Rainmaker Fundraising Podcast

Dr. Charles Owubah is the visionary leader currently serving as CEO of Action Against Hunger. He's also a member of the Forbes Nonprofit Council. We spoke recently about global leadership lessons, and you won't want to miss this conversation!In our discussion, Dr. Owubah shared key insights that any nonprofit leader or aspiring leader can learn from, including:The importance of leading with humility and integrityThe value of building leadership bench strength and succession capacity by leading by example with your senior teamHow bold vision and action can enhance your organization's impactThe role of an organization's brand in delivering mission impact and growing revenue -- and the CEO's role in shaping that brandHow a kidnapping in Darfur shaped his leadership philosophyI guarantee you'll find value in this inspirational and insightful conversation with Dr. Owubah. 

If you want to lead your organization more effectively and help your team avoid costly mistakes that drain your organization of time, talent, and revenue, check out my Amazon #1 best-seller, 101 Biggest Mistakes Nonprofits Make And how You Can Avoid Them.Transform your fundraising with Rainmaking: The Fundraiser’s Guide to Landing Big Gifts, the best-selling resource that has been used by more than 2,500 major gift leaders, chief development officers, and executive directors to raise over $150 million in the last decade.

Unless you live under a rock, you'll know that in 2020 the nonprofit sector saw HUGE increases in giving through Donor Advised Fund (DAF) giving accounts. There was an outpouring of generosity across the nation, and many donors with DAF giving accounts stepped up to make sure that organizations received critical funding when they needed it most.Watching this play out in 2020 got me thinking more and more about the growing importance of donor advised funds, the donors who control them, and how nonprofits can and should engage both with DAF account holders and the financial institutions that manage these accounts.That's why I was thrilled to recently get the chance to talk with Jennifer Risher.  Jen is a retired Microsoft executive, author of We Need to Talk: A Memoir on Wealth, and co-founder of the #HalfMyDAF movement. Jen and her husband David (CEO of Worldreader) founded the #HalfMyDAF movement in 2020 to incentivize donors who have DAF accounts to distribute more money from their giving accounts more quickly to make greater impact right now.Jen and I sat down to talk about why she and David launched the #HalfMyDAF movement, how nonprofits can and should engage with DAF donors, and what the role of financial institutions is in the DAF giving ecosystem. We also talk about the growing pool of matching funds that #HalfMyDAF is making available in 2021 to incentivize more DAF giving account holders to spend down at least 50% of their DAF holdings -- you won't want to miss this opportunity!Every nonprofit needs to be paying attention to donors who are giving through their DAF accounts. Jen and David Risher will be joining my friend Jack Doyle, President of Amergent (a Moore company) for a FREE webinar called #HalfMyDAF and the future of Donor Advised Funds on March 9 at 12pm Central Time (US and Canada). I invite you to join them for this free webinar that will provide a TON of value!

In this episode I talk with Burt Rosen, President & CEO at Knox Area Rescue Ministries about leading an organization over the long-term, and the most important aspects of leading well, including: The importance of taking a stand when you see something broken in your organizationEvery sound of the sail means something to the sailorNavigating the fears associated with making difficult calls as a leaderWhy integrity, trust, and transparency are the keys to long-term leadership successThe keys to successfully developing emerging leaders in your organization

If you want to lead your organization more effectively and help your team avoid costly mistakes that drain your organization of time, talent, and revenue, check out my Amazon #1 best-seller, 101 Biggest Mistakes Nonprofits Make And how You Can Avoid Them. Transform your fundraising with Rainmaking: The Fundraiser’s Guide to Landing Big Gifts, the best-selling resource that has been used by more than 2,500 major gift leaders, chief development officers, and executive directors to raise over $150 million in the last decade.

Alan Clayton is Chairman of Philanthropy and Fundraising International, and Director of Philanthropy and Fundraising North America. He's also a brilliant fundraiser.I had the absolute pleasure of visiting with Alan this past week to talk about great fundraising organizations...what makes them great, how they think and behave differently than other nonprofits, how they approach their brand differently from other organizations, and what other nonprofits need to do to become great in their own right. Alan gives us his in-depth assessment on:The biggest obstacle to great fundraising and growth for nonprofits (hint: it's probably not what you think)The process organizations and leaders need to follow to bring alignment internally that can prepare their organizations for transformational growthHow to know if your organization is prepared for a great fundraising transformationNavigating the complex maze of logic and emotion to bring about meaningful change in your organizationWhy the conflict over investment between fundraising and program budgets is short-sighted, and how you should think differently about itHow an organization's fundraising returns compare to stock market returns, and why CFO's should fully embrace fundraising investmentThe key decisions that growth-minded, successful nonprofits make that are different from the decisions that average nonprofits don't make 

 Alan and his team are hosting a fully ONLINE version of The Great Fundraising Masterclass from February 9 - February 12. If you like our podcast conversation and want to go deeper on this subject, sign up for this Masterclass today!

Special thanks to our friends at 7-Figure Fundraising for sponsoring today’s episode! At 7-Figure Fundraising they teach fundraisers and nonprofit leaders how to craft and deliver fundraising pitches that consistently deliver more 6 and 7-figure gifts. Right now, they are offering a 5% discount on their live online training that begins on February 16, 2021. You can register here, and use the code RAINMAKER at check-out to get the discount.

Franklin Guerrero is Vice President of Major Gifts at AARP, and is a highly accomplished fundraiser and leader in the nonprofit sector. He and I recently sat down for a conversation about philanthropy and leadership.In our discussion, we talk about how personal crisis shapes our work as leaders, the importance of values-based leadership, how the nonprofit sector is addressing issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion, and how fundraisers can address these complex topics with donors. Grab a cup of coffee and your favorite snack, and settle in for this insightful leadership conversation! Special thanks to our friends at 7-Figure Fundraising for sponsoring this important conversation with Franklin Guerrero! At 7-Figure Fundraising they teach fundraisers and nonprofit leaders how to craft and deliver fundraising pitches that consistently deliver more 6 and 7-figure gifts from donors. Right now they're offering a 5% discount to their next live (video) training program for our podcast listeners. You can register here and use the code RAINMAKER at checkout to get the discount!

Change. Whether you like it or not, it's the topic of the day. 2020 punched all of us in the face with COVID-19, economic turmoil, and racial unrest across the country. And that's just the change that many of us didn't initiate. Countless other change initiatives were launched and undertaken for one reason or another by organizations of all shapes and sizes. But at the end of the day, one thing is crystal clear. Change is now a constant in all of our lives. So how do we lead well through constant change?What is the difference between managing change and leading through change? How can we as leaders use the process of change to bring about positive impact in our organizations and in the lives of those we lead? What's the right perspective that a leader needs to bring to a change initiative to help our people thrive in the midst of change? How do we as leaders identify the cultural and institutional roadblocks to change, and what can we do about them? These are the kinds of questions that we grapple with in this great conversation with Nancy Murphy, Founder and President of CSR Communications. This is a great discussion for leaders who are struggling to navigate change with their teams, and even for those leaders who are doing well, but simply want to make sure they're focusing their change efforts for maximum impact. 

Special thanks to our friends at 7-Figure Fundraising for sponsoring today's episode! At 7-Figure Fundraising they teach fun

We kicked off 2021 with an awesome conversation with Kent Stroman, Principal and Founder of the Institute for Conversational Fundraising, and author of Asking About Asking. We covered a ton of ground in our conversation, focused primarily on how frontline fundraisers can improve their individual relationship engagement and raise more money for their causes. Here are some of the key points from our conversation:Donors don't like to be "pitched", and why authentic conversations deliver better fundraising outcomes.How frontline fundraisers -- those who have done this work for decades, and those who are brand new in their role -- can overcome the anxiety and fear of asking.The impact that a fundraiser's mindset has on her ability to cultivate meaningful relationships and secure significant gifts.How asking the right questions at the right time can help you unlock transformational generosity in your donors.The importance of leveraging peer relationships to accelerate major donor relationships.The value of listening well, and how it can help you close more gifts in 2021.Wishing you all a successful 2021 -- and hoping The Rainmaker Fundraising Podcast continues to add value to your life and work in the new year!Andrew

If you want to lead your organization more effectively and help your team avoid costly mistakes that drain your organization of time, talent, and revenue, check out my Amazon #1 best-seller, 101 Biggest Mistakes Nonprofits Make And how You Can Avoid Them. Transform your fundraising with

It was an incredible honor to sit down recently with Commissioner Kenneth Hodder, National Commander of The Salvation Army USA, and Joey Zumaya, Public Sector Leader at LinkedIn and national advisory board member at The Salvation Army. One of the things I love about The Salvation Army is that they are actively serving people in EVERY zip code in the U.S. That is a bold and expansive commitment to caring for people in need all throughout our nation.  Standing shoulder-to-shoulder with their volunteers, supporters, corporate and faith community partners, and employees, The Salvation Army truly allows each supporter to do the most good, right in their home communities.We had a fascinating conversation on leadership within the context of The Salvation Army. In this episode, you'll hear us cover a lot of ground, including:Living and leading from your valuesThe importance of deep relationships between a nonprofit CEO and their advisory board membersThe Salvation Army's long-term commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and how that shapes decision-making across the organizationTechnology's role in the development of an organization's talent pipeline, program delivery, and fundraising strategyHow the nation's changing demographics impact the way organizations approach the recruitment of employees, donors, and volunteer leadersSpecial Thanks to New Story for sponsoring this podcast episode. They are on the forefront of developing solutions to end the global homelessness crisis. And they’re looking for innovative fundraisers and leaders to join their team. If you’re interested in joining a team that is making a tangible impact on the lives of people in need across the globe, you should connect with New Story today. 

If you want to lead your organization more effectively and help your team avoid costly mistakes that drain your organization of time, talent, and revenue, check out my Amazon #1 best-seller,

This conversation with Jenny Floria, Founder of Floria Consulting, is focused on the importance of data and how data drives strategy is an essential conversation for all nonprofit leaders and fundraisers. In our chat, you'll hear Jenny and I talk through a number of important examples of how understanding data and how to deploy data effectively in your marketing and fundraising can drive increased value -- and how not understanding the importance of data can damage your fundraising results. Regardless of your role or experience in the sector, if you have responsibility for fundraising or marketing outcomes, you'll want to check out this episode!Special Thanks to New Story for sponsoring this podcast episode. They are on the forefront of developing solutions to end the global homelessness crisis. And they’re looking for innovative fundraisers and leaders to join their team. If you’re interested in joining a team that is making a tangible impact on the lives of people in need across the globe, you should connect with New Story today. 

If you want to lead your organization more effectively and help your team avoid costly mistakes that drain your organization of time, talent, and revenue, check out my Amazon #1 best-seller, 101 Biggest Mistakes Nonprofits Make And how You Can Avoid Them.

Jennifer Diaz is Director of Major Gifts with The Salvation Army. She works out of the Philadelphia area, where she leads a team of five major gift fundraisers, and carries her own portfolio of top-level donor relationships.I first met Jennifer about five years ago when I was helping to lead a major fundraising change initiative for The Salvation Army's Eastern Territory. I quickly connected with Jennifer because she's a highly skilled, successful, no-nonsense relationship fundraiser. We sat down just before Thanksgiving to talk about her experience raising major gifts in the Philadelphia area, leading a team of fundraisers during the COVID crisis, and bridging the divide between being an individual contributor and a department leader.You'll hear us cover topics like: 2020 Major Donor Trends The growing trend of donors shifting their giving into DAF's, and what that means for your charityWhat you can do to more effectively manage a remote team of fundraisers What it takes to engage donors during a pandemic, & how those donors are supporting the organizations they loveIf you're in the business of engaging major donors and/or leading fundraising teams, you'll enjoy this conversation. Special Thanks to New Story for sponsoring this podcast episode. They are on the forefront of developing solutions to end the global homelessness crisis. And they're looking for innovative fundraisers and leaders to join their team. If you're interested in joining a team that is making a tangible impact on the lives of people in need across the globe, you should connect with New Story today. 

If you want to lead your organization more effectively and help your team avoid costly mistakes that drain your organization of time, talent, and revenue, check out my Amazon #1 best-seller,