One of the greatest barriers to your success in relational fundraising is whether or not the rest of your organization understands and supports this work. 

We hear stories all the time from frustrated fundraisers who aren’t able to get important program information, can’t easily share the impact, and don’t have donor offers to present. 

So for this episode, we’re sharing some guidance, tips, and language to help you start talking about fundraising within your organization so you can get everyone on board and moving in the same direction. 

Show Highlights: In this episode, you’ll learn… 

We get a lot of questions from our community about basic best practices in fundraising. And we get it! It’s one thing to understand these ideas in theory, but even the most experienced fundraisers run into questions when it comes to implementation.

So, for this podcast episode, we’ve compiled some of the most common questions we receive about the basics to encourage you and help you make sure you’ve got the basics down.  

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For your organization to continue to grow, you need to invest in an organized program for identifying and stewarding planned gifts. Planned giving is an essential part of relational fundraising, yet so many fundraisers avoid it simply because they don’t have a system that supports them to engage donors in this way.

So for this podcast episode, we’ll be talking about the three legs that make up a successful planned giving program. Listen in to learn how to build a program that will support your fundraisers in securing more planned gifts for your organization’s mission.

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If you put off your year-end planning until October or November, you may find yourself scrambling to get things done at the last minute, without any broader strategy behind your communications. Which is why we recommend starting now! 

But we know it can be overwhelming to think about everything you need to do at year-end. So in this episode, we’re sharing some of our favorite tips and ideas to help you build efficiencies into your year-end plan, so that this time of year can stop being overwhelming and start being fun, creative, and impactful.

Show Highlights: In this episode, you’ll discover… 

At this point, most organizations have realized the value of having a relational major gifts program. But there are still many non-profit leaders out there who can’t get over the initial cost of investing in a major gifts program, even though those programs can have an ROI of 10 to 1, or more! 

So, what’s holding you back from investing in major gifts?

In this re-release of one of our most popular episodes, Jeff and Richard discuss the obstacles that are holding leaders back from investing in major gifts. They also share about the average ROI you can expect from a mature major gifts program, and the foundational elements you need to have in place in order to see those benefits. 

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Having a culture of collaboration is critical to your success in fundraising. Do you have solid relationships with your counterparts in Finance, Program, and Marketing? Or does each department prioritize their own individual goals, at the expense of your mission?

Poor communication and competition between departments means that your donor is not getting the best possible care and service, and they may choose to give elsewhere.

In this re-release of one of our most listened-to episodes, Jeff and Richard discuss how fundraisers can promote better relationships within their organizations so that everyone is aligned in supporting the donor journey.

Show Highlights: In this episode, you’ll learn… 

It’s summertime! Hopefully, you’re taking some quality time off. And whenever you’re back in the office, you may even find yourself with some quiet days where your inbox is not blowing up and all your meetings are cancelled. This is a great time to reflect and plan for how you’re going to meet your goals by year-end.

In this episode re-release from 2021, Jeff is joined by Lisa Robertson, Director of Client Services at Veritus Group. Together, they share five ideas for what you can do this summer that will set you up for a successful year-end. 

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Even before the pandemic, finding and hiring the right candidates for fundraising roles was a challenge. Now, many organizations are struggling to even get a good pool of candidates, let alone find the right candidate from within that pool. 

In this podcast episode, Jeff and Karen are joined by special guest Paul Towne, Executive Search Consultant with Cooper Coleman. As a search consultant who works exclusively with non-profit and social impact organizations, Paul has extensive knowledge about how to attract the right candidates and identify the best match for the position. 

We hope this conversation gives you some helpful ideas and tools to use when you’re hiring for your next fundraising role!

Show Highlights: In this episode, we discuss… 

Many fundraisers can share about a time where a donor overstepped one of their personal boundaries. Yet historically, the non-profit sector has not been proactive about preparing for when a donor says or does something inappropriate.

A fundraiser is tasked with bringing in funds for an important cause, but that should never come at the expense of their personal well-being. Fundraisers need to be clear on their own personal boundaries, and they need to feel the support of their organization when a situation arises. 

In this episode featuring special guest Rachel Wyley, CEO and Founder of Culture Kinesis, we talk about the power dynamics at play and how fundraisers and leaders can respond when a donor says or does something that crosses a line.

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Your donors give because it makes them feel connected to their heart and passion for making a difference in the world. And your organization is probably not the only one they’re giving to, which means that your donors are getting a lot of messages from the organizations they sponsor. 

With so much competition for their attention, how do you stand out from the rest and win your donors’ hearts?

In this episode re-release from 2021, Richard and Jeff offer seven ways that you can stand out with your donors, so you can build more authentic relationships and encourage donors to engage with you as partners in your mission.

Show Highlights: In this episode, you’ll learn…