67. Friendraising: Avoiding Transactional Fundraising Through The Lost Art of Connecting with Susan McPherson

Did you know that connecting is entirely different than networking? The mindset is different according to Susan McPherson, author of "The Lost Art of Connecting: The Gather, Ask, Do Method for Building Meaningful Business Relationships." As a social impact strategist, she has developed a methodology that turns certain nonprofit conventions on their head, as we learn in this episode of What the Fundraising.

Our fundraising superpower starts with broadening beyond the goal of racking up dollar commitments to instead ask: “How can I be of use? How can I contribute? What can I provide?” Corporations and other funders want to feel their contributions are more than transactional; that they are cultivating community, offering employees ways to engage, learning and helping think creatively about the issues of our times. Nonprofits bring to the table huge resources, knowledge, and ability. It’s a value-add that should not be underestimated!

Susan walks us through her methodology and offers terrific practical advice for upping our levels of engagement and building confidence. She’s also reflecting on what defines a nourishing workplace and some of the evolving standards for behavior, programs and that promise meaningful corporate change. Millennials and Gen Zers are demanding it! 

Finally, we wrap up with Susan’s thoughts on everyday opportunities for advocacy and engagement. Enjoy this whirlwind conversation with a remarkable strategist – and force – within the world of social impact and beyond!

Interested in following what Susan is up to? You can subscribe to her bi-weekly newsletter, The McPherson Memo here. You can also click on this link to purchase her book, "The Lost Art of Connecting: The Gather, Ask, Do Method for Building Meaningful Business Relationships."

Is your nonprofit ready to scale up? Our sponsor DonorPerfect has evolved a powerful platform to get you there. Click here to learn more about how this collaborative all-in-one fundraising hub can help your organization drive results, coordinate development, and foster donor engagement.

To learn more about how to build long-term strategic partnerships, check out my Power Partners Formula and register for a FREE Masterclass to get the entire blueprint here. 

Episode Highlights:

(02:09)– Where Susan’s Work Focuses Today

(04:30) – Nonprofits and for-profits have points of intersection that can be leveraged

(07:00) – Funder behaviors and what drives decision-making: 

(07:47) – Nonprofits potentially offer businesses very real ROI

(09:55) – Mallory explains the “Asset Mapping” module within her Power Partners Formula 

(11:36) – About Susan’s Book "The Lost Art of Connecting: The Gather, Ask, Do Method for Building Meaningful Business Relationships" 

(12:29) – The three sections that comprise Susan’s book are: Gather, Ask, Do 

(14:46) – The self-assessment process.

(16:21) – Managing connections in a way that works for you

(17:04) – A few practical habits from Susan

(19:40) – How to avoid being transactional and giving people multiple ways to participate 

(21:30) – Susan’s big-picture goal

(22:48) – Susan shares her definition of what constitutes a nourishing workplace

(24:28) – Examples Susan has seen of new, surprising, and admirable initiatives

(27:00) – What Nonprofits have to offer 

(30:31) – Susan and her superpower 

(31:32) - Learn more about Susan and Order the Book