Donor meetings can be mysterious and stressful to some. Making an ask for money isn't something we all intuitively know how to do. In this episode, Nancy and Sarah demystify the donor meeting to explain what happens at a typical donor meeting and how you can best prepare. They provide tips on how to think about donor meetings as opportunities to build a relationship with an important member of your community. You'll finish your listening with concrete ideas on how you can strengthen your donor meetings.
Tag: fundraising
Episode 63: The Art of Nonprofit Gatherings
Nonprofits host a lot of gatherings: board meetings, fundraising events, volunteer trainings, etc. In this episode, Nancy and Sarah explore how to create transformational gatherings, from board meetings to fundraising events. They draw on the wisdom of gathering expert Priya Parker to expand how we think about events and simple steps we can do to make them more meaningful. They consider how to give each event a purpose, ways to create magical spaces that are different from people's everyday world, and how to begin a gathering. You will walk away with tips on how you can create transformational gatherings.
Episode 62: Nonprofit Sleuthing: Something is wrong, but what?
Nancy and Sarah regularly get asked nonprofit questions. Often they are in the form of “This is happening in our nonprofit. Is that normal?” In this episode, Nancy and Sarah talk about common questions and how they would approach them. You will learn strategies to get to the bottom of what your nonprofit’s challenge really might be. Grab your magnifying glass to practice how you might sleuth out what’s at the core of keeping you from meeting your mission.
Episode 60: Becoming a community giving ambassador
Many of us know community giving projects. They are community-wide invitations to give to your favorite nonprofits usually on one day or in one period of time. Our colleagues in Washington State may know GiveBig. In this episode, Sarah tells Nancy about the story of her local community giving project, Give Methow, and how it has created giving ambassadors throughout the community. They talk about some of the general lessons any nonprofit leader can learn from Give Methow and why it matters.
Episode 59: End-of-year fundraising: Four strategies to meet your goals
It is mid-November, and you have six weeks to meet your organization's fundraising goal for 2022. What are your options? In this episode, Nancy and Sarah talk through four end-of-year fundraising strategies for folks who may be falling short on their fundraising goal. As the 2022 clock counts down, there's still time to be strategic and find ways to invite your donors or potential donors to be a part of the important work you do.
Episode 56: What to do about inflation
Nonprofits are facing all of the same inflationary pressures as others across our communities. In this episode, Nancy and Sarah talk about how a nonprofit can respond to inflation, particularly related to finance and fundraising. They share some ideas for thinking about salary adjustments, communicating with donors and supporters, and engaging board members in scenario planning. They highlight the importance of true cost accounting and advocacy as ways to expand the amount of money you have to work with. You got this.
Episode 49: The Importance of Formers
People who used to work on behalf of your mission are important people in your movement. Former staff members, board members, volunteers and others have played in important role in forming your work. In this episode, Nancy and Sarah talk about "formers," why they matter, and how you can keep them connected to your mission and programs.
Episode 48: Become a trustful nonprofit
There have been a few reports out over the past year that warn us that trust in institutions has decreased, including in nonprofits. One body of research that we will link in the show notes says that only 19% of people highly trust nonprofits. In this episode, Nancy and Sarah talk about what causes people to trust a nonprofit, how you know if people trust your nonprofit, and what you can do to increase trust. Trust us, you'll want to take a listen.
Episode 47: Understand your donors’ why
Your donors give for a reason. Do you know what it is? In this episode, Sarah and Nancy explore four common reasons why donors give. They give advice on which of these groups of donors you should spend more of your time with and why. If you don't know why your donors give, listen for some ways that will help you find out. Your mission matters, and money is the fuel for you to deliver that mission. Take 20 minutes to reflect on your fundraising practice so you build your movement for the next year.
Episode 37: Successful End-of-Year Fundraising
In this episode, Nancy and Sarah discuss ways a small nonprofit can build a simple strategy to raise more money in November and December.