Nonprofit Nation with Julia Campbell

In some ways, we're in a golden age of fundraising. There have never been more ways to capture attention, rally supporters, generate revenue, and measure fundraising performance than there are today. The accessibility of this technology has also never been greater, even to the smallest charities.But with all the software, tools, apps and intelligence available to us, why has fundraising performance stagnated? Has technology actually gotten in the way of building a personal connection with our supporters? In the latest episode of Nonprofit Nation, Steven Shattuck tell us why robots make bad fundraisers - and how we can apply time-tested principles of philanthropy to the modern technology available, with the goal of keeping the donors we already have, inspiring new donors to give, and maintaining the sanity of our team members. Steven Shattuck is Chief Engagement Officer at Bloomerang. A prolific writer and speaker, he curates Bloomerang’s sector-leading educational content, and hosts a weekly webinar series which features the top thought-leaders in the nonprofit sector. He is the author of Robots Make Bad Fundraisers – How Nonprofits Can Maintain the Heart in the Digital Age, published by Bold and Bright Media (2020).Here are some of the topics we discussed:How technology has gotten in the way of building a personal connection with donorsStatistics on donor retention (spoiler: it's bad) and how we can retain more of our donorsHow fundraisers can use modern technology to keep more of the donors that they haveWhy fundraising is more important than ever in turbulent timesConnect with Steven:https://twitter.com/StevenShattuckhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/stevenshattuck/Do me a favor? Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts (or your podcast player of choice) - it helps this podcast get seen by more people that would enjoy it!About Julia Campbell, the host of the Nonprofit Nation podcast:Named as a top thought leader by Forbes and BizTech Magazine, Julia Campbell (she/hers) is an author, coach, and speaker on a mission to make the digital world a better place. She wrote her book, Storytelling in the Digital Age: A Guide for Nonprofits, as a roadmap for social change agents who want to build movements using engaging digital storytelling techniques. Her second book, How to Build and Mobilize a Social Media Community for Your Nonprofit, was published in 2020 as a call-to-arms for mission-driven organizations to use the power of social media to build movements. Julia’s online courses, webinars, and talks have helped hundreds of nonprofits make the shift to digital thinking and raise more money online.Take Julia’s free nonprofit masterclass, ​3 Must-Have Elements of Social Media Content that ConvertTake my free masterclass: 3 Must-Have Elements of Social Media Content that Converts

This episode is sponsored by the Donor Participation Project Conference! Join me and dozens of others for a different kind of fundraising event.  Register at www.joindpp.org/conference In 2020 a tsunami in the form of a global pandemic hit us all. Too many nonprofits were left scrambling, trying to pick up the pieces. Wondering how they were going to replace the $600k their spring gala typically raises. Often left afraid to fundraise, disempowered by well-meaning boards and directors.We’re still dealing with the changing landscape of fundraising and our sector. But the good news is, donors stepped up. Big time. And thanks to the disruptions of the past two years, we know what works in the midst of crisis!In the latest episode of Nonprofit Nation, I ask Pamela Grow how we can best fundraise and ask for support in the midst of a crisis, and how to make this fundraising sustainable in the long term. Pamela Grow is the publisher of The Grow Report, a must-read weekly email for small shop fundraisers, the author of Simple Development Systems: Successful Fundraising for the One-Person Shop, and founder of The Fundraising Calendar. Her Basics & More classes have trained nearly 10,000 nonprofits all over the world. Pam was named one of the 50 Most Influential Fundraisers by Civil Society magazine, and one of the 40 Most Effective Fundraising Consultants.  Connect with Pamela:https://www.pamelagrow.com/https://twitter.com/PamelaGrowhttps://thefundraisingcalendar.com/Do me a favor? Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts (or your podcast player of choice) - it helps this podcast get seen by more people that would enjoy it!About Julia Campbell, the host of the Nonprofit Nation podcast:Named as a top thought leader by Forbes and BizTech Magazine, Julia Campbell (she/hers) is an author, coach, and speaker on a mission to make the digital world a better place. She wrote her book, Storytelling in the Digital Age: A Guide for Nonprofits, as a roadmap for social change agents who want to build movements using engaging digital storytelling techniques. Her second book, How to Build and Mobilize a Social Media Community for Your Nonprofit, was published in 2020 as a call-to-arms for mission-driven organizations to use the power of social media to build movements. Julia’s online courses, webinars, and talks have helped hundreds of nonprofits make the shift to digital thinking and raise more money online. Connect with Julia on other platforms:Instagram: www.instagram.com/juliacampbell77Twitter: www.twitter.com/juliacsocialLinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/juliacampbell Blog: www.jcsocialmarketing.com/blog Take Julia’s free nonprofit masterclass, ​3 Must-Have Elements of Social Media Content that ConvertsTake my free masterclass: 3 Must-Have Elements of Social Media Content that Converts

Nonprofits of all sizes are strapped for capacity, and often staff isn't trained in marketing, advertising, or social media. When you lack internal marketing skills, it may make sense to hire a third party to help, whether that be a large agency or a solo consultant. Sometimes this can be more cost effective and less risky than bringing in a new full-time employee - but going outside the org requires more intentionality and oversight to ensure results. In this episode of Nonprofit Nation, Chris Barlow and I talk about the ins and outs of hiring marketing help, how to keep agencies and consultants accountable, and where to start. As a teen, Chris believed he’d work in a cause-focused mission or career, but when he had to just “get a job” after college, he surprisingly discovered a passion for business. After over a decade in corporate sales, he realized that while he enjoyed it, he couldn’t see himself retiring in it.So in 2015 he founded an agency, Beeline, and volunteered with a local nonprofit to help them with their digital marketing. This unexpectedly led him back to realizing the dream he had growing up - that of doing something to serve people and a greater purpose.Beeline focuses on helping nonprofits expand their mission and grow their donor base through digital marketing, but Chris' favorite skill and privilege is putting his two youngest boys down for a nap every day. Here are some of the topics we discussed:How do we know when it's time to hire some outside helpWhat questions should you ask a consultantHow can you measure successHow to convince the board to fund outside help Connect with Chris:https://twitter.com/Beeline_Chris https://www.linkedin.com/in/cbarlow-nonprofit-marketing/Do me a favor? Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts (or your podcast player of choice) - it helps this podcast get seen by more people that would enjoy it!About Julia Campbell, the host of the Nonprofit Nation podcast:Named as a top thought leader by Forbes and BizTech Magazine, Julia Campbell (she/hers) is an author, coach, and speaker on a mission to make the digital world a better place.She wrote her book, Storytelling in the Digital Age: A Guide for Nonprofits, as a roadmap for social change agents who want to build movements using engaging digital storytelling techniques. Her second book, How to Build and Mobilize a Social Media Community for Your Nonprofit, was published in 2020 as a call-to-arms for mission-driven organizations to use the power of social media to build movements. Julia’s online courses, webinars, and talks have helped hundreds of nonprofits make the shift to digital thinking and raise more money online. Connect with Julia on other platforms:Instagram: www.instagram.com/juliacampbell77Twitter: www.twitter.com/juliacsocialLinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/juliacampbell Blog: www.jcsocialmarketing.com/blog Take Julia’s free nonprofit masterclass, Take my free masterclass: 3 Must-Have Elements of Social Media Content that Converts

This episode is a replay to celebrate the launch of Rhea's new book, Get That Money, Honey!: The No-Bullsh*t Guide to Raising More Money For Your Nonprofit!   Do you ever feel icky asking for money - or just downright scared? Does this prevent you from raising the amount of money you need for your nonprofit? There may be emotional and mental blocks that hold you back from being an effective fundraiser. In this episode, Rhea Wong joins me to drop some "truth bombs" about fundraising mindset and gives us some strategies to help us get over the limiting beliefs, assumptions, and stories that are holding us back from reaching our true potential.  Over a 12 year period as the Executive Director of Breakthrough New York, Rhea grew their fundraising program from about 200K per year to $3M in 100% private donations annually.  This included funding from institutional foundations, corporations, events, and individuals. Rhea made all the mistakes so you don’t have to. Now she is on a quest to teach others what it takes to succeed - because the world cannot wait for important change.  Rhea's e-newsletter is one that I read every single week (check it out for adorable photos of her lasa apso Stevie Wonderdog), and her podcast and free weekly trainings are a must-have resource for fundraisers. Here are some of the topics we discussed: Why major gift fundraising sounds so scary - but it's simpler than you thinkWhy she is on a mission to destroy "the pitch"Fundraising a just a math problem How to determine if you are an Asker or a GuesserThe limiting beliefs, assumptions, and stories holding us back from raising more money A Rhea Wong quotable: "It's only weird if you make it weird." Connect with Rhea:Rhea Wong's website https://www.linkedin.com/in/rheawong/ https://twitter.com/ConsultingRheahttps://mailchi.mp/rheawong/bookDo me a favor? Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts (or your podcast player of choice) - it helps this podcast get seen by more people that would enjoy it!About Julia Campbell, the host of the Nonprofit Nation podcast:Named as a top thought leader by Forbes and BizTech Magazine, Julia Campbell (she/hers) is an author, coach, and speaker on a mission to make the digital world a better place. She wrote her book, Storytelling in the Digital Age: A Guide for Nonprofits, as a roadmap for social change agents who want to build movements using engaging digital storytelling techniques. Her second book, How to Build and Mobilize a Social Media Community for Your Nonprofit, was published in 2020 as a call-to-arms for mission-driven organizations to use the power of social media to build movements. Julia’s online courses, webinars, and talks have helped hundreds of nonprofits make the shift to digital thinking and raise more money online. Clients include GoFundMe Charity, Meals on Wheels America, the Make-A-Wish Foundation, and the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. Take my free masterclass: 3 Must-Have Elements of Social Media Content that Converts

About 87% of nonprofit CEOs in the U.S. were white in 2019, down from 90% in 2016. Similarly, roughly 78% of nonprofit board members were white in 2019, down from 84% in 2016, according to Board Source, a nonprofit that tracks this information.In a country where Black and Latino individuals and other people of color make up about 40% of the population, this lack of diversity is a major concern for nonprofits that provide services or advocacy primarily to communities of color, and among those groups whose mission is aimed at promoting race equity. In the latest episode of Nonprofit Nation, I talk with board management consultants Christal M. Cherry and Renee Rubin Ross about how we can best move our nonprofit boards towards racial equity.Christal M. Cherry is a trained fundraiser with more than 22 years of nonprofit experience serving on executive teams, as a liaison with boards, and a confidant to the CEO/Executive Director. Christal has a passion to help transform board members into impactful leaders, and touts fundraising as her ministry - the place where she feels she can make the biggest difference. Christal’s mantra: Fundraising is not an F word. Christal founded and leads The Board Pro, a company that equips board members with the tools they need to effectively govern and help nonprofits to fulfill their missions, scale, and become change agents in their communities.Dr. Renee Rubin Ross is a recognized leader on board and organizational development and strategy and the founder of The Ross Collective, a consulting firm that designs and leads inclusive, participatory processes for social sector boards and staff. Committed to racial equity in the nonprofit sector, Dr. Ross guides leaders and organizations in strategic plans and governance processes that deepen social change, racial justice, stakeholder engagement, and community strength. In addition to her consulting work, Dr. Ross is the Director of the Cal State University East Bay Nonprofit Management Certificate program and teaches Board Development and Grant Writing for the program.Here are some of the topics we discussed:Their new service for boards, called  Planting the Seeds of Change: A Journey towards Race-Equity CultureThe challenges facing nonprofit boards right nowHow to initiate tough conversations at your organization around racial equityWhere to get started if you are interested in learning more about DEI work Connect with Christal:https://www.linkedin.com/in/christal-m-cherry/Connect with Renee:https://www.therosscollective.com/subscribehttps://www.linkedin.com/in/reneerubinross/https://twitter.com/reneerubinrosshttps://www.instagram.com/rrrconsults/Do me a favor? Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts (or your podcast player of choice) - it helps this podcast get seen by more people that would enjoy it!About the host: Named as a top thought leader by Forbes and BizTech Magazine, Take my free masterclass: 3 Must-Have Elements of Social Media Content that Converts

This is a quickie episode to celebrate my new nonprofit master class, Instagram for Nonprofits: How to Raise Awareness & Drive Donations, using the news feed, stories, and reels. To register for this class, and to get your Instagram account personally evaluated by me, go to InstagramforNonprofits.com and sign up. But you have to hurry, class starts April 7. Save your spot at InstagramforNonprofits.com!Spring is in the air – hopefully coming soon to Boston – and it’s time to put a fresh coat of paint on those dusty social media accounts!So much has changed in the digital landscape in just the past few months, all of which makes tightening up and improving your nonprofit social media profiles even more important.Even if you post regularly, keep up with the trends, and get lots of engagement (good for you!), you may still want to take a close look at those profiles. Photos, videos, info, URLs, calls-to-action, About sections, bios, hashtags, and more – I’m sure they can all use a little sprucing up! Here are my tips on doing a spring cleaning for your nonprofit social media accounts, focusing onFacebookTwitterInstagramLinkedIn, andYouTubeDo me a favor? Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts (or your podcast player of choice) - it helps this podcast get seen by more people that would enjoy it!About Julia Campbell, the host of the Nonprofit Nation podcast:Named as a top thought leader by Forbes and BizTech Magazine, Julia Campbell (she/hers) is an author, coach, and speaker on a mission to make the digital world a better place.She wrote her book, Storytelling in the Digital Age: A Guide for Nonprofits, as a roadmap for social change agents who want to build movements using engaging digital storytelling techniques. Her second book, How to Build and Mobilize a Social Media Community for Your Nonprofit, was published in 2020 as a call-to-arms for mission-driven organizations to use the power of social media to build movements.Julia’s online courses, webinars, and talks have helped hundreds of nonprofits make the shift to digital thinking and raise more money online. Julia's happy clients include Mastercard, GoFundMe, Facebook, Meals on Wheels America, the Make-A-Wish Foundation, and the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. Take my free masterclass: 3 Must-Have Elements of Social Media Content that Converts

Love them or hate them, fundraising events are here to stay. But in the age of COVID, your events may look a bit different. Virtual, in-person, hybrid - how will your nonprofit know which one to choose? And how to balance health and safety considerations with our very human longing to get back together in person?In the latest episode of Nonprofit Nation, I ask fundraising visionary Claire Axelrad, J.D., CFRE, how to manage a fundraising program through times of uncertainty, how to use digital fundraising, and how to change the minds of a board that REALLY wants to continue with an in-person 400 guest gala.  Claire has one of the top-rated fundraising blogs on the planet, and 30 years of frontline development work helping organizations raise millions in support. Her award-winning blog showcases her practical approach, which earned her the AFP “Outstanding Fundraising Professional of the Year” award. After leaving the nonprofit trenches, Claire began her coaching practice and founded the online “Clairification School” – often referred to as the best bargain in fundraising.Here are some of the topics we discussed:The pros and the cons of nonprofit fundraising eventsHow to make the shift to hybrid and/or virtual fundraising eventsHow to help reluctant staff and board members embrace new ideas for eventsTrends in the fundraising event space and pitfalls to avoidConnect with Claire: https://clairification.com/https://twitter.com/charityclairityhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/claireaxelrad/Do me a favor? Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts (or your podcast player of choice) - it helps this podcast get seen by more people that would enjoy it!About Julia Campbell, the host of the Nonprofit Nation podcast:Named as a top thought leader by Forbes and BizTech Magazine, Julia Campbell (she/hers) is an author, coach, and speaker on a mission to make the digital world a better place.She wrote her book, Storytelling in the Digital Age: A Guide for Nonprofits, as a roadmap for social change agents who want to build movements using engaging digital storytelling techniques. Her second book, How to Build and Mobilize a Social Media Community for Your Nonprofit, was published in 2020 as a call-to-arms for mission-driven organizations to use the power of social media to build movements.Julia’s online courses, webinars, and talks have helped hundreds of nonprofits make the shift to digital thinking and raise more money online. Julia's happy clients include Mastercard, GoFundMe, Facebook, Meals on Wheels America, the Make-A-Wish Foundation, and the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. Take my free masterclass: 3 Must-Have Elements of Social Media Content that Converts

This is a quickie episode all about Instagram, to celebrate my new nonprofit master class, Instagram for Nonprofits: How to Raise Awareness & Drive Donations, using the news feed, stories, and reels. To register for this class, and to get your Instagram account personally evaluated by me, go to InstagramforNonprofits.com and sign up. But you have to hurry, class starts April 7. Save your spot at InstagramforNonprofits.com! Instagram is a powerhouse when it comes to social media marketing and raising awareness. And with the addition of Instagram fundraising tools, such as the profile Donate button and the Instagram Donation Sticker, it's become one to watch in terms of driving donations.According to Pew Research, 40% of US adults say they use Instagram - and the platform has a notably strong following with young adults. In fact, a majority of 18- to 29-year-olds say they use Instagram (71%) or Snapchat (65%), while roughly half say the same for TikTok.Nonprofits small and large are using it to share their stories, showcase impact, and directly engage with their stakeholders. But did you know that nonprofits can also use Instagram to build their email subscribers?Even if you have been on Instagram for years now, or if you are a complete novice, there are a few tried-and-true ways to gain more followers and to get discovered by even more of your community members.In this quickie episode, I give you 4 ways that you can grow your nonprofit email list using Instagram.To dive deeper into using Instagram to raise money and awareness, go to www.InstagramforNonprofits.com and sign up.  Take my free masterclass: 3 Must-Have Elements of Social Media Content that Converts

Capital campaigns are usually organized as big, multi year fundraising efforts, designed to get an organization to the next level of programming and service. But it doesn't always have to be about a new building or a renovation. Capital campaigns can be about technology and rebranding - whatever needs to be done to build the capacity of an organization to jump to another level of service.  You'll know success if at the end of the campaign, your community and your organization looks and feels different than when you started.   My guest this week is Amy Eisenstein, ACFRE. Amy has been a development professional and fundraising consultant for more than 20 years. She is also the CEO of the Capital Campaign Toolkit.  Recognized as a leading expert in her field, she helps small and large nonprofits alike raise millions of dollars through major gift and capital campaigns.Here are some of the topics we discussed:How to know when or if it's time to run a capital campaignHow to decide what to raise money for during a capital campaignWhat needs to be in place before starting a campaignThe very first thing you need to do when starting outConnect with Amy:https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-eisenstein-acfre-1201658/https://capitalcampaigntoolkit.com/podcast/https://capitalcampaigntoolkit.com/https://www.amyeisenstein.com/ Do me a favor? Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts (or your podcast player of choice) - it helps this podcast get seen by more people that would enjoy it!About Julia Campbell, the host of the Nonprofit Nation podcast:Named as a top thought leader by Forbes and BizTech Magazine, Julia Campbell (she/hers) is an author, coach, and speaker on a mission to make the digital world a better place.She wrote her book, Storytelling in the Digital Age: A Guide for Nonprofits, as a roadmap for social change agents who want to build movements using engaging digital storytelling techniques. Her second book, How to Build and Mobilize a Social Media Community for Your Nonprofit, was published in 2020 as a call-to-arms for mission-driven organizations to use the power of social media to build movements. Julia’s online courses, webinars, and talks have helped hundreds of nonprofits make the shift to digital thinking and raise more money online. Julia's happy clients include Mastercard, GoFundMe, Facebook, Meals on Wheels America, the Make-A-Wish Foundation, and the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. Take my free masterclass: 3 Must-Have Elements of Social Media Content that Converts

This is a quickie episode all about Instagram, to celebrate my new nonprofit master class, Instagram for Nonprofits: How to Raise Awareness & Drive Donations, using the news feed, stories, and reels. To register for this class, and to get your Instagram account personally evaluated by me, go to InstagramforNonprofits.com and sign up. But you have to hurry, class starts April 7. Save your spot at InstagramforNonprofits.com! Instagram is a powerhouse when it comes to social media marketing and raising awareness. And with the addition of Instagram fundraising tools, such as the profile Donate button and the Instagram Donation Sticker, it's become one to watch in terms of driving donations.According to Pew Research, 40% of US adults say they use Instagram - and the platform has a notably strong following with young adults. In fact, a majority of 18- to 29-year-olds say they use Instagram (71%) or Snapchat (65%), while roughly half say the same for TikTok.It's not enough to lump Instagram into your overall "digital marketing strategy" or "social media plan". Instagram has distinct features that make it work - best practices, strengths, weaknesses, and features like Stories and Reels that people love.Even if you have been on Instagram for years now, or if you are a complete novice, there are a few tried-and-true ways to gain more followers and to get discovered by even more of your community members.In this quickie episode, I give you 5 simple tips for getting your nonprofit discovered on Instagram. To dive deeper into using Instagram to raise money and awareness, go to www.InstagramforNonprofits.com and sign up.  Take my free masterclass: 3 Must-Have Elements of Social Media Content that Converts