Latest / The Nonprofit Podcast / Ep 151| Fundraising Forward: Practical Strategies to Grow Your Impact

Transcript

Ep 151| Fundraising Forward: Practical Strategies to Grow Your Impact · The Nonprofit Podcast

• 0:04
  SPEAKER_00: The Nonprofit Podcast, powered by DonorBucks.
• 0:09
  SPEAKER_01: Sometimes moving your nonprofit forward isn't just about a single breakthrough moment.
• 0:15
  SPEAKER_01: It's about a series of small but powerful learnings, the kind that bring clarity, refine your strategy, and help take meaningful action towards your goals.
• 0:25
  SPEAKER_01: Welcome to the Nonprofit Podcast.
• 0:27
  SPEAKER_01: I'm Jenna, Education and Community Engagement Manager here at Donorbox.
• 0:33
  SPEAKER_01: We are here each week with practical actions you can use today to take your nonprofit to the next level tomorrow.
• 0:40
  SPEAKER_01: A few weeks back, on January 31st, in New York City, we gathered with nonprofit leaders from all across the country for DonorBox's inaugural fundraising forward summit.
• 0:53
  SPEAKER_01: It was a day full of meaningful conversations, shared insights, and hands-on strategies that are all designed to help nonprofits move closer to their goals in 2025.
• 1:04
  SPEAKER_01: No fluff, just powerful, actionable takeaways that can make a real difference in the way that you approach fundraising.
• 1:12
  SPEAKER_01: I had the pleasure of facilitating the event with the donor box team.
• 1:17
  SPEAKER_01: And let me tell you, it was incredible to be in a room full of people who are doing the work, leading their organizations, and making an impact every single day.
• 1:28
  SPEAKER_01: And if you couldn't be there in person, we missed you for sure, but don't worry, I've got you covered.
• 1:34
  SPEAKER_01: Today we are breaking down the top lessons from fundraising forward, giving you clear practical steps that you can take back to your nonprofit right now.
• 1:44
  SPEAKER_01: Because inspiration is great, but implementation, that's what actually moves your mission forward.
• 1:50
  SPEAKER_01: Okay, let's dive in with one of my favorite takeaways from the summit.
• 1:55
  SPEAKER_01: If you're like many people, you probably feel like your inbox is constantly overflowing and your social media feeds are buzzing nonstop and you're getting text messages left and right.
• 2:07
  SPEAKER_01: And it's harder than ever to get your donors' attention, right?
• 2:11
  SPEAKER_01: Because we're all like this.
• 2:12
  SPEAKER_01: We are all fighting for a piece of that limited attention span.
• 2:17
  SPEAKER_01: So how do you cut through all the noise?
• 2:21
  SPEAKER_01: Chad Barger, founder of productive fundraising, hit us with some real talk about fundraising being simple, but not always easy.
• 2:31
  SPEAKER_01: What does that mean?
• 2:32
  SPEAKER_01: Well, it's about going back to the basics.
• 2:34
  SPEAKER_01: Fundraising doesn't have to be complex, it just has to be effective.
• 2:38
  SPEAKER_01: And that's where the magic happens.
• 2:40
  SPEAKER_01: So, first, he emphasized so that you can cut through the noise and get to the heart of your donors.
• 2:47
  SPEAKER_01: Focus on the fundamentals and make them your own.
• 2:51
  SPEAKER_01: It's so easy to get caught up in the latest trends or feel like you need the flashiest tools to succeed.
• 2:56
  SPEAKER_01: But Chad reminded us that great fundraising starts with the basics.
• 3:01
  SPEAKER_01: What's at the heart of your nonprofit?
• 3:02
  SPEAKER_01: What's the real story behind your mission?
• 3:05
  SPEAKER_01: That's where your energy should go.
• 3:07
  SPEAKER_01: Keep it simple, stay true to who you are and tell your story with clarity and authenticity.
• 3:12
  SPEAKER_01: The goal isn't to impress, right?
• 3:14
  SPEAKER_01: It's to connect.
• 3:16
  SPEAKER_01: Another big takeaway from his session is to simplify your messaging.
• 3:20
  SPEAKER_01: People are busy, they're so busy, and they're constantly bombarded with so much information.
• 3:26
  SPEAKER_01: If you want your message to stick, it needs to be clear, it needs to be direct, and perhaps most importantly, free of jargon, right?
• 3:35
  SPEAKER_01: Don't try to impress with complicated language.
• 3:39
  SPEAKER_01: Just help your donors understand exactly why their support matters.
• 3:44
  SPEAKER_01: The easier you make it for them to say yes, the better.
• 3:46
  SPEAKER_01: Chad also emphasized the importance of consistency and authenticity.
• 3:51
  SPEAKER_01: We're going to talk a lot about authenticity in this episode.
• 3:54
  SPEAKER_01: He put it pretty simply: focus on connections, not just communications, right?
• 4:01
  SPEAKER_01: Fundraising isn't just about sending messages, it's about building real relationships.
• 4:07
  SPEAKER_01: People connect with the human side of your nonprofit, not a perfectly polished version of it.
• 4:12
  SPEAKER_01: So show up consistently, whether that's through your email, social media, face-to-face conversations, videos, and always keep it real.
• 4:20
  SPEAKER_01: When your passion and your authenticity shine through, that's what truly cuts through the noise and builds lasting donor relationships.
• 4:29
  SPEAKER_01: And to that point, one of my favorite takeaways was to embrace those imperfections.
• 4:34
  SPEAKER_01: Chad shared a great candid video that a nonprofit shared with some of their donors that was hilarious and so authentic and in the moment.
• 4:44
  SPEAKER_01: And that means that perfect doesn't always resonate, right?
• 4:49
  SPEAKER_01: What does?
• 4:49
  SPEAKER_01: Honesty, transparency, being human, being silly, letting donors in on the journey.
• 4:55
  SPEAKER_01: People respect realness.
• 4:56
  SPEAKER_01: They don't just want to hear about your successes.
• 4:59
  SPEAKER_01: They want to be a part of the full story, challenges, and all.
• 5:02
  SPEAKER_01: At the end of the day, fundraising isn't about these fancy strategies or polished perfection all the time, right?
• 5:09
  SPEAKER_01: It's about connection, clarity, and showing up as your real and perfect, passionate nonprofit self.
• 5:17
  SPEAKER_01: Next up, let's talk about something that's at the heart of every successful fundraising campaign: storytelling.
• 5:24
  SPEAKER_01: Kelly Hernandez, donor box ambassador and the CEO of the Nonprofit Marketing Nerds shared some really brilliant insights on how you can use storytelling to create emotional connections with your donors.
• 5:36
  SPEAKER_01: And when it comes to raising funds, there's so many things that are important, but I think the most important thing is making your donors feel like they are a part of the story.
• 5:46
  SPEAKER_01: So Kelly's message during her session was clear.
• 5:50
  SPEAKER_01: Fundraising in today's uncertain times requires us to focus on relationships, clear communication of impact, and building trust.
• 5:57
  SPEAKER_01: This is what Chad said too.
• 5:59
  SPEAKER_01: So this is when all these elements come to life in storytelling.
• 6:04
  SPEAKER_01: She shared a framework that you can start using today to make your fundraising messages and your stories more powerful.
• 6:11
  SPEAKER_01: So you want to start with the hero.
• 6:14
  SPEAKER_01: And guess what?
• 6:15
  SPEAKER_01: It's not you or your organization, it's the person who benefits from your organization's work.
• 6:21
  SPEAKER_01: So your donor's contribution should feel like it's making a real difference in someone's life.
• 6:26
  SPEAKER_01: That's the hero.
• 6:28
  SPEAKER_01: So pick a hero your donors can connect with, someone whose transformation will inspire them to take action.
• 6:37
  SPEAKER_01: Next, there's the problem, right?
• 6:39
  SPEAKER_01: You're always trying to solve a problem.
• 6:42
  SPEAKER_01: And every hero faces a challenge, right?
• 6:45
  SPEAKER_01: In your story, lay out the struggle your hero is facing.
• 6:49
  SPEAKER_01: This is where you highlight the need, right?
• 6:52
  SPEAKER_01: It doesn't have to be a huge dramatic crisis, but you do want to paint a clear picture of why help is so critical and how your donors can make a difference.
• 7:02
  SPEAKER_01: Then you introduce the guide, and that's you.
• 7:06
  SPEAKER_01: So think of yourself as the mentor, helping your hero navigate their obstacles.
• 7:11
  SPEAKER_01: You are the one offering support, whether that's through your nonprofits' resources, programs, or just the guidance that your hero needs to move forward.
• 7:19
  SPEAKER_01: So Kelly said this.
• 7:21
  SPEAKER_01: I thought it was great.
• 7:22
  SPEAKER_01: You are their Yoda, not their Luke Skywalker.
• 7:26
  SPEAKER_01: You are not the one in the spotlight.
• 7:29
  SPEAKER_01: After that, you will share the plan.
• 7:31
  SPEAKER_01: What's the strategy that's helping your hero overcome the problem?
• 7:35
  SPEAKER_01: This is where you show how you've equipped them with tools, resources, or programs that make change possible.
• 7:42
  SPEAKER_01: So don't just talk about the what, show the how that made success happen.
• 7:49
  SPEAKER_01: And then finally, the last step in the framework that Kelly shared is talk about success.
• 7:55
  SPEAKER_01: How has the hero transformed?
• 7:57
  SPEAKER_01: What's their new reality after overcoming the struggle?
• 8:01
  SPEAKER_01: The key here is not just the outcome, but the lasting impact.
• 8:06
  SPEAKER_01: And don't forget to make sure your donor knows how they played a part in that transformation or how they can play a part in that transformation.
• 8:14
  SPEAKER_01: And when you follow this framework, you'll notice that your stories become more focused, engaging, and easier to connect with.
• 8:22
  SPEAKER_01: And speaking of storytelling, a special shout out goes to Maya, executive director of Maya's Hope.
• 8:30
  SPEAKER_01: Since 2010, Maya's Hope has been dedicated to improving the quality of life for orphaned, impoverished, and special needs children by providing funding for caregivers, life-saving medical care, and essential resources across Ukraine and the Philippines.
• 8:46
  SPEAKER_01: And Maya's team started using DonorBox in 2021 to streamline their fundraising.
• 8:52
  SPEAKER_01: And the impact has been incredible.
• 8:54
  SPEAKER_01: They've raised nearly 2.7 million across 1400, no, sorry, 14,000 donations with tools like peer-to-peer fundraising, corporate matching, text-to-give, and even seamless integrations with email marketing platforms.
• 9:10
  SPEAKER_01: They've really expanded their reach and increased donor engagement.
• 9:14
  SPEAKER_01: But one of the most powerful examples that Maya shared during the summit was the Emergency Ukraine Fund.
• 9:22
  SPEAKER_01: When the war broke out in 2022, Maya's Hope quickly launched an urgent relief campaign raising nearly$1 million from 2,000 donors worldwide.
• 9:34
  SPEAKER_01: And the ability to accept multi-currency donations, use automatic tax receipts, and send timely updates made all the difference in mobilizing support fast for Maya's Hope.
• 9:46
  SPEAKER_01: But what really stands out here, this is something that Maya did so well in her campaigns, was the power of storytelling, right?
• 9:54
  SPEAKER_01: Just like Kelly said, when you make the story the hero, donors feel deeply connected to the impact they are making.
• 10:03
  SPEAKER_01: Maya's Hope excels at crafting personalized, targeted campaigns that inspire generosity and drive action.
• 10:10
  SPEAKER_01: So a huge thank you to Maya as well for showing how technology and storytelling, when used together, can change lives.
• 10:17
  SPEAKER_01: Finally, we talked about AI, specifically how it can play a role in enhancing your nonprofits' fundraising efforts.
• 10:26
  SPEAKER_01: So Cherry and Coshi, fundraising expert and device president at KindSight, shared some fantastic insights.
• 10:33
  SPEAKER_01: The big takeaway from this one is that AI is a tool to help, not something that will replace the human connections at the heart of your nonprofit.
• 10:41
  SPEAKER_01: When used right, AI can save you time by automating repetitive tasks like sending out the same email to everyone.
• 10:48
  SPEAKER_01: And instead, it can help you personalize your messages to fit each donor's preferences.
• 10:53
  SPEAKER_01: It can even predict when donors are likely to give next, helping you focus your energy where it counts.
• 11:00
  SPEAKER_01: And then there's AI-powered chat bots.
• 11:02
  SPEAKER_01: So you can think of them like your nonprofit's virtual assistant always sharing your story and engaging with donors, even when you're off the clock.
• 11:10
  SPEAKER_01: He had this really cool session that he called the AI Petting Zoo, where he shared his screen and shared his favorite AI-focused apps that will help with your capacity and help with these little one-off tasks and help amplify the work that you're doing without losing the human touch, right?
• 11:30
  SPEAKER_01: But here's the important part.
• 11:32
  SPEAKER_01: Charion made it so clear that AI isn't about tech, just for tech's sake.
• 11:38
  SPEAKER_01: It's about supporting the human side of fundraising.
• 11:41
  SPEAKER_01: So it should free up your time so that you can focus on what really matters, right?
• 11:45
  SPEAKER_01: Building those authentic, meaningful connections with donors.
• 11:49
  SPEAKER_01: And one last thing that Charian touched on that I really loved and something that was so insightful to me is AI acceptable use policies.
• 11:58
  SPEAKER_01: So he pointed out that nonprofits need to establish clear guidelines for using AI with their entire team.
• 12:06
  SPEAKER_01: So, for example, donor boxes JAI ensures that all data stays secure within our platform, unlike other AI tools that might make your data or your donor's data public.
• 12:19
  SPEAKER_01: So you always need to be mindful of where your data is going and how it's being used, and making sure that your staff is aware of where it's going and how it's being used when they're using AI tools.
• 12:30
  SPEAKER_01: So that's the first thing you need to do before starting to really use AI at your organization.
• 12:36
  SPEAKER_01: To sum it up, AI isn't here to take over your nonprofit story, right?
• 12:40
  SPEAKER_01: It's here to help you focus on what truly matters.
• 12:42
  SPEAKER_01: So that's building real, impactful relationships with your donors.
• 12:46
  SPEAKER_01: I think that was the overall theme for the day in general.
• 12:49
  SPEAKER_01: We cover a lot in this episode.
• 12:51
  SPEAKER_01: We covered a lot during the day at fundraising forward.
• 12:54
  SPEAKER_01: So I want to make sure I break this down into a few simple takeaways.
• 12:59
  SPEAKER_01: First off, with all of the noise out there, it's so hard to cut through it.
• 13:04
  SPEAKER_01: But if you focus on connecting, not just communicating, this will build meaningful relationships and cut through that noise.
• 13:14
  SPEAKER_01: And the less people have to figure out for your messaging, the more likely they are to pay attention and engage.
• 13:20
  SPEAKER_01: Next, don't just talk about your cause, tell stories that bring it to life.
• 13:26
  SPEAKER_01: People connect with stories, not stats.
• 13:29
  SPEAKER_01: It's the real human moments that resonate and make people care.
• 13:33
  SPEAKER_01: So think about how you can highlight your mission through those powerful, authentic stories.
• 13:38
  SPEAKER_01: Don't forget the power of using tools to work smarter.
• 13:42
  SPEAKER_01: If you are not already, lean into AI for tasks like donor management and follow-up emails.
• 13:48
  SPEAKER_01: It can help you stay on top of everything without getting bogged down by the admin work so you can focus on building those relationships.
• 13:56
  SPEAKER_01: I think overall, though, the big takeaway here is consistency, small, intentional steps that add up to big results.
• 14:06
  SPEAKER_01: So pick one action from today and put it into practice.
• 14:09
  SPEAKER_01: It doesn't have to be perfect.
• 14:11
  SPEAKER_01: Just take that next step and keep moving forward.
• 14:15
  SPEAKER_01: Thank you for joining us on the Nonprofit Podcast.
• 14:18
  SPEAKER_01: I hope you've left with the confidence to take a small step today that will make a big difference tomorrow.
• 14:24
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• 14:34
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• 14:36
  SPEAKER_01: You're here to help others, we're here to help you.
• 14:39
  SPEAKER_01: Until next time, stay inspired.
• 14:42
  SPEAKER_00: That warm feeling when you help someone, it's not just happiness, it's fulfillment.
• 14:47
  SPEAKER_00: And we believe it should be available to everyone.
• 14:49
  SPEAKER_00: From frontline heroes to first time fundraisers.
• 14:53
  SPEAKER_00: Our tools empower you to help others.
• 14:55
  SPEAKER_00: This is our mission.
• 14:57
  SPEAKER_00: This is DonorBox, helping you help others.