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communication

Rachel Bearbower’s 4 Templates That Every Nonprofit Leader Needs To Connect More With Donors And Raise More Funds

#054 – Rachel Bearbower is the founder and CEO of Small Shop Strategies, a nonprofit consultancy focused on coaching nonprofit leaders how to detangle their systems, so they can focus their time and energy on building relationships and raising more for their causes.

In just 3 years, Rachel has built a community where over a hundred nonprofit leaders are showing up for themselves and learning how to boldly fundraise, tell better stories and become even more impactful changemakers.

In today’s episode, Rachel shares the 4 templates every nonprofit leader should have locked and loaded and ready at all times to maintain connection with their donors:

#1 An immediate automated thank you note or receipt;

#2 Within 24-48 hours a heartfelt quick personal email that is NOT the receipt from your CRM that lets your donor know the gift was received and appreciated;

#3 An email or video depicting the impact of their gift and reminding them that you did what you said you were going to do with their gift; and

#4 A Connection email – Ask for their opinion / Send them an article / Find out why they gave

Rachel emphasizes how important it is to ditch transactional relationships and develop real meaningful relationships with your donors – connect donors to the mission, connect them to what their gift actually did.

“Donors don’t want to fund the process. They want to fund the impact. And so you, the organization, you are the process, and so you wanna remove yourself. So instead of saying, help us buy new uniforms, it’s, you can provide a kid with a new uniform.”

Be sure to stick around until the end to hear now being a farmer in training helps Rachel be a lifetime learner and makes her a better nonprofit consultant.

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Resources

  • Website
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Free Thank You Note Template
  • Zapier
  • Loom

4 Key Takeaways  

#1 The best way to connect more and raise is to have a plan;

#2 Communicate as quickly as possible after the donation comes in;

#3 Automate and personalize your communication; and

#4 Make your communication about the donor instead of your organization.

Show Notes

**Click the time stamp to jump directly to that point in the episode

[2:56] The way to get good at thanking, connecting, building relationships, and raising more is having a plan
[5:01] Donors get buyer's remorse as soon as they hit DONATE.
[6:12] Send an immediate automated Thank You note from your CRM
[7:39] Organizations get tripped on being perfect
[8:44] Send a heartfelt Thank You in within the first 24-48 hours of the gift.
[12:30] FREE Thank You Template
[15:34] You're creating those connections because you're meeting the donor where they're at…
[19:11] Connect the donor's gift to an outcome
[21:43] Remind the donor that you did what you said you would do
[24:56] Donors don't want to fund the process. They want to fund the impact.
[30:21] The best time to ask someone for a second gift or a third gift is eight to 12 weeks after their original gift.

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GroupFinity

Posted in PodcastTagged communication, donors, fundraising, Groupfinity, Rachel Bearbower, relationship building, small nonprofits, Small Shop Strategies, volunteers

What everyone ought to know about marketing and communications for nonprofit organizations with Kivi Leroux Miller.

#022 – Kivi Leroux Miller is a communication and marketing guru.  She lends her superpower to nonprofits – helping them craft clear, effective, and timely communication to their communities, donors, volunteers, and partners.  

She shares some easy and straightforward steps that we can apply to our own organizations.  
Kivi has several “Rules of 3” that help simplify all of this.  Be sure to stick around until the end to hear them all. 

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Resources

nonprofitmarketingguide.com

Book

4 Key Takeaways  

#1 Be sure you are clear on 1) who you are talking to; 2) what you’re saying to them; and 3) how you plan to deliver that message;

#2 Your community is NOT the entire world – you need to fine tune your target market;

#3 Consistency is more important than frequency; AND

#4 Create a 4-6 editorial calendar.

Show Notes

**Click the time stamp to jump directly to that point in the episode

[2:03] Who are you talking to? What are you saying? How are you saying it?
[3:16] There really is no such thing as the general public.
[4:31] Psychographic NOT Demographics.
[4:57] You have to know who you are talking to.
[7:10] The people who take action are your people.
[7:44] PUT - Personal Useful and Timely.
[9:58] How do you deliver your message to your people?
[11:17] Think about what people are looking for on Google.
[13:20] Consistency is better than frequency.
[15:49] Pace yourself.
[16:39] Figure out your home base.
[17:14] Just because it's a good idea does not mean you need to do it.
[20:00] Create a 4-6 week editorial calendar.
[24:44] ASK, THANK YOU, and REPORT.
[27:27] Make a choice and follow through.

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GroupFinity

Posted in PodcastTagged 501c3, communication, community, leader, Marketing, mission-driven organization, newsletter, nonprofit, organization, social media, volunteer organization

How to create an effective nonprofit marketing plan that speaks to your members and donors and gets them to engage more.  Marketing Activist Lindsay Lashell tells us what works and what does not.

#014 – Lindsay LaShell is a self described “marketing activist”.  Her mission is to help organizations increase justice, equity, and sustainability by making their marketing more effective.

Lindsay shares with us how important it is to be clear on what our audience wants from us and deliver that.

It is ok for there to be a whole bunch of people who are NOT your people.  Any marketing strategy that is set up to say we don’t want to alienate anybody, is going to do a terrible job of connecting with the right people.

Lindsay is running a Pro Bono Marketing Bootcamp in December.  If your organization’s budget was less than $200k in 2019, you are welcome to apply and snag a free spot.

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Resources

Diamond and Branch

Marketing Bootcamp

Trello

5 Key Takeaways  

#1 A marketing plan is vital because it lets you know where you’re making the most impact;

#2 Your easiest donor is an existing donor and your 2nd easiest donor is a referral from an existing donor; 

#3 If you truly believe the thing you are doing is valuable, you should have no problem offering new people (eg new members & donors) a unique way to get involved;

#4 Put your people at the center of everything you do; AND

#5 If you understand your people correctly, they will connect to your messaging.

Show Notes

**Click the time stamp to jump directly to that point in the episode

[2:30] A marketing plan will allow for consistency and efficiency.
[2:54] Who do we need to talk to? Where do we need to talk to them? What do they need to hear from us?
[3:32] The marketing plan tells you where you're making the most impact.
[4:13] Does that 1 tweet a day help you?
[4:47] We click and engage with the things that are most meaningful to us.
[4:55] Don't blame users for not engaging with your content.
[7:08] Put them at the center.
[7:25] Consider their journey.
[8:20] What do they care about? Why should they care about your organization?
[8:45] What language do they use to recommend you?
[10:04] You're competing with other interests, including Netflix.
[10:43] Be a flywheel vs a skateboard.
[12:25] Your campaign would be more effective if it kept your donors' attention all year long.
[12:45] Communication depends on your audience.
[14:27] Newsletters are good if you are super clear on what your audience wants from it.
[15:06] Good marketers empathize with their audience.
[17:00] You need to know who you're NOT for to know who you are for.
[18:40] Get within 1 degree of the people who can help you on social media.
[22:56] Brand Pillars.
[24:46] If you ask someone for their impression of your organization, what will they say?
[25:15] If you understand your people correctly, they will connect to your message.
[25:50] How to figure our your brand pillars.
[28:30] Should we focus on getting referrals?
[29:40] Your 2nd easiest donor is referral from an existing donor.
[30:35] If you believe the thing you're doing is valuable, you're offering them a unique way to get involved.
[31:53] Pro Bono Marketing Bootcamp

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GroupFinity

Posted in PodcastTagged cause, communication, community, digital marketing, donation, fundraiser, fundraising, group, impact, leader, marketer, Marketing, marketing bootcamp, marketing campaign, marketing framework, marketing plan, mission-driven organization, nonprofit, organization, social media, strategic marketing, volunteer organization
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