Go Beyond Fundraising: The Podcast for Nonprofits

Join Stephanie Drahan, Vice President at Allegiance Group + Pursuant, and David Cicchetti, Associate Vice President for Client Strategy, as they delve into the rising importance of SMS in nonprofit fundraising. They discuss how text messages can bridge online and offline efforts, making donor engagement more personal and effective. Learn about starting SMS with small campaigns, the enduring value of cell phone numbers, and how to measure success with practical metrics. Discover why incorporating SMS is essential for modern fundraising strategies.

End-of-year giving is officially wrapped! You may have planned a matching gift campaign to finish the year strong, but promoting matching gifts throughout the year can boost both giving frequency and amount. In this episode of the Go Beyond Fundraising podcast, we talk with Amelia Baumann, Partnership Success Specialist at Double the Donation, about the crucial importance of ensuring donors know if their employers offer a matching gift program. Need proof? About 84% of donors are more likely to give if they see a match is offered, and 70% more donors respond to fundraising appeals that mention matching. We discuss the many benefits matching gifts can bring your organization. We’ll also share best practices to help you maximize awareness of this strategy. With more visibility, your donors can double or triple their gift — and your impact — at no extra cost to them. Listen now.

Your website is the hub of your digital presence. Depending on the size of your organization, your site could have anywhere from hundreds to thousands of pages — that’s a significant amount of content to manage. A content management system (CMS) simplifies this process so you can unlock new opportunities to connect with your audience. In this episode of the Go Beyond Fundraising podcast, we talk with three of Allegiance Group + Pursuant’s web experts, Russ Chettiar, Ren John, and Mark Leta, about how a CMS can make your website more efficient and effective. If you’re in the market for a new website or CMS, this episode is for you. We break down precisely what you should look for in a CMS and offer quick tips to help you begin the search process in the right direction. Get ready to bring your data and content together for a dynamic and engaging web experience that drives meaningful interactions with your supporters.

TJ Peeler, Director of User Experience at Allegiance Group, and Meredith Berents, a Digital and SEO Analyst, share their expertise in navigating the complexities of SEO for nonprofits. They reveal that less content can drive better results when it’s high-quality and regularly updated. The duo discusses the importance of aligning content with audience intent, audit strategies for uncovering high-performing articles, and using data to enhance engagement. They also emphasize optimizing existing material over constantly creating new posts.

Christa Stelzmuller, Chief Technology Officer at charity: water, shares her insights on blending technology and transparency in the nonprofit sector. She emphasizes the need for nonprofits to innovate in the face of competition from for-profit social good companies. Christa discusses how immersive technologies, like virtual reality, can deepen donor connections and enhance empathy. She also highlights charity: water's commitment to donor loyalty through transparency and previews an exciting new experience that will link donations directly to impact.

The digital landscape constantly evolves. Changing algorithms, shifting audience preferences, and privacy concerns can be challenging to sort through.   Paid media can help you solve this puzzle. On this episode of the Go Beyond Fundraising podcast, Allegiance Group + Pursuant’s Chief Strategy Officer, Trent Ricker, talks with VP of Advertising Laura Hinrichsen about how nonprofits can use paid media tactics to build a strong digital presence.  They discuss:  -The core components of digital fundraising and marketing  -How your owned media can help you launch a paid media strategy  -Why it’s crucial to get your marketing and development teams on the same page  -How even small nonprofits with limited budgets can make a big impact through paid media  Your owned media will help you maintain awareness with your constituents, but paid media is the key to jumpstarting deep donor relationships.

Cynthia Round, a branding expert with experience at United Way and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, dives into how nonprofits can transform their brands from relevant to irresistible. She emphasizes the importance of emotional connections in fostering donor loyalty. Listeners learn successful strategies for uncovering donor motivations and the tactics needed to create lasting relationships. Cynthia also discusses empowering employees as brand stewards and shares insights on creating welcoming experiences in cultural institutions.

Matthew Mielkeric, an analytics expert for nonprofits, and Joe McLaughlin, VP of analytics at Allegiance Group, dive deep into the complexities of omnichannel marketing. They discuss the importance of effective attribution models to evaluate donor engagement. The duo breaks down direct, indirect, and time-based methods for clear communication of ROI. Practical tips for data management are also highlighted, enabling nonprofit teams to better track donor interactions and optimize their fundraising strategies.

Matthew Mielcarek, SVP of Analytics & Insights Strategy, shares his expertise in omni-channel fundraising. He emphasizes the importance of journey mapping to understand donor relationships better. Mielcarek discusses how to put on your 'donor hat' for a more effective engagement strategy. He explains the donor vortex and the need for tailored communication strategies for both new leads and donors. By conducting touchpoint audits, nonprofits can foster stronger relationships and enhance donor loyalty.

Discover how nonprofits can elevate their fundraising through an omni-channel strategy. Experts discuss unifying diverse data sources to enhance donor engagement and streamline communication. Learn about the significance of integrating various tools, like CRM and SMS, for improved outreach. The importance of data accuracy and security is highlighted, along with practical tips to navigate the complexities of tracking donor preferences. Embrace a more cohesive approach to create lasting connections with supporters.