The Nonprofit Podcast

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

Send us a textLooking for ways to make your fundraising easier, save time but still raise more money?From easier account navigation with our new dashboard to inclusive accessibility, Donorbox has been steadily adding features, tools, and resources to help grow your nonprofit.  Join us to take a look at four Donorbox features that have made nonprofit fundraising easier in the last three months, plus the learning opportunities and free resources Donorbox is currently offering, and what's in the pipeline to take your fundraising to the next level in the coming months.Jena also gives us a sneak peek at two big upcoming events.  The Donorbox Live™ Kiosk is set to change on-site giving when it is released in April, you can find out more here: Donorbox Live™ Kiosk (don't forget to tick the notification box to be one of the first to access this groundbreaking device.)  And, most exciting, where to find us at AFP ICON 2023, and what you can expect if you join us in New Orleans to find out more about what Donorbox can do to help boost your fundraising.  You can register for the conference here: registration link and join us for expert-level best practices and industry-leading features, and of course, meet our team and Podcast Hosts.For more about the Donorbox features and services discussed please head over to our website: https://donorbox.org/?ref=dono345 Catch up with the new courses available from Donorbox Academy here: https://academy.donorbox.org/  Or discover the goldmine of information, best practices, and inspiring fundraising how-to’s in our Nonprofit Blog: https://donorbox.org/nonprofit-blog 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 text56% of donors regularly attend fundraising events and + 84% of event fundraising pledges are fulfilled.  Just two reasons events are an annual fundraising mainstay!So it's no surprise that many nonprofits are hard at work planning as we head into the busiest time of year for fundraising events.  But, are you making the best decision for your organization?  A big bang event may not be the best return on investment for nonprofits, in fact, an event may not be a good idea at all!Today Cara takes us through the fundamentals of fundraising event planning, from the critical ‘why’ to the ‘what, when, and where’ of making the right decision to reap dividends for your mission, plus Pro-tips on making and meeting the all-important budget.  Join us and find out how to ensure your event is a good fit for your cause, community, and donors or if you should be looking for alternatives in 2023.We recommend these three excellent guides to assist you in implementing some of today’s tips on our Nonprofit Blog, you can find them and many more here:Nonprofit Event Planning: 9 Simple Steps (+ Downloadable Checklist)https://donorbox.org/nonprofit-blog/nonprofit-event-planning How to Create a Fundraising Event Pricing Strategyhttps://donorbox.org/nonprofit-blog/event-pricing-strategy Creating and Selling Fundraising Event Tickets | The Ultimate Guidehttps://donorbox.org/nonprofit-blog/fundraising-event-tickets If you would like to find out more about the Donorbox Events, all the information can be found here: https://donorbox.org/events 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 textThink golf fundraisers are old hat and more work than they are worth?  Think again!One in nine Americans plays golf!  The average player has a net worth of $768,000 and is aged between 25 and 55, the group with the highest spending power. So, why aren’t you tapping into this prime donor demographic?Jena is joined by Jeffrey Brown, Chief Marketing and Development Officer at STE(A)M Truck, a seasoned nonprofit executive, who is passionate about assisting organizations to raise the capital needed to thrive. Jeffrey shares his expertise, insights, and pro-tips on maximizing every element of a golf day fundraiser.From meaningfully bringing your mission to life on the fairway, to mechanisms to share your story while creating far-reaching brand awareness within budget, Jeffrey has innovative thinking to share.  Plus strategies to retain existing sponsors and source new ones if you choose to hold your next fundraiser on a golf course. To help you create a donation-driving fundraiser follow the link for our comprehensive Charity Golf Fundraiser Checklist, for a detailed outline of the tasks you and your team will need to accomplish before, during, and after putting on a Golf event. To find out more about Jeffrey and the remarkable work being done by STE(A)M Truck, just follow this link: https://www.steamtruck.org/ 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 textTurning crisis into opportunity takes planning and a well-developed strategy!  With rising inflation and dropping donor numbers, most nonprofits are already feeling the pinch of a tightening economy, especially coming hard on the heels of the pandemic.  As unnerving as this is, experience has shown that an economic downturn can be turned to your advantage with the right systems and strategies in place.Join us as Jena and Cara explore how nonprofits can leverage the lessons learned during a crisis to emerge stronger, more resilient, and better equipped for the future.  From tackling your communication strategy cadence to retaining existing donors while attracting new supporters, and tailoring your messaging to carefully targeted audiences, today's episode helps to recession-proof your organization and sets a course of action to ride out the storm.If you would like to find out more about the Donorbox Academy Fear-free Fundraising Masterclass commencing March 02, 2023, all the information can be found here: https://academy.donorbox.org/Or you can sign-up directly here: https://academy.donorbox.org/p/fear-freefundraising using the special promo code PODCAST and get $20 off. 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 textDonor-centered communication has been one of the keys to unlocking growth, funding, and community support for Sista Afya Community Care in Chicago.  Committed to maintaining excellent standards of care in everything they do, today Executive Director Camesha Jones shares how finding the perfect rhythm, tools, and touchpoints to communicate with their supporters and beneficiary community, is an extension of that ‘excellence in everything’ approach.Sista Afya is a social enterprise that provides community mental wellness care that centers on the experiences of Black women. Following a year of strong growth and expanding services Camesha explains how a consistent communication strategy has supported achieving their goals, despite the fact that they are ‘only a small but mighty’ organization.From using freely available online resources, and leveraging platforms such as LinkedIn, to when consulting with specialist advisers is cost-effective, Camesha opens up on the journey to creating a communication strategy and cadence that supports the whole organization, just as Sista Afya Community Care supports the well-being of the whole person.You can find out more about the work Sista Afya Community Care is doing, and support them here: https://www.sistaafya.com/ And to assist you in creating your own communication cadence follow the link to the free Donorbox 5 A’s of Awesome Fundraising download: https://poweredby.donorbox.org/podcast-five-as-of-awesome-fundraising/We know you will be using it again, and again!  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/   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/wXlnEX3XSupport the show