Managing volunteer leadership presents unique challenges, especially when your entire executive team changes annually. The most successful campaigns don't just recruit great volunteers—they systematically develop them into unified, mission-driven teams that can execute at the highest level despite constant turnover.

In this episode, Marcie Maxwell talks with Suzanne Graney, Executive Director of Four Diamonds, the nonprofit behind Penn State's Dance Marathon (THON). With years of experience leading one of the largest student-run philanthropies in the world, Suzanne shares how THON successfully onboards brand-new leadership teams each year and maintains momentum across a full campaign cycle.

Suzanne discusses her approach to rapidly aligning diverse volunteers around shared goals and creating systems that sustain engagement throughout the year. She explores how succession planning works when your pipeline constantly refreshes, and reveals what she's learned about the evolving leadership styles of today's college volunteers. The conversation offers practical strategies for anyone working with rotating volunteer teams in large-scale fundraising efforts.

Together, we'll explore:

• Effective onboarding strategies that quickly transform individual volunteers into unified leadership teams
• Year-round engagement techniques that maintain focus and momentum between major campaign milestones
• Building sustainable leadership pipelines when your entire team changes annually

Mentioned Links

FourDiamonds.org 

Facebook: @FourDiamondsFTK 

Instagram: @FourDiamonds

X: @FourDiamonds

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While many healthcare organizations treat major gifts and peer-to-peer as separate fundraising channels, some forward-thinking institutions are discovering the power of integration. When these strategies work in harmony rather than competition, both programs can amplify each other's success and create deeper donor relationships.

In this episode, Marcie Maxwell talks with Jamie Lamont, Vice President of Events at Sinai Health Foundation. With extensive experience in healthcare philanthropy, Jamie shares how Sinai has successfully bridged the traditional gap between major donor cultivation and community-driven fundraising, creating a collaborative approach that serves donors holistically.

Jamie discusses how breaking down internal silos has transformed their fundraising outcomes, from event ideation through execution. She explores how peer-to-peer events provide invaluable insights into donor motivations and preferences, intelligence that enhances major gift strategies. The conversation reveals practical approaches for fostering genuine partnership between teams and ensuring all fundraising efforts ladder up to mission-driven priorities.

Together, we'll explore:

• Strategic integration of peer-to-peer and major gifts within hospital philanthropy programs
• Practical collaboration methods from event planning through donor stewardship and relationship building
• Leveraging event insights to inform broader philanthropic strategy and enhance donor engagement across all giving levels

Mentioned Links

https://www.sinaihealth.ca/foundation 

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When life-saving treatments transform a terminal diagnosis into a chronic condition, everything changes — including how communities fundraise. The peer-to-peer landscape isn't just evolving with technology and trends; it's being reshaped by the very success of the causes we support.

In this episode, Marcie Maxwell talks with Robin Paterson, Senior Director of Special Events and Peer-to-Peer Campaigns at the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. With nearly two decades of nonprofit experience, Robin shares how medical advances that have extended and improved lives for CF patients have fundamentally shifted community engagement, fundraising motivations, and program strategies.

As CF patients live longer, healthier lives, their relationship with fundraising has evolved from urgent survival to long-term advocacy. Robin discusses how this transformation has influenced everything from campaign messaging to participant recruitment, and how her team is adapting to serve a community that includes thriving teens with CF — a generation that wasn't expected to exist.

Together, we'll explore:

• How medical breakthroughs change fundraising psychology and community dynamics
• Strategic approaches to messaging when your cause story evolves from crisis to hope
• Practical methods for engaging emerging demographics, including teen patients as active fundraisers

Mentioned Links

Great Strides

cff.org

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• (00:00) - Welcome to The P2P Soap Box

Leading a P2P campaign means managing multiple moving pieces—fundraisers with different experience levels, corporate partners with varying expectations and internal staff with diverse skill sets. But the most successful leaders know that underneath all this complexity lies a simple truth: understanding what drives each person is the key to keeping everyone aligned.

In this episode, Marcie Maxwell talks with Javier Sanchez, Executive Director of the Dolphins Cancer Challenge. With over 20 years of experience spanning mass-participation sports, philanthropy, and entertainment, Sanchez has mastered the art of identifying different personas within his ecosystem and tailoring his approach to meet each group's specific needs.

From uncovering hidden motivations in fundraisers to adapting leadership styles for different team members, Sanchez shares practical strategies for building stronger connections that translate into better outcomes. Whether you're supporting a cancer survivor taking on their first fundraising challenge or coaching your staff to have deeper conversations with participants, this conversation offers actionable insights for anyone leading mission-driven teams.

Together, we'll explore:

• How to identify and support different personas across your fundraiser base, staff, and partner network
• Proven techniques for uncovering what truly motivates people—and coaching your team to do the same
• Practical strategies for adapting your leadership style to drive alignment across complex stakeholder groups

Mentioned Links

Dolphinscancerchallenge.com

On X, Instagram & Facebook

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• (00:00) - Welcome to The P2P Soap Box

Crisis fundraising operates on a different timeline than traditional campaigns. When disaster hits, organizations have a critical 24-hour window to mobilize resources and activate their networks. But what separates organizations that thrive in crisis from those that scramble?

The difference lies in preparation—having systems, messages, and community relationships ready before the emergency unfolds. It's about building infrastructure that can pivot quickly while maintaining donor trust and emotional resonance throughout evolving circumstances.

In this episode, Marcie Maxwell talks with Jessi Woomer, Director of Digital Fundraising for the American Red Cross. With ten years of experience leading national digital fundraising strategy, Jessi shares how organizations can prepare for crisis moments and deploy peer-to-peer strategies that turn urgency into sustainable support.

Together, we'll explore:

• Why the first 24 hours of crisis response are make-or-break for fundraising success
• How to build donor targeting strategies that balance local impact with broader community engagement
• Practical systems for transitioning from emergency response to long-term donor stewardship

Mentioned Links

American Red Cross

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• (00:00) - Welcome to The P2P Soap Box

There's a fundamental difference between inheriting a well-oiled P2P machine and building one from scratch. When you're tasked with creating systems, culture and infrastructure that need to scale alongside explosive organizational growth, you're not just managing programs - you're architecting the future.

But here's what most people don't realize: the "builder’s mindset" isn't just about launching new initiatives. It's about thinking three steps ahead while solving today's problems. It's about maintaining the heart and soul of grassroots programs while constructing the professional backbone they need to thrive at scale.

In this episode, Marcie Maxwell talks with Kayln Henkel, Chief Advancement Officer at the Parkinson's Foundation, who's made her career out of building sustainable fundraising programs from the ground up. As employee #44 at the Parkinson's Foundation, Kayln has had a front-row seat to the unique challenges that come with rapid growth - scaling from three walk events to 50+, navigating mergers, launching new program formats and preparing leadership for the kind of transformation that changes everything.

Together, we'll explore:

- Strategic staffing evolution and emerging P2P roles

- Preparing leadership for growth through change management and ROI demonstration

- Maintaining program culture while building scalable infrastructure

Mentioned Links

parkinson.org  

movingdaywalk.org  

parkinsonsrevolution.org 

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• (00:00) - Welcome to The P2P Soap Box

In P2P fundraising, there can often be a disconnect between the excitement marketing generates and the direct recruitment strategies implemented by local field teams. The result? Frustrated participants, overwhelmed staff and missed opportunities to achieve participation goals and build lasting relationships with supporters.

But what if marketing and recruitment worked hand-in-hand instead of in silos? What if the goal wasn't just filling the funnel, but ensuring every person who enters it has a meaningful experience?

In this episode, Marcie Maxwell talks with Brandi Glover from Wounded Warrior Project, a Marketing Specialist who brings a unique perspective to P2P strategy. Having started as a fundraiser herself before moving into marketing, Brandi understands both sides of the equation—and why trust and alignment between these teams is critical for program success.

We’ll also discuss:

• The crucial difference between marketing and recruitment—and why that distinction matters for program outcomes
• Practical strategies for balancing lead generation with sustainable participant experiences
• How to set field teams up for success when marketing campaigns exceed expectations

Mentioned Links

Wounded Warrior Project 

Carry Forward 5K 

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• (00:00) - Welcome to The P2P Soap Box

Marketers love to throw around terms like “share of voice” and “share of wallet” - ways to track how much attention or spending a brand commands. But in peer-to-peer fundraising, there’s a different kind of share that matters more.

Growing your “share of community” is about going deeper with the people closest to your cause - the ones who feel seen, included and inspired to take part. It’s not about reaching everyone. It’s about prioritizing the people who already care.

In this episode, Marcie Maxwell talks with Jonathan Harris and Christina Robinson from the AIDS Foundation Chicago, the duo behind Team To End AIDS (T2). Competing as a “small fish in a big pond”, T2 has carved out a distinct space in both a large metro market & the crowded endurance fundraising world by leading with accessibility and values instead of exclusivity. We’ll also dig into what it really takes to build a community-centered program, especially in the context of HIV advocacy.

Together, we’ll explore:

• Why keeping fundraising minimums low (and removing maximums) creates a more inclusive experience
• How the endurance fundraising space is shifting - and where new opportunities are opening up
• Practical tips for smaller programs looking to grow and deepen participant connection

Mentioned Links

www.T2EA.org

On Facebook & Instagram

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• (00:00) - Welcome to The P2P Soap Box

Celebrity gossip magazines love to remind us: "Stars — they’re just like us!" And while the world of digital creators and streamers can feel like a distant universe, the truth is that these online personalities aren’t so different from the rest of us.

As P2P fundraising increasingly intersects with the creator community, it’s easy to view streamers and influencers as fundamentally different from traditional participants. But while they may bring unique visions, massive reach, and unfamiliar platforms to the table, their core needs remain the same: support, motivation, impact, and authentic relationships.

In this episode, P2PPF’s Marcie Maxwell chats with two nonprofit pros who’ve successfully navigated this space — Aimee Yrlas-Simpson, Chief Development Officer, and Angela Ridenour, Development Manager at the Immune Deficiency Foundation. IDF’s journey into the creator world began when they connected with global streamer Ironmouse, who also happens to be a member of the primary immunodeficiency community.

Together, we’ll explore:

• The key differences and surprising similarities between content creators and traditional P2P fundraisers
• Strategies for cultivating relationships in a digital-first landscape
• How to build mutually beneficial, mission-aligned partnerships with content creators

Mentioned Links

Primaryimmune.org 

https://primaryimmune.org/get-involved/raise-awareness-and-funds-idf/diy-gaming 

Plasmahero.org 

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• (00:00) - Welcome to The P2P Soap Box

In the early days of peer-to-peer fundraising events, one of the fastest ways to grow a program was to launch events in new markets. But many organizations scaled back over time, whether due to strategic shifts or limited resources. So what happens when it’s time to grow again? How do you evaluate new opportunities and ensure long-term success?

Expanding into a new market involves much more than adding a city to your event series. It requires significant lead time to build local relationships, experienced mentorship, and the right team in place with boots on the ground.

In this episode, P2PPF’s Marcie Maxwell speaks with Cliff Whitlock, National Director of Ride to Defeat ALS at the ALS Association. Cliff shares how his team is expanding their growing ride series into new markets, the criteria they use to assess potential locations, and what it takes to launch successfully, from staff training to local engagement.

You’ll also learn:

• Why local volunteer leadership is essential
• Strategies for building credibility in new communities
• Key lessons learned from first-year hurdles and how to overcome them

Mentioned Links

als.org 

als.org/ridetodefeatals 

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• (00:00) - Welcome to The P2P Soap Box