Real Talk for Real Fundraisers

Your donors give because it makes them feel connected to their heart and passion for making a difference in the world. And your organization is probably not the only one they’re giving to, which means that your donors are getting a lot of messages from the organizations they sponsor.  With so much competition for their attention, how do you stand out from the rest and win your donors’ hearts? In this episode re-release from 2021, Richard and Jeff offer seven ways that you can stand out with your donors, so you can build more authentic relationships and encourage donors to engage with you as partners in your mission. Show Highlights: In this episode, you’ll learn…  What it means to bring your authentic self to your donor relationships The power of listening and asking good questions in your donor conversations How to build strategic, personal touch points into your communication plan that will remind the donor that you know who they are as an individual

The 2023 report by the Fundraising Effectiveness Project revealed that for the first time in a decade, the national average for major giving revenue went DOWN by -4% in 2022. This has generated a lot of concern in the fundraising community about the future of philanthropy. The good news is – you don’t have to accept decreasing revenue as the new normal.  When this report came out, we took a look at how our clients had done by comparison. While the findings showed that nationally, major gifts revenue was down -4% for the first time since 2013, our clients saw an average increase of +22%. And for donors giving $500-$5,000 level (what we would identify as mid-level), national numbers were down -3.9% in revenue in 2022 compared to 2021. Our mid-level clients, however, were up +7%. Getting this kind of growth isn’t rocket science. It takes dedication and commitment to implement a system and structure that’s designed to create long-lasting partnerships with your donors where they feel deeply connected to your organization’s mission. In this podcast episode, Jeff and Richard examine the results of the report and share how non-profits can adopt strategies to reverse these trends and increase giving to their organization. Show Highlights: In this episode, you’ll learn…  Key insights from the Fundraising Effectiveness Project on the state of donor giving in 2023 Strategies that enabled Veritus clients to grow their revenue, despite lower giving nationally What fundraising leaders can do to achieve these results for their organization

Have you ever experienced the impact of a coach in your life? Maybe you had a great coach when you played sports or an instrument. Or perhaps you’ve worked with a life coach, spiritual advisor, or someone who’s an expert in a hobby of yours. How has that impacted you?  The role of a coach is somewhat different from a teacher or instructor. They’re not just lecturing or demonstrating. A coach takes a different approach. They see your strengths, and they work with you to hone your abilities and make tweaks to your process so you can improve. They help you see your own roadblocks and work with you to move past them. Then they’re available to keep reminding you of what you’ve learned, guide you through solutions to overcome obstacles, work on creative ideas, and encourage you to keep going.  When you have this kind of support, it can be transformative to your work. But unfortunately, coaching is often not valued in the fundraising world. And this is having a detrimental impact on your ability to be successful as a fundraiser or fundraising leader.  Today’s episode is all about why we believe that everyone needs a coach. With the right support, you can do even more for your mission.   (Interested in what coaching could look like for you or your team? If you’d like to learn more about our coaching approach, schedule some time to chat with us. We love getting to work with fundraisers like you and we’re happy to answer any questions you have about coaching or other resources to support you in your work.) Show Highlights: In this episode, you’ll learn…  Why there’s such a need for coaching in fundraising Our process for co-managing fundraisers in partnership with organizational leadership Advice for listeners who are interested in finding a coach or supporting their team in a coaching capacity

This topic is a controversial one. But stay with us for a minute! Any fundraiser’s primary objective is to connect with donors. And those donors are people with busy lives. They might only be available after 5pm, or only on weekends. They might be located internationally. For so many reasons, MGOs need to be flexible so they can meet when it’s convenient for the donor. So, should MGOs also be expected to sit at a desk from 9am to 5pm, Monday through Friday? It seems like the answer would be obvious – it’s simply not sustainable for fundraisers to work all the time. Yet many organizations promote a culture that requires 40 hours in the office, at whatever cost, regardless of the many events and donor meetings the fundraiser attends outside those hours. This has got to change if organizations want to keep great fundraisers. Today’s episode is all about creating the kind of environment that gives fundraisers the freedom they need to nurture their donor relationships without working 60+ hours every week. Show Highlights: In this episode, you’ll learn… Why we believe that major gift fundraising is not a 9-5 job What happens when leadership doesn’t allow flexible schedules for MGOs (who are also expected to meet with donors outside of 9-5) What it means to manage by objectives, rather than overseeing every hour or every step of the process How leaders and fundraisers can advocate for a culture that supports flexibility and prevents burnout

If you’ve shied away from bringing up planned giving in your donor conversations… you’re not alone! Whether you’re a major gift officer, mid-level officer, executive director of your organization – many people feel some hesitation about bringing up a topic that touches on the donor’s death. On this podcast episode, Jeff and Richard interview Robert Shafis, our Director of Planned Giving Services, to put some of those fears to rest and give you some tools and strategies to help you feel more confident about discussing planned giving. Remember, at its core, planned giving is an incredible way for your donors to leave a legacy that will support your organization into the future. And it truly is accessible to anyone. Listen in to learn how you can start to have these conversations so you can make a bigger difference for your organization while providing your donors with the opportunity to leave something behind that’s meaningful to them. Show Highlights: In this episode, you’ll learn about… How to overcome the obstacles that are stopping you from bringing up planned giving with your donors What it looks like when fundraisers are speaking confidently about planned giving (and when they’re not) How to incorporate planned giving into your broader fundraising strategy What indicators to look for and how to begin a conversation with a donor about making a planned gift

Are your board members actively engaged in fundraising for your non-profit? And if not – how can you encourage them to get involved? In this episode, Jeff Schreifels and Karen Kendrick are joined by Renita Tyson for a conversation about how non-profits can build a better partnership with their boards. Renita is a Client Experience Leader at Veritus Group with a background in numerous sectors, from Fortune 500 companies to small industrial manufacturers. She’s held positions in sales, marketing, development, and senior management, and she also brings her own experience as a board member herself. Whether you’re seeking out new board members, or you’d like to see more participation from an existing board, this episode will give you some new perspective on how to support your board members so they can do more for your mission. Show Highlights: In this episode, you’ll learn about… The role of board members in fundraising How to shift the way your board thinks about fundraising and engage them in your mission The resources your board needs in order to do an effective job Recommendations for organizations seeking to diversify their board

Imagine this scenario: you’re a leader of a non-profit, and you run into a major donor at an event. They ask how things are going at the organization. How do you respond? A: “Things are great! We’re on track to meet our revenue goals by the end of the year.” B: “Right now, we’re focused on growing our XYZ Program so we can provide more services for families in need. We’ve seen some incredible results through this program already; can I share a little about what we hope to do in the year ahead?” It’s pretty clearly B, right? And yet, a lot of fundraisers are so focused on the money that they struggle to talk about their mission in a way that connects with donors. For this podcast episode, we’ve invited a special guest to help us discover what it means to speak in terms of your mission. Luke Wilson, CEO of A Rocha Canada, will share how focusing on his organization’s mission has transformed his conversations with donors. As you’re listening in, think about your own elevator pitch and whether it’s working to engage donors with your mission in a meaningful way. Show Highlights: In this episode, you’ll learn about… Why so many fundraisers and non-profit leaders struggle to talk about their mission What gets in the way of having more meaningful donor conversations The difference between a money-focused conversation and a mission-focused one

Sometimes fundraisers are so self-sacrificing in their work that they lose themselves. They give 110%, until they can’t do it anymore. These are the ones who are at risk of burning out and leaving the profession entirely. That’s why we’re devoting this episode to a conversation about self-love and setting boundaries to give yourself room for renewal. When you practice self-love and self-care, you’ll be able to bring more to your role as a fundraiser and create deeper relationships with donors from a place of self-awareness and respect. This special episode features Karen Kendrick, Senior Director of Learning at Veritus, along with special guest, Nneka Allen, Founder of The Empathy Agency. Show Highlights: In this episode, you’ll learn… The obstacles to self-love, particularly in the fundraising profession How setting boundaries shapes your capacity for self-love and your relationships with others Where to begin your journey to self-love, so that you can show up more authentically with your donors and be the bridge between their passion and your organizational mission

If you're over-investing in donor acquisition and cultivation, but not investing enough in the upper end of the pipeline, then the donors that you've acquired can't be properly cultivated into mid-level, major gifts, or planned gifts. And the reverse is a problem too, when non-profit leaders insist on discovering new major donors outside of their existing donor pools, because they’re not investing enough in donor cultivation. How do you find the right balance? In this episode, Richard and Jeff discuss the components of the donor pipeline and how to invest across each stage of the donor journey. Show Highlights: In this episode, you’ll learn… The different stages of the donor pipeline including acquisition, cultivation, mid-level, major gifts, and planned giving How these stages relate to one another and where to invest across the donor pipeline so you’re seeing maximum ROI How to use our Diversification Analysis worksheet to evaluate the balance of your investments across the pipeline

Successful fundraising programs depend on great managers who can provide fundraisers with feedback, accountability, and encouragement. It’s a full-time job, and it requires a certain set of skills. Yet many non-profit managers are expected to continue to manage their own caseloads in addition to their team’s. They may have been moved into their role without training or support. And on top of that, the skills that make someone a successful fundraiser don’t necessarily translate to being an excellent manager. This is where a co-management solution comes in. In this podcast episode, Richard and Jeff explain what we mean by “co-management.” They share how Veritus partners with non-profit organizations to provide this service and how it compares to in-house management of frontline fundraisers. Show Highlights: In this episode, you'll learn... What “co-management” means and how it works for non-profit organizations How co-management solutions compare to in-house management Benefits of co-management and how to overcome obstacles