Dynamic Nonprofits

One of the things which makes the fundraising world special and unique are the grassroots fundraising movements which are striving to improve donor communication, retention, and non-profit best practices from the ground up. It's this grassroots mentality which provides the sector with a lot of it's energy and helps push the innovation envelope. 

Recently, the Donor Participation Project caught my attention as one of the more successful and influential grassroots movements out there which is why I was thrilled to welcome their host, Louis Diez, to the show. The Donor Participation Project's mission is to improve donor retention through education and the sharing of information with the goal of closing the gap with the 20 million U.S. households who have abandoned giving since 2000. 

In addition to facilitating discussion and research with DPP's over 1,000 members, Louis is also Executive Director @ Muhlenberg College giving him a unique perspective into the strategies and techniques which are getting donors to give and continuing giving. 

We covered a lot in this discussion including:

- The backstory behind DPP's founding and mission 

- Why optimization alone isn't enough to grow giving and why building community is the key to bringing in new donors and retaining them 

- 5 critical steps to build "Deep Community" with your donors

- Why non-profits should trust and empower their donors to be community ambassadors 

- How to scale community building 

Louis also talks about how his background in music has helped him become a better fundraiser and shares his thoughts on the industry's most pressing issues. 

Community has become a big buzzword in the non-profit world (we talk about the problems with buzzwords too!) which is what makes this discussion so unique and valuable for fundraisers. Louis doesn't just talk about the importance of building community with your donors, he provides tangible steps and measures to actually do it. 

This interview with Louis Diez is an invaluable listen for any fundraiser who wants to get ahead of the case studies and white papers and find a hidden edge to help improve relations and retention with their donors. 

I hope you enjoy my conversation with Louis. If the interview brings you value, please pay it forward by rating, reviewing, and sharing the show with your friends and colleagues. It really does help other fundraisers discover Dynamic Non-Profits content and helps advance our mission to advocate for innovation in the non-profit sector. 

Thanks as always for listening!

Show Notes:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/louisdiez/

https://marktlab.com/

In their short history, The Nonprofit Alliance has had an outsized impact advocating on behalf of the fundraising industry, shaping key legislation, and fighting on our behalf in the courts. As CEO of TNPA, Shannon McCracken helps lead the organization's mission to promote, protect, and strengthen the philanthropic sector in the best interests of donors and beneficiaries.

Shannon joins the show to talk about the role that TNPA plays in the sector as well as their contribution to the landmark AFP v Bonta Supreme Court decision which protects donor privacy. 

Dan and Shannon also dive deep into some of the key issues which TNPA members are concerned about including: 

- The democratization of giving and negative impacts of excluding "low dollar" donors

- Diversity and Inclusion

- Employee recruitment, retention, and compensation  

- Changing how the industry talks about "overhead"

- The need for nonprofits to invest in staff and resources to maximize their impact 

- Increasing outreach to find new and different types of donors 

- The benefits of an "it's not you, it's me" approach to fundraising 

- How fundraisers can better promote the benefits of working in our industry 

- As well as much, much more

Shannon also shares her passionate thoughts on why it is so important for the industry to focus on mental health, especially at this time. 

Our chat with Shannon McCracken is a valuable listen for any fundraiser who is interested in a broad AND deep discussion with an industry leader who is uniquely connected to the concerns of fundraisers.  

If you get value from our interview with Shannon McCracken, please subscribe to the Dynamic Non-Profits Podcast and take a few seconds to leave an honest review. Your subscriptions and feedback really do help more fundraisers discover the show and helps to advance our mission to advocate for innovation in the non-profit sector. 

Show Notes:

https://tnpa.org/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/smccracken/

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dnp-deep-dive-non-profit-marketers-guide-to-generation/id1458121528?i=1000529505664

https://www.thenonprofittimes.com/npt_articles/breaking-scotus-reverses-donor-disclosure-demands/

DOWNLOAD THE STUDY AND WATCH ALONG!

https://info.rkdgroup.com/en/the-nonprofit-marketers-guide-to-generation-x

Most non-profits seem to be focused on one of two things. Either, maximizing value from "traditional" / longtime Baby Boomer and Silent Generation donors or "getting younger" by finding ways to connect with Millennial and Generation Z donors. 

Both are important goals, but overlook the critical role that Generation X plays in the generosity landscape. 

Born between 1965 and 1983, Generation X is the "Latchkey Generation" which is frequently forgotten by marketers and fundraisers alike. 

However, the "Forgotten Generation" is forgotten no more thanks to a first-of-its-kind study produced by RKD Group The Non-Profit Marketer's Guide to Generation X. Their work reveals that non-profits are making a costly error by overlooking this educated, affluent, and generous generation which bridges the divide between digital and analog. 

Justin McCord, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing @ RKD Group (and fellow Gen-Xer), joins Dan to discuss this groundbreaking study which will change the way you think about generational fundraising. 

In this special watch-a-long episode (download RKD's study here), Dan and Justin go through the report's comprehensive findings and talk about what separates Generation X from their generational peers including:

- The identity split which defines Generation X

- Similarities and differences among the generations 

- Charitable giving behavior among Generation X

- The values and attitudes which drive those behaviors, and much, much more...

Justin and Dan go beyond the study's surface findings and also talk, about actionable channel, copy, and data suggestions which can help you incorporate Generation X into your fundraising strategy. 

It doesn't matter what generation you're from. Whether you grew up calling home on a payphone or an iPhone, this conversation will change the way you think about Generation X and how its donors can help grow your organization today and for decades to come. 

Don't, don't, don't, don't, don't you forget...to download The Non-Profit Marketer's Guide to Generation X and watch along with this enlightening, fun, and informative interview with Justin McCord. 

Show Notes:

https://info.rkdgroup.com/en/the-nonprofit-marketers-guide-to-generation-x

https://rkdgroup.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mccordjustin/

[email protected]

Today’s Topic: The Value of Small Donors 

Dan welcomes Barbara O'Reilly back to the show to talk about how the non-profit sector is treating "small" donors, what their value is to fundraising programs, and why that value isn't be realized by some non-profits. Barbara is a fearless advocate for the industry and she brings her experienced and honest perspective to this important discussion with an eye towards helping organizations get more out of their small dollar fundraising programs. 

Issues covered include: 

- The "hidden" value in small gifts

- Why major donors start with low dollar gifts 

- How small donor programs can generate valuable leads for major giving 

- Low retention rates for small donors and how to improve them

- The missed opportunity with thank you letters and acknowledgements

- The value of cultivating "activists" for your nonprofit 

- Why your organization needs a multi-channel touchpoint strategy 

- Using technology to increase giving and reach donors in more places

- Turnkey CRM solutions 

- Much, much, more  

This conversation is a great listen for passionate fundraisers which is chalk full of tips for development personal and vendors to optimize their low dollar programs. 

Show Notes:

https://www.givinginstitute.org/page/GivingUSA

https://www.whillconsulting.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/boreillywhc/

https://twitter.com/BOReillyWHC

Every year, Norwescap provides aid and assistance to 30,000 Northwest New Jersey families with a wide range of services customized to the unique needs of each beneficiary. Their areas of service include education, employment, financial capacity building, health & nutrition, house & energy services, and volunteerism & civic engagement. 

Today, Dan welcomes Norwescap’s Chief Development Officer Heather Thompson to the show to discuss how Norwescap has helped empower families and individuals to thrive since 1965 as well as their remarkable and nimble pivot during the pandemic. 

Topics discussed include: 

- How Norwescap promotes an investment mindset with their donors 

- Quantifying impact with societal ROI 

- Including beneficiaries operationally within the organization and fundraising efforts

- Challenges of raising money from individuals when your organization receives government support 

- Norwescap's digital and programmatic transformation during the pandemic and lessons learned 

- And much more, including Heather's inspiring origin story in non-profit sector and how the theatre prepared her for life as a fundraiser 

Show Notes:

https://norwescap.org/

https://norwescap.org/contact-us/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/heather-thompson-she-her-70b5235/