Through her own experiences of feeling powerless and vulnerable when in the data of powerful organizations, Meena Das found an unexpected passion for exploring the importance of data transparency and ethics. Fueled by her commitment to data equity, Meena has dedicated much of her career to helping others understand the need for more human approaches to data. Meena is a data consultant and workshop facilitator specializing in ethical data practices. Meena's experience as a first-generation immigr...
May 16, 2023•50 min•Season 4Ep. 127
Aaron Machbitz discovered the power of vulnerability when tragedy struck and unexpectedly redirected his life. Through open and honest conversation, he has become a beacon of hope for those seeking solace and understanding - inspiring us to ask, what does it take to create meaningful connections and foster emotional validation in times of pain and loss? Aaron Machbitz is a mental health advocate whose journey began as a professional wrestler with a performative lifestyle. Aaron's life took an un...
May 09, 2023•52 min•Season 4Ep. 126
Nonprofits have unique marketing requirements in comparison to other business entities. Unless they have programs that they specifically market for, their focus is primarily on generating awareness, engaging potential donors, and making a substantial impact on their target audience. To achieve this, nonprofits must understand their target audience's needs, wants, and preferences, and tailor their marketing efforts accordingly. In this episode, we talk with Aidan Augustin, a visionary leader, co-...
May 04, 2023•25 min•Season 4Ep. 124
Grassroots storytelling emphasizes genuine, human experiences that can deeply connect with the audience. Rather than focusing on a polished narrative, it prioritizes the authenticity and raw emotions of individuals who are not professional storytellers. This form of storytelling can have a profound impact on the listener, as it evokes empathy and understanding by showcasing the unfiltered realities faced by real people. In this episode we interview Chris Miano, a passionate advocate for authenti...
May 02, 2023•27 min•Season 4Ep. 124
In today's world, artificial intelligence (AI) is changing the way we approach various tasks, from mundane daily tasks to complex business problems. For nonprofits, the use of AI in fundraising and donor engagement is a game-changer that could lead to improved strategies and deeper connections with donors. AI helps these organizations analyze massive amounts of data to identify patterns and trends, ultimately leading to the pinpointing of ideal donors and tailoring meaningful communication to th...
Apr 27, 2023•26 min•Season 4Ep. 123
Artificial intelligence (AI) has evolved significantly over the years, transforming from a concept that fascinated us when computers bested chess champions, to a powerful tool with a variety of applications. For nonprofit professionals, AI has the ability to revolutionize content creation in the sector, automating tasks, and providing insights into data patterns and trends. AI creates a new approach when it comes to content production and it has the potential to save time and streamline processe...
Apr 26, 2023•32 min•Season 4Ep. 122
The importance of measuring a person's connection to an organization cannot be underestimated, as it transforms the way nonprofit fundraisers prioritize and prompt potential donors. By utilizing artificial intelligence, fundraisers can focus on building relationships with individuals based on their genuine interest in the cause rather than simply targeting them because of their wealth. This approach leads to more meaningful and fruitful partnerships, which positively impacts the efforts of the o...
Apr 25, 2023•27 min•Season 4Ep. 121
As a fundraiser, your ability to handle stress is constantly tested. Fundraising requires lot of hard work, sacrifice, rejection, and honestly, sometimes trauma. If you have a sensitive nervous system, like many fundraisers do, you’re more prone to burnout, anxiety, and chronic stress. So, how can we prevent that? Today’s guest is here to help! Dr. Linnea Passaler is the Founder and CEO of Heal Your Nervous System, a digital health startup that uses a combination of neuroscience and somatic work...
Apr 18, 2023•50 min•Season 4Ep. 120
When it comes to non-profit work, your ability to fundraise is not possible if you do not prioritize your mental health and wellness. The clarity, energy, and ability you’re looking for does not reside in how much you push yourself, but how you take care of yourself. Here to unpack that is further is Rosa Julia Rivera, a clinical therapist and Co-Owner of Chicago Growth Mindset, a Latina-led private practice specializing in integrating workplace mental wellness programs and providing evidence-ba...
Apr 11, 2023•44 min•Season 4Ep. 119
Executing a successful fundraising event can be daunting, but there are simple strategies you can use to plan a highly engaging, creative, and enjoyable fundraiser with less stress and more ease. Meet A.J. Steinberg, CFRE, a non-profit event producer and engagement strategist who’s raised millions of dollars for organizations through her LA-based company, Queen Bee Fundraising. A.J. is an expert on non-profit event planning, event sponsorships, committee and volunteer leadership, generational gi...
Apr 07, 2023•49 min•Season 4Ep. 118
What does it mean to be a magnetic fundraiser? It means you attract abundance and connection instead of chasing it. Magnetic fundraisers are authentic, good listeners who prioritize meaningful connection with donors over outcomes. So, it’s possible to be fully authentic when asking people for money? Of course it is! Sara Lomelin, CEO of Philanthropy Together, is working to diversify and democratize philanthropy by creating the infrastructure needed for the giving circle model to flourish in all ...
Apr 06, 2023•47 min•Season 4Ep. 117
What inspires donors to be deeply connected to causes and organizations? How can fundraisers shift from transactional donor relationships to more connected donor relationships? These are key questions whose answers shine light on our beliefs about generosity, problem solving, and non-profit success. Want to know more? Tune in to this episode with Paul Nazareth! Paul Nazareth is a Charity Sector Community Builder and VP of Education & Development at the Canadian Association of Gift Planners. ...
Apr 05, 2023•46 min•Season 4Ep. 116
Feeling overwhelmed, lost, or perfectionistic when it comes to managing your social media? Not sure if your Instagram or Facebook posts are giving you a good ROI? This episode is for you! Today’s guest will certainly ease your mind with her tips and strategies for creating an amazing social media management strategy. Julia Campbell, Founder of J Campbell Social Marketing, has helped hundreds of nonprofits make the shift to digital thinking. What does that mean? Julia enables nonprofits to build ...
Apr 04, 2023•51 min•Season 4Ep. 115
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Social Impact practitioners have a special role in not only their organization’s well-being, but their community’s well-being. How? They are catalysts who can use their organization’s resources to create meaningful change. That’s exactly what Kavell Brown has been doing for years. Kavell is the Social Impact Partnerships Manager at LinkedIn, where he manages non-profit and philanthropic partnerships across North America. Kavell seeks to deploy and levera...
Mar 28, 2023•40 min•Season 4Ep. 114
Leah Neaderthal, the founder of Smart Gets Paid and a sales coach for women consultants, joins us on this episode of What the Fundraising to share her expertise on getting more of the right consulting clients and increasing revenue for consulting contracts. But don't let the focus on consultants fool you; Leah's insights and advice are applicable to fundraisers too who are trying to shift their mindset around how they approach money and value. In this episode, Leah provides valuable insights int...
Mar 21, 2023•41 min•Season 4Ep. 113
Looking to increase donor trust and recruit more aligned donors to your non-profit? The key lies in your marketing. That might sound obvious, but non-profit marketing goes deep. So, let’s dive in. Priscilla McKinney, CEO of Little Bird Marketing, is a sought-after keynote speaker, prolific blogger, podcast host, industry innovator, and diversity champion. She personifies creativity, entrepreneurship, and authentic leadership – inspiring others to carve out their own path to success. With a fiery...
Mar 14, 2023•39 min•Season 4Ep. 112
As fundraisers and change-makers, we get immense purpose and value from our work. But how do we optimize that? How do we optimize our donor relationships so we can keep creating value for our organization? The key is creating the right habits! If you can create strong habits and get good at the skills that strengthen and grow your donor relationships, you’ll soon be seeing wins left and right. Habits free us up to focus on the areas we need to grow, optimize, and see results in. This is where St...
Mar 09, 2023•56 min•Season 4Ep. 111
In this podcast episode, Clay Buck, founder of TCB Fundraising, challenges the fundraising community to prioritize and recognize all donors at all levels to create a culture of philanthropy, highlighting that fundraisers often miss this opportunity in trying to meet monetary goals. "Generosity is alive and well. People are giving at all levels and doing all kinds of things. I believe, and have for 30 plus years, that there will always be somebody who needs and somebody who wants to help - these ...
Mar 08, 2023•52 min•Season 4Ep. 110
We are taking a closer look at donor relationships on this episode of What the Fundraising with my guest Carole Robin, whose class on interpersonal dynamics has been perennially among the most popular ever at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business. Why? Because, whether in the nonprofit or for-profit realm, we so often get relationships wrong, or just skip over them altogether at the expense of our desired outcomes. A co-founder of Leaders in Tech and co-author of "Connect: Building E...
Mar 07, 2023•45 min•Season 4Ep. 109
With a goal of ending the War on Drugs and reducing trauma all over the world, Rick Doblin is on a mission to liberate psychedelics and make them accessible to all. Rick is the Founder and Executive Director of the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Research (MAPS). MAPS has raised $140 million in donations and grants over 36.5 years, with plans to increase that exponentially in the coming years. Rick is here to shed light on how he went from fearing LSD to trying it, loving it, and a...
Feb 28, 2023•47 min•Season 4Ep. 108
Jenny Nuccio is the founder and CEO of Imani Collective, a leading global ethical home decor brand that serves over 170 artisans in three locations in Kenya. She is an expert in social entrepreneurship, social work leadership, and management, and on this episode of What the Fundraising we are talking all about how she needed to learn the hard way that relationships with stakeholders, whether they be donors or consumers, are just as important as money when it comes to running her business. Throug...
Feb 21, 2023•52 min•Season 4Ep. 107
Maya Angelou famously said, “Now that I know better, I do better.” It’s a sentiment that perfectly captures the spirit behind EmbraceRace, a nonprofit dedicated to nurturing children who are thoughtful, informed, and brave in taking on all aspects of equity and justice. On this episode of What the Fundraiser its founder, Andrew Grant Thomas, helps us explore difficult conversations – why we need to have them and what they can look like. It’s not always going to be pretty, and that’s okay! In fac...
Feb 14, 2023•37 min•Season 4Ep. 106
What would it be like if nonprofit teams got past the labels and stigmas? Traded in silos for collaboration? This episode of What the Fundraising features a panel of 13 marketing and fundraising experts who are here to discuss how cross-departmental integration advances overall organizational goals by building both brand and donor relationships. They are sharing personal perspectives and busting false assumptions that hinder our best efforts – and desired outcomes for the causes we serve. You’ll...
Feb 09, 2023•56 min•Season 4Ep. 105
When it comes to making consumer choices, it’s well known that humans don’t always act rationally. In fact, as amply documented by economists, we very often actually act against our own best interests! On this episode of What the Fundraising, we’re getting down to the science of giving. Behavioral science, that is! If you haven’t been using the powerful tools and research out there, Evelyn Gosnell, managing director at Irrational Labs, is here to demonstrate all the ways in which you and your no...
Feb 08, 2023•46 min•Season 4Ep. 104
When we look at fundraising, we tend to silo marketing, acquisition, cultivation, and stewardship. But Simon Mainwaring, my guest on this episode of What the Fundraising, is explaining why in fact they are all a piece of the puzzle. He is breaking down for us the ways in which each element of the donor journey is a link in the chain that is indicative of the nonprofit’s overall brand. When we get the marketing right, our donors connect and invest for the long haul. As CEO of the strategic consul...
Feb 07, 2023•49 min•Season 4Ep. 103
Sometimes it’s our job as integral change leaders to be the reality check – even when it’s not easy or means leaving money on the table. Bessi Graham, my guest on this episode of What the Fundraising, is helping us think in new ways about bravery – the willingness to stand up as nonprofits and claim our value propositions, state our limitations and insist on donor partners whose values align with our own. With 20 years of experience working with business owners, governments, and large funding bo...
Jan 31, 2023•44 min•Season 4Ep. 102
When it comes to Gen Z, there is a cultural investigation going on that is challenging older generations to reflect and in many cases reset. Danielle Farage, my guest on this episode of What the Fundraising, is a “Workplace Futurist” helping the first fully digital generation create a new sense of work-life harmony. As Director of Growth & Marketing at Café, a platform fostering development and collaboration within hybrid environments, Danielle’s mission is to leverage technology in bridging...
Jan 24, 2023•45 min•Season 4Ep. 101
When it comes to accessibility, do foundation’s insides match their outsides? This episode of What the Fundraising – the second of two parts – takes a closer look at how (or whether) funders embrace the full spectrum of disabilities, not just in the projects they fund but in the accessibility of their funds in the first place. Staying aligned to our missions means ensuring our systems are integral – and inclusive. My guest, Margaux Joffe, a groundbreaking voice on behalf of those with ADHD and n...
Jan 17, 2023•30 min•Season 4Ep. 100
Sharing that I’m a person with ADHD (Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) has definitely sparked feedback and conversation, which should come as no surprise. As Margaux Joffe, my guest on this episode of What the Fundraising is perfectly positioned to explain, neurodivergence is a reality across all kinds of workplaces in every imaginable sector. “It represents the diverse range of human brains and neurocognitive functioning that exists in our species,” says Margaux, an innovator and advoca...
Jan 17, 2023•38 min•Season 4Ep. 100
Is so-called “dumb luck” really so dumb? Or is it, in fact, the result of an invitation? As my guest on this episode of What the Fundraising explains, there’s an art and science to this thing called “serendipity.” Christian Busch, author of "The Serendipity Mindset: The Art and Science of Creating Good Luck," is showing us how to cultivate the unexpected, with insights about why an abundant approach opens doors (and how staying small can literally cause us to miss good fortune right in our path)...
Jan 10, 2023•52 min•Season 4Ep. 99
