📋 Episode Summary In this episode, Emily and Marc sit down with fundraising consultant and bow tie enthusiast Chris Baiocchi to explore how a career rooted in journalism led to a calling in philanthropy. Chris shares candidly about the leap from nonprofit staff to self-employed consultant, and what it's taken to redefine success, stability, and service in his work.

They unpack the nuances of donor relationships, alignment, and the importance of momentum—and toss in a few great sci-fi references for good measure.

🔑 Key Takeaways

• Fundraising is about alignment—doing the right things in the right direction.
• Donor relationships take time, just like all meaningful relationships.
• There's no such thing as true job stability in nonprofits—only consistency.
• Consultants need to shift from "here's what I do" to "here's what we'll achieve together."
• Invite people into your mission like you're inviting them to a party they'll love.

🗣 Quote Highlights

"What I thought was stability was really just consistency." – Chris "You can study swimming all you want, but at some point, you have to get in the water." – Chris "Fundraising is the fuel that drives your mission." – Chris "There's a threshold moment when organizations stop scraping by and start growing on purpose." – Emily "Let's stop talking about deliverables. Let's talk about transformation." – Marc

🧰 Tools & Mentions

• ResolutePhilanthropy.com
• The Compass Within by Robert Glazer
• Bartender Between Worlds (light fantasy novel)
• Star Trek, Battlestar Galactica, Firefly
• Scrappy fundraising mindsets: "Golf, Grant, and Gala"
• "Threshold moments" in mythology and leadership
• LinkedIn: Chris Baiocchi (look for the bow tie!)

👥 Who Should Listen

• Nonprofit leaders considering the leap to consulting
• Fundraisers tired of the "spray and pray" approach
• Consultants learning to talk about outcomes
• Board members who want to help—but don't know how
• Anyone figuring out how to build a business with heart

🎺 That Music! Special thanks to Lexi Moreno, Caleb Pitman, and Zoe Czarnecki for the original music. Lexi Moreno: composing / mixing / mastering / guitar Caleb Pitman: composing / mixing / trumpet Zoe Czarnecki: bass