Responsive Lab Podcast

Catherine Moore joins the Responsive Fundraising Podcast to talk about change management and its importance as nonprofits navigate constant change. During the conversation we discuss the balance between people, processes, and platforms during systems change and the value of personal resilience that's required for successful change leadership. Catherine has served the nonprofit sector for over 20 years, defining and guiding the strategic pathway for technology, marketing, and fundraising at the Canadian Cancer Society and others. She is skilled at understanding and addressing the human concerns that arise during a project as well as the technical challenges that any system transition will bring. Outside of her professional life, Catherine is passionate about STEM education for children and enjoys the privilege of mentoring other women and young professionals. https://www.linkedin.com/in/catherineemoore/ https://teamheller.com 

Vance Roush joins the Responsive Fundraising Podcast to share how our relationship with money impacts the way we fundraise, the importance of taking a holistic approach to donor development, and how you build a community of generosity through your communications. Vance is an ex-Googler, engineer, pastor, and now the founder of Overflow.co, a technology company committed to building the infrastructure to ensure generosity is frictionless. https://www.overflow.co https://www.linkedin.com/in/vanceroush/ 

Sherry Quam Taylor joins the Responsive Fundraising Podcast to share her philosophy for helping nonprofits get fully funded. Sherry teaches nonprofit leaders how to pivot from a heavy dependence on program, government, and event gifts and into securing large, investment-level donations from individuals so they can finally fund their missions. The leaders Sherry works with are experts in their field, but when it comes to individual donor fundraising, they’ve simply never been trained on how to do it, so it feels uncomfortable and frustrating. She helps them learn the exact steps to launch a mid- and major level gift program that feels comfortable, involves less dread, and fully funds their mission for the long-haul. She does this nationally through her private coaching and her 90-day LET’S GROW fundraising accelerator. https://www.quamtaylor.com/about-us https://www.quamtaylor.com/letsgrow 

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. https://www.linkedin.com/in/igobyjake/ https://www.bloodwater.org 

MaryEllen Dickey, CFRE, joins the Responsive Fundraising Podcast to share what she's learned by leading donor development teams for the last two decades across social service, education, and healthcare nonprofits. We also discuss the balance between donor retention and acquisition, the importance of channel-donor fit and multi-channel fundraising, and how to lead a donor development team well to prevent burnout. MaryEllen, is Senior Vice President of Advancement for Diakon Lutheran Social Ministries. As such, she oversees a range of giving programs, including grants, major gifts, planned giving, corporate giving, endowments, and special capital projects, to support Diakon’s mission to serve those in need. Before joining Diakon the beginning of 2007, MaryEllen was Vice President for Development at Good Shepherd Hospital and Rehabilitation Network, Allentown. In addition to completing a successful $40 million capital campaign that resulted in $52 million in giving, her department focused on creating its first chair, expanding numerous program endowments, and supporting the development of a health and technology center. She also has held planned giving and executive director positions with Lafayette College, Easton, and Lehigh University, Bethlehem.

Missy Gale and Jill Bruner join the Responsive Fundraising Podcast to discuss the unique challenges nonprofit teams must overcome in 2020, the importance of listening to fuel fundraising activities, and how organizations must pivot plans and shift strategies to increase impact. M. Gale & Associates is a fundraising consulting firm with more than a decade of experience collaborating with mission-driven nonprofit organizations in North Texas and the Southwest. They help them reach their full potential by delivering strategic philanthropic solutions that are insightful, implementable, and successful.

Two experienced development leaders from Catholic Extension join The Responsive Fundraising Podcast to share strategies to deepen donor relationships and unpack the needed partnership required between annual fund and major gift development teams.  Tony Smercina, the AVP of Development, and Travis DeRamcy, the Sr. Director of Development, both have an array of experience managing and growing development programs. During the conversation, we discuss the difference yet synergy between annual fund and major donor development programs, the 12 step program they use to steward donors, and how they've continue to deepen donor connection in spite of the distance COVID-19 has forced. Catholic Extension is a fundraising organization that helps ensure that all American Catholics can practice their faith within vibrant faith communities. Together with their donors, they connect poor and remote Catholic communities with essential financial support, educational partnerships, and infrastructure. https://www.catholicextension.org/ https://www.virtuouscrm.com/modern-nonprofit-fundraiser-podcast/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/tonysmercina/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/travisderamcy/

Kelsie Ruff Smith joins The Responsive Fundraising Podcast to share the inside view on the opportunities nonprofits have access to through collaboration with community foundations, corporations, other nonprofits, and local community philanthropists. We discuss what modern philanthropists are looking for in nonprofits they partner with, how to avoid duplication, and how you can build a culture of philanthropy within your donors and the broader community you engage. Kelsie is the Director of Programs at the Community Foundation for Ocala Marion County, which connects the charitable interest of the donor to build a strong community, and the Executive Director of Blissful Life Corporation, a nonprofit 501(c)3 donation-based yoga studio https://www.ocalafoundation.org/ https://www.virtuouscrm.com/

Ryan Brown, stock broker turned nonprofit development professional, joins The Responsive Fundraising Podcast to share how Food for the Hungry cultivates lasting donor relationships. We discuss the power of "full heart" donor development, the need to continually pivot to stay relevant, and why waiting for "normal" will lead you to focus on the wrong tactics. Ryan is the acting CDO at Food for the Hungry (FH) and serves out of its corporate headquarters in Phoenix, Arizona. Prior to joining FH, Ryan spent time as a stockbroker, singer/songwriter, concert promoter, and for a short time, ran a small Christian music record label. Ryan earned two bachelor’s degrees in English and Business from Arizona State University. He currently lives in Gilbert, Arizona, with his wife Suzan and their three children.

Justin Ellis joins The Responsive Fundraising Podcast and takes us into the trenches and see how a successful VP of Development approaches their work amidst uncertain times. We discuss the importance of development staff being data-driven decision makers, the difference between transactional and transformational, and how to transform asks into investment invitations. Justin, the VP of Development at Thompson, oversees fundraising and relationship development of all the many individuals and organizations that support the mission and vision of Thompson. He leads a team that is engaging in vision building initiatives, and works to enlarge the footprint and deepen the impact from those that stand in the gap with us in our communities. He received a Bachelor of Missions and Ministry from Gordon College. He brings over 10 years of experience in Non-profits and fundraising work.