The Fundraising Elevator Podcast

It’s one of the most common questions we hear: “We’re planning a capital campaign. Should we announce it at our gala?” It’s tempting to put your biggest gathering and your biggest dream together, but the answer might surprise you.  Lara Miller, co-founder of Rose City Philanthropy, explains what a capital campaign really takes and why going public too soon can quietly erode donor trust. She also s...

The gala is over, your team is exhausted, and the real work is about to begin. In this episode, we’re joined by Leya Simmons, CEO and co-founder of BetterUnite, to talk about what to do after a fundraising event. We cover how soon to follow up and how many touchpoints to send, plus how to write your thank-yous before the event happens. You’ll also hear how to put board members to work with simple...

What if the most effective fundraising event you could host had no ask at all? In this episode, we look at hospitality as a core nonprofit fundraising strategy. You’ll learn why small, curated donor events often lead to bigger long-term gifts, how to train staff, board members, and volunteers to be great hosts, and a framework for putting hospitality into practice at your next event. Key Takeaways...

Donors aren’t giving less, they’re going deeper with fewer organizations. In part two of our season-opening series, we look at where fundraising events are headed and how to design gatherings that make donors want to stay.  Events are being rethought across every industry, from music to tech to family farms. We share what the research says about relevance fatigue and selective generosity, why the...

Fundraising events are changing faster than ever. Season 4 opens with a look back at how events evolved, and why belonging, hospitality, and the "invite-in" are the way forward. This is part one of a three-part intro to the season on where fundraising events have been, where they are now, and where they're headed.  We trace the shift from Gilded Age status displays and marathon auctions to today's...

Are tall centerpieces, low minimum gifts, and fundraising thermometers quietly sabotaging your fundraising event? In this fan-favorite encore episode, former NFL player turned professional benefit auctioneer Reggie Rivers delivers some of the most candid, actionable event fundraising advice you'll hear — and he doesn't hold back. From the neuroscience of giving to the psychology of collective mome...

Most nonprofits make the same storytelling mistake at their fundraising events: they lead with programs and metrics instead of the one thing that actually moves donors to give — the why. In this fan-favorite encore episode, co-host Kristin Steele breaks down the art and science of organizational storytelling, and how to structure your event narrative so it builds toward your fundraising moment wit...

Facts tell, but stories give. In this fan-favorite encore episode, co-host and storytelling expert Kristin Steele breaks down exactly how to craft narratives that connect with donors on an emotional level by turning complex issues into compelling stories that make your mission impossible to forget and impossible not to support. If your fundraising your event program isn't landing the way you hoped...

Struggling to secure sponsors for your next nonprofit event? The problem might not be the economy,  it might be your approach. In this fan-favorite encore episode, Mariah Monique of The Sponsorship Catalyst shares what most nonprofits get wrong about corporate sponsorship, and exactly how to fix it. Drawing from experience on both sides of the sponsorship relationship, Mariah brings rare insight i...

What if your next major gift didn't come from your biggest event of the year but from a carefully curated dinner for ten? In this fan-favorite encore episode, co-host Samantha Swaim steps into the guest seat to make a persuasive case for small, intentional gatherings as one of the most underutilized fundraising strategies in the nonprofit world. From a seven-week dinner series that re-engaged an e...

What separates a forgettable fundraising event from one guests are still talking about months later? In this fan-favorite encore episode, seasoned event producer Tanya Mikkelson breaks down exactly what it takes to create a guest experience so exceptional it turns first-time attendees into long-term advocates for your mission. If you're planning a gala, auction, or any nonprofit fundraising event,...

Thinking about scaling back or canceling your next fundraising event? The science says don't. In this fan-favorite encore episode, hosts Kristin Steele and Samantha Swaim make a compelling, research-backed case for why in-person fundraising events are more powerful than ever, and how to run them in a way that actually moves donors to give. From the neuroscience of shared experiences to the psychol...

What if one strategic gift could double the revenue of your next fundraising event? In this fan-favorite encore episode, Brandon Lenzi, founder of Bowtie Strategies, shares the exact approach he used to transform a $500,000 event into a million-dollar fundraiser and shares how you can apply the same framework to your organization. Brandon also reframes the way nonprofit professionals think about d...

Is your nonprofit board showing up for fundraising — or just showing up? In this fan-favorite encore episode, Susan Howlett breaks down exactly how to activate your board before, during, and after your next fundraising event so your team isn't carrying the weight alone. Whether you're heading into fall fundraising season or planning your next gala, auction, or annual appeal, this episode gives you...

In the season three finale, we sit down with Andy Dowsett of The AV Department, a technical project manager with over a decade of experience helping nonprofits deliver high-impact live, virtual, and hybrid events. Andy shares how his audio engineering background shaped his belief that great sound is the foundation of any successful fundraising event—if guests can't hear the emcee, auctioneer, or a...

In this episode, Bob Speltz, Senior Director Community + Public Relations at The Standard, offers a rare 360-degree view of the nonprofit sector as a corporate funder, board member, and personal donor. Bob breaks down current trends in corporate philanthropy, from strategic alignment and CSR integration to employee-driven giving programs and a shift toward longer-term, hyper-local partnerships. He...

In this episode, Mario Galeano of Union Station Homeless Services in Pasadena explores marketing that made the difference for his organization. Mario explains how the Eaton Fire, which hit neighboring Altadena, tested strategies in real time. With about 8% of the organization's major donors affected, the usual fundraising playbook didn't work. The team segmented outreach by geography and impact st...

In this episode, Kel Haney, a theater kid turned fundraising trainer and founder of Kel Haney Consulting, discusses her "Five Minute Fundraising Ask" framework. Kel shares how her unlikely path from working at Manhattan Theater Club into phone fundraising led her to make tens of thousands of donor calls over her career. She explains how she reverse-engineered her own success into a repeatable, aut...

In this episode John Lepp, co-founder of Agents of Good and author of Creative Deviations, joins us for a wide-ranging conversation about what it truly means to be human in fundraising. John makes the case that empathy isn't just a buzzword, it's the foundation of every meaningful donor relationship. He challenges fundraisers to pause before hitting send on that next e-blast and ask: what do I wan...

In this episode we sit down with Denise Spivak, CEO of CenterLink,  the world's largest coalition of LGBTQ+ community centers, representing over 350 member organizations. Denise shares how centers have evolved from small grassroots efforts into sophisticated service providers offering everything from medical clinics to mental health care, while remaining rooted in community connection and belongin...

In this episode we sit down with TiWanna "TK" Kenney — US Army veteran, the first Black woman to earn the Benefit Auctioneer Specialist designation, and founder of Astounding Auctions — to completely reframe what a benefit auctioneer can do for your nonprofit. TK breaks down why the best auctioneers aren't hired guns who show up at the last minute, but strategic partners embedded in your planning...

Episode #123: Travel as Generosity with Elizabeth West of Sojourn Ventures In this episode, we sit down with Elizabeth West, President of Sojourn Ventures Travel, to talk about one of the most underutilized tools in nonprofit fundraising: consignment travel. Elizabeth breaks down what the model actually means for cash-strapped, short-staffed organizations: zero upfront risk, no volunteer hours man...

Recorded live at Bloomerang’s GiveCon 2026, this episode gets real about some of the most valuable advice that never makes it onto a conference slide. In this live roundtable, four of the sector’s most candid voices get into the conversations they usually save for hallways and happy hours. They explore the mistakes they see nonprofits repeat, the tradeoffs leaders know exist but rarely say out lou...

The most powerful fundraising move your organization could make right now might not be a bigger gala, it could be a dinner for ten. Co-host Samantha Swaim steps into the guest seat to make a compelling case for small, curated events as one of the most underutilized tools in the nonprofit playbook. With virtual work flattening human connection and donors drifting toward deeper investment in fewer c...

What does it look like when a nonprofit event stops feeling like an obligation and starts feeling like a movement? In this episode, we sit down with Brittini Lasseigne, CEO of YWCA Clark County, who just pulled off a record-breaking, sold-out gala that had sponsors asking for extra seats instead of donating them back. Brittini takes us behind the scenes of SHINE and reveals why centering joy, dive...