Can we raise money in this challenging time? Well, many of our bigger donors have more cash right now, quite a few have seen investments balloon, and the need is very great. Gail Perry spends her time helping fundraisers and non-profit leaders. And she thinks we should look at it differently. It's not about a better "pitch." Sometimes, we just need to get out of our own way, maximize our use of emotional intelligence, the right metrics, and focus on the joy of giving for donors. We unpack what's...
Sep 08, 2020•23 min
Heard about remote engagement, P2P Texting, artificial intelligence, and visual caller ID and wondering how they work? Interested in the latest in crowdfunding, giving days? We've got something great for you. Coming up on Sept. 17-18, we're hosting the RNL Advancement Innovation Summit , free and online. Part of the event is something we call Key Innovation Downloads - 6 sessions that get right into how these new technologies amplify donor engagement and help you maximize fundraising results. On...
Sep 02, 2020•21 min
Planned giving is crucial to securing the long-term future of your organization. But to many fundraisers, it's mysterious, scary and something they shy away from. Lori Kranczer from Everyday Planned Giving unpacks why fundraisers shouldn't be afraid of planned giving, and how to work gift planning into just about every conversation. We also talk about shifts fundraisers are making during COVID to address planned giving. Find our more about Everyday Planned Giving at everydayplannedgiving.com...
Aug 24, 2020•18 min
If you're running a non-profit or a fundraising program, you're a juggler. Keeping all the balls in the air is tough, and only tougher in times of crisis. Sarah Olivieri at PivotGround knows this, and she's created a system that helps leaders find confidence, clarity and create the same in supporters. Check out our conversation to hear more. Sarah Olivieri is a nonprofit business strategist, #1 International Best Selling author, and former Executive Director. She has been featured on over 50 pod...
Jun 24, 2020•14 min
I’m excited to bring back on today’s episode Brady Josephson, managing director of the NextAfter institute. He spends his days conducting experiments, tests and looking deep into the data of donor response to see how we can do a better job communicating with and spurring action from our supporters. We cover what he's seeing as organizations reach out during the COVID-19 pandemic. Thinking critically about all aspects of your appeals is crucial – and testing and experimenting is a big part of cha...
Jun 12, 2020•23 min
Have you harnessed the power of artificial intelligence to personalize your communications to donors and supporters, based on what you can see they actually care about? Not too many fundraising shops have, and this is a huge miss. Our RNL QuadWrangle experts, Solomon Grey and Peter Caron, join this episode to talk about the power of AI-driven communications, along with the special features of QuadMail, integrations with RNL Crowdfunding and Giving Days, and virtual events with giving....
Jun 11, 2020•17 min
Video rules in today’s communication landscape. Whether it’s powerful video for a campaign launch, educational video to help boost awareness of what you’re doing, or even personal videos we can now make and deliver quickly to supporters, fundraisers and non profits need a strong video strategy. We’re in a world where Tik Tok and YouTube are the primary social currency, and if you’re not investing in video, you’re way behind the curve. I got on the line with Doug Scott at Tectonic, a company that...
Jun 11, 2020•24 min
It’s a remarkable time for healthcare philanthropy. Every day, our healthcare heroes are on the front lines of the COVID -19 pandemic. And donors of all sizes are stepping up to support them. This virus impacts entire communities, and philanthropy is part of what is going to get us through this. We wanted to hear what it’s like to be in the middle of this every day, so RNL consultant Greta Daniels and I got on the line with Allie Quick, Chief Philanthropy Officer at the Allegheny Health Network ...
May 20, 2020•24 min
In a world where we compete with spammers, scammers, and all kinds of causes contacting our supporters, it's become harder to get donors to pick up the phone. Great new solutions, including advanced whitelisting of numbers and visual caller ID can really help. You now have the ability for your organization's logo and even a call to action display on many mobile devices when the call comes in. And combining this calling with other channels like text, personalized video and integrated email really...
May 18, 2020•16 min
We're changing things up a little bit here on the podcast. On this episode we hear from Emma Gawor and Sofia Bermejo, two daughters of RNL parents who had their college lives totally changed as their campuses responded to COVID-19. They're highly connected to their friends, they communicate at light speed, and they have a lot of insights on how this pandemic is impacting their education. They've been uprooted from their friends, but they're still doing homework, exams, group projects and now jug...
May 14, 2020•31 min
RNL's Autumn Horton and Brian Cass unveil the new way we're talking about and thinking about students who can now make contact via expanded, integrated methods like P2P texting, personalized video, and are doing much more than annual giving outreach. It's time to retire the term "student caller" and take our donor engagement to the next level! Find our more about about RNL Digital Engagement Centers...
May 14, 2020•22 min
How do you reach the right donor at the right time with the right message? Advanced, predictive and prescriptive analytics can help you do that. Harnessing the data you have, with data available out there in the world can help you maximize your ROI, and provide a better donor experience. Don't worry if it sounds confusing - RNL's Josh Robertson breaks it down and shares what RNL Advanced Analytics can do for your results.
May 14, 2020•18 min
Communicating with supporters about social change initiatives takes planning, investment, and careful use of resources. Vanessa Wakeman, futurist, acclaimed speaker and CEO of the Wakeman Agency knows this. She's helping amplify the voices of mission-driven causes and the people that lead them every day. We talked with Vanessa about how to organize a communication plan, some of the short and long term strategies needed amidst the health crisis, and success she's had with virtual events. The Wake...
May 14, 2020•19 min
We’ve launched something big here at RNL. The RNL Digital Engagement Center combines advanced predictive analytics with calling, texting, personalized video and integrated email to create the first ever omnichannel solution that continues to leverage your engagement ambassadors to connect personally with donors. We've done this successfully for decades with student ambassadors. And now this outreach can be made and managed remotely, to keep our relationships growing without interruption. I RNL's...
May 07, 2020•22 min
Making a strategic plan for your donor outreach that encompasses all levels of donors is really important. With resources tightening, that strategy has high stakes now more than ever. Our RNL consultants have been working on a daily basis with partners facing these challenges. One of them is Jay Finney, who has been doing this for decades across a wide range of charities. Jay grew up around philanthropy, and for decades now has helped organizations craft donor outreach strategy. I got on the lin...
May 07, 2020•24 min
Making sure your books are clean, and that you can account for how gift resources were driven to your cause is a key part of engaging donors. We talk with with Tosha Anderson, founder of the Charity CFO, about what good non-profit and charitable accounting looks like, how it's more than just numbers, and how we can best serve supporters who want transparency and accountability. The Charity CFO
May 05, 2020•25 min
Pressure in higher education advancement offices is high right now. In part from the economy and how tough it is for many donors. And in part because the double whammy of economic issues and real enrollment concerns amidst this crisis are causing institutions to evaluate budgets. Motivating your team, especially when you can’t be with them physically during a difficult time is a key challenge. RNL’s Meg Weber has been through tough economic times before in her career and has successfully led tea...
May 04, 2020•23 min
On this episode, Shaun Keister, Vice Chancellor for Development and Alumni Relations at the University of California, Davis talks to us just a few days before their annual giving day. We discuss maintaining relationship with donors amidst the COVID-19 crisis, how donors are responding, and what we've learned from previous financial crises.
Apr 21, 2020•34 min
Matching gifts can increase an annual giving total in the range of 10% and also can really help boost major gifts. But it’s a challenging time right now. I was wondering, are companies pulling back on this support during the challenges of this health crisis and economic slowdown? Teddy Callow at HEPData reports that corporate social responsibility through matching gifts are an important part of the philanthropic response to the crisis and numerous companies have increased their matches.
Apr 20, 2020•15 min
As we navigate uncertain times, a big question has arisen for many higher education fundraisers: What do we do with our spring or summer giving day? About half of higher education giving days are held between February and June, and they've really taken off in popularity. Many institutions rely on them for end of the year excitement, and to meet their important donor and dollar goals. In a recent RNL poll , most respondents told us that they have altered their giving day strategy due to the COVID...
Apr 17, 2020•15 min
Janice Cunning at FundraisingLeadership.org talks with us about investing in yourself as a leader, including with coaching, to help build and retain high performing teams, navigate challenge, and transform your organization. Find our more about Janice and Fundraising Leadership here.
Apr 15, 2020•21 min
Community Colleges are a key social, economic and educational engine in our communities. Jody Donaldson knows this and that's why she's dedicated to advancing Kirkwood Community College. I sat down with Jody live at this year's CASE VI conference to talk about community college donor engagement, her advice for working with a community of supporters, and how these special institutions help our communities. Find out more about the Kirkwood Foundation's work here....
Apr 15, 2020•25 min
RNL's Eric Billings and Kristin Demarco Carroll offer advice on #GivingTuesday now and COVID-19 funds in general. Included are discussions of AI-driven communications, setting up crowdfunding-based funds, and supporting efforts like emergency relief funds and medical research. RNL is waiving fees for new clients through June 30 for our crowdfunding platform powered by ScaleFunder. Get in touch today to get your campaign up and running for this important day....
Apr 08, 2020•15 min
Sara Wald from North Dakota State University and Eric Gentry from Northern Kentucky University join RNL's Chad Warren to talk about the incredible support for student emergency funds amidst the COVID-19 (coronavirus) crisis. We talk about: - Establishing a fund - How to market a fund and seek support - How to get a fund up quickly using platforms like RNL Crowdfunding powered by ScaleFunder - How funds bring a campus and donors together to meet immediate needs. NDSU's Student Emergency Fund NKU'...
Apr 06, 2020•29 min
Martin Leifeld is a career fundraiser, speaker and author that has raised over $500M in his career. He's the author of Five Minutes for Fundraising , a great book that features leaders from across the fundraiser world. I talked with Martin about how fundraisers navigate the path of personal growth, and what he thinks is in store for the future of our profession. Check out all of Martin's great content at martinleifeld.com...
Mar 27, 2020•26 min
Mazarine Treyz is a coach, speaker and best selling author of “The Wild Woman’s Guide to Fundraising”, serving people in over 70 different countries. Besides writing over 1,000 articles at wildwomanfundraising.com and offering classes, conferences and training, she's a regular speaker at big conferences and events. She's the author of "Get the Job: Your Fundraising Empowerment Blog."Get the Job! Your Fundraising Career Empowerment Guide" In our chat, we cover topics like the world for women in f...
Mar 27, 2020•26 min
Join RNL's Josh Robertson, Dayna Carpenter, Chris Bingley, Shad Hanselman and Greta Daniels as we talk about what the health crisis means for donor engagement, as well as our immediate and future strategy. Find more resources at: https://www.ruffalonl.com/category/fundraising/ And join our COVID-19 Higher Education LinkedIn group. And if you would like to utilize the RNL ScaleFunder platform at no cost through June to put up mobile-optimized campaigns for your supporters, let us know here. We re...
Mar 18, 2020•32 min
Bringing your supporters to a level of true investment is absolutely keep to meeting your goals of philanthropic support. Sherry Quam Taylor knows this and works with fundraisers every day to help them better engage donors to step up to a level of leadership investment. Check out Sherry at: https://www.quamtaylor.com/
Mar 02, 2020•28 min
Industry estimates tell us that the average American receives at least 500 marketing messages a day, and 100 of them are digital. Modern charitable outreach contends with a lot of noise. And it’s hard to break through. Chris Knudson at Wartburg College knows this, and he’s doing a great job connecting with supporters in an authentic way. He’s also done something great and stepped up as the chair of next year’s CASE VI conference. I connected with him at this year’s conference in Kansas City and ...
Feb 02, 2020•21 min
The Crowdfunding and Giving Day Index presents insights and results from 6,116 charitable crowdfunding projects totaling more than $105 million in giving. Charitable crowdfunding has become the premier peer-to-peer online giving opportunity. The report includes key results and benchmarks such as: The types of campaigns institutions run, their average results by type, and the average duration Metrics for first-year results for campuses running their first crowdfunding campaigns The most popular t...
Jan 31, 2020•17 min
