Frontier FM

Episode Summary This episode of Frontier. FM gets right to the heart of what it means to lead inclusively in an era of backlash and burnout. Naomi sits down with Mateo Stewart—aka The Bearded Leader—to unpack how organizations can foster authentic belonging, challenge assumptions, and rethink donor and employee engagement through a lens of equity and neuro-inclusion. Mateo shares his deeply person...

Five years after the world stopped, what has the nonprofit sector actually learned? In this episode of Frontier. FM , Naomi Perks and Wes Moon speak with Kirk Schmidt, Chief Advisor of Operations at the Alberta Cancer Foundation, about the messy realities of crisis response, the limits of planning, and what COVID uncovered about nonprofit culture and capacity. From making decisions without enough...

    Episode Description In this episode, Naomi Perks is joined by Anna Melton to dig deep into  Monthly Giving Week 2025 , a new celebration and campaign designed to spotlight the power of monthly giving. Together, they explore: Why monthly giving is gaining momentum How nonprofits can start small (and smart) The most common objections and how to overcome them Examples of standout monthly programs...

In this episode of Frontier FM, hosts Naomi Perks and Wes dive into the latest trends and challenges in the nonprofit sector, focusing on the recent extension of the charitable tax deadline to February 28th for Canadian nonprofits. Guest Nicole Danesi from Canada Helps returns to discuss the implications of this extension, including strategies for leveraging additional time to boost donations, han...

In this episode, Megan and Naomi dive into a holiday classic with a twist: Grab your Bailey's and coffee as we explore the past, present, and future of fundraising in our Year In Review! Relive the highs and lows of 2024 and look ahead to the exciting trends for 2025.    You Will Want to Hear This Episode if You Are Interested In... (00:02:33) - Top 3 "Comeback Kids" of 2024 (00:11:24) - Biggest F...

What's a non-profit to do with no mail for over two weeks?  In this episode, Megan and Naomi chat with Joanne Griffiths from Backpack Buddies to discuss some of the strategies they're trying as we head into their busiest giving season. This podcast interview features Joanne Griffiths, co-founder of Backpack Buddies, a non-profit organization addressing childhood hunger. We explore Backpack Buddies...

Canada Post gave a 72hr strike notice today, so what does that mean for your Year End fundraising? In this episode, Megan and Naomi dive into some strategies you can implement in the face of a looming strike, and a few ideas you can still execute on before Giving Tuesday.  You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... (00:02:50) Stewardship, phone calls, and updating your CRM (00:...

In celebration of our LinkedIn Live event with NextAfter (and definitely NOT because we ran out of episodes in the queue) we are taking a dive into episodes past, pulling out some of our favourite moments from our time with our guests from NextAfter and their alumni!   Original Episodes All About Testing with Nathan Hill from NextAfter, EP #70 Discussing Digital Fundraising Trends with Brady Josep...

What do Taylor Swift, the Stanley Cup, and Spotify Wrapped have in common? They might just help you improve your fundraising! In this episode, Megan is joined by Wes Moon and some behind the scenes Frontier staff as they take a deep dive into the CanadaHelps 2024 Giving Report with special guests: Nicole Danesi from CanadaHelps and Jennifer Robins from Environics Analytics. This episode is packed...

In this enlightening episode, Naomi takes a deep dive into the critical topic of ethical storytelling within the nonprofit sector with guests Allison Rolle and Mariya Glubrecht. Together they offer valuable insights into how nonprofits can honor and empower the individuals whose stories they share without compromising impact.  You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... (00:00:0...

Join Naomi and Megan as they are joined by the dynamic David Allison, a trailblazer in the field of value-based marketing and the mind behind Value Graphics Research Company. David shared his journey from marketing to discovering that values, not demographics, are the key drivers of human decisions. His research has led to the creation of a global inventory of values, changing how companies and no...

Episode 72 With Megan McCaffery and Naomi Perks Love is in the air, and so is the spirit of donor stewardship on this heartwarming episode of Frontier FM. Join Megan as she welcomes Naomi Perks, a former client and the member of the Frontier family, for a deep dive into the art of showing appreciation to donors. In the spirit of Valentine's Day, they discuss the similarities between a good date an...

We used AI to write these show notes! Dive into the depths of AI's current landscape and future possibilities with Mike Berg on this enlightening episode of Frontier FM. In this episode, Megan engages in a compelling discussion with industry veteran Mike Berg, the Chief Technology Officer at System 3. Mike shares his wealth of experience in artificial intelligence, from his tenure at AltaML, Canad...

Sometimes the best way to innovate is to start with the basics. On this episode, Megan and Frontier ED, Derek Weiss sit down with testing guru and friend of the pod, Nathan Hill from NextAfter to discuss all things testing. Nathan shares his favourite test for charities in their A/B infancy, some surprising findings fresh from the NextAfter lab, and some common errors you should avoid while planni...

Is it really best practice to follow best practice? On this episode, Megan is joined by Russell Philips of the Canadian Constitution Foundation to discuss their learnings from the recent NIO Summit in Dallas. You'll find out why it's so hard to convince people under 40 to give, get some quick UX/UI wins to optimize your donation pages, and learn why testing trumps best practice.  You will want to...

Megan returns to the pod for a message to our listeners about where we've been and where we're going!

Just because corporate fundraising feels complicated does not mean it is. It's also not a money buffet that charities can just show up to for funding. It requires strategy, skill, and a little bit of patience. On this episode, Ben sits down with Heather Nelson of BridgeRaise to discuss the ins and outs of corporate fundraising, why charities seek corporate partnerships, the shadow side of corporat...

Sometimes it takes an outsider's perspective to bring clarity to the needs of an industry you work in every day. That's why Ben asked his long-time friend, former co-worker, and now SAAS leader Steve Benjamins to weigh in on the state of tech in the charity world. The two also take a deep dive into the unique benefits and challenges of four-day work weeks and remote working environments. You will...

What are your favorite fundraising trends for 2023? On this episode, Ben and Becca dive into all things trends for the ten months ahead. They discuss person-centered fundraising, using TikTok for donor acquisition, making giving easy, the future of phones in fundraising, and everything in between. You don't want to miss it! You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... Catching up...

Change is often a bad word among charities. And nothing exemplifies change more than technology. Many charities avoid it for a myriad of reasons, but tech is a valuable piece to cracking the generosity puzzle for decades to come. On this episode, Ben sits down with Yulia from Giveffect to discuss how charities should choose the right technology for their organizations. The two dive into Yulia's pr...

Are you ready for the Fundraising Revolution? Nejeed Kassam of Keela is! On this episode, Ben sits down with Nejeed for an engaging discussion focused on pushing the charitable sector forward. From tech innovation to addressing the fear that so many fundraisers hide just under the surface, get ready for a thought-provoking conversation everyone living the nonprofit life needs to hear. You will wan...

A major part of human-centered fundraising is human-centered design. How do you create mass marketing content that feels personal to the reader and accomplishes the goal of inspiring generosity through giving? On this episode, Ben sits down with Frontier OG and Creative Director Nick Tassell to discuss the importance of design, the power of humanity in marketing, and his experience starting at the...

The first Frontier FM of 2023 is here and you don't want to miss it! On this episode, Ben sits down with Neon One's Director of Corporate Brand Tim Sarrantonio for a jam-packed discussion about the future of generosity from a technology standpoint. The two explore human-centered fundraising, the three-percent problem in the charitable sector, three trends for small shops in 2023, and making it eas...

For the last Frontier FM episode of 2022, Ben and Becca sit down to discuss everything that goes into building a successful donor journey. When and how should you thank your donors? What role do economic seasons play in annual planning? How important is showing impact and accountability to donors? Listen now to get answers from the experts! You will want to hear this episode if you are interested...

It's time to bring some internal innovation to the charity world! On this episode, Ben sits down with the Director of Marketing Growth for Funraise, David Schwab. David dives into why quality tech stacks for charities are a game changer, how and why he works for Funraise, and the power of owning the conversation through email marketing.  You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in....