110: Real Relationships: Creating a Culture of Fundraising and Systems to Support It with T. Clay Buck

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 are intrinsic to human nature and intrinsic to living in community and society." 

With over 30 years of experience in all types of fundraising, Clay is an expert in the field of philanthropy and the power of individual giving. He is passionate about the idea of valuing every gift, every donor, and every level of involvement. He believes that fundraising is about relationships that ultimately yield money, but the relationship needs to come first, and that everyone in the organization, from the front-facing gift officer to the colleagues in marketing, has a role to play in fundraising. He advocates for the idea that fundraising is about engaging the community in solving problems and inviting them to join the mission - a concept that requires a shift in thinking and leadership. There is so much inside this episode for front-line fundraisers or anyone thinking about how to improve the culture of fundraising and the culture of philanthropy inside their organizations.

Here's what T. Clay Buck and I cover:

1. The Power of Valuing All Donors at Every Level: Explore how honoring and recognizing every gift and donor can transform the way we fundraise.

2. Exploring the Impact of Money and Relationships in Fundraising: Understand how to balance the monetary exchange and relationship-building when fundraising.

3. Empowering Fundraising Roles Beyond the Front-Facing Gift Officer: Discover how to value the roles of prospect research, donor relations, and marketing in the nonprofit sector.

Get all the resources from today’s episode here.

A big shout out to our sponsor Instil, the holistic tool that reimagines nonprofit technology in ways that deepen community relationships and nonprofit processes to maximize impact. The platform’s advanced UX design and real-time analytics supercharge donors, increase volunteer engagement, and smooth operations across your entire organization.

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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