174: The Power of Consistency and Utilizing Data: Building Donor Relationships in a Small Community with Jennifer Coughlin

In this episode, we are joined by Jennifer Coughlin, who bravely opens up about her profound voyage through the challenges of raising a child grappling with a rare genetic condition. With only around 250 diagnosed cases worldwide, Jennifer's youngest daughter, Edith, faces a myriad of obstacles, including visual impairment, developmental delays, seizures, epilepsy, and intellectual disability.

Jennifer's life took a drastic turn when she received Edith's diagnosis, prompting her to leave her career at an investment bank to prioritize her daughter's care. Through this challenging transition, Jennifer found solace and support in the NR2F1 Foundation, a charity dedicated to supporting families affected by this rare condition.

As Jennifer delves into her unexpected role as a fundraiser for the foundation, she reflects on her initial hesitation and subsequent immersion into the world of nonprofit work. Drawing from her background in strategy and operations, Jennifer leveraged her skills to develop a comprehensive fundraising strategy despite being new to the nonprofit sector. Currently, she serves as the Vice President of the NR2F1 Foundation.

In this episode, you will be able to:

• Learn the importance of storytelling and engagement in fundraising efforts.
• Apply personal anecdotes and diverse networks to boost support for the cause.
• Use Givebutter or similar platforms for efficient fundraising and donor data collection.
• Engage donors through personalized follow-ups and transparent impact communication.
• Nurture lasting donor relationships by showing gratitude and fostering deeper connections.
• Overcome challenges of small volunteer teams with strategic dedication to fundraising goals.
• Leverage community and networks to amplify fundraising efforts, embracing discomfort for success.

Get all the resources from today’s episode here. 

Support for this show is brought to you by a beloved nonprofit fundraising platform Givebutter. Our friends at Givebutter really understand what it takes to stay connected to your donors and how to use your CRM to do it. Their free fundraising platform empowers millions of changemakers to raise more, pay less, and give better every single day. To learn more about them, head on over to givebutter.com/mallory

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If you’re looking to raise more from the right funders, then you’ll want to check out my Power Partners Formula, a step-by-step approach to identifying the optimal partners for your organization. This free masterclass offers a great starting point