Not because they don't care but because they think they're about to get blamed.

That’s why Tim Sarrantonio’s so excited about the Generosity Roundtable - a role-playing game for nonprofit professionals. It creates a safe space for nonprofit professionals to think through real problems, without the finger-pointing.

Listen to the full conversation on the Nonprofit411 Podcast

Updated the title and the class description. Title change is strong — "Stop Calling It Fundraising" is a real hook and lands the whole episode thesis in four words.

What if fundraising isn't really about money at all, but about generosity, trust, and the ways people choose to participate?

Tim Sarrantonio joins Sarah to rethink what fundraising actually is. They get into why generosity and identity are tied to trust, why creative play matters for understanding it, and how a role-playing game might be one of the best professional development tools the sector has. Along the way: the state of nonprofit education, budgeting under pressure, using feedback and data to make better calls, and what AI is changing.

Tim Sarrantonio is the founder of The Generosity Spectrum and the creator of The Generosity Roundtable, the nonprofit sector's first role-playing game designed to help organizations practice decision-making together. He has spent nearly fifteen years working at the intersection of generosity, technology, and nonprofit practice, supporting organizations as they navigate participation, trust, and change.

In this episode:

• Fundraising, redefined as generosity
• How role-playing sharpens nonprofit learning and decision-making

Connect with Tim

• The Generosity Spectrum: www.generosityspectrum.org
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/timsarrantonio
• Email: [email protected]

Connect with Sarah

• Nonprofit 411: www.nonprofit411.org
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/nonprofit411
• The Generosity Roadmap for Nonprofits, a free class to explore the systems that keep community at the heart of fundraising: class.nonprofit411.org/fundraising_roadmap-440406

Chapters

• 00:00 — Redefining Fundraising as Generosity
• 02:33 — Journey into the Nonprofit Sector
• 04:07 — Challenges in Nonprofit Education
• 06:10 — The Role of Generosity in Community Resilience
• 07:08 — The Need for Practical Application in Nonprofit Education
• 07:29 — The Importance of Professional Development
• 08:59 — Budgeting Challenges in Nonprofits
• 10:37 — The Role of Role-Playing in Nonprofit Learning
• 16:27 — Feedback and Data in Nonprofit Decision-Making
• 23:00 — The Impact of AI on Nonprofit Dynamics
• 30:09 — The Generosity Roundtable Game

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:

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Check out our partners:

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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.

Episode Links:

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: