Rainmaker Fundraising Podcast

Franklin Guerrero is Vice President of Major Gifts at AARP, and is a highly accomplished fundraiser and leader in the nonprofit sector. He and I recently sat down for a conversation about philanthropy and leadership.In our discussion, we talk about how personal crisis shapes our work as leaders, the importance of values-based leadership, how the nonprofit sector is addressing issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion, and how fundraisers can address these complex topics with donors. Grab a cup of coffee and your favorite snack, and settle in for this insightful leadership conversation! Special thanks to our friends at 7-Figure Fundraising for sponsoring this important conversation with Franklin Guerrero! At 7-Figure Fundraising they teach fundraisers and nonprofit leaders how to craft and deliver fundraising pitches that consistently deliver more 6 and 7-figure gifts from donors. Right now they're offering a 5% discount to their next live (video) training program for our podcast listeners. You can register here and use the code RAINMAKER at checkout to get the discount!

Change. Whether you like it or not, it's the topic of the day. 2020 punched all of us in the face with COVID-19, economic turmoil, and racial unrest across the country. And that's just the change that many of us didn't initiate. Countless other change initiatives were launched and undertaken for one reason or another by organizations of all shapes and sizes. But at the end of the day, one thing is crystal clear. Change is now a constant in all of our lives. So how do we lead well through constant change?What is the difference between managing change and leading through change? How can we as leaders use the process of change to bring about positive impact in our organizations and in the lives of those we lead? What's the right perspective that a leader needs to bring to a change initiative to help our people thrive in the midst of change? How do we as leaders identify the cultural and institutional roadblocks to change, and what can we do about them? These are the kinds of questions that we grapple with in this great conversation with Nancy Murphy, Founder and President of CSR Communications. This is a great discussion for leaders who are struggling to navigate change with their teams, and even for those leaders who are doing well, but simply want to make sure they're focusing their change efforts for maximum impact.  Special thanks to our friends at 7-Figure Fundraising for sponsoring today's episode! At 7-Figure Fundraising they teach fundraisers and nonprofit leaders how to craft and deliver fundraising pitches that consistently deliver more 6 and 7-figure gifts. Right now, they are offering a 5% discount on their live online training that begins on February 16, 2021. You can register here, and use the code RAINMAKER at check-out to get the discount.  If you want to lead your organization more effectively and help your team avoid costly mistakes that drain your organization of time, talent, and revenue, check out my Amazon #1 best-seller, 101 Biggest Mistakes Nonprofits Make And how You Can Avoid Them. 

We kicked off 2021 with an awesome conversation with Kent Stroman, Principal and Founder of the Institute for Conversational Fundraising, and author of Asking About Asking. We covered a ton of ground in our conversation, focused primarily on how frontline fundraisers can improve their individual relationship engagement and raise more money for their causes. Here are some of the key points from our conversation:Donors don't like to be "pitched", and why authentic conversations deliver better fundraising outcomes.How frontline fundraisers -- those who have done this work for decades, and those who are brand new in their role -- can overcome the anxiety and fear of asking.The impact that a fundraiser's mindset has on her ability to cultivate meaningful relationships and secure significant gifts.How asking the right questions at the right time can help you unlock transformational generosity in your donors.The importance of leveraging peer relationships to accelerate major donor relationships.The value of listening well, and how it can help you close more gifts in 2021.Wishing you all a successful 2021 -- and hoping The Rainmaker Fundraising Podcast continues to add value to your life and work in the new year!Andrew If you want to lead your organization more effectively and help your team avoid costly mistakes that drain your organization of time, talent, and revenue, check out my Amazon #1 best-seller, 101 Biggest Mistakes Nonprofits Make And how You Can Avoid Them. Transform your fundraising with Rainmaking: The Fundraiser's Guide to Landing Big Gifts, the best-selling resource that has been used by more than 2,500 major gift leaders, chief development officers, and executive directors to raise over $150 million in the last decade. 

It was an incredible honor to sit down recently with Commissioner Kenneth Hodder, National Commander of The Salvation Army USA, and Joey Zumaya, Public Sector Leader at LinkedIn and national advisory board member at The Salvation Army. One of the things I love about The Salvation Army is that they are actively serving people in EVERY zip code in the U.S. That is a bold and expansive commitment to caring for people in need all throughout our nation.  Standing shoulder-to-shoulder with their volunteers, supporters, corporate and faith community partners, and employees, The Salvation Army truly allows each supporter to do the most good, right in their home communities.We had a fascinating conversation on leadership within the context of The Salvation Army. In this episode, you'll hear us cover a lot of ground, including:Living and leading from your valuesThe importance of deep relationships between a nonprofit CEO and their advisory board membersThe Salvation Army's long-term commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and how that shapes decision-making across the organizationTechnology's role in the development of an organization's talent pipeline, program delivery, and fundraising strategyHow the nation's changing demographics impact the way organizations approach the recruitment of employees, donors, and volunteer leadersSpecial Thanks to New Story for sponsoring this podcast episode. They are on the forefront of developing solutions to end the global homelessness crisis. And they’re looking for innovative fundraisers and leaders to join their team. If you’re interested in joining a team that is making a tangible impact on the lives of people in need across the globe, you should connect with New Story today.  If you want to lead your organization more effectively and help your team avoid costly mistakes that drain your organization of time, talent, and revenue, check out my Amazon #1 best-seller, 101 Biggest Mistakes Nonprofits Make And how You Can Avoid Them. Transform your fundraising with Rainmaking: The Fundraiser’s Guide to Landing Big Gifts, the best-selling resource that has been used by more than 2,500 major gift leaders, chief development officers, and executive directors to raise over $150 million in the last decade. 

This conversation with Jenny Floria, Founder of Floria Consulting, is focused on the importance of data and how data drives strategy is an essential conversation for all nonprofit leaders and fundraisers. In our chat, you'll hear Jenny and I talk through a number of important examples of how understanding data and how to deploy data effectively in your marketing and fundraising can drive increased value -- and how not understanding the importance of data can damage your fundraising results. Regardless of your role or experience in the sector, if you have responsibility for fundraising or marketing outcomes, you'll want to check out this episode!Special Thanks to New Story for sponsoring this podcast episode. They are on the forefront of developing solutions to end the global homelessness crisis. And they’re looking for innovative fundraisers and leaders to join their team. If you’re interested in joining a team that is making a tangible impact on the lives of people in need across the globe, you should connect with New Story today.  If you want to lead your organization more effectively and help your team avoid costly mistakes that drain your organization of time, talent, and revenue, check out my Amazon #1 best-seller, 101 Biggest Mistakes Nonprofits Make And how You Can Avoid Them. 

Jennifer Diaz is Director of Major Gifts with The Salvation Army. She works out of the Philadelphia area, where she leads a team of five major gift fundraisers, and carries her own portfolio of top-level donor relationships.I first met Jennifer about five years ago when I was helping to lead a major fundraising change initiative for The Salvation Army's Eastern Territory. I quickly connected with Jennifer because she's a highly skilled, successful, no-nonsense relationship fundraiser. We sat down just before Thanksgiving to talk about her experience raising major gifts in the Philadelphia area, leading a team of fundraisers during the COVID crisis, and bridging the divide between being an individual contributor and a department leader.You'll hear us cover topics like: 2020 Major Donor Trends The growing trend of donors shifting their giving into DAF's, and what that means for your charityWhat you can do to more effectively manage a remote team of fundraisers What it takes to engage donors during a pandemic, & how those donors are supporting the organizations they loveIf you're in the business of engaging major donors and/or leading fundraising teams, you'll enjoy this conversation. Special Thanks to New Story for sponsoring this podcast episode. They are on the forefront of developing solutions to end the global homelessness crisis. And they're looking for innovative fundraisers and leaders to join their team. If you're interested in joining a team that is making a tangible impact on the lives of people in need across the globe, you should connect with New Story today.  If you want to lead your organization more effectively and help your team avoid costly mistakes that drain your organization of time, talent, and revenue, check out my Amazon #1 best-seller, 101 Biggest Mistakes Nonprofits Make And how You Can Avoid Them.  Transform your fundraising with Rainmaking: The Fundraiser’s Guide to Landing Big Gifts, the best-selling resource that has been used by more than 2,500 major gift leaders, chief development officers, and executive directors to raise over $150 million in the last decade. 

As we are quickly approaching the year-end giving season, it's more important than maybe any time in recent history that nonprofits understand how to effectively engage with high net worth donors and members of their communities. That's why I was so excited to sit down recently my good friend, Kurt Peterson. Kurt is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP), a Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC), and an Accredited Asset Management Specialist (AAMS). Kurt is First Vice President - Investments at Wells Fargo Advisors in the Woodbury, MN area. He is also a committed family man and accomplished athlete. In this conversation we spoke with Kurt about:Why year-end giving in 2020 might be different from other recent years.How nonprofit organizations can create more win-win giving opportunities with donors by engaging financial advisors in the process.Why it often makes more sense to ask donors to give from their assets instead of their cash accounts. How nonprofits can better engage and connect with financial advisors to benefit both their donors and the organizations they serve.You can check out this 2020 Year End Planning Guide, which includes great information on year-end charitable giving.Special Offer From Our Episode Sponsor, Velocity Strategy Solutions:  You have people working in ways they’ve never worked, with people they don’t know, and for managers and leaders they’ve never met around projects they may not understand.The reality is the only thing your competitor doesn’t have is your team. But if you don’t utilize them well and position them for success, you’ll send them looking for better opportunities elsewhere. It’s time to optimize your talent.You can use the code RAINMAKER to get your FREE personalized talent assessment from Velocity Strategy Solutions today! 

Eric Ressler is Founder & Creative Director at Cosmic, a social impact creative agency in the Bay Area. We sat down recently to discuss how brand and digital engagement can impact a nonprofit's ability to scale revenue.While some in the nonprofit sector believe brand will always be in conflict with an organization's ability to raise revenue, Eric doesn't share that point of view. In fact, he's got some great insights into how the two can work hand-in-hand (alongside digital engagement) to both increase awareness of your cause AND help you raise significant amounts of money.Special offer from our episode sponsor, Velocity Strategy Solutions: You have people working in ways they’ve never worked, with people they don’t know, and for managers and leaders they’ve never met around projects they may not understand.The reality is the only thing your competitor doesn’t have is your team. But if you don’t utilize them well and position them for success, you’ll send them looking for better opportunities elsewhere. It’s time to optimize your talent.You can use the code RAINMAKER to get your FREE personalized talent assessment from Velocity Strategy Solutions today! 

Leadership has zero to do with position or title. It has everything to do with impact. But becoming a leader of impact doesn't just happen by accident. And it doesn't happen over night. It requires focus, intentionality, and a commitment to changing the world for the better. I sat down recently with Braden Douglas, founder of CREW Marketing Partners and author of Becoming a Leader of Impact to talk with him about this concept of leadership impact and how every leader can increase the level of impact they make in their organization, the lives of those they serve, and their communities. In our conversation, Braden outlines the 7 key characteristics of a Leader of Impact:Driven by fulfilling a purpose focused on the betterment of othersConfronts & resolves conflicts in relationships with diligence and careDisplays gentleness and patience in the midst of stress, tension, and frustrationIs generous with their advice, their time, and their financesDisciplined with their personal health, development goals, and activities to ensure they have the energy and capacity for the people and projects that matterThey are part of a community of like-minded people who hold them accountable, encourage them, and spur them toward greater thingsIntentional about having an impact on othersThis is just a small sampling of the great conversation with Braden. Check it out today, and pick up a copy of Becoming a Leader of Impact!Special Offer from our episode sponsor, Velocity Strategy Solutions: You have people working in ways they’ve never worked, with people they don’t know, and for managers and leaders they’ve never met around projects they may not understand.The reality is the only thing your competitor doesn’t have is your team. But if you don’t utilize them well and position them for success, you’ll send them looking for better opportunities elsewhere. It’s time to optimize your talent.You can use the code RAINMAKER to get your FREE personalized talent assessment from Velocity Strategy Solutions today! 

Tony Martignetti, host of Tony Martignetti Nonprofit Radio, and one of the nation's leading authorities on planned giving just launched a brand new program to help more nonprofit organizations access the transformational impact of planned giving for their organizations. The program is called Planned Giving Accelerator. Tony and I sat down recently to talk all things planned giving, and to chat about this awesome new program for organizations of all shapes and sizes. In our conversation, we covered:Planned Giving mythsWhy nonprofits never start planned giving programs, and how you can overcome the challengeThe truth about what an organization actually needs to have in place to launch a successful planned giving program (Hint: It's NOT an in-house attorney or PG expert!)How the COVID-19 pandemic is impacting donor behavior related to estate planning and planned givingTony also wanted to share his brand new, FREE Planned Giving How-To Guide with our listeners.If your organization is thinking about starting or ramping up a planned giving program, you've got to check out this episode!Special Offer From Our Episode Sponsor, Velocity Strategy Solutions: You have people working in ways they’ve never worked, with people they don’t know, and for managers and leaders they’ve never met around projects they may not understand.The reality is the only thing your competitor doesn’t have is your team. But if you don’t utilize them well and position them for success, you’ll send them looking for better opportunities elsewhere. It’s time to optimize your talent.You can use the code RAINMAKER to get your FREE personalized talent assessment from Velocity Strategy Solutions today!