Nothing But Major Gifts Veritus Group

Is your organization set up to support the donor journey? What structures do you have in place to develop your donor relationships from initial acquisition to cultivation, mid-level, major gifts, and planned giving?

These are some of the questions you need to consider as you work to build a healthy donor pipeline. In this episode, Richard and Jeff discuss five key focus areas for organizations seeking to improve their donor’s experience at every stage of their giving journey.

 

Show Highlights: In this episode, you’ll learn about…



Why you need everyone in the organization to embrace a culture of philanthropy


The different stages of a donor’s journey with your organization and how to support them as the relationship progresses


Balancing your investments across in every stage of the donor journey


Creating offers that will inspire donors and deepen their commitment to your organization

We’ve all been in meetings where the conversation gets
sidetracked. Maybe someone present is very chatty and wants to spend the first half hour catching up. Maybe one individual has another topic they want to discuss, outside of what was outlined in the agenda. Or maybe no one is clear on why they’re there at all, so the conversation wanders until the time is up.

How can you make sure your donor meetings stay on track, while being respectful of everyone’s time and contributions? In this episode, Karen and Diana share their tips for how to effectively prepare for a donor meeting and what you can do when things don’t go according to plan.

Show Highlights: In this episode, you’ll learn about…


How to prepare for meetings and set expectations with all participants


What you can say when a conversation gets off-track


How to use Permission-Based Asking to move the conversation forward in a way that feels authentic and honoring


How to handle emotions that may come up, in yourself and in your donor

In celebration of Women’s History Month, today’s episode is
all about how women are shaping and changing the field of fundraising. Our special guest joining us for this conversation is Yolanda F. Johnson, President and Founder of YFJ Consulting and Women of Color in Fundraising and Leadership (WOC)™, which specializes in fundraising, philanthropy, and best practices for equity and inclusion.

Listen in to learn more about Yolanda’s work and to hear her
perspective on lifting up more women and people of color in the non-profit sector. If you enjoy the episode and you’d like to continue the conversation with Yolanda, see the show notes below for ways to get in touch.

Show Highlights: In this episode, you’ll learn about…


Yolanda’s work through her organization, Women of Color in Fundraising and Philanthropy (WOC)™


The four pillars of allyship, and how embracing the idea of “sponsorship” can help to elevate more women and women of color in the sector   
Mentorship opportunities for women who are interested in non-profit management and leadership
Moving away from the scarcity mindset and finding ways for women to work together, to champion each other

Asking your donors for gifts isn’t something you should save for the year-end giving season. When you’re tuned in to your donor’s giving preferences and interests, you can bring them additional giving opportunities even outside their regular giving season.

For this episode, we invited two guest fundraisers and clients of ours to share their expertise on this subject. Sarah Coen-Frei, Senior Individual Giving Manager at Minnesota Public Radio, and Fritz Gutwein, Major Gift Officer at Bread for the World, join Veritus Group’s Karen Kendrick (Senior Director of Client Engagement) and Diana Frazier (Senior Client Experience Leader) for this conversation about how to approach asking year-round. 

We hope you find these tips helpful as you work toward your next donor asks!

Show Highlights: In this episode, you’ll learn about… 


Moving away from transactional asking (e.g. waiting for year-end appeals) to adopt a more relational model


How to use Permission-Based Asking when asking your donor for a gift


Inspiring donors to give outside of their regular giving season

When you work at a non-profit organization, just as in any job, there will be times that you feel stuck, discouraged, or uninspired. This work is hard, and it’s not uncommon to experience feelings of burnout or frustration. 

If you’re in a space like that, how do you shift your energy so you can bring your best self to your work with donors?

For this episode, Karen and Renita share some questions to ask yourself on those days to help you approach your energy differently. We hope these suggestions leave you feeling encouraged with some strategies to help you move forward and find more satisfaction in your daily work!

Show Highlights: In this episode, you’ll learn about… 


Mindset challenges that affect how you feel and show up in your work


Practices to help you avoid burnout as a non-profit professional


Steps leaders can take to support their staff

When you’re looking for your next fundraising position, how do you evaluate which opportunities are most aligned with your professional goals? What questions should you ask in your conversations with hiring managers to learn more about their culture and evaluate whether the role is a good fit?

In this podcast episode, Karen and Matt are joined by special guest Paul Towne, VP of Executive Search with Cooper Coleman. As a search consultant who works exclusively with non-profit and social impact organizations, Paul has extensive knowledge about how to interview for the right roles and identify which opportunities will be the best fit for you.

We hope this conversation gives you some helpful ideas and tools to use when you’re interviewing for your next fundraising role!

Show Highlights: In this episode, you’ll learn about… 


Factors impacting the job-hunting landscape across the non-profit sector


How to identify roles that will be the best fit for you


What candidates should look for when interviewing at a non-profit


Questions to ask that will help you learn more about an organization’s culture