormous and fast growth of #GivingTuesday and what it takes to create this kind of impact.

It's just two weeks until #GivingTuesday. Many of you probably have plans underway. And I bet there are plenty of you who feel like you just can't add in one more thing. #GivingTuesday has been so effective for so many I wanted to use this week's show to to give you ideas for things you still have time to do to launch or boost your campaign.

It's surprising, the things a database guy knows about what's really connecting with your prospects and donors. In Beth's last conversation from the DonorPerfect conference, she snags Brad Fair, Donor Relations Support and Database Manager for the Mennonite Central Committee for a talk about the magic that's in the numbers.

In a 100% volunteer run organization the risk of burnout is high. Especially when you are managing multiple large events including a knock out fashion show fundraiser. Martha Auld shares with Beth the secret to keeping everything running smoothly for nearly two decades. The volunteers have developed an amazingly mission-integrated event to raise money, cultivate new volunteers and actually deliver on their purpose. The show must go on, and Martha makes sure it happens without a hitch.

Nothing like waking up to find your fundraising system frozen. Everyone dreams of content going viral. But are you prepared on the backend for when it does? Barry Martin of COTA takes some time to talk to Beth at the DonorPerfect user conference about what happened when an unexpected piece of media exploded overnight.

Imagine having 10K in Google advertising and actually knowing what to do with it. This week I talk with Google Grants expert Stephanie Cockerel about what it takes to qualify for a grant and how to plan a campaignto make the most out of the gift.

"Want to know the mystery behind what makes media go viral? Wish you could create it reliably? Join me as Justin Ware, Director of Interactive Communication at Bentz Whaley Flessner, shares the secret behind the repeated success he has with online viral marketing, consistently gaining reach, supporters and donations online."