Rainmaker Fundraising Podcast

In our most recent podcast episode, Roy and I got to interview our good friend and leadership mentor, Stacey Girdner. Stacey is the Founder and Managing Partner of The PRAXIS Group, a firm that helps organizations become more effective through leadership development and coaching. We worked closely with Stacey when she was Chief People Officer at Russ Reid (where Roy and I both worked previously). And most recently, Stacey also authored what I think is one of the most impactful (if not the most impactful) chapters in my recent #1 Best Seller, 101 Biggest Mistakes Nonprofits Make And How You Can Avoid Them. You can download Stacey's chapter for FREE here. In our conversation we talked with Stacey about some of the biggest mistakes leaders make. Here are some key insights from that conversation:Mistake #1: Lacking self-knowledge - If we aren't self aware enough to recognize our own idiosyncracies and how they impact those around us, we stand to do real damage to the people we're entrusted to lead. And to our organizations. Mistake #2: Abdicating our power to influence our direct reports - As much as we might want our teams and our people to show up on day 1 as the perfect employee, knowing exactly what is needed and how to do it, that never happens. If we aren't mindful of how our approach, and how the things we do/don't do to support our people influence their success, we miss key opportunities to help them grow. Consistently abdicating this power (and responsibility) likely leads to disengaged employees, missed expectations, and eventually turnover. A key resource Stacey recommends to help leaders in this area is Marshall Goldsmith's book, What Got You Here Won't Get You There. Mistake #3: Thinking it's noble to burn the candle at both ends - Often leaders think they have to be the first one in the office, the last to leave, and the person who out-works everyone else. Stacey breaks down why this is a terrible way to think, and how it negatively impacts our work, our health, and our relationships at home.

I’m not gonna lie. This is, for me, a bucket list interview. This week Roy Jones and I interviewed Bob Westfall, CEO of Westfall Gold.Why is this such a big deal for me (it’s a big deal for you too, you just don’t know it yet!)? Because Bob’s firm has raised $950 MILLION in transformational major gifts, and they’ve developed a phenomenal approach to building relationships and securing philanthropic support. I learned a ton in this interview, and I hope you do too!Some key points from our conversation:To be successful at major gift fundraising you have to have the right people in the room.Major and Mega donors follow the principle that “eagles fly with eagles” — meaning, they want to be together with other high net worth, major/mega donors. And getting these people in the room together on behalf of your charitable cause is not just financially important to you, but valuable to your donors.The case (i.e., Case for Support) is critical. It must be emotional, intellectual, and transformational. But the most important of these three is that it’s transformational (i.e., that it shows the donor that their philanthropic support can make a HUGE change in the lives of those you serve).According to the Bank of America / US Trust Study of High Net Worth Philanthropy, 94% of major donors will give you a gift once you can help them believe in the mission of your organization.Further, 93% of major donors say they’ll make a major gift once an organization shows them how doing so will make a meaningful impact in the lives of people served by the organization.If fundraisers will intentionally deliver a transformational case every time they interact with a donor, their likelihood of securing major gifts will skyrocket! This can be as simple as leaving a voicemail telling the donor a quick impact story, sharing a news article about the impact of your work, or emailing them a quote from someone served by your org .

Get the full show transcript here.

I'm not gonna lie. This is, for me, a bucket list interview. This week Roy Jones and I interviewed Bob Westfall, CEO of Westfall Gold.Why is this such a big deal for me (it's a big deal for you too, you just don't know it yet!)? Because Bob's firm has raised $950 MILLION in transformational major gifts, and they've developed a phenomenal approach to building relationships and securing philanthropic support. I learned a ton in this interview, and I hope you do too!Some key points from our conversation:To be successful at major gift fundraising you have to have the right people in the room.Major and Mega donors follow the principle that "eagles fly with eagles" -- meaning, they want to be together with other high net worth, major/mega donors. And getting these people in the room together on behalf of your charitable cause is not just financially important to you, but valuable to your donors.The case (i.e., Case for Support) is critical. It must be emotional, intellectual, and transformational. But the most important of these three is that it's transformational (i.e., that it shows the donor that their philanthropic support can make a HUGE change in the lives of those you serve).According to the Bank of America / US Trust Study of High Net Worth Philanthropy, 94% of major donors will give you a gift once you can help them believe in the mission of your organization.Further, 93% of major donors say they'll make a major gift once an organization shows them how doing so will make a meaningful impact in the lives of people served by the organization.If fundraisers will intentionally deliver a transformational case every time they interact with a donor, their likelihood of securing major gifts will skyrocket! This can be as simple as leaving a voicemail telling the donor a quick impact story, sharing a news article about the impact of your work, or emailing them a quote from someone served by your org .Get the full show transcript here.

I'm not gonna lie. This is, for me, a bucket list interview. This week Roy Jones and I interviewed Bob Westfall, CEO of Westfall Gold.Why is this such a big deal for me (it's a big deal for you too, you just don't know it yet!)? Because Bob's firm has raised $950 MILLION in transformational major gifts, and they've developed a phenomenal approach to building relationships and securing philanthropic support. I learned a ton in this interview, and I hope you do too!Some key points from our conversation:To be successful at major gift fundraising you have to have the right people in the room.Major and Mega donors follow the principle that "eagles fly with eagles" -- meaning, they want to be together with other high net worth, major/mega donors. And getting these people in the room together on behalf of your charitable cause is not just financially important to you, but valuable to your donors.The case (i.e., Case for Support) is critical. It must be emotional, intellectual, and transformational. But the most important of these three is that it's transformational (i.e., that it shows the donor that their philanthropic support can make a HUGE change in the lives of those you serve).According to the Bank of America / US Trust Study of High Net Worth Philanthropy, 94% of major donors will give you a gift once you can help them believe in the mission of your organization.Further, 93% of major donors say they'll make a major gift once an organization shows them how doing so will make a meaningful impact in the lives of people served by the organization.If fundraisers will intentionally deliver a transformational case every time they interact with a donor, their likelihood of securing major gifts will skyrocket! This can be as simple as leaving a voicemail telling the donor a quick impact story, sharing a news article about the impact of your work, or emailing them a quote from someone served by your org .Get the full show transcript here.

Last week we sat down with Steven Shattuck, Chief Engagement Officer at Bloomerang, a leading CRM provider in the nonprofit sector. Steven is one of the smartest guys in our space, and he leads Bloomerang’s thought leadership efforts, including their highly popular blog and webinar programs. We had a great conversation about how successful nonprofits are harnessing their data — often one of the most valuable resources they have — to maximize revenue for their cause. Steven walks us through some of the most impactful ways nonprofits are using data, and some of the biggest mistakes orgs make with their data. I hope you find this interview hugely valuable!And if you are interested in exploring Bloomerang as a CRM option for your organization, you can check them out here.  

Download the show transcript here.

Last week we sat down with Steven Shattuck, Chief Engagement Officer at Bloomerang, a leading CRM provider in the nonprofit sector. Steven is one of the smartest guys in our space, and he leads Bloomerang's thought leadership efforts, including their highly popular blog and webinar programs. We had a great conversation about how successful nonprofits are harnessing their data -- often one of the most valuable resources they have -- to maximize revenue for their cause. Steven walks us through some of the most impactful ways nonprofits are using data, and some of the biggest mistakes orgs make with their data. I hope you find this interview hugely valuable!And if you are interested in exploring Bloomerang as a CRM option for your organization, you can check them out here.  Download the show transcript here.

Last week we sat down with Steven Shattuck, Chief Engagement Officer at Bloomerang, a leading CRM provider in the nonprofit sector. Steven is one of the smartest guys in our space, and he leads Bloomerang's thought leadership efforts, including their highly popular blog and webinar programs. We had a great conversation about how successful nonprofits are harnessing their data -- often one of the most valuable resources they have -- to maximize revenue for their cause. Steven walks us through some of the most impactful ways nonprofits are using data, and some of the biggest mistakes orgs make with their data. I hope you find this interview hugely valuable!And if you are interested in exploring Bloomerang as a CRM option for your organization, you can check them out here.  Download the show transcript here.

There are so many great things I could say about Jeff Rothman. But I’m biased. When I was looking to take the next step in my career two years ago, Jeff helped me find my new work “home” at Newport One. He was a great advocate and trail guide as I explored the opportunity at Newport and ultimately chose to come on board this agency. It was the best career decision I’ve made in a long time…made possible by Rothman Talent Solutions. Jeff is Founder & President of Rothman Talent Solutions, an executive search firm that specializes in pairing high-impact talent with data-driven marketing organizations (nonprofits, for-profits, and the agencies that serve their marketing needs). Jeff is also a contributing author to my recent Amazon #1 Best Seller, 101 Biggest Mistakes Nonprofits Make And How You Can Avoid Them. He joined me on the podcast for a conversation about some of the biggest mistakes nonprofits make in the areas of talent recruitment, engagement, and retention. If you are responsible for hiring or retaining talent in a nonprofit, or for leading people and teams that are, you won’t want to miss Jeff’s insights and tips.  You might also want download a copy of Jeff’s chapter from 101 Biggest Mistakes.

There are so many great things I could say about Jeff Rothman. But I'm biased. When I was looking to take the next step in my career two years ago, Jeff helped me find my new work "home" at Newport One. He was a great advocate and trail guide as I explored the opportunity at Newport and ultimately chose to come on board this agency. It was the best career decision I've made in a long time...made possible by Rothman Talent Solutions. Jeff is Founder & President of Rothman Talent Solutions, an executive search firm that specializes in pairing high-impact talent with data-driven marketing organizations (nonprofits, for-profits, and the agencies that serve their marketing needs). Jeff is also a contributing author to my recent Amazon #1 Best Seller, 101 Biggest Mistakes Nonprofits Make And How You Can Avoid Them. He joined me on the podcast for a conversation about some of the biggest mistakes nonprofits make in the areas of talent recruitment, engagement, and retention. If you are responsible for hiring or retaining talent in a nonprofit, or for leading people and teams that are, you won't want to miss Jeff's insights and tips.  You might also want download a copy of Jeff's chapter from 101 Biggest Mistakes.

There are so many great things I could say about Jeff Rothman. But I'm biased. When I was looking to take the next step in my career two years ago, Jeff helped me find my new work "home" at Newport One. He was a great advocate and trail guide as I explored the opportunity at Newport and ultimately chose to come on board this agency. It was the best career decision I've made in a long time...made possible by Rothman Talent Solutions. Jeff is Founder & President of Rothman Talent Solutions, an executive search firm that specializes in pairing high-impact talent with data-driven marketing organizations (nonprofits, for-profits, and the agencies that serve their marketing needs). Jeff is also a contributing author to my recent Amazon #1 Best Seller, 101 Biggest Mistakes Nonprofits Make And How You Can Avoid Them. He joined me on the podcast for a conversation about some of the biggest mistakes nonprofits make in the areas of talent recruitment, engagement, and retention. If you are responsible for hiring or retaining talent in a nonprofit, or for leading people and teams that are, you won't want to miss Jeff's insights and tips.  You might also want download a copy of Jeff's chapter from 101 Biggest Mistakes.