Real Talk for Real Fundraisers

Karen Kendrick, Senior Director of Client Engagement at Veritus, shares her expertise in relational fundraising and donor engagement strategies. She discusses the need for nonprofits to prioritize long-term relationships over immediate financial gain. Karen highlights trends in understanding donor motivations and the importance of mid-level donors. The conversation also touches on how organizations can harness AI for more effective fundraising while maintaining genuine connections. Lastly, they explore community-centric fundraising and the push for collaboration in the sector.

At Veritus, we’re all about relational fundraising, but too often, we hear about non-profit leaders making random budget cuts that negatively impact this tried-and-true approach.   We know that leaders are under a lot financial pressure at their organizations. Tough decisions have to be made when times and budgets are tight. But it’s important for decision-makers to understand how these cuts can impact relational fundraising, and why they need to invest in relational major gifts when things start to feel pinched.    In this podcast episode, Jeff is joined by colleague Kendra Loper for an in-depth conversation about how leaders can better support their fundraisers’ work and when to think twice about slashing parts of the budget.   Show Highlights: In this episode, you’ll learn about…   How to shift your mindset about budget cuts and their revenue ramifications  The ways you can get creative and outsource fundraising work if budget cuts are mandatory  Our top tips and best practices for current managers who need to make budget cuts 

In the non-profit sector, if you aren’t willing to advance into management, there is very little opportunity to grow as a fundraiser, take on new responsibilities, and increase your salary.   This is a frustrating reality, because not everyone is right for management.     Leadership requires a different skillset and specific perspective, one that’s interested in finding success and delivering results through others. It’s not as simple as taking your best frontline fundraiser and putting them in charge.    In this podcast episode, Jeff is joined by special guest Greg Gibbs, who shares whether management is the right track for your career, and provides some tips to help current managers get better at their jobs.    Show Highlights: In this episode, you’ll learn about…     The greatest challenges managers face in the non-profit sector  How to determine whether a fundraiser is ready to take on a managerial role, and how to nurture them in the process  Our top tips and best practices for current managers looking to improve the structure of their organization  

More and more, fundraisers are being overworked and underpaid. They’re frequently pulled in different directions and asked to accomplish tasks that don’t fall under their domain – all without a solid support structure. It’s caused many to leave the sector entirely.   There is so much important work to do in our world and we need to take care of our people in order to solve these big problems. That means implementing mindful, self-care practices so you’re ready to approach your work with the energy and focus it deserves.     In this podcast episode, Karen and Megan share their top tips and best practices for managing burnout and overwhelming stress, and provide you with tools to quiet your inner critic.     Show Highlights: In this episode, you’ll learn about…   The way fundraisers are experiencing and dealing with burnout in the industry and the best ways to resolve physical and emotional exhaustion  Some of the benefits that fundraisers receive when they practice self-care and mindfulness   Our team’s top tips for handling stress and cultivating self-compassion 

Matt Gill, a fundraising expert with a Navy background and experience at Veritas Group, shares invaluable insights on donor transitions. He discusses the importance of establishing protocols for seamless handoffs, emphasizing the role of relationship managers as temporary stewards. Common pitfalls in nonprofit transitions and tips for successful donor engagement are highlighted. Gill also addresses how to effectively move donors between giving levels while ensuring they feel valued and understood throughout the process.

How many times has your organization pulled you into something that doesn’t directly relate to your job? This kind of scenario is all too common in the non-profit sector, and the results of it are usually negative: fundraisers lose their focus, have less impact, and solicit less giving.  What if fundraising leaders and management stopped distracting their mid-level and major gift officers with unnecessary organizational tasks, activity-oriented metrics, meetings that aren’t related to their donors, and community events? Well, the results for your organization would probably look a little better: increased revenue, higher donor retention rates, and less staff turnover.  In this podcast episode, Jeff, Karen, and Kendra share their top tips for how fundraising managers and leadership can let their teams do their jobs and find high-value success in their work.  Show Highlights: In this episode, you’ll learn about…   The assumptions that leaders may subconsciously be making about their fundraisers  How to create a culture of trust and accountability  Our team’s top tips for keeping a fundraising team on task 

In this insightful discussion, Debi Dunham, Client Experience Leader at Veritus, joins hosts to unpack critical strategies for fall and year-end fundraising. She emphasizes the importance of planning touchpoints with donors to stand out amidst holiday noise. The conversation also covers adapting communication techniques for different donor behaviors and re-engaging lapsed supporters through storytelling. Listeners will gain practical tips on maximizing year-end contributions and building lasting relationships for effective fundraising.

Join Debi Dunham, Client Experience Leader at Veritas Group, as she unpacks the art of Permission-Based Asking™ in fundraising. With over a decade of experience, Debi shares real-life stories illustrating how this approach fosters authentic donor conversations. Learn strategies for improving your asking skills, how to celebrate donor impact, and the benefits of offering a menu of giving options. Discover how respectful, collaborative dialogue can lead to increased donor trust and even larger gifts.

Did you know that Veritus Group is an international consulting agency, with offices in the UK & Europe (in addition to our US & Canada team)? We often get questions about how The Veritus Way works in different cultural settings, so we wanted to spend some time sharing about our work with international clients and highlighting what’s been working well for them.    In this episode, Jeff is joined by Sara Di Lullo, Director of Client Engagement for Veritus UK and Europe, along with Karen Kendrick, Senior Director of Client Engagement for Veritus Group in the U.S. and Canada. Tune in to hear Sara and Karen share how our clients are taking a relational approach to major gifts in an international context.     Show Highlights: In this episode, you’ll learn about…   Some of the concerns we hear most often from leaders or fundraisers who aren’t sure if The Veritus Way will work for them  The challenges to implementing a culture shift and adopting a strong major gifts strategy  How our approach has been working for our international clients 

Veritus Group was incredibly honored to be the Presenting Sponsor for the AADO Conference in 2024.    AADO (African American Development Officers Network) is a network of more than 3,500 fundraising professionals of color. Their annual conference is the premier event for fundraising, development, and operations professionals of color, and their allies.     During the conference, our team sat down with several AADO leaders and conference presenters to talk about the projects they’re working on and the path toward racial justice in the non-profit sector.    Our guests on this episode are Birgit Burton, Chief Executive Officer of AADO; Nneka Allen, Founder of The Empathy Agency; and Christopher Beck, Senior Advisor for Principal Gifts and Inclusive Philanthropy at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.     We were so inspired by this conversation and hope you’ll come away feeling encouraged by the insights shared and the progress toward racial justice in our sector. Thanks for listening!    Show Highlights: In this episode, you’ll learn about…   The journey toward racial justice in the non-profit sector  Progress made and current initiatives to support people of color in the fundraising community  What it looks like to create a space where people can bring their authentic selves to their work in philanthropy