In this interview we talk with our good friend and colleague, Scott Koskoski, Senior Performance Consultant and Partner at BrightDot about the critical role that emotional intelligence plays in a nonprofit's fundraising success. This is an eye-opening topic that is sure to add value to any fundraiser or nonprofit leader's day.

We also take a few minutes at the end of the show to talk with Scott about the state of fundraising after what appears to have been a less than great 2018 year-end fundraising season.

Show Transcript:

Andrew Olsen:                  Okay, we are recording now.

Andrew Olsen:                  Good afternoon, everyone. This is Andrew Olsen, co-host of the Rainmaker Fundraising Podcast. I'm here with my good friend and colleague Roy Jones, co-host of the Rainmaking podcast. Roy, how are you?

Roy Jones:                          Great to be here. It's going to be fun. I love talking to folks that have done university fundraising in the past. This whole subject of emotional intelligence, I like getting into that. So, I'm excited to talk to Scott. I'll let you introduce him.

Andrew Olsen:                  Yeah, I'm really excited about this as well. I think our listeners are in for a treat. I have gotten to know Scott Koskoski over the last ... Well, Scott, what's it been? Five months, I think?

Scott Koskoski:                  Yeah. Actually, a little more. Maybe eight or nine months.

Andrew Olsen:                  Okay, so eight or nine. I can't count. Scott is a great guy. He's the Senior Performance Mentor & Partner at a firm called BrightDot. In Scott's background, before coming to BrightDot, he led all the philanthropic strategy and execution at Morris Animal Foundation, and then he's held major gift roles at University of Denver, Temple University, and UT Chattanooga. So, some great sector experience.

Andrew Olsen:                  I have just really enjoyed getting to know you, Scott. I mean, you've got a great personal story and temperament in the way you approach fund development. I'm really excited to have you on today to talk to our listeners about how you and your firm approach philanthropy, because I think it's ... A lot of people consult in this space and a lot of people talk about how to fix fundraising, how to coach fundraisers, but so many of them focus on the tactics. And I love that you guys get so far above that and really deal with some of the root issues. I'm excited to talk about that with you. But before I do that, I just want to turn the mic over to you and ask for you to tell us a little bit more about yourself.

Scott Koskoski:                  Andrew, thanks. Roy, thanks. And Andrew, to your introduction, you wrote down almost everything I said for you to say about me, which is great.

Andrew Olsen:                  You can pay me later.

Scott Koskoski:                  The check is in the mail to your favorite charity. But