Too often, charities encourage their fundraisers to focus primarily on money, rather than building great relationships with the kinds of people who care about their cause. But even if you agree that relationship-focus rather than money-focus makes sense in theory, how do you do it in practice? In major donor, trust and corporate fundraising, a great way is to deliberately spend more energy in seeking conversations with people who care, as a valuable end in itself. We have found that achieving mo...
Jul 05, 2020•32 min•Ep. 29
I recorded this interview with Dr Claire Routley, an expert in expert legacy fundraising, in early March 2020. The subject of our conversation was legacies. In particular, we explored some of the reasons people choose to leave a gift in their will; why many charities fail to talk about this subject to their closest supporters; and tips to help you talk to your own supporters about this fantastic way of supporting. Since early March, during the pandemic, inquiries to will-writing services have go...
Jun 23, 2020•28 min•Ep. 28
If you’ve realised how crucial digital fundraising is during the pandemic, and you’re searching for ideas or just reassurance about what to do, I hope you will find this episode really helpful. In it, you will hear the second half of my recent interview with the brilliant (and award-winning) Emily Casson, digital marketing manager at Cats Protection. In today’s episode Emily talks about practical tactics to increase donations through your website; working with streamers and on-line influencers a...
Jun 16, 2020•27 min•Ep. 27
There are many factors that make it hard for your team to keep positive and proactive at the moment. In many charities, being separated geographically from colleagues for such a long time is having a serious effect on morale, confidence and problem solving. In this episode of the Fundraising Bright Spots podcast, I was delighted to talk to Stevie Nicholson, an Area Fundraising Manager at Diabetes UK. Stevie and her colleagues saw how crucial it was to regularly connect with and help colleagues a...
Jun 10, 2020•22 min•Ep. 26
As most people have spent more time looking at their phones and tablets than ever before in recent months, digital fundraising has become more important than ever. If you’re a regular listener to this podcast, you’re probably already aware of the phenomenal track record achieved by Cats Protection in digital fundraising over the last few years, and Emily Casson’s down to earth approach which has helped achieve it. Emily is the charities’ Digital Marketing Manager and in episodes 15 and 16, she e...
Jun 03, 2020•31 min•Ep. 25
In spite of all the pressures on your team, and even when you’re separated physically, is it still possible to nurture and achieve a positive team culture? If you are the leader of a fundraising team, I think you’re going to find this episode really interesting. It’s the second half of my interview with Paul McKenzie, a fabulous fundraiser and an experienced fundraising leader, and the Executive Director of Fundraising and Communications from Depaul UK. Paul’s team are doing really well right no...
May 13, 2020•23 min•Ep. 24
The pressure on fundraising leaders is greater than ever at the moment, not least, to secure funding to help our charities continue to serve our communities. If you are the leader of a fundraising team, I think you’re going to find this episode insightful and encouraging. It’s an interview with Paul McKenzie, an experienced fundraising leader, and the Executive Director of Fundraising and Communications from Depaul UK. In this, the first half of my conversation with Paul, we explore three things...
May 10, 2020•33 min•Ep. 23
As I’m sure you’re all too aware, events have been postponed and cancelled as the UK and many other countries have gone into lockdown. This is a huge threat to charity fundraising income, given how much some organisations rely on sponsored events. If you’re a professional event fundraiser for a charity and you wrestling with how to approach your various challenges at the moment, I hope you’re going to find today’s episode interesting and even helpful. Because in this episode I share an interview...
Apr 29, 2020•35 min•Ep. 22
Clearly one implication of the virtual lockdown is that you can’t meet your supporters for the next few months. So if you’re wondering how on earth you’re going to continue to develop relationships and inspire major and mid-level donors, companies and other key influencers, then I think you’re going to find today’s episode really helpful. In this episode Rob Woods talks to the innovative major gifts fundraiser Lynda Harwood Compton from Animals Asia, to find out what she’s learned about organisi...
Apr 01, 2020•32 min•Ep. 20
With nearly everyone now staying at home and worried about their health, income and families, its hard to know how to keep and build relationships with supporters, especially for causes not directly linked to the coronavirus. In this episode of the fundraising bright spots podcast, Rob Woods discusses responses to these problems with Ben Swart, Head of New Business Corporate Partnerships at the NSPCC and part of the Bright Spot training team. Ben talks about what he sees as the most important fu...
Mar 26, 2020•40 min•Ep. 19
As many charities are pushed to the limit in how they serve their beneficiaries during the current global pandemic, charities are also searching for ways to respond to unprecedented threats to fundraising income. In the short term, an obvious casualty is the loss in income due to cancelled events. In this interview recorded on 17th March 2020, I talk to event fundraising expert Jane Curtis. Though many events will need to be cancelled, I wanted her advice about ways we can respond to the challen...
Mar 19, 2020•35 min•Ep. 18
Many activities to raise funds for charities are successful because they’re relatively easy and can be used whatever the cause. An advantage to cake sales is that they raise money in the short-term, but a downside is they don’t necessarily help you build relationships with supporters after that. What if the fundraising proposition itself makes a connection to your cause more likely to happen? In this episode of the Fundraising Bright Spots podcast, Rob Woods talks to Di Gornall about experientia...
Mar 11, 2020•35 min•Ep. 17
16. Emily Casson – Digital Fundraising Part 2. Think big, start small… by Rob Woods, Bright Spot
Mar 04, 2020•38 min•Ep. 16
As the influence of digital technology on our lives continues to grow, it clearly represents an important opportunity for any charity. But with so much rapid change and pitfalls to beware, taking advantage is far from easy. In this episode of the Fundraising Bright Spots podcast, Rob Woods talks to Emily Casson, the award-winning Digital Marketing Manager at Cats Protection. Emily explains her over-arching approach (and team motto) and shows why this belief system is so fundamental to her team’s...
Feb 27, 2020•34 min•Ep. 15
There’s nothing new about the benefits of charities working with a board of volunteers to raise funds. This is a classic strategy and there is a reason it’s still used so widely – when it works well, it’s so much more powerful than staff seeking funds for an appeal on their own. But it’s not for the faint-hearted, and when it goes wrong it can be stressful and frustrating. In this episode of the Fundraising Bright Spots podcast, we share an classic interview from the resource library of the Brig...
Feb 18, 2020•34 min•Ep. 14
In this noisy, distracting world, charities are finding it harder than ever to hold donors’ attention long enough to have proper conversation. So what can relationship fundraisers do to build strong, inspiring relationships with the people who care about our causes? In this episode of the Fundraising Bright Spots podcast, Rob Woods interviews Lynda Harwood-Compton of Animals Asia, a creative, dynamic fundraiser who is willing to try new things to build great relationships with major donor and mi...
Feb 12, 2020•25 min•Ep. 13
If you’ve ever needed to represent your charity at a meeting with someone important – eg a powerful supporter or a Board Member – then you know how easily those differences in power can harm your performance and your stress levels. In this episode Rob Woods interviews the best-selling author, voice coach and gravitas expert, Caroline Goyder. Caroline originally trained as an actor at Central School of Speech and Drama. She is the pioneer of The Gravitas Method and for 16 years she has coached ac...
Feb 05, 2020•24 min•Ep. 12
Understanding and appreciating your supporters’ situation is a crucial element in consistent fundraising success, but how do you go about gathering this insight more effectively? In this episode of the Fundraising Bright Spots podcast, we share the second half of Rob Woods’ interview with Lesley Pinder. Lesley is the Head of Supporter Experience at the British Red Cross and here she shares a range of lessons she’s learned about the discipline of gathering insight to improve fundraising. These ti...
Jan 30, 2020•31 min•Ep. 11
At the heart of most fundraising success stories you find that the fundraiser(s) worked hard to better understand the supporter’s world. And unless you strive to understand and appreciate your supporters’ situation, it’s very difficult to consistently create great experiences. But doing this in practice is not always easy for busy fundraisers in busy charities. In this episode of the Fundraising Bright Spots podcast, Rob Woods talks to the Lesley Pinder who knows a great deal about the skills, i...
Jan 23, 2020•35 min•Ep. 10
We spend so much of our life at work, it clearly makes sense that we should aim to make this time rewarding and enjoyable. But how can you increase your chances that your career will take you in a direction that makes you really happy? In this episode of Fundraising Bright Spots, Rob Woods talks to Liz Tait, Director of Fundraising at Teenage Cancer Trust. When it comes to career development, Liz really knows what she’s talking about – she has taken specific steps over the last two decades that ...
Jan 16, 2020•32 min•Ep. 9
Over a five year period, high value income at EMMS International built steadily from almost nothing to £2m / year. In this episode of the Fundraising Bright Spots Podcast, we share the second half of Rob Woods’ interview with Tony Gaston who managed major donor fundraising during this period of fabulous growth. As in the previous episode, this interview gives you a sense of how Tony approaches the challenges and opportunities of high value fundraising for a small charity. Using examples, he brin...
Jan 06, 2020•32 min•Ep. 8
How can you increase high value income for your charity? Clearly context matters - the same strategies will not work for every charity - but if you want ideas and an increased belief that growth is at least possible, then a good place to start is to look at a fairly small charity that’s achieved an impressive year on year uplift in major gifts income. In this episode of the Fundraising Bright Spots podcast, Rob Woods talks to Tony Gaston about the strategies he feels contributed to the way EMMS ...
Dec 17, 2019•34 min•Ep. 7
There is no factor more important to your success as a fundraiser than your grit. But is it possible to become more resilient? In this episode of Fundraising Bright Spots, Rob Woods explores the inspiring research of Professor Angela Duckworth who talks about ‘grit’ in terms of how able you are to keep on moving forward, in spite of the setbacks you face. Rob shares key lessons he has learned from studying successful fundraisers over two decades and he shares four ways any of us can improve our ...
Dec 11, 2019•33 min•Ep. 6
Most fundraisers agree that you won’t achieve serious growth without first investing in fundraising. But how do you actually persuade the board to invest? In this episode of Fundraising Bright Spots, Rob Woods talks to Adam Heuman, Director of Engagement at the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts. In three separate charities (of varying sizes) Adam has asked the board to invest, and all three times his request has been successful. Rob and Adam talk about what holds many fundraising ...
Dec 05, 2019•28 min•Ep. 5
One major challenge for a fundraiser is how you help your colleagues and trustees to see things from the supporters’ point of view. In Episode 4 of the Fundraising Bright Spots podcast, Rob Woods interviews the individual giving expert Rachel Hunnybun about one personalised thank you project and the difference it made to the charity. She explains how handwritten thank you cards were written to anyone who had given more than the amount they normally gave (even if that gift was relatively small), ...
Nov 26, 2019•36 min•Ep. 4
Taking full advantage of an opportunity makes a huge difference to your fundraising momentum. In this episode of Fundraising Bright Spots, Rob Woods talks to Jo Bega, Chief Executive of Child Rescue Nepal. The charity’s Radio 4 Appeal was one of the most successful of the year and in this interview Jo explains how they achieved these stunning results. This included securing investment from the board, tactics with the script and story-telling and ways to help existing supporters make the most of ...
Nov 21, 2019•27 min•Ep. 3
Many charities spend huge effort recruiting people to do fundraising events, but often fail to inspire them to become long-term supporters. In episode 2 of Fundraising Bright Spots, Rob Woods asks Andy King to explain how he went about solving this missed opportunity when he worked at East African Playgrounds. The strategy was so successful that it was a major factor in the charity’s income growing three-fold in three years. Andy explains how he achieved a better understanding of the supporter’s...
Nov 11, 2019•26 min•Ep. 2
How can anyone improve their fundraising skills and results? In this first episode of Fundraising Bright Spots, Rob Woods explains a powerful tactic he has been using to help charity fundraisers grow their results over the last two decades. He explores the power of modelling or ‘searching for bright spots’ and shares the most common reason we tend to run out of steam too early when trying to get better at a fundraising skill. Rob describes the particular steps he took early in his career, to imp...
Nov 11, 2019•28 min•Ep. 1
