Real Talk for Real Fundraisers

Latest Episodes:

How to Get a Donor Meeting Back on Track Mar 19, 2024

Show notes

We’ve all been in meetings where the conversation gets sidetracked. Maybe someone present is very chatty and wants to spend the first half hour catching up. Maybe one individual has another topic they want to discuss, outside of what was outlined in the agenda. Or maybe no one is clear on why they’re there at all, so the conversation wanders until the time is up.

How can you make sure your donor meetings stay on track, while being respectful of everyone’s time and contributions? In this episode, Karen and Diana share their tips for how to effectively prepare for a donor meeting and what you can do when things don’t go according to plan.

Show Highlights: In this episode, you’ll learn about…

How to prepare for meetings and set expectations with all participants

What you can say when a conversation gets off-track

How to use Permission-Based Asking to move the conversation forward in a way that feels authentic and honoring

How to handle emotions that may come up, in yourself and in your donor

Celebrating Women in Fundraising, Featuring Yolanda F. Johnson Mar 04, 2024

Show notes

In celebration of Women’s History Month, today’s episode is all about how women are shaping and changing the field of fundraising. Our special guest joining us for this conversation is Yolanda F. Johnson, President and Founder of YFJ Consulting and Women of Color in Fundraising and Leadership (WOC)™, which specializes in fundraising, philanthropy, and best practices for equity and inclusion.

Listen in to learn more about Yolanda’s work and to hear her perspective on lifting up more women and people of color in the non-profit sector. If you enjoy the episode and you’d like to continue the conversation with Yolanda, see the show notes below for ways to get in touch.

Show Highlights: In this episode, you’ll learn about…

Yolanda’s work through her organization, Women of Color in Fundraising and Philanthropy (WOC)™

The four pillars of allyship, and how embracing the idea of “sponsorship” can help to elevate more women and women of color in the sector
Mentorship opportunities for women who are interested in non-profit management and leadership
Moving away from the scarcity mindset and finding ways for women to work together, to champion each other

Yes, You Do Need to Ask All Year Long! Feb 20, 2024

Show notes

Asking your donors for gifts isn’t something you should save for the year-end giving season. When you’re tuned in to your donor’s giving preferences and interests, you can bring them additional giving opportunities even outside their regular giving season.

For this episode, we invited two guest fundraisers and clients of ours to share their expertise on this subject. Sarah Coen-Frei, Senior Individual Giving Manager at Minnesota Public Radio, and Fritz Gutwein, Major Gift Officer at Bread for the World, join Veritus Group’s Karen Kendrick (Senior Director of Client Engagement) and Diana Frazier (Senior Client Experience Leader) for this conversation about how to approach asking year-round.

We hope you find these tips helpful as you work toward your next donor asks!

Show Highlights: In this episode, you’ll learn about…

Moving away from transactional asking (e.g. waiting for year-end appeals) to adopt a more relational model
How to use Permission-Based Asking when asking your donor for a gift
Inspiring donors to give outside of their regular giving season

Working From Your Energy: Bringing Your Best Self to Your Work With Donors Feb 08, 2024

Show notes

When you work at a non-profit organization, just as in any job, there will be times that you feel stuck, discouraged, or uninspired. This work is hard, and it’s not uncommon to experience feelings of burnout or frustration.

If you’re in a space like that, how do you shift your energy so you can bring your best self to your work with donors?

For this episode, Karen and Renita share some questions to ask yourself on those days to help you approach your energy differently. We hope these suggestions leave you feeling encouraged with some strategies to help you move forward and find more satisfaction in your daily work!

Show Highlights: In this episode, you’ll learn about…

Mindset challenges that affect how you feel and show up in your work
Practices to help you avoid burnout as a non-profit professional
Steps leaders can take to support their staff

Finding the Right Job: Tips from a Non-Profit Recruiting Expert Jan 23, 2024

Show notes

When you’re looking for your next fundraising position, how do you evaluate which opportunities are most aligned with your professional goals? What questions should you ask in your conversations with hiring managers to learn more about their culture and evaluate whether the role is a good fit?

In this podcast episode, Karen and Matt are joined by special guest Paul Towne, VP of Executive Search with Cooper Coleman. As a search consultant who works exclusively with non-profit and social impact organizations, Paul has extensive knowledge about how to interview for the right roles and identify which opportunities will be the best fit for you.

We hope this conversation gives you some helpful ideas and tools to use when you’re interviewing for your next fundraising role!

Show Highlights: In this episode, you’ll learn about…

Factors impacting the job-hunting landscape across the non-profit sector
How to identify roles that will be the best fit for you
What candidates should look for when interviewing at a non-profit
Questions to ask that will help you learn more about an organization’s culture

How to Get Yourself Transitioned into the New Year Jan 09, 2024

Show notes

Welcome to January! In these first weeks of the year, you’re likely still finishing out the year-end season, thanking donors for gifts received, and assessing your performance compared to your goals. At the same time, you’re working on communication plans and strategies for the year ahead.

In this episode, Jeff is joined by Theresa Tapocsi and Edie Dahlen, two of our Client Experience Leaders, for an overview of what fundraisers and leaders need to know right now while you’re wrapping up from year-end and getting started on your top priorities in 2024.

We are honored to walk alongside fundraisers as they chart their course for a new year. If you could use an external partner to support your work as a fundraiser, we’d love to chat. Schedule a call today for a no-pressure conversation about ways we can partner with you and your organization so you can achieve even more for your mission.

Show Highlights: In this episode, you’ll learn about…

Common challenges facing fundraisers in January after a busy year-end fundraising season
How to evaluate your performance, beyond whether or not you met your revenue goals
Where to focus your attention at the start of the calendar year
Tips for leaders to help their teams celebrate their work last year and transition to new priorities in the year ahead

How to Be an Effective Non-Profit Leader and Manager Dec 19, 2023

Show notes

When we talk to passionate fundraisers who are deeply committed to their donors, their most common complaint about their work is that they don’t feel supported by their managers. People leave organizations because of it, yet management skills are often undervalued in the non-profit space.

In today’s episode, Karen and Jeff talk through some of the obstacles that may be holding you back as a leader for your fundraising team, and how you can take steps to turn things around. For anyone managing a team of frontline fundraisers, we hope you’ll tune in to this episode for strategies to help you be the kind of manager who inspires your team to do their best work.

And if you could use an external partner to support your work as a manager or non-profit leader, we’d love to chat. Schedule a call today for a no-pressure conversation about ways we can support you and your team so you can achieve even more for your mission.

Show Highlights: In this episode, you’ll learn about…

Some of the most common issues that cause managers and leaders to be ineffective in their roles

Practices and actions that define the most effective non-profit leaders and managers

How to change the culture at your organization and address any management issues that may be holding your team back

An Interview with the American Brain Foundation Dec 05, 2023

Show notes

When an anonymous check for $100,000 arrived at the American Brain Foundation, their fundraising team was blown away. The organization certainly wasn’t so large that this level of giving was typical. Who was this anonymous person, and what made them decide to give so generously?

In this episode, Jeff and Diana interview two members of the team at the American Brain Foundation (ABF) – Jane Ransom, Executive Director, and Lisa Dahlberg, Philanthropic Advisor – to learn how they responded to this unexpected gift. Their efforts to connect with this anonymous donor ultimately led to a multi-million-dollar commitment for ABF. Listen in to learn how a transformational gift like this is possible for your organization.

Show Highlights: In this episode, you’ll learn about…

How an anonymous gift led to a multi-million-dollar commitment
The steps that ABF took to learn more about the donor’s passions and goals
The internal culture at ABF that supported this transformational partnership

How to Meaningfully Transition a Donor Relationship Nov 28, 2023

Show notes

When you have a healthy donor pipeline, there will come a time when you need to transition a donor relationship to someone else. Whether the donor is moving from mid-level to a major gifts portfolio or from a higher level of giving back into mid-level or direct response, you need to have protocols in place so that the transition feels seamless to the donor.

For today’s podcast episode, Karen Kendrick speaks with Diana Frazier, Senior Client Experience Leader, and Kara Ansotegui, Director of Client Engagement Services, to ask them about their top tips for how you can meaningfully transition a donor relationship in a way that honors the donor and strengthens their connection to your organization.

Show Highlights: In this episode, you’ll learn about…

The kinds of donor transitions you need to develop protocols around (how to move a donor from mid-level to major gifts or planned gifts, or back down to mid-level)
Some of the common issues we see in non-profits that lead to bumpy transitions for both donors and fundraisers
How to manage transitions when you have a hybrid mid-level / major gifts caseload

It’s Time to Move on From Moves Management Nov 16, 2023

Show notes

When moves management was first introduced as a strategy to help fundraisers manage their caseloads, it was a step forward in putting some much-needed structure around the donor pipeline.

But now, some non-profits have taken the idea too far. A lot of organizations have gotten stuck on rigid definitions of what “stage” a donor is at. Moves management has led to these metrics that have caused fundraisers to forget about how actual relationships work.

In this podcast episode, Richard and Jeff share an alternative approach to caseload management that will allow you to move your focus back to your donor.

Show Highlights: In this episode, you’ll learn about…

Having a mindset of cultivating donors all the time, instead of designating a status for “Cultivation”
How to stay focused on the donor relationship, rather than the stage
How to advocate for this new approach when leadership has only known moves management

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