The importance of curiosity in donor relationships: Fundraising isn't about selling but building genuine connections with community members.

Phone calls as an effective tool for engaging mid-level donors: Personal connections and voicemails can foster trust and increase donor retention.

Systems and strategies that work: How having the right tools in place can make a huge difference in donor engagement and nonprofit growth.

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In this episode, Sarah Barton is joined by Kel Haney, founder and CEO of Kel Haney Consulting. They dive into the power of curiosity in fundraising, the importance of personal connections with donors, and how to build relationships that go beyond transactions. Kel shares her methodology for mid-level donor engagement and explains why phone calls, though intimidating for some, can build stronger, more meaningful relationships.

Key Takeaways:

The importance of curiosity in donor relationships: Fundraising isn't about selling but building genuine connections with community members.

Phone calls as an effective tool for engaging mid-level donors: Personal connections and voicemails can foster trust and increase donor retention.

Systems and strategies that work: How having the right tools in place can make a huge difference in donor engagement and nonprofit growth.

Show Links:

Kel Haney Website: https://www.kelhaney.com/

Kel Haney on LInkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kel-haney/

Nonprofit411: www.nonprofit411.org

GiveSuite Affiliate Link: https://sales.givesuite.com/get-a-demo?am_id=sarah7593

In this episode of the Nonprofit411 Podcast, Sarah Barton is joined by Kelly McLaughlin, founder and CEO of From Scratch Fundraising. They discuss building individual giving programs from scratch, the importance of community-driven fundraising, and the unique approaches Kelly uses to help small organizations create sustainable funding strategies. Kelly also shares insights on engaging donors and making marketing an integral part of nonprofit success.

Kelly McLaughlin is the founder and CEO of From Scratch Fundraising, specializing in helping nonprofits build individual giving programs from the ground up. She brings years of experience in nonprofit fundraising and focuses on creating systems that enable smaller organizations to scale their donor engagement and fundraising efforts efficiently.

Key Takeaways:

Building sustainable individual giving programs from scratch is essential for nonprofits, and starting with simple systems can set the foundation for long-term success.

A focus on donor relationships and understanding how to make fundraising personal and mission-driven leads to higher donor retention and engagement.

Nonprofits need to show their donors who they are and build community with them, rather than just focusing on asking for donations.

From Scratch Fundraising (https://www.fromscratchfundraising.com)

Nonprofit411 Website (www.nonprofit411.org)

Find Kelly on LinkedIn: (https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-mclaughlin-funds/)

In this episode, Sean Littman, founder and CEO of Give Suite, shares his insights on how nonprofits can streamline their fundraising and marketing efforts. Sean discusses the importance of integrating donor management with marketing systems and how nonprofits can leverage technology to simplify processes and improve outreach. He also emphasizes the need for nonprofits to run like businesses and the importance of a strong marketing strategy in achieving success.

Marketing and fundraising should work together as a unified strategy, where consistent outreach and genuine donor engagement are key to building sustainable growth for nonprofits.

Nonprofits should view marketing as an essential part of their operations, not just an afterthought. Effective marketing helps raise awareness, build relationships, and attract more support.

Technology and automation can significantly ease the workload for nonprofits by streamlining donor management, marketing, and communication efforts, allowing them to focus on their mission.

Show Links

GiveSuite Affliate Link - https://sales.givesuite.com/get-a-demo?am_id=sarah7593

Sean Littman - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-littman-catch22nonprofit/

Nonprofit411 - www.nonprofit411.org

Nonprofit411 LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nonprofit411/

In this episode of the Nonprofit411 Podcast, Sarah Barton sits down with Rachel Platt, CEO of Platinum Consulting. Rachel shares her insights into the world of human resources for nonprofits, focusing on creating strategies that allow organizations to build strong, thriving teams. From improving the employee experience to developing better people strategies, Rachel emphasizes the importance of balancing mission and the well-being of staff. She also introduces the simple yet powerful "Stop, Start, Continue" exercise that can improve communication and reduce misunderstandings in the workplace.

Rachel discusses the challenges that small and mid-sized nonprofits face in managing their human resources and explains how strategic HR planning can be the key to avoiding burnout and ensuring long-term success. This episode is a must-listen for nonprofit leaders looking to strengthen their team dynamics and create a more sustainable organizational culture.

In this episode of the Nonprofit411 Podcast, Sarah Barton is joined by DeaRonda Harrison, founder and president of June 1st Firm. DeaRonda shares her journey from working in higher education fundraising to launching her own consultancy focused on providing grant writing services for nonprofits. She explains how her expertise in federal grants, including HRSA, DOJ, and DOE, helps nonprofits secure funding to maximize their impact.

DeaRonda also shares her insights on the challenges nonprofits face when it comes to grants, from building partnerships to navigating the complexities of federal applications. She emphasizes the importance of having a sustainable revenue strategy, with grants being just one piece of the puzzle. In this episode, DeaRonda highlights how nonprofits can leverage grants while ensuring they have a robust and diversified funding strategy in place.

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In this episode of the Nonprofit411 Podcast, Sarah Barton is joined by Anne Murphy, founder of She Leads AI and CEO of Empowered Fundraiser. Anne shares her journey into fundraising and how she transitioned from higher education fundraising to launching a consultancy that helps nonprofits leverage AI to streamline operations and enhance impact.

Anne discusses the challenges nonprofits face, particularly with limited resources, and explains how AI can help nonprofits optimize their staff energy, enhance their operations, and improve donor engagement. Through AI, Anne has been able to help nonprofits increase efficiency without losing the human touch that is central to their mission.

From AI training and governance to implementation, Anne offers insights into how nonprofits can stay relevant in a rapidly changing landscape. This episode is filled with practical advice for nonprofit leaders looking to embrace new technologies and enhance their organization's capacity for success.

Episode LInks:

On this special episode of Nonprofit411, host Sarah is joined by Shannon Tschopp, Program Director of Nonprofits LEAD, to talk about why this conference is such a valuable opportunity for nonprofit professionals across West Virginia and southeast Ohio. Designed to strengthen organizations through practical, accessible training, the conference offers a full day of workshops, networking, and a brand-new vendor fair.

The conference features:

A dynamic keynote from Elise Woodworth, focused on turning supporters into long-term advocates

Three rounds of breakout sessions with six tracks each, covering everything from finance and HR to marketing and leadership

A highly collaborative atmosphere with local speakers and attendees, making follow-up support and connections easy and real

Shannon also shares how the event is structured around the unique needs of nonprofits in the region, offering real tools, peer support, and access to local experts. For those who may face financial barriers, limited registration assistance is available—making it even more accessible.

🗓️ Don’t wait—registration closes May 2nd!

🖱️ Register: https://tinyurl.com/3suh4a86

📧 Questions? Contact: [email protected]

Whether you're a grassroots group or a seasoned organization, this is an event that can transform your capacity, your connections, and your community impact.

In this episode of the Nonprofit411 Podcast, Sarah Barton is joined by Cindy Wagman, founder of the Fractional Fundraising Movement. Cindy discusses how fractional fundraising offers small and mid-sized nonprofits the opportunity to access C-suite level fundraising expertise without the cost of a full-time hire.

Cindy shares her journey from working with small nonprofits to launching her consulting business and how fractional fundraising grew from helping organizations do the work, to teaching fundraisers how to build their own fractional fundraising businesses. She emphasizes how this model is a game-changer for organizations with limited budgets, enabling them to get the high-level expertise they need without overextending their resources.

Throughout the episode, Cindy also talks about the challenges many nonprofits face with staffing, particularly in today’s economy, and how fractional fundraising helps address those challenges. She highlights the benefits of having both strategic oversight and day-to-day implementation, removing the emotional labor from executive directors, and enabling them to focus on other areas of their work. Cindy also touches on common misconceptions about donor fatigue and the reluctance to fundraise, reminding nonprofits that they must continue asking for donations, even during uncertain times.

Cindy’s insights offer practical advice for nonprofit leaders and fundraisers looking for effective, sustainable solutions to grow and improve their fundraising efforts.