Real Talk for Real Fundraisers

At the AFP Conference last summer, two fundraisers from the East Texas Food Bank reached out to Jeff. They wanted to share with him how taking our Certification Course two years ago has made a huge difference for them in building deeper donor relationships and bringing in more revenue for their mission. We felt so inspired by the conversation and the long-term results they’re seeing now, two whole years after taking the training. So, for today’s episode, we invited Hannah Harris, Donor Engagement Advisor, and Alex Fruth, Director of Development for the East Texas Food Bank, to come and share with us about their experience with The Veritus Way of fundraising.  If you’ve been considering taking a training with us, or you’re wondering what it would mean for your organization to adopt a more relational approach to fundraising, listen in to hear from Hannah and Alex about how it’s made an incredible difference in their work with donors.  Show Highlights: In this episode, we ask Hannah and Alex to share about…  Key takeaways from our Certification Course and how it’s impacted their work The before-and-after difference of adopting The Veritus Way Learning to use Permission-Based Asking™ in donor conversations

One of the greatest barriers to your success in relational fundraising is whether or not the rest of your organization understands and supports this work.  We hear stories all the time from frustrated fundraisers who aren’t able to get important program information, can’t easily share the impact, and don’t have donor offers to present.  So for this episode, we’re sharing some guidance, tips, and language to help you start talking about fundraising within your organization so you can get everyone on board and moving in the same direction.  Show Highlights: In this episode, you’ll learn…  The problems that arise when organizations don’t understand or value the role of fundraising How fundraisers and leaders can educate other groups about fundraising How to connect with Program and Finance teams so they can see the impact donors have on their work How to explain a relational approach to fundraising for those without a background in it

We get a lot of questions from our community about basic best practices in fundraising. And we get it! It’s one thing to understand these ideas in theory, but even the most experienced fundraisers run into questions when it comes to implementation. So, for this podcast episode, we’ve compiled some of the most common questions we receive about the basics to encourage you and help you make sure you’ve got the basics down.   Show Highlights: In this episode, you’ll learn…  Why you still need to ask donors to give, even though they’re receiving direct mail How to layer direct mail communications with your relational strategy Why it’s necessary to build a strategic communication plan for each major donor Why you need a 7-step donor qualification process The role of wealth ratings in qualifying your donors

For your organization to continue to grow, you need to invest in an organized program for identifying and stewarding planned gifts. Planned giving is an essential part of relational fundraising, yet so many fundraisers avoid it simply because they don’t have a system that supports them to engage donors in this way. So for this podcast episode, we’ll be talking about the three legs that make up a successful planned giving program. Listen in to learn how to build a program that will support your fundraisers in securing more planned gifts for your organization’s mission. Show Highlights: In this episode, you’ll learn about…  How we define the three legs of planned giving, and where these areas can support each other Organizational division of labor for these functions – whether you have a distinct position for each role, or one person who manages them all What can go wrong when an organization is not properly supporting all three areas of planned giving Opportunities for collaboration between major gifts and planned giving

If you put off your year-end planning until October or November, you may find yourself scrambling to get things done at the last minute, without any broader strategy behind your communications. Which is why we recommend starting now!  But we know it can be overwhelming to think about everything you need to do at year-end. So in this episode, we’re sharing some of our favorite tips and ideas to help you build efficiencies into your year-end plan, so that this time of year can stop being overwhelming and start being fun, creative, and impactful. Show Highlights: In this episode, you’ll discover…  What gets in the way of effective year-end planning Tips for fundraisers looking for efficiencies in their year-end planning and strategy How non-profit managers and leaders can help their teams create an effective plan for year-end

At this point, most organizations have realized the value of having a relational major gifts program. But there are still many non-profit leaders out there who can’t get over the initial cost of investing in a major gifts program, even though those programs can have an ROI of 10 to 1, or more!  So, what’s holding you back from investing in major gifts? In this re-release of one of our most popular episodes, Jeff and Richard discuss the obstacles that are holding leaders back from investing in major gifts. They also share about the average ROI you can expect from a mature major gifts program, and the foundational elements you need to have in place in order to see those benefits.  Show Highlights: In this episode, you’ll discover…  The obstacles that hold non-profit leaders back from investing in major gifts, and how to overcome those objections Average return-on-investment you’ll see from a mature major gifts program, and setting expectations for how long it takes to get there The key elements of a major gifts program, including: a donor-centered culture, support from your leadership and finance team, and measurable results that demonstrate the efficacy of your programs

Having a culture of collaboration is critical to your success in fundraising. Do you have solid relationships with your counterparts in Finance, Program, and Marketing? Or does each department prioritize their own individual goals, at the expense of your mission? Poor communication and competition between departments means that your donor is not getting the best possible care and service, and they may choose to give elsewhere. In this re-release of one of our most listened-to episodes, Jeff and Richard discuss how fundraisers can promote better relationships within their organizations so that everyone is aligned in supporting the donor journey. Show Highlights: In this episode, you’ll learn…  Why it’s so important for fundraisers to collaborate with other departments How to bridge the gap between your non-fundraising colleagues and donors How fundraisers can encourage better communication between groups

It’s summertime! Hopefully, you’re taking some quality time off. And whenever you’re back in the office, you may even find yourself with some quiet days where your inbox is not blowing up and all your meetings are cancelled. This is a great time to reflect and plan for how you’re going to meet your goals by year-end. In this episode re-release from 2021, Jeff is joined by Lisa Robertson, Director of Client Services at Veritus Group. Together, they share five ideas for what you can do this summer that will set you up for a successful year-end.  Show Highlights: In this episode, you’ll learn about…  Reviewing your caseload to determine whether any donors need to be moved How to get creative with your donor outreach during the summer Using the slower summer months to focus on professional development And more ideas for how fundraisers can make the most of the summer season!

Even before the pandemic, finding and hiring the right candidates for fundraising roles was a challenge. Now, many organizations are struggling to even get a good pool of candidates, let alone find the right candidate from within that pool.  In this podcast episode, Jeff and Karen are joined by special guest Paul Towne, Executive Search Consultant with Cooper Coleman. As a search consultant who works exclusively with non-profit and social impact organizations, Paul has extensive knowledge about how to attract the right candidates and identify the best match for the position.  We hope this conversation gives you some helpful ideas and tools to use when you’re hiring for your next fundraising role! Show Highlights: In this episode, we discuss…  Why organizations are having such a tough time hiring fundraisers How the rise of remote and hybrid work has impacted the job market How to attract diverse applicants and select candidates who are a good fit for your organizational culture and community

Many fundraisers can share about a time where a donor overstepped one of their personal boundaries. Yet historically, the non-profit sector has not been proactive about preparing for when a donor says or does something inappropriate. A fundraiser is tasked with bringing in funds for an important cause, but that should never come at the expense of their personal well-being. Fundraisers need to be clear on their own personal boundaries, and they need to feel the support of their organization when a situation arises.  In this episode featuring special guest Rachel Wyley, CEO and Founder of Culture Kinesis, we talk about the power dynamics at play and how fundraisers and leaders can respond when a donor says or does something that crosses a line. Show Highlights: In this episode, we discuss…  The power dynamics at play in conversations between donors and fundraisers  How to define your own personal boundaries for both physical and psychological safety The lack of support for fundraisers who are dealing with uncomfortable or inappropriate situations What can leaders do to better protect and care for their staff How fundraisers can respond when a donor says or does something that crosses a boundary