The Mary Valloni Show

We're just 90 days away from the end of the 2018 calendar year and the largest giving season of the year!   Join us as we take the 90-Day Challenge!   Write down your top 25 goals and circle your top 5. As Warren Buffet's 5/25 Rule suggests, focus 100% of your attention on the top 5 goals and ignore the rest until you've successful completed one off the list.   Share your top 5 in the Fundraising...

Your personal feelings around money does make a difference in the donations you bring in. Take some time to evaluate how you handle money personally and professionally and ask yourself the following questions.   ⁃ What is your money story? ⁃ What emotions does money bring up? ⁃ What is your new story going to be? ⁃ What value do you bring in exchange for the salary/income you receive? ⁃ What value...

Every year we experience the four season of winter, spring, summer and fall. Without a doubt spring always follows winter and an up always follows a down. In today's episode we walk through each season to see how we can come with expectancy for each new fundraising season.   Here are the lyrics to the song "Turn, Turn, Turn" written by Pete Seeger (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8).   To everything - turn, turn...

Is it even possible to take back the hours in your day and actually say "NO"?     YES!     Today, we talk through how to move the mindless tasks from our list so we can prioritize on the big things that actually produce something. Let's start to value results and not busy work.     Listen in to find out the difference between busyness and production and how you can turn into a more productive pers...

In the United States, we celebrate Labor Day and many of us will take the day off to enjoy time with family and friends. As we gear up for a busy end-of-the-year season it's important that we remember to rest.     Resting is a skill that needs to be practiced especially by our selfless nonprofit leaders.   Rest results in us being more creative and productive.   Our lives can be richer and more fu...

Is it possible to be FOR optimism? On today's episode we address the following 10 ways to become an unshakeable optimist.   1. Be grateful.   2. Be willing to share your story - both positive and negative ones. 3. Forgive. 4. Be a good listener. 5. Turn envy and jealousy into energy. 6. Smile more. 7. Exercise, Eat Healthy, Get Vitamin D. 8. Think positively. 9. Stop blaming others. 10. Decide tha...

"I was once asked why I don't participate in anti-war demonstrations. I said that I will never do that, but as soon as you have a pro-peace rally, I'll be there." - Mother Teresa   We only have so much mental capacity and it doesn't make any sense to waste your limited energy on the things you are against. Just like Mother Teresa, we need to decide what we're FOR and then do everything in our powe...

What you do with your life is your choice. You choose to do the work you do. You choose to have the relationships in your life. You choose how much money you make. You choose.   If we get to choose what we want then what questions do we have to ask ourselves to actually get it. In today's episode, Mary talks through the 5 questions you need to ask yourself to get what you really want.   Here they...

Procrastination can take hold of nearly every area of your life—writing a thank you letter, picking up the phone, doing the dishes and so much more.     Procrastination is everywhere, but what if you had a tool that could help you quiet the voice in your head and help you knock out your to-do list.   You may be just 5 seconds away from solving that problem every time. You just might make "taking a...

In this episode we talk about the top three things your donors are saying behind your back, which explains why your donors may be unhappy with you and leave. We talk through what those are and what you can do to turn it around.     Ask yourself, do you only care about your donors' lives because they support your cause? Would you spend time with them if they weren't giving to you? If so, they alrea...

Anxiety may be one of, if not the worst, enemy of a fundraiser. In this episode we talk through the 4 tips to manage the anxiety and stress of an upcoming fundraising event, how to take care of your body and how a fundraising team can help drastically reduce your anxiety level.     Here are the 4 tips we cover: 1. Accept the fact that you can't control everything. What's the worst that could happe...

Join me as we take a trip down memory lane. In this episode, I share why I do the work that I do and why this podcast exists. You also get to be the first to hear about my next project. Space is limited for this NEW project, so don't waste any time in reaching out. To get more details, email mary@maryvalloni.com .     For more information about Mary Valloni, visit http://maryvalloni.com and to joi...

This is the final part of our 6-part series on persuasion and we're talking about scarcity. Are you tired of pushing projects to get people excited about your cause? Well, this week's persuasion principle will give you the ability to drive your donors to any budgetary need of your choice including your general operating budget!   For more information about Mary Valloni, visit http://maryvalloni.co...

This is part 5 of our 6-part series on persuasion. This fifth part focuses on authority. People defer to experts and to those in positions of authority. We all want to know "Who's in charge?".     Find out how you can be the leader others want to follow by becoming a subject matter expert.   For more information about Mary Valloni, visit http://maryvalloni.com and to join our fundraising community...

This is part 4 of our 6-part series on persuasion. This fourth part focuses on commitment and consistency. People want to be consistent. If they make a public commitment to give, there is a good chance they will follow through. Find out how you can use written and verbal commitments to increase donations and volunteer hours for your cause.   For more information about Mary Valloni, visit http://ma...

This is part 3 of a 6-part series on persuasion. This third part focuses on social proof and how people will do what they see others doing. Find out how you can use peer pressure to increase donations and create model volunteers and donors for your cause.     For more information about Mary Valloni, visit http://maryvalloni.com and to join our fundraising community on Facebook, go to http://www.fa...

This is part 2 of a 6 part series on persuasion. This second part focuses on reciprocity. Listen in to hear how your donors and your cause can receive mutual benefit from partnering together.   For more information about Mary Valloni, visit http://maryvalloni.com and to join our fundraising community on Facebook, go to http://www.facebook.com/groups/fundraisingfreedomtribe/

This is part 1 of a 6 part series on persuasion. The first of the six focuses on our ability to be likable. Listen in to hear the 5 things we all need to do to attract more people to us so and to our cause.   For more information about Mary Valloni, visit http://maryvalloni.com and to join our fundraising community on Facebook, go to http://www.facebook.com/groups/fundraisingfreedomtribe/

Tanya is a longtime volunteer and supporter of the MS Society, but after years of volunteering her role drastically changed when she was almost fired from her volunteer role.     On this episode, listen in to find out how you can recruit a dedicated volunteer like Tanya to your organization and what you need to do to keep her coming back year after year.   For more information about Mary Valloni,...

How long can you do one thing, and just one thing, before you get pulled away by something else of equal (but probably less) importance?     This is the world we're living in today where distractions and information overload consume our day to day activities. It's harder than ever to be successful, but it is possible.     It's possible if you learn the skill of focus. In this episode you'll learn...

One of the most admired women of all time is Mother Teresa (Saint Teresa of Calcutta). Known for her charitable work she has inspired nonprofit leaders for decades. In this episode we talk about 6 of the life-lessons we can learn from Mother Teresa including:     1. We need each other. 2. You matter. 3. The only cure for loneliness, despair, and hopelessness is love. 4. A smile is a gift. 5. You w...

It's easy to slip into trying to sell your cause to a potential donor if every dollar matters. If you are desperate for donations you'll do whatever it takes to bring in the dollars including selling without serving. What if you "served" your potential donor and come without wanting anything in return?   On today's episode, we talk about how to effectively serve your potential donors and supporter...

Most nonprofit organizations start because of a great need, but nearly 50% can't keep up with the demand.     On today's episode we talk about the challenges of our nonprofits and the three primary killers of our nonprofits today:   1. Leadership can't get out of the way. 2. Crazy growth too fast without a foundation 3. Confusing vision and mission   For more information about Mary Valloni Consult...

Authenticity is one of the primary concerns for nonprofit leaders, but all you have to do is be you. No one expects you to be anything else. Remember social media is just a tool in your tool belt. It is one of many ways to engage with prospective donors and volunteers.   When using social media, consider these three ways to promote you and your cause:   1. Create a Private Facebook Group and Build...

There is no doubt that we all need to surround ourselves with people who "get" us and that starts with these four people.     1. Coach - a person who supports a learner in achieving a specific personal or professional goal by providing training and guidance. 2. Mentor - an experienced and trusted advisor, a more experienced or more knowledgeable person helps to guide a less experienced or less kno...