The Build Good Fundraising Podcast

Send us a textOver the last few months it’s become clear to many nonprofits that monthly donors are the heroes we need, but don’t deserve. During COVID, most revenue streams have been shaky and unpredictable. But what seems to have remained very stable is monthly giving. And that has caused a renewed interest in acquiring, retaining and upgrading monthly donors.The problem is, most monthly giving programs are notoriously bad. You sign up, the charity charges your credit card once a month...and that’s it. And most monthly giving programs grow really slowly. They idle in the background, with very little thought or care put into them.But done right, monthly giving has the potential to completely change the future and scale of your mission. And to help you build a stronger monthly giving program, today on the podcast we’re talking to Viktoria Harrison – co-founder of charity: water. Viktoria was part of the team at charity: water that built The Spring over the last few years, a monthly giving program that will raise $17 million dollars this years from more than 50,000 donors all around the world.Along the way, she has learned what works when building a monthly giving program — and what doesn’t. And now she has developed a program called The Monthly Giving Launch Guide to help organizations maximize their donor potential. In our chat, Viktoria walks through 5 reasons monthly giving programs fail, and why it’s worth investing every penny to get it right. Today we’ll cover:[3:47] - Why Viktoria went all in on developing a premier monthly giving program[11:00] - How to make sure your monthly giving program is a flagship program, not just an afterthought[16:45] - The most important components of a strong monthly giving program[20:48] - The importance of creating inspiring content for your donors[24:04] - How to follow up with your donors in the most encouraging, honouring way[28:22] - The keys to keeping things personal with your donors when your organization is scaling up[31:14] - Working hard to make sure your donors understand what their money is going towards and the impact it is having[36:10] - Ideas on how to make sure your donors feel like a valued part of your community and not simply like a means to an ends[41:29] - The right frequency for thanking your donorsViktoria would love to connect with you. You can find her on Instagram, or learn more about her work at The Branded Startup.Enrolment for the Monthly Giving Launch Guide is open now.Join in our mission to help others build good in the world by rating and sharing this podcast on all major platforms. You can do that by clicking here. https://www.buildgood.org/fiveminutefundrasingfix.com

Send us a text2020 has been a strange year, but one of the positives has been a strong movement towards equity and inclusion in the workplace. For too long, systemic oppression has held back our under-represented colleagues. The good news is many leaders are working through this issue in their own organizations, while also pushing the nonprofit sector to take a leading role when it comes to increasing equity and inclusion.In this episode of the Build Good Podcast, we’ll hear from one of them — Tycely Williams. Tycely is the chief development officer at America’s Promise, the largest alliance of its kind in the US devoted to helping the younger generation thrive and succeed. For 23 years she has held senior leadership positions with the YWCA USA, the American Red Cross, and the YMCA. Throughout the course of her career she has inspired individuals and institutions to donate over $92 million to charitable causes. Tycely shares with us how our beliefs about equity, race, and inclusion must influence our behaviour. She wants to inspire and help your organization to have a plan that increases equity and inclusion so you can create a more just work place. Her practical, actionable advice will put you in the perfect position to achieve this by helping shape your systems, processes and policies.Today we’ll cover:[9:49] - Doing philanthropy through the lens of ‘Noble benefit’[16:36] - What we mean, practically speaking, when we talk about increasing equity[20:07] - Recognizing implicit bias within yourself and your organization[22:56] - An example of what implicit bias looks like[25:21] - Change in society starts first within yourself and your organization[32:54] - Where a leader should start when wanting to have conversations with their staff about equity[40:09] - How to become a diverse team without sacrificing talent[46:23] - Developing a track for minority employees to be able to fill any position in the organization[51:33] - How to discern where and with who your organization should invest time and moneyTycely would love to connect with you. You can find her on Twitter, Linkedin or learn more about her work at America's PromiseJoin in our mission to help others build good in the world by rating and sharing this podcast on all major platforms. You can do that by clicking here Get FREE access to the Five Minute Fundraising Fix here: fiveminutefundrasingfix.com

Send us a textThe last five months have shown us how volatile revenue streams can be. Almost overnight, nonprofit leaders had to figure out how to become less dependent on event revenue, grants from foundations and government grants. The best way to protect your organization from future volatility is to build a more resilient fundraising engine — one that focuses on leading individual donors already in your donor base to giving their best gift every year.On today's episode, we’ll hear from Sherry Quam Taylor. Sherry is a nonprofit fundraising coach who helps organizations of all sizes secure larger individual donations from those already in their existing donor base. She started her own business working with executive directors, development directors, and board members to help them create a funding model so all their hard work would yield the maximum return possible. Fundraising and donor development takes discipline but can have massive rewards when we focus our energy in the right direction. Your existing donor file has gold hidden within it. And with the right tools, you’ll be able to mine and uncover all this untapped opportunity. Sherry will equip you to do this and help you identify donors who can, and want to, give more while taking your relationships with donors from transactional to deep, personal and genuine. Sherry demonstrates how to have conversations with your donors to inspire and motivate them towards greater passion for your organization's goals and deeper generosity to fulfill those goals. Today we’ll cover: [6:57] - Leading your donors to give their best gift possible[10:35] - Strategies and tips to learn what your donor’s best gift is.[13:50] - How to find the untapped opportunities amongst your current donor file[20:50] - The importance of discipline and rhythms in cultivating your donors best gift[25:09] - How to customize and tailor your communication to all your different donors[28:08] - Identifying where, how and why donor money is being left on the table[32:10] - How to encourage and engage with your mid-level donors[35:05] - What a ‘gift chart’ is and why you should be using one[37:05] - How to move from a transactional relationship to a deeper, personal relationship with your donors[39:53] - Encouragement for fundraisers who feel like now is not the time to pursue donorsSherry would love to connect with you. You can find her at her website, Her linkedin, and on twitterJoin in our mission to help others build good in the world by rating and sharing this podcast on all major platforms. You can do that by clicking here. 

Send us a textIf you’re like most nonprofits, this year has been a wake up call that you need to step up your game when it comes to communicating clearly, effectively and authentically with your donors. Maybe you were getting by before, but when the system was put under stress, you didn't have the resources or the team or the tools or the strategy to move quickly – and confidently. Today on the show, we’re talking to Sarah Durham, author of the Nonprofit Communications Engine – a leader’s guide to managing mission-driven marketing and communications. Sarah is the founder and CEO of Big Duck, an agency that helps nonprofits increase their visibility and communicate more effectively. She's also the owner of Advomatic, a company that builds websites for nonprofits. In our chat, Sarah gets into what it takes to build a successful communications team, how to create a communications strategy that will help you achieve your goals, and what tools every communications department needs to successfully advance the mission of the organization. We also get into what makes for a successful communicator – and you might be surprised that it has less to do with raw talent, and more to do with being willing to serve.  

Send us a textYou didn't see COVID coming. Nobody did. But now that the initial shock to the system is over, it's time to get back to business. While others might wait for "normal" to return, it's time for you to embrace "the now" by creating a concrete, simple, and clear strategy that will help you survive the next 12 months — and come out of the pandemic positioned for growth. On today's podcast, we talk about 5 mini plans your nonprofit should create right now to guide your fundraising so you can achieve predictable income during a recession, and avoid volatility from future downturns and crises.

Send us a textCOVID-19 is testing the systems and processes of nonprofits like never before. And many organizations are finding that their lack of data practices and data quality are hampering their fundraising efforts.Strong, direct relationships with donors are crucial to withstanding times of uncertainty and crisis. And fundraising success is always a result of strong systems that manage data well, allowing you to maintain a close relationship with your donors.So what can you do to improve the way you manage donor data to help you build deeper connections with donors?On today's episode, we hear from T. Clay Buck, founder of Tactical Fundraising Solutions. Clay is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) who was recently named among the top 20 charity influencers online. He has been a member of the advisory board for Rogare, and co-authored the United States Critical Fundraising Report. He is a frequent speaker and trainer, and teaches Fundraising and Nonprofit Management  at the University of Nevada in Las Vegas.You'll learn why focusing on data quality should be one of your highest priorities right now, and how to create processes and systems to manage your data most effectively. Plus, you'll learn who person is in your organization who can have the greatest impact on your fundraising - and it’s not who you think! You can find more information about Clay and Tactical Fundraising Solutions at Tcbfundraising.com. You can also connect with Clay on twitter (@tclaybuck), Linkedin, or by email at clay@tcbfundraising.com.Today we’ll cover:[5:27] - What lessons should smart fundraisers be learning and paying attention to in our current cultural climate?[13:58] - Why we shouldn’t underestimate the power of smaller dollar donors [16:26] - What are the current trends around data and system management?[22:16] - What is ‘data quality’ and why does it matter? [27:55] - What are some basic systems and processes that every organization should have? [31:14] - The importance of having a designated person who oversees and cares for donor data[32:56] - How can we make sure our systems are showing us the right information to connect with and care for our donors? [37:26] - The importance of valuing those who are charged with data entry at your organizationJoin in our mission to help others build good in the world by rating and sharing this podcast on all major platforms. You can do that by clicking here. Check out our free resource on improving your donor communications at https://www.5minutefundraisingfix.com/

Send us a textFinding and stewarding donors is the foundation of any successful nonprofit. But during uncertain times, it's easy to shrink back and set donor acquisition aside, leaving yourself vulnerable in the future In this episode we hear from Tim Kersten, the CEO of the RKD Group, a fundraising and marketing agency with over 280 nonprofit clients across North America. Tim has 43 years of experience consulting with nonprofits to meet their fundraising goals. He is passionate about empowering and enabling individuals to have their voice heard in their society so they can make a difference, improve lives and correct injustice. 2020 has been wildly unpredictable, and it can be tempting to walk away from donor acquisition while the pandemic is ongoing and the future of the economy is unknown. Tim shares why now is not the time to take your focus off this area. You'll learn why nonprofits should stay in the market and how nonprofits should go about new donor acquisition with all the changes going on around us. You'll learn:[7:51] - The state of nonprofits and the astonishing increase in giving, even with a tumultuous 2020.[13:24] - Why are those who stay in the donor market thriving?[16:01] - The importance of having a strong digital strategy.[17:18] - How to prepare for a possible recession.[22:16] - How to move forward with donor acquisition, even during the COVID-19 pandemic[27:39] - What are the long term ramifications of ignoring donor acquisition?[30:58] - How to balance donor retention with donor acquisition.[35:53] - Given how 2020 has gone so far, what are some tactical changes we should make to donor acquisition? [39:05] - Face to face donor acquisition is highly effective but COVID-19 has changed our ability to do this. What are some other ways we can reach potential donors?  You can find more information about Tim and the RKD Group at https://rkdgroup.com/, or on twitter @RKDgroup.Join in our mission to help others build good in the world by rating and sharing this podcast on all major platforms. You can do that by clicking here.

Send us a textIf you've ever struggled to find the right words to say when confronted with a tough question from a donor, team member or journalist, this episode is for you.On today's show we hear from Brad Phillips, the CEO of Throughline Group, a public speaking and media training company. Brad has trained thousands of media spokespersons and public speakers including a presidential candidate, members of Congress, Olympic athletes, top CEOs, directors of nonprofit organizations and heads of government agencies. In this episode you’ll get a crash course in fielding challenging questions and answering them with authenticity.  Brad will help you understand how tough or even antagonistic questions can create opportunities for you to share your values with the world and build trust in times of crisis. If you’re looking for the skills to represent your organization well, even in the hardest circumstances, you'll learn a lot from our conversation with Brad.You’ll learn: [7:48] - Why authenticity is the only currency that matters right now[9:49] - The consequences of not communicating in a way that shows genuine care[12:23] - Being put on the spot can be uncomfortable and can expose our insecurities which leads to defensiveness. How can we counteract fear that causes us to be defensive?[16:00] - Authenticity in the age of COVID; how Andrew Cuomo has handled the media during the crisis[19:45] - Three practical ways we can prepare for hard conversations: Purpose, Process and Commitment.[24:30] - What is “bridging”? and why it may be the most indispensable tool you have right now[30:15] - How to apply the bridging technique with a practical example[36:09] - How we communicate can be more important than the exact words we use.[37:43] - What to do when you wish you had answered a question differentlyYou can find more information about Brad and the Throughline Group at https://www.throughlinegroup.com/  or on Twitter:@MrMediaTraining, @throughliners Join in our mission to help others build good in the world by rating and sharing this podcast on all major platforms. You can do that by clicking here. https://www.buildgood.org/

Send us a textWhat is the secret of organizations raising record levels of money during the coronavirus pandemic?Many of the nonprofits thriving right now have one thing in common: donor-centric fundraising and stewardship. While it seems counter-intuitive, in hard times many donors actually increase their giving. They want to be part of the solution and help.But the key is, they only give to organizations they care about — and organizations that care about them. Organizations that share their values. That have done a good job at thanking them, making them feel valued and connecting them to the cause. Donors move mountains for charities that value them, celebrate their generosity, use their gift effectively and report back to them on the difference they've made.So if your nonprofit was already focused on donor-centric fundraising, you have a huge advantage right now. And if you weren't, the good news is you can start today.If you want proven tactics that keep donors coming back again and again, this podcast is for you. Julie Cooper will share how to thank donors so they feel connected to your cause...and want to keep giving — even after the pandemic is over. NOTESLearn more about Julie and get the FREE resources mentioned in the podcast by visiting her website

Send us a textOne of the things the coronavirus crisis made clear is the importance of good leadership. Specifically, the importance of leaders who communicate openly and honestly and with enough vulnerability to admit what they don’t know.We sometimes think of leadership as only being important at the board and CEO level, but if you’re listening to this show and you work in the nonprofit and social impact sector, chances are people are relying on you. They’re relying on you to be a good teammate, a good friend, a good boss, a good fundraiser. Maybe your family and your kids are relying on you to lead them through this crazy time.The truth is, we all have a responsibility to lead right now. So today on the show we're talking to Jamie McIntosh, the executive director of partner relations at Compassion Canada — an international development NGO that helps children living in poverty across the world.Jamie has held senior leadership positions in organizations like World Vision, International Justice Mission and Mercy Ships. His work has taken him the world over, and he has experienced what it’s like for organizations and leaders to endure an extended crisis. Jamie is going to share with us three principles that can help all of us lead in a time of uncertainty, including:1.    Why being present is more important than having it all figured out.2.    How admitting our own fears as leaders might the best most fearless thing we can do right now.3.    And how finding a little bit of perspective can make the difference between making it as a leader or breaking down.One of the things I appreciate most about Jamie is his hopeful and redemptive perspective on life, and I think you’ll be encouraged listening to this interview.