The ENGAGE Podcast

On today’s podcast episode, we are talking about behavior based email marketing for nonprofits with Jessica Sotelo the director of online marketing at the World Wildlife Fund. Jessica oversees the email marketing and fundraising at WWF. Listen in as we discuss how email marketing approaches change over time, and how to take a more thoughtful approach to crafting email campaigns that create lasting engagement.  

Topics discussed this episode:

• Creating engagement by sending emails to smaller segments
• Swim lanes and defining the levels of engagement
• Having an unwelcome series as a last ditch effort to get opens
• Shifting focus to acquiring subscribers through advocacy
• Collaborating with different teams within nonprofits
• Trusting your decisions when defining email segments

Resources:

Blackbaud

Blackbaud - Twitter #nofilternonprofit

Blackbaud - Facebook

World Wildlife Fund

Jessica Sotelo

@jayrayfray on Twitter 

Quotes:

“Instead of sending a large email blast to everyone, focus on interaction and send emails to a smaller group.” - Jessica Sotelo

“Smaller email segments have higher open and higher engagement rates.” - Jessica Sotelo

“We are going to start sending reactivation emails to unresponsive groups three times a year.” - Jessica Sotelo

On today’s episode we are talking about storytelling and why so many organizations are struggling with this. Our guest today is Vanessa Chase Lockshin, the President of The Storytelling Non-Profit and the author of The Storytelling Non-Profit: A practical guide to telling stories that raise money and awareness. Listen in as we discuss Vanessa’s techniques for teaching non-profits how to raise awareness by telling their stories.

Topics discussed this episode:

• Reasons why non-profits have trouble telling their stories
• How overthinking can trip up people in organizations
• Why a culture that lacks collaboration makes storytelling difficult
• Importance of using a natural tone and cadence in fundraising copywriting
• Writing from a micro level vs. a macro level
• Starting small with content audits
• Data gathering to create audience personas
• How stories help donors see the impact of their donation

Resources:

Blackbaud

Blackbaud - Twitter #nofilternonprofit

Blackbaud - Facebook

The Storytelling Non-Profit

Vanessa Chase Lockshin - Twitter

The Storytelling Non-Profit: A practical guide to telling stories that raise money and awareness

npENGAGE

Quotes:

“Introduce donors to the big picture without overwhelming them. ” Vanessa Chase Lockshin

“Create context for donors to understand and relate to the cause using narrative” Vanessa Chase Lockshin

“Lack of collaboration can make it difficult for people in non-profits to find stories to tell.” Vanessa Chase Lockshin

On today’s podcast episode we are talking about Website Design Trends for 2017, including visual design, content and mobile. Our guests are Aga Siuda and Jay Schultz, design leads at Blackbaud who design responsive websites for nonprofit clients. Listen in as we discuss the hottest design strategies and trends for nonprofits today.

Topics discussed this episode:

• Visual design elements and focusing your message
• Information architecture and planning your site map
• Imagery and branding with quality visual content
• Inserting personality through design
• Testing websites and user experience
• Mobile responsive design, wearables and optimization

Resources:

Blackbaud

Blackbaud - Twitter #nofilternonprofit

Blackbaud - Facebook

Google Analytics

Aga’s Twitter

How you tell a story on your website will determine whether or not your site visitors take action and what kind of action they take. Whether you're looking for email sign-ups, donations, volunteers, or something else entirely, engagement doesn't just happen; you have to make it happen! Join Raise + Engage host Danielle Johnson Vermenton with all-star guest Ben Wong as they brainstorm ways that you can entice all your different audiences to take action online.

Topics discussed this episode:

• How to create a “slam-dunk” website
• The spectrum of website engagement
• Basic metrics to measure engagement online
• Strategic social listening
• Personalizing engagement to the audience

Resources:

Quora.com

Reddit.com

Data Driven Nonprofits

Ben Wong - Twitter

Danielle Johnson Vermenton - Twitter

http://nofilternonprofit.blackbaud.com/

Blackbaud - Twitter

Blackbaud - Facebook

Quotes:

“Everybody is trying to stand out and get noticed, but to get noticed you have to have good content that does something for the audience.” - Ben Wong

“A ‘brochure site’ is the lowest level of engagement” - Ben Wong

“By design, what are the opportunities we’re giving for engagement? Do we have a like button, is there a sharing option, is there a place for comments?” - Ben Wong

Our guest on today’s episode is Melissa Bank Stepno, a Practice Manager with Blackbaud’s Target Analytics team. She has spent the last decade as a nonprofit consultant in predictive modeling and wealth segmentation programs, and she is here to share what she has learned during her time in the industry. Listen in as we learn how to identify the best prospects for major gift donations.

Topics discussed this episode:

• Common challenges of Development Offices
• Wealth screening v. predictive modeling
• Defining predictive modeling and wealth segmentation
• Identifying prospective major gift donors

Resources:

Blackbaud

Blackbaud - Twitter #raiseandengage

Blackbaud - Facebook

[email protected]

Quotes:

“Most organizations have a larger database than what they can focus on for major gift purposes.” - Melissa Bank Stepno

“The age of big data is upon us.” - Melissa Bank Stepno

“At the end of the day, data itself doesn’t raise dollars. An organization still needs to take action.” - Melissa Bank Stepno

On this episode, we’re talking to guest Steve MacLaughlin about data and the growing need for analytics in the nonprofit space. Steve is the Vice President of Data & Analytics at Blackbaud with over 20 years experience in the field. He is the author of Data Driven Nonprofits, a bestseller in 2016. Join us as he shares the top lessons learned from data analysis of current trends in nonprofit fundraising and how to apply these for future growth.

Topics discussed this episode:

• Important data and warnings from Blackbaud’s 2016 Charitable Giving Report
• Metrics to assess current trends and make accurate projections
• Data driven decision-making and increasing engagement
• Getting started with data and avoiding “analysis paralysis”
• Current technologies available to nonprofits

Resources:

Blackbaud

Blackbaud - Twitter #raiseandengage

Blackbaud - Facebook

Blackbaud’s 2016 Charitable Giving Report

Data Driven Nonprofits by Steve MacLaughlin

npENGAGE Blog

Steve MacLaughlin at the Huffington Post

Quotes:

“Data and statistics analytics answer that fundamental question: Is something working, or is it not?” - Steve MacLaughlin

“There are multiple paths to being successful with the use of data.” - Steve MacLaughlin  

“The nonprofit that creates the shortest distance between the gift and the expected outcome, wins.” - Steve MacLaughlin

Today’s podcast topic is Peer-to-Peer Fundraising. The landscape for non-profit peer-to-peer fundraising is changing rapidly with technology, and we discuss actionable tips and scaleable strategies you can use right now. I’m speaking with Robin Mendez, Senior Peer-to-Peer Product Marketing Manager at Blackbaud, as she shares wealth of expertise on the top Peer-to-Peer technologies out there today.

Topics discussed this episode:

• Current Peer-to-Peer landscape and portfolio style approaches
• Novel ways of engaging with fundraising participants
• New technologies and tools in the donor space
• Virtual events and DIY fundraising
• Changing donor demographics
• Tips for getting started in new peer-to-peer fundraising strategies

Resources:

Blackbaud

Blackbaud - Twitter #raiseandengage

Blackbaud - Facebook

[email protected]

https://mymarathon.bhf.org.uk/

Quotes:

“You have now inserted yourself as an organization into their day-to-day routine.” - Robin Mendez

“We’re trying to get the people who have an affinity towards us to more deeply engage and to think about our organization.” - Robin Mendez

“You’re providing an outlet for someone to fundraise that meets their need more specifically.” - Robin Mendez

On today’s episode we discuss the importance of harnessing an online community from your network of constituents, alumni and clients to connect, engage and mobilize them. Our guests today are Joe Prosperi, Director for Digital Strategy for Relay for Life at the American Cancer Society, and Holly Herbert, Community Manager at Blackbaud. Joe has been with the American Cancer Society for 13 years, and currently oversees online fundraising, social media and other digital strategies. Holly has been bringing people together online for the past 15 years, and joined Blackbaud 3 years ago. Join us as we discuss strategies to create and grow a community that will benefit and accelerate your organization.

Topics discussed this episode: 

• Defining an online community and why it’s important
• How to create an online community
• Connecting to and serving your community
• Strategies to grow and engage your community
• Segmenting community members for targeted content
• Easy engagement opportunities
• Social media channels versus official organizational online communities
• Advice to people starting or struggling to build their communities

Resources:

Relay Nation

Blackbaud Community

#NoFilter NonProfit Blackbaud

Blackbaud - Twitter #raiseandengage

Blackbaud - Facebook

[email protected]

"Groundswell: Winning in a World Transformed by Social Technologies" by Charlene Li and Josh Bernoff

Image of engagement pyramid  - Source: Free Connection

Quotes:

“Creating an online community allows you to foster engagement with those audiences and gather those stories.” -Joe Prosperi

“Community is not just a place on a map. Community is a digital space where activity happens for your organization.” -Joe Prosperi

“Even if you’re not engaging in your digital space around your brand, people are already out there talking about it.” -Holly Herbert

On this episode, we’re taking on the topic of Advocacy: the changing role of Advocacy in social media and how this can be harnessed tactically for non-profits. Our three expert guests today are Jeanette Russell, Caroline Stuart-Freas and Sally Heaven. Caroline is a Senior Advocacy Customer Success Manager at Blackbaud, helping non-profit clients succeed in their online advocacy and fundraising goals. Jeanette is a Product Marketing Manager for Blackbaud with 25 years of experience and has a special focus on advocacy and social media engagement. Sally works in Client Success at Blackbaud, helping customers to achieve success with seven years of online advocacy experience directly engaging supporters.

Topics discussed this episode:

• Current trends in the Advocacy scene
• How to break through the noise and think outside the box
• Harnessing citizen supporters to make an impact
• Giving up control and messaging to supporters
• Lessons learned through the recent US election
• New tools in online advocacy

Resources:

http://nofilternonprofit.blackbaud.com/

https://www.indivisibleguide.com/

https://attentive.ly/power-to-your-people/

https://attentive.ly/reach/

Blackbaud - Twitter

Blackbaud - Facebook

[email protected]

Quotes:

“Strategy coupled with smart tactics, which are the tools, can scale change much faster.” - Sally Heaven

“We are in a new and exciting place in the world of online advocacy...we have so many tools at our disposal” - Caroline Stuart-Freas

“Citizen movements are having an enormous role in leading change.” - Jeanette Russell

On today’s episode, we discuss the important topic of Leadership with our guests Rachel Hutchisson and Mark Pitman. Rachel is a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) executive at Blackbaud, heading up volunteerism and philanthropy efforts at the leadership level. Mark Pitman is the CEO and Founder of Concord Leadership Group, Fundraising Coach and Non-Profit Academy. Join us for our open discussion on the state of leadership within non-profit organizations and how to develop talent to fill current and future leadership gaps.

Topics discussed this episode:

• What makes a good leader?
• Leadership in a non-profit organization
• Investing in infrastructure and professional development
• Leadership gaps and talent management
• Recent reports on leadership trends within non-profits

Resources:

Blackbaud - Rachel Hutchisson

Rachel Hutchisson - Twitter

Concord Leadership Group

Mark Pitman - Twitter

Non-Profit Academy - Mark Pitman

Fundraising Coach - Mark Pitman

Danielle Johnson Vermenton - Twitter

Danielle Johnson Vermenton - Facebook

Blackbaud - Twitter

Quotes:

“We come to work everyday as a complete person, not just a business person, with the desire to do good and make change in the world.” - Rachel Hutchisson

“It’s a much better journey when you’re not the smartest person in the room.” - Mark Pitman

“Professional development is not extravagant.” - Rachel Hutchisson

“Honesty and integrity are the best fundraising tools.” - Mark Pitman