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Linda Lysakowski shows us how small nonprofits can fundraise from local businesses by simply asking for advice.

#044 – Today I am speaking with Linda Lysakowski.  In Linda’s thirty plus years as a philanthropic consultant, she has managed capital campaigns that have raised more than $50 million and has helped hundreds of nonprofit organizations achieve their development goals.

Today we talk about how to raise funds from your local business community.  Linda shares great actionable steps on how to build relationships with your local business leaders.  A great way to start a conversation is to simply ask for advice.

I might call that person and say, do you mind if I just take you to lunch one day? I’d like to talk to you about what we can do to improve the technology in our business or what we can do to improve the marketing or what we can do to improve our financial picture.

You could ask for advice in many, many different areas, but look at your needs and then try to find businesses that can help those needs. 

Most business people are flattered by that.  Who doesn’t love talking about themselves and giving advice?  This simple ask can be the gateway to more financial support.

You know, the old saying that if you ask for money, a lot of times you get advice. And if you ask for advice, a lot of times you end up getting money.

Linda is a prolific writer and has authored more than 30 books.

Be sure to stick around until the end to hear how one of her clients went from $0 to a half million dollars in less than 1 year.

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Resources

  • Website
  • Facebook
  • Linkedin

4 Key Takeaways  

#1 Hang out where the business leaders are;

#2 Invite them in so they can see what you are doing;

#3 You have to build relationships to understand what motivates each business to give;

#4 Your ask must show the economic and the social impact your organization is making on the community.

Show Notes

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

[2:20] First step is really obviously identifying what businesses are in your community
[3:14] Hang out where the business leaders are, which is usually the local chamber of commerce
[5:04] Ask businesses questions, like what's important to you about your corporate philanthropy
[6:10] Invite them in and let them see what you're doing
[12:45] So you have to understand what motivates the businesses to give
[16:16] Your case for support has show the economic and social impact your organization is making on the community
[17:09] Asking for advice is a GREAT way to start a conversation
[17:55] If you ask for money, a lot of times you get advice. if you ask for advice, a lot of times you end up getting money
[22:20] The Pandemic caused a lot of companies to re-think their special events
[25:05] Use a Cultivation event to start relationships
[30:16] From $0 to a half million dollars in 1 year

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Posted in PodcastTagged 501c3, charity, donor, donors, fundraising, fundraising from business, Groupfinity, leadership, Linda Lysakowski, Nonprofit Campaigns, philanthropy, relationship building, relationships, Strategy

What You Need To Know About Philanthropy, Including Secrets On Increasing Your Return on Relationships With Jarrett Ransom.

#043 – Today I am speaking with Jarrett Ransom AKA “The Nonprofit Nerd”.  Jarrett is the Founder & CEO of the Rayvan Group where her titles include Nonprofit Executive, Keynote Speaker, Emcee, Coach, Entrepreneur, Community Builder & Leader, and Philanthropy Thought Leader.  

Jarrett helps nonprofits strategically plan for the future –  extending 3, 5, 10 years and beyond.  This includes developing a broader framework of philanthropy where we can all see ourselves as philanthropists – it is not simply about money.    

“It really is by definition, the desire to promote the welfare of others. So it has nothing to do with the amount of zeros at the end of a number of a donation.  It has everything to do with the most simplest act of giving. And for me, that’s time, talent or treasure. So it’s not just money.  We could give philanthropically of our time. We can give philanthropically of our talents of volunteer efforts. So I really want everyone to feel this empowerment and an embodiment of being a philanthropist”.

Jarrett advises us that relationship building is the foundation of effective fundraising.  We should be reaching out to our donors regularly and engaging them.  What are their goals?  What are their interests?  What is their legacy?  Our focus should be on listening to them so we can help them be better stewards of their philanthropic dollars.   

“we should be listening to our donors. We should be listening to hear back to that mission alignment, where do they wanna make a difference in the community”.

You can find Jarrett co-hosting the American Nonprofit Academy’s daily Nonprofit Show with Julia Patrick on YouTube.

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Resources

  • Website
  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • Nonprofit Show

4 Key Takeaways  

#1 Philanthropy is about the most simplest act of giving, time, talent or treasure;

#2 Stop asking and start inviting; 

#3 Small consistent monthly or quarterly donations are typically better than a single lump sum donation; 

#4 Instead of only looking at a return on investment, we should focus on return on relationships

Show Notes

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

[2:34] Philanthropy has everything to do with the simple, the most simplest act of giving.
[4:10] Stop asking and start inviting.
[5:44] It is about building relationships.
[7:25] Get to know your donors.
[10:11] Smaller consistent donations can be more effective.
[12:40] Understand your donor's purpose.
[18:26] So it comes back to those relationships coming back to your data.
[21:12] Changes since pandemic.
[21:58] So instead of only looking at return on investment, we're starting to look at return on relationship.
[23:28] Ask open ended questions and allowing the person to fill in the gaps.

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Posted in PodcastTagged 501c3, charity, donor, fundraising, Groupfinity, Jarrett Ransom, leadership, Nonprofit Campaigns, Nonprofit Nerd, Nonprofit Show, philanthropy, relationships, Strategy

Rob Webb’s Fundraising Tips That Will Take Your Organization To The Next Level.

#042 Today I am speaking with Rob Webb, founder and Chief Inspiration Officer of Nonprofitcampaigns.com.  He founded the company in 2020 to offer online training as a result of seeing nonprofits struggle in the pandemic.  Rob is YMCA trained and has over 30 years of experience guiding volunteers and staff in creating High Impact Fundraising Campaigns.  One of Rob’s specialties is creating a culture of philanthropy.

“…what we found is so many nonprofit leaders – they view fundraising as drudgery. And they take that paradigm with them when they’re talking with their volunteers and their board members.  And they do things unconsciously that drive that culture of charity, versus what we all try to preach was developing a culture of philanthropy.”

Rob teaches his clients that fundraising is all about relationships.  Create an active vs a passive relationship.  You have to get your hands dirty – talk to your donors and potential donors, spend time with them, find out what is important to them.  Start with your banker, insurance broker, your stock broker, people that you have a natural relationship with.  Just meet with them and ask for advice, not money.  Everybody loves to give advice.  

The pandemic showed us how we were over reliant on “special events”.  Rob says we should rethink these events and view them as relationship builders rather than money makers. 

“Nonprofits gravitate towards thinking special events are fundraisers.  Every nonprofit that really took it in the shorts during the pandemic was over reliant on special events.  I look at special events as FRIENDRAISERS more than fundraisers.”

Be sure to stick around until the end to hear how to get Deborah to send you a copy of her book

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Resources

  • Website
  • Instagram
  • Facebook

4 Key Takeaways  

#1 Minimum levels of giving actually create maximum levels;

#2 Don’t become over reliant on grant funding; 

#3 Don’t view fundraising as drudgery – be positive; 

#4 Engage in ACTIVE not passive relationship building.

Show Notes

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

[2:45] Don't view fundraising as drudgery.
[4:10] That's really what fundraising is all about - relationships.
[5:44] Tell the story of why you support your organization.
[7:25] Over 80% is given by individuals.
[10:11] The person you least expect may be your biggest donor.
[13:30] Special events are FRIENDraisers NOT FUNDraisers
[16:43] Minimum levels of giving create maximum levels.
[20:02] If you're too reliant on grant funding, that can dry up.

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Posted in PodcastTagged 501c3, charity, donor, donors, fundraising, Groupfinity, leadership, nonprofit, Nonprofit Campaigns, philanthropy, relationships, Rob Webb, Strategy

Did coronavirus cancel your school auction? Here is what one elementary school did – with Becky Urbano

#010 – Becky Urbano is the auction chair for her elementary school.  Their auction was scheduled to take place just days before the shelter in place was ordered due to the coronavirus pandemic.  She and her team had to scramble to change course fast.  In a matter of days, they had to cancel vendors and move their event online to a virtual one.  They lost deposit funds paid to vendors, but they were able to minimize other losses and still had a successful event.  They used social media more than they had in the past to inform the community and drive excitement. 

They had to scramble fast to scrap their physical event and go virtual.  They did the best they could with the hand they were dealt, but still raised money.   Do what you can and don’t worry about what was planned.  This covid-19 crisis has taught us that we have to do things differently.  You have to think out of the box.

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Resources

SchoolAuction.net

Other Resources

Groupfinity COVID-19 Q&A

Facebook Live

3 Key Takeaways  

#1 Don’t be afraid to ask your guests to donate their ticket funds

#2 Be proactive and emotions must take a back seat  

#3 Prepare for the worst case scenario     

Show Notes

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

[1:51] We were under pressure from the district to postpone 4 days before the event
[2:35] We were proactive and we looked at other options
[3:36] It was very clear that our event was not going to happen
[4:02] We lost our deposits, but we did not have to incur additional costs
[5:24] All guests donated cash paid for tickets
[7:15] Our decision to go virtual
[8:28] We had to go through our items to determine what could still be offered
[9:16] We quickly pivoted to an online event
[9:41] Using SchoolAuction.net was a big benefit to us
[10:53] We had to adjust our expectations
[11:20] The online only event did not generate as much as the historical live event
[12:43] We generated about 50% of what we would have fundraised
[14:00] You always have to be prepared for the worst case scenario
[14:30] The biggest thing I learned was the importance of being proactive
[15:20] We used social media more than ever before
[16:20] I had not done Facebook Live and now I've done several
[17:24] How we used Facebook Live

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Posted in PodcastTagged annual event, auction, canceled, community, coronavirus, coronavirus crisis, covid-19, donation, donor, elementary school, events, FAQ, fundraiser, fundraising, gala, group, leader, mission-driven organization, nonprofit, organization, parent, PFC, postpone, PTA, PTO, questions, refund, registration, school auction, shelter at home, social distance, sponsors, ticket, virtual event, volunteer organization, will coronavirus stop

Coronavirus impacting your fundraising? Here’s what to do – with Christy Noel

#009 – This is my interview with Christy Noel, VP of Marketing at MobileCause.  Nonprofits use MobileCause’s online and event fundraising software to boost their fundraising efforts.  This episode was recorded in early April when organizations were faced with having to cancel or postpone their events due to the coronavirus pandemic crisis.  The social distancing and stay at home orders as a result of the coronavirus pandemic are adversely impacting nonprofit organizations’ fundraising events. You may have to decide to cancel your event.  Local authorities may force you to cancel your event. Christy shares what you can do. Specifically, she talks about transforming “in person” events to virtual ones.  

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Resources

MobileCause

MobileCause Resources

What do do if your event is canceled due to coronavirus

Live event thermometer video

Enhanced text messaging video

Coronavirus communication templates

Virtual fundraising ideas

Other Resources

Groupfinity COVID-19 Q&A

Vimeo

3 Key Takeaways

#1 Don’t drag your feet on moving to a virtual event.     

#2 Don’t assume you need to refund your ticket/registration funds.  Communicate with your guests and sponsors and come up with a way forward that works for both sides.

#3 Add value to your sponsors by continuing to promote them.  

You need to continue communicating with your guests and sponsors.  Let them know what you are doing. Let them know how they can help.  Don’t assume they know.  

Show Notes

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

[2:02] Spring events are going virtual
[2:33] Organizations are continuing to fundraise
[3:30] Organizations are pulling the plug on live events scheduled in the next 3 months
[3:57] Outside of June, organizers are moving ahead cautiously
[4:34] Going forward, live events will have a virtual component
[8:25] Communicate - don't assume you need to refund ticket sales / registration funds if your event changes
[9:00] Ask your guests and sponsors how they want to handle the funds they paid
[10:02] Continue to promote your sponsors
[10:58] Multi-channel communication
[14:15] Recalibrate your expectations when you go virtual
[14:40] You still need to promote your event after you decide to go virtual
[17:00] Livestream your event
[20:15] Test your set-up before you go live (livestream)
[21:37] Make sure you have good audio
[22:46] Do not drag your feet about going virtual
[24:40] Virtual events can expand your reach

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GroupFinity
Posted in PodcastTagged annual event, auction, canceled, community, coronavirus, coronavirus crisis, covid-19, donation, donor, events, FAQ, fundraising, gala, group, leader, mission-driven organization, mobilecause, nonprofit, organization, postpone, questions, refund, registration, shelter at home, social distance, sponsors, ticket, virtual event, volunteer organization, will coronavirus stop

Will Coronavirus (COVID-19) stop my nonprofit event? Sam Swaim shares her insights.

#008- This is my interview with Sam Swaim who is the co-founder of Swaim Strategies and we explore the question – Will coronavirus stop my nonprofit event?  Swaim Strategies works with nonprofits, large and small, to bring people together through events. This episode was recorded shortly after many local government authorities implemented restrictions on large gatherings due to the coronavirus crisis.  Many organizations had events planned and were wondering if they could or should still host their event. In this episode, we talk about what the decisions leaders of organizations are grappling with. Sam shares what she is seeing and hearing from nonprofit event organizers.  On the one hand, you don’t want to host an event that is not safe for your community. On the other hand, you may have extended substantial financial resources towards the event. What happens if you are forced to cancel your event because your local authorities have put a “shelter at home” order in place.  What can you do to protect your organization’s finances?

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Resources

Swaim Strategies

The Show Must Go on – Fundraising Despite the Odds

Zoom

Google Hangout

Vimeo

COVID-19 Fundraising Principles by Steven Screen

3 Key Takeaways

#1 If your event is before May 2020 you have 3 options:  

  1. Cancel
  2. Postpone
  3. Go virtual

#2  Be open, honest, and transparent with your community, vendors, and partners

#3 Everyone is challenged so don’t ignore what is going on and don’t be tone-deaf.  

Show Notes

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

[4:10] Events between March and May are being canceled, postponed, or are going virtual
[4:30] Be careful moving forward with a live event - you may be taking on liability
[4:50] Don't stop fundraising
[5:06] It is a good time to invest in donor relationships
[5:18] Are you still obligated to fulfill your event contract(s)
[6:15] This is not a time to think individually, it's a time to think collectively
[7:35] Vendors are working with event organizers to move to another 2020 date
[8:43] Be honest, be open, and be collaborative with your partners
[9:29] Force Majeure clause can free you from your contract
[10:55] Get on the phone and collaborate
[13:30] Creative ways to move forward with your event
[16:23] How do you strike the appropriate tone while fundraising during these times?
[16:52] Talk about how the coronavirus crisis is impacting your organization
[17:40] What should I do with the funds from tickets/registrations?
[18:52] You need to offer a refund as an option
[20:00] How should I communicate my plan? How far in advance?
[20:37] Cancel, postpone, or go virtual
[21:56] If your event goes virtual, have clear communication before, during, and after your event
[22:55] Meet your donors where they are communicating
[23:49] Put your plan on your website
[25:15] Change your social media messaging - the world has changed
[26:58] Include consignment travel in your auction
[30:41] Use challenges in your fundraising
[31:55] Ask your partners to match gifts
[32:50] Make sure you engage in your virtual events
[34:09] Tools people are using
[38:18] What happens when this is over?
[39:00] Start planning for what comes next
[39:40] Resources

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Posted in PodcastTagged annual event, auction, canceled, community, coronavirus, coronavirus crisis, covid-19, donation, donor, events, FAQ, fundraising, gala, group, leader, mission-driven organization, nonprofit, organization, postpone, questions, shelter at home, sponsors, virtual event, volunteer organization, will coronavirus stop

Your fundraising event should be well produced like a piece of theater with Beth Sandefur – Part 2

#007 – This is Part 2 of my interview with Beth Sandefur, who is the founder and owner of Beth Sandefur Events.  She works with nonprofits to help them execute successful events. Beth is a seasoned event planner with a strong background in development and hands-on experience with theatrical production. Her efforts focus on planning and execution of fundraising galas, typically with a large auction component. As a planner, she believes in working with clients to find the inefficiencies and redundancies in their systems to create a streamlined approach, keeping the organizational mission in the forefront.

Beth taught us the importance of setting your goals and visualizing your outcome and working backward from there.  In this episode, Beth teaches us how to incorporate “Revenue Enhancers” to increase our fundraising yield.

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Resources

Beth Sandefur Events

How to incorporate your mission into your décor

Survey Monkey

50/50 Raffle

Video – Beth Sandefur – Revenue Enhancers: Beyond the Raffle

3 Key Takeaways

  1. Revenue Enhancers are great, but don’t have too many:  
    1. Raffle tickets
    2. 50/50 raffles
    3. Games
  2. Focus on your organization’s strengths
  3. Bigger is not necessarily better.  Two smaller events may yield more fundraising proceeds than 1 big one.  

Show Notes

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

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Posted in PodcastTagged 50/50 raffle, annual event, auction, community, donation, donor, events, fundraising, gala, group, leader, mission-driven organization, nonprofit, organization, raffles, sponsors, volunteer organization

Your fundraising event should be well produced like a piece of theater with Beth Sandefur

#006 – Beth is the founder and owner of Beth Sandefur Events.  She works with nonprofits to help them execute successful events.  Beth is a seasoned event planner with a strong background in development and hands-on experience with theatrical production. Her efforts focus on planning and execution of fundraising galas, typically with a large auction component. As a planner, she believes in working with clients to find the inefficiencies and redundancies in their systems to create a streamlined approach, keeping the organizational mission in the forefront.

Beth taught us the importance of setting your goals and visualizing your outcome and working backward from there.

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Resources

Sample Gala Volunteer Job Descriptions

Beth Sandefur Events

3 Key Takeaways

  1. Consider your goals before planning your event:
    1. Is your goal to raise funds?
    2. Is your goal to build brand awareness?
    3. Do you want to honor community leaders?
  2. Make sure your goals are in line with your organization’s history. It doesn’t make sense to have a $250,000 goal when your event has never raised more than $30,000.
  3. Your event should be scripted. What appears to be organic and spontaneous to your guests, is actually well planned and carefully orchestrated.

Show Notes

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

[2:45] Consider your goals before planning your event.
[3:20] Don't force too many objectives into one event.
[5:26] Don't have a theme just for the sake of having a theme.
[5:55] Infuse your story into all of your pre and post event communications.
[7:04] Place the people on the front line of your work at guest tables.
[7:22] Connecting people to your story can create new subscribers.
[13:40] Bring in the interesting aspects of your organization to make the event relevant to your guests.
[14:58] Incorporate did you know facts about your organization in your event.
[16:37] A well produced event is like a well produced piece of theater.
[17:27] Write job descriptions for committee members.
[18:30] Break down tasks so they are more manageable.
[19:00] Calibrate your goals based on your past experience.
[21:20] No one should show up to a fundraising event not aware it is a fundraising event.
[22:20] If you're having a paddle raise / fund a need, pre-secure donors at the 3 top levels.
[25:00] The event looks spontaneous to the guests, but is carefully scripted.
[27:20] Set up procurement strategies based on what has worked in the past.
[28:15] How to build a buzz around your event.
[30:02] Placing phone calls to guests can be very effective.
[30:40] Keep people in the loop as to what is going on with your planning
[31:48] Share behind the scenes moments - People LOVE this!
[33:54] Involve the volunteers in the shout-outs

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GroupFinity
Posted in PodcastTagged annual event, auction, community, donation, donor, events, fundraising, gala, group, leader, mission-driven organization, nonprofit, organization, sponsors, volunteer organization
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