The Freshman Fundraisers Podcast

You failed. You were let go (or left before you were) and find yourself at an all-time low. How do you bounce back and move on better than you were before? Anastasia Schriber joins us to talk about her personal story about how she dusted herself off and found herself in a better place after being let go from an organization.Anastasia Schriber is the Development Director of the Respiratory Health Association in Chicago. She uses her creative brain and love for data to identify and implement strategies to engage donors. When she's not fundraising, she is either vintage dancing with the Lake Shore Dames, recording my own podcast Conquering Classics, and nerding out to fantasy novels, video games, and family D&DSupport the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/FFpod)

At some point or another, all fundraisers have been there - overworked, underpaid, burnt out. Nonprofits find themselves dealing with issues with turnover and retention. Join us for a frank conversation on these issues with Ben Chambers. Ben is a fundraising consultant with a group called Team Kat & Mouse. After spending nearly a decade in politics, public advocacy, and nonprofit fundraising, he decided to take the exciting and terrifying leap into consulting!Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/FFpod)

With the go go go mode that most fundraisers find themselves in, there’s not always time to sit down and write a fundraising plan, but according to Lisa Tarshis, these plans are of the utmost importance. Lisa discusses all the components of a plan and troubleshoots with us some common issues. From Lisa: I've been learning about philanthropy for as long as I can remember. My grandparents were involved with many organizations and as kids, they would tell us about them and take us to events. If I'm being honest, I understood the sparkle in their eye and the way they lit up when they talked about nonprofits long before I even know the word philanthropy. And today, I feel proud to carry on their legacy of making the world a better place by helping fundraisers, founders, boards, and staff gain the skills they need to raise funds to change their communities for the better. I believe that planning is key to success. As nonprofit professionals, we are wearing so many hats and running in so many directions. It's a never-ending hamster wheel and without a plan, it can feel impossible to accomplish everything that needs to be done even if you are working a 70-80 hour workweek. This is why I created Plans That Produce, a course that takes fundraising professionals step by step through the process of creating a fundraising plan that is tailor-made to their organization. Orgs with a fundraising plan on average raise 30% more than those without. If you're ready to fundraise more intentionally, focus on the items that will really move the needle, and still find time to have dinner with your friends or family (at a reasonable hour) this course is for you!Bio: https://evolvegivinggroup.com/about-us/our-team/Plans That Produce: https://www.plansthatproduce.com/Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/FFpod)

Every fundraiser knows the importance of making a measurable impact, but how do you measure what most of us see as intangible? Chari Smith is the Founder of Evaluation into Action and believes evaluation should be accessible, practical, and usable. She founded Evaluation into Action to help nonprofit professionals create realistic and meaningful program evaluation processes. Learn more at:  www.evaluationintoaction.comBook: Nonprofit Program Evaluation Made Simple: Get Your Data. Show Your Impact. Improve Your Programs.  Are you overwhelmed on how to do nonprofit program evaluation? You’re not alone. There are many ways to do program evaluation, making it difficult to know how to start. Funders require data to demonstrate impact, which just adds to the stress. Those stressful and overwhelming days are over. This book outlines a clear approach, filled with real-world stories as well as examples of evaluation plans, surveys, and reports. Chari details exactly how to adopt this simple approach so that you have the data you need to satisfy funder requirements and to make program planning decisions.·         Workshop: Thursday, October 21, 9 am PST. Program Evaluation Made Simple. If you work with nonprofits or want to understand a collaborative approach to creating outcomes, please join Chari. Info & Registration here. Connect with Chari:Newsletter: sign up at evaluationintoaction.com or drop Chari a line and she’ll add you.Twitter: @evalenthusiastLinked In: Chari SmithE: chari@evaluationintoaction.comConnect with the Freshman Fundraisers on IGSupport the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/FFpod)

What do you need to know in order to make an ask? According to Elizabeth Abel, 80% of the work is done before you even walk in the room to meet with the donor. Elizabeth is a Corporate Vice President at CCS Fundraising, a fundraising consulting firm for nonprofit organizations worldwide. She has designed, advised, and directed development initiatives and capital campaigns that have collectively raised more than $250 million, positively impacting tens of thousands of lives.Connect with the Freshman Fundraisers on IGSupport the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/FFpod)

Guest: Travis McDearmonBaby Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, Gen Z - each generation has its own set of core values and priorities, and for fundraisers, it’s important for us to think about how this impacts our work. We’re seeing a dramatic shift as the “boomers” move on from being the top major and principal-level donors to organizations worldwide. We talk to Travis McDearmon, a Lead Development Officer at Butler University and founder of Role Identity Solutions about what this means for fundraising practices and the mindsets that each generation has when it comes to who they support, how they want to be asked, and where their loyalties may lie. This discussion will look into the future of our profession based on the preliminary research about generations and how we expect them to act towards charitable givingConnect with the Freshman Fundraisers on IGSupport the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/FFpod)

If you work in a nonprofit organization, you’ve likely dealt with someone who is a reluctant fundraiser. These are the people who don’t have the primary responsibility of raising money but, by nature of their role in an organization are expected to help raise funds - your board members, program staff, and even the Executive Director. Cindy Wagman, President and CEO of The Good Partnership joins us to talk about how to motivate even the most reluctant people to be championship fundraisers. Interested in checking out Cindy's book? It can be found here: www.raiseitbook.com and if you use the coupon code FRESHMAN for 10% off Connect with the Freshman Fundraisers on IGSupport the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/FFpod)

Welcome to season 2 of the Freshman Fundraisers podcast! We decided to change up the format a bit and we can't wait for you to hear from all of our fabulous guests! New episodes drop every other Tuesday starting Aug 17!Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/FFpod)

Jack Silverstein began his fundraising career as a high school student in London, Ontario, canvassing for the Canadian Cancer Society and has never looked back.  He spent four years with a consulting firm in Burlington, where he ran numerous capital campaigns from Churches to the Masons to a Symphony.  He has brought his passion, creativity, and flair for raising money to professional positions in Ottawa with Carleton University, the Ottawa Hospital Foundation, Executive Director of the Annual Campaign for the Jewish Federation of Ottawa and President of the Ottawa Jewish Community Foundation and most recently as the Vice President of Financial Development for the National Capital Region YMCA-YWCA.Jack enjoys training and encouraging volunteers as much as he enjoys closing gifts himself.  He has vast experience with both private and corporate gifts and has raised tens of millions of dollars for worthy charities.  He believes strongly in endowments, legacies, and teaching the next generation about the importance of giving.Jack is married to Sarah, a Social Worker, and they have two sons who keep them busy and laughing.  He enjoys cycling, running, watching football, a good cigar, and a great (single malt) scotch in his spare time.Order Tales from the Trenches: https://amzn.to/3g9h0BZhttps://yucks.ca/Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/FFpod)

We talk with Christina about all things stewardships. Top practices, do's & don'ts, upcoming trends, and more! Christina McNamee is currently the Senior Director of Advancement Services at an independent K-12 in the Washington, DC area. Previously, she worked in two roles for the University of Maryland, focusing on donor stewardship and recognition. She has worked in donor relations for the George Washington University, where she also received an MPA in Public Administration and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. She lives in Fort Washington, MD, with her ever-expanding menagerie, including her wife, two daughters, dog, and cat.Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/FFpod)

With so many development professionals that just happen to fall into this work, there's a new generation of individuals venturing into this field with intention. We spoke to Jess (our first GenZ guest), a recent college grad who aspired to work in fundraising and is just starting out.Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/FFpod)

In fundraising, we recognize the importance of our words when talking to donors. In this episode, Kim and Diana sit down with Valerie Johnson, the Director of Institutional Advancement for Pathways to Housing PA to discuss the importance of the language we use when talking about participants in our programs (specifically when it comes to populations that are often marginalized or disenfranchised). We also chat about the importance of recruiting a board with lived experiences (and what a Give, Get can mean for those board members).  As a bonus, Valerie shared with us about her work with AFP and getting her CFRE. Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/FFpod)

Whether you're an extrovert (like Kim) or an introvert (like Diana), networking is generally considered to be part of the job for most fundraisers.Sam Provenzano, founder of NextGenFundraisers, joins the podcast to talk about tips and tricks for fundraisers, including how to leverage LinkedIn to grow your network. Not all fundraisers wear capes, but Sam will inspire you to be a superhero networker. Join the NextGen Fundraisers group on LinkedinSupport the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/FFpod)

In this episode, Diana chats (Kim had a family emergency) with T. Kebo Drew, the Managing Director of Queer Women of Color Media Arts Project – QWOCMAP, where she directs capacity building, development, communications, and engagement.This is a frank conversation about the power structures inherent in Fundraising and nonprofits and the lessons that can be learned by centering equity in your work and from listening to organizers/organizations led by Black, Indigenous, Queer, People of Color.Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/FFpod)

We talk to Mallory Erickson, Executive Leadership & Development Coach about the importance of authenticity in fundraising. Mallory Erickson is the fundraising coach for passionate leaders making a big social impact. She uses innovative tools to transform mission-driven leaders like you into powerful and authentic fundraisers. During her 13 years in the nonprofit sector, Mallory served as the Managing Director and Executive Director of multiple organizations and had multi-million dollar fundraising requirements in all of her leadership roles. Once she became a coach, she was able to identify the ‘elephant in the room’ when it came to fundraising and since then has been focusing her career on helping leaders raise transformative revenue by understanding and moving past the discomfort and vulnerability that comes from asking for money. If you want to feel differently about fundraising as well as clear and excited about your next steps - Mallory is the coach for you!Download Mallory's Authenticity 101 hereLearn more about working with Mallory hereSign-up for Mallory's End of Year Fundraising Course here use code FRESHMAN to save 10%Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/FFpod)

Join us as we get the inside scoop on working with donors in our first donor perspective episode. Hilary Zalla is a resident of Tampa Bay and a donor with the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation. Hilary is a donor, ambassador, advocate, and former media personality. She shares with us some tips and tricks on working with media in your area, cultivating your donors, and the impact donor advocates can make on your nonprofit. You can get your copy of The Gutsy Journal hereSupport the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/FFpod)

Pandemic required an almost universal requirement for fundraisers to adapt and work from home so we wanted to share our experiences as well as tips and tricks.Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/FFpod)

Feet First Peer to Peer FundraisingJoin us as we talk with Kat Gunsar-Smith, Manager - Triathlon, National Fundraising Campaigns & Volunteer Engagement with Team Challenge, Crohn's & Colitis Foundation. Kat shares how she got started with fundraising (by doing her own p2p fundraiser), the struggles event-based fundraisers are experiencing in the pandemic, setting up people for success in their p2p fundraising, and a few other tips and tricks. Sign up to participate with Team Challenge here: Team ChallengeSupport the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/FFpod)

So email is the #1 way to communicate. So how do you do it? How do you write an email that will both catch attention and encourage a response. Our Top 5 TipsSubject - avoid words that might be filtered out (anything to sales-y)Salutation- Address them by first nameOpeningBody - Ask for advice/get money vs ask for money/get adviceClosingWant our sample emails? Sign up for our email list here and get Email Templates to Snag the Donor Meeting - https://bit.ly/33PHORYSupport the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/FFpod)

Join us as we talk with Chloe Corcoran, the Senior Associate Director of Constituent Engagement  - West Coast for Emory University about her career journey in advancement and her experience as an out transgender woman in fundraising.Chloe shares her guiding principals in working with donors (passion and impact) and how the impact of a gift can be great, even if the gift is relatively small. To give to Chloe's fundraiser for the Transgender Law center - https://bit.ly/3ixIAadSupport the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/FFpod)