Fundraise Like A 5th Grader with Patrick Kirby

Jun 11, 2025

In today's discussion, Patrick Kirby, founder of Do Good Better Consulting and author of Fundraise Like a 5th Grader, dives into the playful side of nonprofit fundraising. He shares how adopting a childlike mindset can simplify strategies and boost results. They explore the 2025 fundraising trends and the risks of sticking to outdated methods. Patrick emphasizes the importance of creativity, in-person connections, and personalized donor engagement, while also advocating for innovative approaches that keep fundraising fun and effective.

Ask episode

AI Snips

Chapters

Books

Transcript

Episode notes

ANECDOTE

Child's Fundraising Success Story

Patrick's daughter excitedly raised $200 in 30 minutes for a school fundraiser with no script or fear.
Their childlike enthusiasm showed that simple, bold fundraising can be very successful.

INSIGHT

Reclaiming Fundraising Enthusiasm

Adults lose fundraising enthusiasm due to fear of bragging and rejection.
Donors want to celebrate wins and impact, not just requests for money.

ADVICE

Avoid Fundraising Stagnation

Avoid the phrase "we've always done it this way" to prevent fundraising stagnation.
Evolve by adopting new approaches like AI and personalized donor engagement to avoid failure.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Get the app

What if fundraising was as simple and fun as a 5th-grade project? In today’s episode, we sit down with Patrick Kirby, founder of Do Good Better Consulting and host of The Official Do Good Better Podcast, to talk about his newest book, Fundraise Like a 5th Grader. Patrick brings his signature energy and humor to share why embracing a childlike approach to fundraising can lead to big wins for nonprofits.

We also dive into 2025 fundraising trends, the dangers of “we’ve always done it this way” thinking, and the simplest ways nonprofits can raise more money this year. Whether you’re a seasoned fundraiser or just starting, this conversation is packed with insights you can use today!

🔹 In This Episode, We Cover:

The inspiration behind Fundraise Like a 5th Grader
Why overcomplicating fundraising is holding nonprofits back
The biggest fundraising trends for 2025
The most common fundraising mistakes (and how to fix them!)
Why breaking old habits is critical for nonprofit success

Hit play now, then subscribe to Nonprofit Nation for more expert insights!

Guest Links & Resources:

📖 Get Fundraise Like a 5th Grader: Do Good Better Consulting
💡 Learn more about Patrick Kirby: Do Good Better Consulting
🎙 Listen to The Official Do Good Better Podcast: [Podcast Link]
📲 Follow Patrick on LinkedIn | Twitter

Enjoying the Podcast?

✨ Don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast platform!

🪷🪷 This episode sponsored by Bloomerang! 🪷🪷

What if we named things for what they're not? We'd give teachers non-apples and fly non-cars. Ridiculous, right? So why is your world-changing organization called a "nonprofit"? Truth is you're for-purpose. And the more you raise, recruit, and retain, the more good you can do.

That's where Bloomerang comes in. Bloomerang's Giving Platform is built for purpose, with easy-to-use tools and powerful insights that help you understand your donors better than ever and unleash generosity! (Slightly faster, more energetic) Imagine... spending less time on admin tasks and more time on what matters: your mission. Bloomerang customers raise an average of 26% more!

Ready to join them?

Take my free masterclass: 3 Must-Have Elements of Social Media Content that Converts