Show notes
What if the biggest thing holding back your nonprofit fundraising isn't a lack of money, but the way you're thinking about your donors?
In this conversation, Kurt Luidhardt talks with nonprofit fundraising and marketing strategist Paul Bigham about how organizations can raise more money by shifting from a scarcity mindset to an abundance mindset and building stronger relationships with the people who support their mission.
Paul has helped organizations raise more than $3.2 billion and explains why successful fundraising starts by making the donor the focus of your message.
Paul shares the story of helping a nonprofit grow from 17,500 active donors and a $5 million annual budget to 500,000 active donors and a $126 million budget.
He explains why organizations need systems for attracting, nurturing, appreciating, and retaining donors instead of only communicating when they need money.
The conversation also explores the continued power of direct mail. Paul shares an example where the same donor audience generated $15 million online compared with $80 million through direct mail over the same six month period.
He explains why digital and direct mail should work together, why attribution can be misleading, and why organizations shouldn't decide on behalf of donors when they've heard from them enough.
Paul also reflects on his unconventional path into nonprofit fundraising, including the layoff that ultimately led to three new clients and became a turning point in his career.
He discusses mentorship, faith, relationship capital, teaching the next generation of marketers, and why flexibility will become increasingly important as fundraising and communication continue to evolve.
Paul closes by sharing his desire to leave a legacy for future generations and his belief that fundraising can help organizations feed the hungry, house the homeless, clothe the naked, heal the sick, and serve causes that matter.
Key Takeaways
00:00 The Layoff That Changed Everything
00:25 Meet Paul Bigham
01:44 Scarcity vs Abundance in Fundraising
02:39 Make Fundraising About the Donor
03:04 Four Ways to Improve the Bottom Line
04:44 Building Sustainable Donor Growth
06:18 Why You Need Proof of Concept
07:16 Growing From 17,500 to 500,000 Donors
08:58 Why Direct Mail Still Works
10:17 $15 Million Online vs $80 Million in Mail
11:20 Building the Right Fundraising Cadence
14:49 Why Donor Relationships Matter
16:15 Making Direct Mail and Digital Work Together
19:09 Don't Say No for Your Donors
21:39 Paul's Path Into Nonprofit Fundraising
27:00 The Turning Point in Paul's Business
30:04 Mentors and Relationship Capital
32:46 Faith When the Path Isn't Clear
34:15 Why Paul Teaches Marketing
36:18 Preparing for the Future of Fundraising
38:35 The Castle Roads Philosophy
40:17 Building a Legacy for Future Generations
41:34 Understanding the Marketing of Hate
42:50 How Paul Helps Nonprofits Grow
Resources
Bigham Nonprofit Advisors
https://www.bighamagency.com/
Bigham Agency
https://www.bighamagency.com/
Paul's Fundraising Newsletter
https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/castle-roads-7450910196572504065/
Castle Roads
https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/castle-roads-7450910196572504065/
Southern Methodist University
https://www.smu.edu/
University of Texas at Dallas
https://www.utdallas.edu/
🔗 Connect with Liberty Spenders™:
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/libertyspenders
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/libertyspenders
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/libertyspenders
• Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/c-6192506
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXn-vzlA03r59neWZD0ofJA
• X: https://x.com/LibertySpenders
🔗 Connect with Kurt and Kristen Luidhardt:
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/luidhardts
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/luidhardts
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/luidhardts
• Truth Social: https://truthsocial.com/@luidhardts
• X: https://x.com/luidhardts
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Our TOPPODCAST Picks 
Stay Connected
