The Nonprofit Podcast

Send us a textNot achieving your full fundraising potential?  It’s time for a development audit!📃No need to call in the accountants though, this is all about maxing out the undeveloped capabilities and capacities within your organization!  A development audit looks at your data, systems, structures, and staffing and provides a clear view of your organization’s fundraising potential. Today Cara chats to Lee Ernst, a Senior Consultant at JGA,  a philanthropic and strategic consulting firm helping nonprofits with fundraising, planning, and leadership.  Lee knows how to connect with major higher education and social services donors. With her extensive experience and innovative mindset, Lee helps JGA clients achieve their fundraising goals and create positive change in the world, and today she shares her expertise with us.A thorough development audit will give you clarity on your organization’s strengths and areas for improvement. Allowing you to work with your board and staff to develop a realistic and effective action plan.  To assist you Lee has provided an excellent tip sheet to get you started, you can find it here: Development Audit: Unlock Your Potential with an External Review Find out more about how to maximize your organization’s fundraising and reach your mission goals with the right tools with Donorbox. Get connected with Donorbox Academy monthly Premium workshops -- email academy@donorbox.org The Nonprofit Podcast is available every Thursday on all your favorite podcast platforms, so follow, rate, and download so you never miss an episode:🎙️ Apple Podcasts: The Nonprofit Podcast on Apple Podcasts   🎙️ Spotify: The Nonprofit Podcast | Podcast on Spotify 🎙️ Buzzsprout: https://thenonprofitpodcast.buzzsprout.com   🎙️ Amazon Music: https://amzn.to/3oppTeO    Find out more at: https://donorbox.org/    DO YOU have a question? The Nonprofit Podcast is here to answer your questions!  Our weekly Ask-Me-Anything feature is one click away, simply open the form, add your name, and ask us! ANYTHING!!  ➡️ https://donor-box.typeform.com/to/wXlnEX3X   #JGACounsel  #Nonprofit  #Donorbox  #DevelopmentAuditSupport the show

Send us a text🙏Are you ready to turn ‘Thank You’ into revenue? 📈Showing gratitude is one of the simplest yet most powerful things human beings can do for each other, and one of the most effective ways to gain, retain, or reconnect with donors!  Setting aside time to let your donors, current, new, or lapsed, know just how much their support means to your organization just makes sense! No one likes to feel like a bank, but that is how many donors feel when the only time they hear from you is when you are soliciting donations.  Saying thank you in a sincere and personal way will show your donors that you don't just see them as a source of income, but rather as partners in achieving your nonprofit's mission. And when donors feel truly valued and appreciated, they are more likely to continue supporting your organization (even when you don’t make the ask 😉).Join Cara and Jena for a step-by-step guide to hosting a Thank-a-Thon, and discover what instilling an authentic attitude of gratitude into your donor relationships can do for your cause, stewardship, and bottom line. In addition to the in-show expertise we also have four excellent  blogs to guide you through, you can find them here on our Donorbox Nonprofit  blog: 📑How to Host a Thank-a-Thon:https://donorbox.org/nonprofit-blog/thank-a-thon 📑Thank You Quotes for Donations to Convey your Gratitude:https://donorbox.org/nonprofit-blog/thank-you-for-donation-quotes 📑Ten Ways to Thank Your Nonprofit Donorshttps://donorbox.org/nonprofit-blog/10-ways-to-thank-your-nonprofit-donors And of course, how to thank your volunteers (with a free downloadable template):📑 How to Write a Volunteer Thank You Letter:https://donorbox.org/nonprofit-blog/volunteer-thank-you-letters The Nonprofit Podcast is available every Thursday on all your favorite podcast platforms, so follow, rate, and download so you never miss an episode:🎙️ Apple Podcasts: The Nonprofit Podcast on Apple Podcasts   🎙️ Spotify: The Nonprofit Podcast | Podcast on Spotify 🎙️ Buzzsprout: https://thenonprofitpodcast.buzzsprout.com   🎙️ Amazon Music: https://amzn.to/3oppTeO    Find out more about Donorbox at: https://donorbox.org/    DO YOU have a question? The Nonprofit Podcast is here to answer your questions!  Our weekly Ask-Me-Anything feature is one click away, simply open the form, add your name, and ask us! ANYTHING!!  ➡️ https://donor-box.typeform.com/to/wXlnEX3X   Support the show

Send us a textIs it time to revamp your nonprofit’s efficiency?It’s a task we all put off, but now is the perfect time to tidy up your nonprofit’s systems with these pro tips, zeroing in on saving time, and money, plus enhancing efficiency at every level of your organization.From why nonprofit audits don’t have to be an anxiety-inducing nightmare, to maximizing your Board’s leadership potential and optimizing your donor data to inform your strategic planning, we have you covered.Click here to join our monthly Donorbox product deep-dive every first Friday of the month:🏛️ https://my.demio.com/ref/rysMFbfIsYkH4rlf Each 30-minute session focuses on a different theme or product feature, and our product experts will walk you through the latest Donorbox features, best practices, and tips and tricks to help you take your fundraising to the next level.In addition to the in-show expertise we also have four excellent  blogs to guide you through, you can find them here: 📑The Beginner’s Guide to Nonprofit Auditing (Free Checklist + FAQs)https://donorbox.org/nonprofit-blog/nonprofit-auditing 📑10 Key Responsibilities of Nonprofit Board Membershttps://donorbox.org/nonprofit-blog/nonprofit-board-responsibilities 📑 Boost Donations with Data-Driven Fundraising [2023]https://donorbox.org/nonprofit-blog/data-driven-fundraising 📑8 Donor Metrics to Improve Donor Stewardship & Fundraisinghttps://donorbox.org/nonprofit-blog/donor-metrics Plus, we have a great free downloadable Donorbox resource to assist with your audit planning:✅ How To Conduct a Nonprofit Audit & Check Listhttps://library.donorbox.org/nonprofit-audit-checklist/ The Nonprofit Podcast is available every Thursday on all your favorite podcast platforms, so follow, rate, and download so you never miss an episode:🎙️ Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3J1t18n  🎙️ Spotify: The Nonprofit Podcast | Podcast on Spotify🎙️ Buzzsprout: https://bit.ly/3pctCg3  🎙️ Amazon Music: https://amzn.to/3oppTeO    Find out more at: https://donorbox.org/    DO YOU have a question? The Nonprofit Podcast is here to answer your questions!  Our weekly Ask-Me-Anything feature is one click away, simply open the form, add your name, and ask us! ANYTHING!!  ➡️ https://donor-box.typeform.com/to/wXlnEX3X  Support the show

Send us a textFresh trends, tips, and tactics from the fundraising frontlines!Never underestimate the strategic opportunities of conferences for fundraisers!  To fully understand the demands and changing realities of successful nonprofit fundraising, we headed to AFP Icon 2023 to explore what’s on offer.  And we can say without a doubt, this year, a lot is changing!After spending time networking and learning from experts in the sector, to educational sessions and a partner expo spotlighting all the new tools available, we have some exciting new trends, directions, and a few unsettling realities, to share.   From an eye-opening panel session with the Fundraising Effectiveness Project we share a glimpse of a challenging financial future, and unpack some strategies to minimize potential impacts.  The FEP releases quarterly findings on giving trends, via downloadable reports here afpfep.org, or in a free online dashboard. We also unpack Payment Options and Partnerships, two big topics of conversation, but it’s Omnichannel Communications that really got us excited!  So, don’t miss a trend, trick, or tactic, and tune in to keep up with everything the nonprofit fundraising professional needs on their radar!The Nonprofit Podcast is available every Thursday on all your favorite podcast platforms, so follow, rate, and download so you never miss an episode:🎙️ Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3J1t18n  🎙️ Spotify: The Nonprofit Podcast | Podcast on Spotify🎙️ Buzzsprout: https://bit.ly/3pctCg3  🎙️ Amazon Music: https://amzn.to/3oppTeO    Find out more at: https://donorbox.org/    DO YOU have a question? The Nonprofit Podcast is here to answer your questions!  Our weekly Ask-Me-Anything feature is one click away, simply open the form, add your name, and ask us! ANYTHING!!  ➡️ https://donor-box.typeform.com/to/wXlnEX3X  Support the show

Send us a textHow can AI get you in front of the right prospective donors?Shawn Olds, the Chief Executive Officer of boodle.AI, is back with us for the second of two discussions thoroughly interrogating how AI helps organizations achieve significant lifts in conversion, engagement, and retention rates.  Today Shawn takes Cara through a deeper dive into the opportunities that open up when you optimize your donor segmentation and communication using AI.  From segmentation to personalization and stewardship there are AI tactics and tools to enhance donor prospecting and research, opening doors to donors you may not otherwise identify.You can find out more about Shawn and the remarkable results boodle.AI is delivering for its clients here: https://boodle.ai/ or on their socials @boodleAI. As always we have excellent resources to add to today’s discussion on our Nonprofit Blog, you can find them here:ChatGPT for Nonprofits: Maximizing Impact with the Power of AI: https://donorbox.org/nonprofit-blog/chatgpt-for-nonprofits   8 Ways Chatbots Help Nonprofits Expand Outreach and Increase Donor Engagement: https://donorbox.org/nonprofit-blog/chatbots-help-nonprofits  Or find out more at: https://donorbox.org/    DO YOU have a question? The Nonprofit Podcast is here to answer your questions!  Our weekly Ask-Me-Anything feature is one click away, simply open the form, add your name, and ask us! ANYTHING!!  ➡️ https://donor-box.typeform.com/to/wXlnEX3X  Support the show

Send us a textAI is everywhere at the moment and everyone has an opinion on how it has and will continue to impact nonprofit fundraising. So we sat down with Shawn Olds, the Chief Executive Officer of boodleAI, the leading machine learning peer-to-peer platform empowering nonprofits to connect with, and engage, new donors and supporters, to hear just what to expect in the future, and how to maximize the AI you may already be using. Shawn takes Cara through the impacts AI has already and will continue to have on fundraising, tackling concerns, and digging into the opportunities that open up when you optimize your donor segmentation and communication using AI.   Touching on how AI helps organizations achieve significant lifts in conversion, engagement, and retention rates, this is the first of two interviews that drill deep into AI’s potential to revolutionize how nonprofit organizations operate, connect with donors, and serve their communities.You can find out more about Shawn and the remarkable results boodle.AI is delivering for its clients here: https://boodle.ai/ or on their socials @boodleAI and be sure to join us next week when Cara and Shawn get into how nonprofit leaders, founders, and fundraisers can use AI to build relationships with donors. As always we have excellent resources to add to today’s discussion on our Nonprofit Blog, you can find them here:ChatGPT for Nonprofits: Maximizing Impact with the Power of AI: https://donorbox.org/nonprofit-blog/chatgpt-for-nonprofits  8 Ways Chatbots Help Nonprofits Expand Outreach and Increase Donor Engagement: https://donorbox.org/nonprofit-blog/chatbots-help-nonprofits Or find out more at: https://donorbox.org/    DO YOU have a question? The Nonprofit Podcast is here to answer your questions!  Our weekly Ask-Me-Anything feature is one click away, simply open the form, add your name, and ask us! ANYTHING!!  ➡️ https://donor-box.typeform.com/to/wXlnEX3X Support the showSupport the show

Send us a textSummer is almost here - Are you ready for your quarterly strategy check?  As we head into the second quarter of the year we’re taking a moment to reflect, refocus, and realign the fundamentals that underpin successful fundraising strategies.Dipping into some real ‘mic drop moments’ from our most popular episodes Jena lifts up 5 key learnings to help you review your non-profit’s first-quarter performance, and mitigate the challenges you may have faced as you plan for the summer.  From finding new donors to retaining stalwart supporters, and making sure your communication cadence is hitting the right notes at the right time, we’ve got the tactics to recalibrate your strategy for a successful second quarter.We have two excellent guides to assist you in implementing some of today’s tips on our Nonprofit Blog, you can find them here:The Ultimate Guide on Creating a Strategic Fundraising Plan for Nonprofits: https://donorbox.org/nonprofit-blog/strategic-fundraising-plan How to Set and Meet Fundraising Goals the Smart Way (13 Tips): https://donorbox.org/nonprofit-blog/set-and-meet-fundraising-goals Download The 5 A’s of Awesome Fundraising Here: https://poweredby.donorbox.org/podcast-five-as-of-awesome-fundraising/Or find out more at: https://donorbox.org/    DO YOU have a question? The Nonprofit Podcast is here to answer your questions!  Our weekly Ask-Me-Anything feature is one click away, simply open the form, add your name, and ask us! ANYTHING!!  ➡️ https://donor-box.typeform.com/to/wXlnEX3X Support the showSupport the show

Send us a textNo one really enjoys digging through dirty data but the benefits are worth the effort!So, what exactly will a data spring clean do for your summer fundraising?  Deliver a tightly segmented, personalized campaign based on solid donor relationships and key supporter insights, for starters!  Join Cara for a review of must-do tasks for superior summer campaigning, starting with why data hygiene is fundamental to first-rate fundraising, and opportunities you may be missing to strengthen your donor relationships. From refreshed receipts to awesome acknowledgments, get ready to prep your nonprofit for a great season of fundraising success!Download The 5 A’s of Awesome Fundraising Here:  https://poweredby.donorbox.org/podcast-five-as-of-awesome-fundraising/ If you’re inspired to take control of your outgoing communications but feel you may not be ready to do it alone, follow the link to find out more about Donorbox Premium custom packages including coaching, and the support you need to advance your mission here:  https://donorbox.org/premiumOr find out more at: https://donorbox.org/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=podcast_47    DO YOU have a question? The Nonprofit Podcast is here to answer your questions!  Our weekly Ask-Me-Anything feature is one click away, simply open the form, add your name, and ask us! ANYTHING!!  ➡️ https://donor-box.typeform.com/to/wXlnEX3XThe Nonprofit Podcast is available every Thursday on all your favorite podcast platforms, so follow, rate, and download so you never miss an episodeSupport the show

Send us a textMaximizing The Value Of Virtual Events.With virtual fundraising events here to stay, today’s show guides you through optimizing every element of your fundraiser.  Navigating virtual events is all about strategy, communication, and the tools in your tech stack.  From CRM integrations, ticketing, and email marketing tools that collect donations in real-time, to securing corporate sponsorship Cara and Jena have tools, pro tips, and inside track techniques to ensure you squeeze every ounce of value out of your virtual or hybrid fundraisers.We have a mine of resources and guides to advance your virtual events, including Donorbox’s Airmeet integration that embeds your donation form directly into your meeting room, explore more here:  https://donorbox.org/airmeet-integration To help you create a donation-driving virtual fundraising event follow the link for our comprehensive Easy Guide On How to Host a Virtual Fundraising Event, for a detailed outline of the tasks you and your team will need to accomplish before, during, and after putting on a virtual (or hybrid) event.🌟 Here’s the link: https://donorbox.org/nonprofit-blog/host-a-virtual-fundraising-event#6 Or find more resources to help all your fundraising events rise to the occasion in the Donorbox Library here: https://library.donorbox.org/category/events/    DO YOU have a question? The Nonprofit Podcast is here to answer your questions!  Our weekly Ask-Me-Anything feature is one click away, simply open the form, add your name, and ask us! ANYTHING!!  ➡️ https://donor-box.typeform.com/to/wXlnEX3X?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=podcast_53  The Nonprofit Podcast is available every Thursday on all your favorite podcast platforms, so follow, rate, and download so you never miss an episode.Support the show

Send us a textHave we really said goodbye to virtual events?  Or have fundraisers discovered a neat way to gain extra fundraising and awareness opportunities by supplementing in-person events with a virtual component?There’s a strong case to be made that virtual events are here to stay, so today we tackle some of the key questions you need to ask when deciding whether or not to add a virtual option to your major fundraiser this year.From if, or when, to incorporate virtual fundraising into the mix, to whether or not it should form part of your long-term strategy, or have concerns it may negatively impact your donors' personal connection to your cause, Cara and Jena interrogate the value of virtual events, and what the real deal on the ROI can be.To help you create a donation-driving virtual fundraising event follow the link for our comprehensive An Easy Guide On How to Host a Virtual Fundraising Event, for a detailed outline of the tasks you and your team will need to accomplish before, during, and after putting on a virtual, or hybrid, event.🌟 Here’s the link: https://donorbox.org/nonprofit-blog/host-a-virtual-fundraising-event#6 🌟And here is a great check-list to keep you on course:   https://library.donorbox.org/event-planning-checklist/Or find more resources to make your events rise to the occasion in the Donorbox Library here: https://library.donorbox.org/category/events/    DO YOU have a question? The Nonprofit Podcast is here to answer your questions!  Our weekly Ask-Me-Anything feature is one click away, simply open the form, add your name, and ask us! ANYTHING!!  ➡️ https://donor-box.typeform.com/to/wXlnEX3X?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=podcast_53  The Nonprofit Podcast is available every Thursday on all your favorite podcast platforms, so follow, rate, and download so you never miss an episodeSupport the show