Frontier FM

As summer comes to a close, a potential recession looms over the market and the media. Whether or not an economic downturn is waiting around the corner, charities need to be prepared to weather the storm. On this episode, Ben talks through the thoughts, methodologies, and tactics he recommends to help your organization stay successful in the face of adversity.

• What to do when your organizational resilience is tested [1:50]
• Why charities should stay the course during economic challenges [5:47]
• Leaning into innovation and letting your donors surprise you [7:04]
• The power of continued communication [10:36]
• How charities create hope [12:08]

• Email Frontier FM YOUR fundraising questions at [email protected]!
• How to Fundraise During a Recession (Frontier Resource)
• 7 Fundraising Tips for Surviving the Apocalypse of 2022 (Agitator)
• Google Search Data and Recessions (Instagram)
• Cardi B on Twitter
• Google Trends results for "recession"
• Age of Inflation in US Will Last Much Longer Than Pandemic Spike
• Victoria Real Estate Board

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When discussing digital fundraising trends, there's no better person to do it with than Brady Josephson. Formerly of NextAfter, Brady is now the interim Marketing & Growth Lead at charity: water and provides a wealth of experience from both sides of the charity world. On this episode, Ben and Brady discuss the future of data, technology's impact on charity culture, and playing Moneyball in the nonprofit sector.

• Getting to know Brady Josephson, his love of sports, and his NextAfter journey [0:50]
• Diving into Brady's next big chapter and the need for innovation in the fundraising world [10:57]
• The effect of tech start-ups on charity culture [15:36]
• Donors, data, identity, and the problem of tech debt [18:21]
• Moneyball in the charity world and developing intentional fundraising strategies [24:50]
• Scaling the transparent charity model [31:56]
• How to stay focused and avoid mission drift as a charity [34:02]

• Email Frontier FM YOUR fundraising questions at [email protected]!
• Frontier has joined forces with NextAfter!
• Should you hire Frontier to grow your fundraising?
• What Can Philanthropy Learn from Moneyball?

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• Website: https://Frontier.io
• Frontier on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/frontiermarketingco/

On this episode, Ben sits down with Frontier's own Marketing Director Sam Kirk to discuss his first year at the company. Get ready for a quick moving conversation filled with Gen X thoughts, the best parts about working at Frontier, areas of improvement, and plenty of mid-nineties nostalgia.

• Getting to know Sam Kirk and his non-profit journey [1:27]
• Understanding the impact of a potential recession on giving and Gen X thoughts from Frontier's elder Gen X-er [3:19]
• The best parts of Frontier and developing balanced relationships with clients [9:10]
• Frontier's areas for growth and improvement [13:27]
• Toonies, Windows 95, and the magic of 1996 [20:26]
• Sam's thoughts for the next generation [26:13]

• Email Frontier FM YOUR fundraising questions at [email protected]!
• 10 Gen X Mind Hacks (Twitter)

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• Website: https://Frontier.io
• Frontier on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/frontiermarketingco/

Data nerds rejoice! On this episode of Frontier FM, Ben sits down with Product Manager and Data Mad Scientist at Wisely, Kirk Schmidt to discuss what it means for charities to be data-driven in a meaningful way. The two dive into improving standards in the charitable sector, the difference between demographics and identity, and the value of taking a holistic approach to data.

• Getting to know Kirk Schmidt and how a degree in mathematics helps in the fundraising world [0:22]
• The power of reinvestment, the potential of maintaining a business mindset in the charitable sector, and the vice of being shortsighted [7:17]
• What does it mean to be data-driven? [12:42]
• Thinking about RFM as a segmentation tool and how to use data effectively [16:01]
• Why average isn't always accurate and the value of holistic data [24:41]
• Unpacking identity versus demographics when surveying donors and the impact of personalization [29:27]
• Why good stewardship is good defense [37:29]
• What is A/B testing? [40:07]

• Email Frontier FM YOUR fundraising questions at [email protected]!
• 5 Things You Should Know When Doing A/B Testing (Article)
• What if... (Video)

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• Website: https://Frontier.io
• Frontier on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/frontiermarketingco/

If there's one thing every fundraiser wants, it's more money. That's exactly what the team at Wisely wants to help you accomplish! On this episode, Ben sits down with Co-Founder and COO of Wisely, Wes Moon, to discuss how his company is accelerating the donor giving cycle, bringing AI to the charitable world, and finding the missing middle in your donor database.

• Diving into Wes Moon's background as a lifer in the fundraising world [1:43]
• The tech ecosystem and bringing AI to the charitable sector [7:08]
• Accelerating the giving cycle and the value of tailored mid-level giving programs [10:02]
• What is the missing middle? [18:26]
• Integrating mass marketing and mid-level donors [22:03]
• The best fundraising advice Wes has ever received [26:01]
• Encouragement for new fundraisers [27:36]

• Email Frontier FM YOUR fundraising questions at [email protected]!
• Wisely's Mid-Level Giving courses

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• Check out Wisely

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• Website: https://Frontier.io
• Frontier on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/frontiermarketingco/

Why do people give? In a data-driven world, it's easy to forget that behind every gift is a WHY. On this episode, Vice President of Philanthropy for the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (IFCJ) Eric Frans discusses the psychology of philanthropy, the impact of a charity's "inside language", and how generosity facilitates a journey of healing.

• Getting to know Eric Frans and his work at the IFCJ [0:47]
• The psychology of fundraising [3:50]
• Exploring the transformation of the fundraising industry over the last two decades [5:20]
• Changing our "inside" language for the better [11:00]
• The most important gift charities need to chase [13:40]
• How generosity can heal the soul [16:59]
• Donor identity, the physics of giving, and discovering the "why" [23:11]
• Eric's tips for improving mid-level giving [35:39]
• Professionalism in fundraising [43:14]

• Email Frontier FM YOUR fundraising questions at [email protected]!
• This Is The Most Fun Way To Make Your Life Awesome
• Institute for Sustainable Philanthropy

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• Website: https://Frontier.io
• Frontier on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/frontiermarketingco/

Have you ever paid a bill via text message? What about using SMS to send donations to your favorite charity? On this episode, Ben and Megan explore the pros and cons of using SMS in fundraising, the benefits of micro-influencers, and how charities can make a real impact for the LGBTQIA+ community during Pride.

• Catching up on dodgeball, Sabbath, and return envelopes with Megan McCaffery [0:34]
• More fun with QR codes [7:36]
• Is SMS a marketing miss? [13:25]
• Charities and cybersecurity [20:24]
• What is a micro-influencer? [27:56]
• LinkedIn lessons and developing an ecosystem [33:54]
• Going beyond performative virtue signaling [37:48]

• Email Frontier FM YOUR fundraising questions at [email protected]!
• NFL Commercial: "Football is GAY."

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• Website: https://Frontier.io
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It's one thing to acquire a donor, it's another thing entirely to keep them. On this episode, Ben sits down with stewardship and donor engagement expert Jocelyn Kwok to discuss the art of cultivating long-term relationships with donors. Join them for an engaging look into what effective stewardship looks like, the qualities of a good stewardship coordinator, and how to connect with donors on a deeper level.

• Defining small charities and why Jocelyn loves working with them [1:44]
• Diving into Jocelyn's Enneagram number [4:10]
• Exploring stewardship and getting to know your donors [7:45]
• What makes a good stewardship coordinator? [15:09]
• Creativity and logistics in stewardship [20:55]
• Helpful resources for stewardship [25:37]
• Ben's perspective on quality stewardship and using data effectively [31:42]
• Planning stewardship into a fundraising strategy [37:24]
• How community-centered fundraising impacts stewardship [41:30]
• Common challenges in stewardship and the role of a charity board member [44:19]

• Email Frontier FM YOUR fundraising questions at [email protected]!
• Check out Cameo!

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• Website: https://Frontier.io
• Frontier on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/frontiermarketingco/

It's time to celebrate the two-year anniversary of Frontier FM! On this episode, Matt and Ben look back on two years of podcasting and the lessons they've learned along the way. They also dive into the need for a corporate Sabbath, current marketing trends, and the power of good design in fundraising.

• Client visits, current trends, and saturation in rented lists [2:36]
• Reflections on two years of Frontier FM [13:01]
• Frontier's match test outcome and the power of good design [18:09]
• What has and hasn't changed in email over the last decade [25:25]
• Why taking a corporate Sabbath could be the culture move you need [27:40]
• Junk mail, Gen X, and embracing the lost generation [36:04]
• Future guests and final thoughts [47:50]

• Email Frontier FM YOUR fundraising questions at [email protected]!
• QR Codes in Fundraising and Marketing Are Relevant!, Ep #24
• Getting the Gist of Rental Lists with Dan Sonners, Ep #43
• 5 Best Practices for Nonprofit Fundraising with QR Codes
• Gen X Twitter post

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• Website: https://Frontier.io
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Live from Las Vegas, it's Frontier FM! Matt and Ben sit down for their first-ever in-person episode to discuss the findings of the M+R 2022 Benchmarks, their implications, and ways that you can use the data to grow your organization.

• An update from AFP ICON 2022 and conference highlights [0:10]
• Looking at the data in M+R's 2021 Benchmarks [4:52]
• Frontier Marketing Co. by the numbers in 2021 [16:27]
• Increasing your revenue per mille [18:17]
• Is major giving heading online? [21:58]
• Junk mail and final thoughts [25:31]

• Email Frontier FM YOUR fundraising questions at [email protected]!
• M+R 2022 Benchmarks
• Benchmark Yourself!
• M+R 2022 Benchmarks Participant List

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• Website: https://Frontier.io