Responsive Lab Podcast

Chris Hammond and Jen Linck of CGC joined The Responsive Fundraising Podcast to get deep into the practical details, steps, and strategies of crafting an effective nonprofit marketing plan. Chris Hammond founded CGC in order to simplify the giving process between nonprofits and corporations. He developed this unique concept as a result of his experience in working in fundraising and nonprofit consulting management. By means of his pursuits as a nonprofit fundraising consultant, he recognized the need for an all-encompassing company that would utilize the “four pots of fundraising”: event management, grant writing, individual and corporate giving. Chris has 8+ years of event management and 6+ years of nonprofit fundraising consulting & leadership experience. He holds a BA in Political Science and an MA in Public Policy and Administration from California Lutheran University. Jen Linck, CMO, came to CGC after twenty years of marketing experience in the entertainment industry, working in book publishing, television, and film. A driven marketing professional with a passion for innovation and a reputation as a highly analytical consumer engagement expert with proven project management skills, Jen is responsible for leading the marketing strategy for CGC and its nonprofit consulting clients. Jen holds a Bachelor’s degree in English from James Madison University and an Executive MBA from Pepperdine University where she graduated with honors and now serves as adjunct faculty teaching marketing at the business school.  

JB Stark (they/them) joins The Responsive Fundraising Podcast to talk about leading their team to resiliency and growth during COVID-19 and beyond. JB  is the Director of Individual Giving at The Trevor Project and is honored to work with Trevor’s family of donors who support the organization’s operations and growth. Prior to this, JB worked at the NYU Stern School of Business on the Development and Alumni Relations Team, working with alumni to bring the Dean’s vision to success by raising critical funds for programs and scholarships. JB has years of experience working in fundraising and nonprofit leadership in economic empowerment, education, and LGBTQ youth advocacy spaces. As the Deputy Executive Director of the National Youth Advocacy Coalition, JB worked on LGBTQ youth community mobilization, health education, disease prevention, and engagement initiatives across the country. The Trevor Project is the world’s largest suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer & questioning (LGBTQ) young people. The Trevor Project offers a suite of 24/7 crisis intervention and suicide prevention programs, including TrevorLifeline, TrevorText, and TrevorChat as well as the world’s largest safe space social networking site for LGBTQ youth, TrevorSpace. Trevor also operates an education program with resources for youth-serving adults and organizations, an advocacy department fighting for pro-LGBTQ legislation and against anti-LGBTQ rhetoric/policy positions, and a research team to discover the most effective means to help young LGBTQ people in crisis and end suicide. Donate here. Find the resources JB mentioned here.

Sarah Landman joins the Responsive Fundraising podcast to discuss personalized donor stewardship. During our conversation we discuss the tie between theatre and fundraising, key donor signals nonprofits must tune in on, and how you turn signals into more personalized cultivation plans, especially in 2021. Sarah is the Sr. VP of Philanthropy Services at NewsBank / Insightful, a web-based platform to help nonprofits know more about their donors that lead to deeper relationships. Sarah is an experienced fundraising and business executive with a 15 year history and successful results working in the fundraising industry. Skilled in major gift fundraising, business development, marketing, capital campaign consulting, women's philanthropy and legacy planning. M.A. in Philanthropy and Development from Saint Mary's University of Minnesota. https://www.insightfulphilanthropy.com/home https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahjanelandman/   

Steven Aguiar joins The Responsive Fundraising podcast to discuss how nonprofits can grow their donor base through digital acquisition and paid campaigns. During the conversation we discuss essential elements of digital marketing campaigns and why a growth blueprint should replace your traditional fundraising plan. Steven is the founder of Good Goes Further, a company that helps nonprofits create and execute a plan for digital growth. He is a full-stack digital marketer with experience running all aspects of a company's digital marketing and is now using his experience for good by focusing completely on growing nonprofits. Over the past four years, Steven has helped dozens of businesses scale and activate digital audiences and with Good Goes Further, he hopes to bring all of those growth marketing capabilities directly to nonprofits. https://goodgoesfurther.com

Lindsay Voltz, the Sr. Director of Major Gifts at the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation (DRIF), joins The Responsive Fundraising Podcast to discuss donor stewardship strategies and what today's donor is looking for from fundraisers. During the discussion we unpack what's top of mind for today's philanthropist, how you navigate the balance between what a donor desires to do with your nonprofit's mission, and the importance of improv within fundraising. Lindsay Voltz, CFRE currently serves as Senior Director, Major Gifts at the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation (DRIF) overseeing a team of frontline major gift fundraisers and DRIF’s expansion to a regional major gift model. Prior to joining DRIF, Lindsay was the Director of Major Giving, Southeast at the Parkinson’s Foundation. While with the Parkinson’s Foundation, Lindsay led major gift efforts for the southeast region of the U.S. and built a robust pipeline of major donors across nine states. Lindsay has been in the nonprofit sector for more than thirteen years, with a focus on development and major gift fundraising for the majority of her career. Prior to her role at the Parkinson’s Foundation, Lindsay raised crucial funds for cancer research for Moffitt Cancer Center. Lindsay held a number of roles while at Moffitt, including as a Development Officer building a midlevel giving program, Associate Director of Principal Gifts during which time she secured multiple six and seven-figure gifts and as Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations overseeing the CFR program. Lindsay began her nonprofit career with Obesity Action Coalition, a national patient advocacy organization, where she initially served as Marketing Manager, followed by her role as Director of Development and Engagement Initiatives. https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindsayvoltz https://www.diabetesresearch.org/ 

David J. O'Brien and Matthew D. Craig join The Responsive Fundraising Podcast to discuss the insights from their new book Building Smart Nonprofits. During the conversation we dig into  alternative funding models, how to move beyond golf tournaments, galas, and grants, and ask the question whether there are too many nonprofits. Many contrarian notes, but insightful. Building Smart Nonprofits: A Roadmap for Mission Success is a handbook of best practices nonprofits can use to improve sustainability - a book of knowledge and know-how distilled from interviews with over 60 industry leaders who are in the nonprofit trenches every day—as executives, leaders, board members, funders, publishers, and service providers. David J. O’Brien and Matthew D. Craig provide real-life examples of nonprofits deploying best practices and emerging industry trends – such as the rise of socially conscious investing – to position their organizations for the long term. Topics include, among others, funding models, impact investing, compensation, strategic restructuring, leadership, full-cost grantmaking, program evaluation, storytelling, and financing. Readers learn how to best position their non-profit organization for a sustainable and long-term future. https://requiemforthegala.org/our-book/

Bridget Jones and Kelly Hayman join The Responsive Fundraising Podcast to share how they help transform the Boys & Girls Club of the Tennessee Valley fundraising programs in light of tremendous challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. During the conversation we take a step back to March 2020 to recall how Bridget, Kelly, and their team's decision making process amidst the chaos and upending that COVID-19 had on their fundraising channels which was in contrast to the rapid growth in demand for their programs. Bridget Jones started as a part time Youth Development Worker with Boys & Girls Clubs in her hometown of Greeneville, TN. With a degree in education from Carson Newman College, a passion for young people and a love of gathering people together, she was able to use her skillset as the Director of Development & Corporate Events to raise funds to support the mission and vision of Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee.  Her heart truly desires to serve young people who need us most and provide them with life-changing opportunities each time they enter the BGS doors. Kelly Hayman came to Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley in 2006 as an Education Director in one of the school based sites.  Over the next fourteen years, Kelly progressed into leadership positions such as Technology Director, Club Director and Executive Director.  He was moved into the role of Annual Gifts Officer in 2019. In his current role, Kelly is responsible is responsible for developing and stewarding both annual and recurring gifts.  His role allows for him to work with both small and mid-level donors.  Kelly began his Boys & Girls Club career in 1995 when he was hired to work as a summer staff member for the Boys & Girls Club of Valdosta, GA.  Becoming the Club Director in 2003, he led the Lake Laurie facility from serving 75 members to more than 140 members in 2005.  https://bgctnv.org/leadership/

Gordon Pont, the Partner and Strategy Director at Collab Agency in Australia, joins the Responsive Fundraising Podcast to talk about brand and marketing strategy, and the necessity to stand for something to ensure you stand out from the crowd. During our conversation we pull on Gordon's experience in consumer marketing and nonprofit advocacy and uncover essential traits nonprofit brands need to be remarkable and attract support. Gordon is a strategically led commercial marketer and business owner. With 20+ years of building brands, across B2C and B2B markets he promises to effectively collaborate so that your business grows. His experience includes senior Marketing, Sales, Category Management, Innovation and Directorship roles. Having also worked across most communication channels in traditional and digital media. He's passionate about working together with teams looking to grow and brings a breadth of capability, leadership and insight. https://www.collabagency.com.au  https://opportunity.org

Dan Reed joins the Responsive Fundraising Podcast to share his first-hand experience scaling digital fundraising campaigns. During the conversation we discuss why digital fundraising is the future of fundraising, what makes monthly giving programs scale, and the power of blending community with giving. Dan started his digital fundraising career at Us TOO International Prostate Cancer Education and Support Network, developing peer-to-peer activities for two annual Greater Chicago Prostate Cancer Run Walk & Rolls. From there, Dan spent seven years at the Smithsonian Institution, managing the digital components of the Friends of the Smithsonian direct response program, mid-level donor program and working across the different Smithsonian units, supporting their digital fundraising efforts. While at the Smithsonian, Dan earned his Masters Degree in Strategic Fundraising and Philanthropy. Next, Dan moved to World Food Program USA, building out their digital fundraising program from the ground up and developing an award winning monthly donor program over the course of three years. Dan sees working at Media Cause as an opportunity to work with a wide variety of nonprofits that are working to make the world a better place. He knows he'll be inspired on a daily basis helping passionate clients achieve their fundraising goals. https://mediacause.org/about-us/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-reed-5a336b104/ https://www.virtuous.org/modern-nonprofit-fundraiser-podcast/ 

Jake Smith, the Executive Director of Blood:Water, joins the Responsive Fundraising Podcast to discuss his path to leading his organization through uncertain times, the importance of history and rediscovering old truths with new value, and how a focus on people and execution has paved a path to help them grow 25% YOY despite the challenges of 2020. Blood:Water is an equipping agency that partners with African grassroots organizations to address the water and HIV/AIDS crises. We do this by identifying Africa’s hidden heroes and coming alongside their vision for change. We provide technical, financial, and organizational support so that African civil society organizations have expanded reach and effectiveness in the communities they serve. www.linkedin.com/in/igobyjake/ www.bloodwater.org