Facts tell, but stories give. In this fan-favorite encore episode, co-host and storytelling expert Kristin Steele breaks down exactly how to craft narratives that connect with donors on an emotional level by turning complex issues into compelling stories that make your mission impossible to forget and impossible not to support.

If your fundraising your event program isn't landing the way you hoped, or you're struggling to translate the complexity of your work into something donors truly feel, this episode is the reset you need.

In this episode, you'll learn:

This episode is essential listening for development directors, communications staff, executive directors, and anyone responsible for donor-facing messaging who wants to raise more by saying less — and meaning more.

🎧 Subscribe to The Fundraising Elevator so you never miss an episode: https://www.youtube.com/@thefundraisingelevator

 ⭐ Leave a review it helps other nonprofit professionals find the show.

The Fundraising Elevator is a production of swaimstrategies.com sponsored by The AV Department, Bloomerang, and Feathr.

Struggling to secure sponsors for your next nonprofit event? The problem might not be the economy,  it might be your approach. In this fan-favorite encore episode, Mariah Monique of The Sponsorship Catalyst shares what most nonprofits get wrong about corporate sponsorship, and exactly how to fix it.

Drawing from experience on both sides of the sponsorship relationship, Mariah brings rare insight into what sponsors are actually looking for and why the organizations that treat sponsors as equal partners consistently outperform those still sending generic sponsorship decks.

In this episode, you'll learn:

This episode is essential listening for development directors, event planners, and executive directors who want to build a sponsorship program that doesn't start from scratch every year.

🎧 Subscribe to The Fundraising Elevator so you never miss an episode: https://www.youtube.com/@thefundraisingelevator

 ⭐ Leave a review it helps other nonprofit professionals find the show.

The Fundraising Elevator is a production of swaimstrategies.com sponsored by The AV Department, Bloomerang, and Feathr.

What if your next major gift didn't come from your biggest event of the year but from a carefully curated dinner for ten? In this fan-favorite encore episode, co-host Samantha Swaim steps into the guest seat to make a persuasive case for small, intentional gatherings as one of the most underutilized fundraising strategies in the nonprofit world.

From a seven-week dinner series that re-engaged an entire lapsed donor base to a whiskey tasting that turned a board member's passion into a major gift moment, this episode is packed with real examples of what intimate events can unlock for your organization.

In this episode, you'll learn:

This episode gives you both the permission and the practical blueprint to start smaller, go deeper, and raise more. Essential listening for development directors, executive directors, and major gift officers looking for a fresh approach to donor cultivation.

🎧 Subscribe to The Fundraising Elevator so you never miss an episode: https://www.youtube.com/@thefundraisingelevator

 ⭐ Leave a review it helps other nonprofit professionals find the show.

The Fundraising Elevator is a production of swaimstrategies.com sponsored by The AV Department, Bloomerang, and Feathr.

What separates a forgettable fundraising event from one guests are still talking about months later? In this fan-favorite encore episode, seasoned event producer Tanya Mikkelson breaks down exactly what it takes to create a guest experience so exceptional it turns first-time attendees into long-term advocates for your mission.

If you're planning a gala, auction, or any nonprofit fundraising event, this episode is your blueprint for getting the details right.

In this episode, you'll learn:

Whether you're a first-time event planner or a seasoned development professional, this episode will help you think beyond logistics and start designing experiences that deepen donor relationships and extend your organization's reach long after the event ends.

🎧 Subscribe to The Fundraising Elevator so you never miss an episode: https://www.youtube.com/@thefundraisingelevator

 ⭐ Leave a review it helps other nonprofit professionals find the show.

The Fundraising Elevator is a production of swaimstrategies.com sponsored by The AV Department, Bloomerang, and Feathr.

Thinking about scaling back or canceling your next fundraising event? The science says don't. In this fan-favorite encore episode, hosts Kristin Steele and Samantha Swaim make a compelling, research-backed case for why in-person fundraising events are more powerful than ever, and how to run them in a way that actually moves donors to give.

From the neuroscience of shared experiences to the psychology of collective giving, this episode will change the way you think about every event you host.

In this episode, you'll learn:

This episode is essential listening for nonprofit event planners, development directors, and executive directors who want to stop running events out of obligation and start running them as a genuine community-building and fundraising strategy.

🎧 Subscribe to The Fundraising Elevator so you never miss an episode: https://www.youtube.com/@thefundraisingelevator

 ⭐ Leave a review it helps other nonprofit professionals find the show.

The Fundraising Elevator is a production of swaimstrategies.com sponsored by The AV Department, Bloomerang, and Feathr.

What if one strategic gift could double the revenue of your next fundraising event? In this fan-favorite encore episode, Brandon Lenzi, founder of Bowtie Strategies, shares the exact approach he used to transform a $500,000 event into a million-dollar fundraiser and shares how you can apply the same framework to your organization.

Brandon also reframes the way nonprofit professionals think about donor relationships entirely: fundraising isn't about asking, it's about inviting donors to realize their vision for the community they want to live in.

In this episode, you'll learn:

This episode is a must-listen for development directors, executive directors, and fundraising professionals preparing for year-end giving season or looking to level up their next fundraising event.

📊 Breakdown of the Million-Dollar Strategy: https://swaimstrategies.substack.com/p/how-to-turn-your-fundraising-event

🎧 Subscribe to The Fundraising Elevator so you never miss an episode: https://www.youtube.com/@thefundraisingelevator

 ⭐ Leave a review it helps other nonprofit professionals find the show.

The Fundraising Elevator is a production of swaimstrategies.com sponsored by The AV Department, Bloomerang, and Feathr.

Is your nonprofit board showing up for fundraising — or just showing up? In this fan-favorite encore episode, Susan Howlett breaks down exactly how to activate your board before, during, and after your next fundraising event so your team isn't carrying the weight alone.

Whether you're heading into fall fundraising season or planning your next gala, auction, or annual appeal, this episode gives you a practical roadmap for turning passive board members into active fundraising partners.

In this episode, you'll learn:

This episode is essential listening for nonprofit executive directors, development directors, and fundraising professionals who want more from their boards — not just attendance, but real commitment.

🎧 Subscribe to The Fundraising Elevator so you never miss an episode: https://www.youtube.com/@thefundraisingelevator

 ⭐ Leave a review it helps other nonprofit professionals find the show.

The Fundraising Elevator is a production of swaimstrategies.com sponsored by The AV Department, Bloomerang, and Feathr.

In the season three finale, we sit down with Andy Dowsett of The AV Department, a technical project manager with over a decade of experience helping nonprofits deliver high-impact live, virtual, and hybrid events. Andy shares how his audio engineering background shaped his belief that great sound is the foundation of any successful fundraising event—if guests can't hear the emcee, auctioneer, or a donor's story, the emotional connection needed to drive giving won't happen. He emphasizes prioritizing high-value, low-cost solutions with quick setup times, and how getting technology "out of the way" lets emcees and speakers shine.

The second half explores a case study: a 650-person gala for The San Diego LGBT Community Center, where the team used a handheld gimbal camera, remote ASL interpretation via Zoom, live captioning, and a donation thermometer tracking gifts. Andy walks through the technical elements and how they can enhance an event. The episode closes with his best advice: vet your AV team carefully and choose partners who can help tell your story with the least technical friction.

Loving The Fundraising Elevator? Please subscribe, rate and review the podcast. It really helps other people find the show. 

This Episode Brought to You by: 

Swaim Strategies: https://swaimstrategies.com

Utilizing over 20 years of nonprofit event strategy and production expertise, Swaim Strategies coaches and teaches organizations how to increase the impact of their fundraising events. 

The AV Department: https://theavdept.com/

As a full-service event AV and video production partner, The AV Department’s technical event production and media content generation provide you with a range of experience and talent from a partner who wants to know you and work together year after year. 

Bloomerang: https://bit.ly/4hLqLVw

Create the ideal giving experience with integrated fundraising tools and automated insights that maximize your impact. Keep donors close to the cause with mean-ingful outreach at the right time. Increase retention, major gifts, and all-around impact. Turn supporters into action-takers with tools that make it easy to recruit, organize, and engage volunteers at every level.

Feathr: https://www.feathr.co/

Feathr is a marketing platform built specifically for mission-driven organizations, offering simple tools for digital advertising, email campaigns, and audience engagement. The platform uses real-time insights and AI-powered segmentation to help you reach the right people at the right time—whether you’re nurturing existing supporters or discovering new ones who share your values. It’s marketing that meets people where they are, building relationships that last beyond a single click.

Speakers

Samantha Swaim

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-swaim-a28a9a4/

Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies

Kristin Steele

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-steele777/

Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies

Andy Dowsett

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andydowsett/

| RESOURCES |

Connect with Swaim Strategies: https://swaimstrategies.com

Propose a Podcast Episode: https://swaimstrategies.com/propose-a-podcast-episode/

Get Event Help Right Now with Gala 911: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/gala-911/

Book Consulting Time with Sam: https://calendly.com/consultingwithsam

Book Consulting Time with Kristin: https://calendly.com/eventstorytelling

Learn More About the Elevate Conference: https://swaimstrategies.com/elevate-conference/

Get Planning a Successful Major Donor Event: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/#book

Join Swaim Strategies on Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies

Connect with The AV Department:  https://theavdept.com/

In this episode, Bob Speltz, Senior Director Community + Public Relations at The Standard, offers a rare 360-degree view of the nonprofit sector as a corporate funder, board member, and personal donor. Bob breaks down current trends in corporate philanthropy, from strategic alignment and CSR integration to employee-driven giving programs and a shift toward longer-term, hyper-local partnerships. He shares practical advice for standing out in a crowded field of nonprofits competing for corporate dollars: research the company beforehand, ask direct questions, stay transparent about your own challenges, and build real relationships instead of only reaching out once a year with an ask.

The conversation also covers giving beyond cash, like board service, skills-based volunteering, and leasable space, plus what makes fundraising events and nonprofit boards actually work well. Bob shares a personal story about the capital campaign gift that meant the most to him, and closes with his elevator advice: never be afraid to ask questions, since curiosity and authenticity are what build lasting partnerships.

Loving The Fundraising Elevator? Please subscribe, rate and review the podcast. It really helps other people find the show. 

This Episode Brought to You by: 

Swaim Strategies: https://swaimstrategies.com

Utilizing over 20 years of nonprofit event strategy and production expertise, Swaim Strategies coaches and teaches organizations how to increase the impact of their fundraising events. 

The AV Department: https://theavdept.com/

As a full-service event AV and video production partner, The AV Department’s technical event production and media content generation provide you with a range of experience and talent from a partner who wants to know you and work together year after year. 

Bloomerang: https://bit.ly/4hLqLVw

Create the ideal giving experience with integrated fundraising tools and automated insights that maximize your impact. Keep donors close to the cause with mean-ingful outreach at the right time. Increase retention, major gifts, and all-around impact. Turn supporters into action-takers with tools that make it easy to recruit, organize, and engage volunteers at every level.

Feathr: https://www.feathr.co/

Feathr is a marketing platform built specifically for mission-driven organizations, offering simple tools for digital advertising, email campaigns, and audience engagement. The platform uses real-time insights and AI-powered segmentation to help you reach the right people at the right time—whether you’re nurturing existing supporters or discovering new ones who share your values. It’s marketing that meets people where they are, building relationships that last beyond a single click.

Speakers

Samantha Swaim

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-swaim-a28a9a4/

Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies

Kristin Steele

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-steele777/

Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies

Bob Speltz

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bob-speltz-501b261/

| RESOURCES |

Connect with Swaim Strategies: https://swaimstrategies.com

Propose a Podcast Episode: https://swaimstrategies.com/propose-a-podcast-episode/

Get Event Help Right Now with Gala 911: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/gala-911/

Book Consulting Time with Sam: https://calendly.com/consultingwithsam

Book Consulting Time with Kristin: https://calendly.com/eventstorytelling

Learn More About the Elevate Conference: https://swaimstrategies.com/elevate-conference/

Get Planning a Successful Major Donor Event: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/#book

Join Swaim Strategies on Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies

Connect with The AV Department:  https://theavdept.com/

Connect with The Standard: https://www.standard.com/

In this episode, Mario Galeano of Union Station Homeless Services in Pasadena explores marketing that made the difference for his organization. Mario explains how the Eaton Fire, which hit neighboring Altadena, tested strategies in real time. With about 8% of the organization's major donors affected, the usual fundraising playbook didn't work. The team segmented outreach by geography and impact status, suppressing communications to affected donors while activating unaffected supporters, and personally calling everyone in the burn zone to check in. The result was deeply impactful fundraising, including funds raised for fire recovery.

The conversation then expands into Mario's framework for how communications, marketing, and fundraising work together: communications builds trust, marketing drives action, and fundraising converts that trust into revenue. He grounds this in examples like a geofenced campaign tied to Union Station's Rose Parade float and the strategy behind Masters of Taste, the organization's signature Rose Bowl fundraiser. He closes with advice to move past vanity metrics, be honest about team capacity, and treat marketing as a revenue strategy rather than a support function, since sustainable fundraising starts long before the ask.

Loving The Fundraising Elevator? Please subscribe, rate and review the podcast. It really helps other people find the show. 

This Episode Brought to You by: 

Swaim Strategies: https://swaimstrategies.com

Utilizing over 20 years of nonprofit event strategy and production expertise, Swaim Strategies coaches and teaches organizations how to increase the impact of their fundraising events. 

The AV Department: https://theavdept.com/

As a full-service event AV and video production partner, The AV Department’s technical event production and media content generation provide you with a range of experience and talent from a partner who wants to know you and work together year after year. 

Bloomerang: https://bit.ly/4hLqLVw

Create the ideal giving experience with integrated fundraising tools and automated insights that maximize your impact. Keep donors close to the cause with mean-ingful outreach at the right time. Increase retention, major gifts, and all-around impact. Turn supporters into action-takers with tools that make it easy to recruit, organize, and engage volunteers at every level.

Feathr: https://www.feathr.co/

Feathr is a marketing platform built specifically for mission-driven organizations, offering simple tools for digital advertising, email campaigns, and audience engagement. The platform uses real-time insights and AI-powered segmentation to help you reach the right people at the right time—whether you’re nurturing existing supporters or discovering new ones who share your values. It’s marketing that meets people where they are, building relationships that last beyond a single click.

Speakers

Samantha Swaim

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-swaim-a28a9a4/

Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies

Kristin Steele

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-steele777/

Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies

Mario Galeano

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marioegaleano/

| RESOURCES |

Connect with Swaim Strategies: https://swaimstrategies.com

Propose a Podcast Episode: https://swaimstrategies.com/propose-a-podcast-episode/

Get Event Help Right Now with Gala 911: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/gala-911/

Book Consulting Time with Sam: https://calendly.com/consultingwithsam

Book Consulting Time with Kristin: https://calendly.com/eventstorytelling

Learn More About the Elevate Conference: https://swaimstrategies.com/elevate-conference/

Get Planning a Successful Major Donor Event: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/#book

Join Swaim Strategies on Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies

Connect with The AV Department:  https://theavdept.com/

Connect with Union Station Homeless Services: https://ushs.org/

Follow Union State Homeless Services: https://www.instagram.com/ushsnews/

Learn More About Masters of Taste: https://mastersoftastela.com/