The Fundraising Elevator Podcast

This week on The Fundraising Elevator Beth McGorry, the Director of Donor Relations at St. Mark Youth Enrichment, shares the story of her work to steward donors which is a powerful reminder of the human element in fundraising. Her success is a blend of innovative event planning, a focus on personal connections and a deep-seated belief in the power of community. Loving The Fundraising Elevator? Ple...

This week on The Fundraising Elevator Rene Spears, a renowned Spiritual Life and Business Mentor and Spirit Guide Channeler, encourages nonprofits to reevaluate their approach to fundraising and mission alignment. We explore how, by adopting a mindset of abundance and focusing on the good stuff, organizations can have the potential to unlock new levels of success and fulfillment. Loving The Fundra...

This week on The Fundraising Elevator Michelle Holman from Greater Giving shares the transformative power of event management software in improving the guest experience. She highlights how technology not only streamlines operations but also significantly influences the way organizations interact with their data, donors, and overall event strategy. This conversation sheds light on the nuances of cr...

This week on The Fundraising Elevator our very own Samantha Swaim breaks down a successful event paddle raise. She dives deep into the art of storytelling and how emotion plays a pivotal role in driving donor engagement and contributions. She also provides practical strategies on optimizing timing your appeal and ways to recognize donors to foster long-term relationships. Loving The Fundraising El...

This week on The Fundraising Elevator the spotlight is on hybrid event technology. Our guest Brooke Battle, Founder and CEO of Swell Fundraising, shares some practical implementation of these technologies by drawing on real-life examples and provides expert insight to help guide you in using event technology to maximize your work. Loving The Fundraising Elevator? Please subscribe, rate and review...

This week on The Fundraising Elevator we take a look at how Storytelling Tours can bring donors, staff, board members and stakeholders into the heartbeat of your mission. Our guest Tammy Zonker, an international speaker and trainer in the discipline of transformational philanthropy, shares how leading free, one-hour tours of your work can transform your donor relationships and showcase the impact...

This week on The Fundraising Elevator we explore the world of donor texting, a powerful tool in modern fundraising strategies. Our guest James Martin, Co-Founder and CEO of Rally Corp, brings a wealth of experience and insight into how organizations can effectively leverage text messaging to engage donors and elevate their fundraising efforts. Loving The Fundraising Elevator? Please subscribe, rat...

This week on The Fundraising Elevator we talk to nonprofit fundraising thought leader, Susan Howlett, all about how board engagement can be the secret sauce in the fundraising success at your organization. Loving The Fundraising Elevator? Please subscribe, rate and review the podcast. It really helps other people find the show.  This Episode Brought to You by:  Swaim Strategies: https://swaimstrat...

This week on the Fundraising Elevator, we had the privilege of gaining valuable insights from Susan Ehrman on the Executive Director-Development Director relationship. Take notes on navigating collaboration, fostering clear communication, implementing effective teamwork strategies, and achieving the delicate balance between vision and execution. Loving The Fundraising Elevator? Please subscribe, r...

This week on The Fundraising Elevator we talk with Lisa Watson, a seasoned leader with over two decades of experience in operations, strategy, and team management, to explore the critical role of board leadership in successful fundraising initiatives. We talk about the scope of work for boards of directors and she sheds light on the dynamic relationship between effective board leadership and nonpr...

This week on The Fundraising Elevator we talk with Dale Johannes, Benefit Auctioneer at DC Auctions, about how nonprofits and auctioneers can partner to maximize fundraising at an event. We talk about the power of collaboration and how auctioneers can create a dynamic bridge at your event between your mission and your donors. Loving The Fundraising Elevator? Please subscribe, rate and review the p...

In this episode of The Fundraising Elevator we talk with Sarah Greenman, Executive Director of the American Leadership Forum of Oregon, about what a different approach to leadership can look like and how it can beneficially impact everyone at an organization—including donors. We jump into the challenges of the nonprofit sector and how aligning visions with goals in an organization can build a path...

This week on The Fundraising Elevator we talk to one of the best development directors we know, Juan Martinez. With a long history in the nonprofit sector, Juan has made donor cultivation an art form and his asks for gifts feel like an amazing opportunity for donors to make their personal missions come true. Juan talks about some of the critical pieces for fundraising success and shares how he bui...

This week on The Fundraising Elevator, Shanon Doolittle, Chief Fundraising Strategist of Shanon Doolittle + Co., helps us choose a theme for our fundraising event. She shares her perspectives on building authentic relationships with donors, fostering donor trust and creating compelling narratives at your event. Shanon highlights the power of storytelling in fundraising and shares insights for craf...

In this episode of The Fundraising Elevator, T. Clay Buck, Founder of TCB Fundraising and The Fundraiser's Planner, shares essential insights into the post-campaign phase of fundraising. Clay emphasizes the significance of post-campaign analysis, where we learn from past experiences and make data-driven decisions. He discusses the shift from campaign-focused thinking to fostering lasting donor rel...

In this episode of The Fundraising Elevator, we talk with Josh Boykin, Founder and CEO of Intelligame and CritSave Consulting. We explore the potential of Twitch for fundraising, blending gaming, community engagement and charitable efforts and how to foster strong bonds between streamers and their audiences. We discuss the role of gaming in sparking engaging conversations, and Josh shares strategi...

This week on The Fundraising Elevator, Zach Putnam of ZP Productions sheds light on the art of video storytelling for nonprofits. Learn how you can craft authentic narratives by centering your storytellers and using tried and true visual storytelling techniques. Zach shares the profound impact that video storytelling can have for nonprofits and how compelling narratives and visual elements have th...

This week on The Fundraising Elevator, Mary Elizabeth, Director of Operations at Swaim Strategies, shares how you can use registration technology to improve your fundraising event. We dive into topics such as how to simplify registration, how to use data to customize attendee experiences and the future of registration technology. Mary introduces registration technology as a game-changer in the wor...

In this episode of The Fundraising Elevator, we dive into the dynamic world of livestreaming and its profound impact on fundraising events with producer Ryan Brothers. He shares how to use livestreaming to make real-time connections with donors and how to fundraise more effectively with hybrid events. He offers tips for creating content that centers your mission and engages your audience. Finally,...

This week on The Fundraising Elevator we talk to host Kristin Steele about the power of storytelling to move your mission forward at your next fundraising event. She highlights the importance of storytelling in creating an emotional connection with donors, and explains how personal anecdotes and experiences can touch the hearts of supporters, leading to increased engagement and donations. Loving T...

This week host Kristin Steele interviews The Fundraising Elevator’s very own Sam Swaim all about fundraising events. Sam frames up what events look like now. She explores how donor engagement has shifted post-pandemic and what you can do about it to maximize support for your mission. She delivers the bitter truth that events are not the easiest way to raise money, but they also present an amazing...

Join us for the first episode of The Fundraising Elevator, where we’re all headed up. We’re excited to bring you a fundraising podcast where we talk with experts, visionaries and great idea people about how to impact the nonprofit sector for good. Your hosts Samantha Swaim and Kristin Steele talk to each other about what inspires them about gatherings and how we can make them impactful for organiz...