2016 was our first year hosting Rally & Engage, a podcast about online fundraising for nonprofit leaders, fundraisers, and marketers (you can read more about why we did this here).
Over the course of the past year, I’ve had the opportunity to bring insights and ideas from 25 top nonprofit leaders and fundraising consultants to thousands of listeners made up of leaders at startup, growing, & mature nonprofits around the world.
It’s been an incredible learning opportunity for our team here at CauseVox and it’s just the beginning as we have a lineup of incredible guests for 2017.
Prior to jumping into new interviews, I thought it would be fun to take a look back and share the top eight interviews we did last year. Here are our top interviews to listen to as you kick-start your 2017 fundraising planning:
1) Vanessa Chase Lockshin On Nonprofit Storytelling
On this episode I talked with Vanessa Chase Lockshin, the President of The Storytelling Nonprofit, about what makes a good story, how stories can amplify your fundraising, and a few examples of nonprofits telling their stories well.
Vanessa is an international non-profit consultant, thought leader, trainer, and speaker. She’s part of the next generation of professionals bringing change to the non-profit sector and challenging conventions. Vanessa is also the author of The Storytelling Non-Profit: A practical guide to telling stories that raise money and awareness.
2) Rob Wu On Why People-Based Fundraising Is The Future
On this episode I talked with Rob Wu, the CEO and Co-founder of CauseVox, about what we’ve seen makes good fundraising, how fundraising has shifted over the years, and where we think the future of fundraising is going.
Every single month we have the opportunity to talk with hundreds of nonprofit leaders and hear how they’re thinking about fundraising, what challenges they’re facing and how they see their relationships with supporters are shifting.
Over the past six years we’ve learned a lot, observed over 20,000 campaigns, and thought it was important to stop and take the time to reflect on some of the lessons we’ve learned, especially as you approach fundraising in 2017.
3) Kivi Leroux Miller On What Differentiates Successful Nonprofits From The Rest
On this episode I talk with Kivi Leroux Miller about the challenges that face nonprofit staff, especially those in communication roles, how to say “no” to new opportunities, and what differentiates successful nonprofits from those that can’t seem to gain traction.
Kivi is president of Nonprofit Marketing Guide.com and the award-winning author of two books, “The Nonprofit Marketing Guide: High-Impact, Low-Cost Ways to Build Support for Your Good Cause” and “Content Marketing for Nonprofits: A Communications Map for Engaging Your Community, Becoming a Favorite Cause, and Raising More Money.” She is also a certified executive coach.
Through training, coaching and consulting, Kivi helps nonprofit communications professionals both learn their jobs and love their jobs. She teaches webinars and workshops several times a month and writes a top-ranked blog on nonprofit communications at Nonprofit Marketing Guide.com. Thousands of nonprofits in all 50 U.S. states, across Canada, and in more than 30 countries have participated in Kivi’s trainings.
4) Rachel Ramjattan On Donor-Centric Communications & Fundraising
On this episode I talk with Rachel Ramjattan, the founder and principal of Nonprofit Plus Team, about how you can be more successful with your year-end communication and how to truly be donor-centric in your communication.
Since the age of 12, Rachel has been actively fundraising to help people living in poverty. She is passionate about helping nonprofits get better at doing good. Her friendly personality, “Can Do” philosophy, and vast experience with fundraising, nonprofit technology, and training, is just what you need to thrive.
5) Lori L. Jacobwith On Crafting Fundraising Stories
On this episode I talk with Lori L. Jacobwith, about how your organization’s culture matters more than you think and how to craft a compelling fundraising story that drives response (even without an ask).
Named one of America’s Top 25 Fundraising Experts, Lori is a nationally-recognized master storyteller and fundraising culture change expert with more than 30 years’ experience helping nonprofit organizations raise nearly $300 million dollars from individual donors. And counting.
6) Farra Trompeter On Nonprofit Brand Strategy & Fundraising
On this episode I talk with Farra Trompeter about the difference between branding and brand strategy, how your brand strategy should drive fundraising, and how technology is changing how we fundraise and build relationships with supporters.
Farra Trompeter is Vice President at Big Duck, a communications firm that works exclusively with nonprofits to help organizations reach supporters, build awareness, and raise money. Farra has led dozens of organizations through major brand overhauls, multichannel campaigns, and much more since joining Big Duck in 2007. She’s a frequent speaker around the country, training nonprofiteers on branding and marketing, online fundraising, and donor engagement.
7) Wild Woman Fundraising On Writing Fundraising Appeals That Effectively Raise Money
On this episode I talk with Mazarine Treyz about the core elements of effective fundraising appeals, how the best appeals are centered around stories of one, and even touch on lessons you can pull from your favorite works of fiction when you’re writing your appeals.
8) Children of Vietnam’s ED On The Power Of Integrated Fundraising Campaigns
On this episode I talk with Nancy Letteri, the Executive Director at Children of Vietnam, a nonprofit focused on alleviating child poverty.
We talk about why we must think about about fundraising in a different way, how to get your board involved in fundraising, and how planning can help you keep momentum through your next campaign.
