The Build Good Fundraising Podcast

Send a textIf you’re like most nonprofits, this year has been a wake up call that you need to step up your game when it comes to communicating clearly, effectively and authentically with your donors. Maybe you were getting by before, but when the system was put under stress, you didn't have the resources or the team or the tools or the strategy to move quickly – and confidently. Today on the show, we’re talking to Sarah Durham, author of the Nonprofit Communications Engine – a leader’s guide to managing mission-driven marketing and communications. Sarah is the founder and CEO of Big Duck, an agency that helps nonprofits increase their visibility and communicate more effectively. She's also the owner of Advomatic, a company that builds websites for nonprofits. In our chat, Sarah gets into what it takes to build a successful communications team, how to create a communications strategy that will help you achieve your goals, and what tools every communications department needs to successfully advance the mission of the organization. We also get into what makes for a successful communicator – and you might be surprised that it has less to do with raw talent, and more to do with being willing to serve.  

Send a textYou didn't see COVID coming. Nobody did. But now that the initial shock to the system is over, it's time to get back to business. While others might wait for "normal" to return, it's time for you to embrace "the now" by creating a concrete, simple, and clear strategy that will help you survive the next 12 months — and come out of the pandemic positioned for growth. On today's podcast, we talk about 5 mini plans your nonprofit should create right now to guide your fundraising so you can achieve predictable income during a recession, and avoid volatility from future downturns and crises.

Send a textCOVID-19 is testing the systems and processes of nonprofits like never before. And many organizations are finding that their lack of data practices and data quality are hampering their fundraising efforts.Strong, direct relationships with donors are crucial to withstanding times of uncertainty and crisis. And fundraising success is always a result of strong systems that manage data well, allowing you to maintain a close relationship with your donors.So what can you do to improve the way you manage donor data to help you build deeper connections with donors?On today's episode, we hear from T. Clay Buck, founder of Tactical Fundraising Solutions. Clay is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) who was recently named among the top 20 charity influencers online. He has been a member of the advisory board for Rogare, and co-authored the United States Critical Fundraising Report. He is a frequent speaker and trainer, and teaches Fundraising and Nonprofit Management  at the University of Nevada in Las Vegas.You'll learn why focusing on data quality should be one of your highest priorities right now, and how to create processes and systems to manage your data most effectively. Plus, you'll learn who person is in your organization who can have the greatest impact on your fundraising - and it’s not who you think! You can find more information about Clay and Tactical Fundraising Solutions at Tcbfundraising.com. You can also connect with Clay on twitter (@tclaybuck), Linkedin, or by email at clay@tcbfundraising.com.Today we’ll cover:[5:27] - What lessons should smart fundraisers be learning and paying attention to in our current cultural climate?[13:58] - Why we shouldn’t underestimate the power of smaller dollar donors [16:26] - What are the current trends around data and system management?[22:16] - What is ‘data quality’ and why does it matter? [27:55] - What are some basic systems and processes that every organization should have? [31:14] - The importance of having a designated person who oversees and cares for donor data[32:56] - How can we make sure our systems are showing us the right information to connect with and care for our donors? [37:26] - The importance of valuing those who are charged with data entry at your organizationJoin in our mission to help others build good in the world by rating and sharing this podcast on all major platforms. You can do that by clicking here. Check out our free resource on improving your donor communications at https://www.5minutefundraisingfix.com/

Send a textFinding and stewarding donors is the foundation of any successful nonprofit. But during uncertain times, it's easy to shrink back and set donor acquisition aside, leaving yourself vulnerable in the future In this episode we hear from Tim Kersten, the CEO of the RKD Group, a fundraising and marketing agency with over 280 nonprofit clients across North America. Tim has 43 years of experience consulting with nonprofits to meet their fundraising goals. He is passionate about empowering and enabling individuals to have their voice heard in their society so they can make a difference, improve lives and correct injustice. 2020 has been wildly unpredictable, and it can be tempting to walk away from donor acquisition while the pandemic is ongoing and the future of the economy is unknown. Tim shares why now is not the time to take your focus off this area. You'll learn why nonprofits should stay in the market and how nonprofits should go about new donor acquisition with all the changes going on around us. You'll learn:[7:51] - The state of nonprofits and the astonishing increase in giving, even with a tumultuous 2020.[13:24] - Why are those who stay in the donor market thriving?[16:01] - The importance of having a strong digital strategy.[17:18] - How to prepare for a possible recession.[22:16] - How to move forward with donor acquisition, even during the COVID-19 pandemic[27:39] - What are the long term ramifications of ignoring donor acquisition?[30:58] - How to balance donor retention with donor acquisition.[35:53] - Given how 2020 has gone so far, what are some tactical changes we should make to donor acquisition? [39:05] - Face to face donor acquisition is highly effective but COVID-19 has changed our ability to do this. What are some other ways we can reach potential donors?  You can find more information about Tim and the RKD Group at https://rkdgroup.com/, or on twitter @RKDgroup.Join in our mission to help others build good in the world by rating and sharing this podcast on all major platforms. You can do that by clicking here.

Send a textIf you've ever struggled to find the right words to say when confronted with a tough question from a donor, team member or journalist, this episode is for you.On today's show we hear from Brad Phillips, the CEO of Throughline Group, a public speaking and media training company. Brad has trained thousands of media spokespersons and public speakers including a presidential candidate, members of Congress, Olympic athletes, top CEOs, directors of nonprofit organizations and heads of government agencies. In this episode you’ll get a crash course in fielding challenging questions and answering them with authenticity.  Brad will help you understand how tough or even antagonistic questions can create opportunities for you to share your values with the world and build trust in times of crisis. If you’re looking for the skills to represent your organization well, even in the hardest circumstances, you'll learn a lot from our conversation with Brad.You’ll learn: [7:48] - Why authenticity is the only currency that matters right now[9:49] - The consequences of not communicating in a way that shows genuine care[12:23] - Being put on the spot can be uncomfortable and can expose our insecurities which leads to defensiveness. How can we counteract fear that causes us to be defensive?[16:00] - Authenticity in the age of COVID; how Andrew Cuomo has handled the media during the crisis[19:45] - Three practical ways we can prepare for hard conversations: Purpose, Process and Commitment.[24:30] - What is “bridging”? and why it may be the most indispensable tool you have right now[30:15] - How to apply the bridging technique with a practical example[36:09] - How we communicate can be more important than the exact words we use.[37:43] - What to do when you wish you had answered a question differentlyYou can find more information about Brad and the Throughline Group at https://www.throughlinegroup.com/  or on Twitter:@MrMediaTraining, @throughliners Join in our mission to help others build good in the world by rating and sharing this podcast on all major platforms. You can do that by clicking here. https://www.buildgood.org/

Send a textWhat is the secret of organizations raising record levels of money during the coronavirus pandemic?Many of the nonprofits thriving right now have one thing in common: donor-centric fundraising and stewardship. While it seems counter-intuitive, in hard times many donors actually increase their giving. They want to be part of the solution and help.But the key is, they only give to organizations they care about — and organizations that care about them. Organizations that share their values. That have done a good job at thanking them, making them feel valued and connecting them to the cause. Donors move mountains for charities that value them, celebrate their generosity, use their gift effectively and report back to them on the difference they've made.So if your nonprofit was already focused on donor-centric fundraising, you have a huge advantage right now. And if you weren't, the good news is you can start today.If you want proven tactics that keep donors coming back again and again, this podcast is for you. Julie Cooper will share how to thank donors so they feel connected to your cause...and want to keep giving — even after the pandemic is over. NOTESLearn more about Julie and get the FREE resources mentioned in the podcast by visiting her website

Send a textOne of the things the coronavirus crisis made clear is the importance of good leadership. Specifically, the importance of leaders who communicate openly and honestly and with enough vulnerability to admit what they don’t know.We sometimes think of leadership as only being important at the board and CEO level, but if you’re listening to this show and you work in the nonprofit and social impact sector, chances are people are relying on you. They’re relying on you to be a good teammate, a good friend, a good boss, a good fundraiser. Maybe your family and your kids are relying on you to lead them through this crazy time.The truth is, we all have a responsibility to lead right now. So today on the show we're talking to Jamie McIntosh, the executive director of partner relations at Compassion Canada — an international development NGO that helps children living in poverty across the world.Jamie has held senior leadership positions in organizations like World Vision, International Justice Mission and Mercy Ships. His work has taken him the world over, and he has experienced what it’s like for organizations and leaders to endure an extended crisis. Jamie is going to share with us three principles that can help all of us lead in a time of uncertainty, including:1.    Why being present is more important than having it all figured out.2.    How admitting our own fears as leaders might the best most fearless thing we can do right now.3.    And how finding a little bit of perspective can make the difference between making it as a leader or breaking down.One of the things I appreciate most about Jamie is his hopeful and redemptive perspective on life, and I think you’ll be encouraged listening to this interview.  

Send a textAre you having a hard time staying positive and balanced and sane during these crazy times?The coronavirus pandemic brings a rare combination of a scary health emergency, human isolation and an economic crisis at all once. And I worry about you.I am not worried if you're going to survive this crisis, or if your nonprofit will survive the storm. I am worried about what the crisis is doing to you, and the toll it’s taking on you as a leader and parent and friend and spouse and all the other roles you play. I know a lot of people are relying on you. Maybe your boss or your board is relying on you to bring in the funds, to produce a lot more work or communications pieces, to call every donor, or to produce a new campaign in a hurry…and so much more.There's a lot on your shoulders.And the only way we are going to get through this is by acknowledging how hard it is and taking care of ourselves. So today on the show I’m talking to Amanda Rocheleau, a registered social worker and certified compassion-fatigue therapist. Amanda works specifically with people who are in the business of helping others, so she understands how quickly burnout and anxiety and work-life balance issues can creep up and completely derail us.Amanda is going to walk through 5 things you can do to manage your anxiety, reduce your stress and take better care of your mental health, including:How you can manage the stress of juggling so many things at once. How you can balance your news intake with things that give you hope.How you can be realistic about your own limitations and communicate them to your team and family. How you can create healthy habits even when your routine is all out of whack. Plus, we’ll get into how leaders can best support the mental health of their teams who are working remotely, and how those of us who are talking to donors all day can deal with feeling drained at the end of the day. 

Send a textIf you’re like many nonprofit leaders, you’ve spent the last two weeks going back to the drawing board on what your fundraising and communications will look like now that everything is different. And make no mistake: everything is different.  And that means all the careful planning and strategies, all the campaign rollouts and scheduled posts, and all the thank you letters and mailouts need to be reviewed and rebuilt to take into the account the impact of the Coronavirus. And I want to make sure that, though this podcast, we can support you in that. So for the next few weeks, we’re switching our focus to helping you fundraise and communicate in a crisis. I know many of you are in a tough position right now. But you’re not alone. And today’s guest will show you how leaders and marketers and fundraisers like you have lived and worked through emergencies before. History is full of fundraisers who have inspired and motivated people to come together to overcome terrible problems. And the gifts they raised generated the funds that were crucial to keeping the most vulnerable in society protected. Today's guest — Mark Phillips — will help you learn from some of them today.Mark is founder of Bluefrog Fundraising in the UK, a fundraising agency focused on meeting donor needs. Mark keeps an online archive of the history of fundraising — it’s a pinterest board full of ads and campaigns from the world’s most successful charities like The Red Cross, Save the Children, Oxfam, and the YMCA.Recently Mark pulled up three ads from different crises throughout history that we’re going to walk through today. Make sure to check them out on Mark's blog here: https://queerideas.co.uk/2020/03/crisis-fundraising-what-you-can-learn-from-the-past.htmlEach of these three ads has something to teach us today about how to fundraise in a crisis. And I think you’ll come always with at least three ideas that will make your fundraising stronger today.LINKS Mark's blog on all things fundraisingMark's online archive of old charity adsBluefrog Fundraising

Send a textIf you put yourself in your donors' shoes for a minute, you'll know they are likely sitting at home. Like you, they are watching the COVID-19 pandemic spread across the globe. And they might wonder what it all means for them and their loved ones. So you might be tempted to leave them alone. Give them some space. Let them cope. But what if your donors are longing to hear from you? And what if it's your duty of care to reach out to them right now with care and compassion? And what if they want to help make the world a tad bit better? Chances are your donors have many questions right now. And they are waiting for you to have the courage to be vulnerable with them. On today's podcast, we walk through five things your donors need to hear from you right now: They need to know you careThey need to know your beneficiaries are okThey need to know you have a planThey need to know they are still neededAnd they need to know they will be part of the solutionI know things are scary right now. But you were made for these times. And now, more than ever,  people are looking to you to lead them through these uncertain times.I want you to know and remember when this is all over, your donors will remember the kind of person you were long after they remember what sort of decisions you made about staffing, finances, programs, etc. So go easy on yourself. Rise to the challenge. And start reaching out to your donors with as much humanity and vulnerability as you can muster today.