7-Figure Fundraising Podcast

What if your annual fundraiser could raise nearly $300,000 in a single evening without requiring months of donor fatigue or an all-day event? In this episode, Trevor Bragdon sits down with Amy Ford, co-founder of Embrace Grace, to unpack the fundraising strategy that helped their organization grow a traditional golf tournament from $60,000 to nearly $300,000 annually. Amy shares the exact framewor...

Growth rarely feels comfortable in the moment. In this episode of 7-Figure Fundraising, Trevor Bragdon shares a story from a flight home from Orlando where he met a woman flying for the very first time. What started as a simple conversation about turbulence and takeoff became a powerful reminder about what it feels like to learn something new. Trevor explains how moments of embarrassment, overwhel...

On this episode of 7-Figure Fundraising, Trevor Bragdon sits down with Matt Paprocki, President and CEO of the Illinois Policy Institute, to break down one of the most important skills in fundraising: storytelling. Matt explains why most fundraising stories fail before they even begin. Instead of creating emotional connection, many fundraisers summarize facts, report outcomes, or speak in vague la...

“A donor may trust your voice before they ever meet you.” That idea sits at the center of this conversation between Trevor Bragdon and Dr. Jared Musgrove of Beta Upsilon Chi (BYX), the nation’s largest Christian fraternity. In this episode, Jared breaks down how BYX turned podcasting into a relationship-building tool that strengthens donor trust, deepens alumni engagement, and creates meaningful c...

In this episode of the 7 Figure Fundraising Podcast, Trevor Bragdon breaks down a proven strategy nonprofit leaders are using to attract new donors: persuasive public speaking. Drawing from both personal experience and recent fundraising trends, Trevor explains why getting in front of the right audience can lead directly to meaningful donor relationships — but only when the message is structured t...

What do you do when you're hit with a tough question—one you didn’t expect and don’t have a polished answer ready for? Whether it’s a curveball in a donor meeting, a media interview, or a town hall Q&A, today's episode of the 7-Figure Fundraising Podcast breaks down three clear strategies you can use to stay composed and persuasive—even under pressure. Trevor shares a memorable story...

How many of you know a good story? One you've never forgotten—one that moved you, inspired you, or stuck with you long after you heard it. What made it so compelling? In this clip, we dive into why stories are the lifeblood of an effective pitch and how you can find and frame great stories to persuade donors. Learn about: The Story Safe—a simple habit for collecting powerful stories The Story...

What do you want your new donors to see and hear from your organization during their first 100 days? This period is your chance to make a lasting impression and turn a first-time donor into a lifelong supporter. In this clip, we break down how to craft a 100-day plan that keeps donors engaged, including: The four-part thank-you strategy that sets the right tone How to plan four meaningful touchpoi...

In this episode, Trevor Bragdon and Tarren Bragdon discuss why project fundraising is not a sustainable strategy for nonprofits. They compare project fundraising to a gift card that offers a one-time benefit but does not engage donors in the organization's overall mission. They explain that project fundraising can actually cost money and send a negative message internally. They emphasize the...

In this episode of the 7-Figure Fundraising Podcast , hosts Trevor and Tarren Bragdon explore the key strategies outlined in their new book, 7-Figure Fundraising: A Guide to Raising Millions to Change the World . They discuss the practical, step-by-step approach nonprofit leaders can use to transform their fundraising efforts and scale their impact. Why We Wrote the Book : To help nonprofit leader...

View Episode 49 Show Notes on our website here . Co-founders Elaine Alowo-Matovu and Takako Mino discuss the founding and fundraising journey of Musizi University, a new university in Uganda, and their vision behind it.  They discuss their backgrounds and how they came together to start the university. Elaine and Takako also explain the unique programs and curriculum offered at Musizi University,...

View Episode 48 Show Notes on our website here . Joey Coleman helps companies keep their customers and employees. As an award-winning speaker, he shares his First 100 Days® methodology for improving customer and employee retention with organizations worldwide (e.g., Whirlpool, Volkswagen Australia, and Zappos). His Wall Street Journal #2 best-selling book, Never Lose a Customer Again , shows how t...

View Episode 47 Show Notes on our website here . Trevor and Tarren Bragdon discuss how to think about fundraising for a startup nonprofit.  We have a lot of people new to fundraising who find us through the podcast and we’d wanted to do a podcast specifically for fundraising for a startup nonprofit.  3 phases of a Startup Nonprofit Idea phase - Finding the product and market fit Read the book The...

View Episode 46 Show Notes on our website here . To grow your fundraising, focus on these 7 steps. 1. Ask Donors Only Once a Year (1:22)  This is how major donors organize their giving  Match your ask to their timetable Don’t nickel and dime your major donors by asking them for a big donation and later asking them for smaller donations or sponsorships.  2. Treat Donors Like Partners (5:05) Poverty...

View Episode 45 Show Notes on our website here . In this episode of 7-Figure Fundraising, Trevor Bragdon looks into the Psychology of Fundraising with Tarren Bragdon, co-founder of 7-Figure Fundraising and founder and CEO of the Foundation for Government Accountability.  In this episode, they look at: How you create fundraising habits.  Habits for the task you want to do but don't.  Habits fo...

View Episode 44 Show Notes on our website here . In this episode of the 7-Figure Fundraising podcast, Trevor Bragdon and Tarren Bragdon discuss the psychology of fundraising and how it applies to renewing existing donors. They look at the different reasons donors renew and what you can do to set yourself up for your renewal meeting. The goal is to have your major donors happy to meet you and renew...

View Episode 43 Show Notes on our website here . In this episode of the 7-Figure Fundraising podcast, Trevor Bragdon and Tarren Bragdon discuss the psychology of fundraising and how it applies to new donors. They look at how new donors think differently, how it's critical to establish trust, and strategies to get that first meeting.  This is part of a new series on the Psychology of Fundraisi...

Read this episode's show notes on our website here . In this episode, Trevor interviews Dan Remmenga, the Donor Relations Manager for the Foundation for Government Accountability. They discuss the 5-star system FGA uses to create and cultivate meaningful relationships with donors. To see all the show notes visit: https://www.7figurefundraising.com/podcast/ To learn more about fundraising and...

Read this episode's show notes on the website here . Today on 7-Figure Fundraising, host Trevor Bragdon interviews Megan Rose, CEO of Better Together. Better Together provides a voluntary and preventative alternative to foster care, serves over 15,000 children, and keeps 96% of them out of the foster care system. Megan shares how her organization developed a strong media strategy as well as h...

Check out this episode's show notes on our website here . Today on 7 Figure Fundraising, host Trevor Bragdon interviews Chelsea Sabo, the founder and Executive Director of the Mothers Advocacy Project. Chelsea shares the story of her nonprofit and their mission to support at-risk mothers and their children by helping mothers overcome past trauma. To see all the show notes visit: https://www.7...

View this episode's show notes on our website here . In this episode of 7-Figure Fundraising, Trevor interviews Amy Ard, the Executive Director of Motherhood Beyond Bars. Amy shares how she got her start in advocating for pregnant women who are incarcerated, the lessons learned along the way, and how she's hoping to expand the nonprofit's mission. To see all the show notes visit: ht...

Read this episode's show notes on our website here . In this episode of 7 Figure Fundraising, host Trevor Bragdon is joined by Dr. Sarika Kulkarni.  Sarika is the founder of the non-profit Raah Foundation. The podcast begins with Sarika sharing about this foundation, which is aimed at changing and providing better lives for those in the tribal communities of India. She shares her story of how...

Read this episode's show notes on our website here . In this episode, Rory Sutherland and Maddie Croucher, marketing experts and behavioral scientists, join host Trevor Bragdon. Rory and Maddie both work for the global advertising and marketing agency, Ogilvy. They discuss why counterintuitive ideas sometimes work, building trust with donors, and creating a culture of innovation. To see all t...

Read the show notes for this episode on our website here . Today on 7-Figure Fundraising, host Trevor Bragdon is joined by Noemi Perez. Noemi is the Chief Executive Officer of the Immokalee Foundation, a nonprofit that provides a range of education programs focused on building pathways to professional careers. They serve students in kindergarten through post-secondary education. Noemi shares her a...

Read the show notes for this episode on our website here . In this 7-Figure Fundraising episode, Trevor interviews Joey Coleman, the award-winning speaker and author of the #2 Wall Street Journal bestseller, Never Lose A Customer Again . During this episode, Joey speaks directly to nonprofit leaders on how to improve their donor retention strategies to achieve lifelong loyalty.  To see all the sho...