NPFX: The Nonprofit Fundraising Exchange IPM Advancement

Americans are losing confidence in higher education, alumni are carrying record level student debt loads, and charitable giving in general is shifting more towards social impact causes — all of which makes it harder for higher ed institutions to make their case for support. In today’s podcast episode, we look at strategies for higher ed fundraising, including how to engage young alumni, the role of major donors, attracting corporate partners, the value of give-to-get, and more.
Free 30-minute fundraising consultation for NPFX listeners:
http://www.ipmadvancement.com/free
Want to suggest a topic, guest, or nonprofit organization for an upcoming episode? Send an email with the subject "NPFX suggestion" to contact@ipmadvancement.com.
Additional Resources
IPM's free Nonprofit Resource Library:
https://www.ipmadvancement.com/resources
[NPFX] When Your Nonprofit's Case for Support Just Isn't Working
https://www.ipmadvancement.com/blog/when-your-nonprofit-s-case-for-support-just-isn-t-working
[NPFX] Giving USA 2023: Key Insights behind the Numbers
https://www.ipmadvancement.com/blog/giving-usa-2023-key-insights-behind-the-numbers
Sami Zoss, Interim President and Chief Executive Officer for DSU Foundation, is a passionate nonprofit leader who likes to make lasting connections and perpetuate worthwhile causes. With an MBA in Finance and Marketing from Miami University, Sami has given her time and talent to several organizations including Camp Gilbert Inc., a volunteer-led, not-for-profit company supporting a one-week summer camp for children in the South Dakota area living with Type 1 diabetes. Her professional expertise lies in stewardship, alumni and donor relations, and external engagement.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sami-zoss-mba-7535778b/
https://trojansunite.org/
Emily Berry leads the Annual Giving effort at Miami University, generating more than $6 million each year. With more than two decades of fundraising and advancement experience, Emily brings a wealth of experience and knowledge as a session presenter. She has previously served on the District V conference committee, and her team has been recognized with CASE Circle of Excellence Awards for their annual day of giving, #MoveInMiami.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-berry-3b23867/
https://moveinmiami.org/
Russ Phaneuf, a co-founder of IPM Advancement, has a background in higher education development, with positions at the University of Hartford, Northern Arizona University, and Thunderbird School of Global Management. As IPM's managing director & chief strategist, Russ serves as lead fundraising strategist, award-winning content creator, and program analyst specializing in applied system dynamics.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/russphaneuf/
Rich Frazier has worked in the nonprofit sector for over 30 years. In his role as senior consultant with IPM Advancement, Rich offers extensive understanding and knowledge in major gifts program management, fund development, strategic planning, and board of directors development.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/richfrazier/

Join host Rich Frazier and guest Jarrett Ransom for a candid conversation on what it takes to be successful — and stay sane — in nonprofit fundraising. Jarrett shares insights from her 15-year journey as a consultant in the nonprofit sector, including her latest inspiration from the documentary "Uncharitable" featuring Dan Pallotta. Other topics include the need for innovation in fundraising, how to achieve a healthy work-life blend, and the value of bringing who you truly are into your work.
Free 30-minute fundraising consultation for NPFX listeners:
https://www.ipmadvancement.com/free
Want to suggest a topic, guest, or nonprofit organization for an upcoming episode? Send an email with the subject "NPFX suggestion" to contact@ipmadvancement.com.
Additional Resources
IPM's free Nonprofit Resource Library:
https://www.ipmadvancement.com/resources
Nonprofit Nerd: Impact Unleashed
https://nonprofitnerdimpactunleashed.buzzsprout.com/
Uncharitable, official website
https://uncharitablemovie.com/
[NPFX] How to Prevent Nonprofit Staff Burnout and Create a Culture of Wellness
https://www.ipmadvancement.com/blog/how-to-prevent-nonprofit-staff-burnout-and-create-a-culture-of-wellness
[NPFX] The Intersection of Organizational Wellness and Impact
https://www.ipmadvancement.com/blog/the-intersection-of-organizational-wellness-and-impact
[NPFX] Self-Care for Nonprofit Fundraisers: How to Avoid Burnout
https://www.ipmadvancement.com/blog/self-care-for-nonprofit-fundraisers-how-to-avoid-burnout
Jarrett Ransom, aka the Nonprofit Nerd, has worked exclusively with nonprofit organizations for over 20 years. She is passionate about creating community and empowering others to see and exceed their full potential. As a trusted advisor, she has helped clients successfully raise millions of dollars in support of their missions. In addition to being a member of the IPM Advancement consulting team, she is president and CEO of the Rayvan Group. Jarrett also serves as the host of the podcast "Nonprofit Nerd: Impact Unleashed."
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jrransom/
Russ Phaneuf, a co-founder of IPM Advancement, has a background in higher education development, with positions at the University of Hartford, Northern Arizona University, and Thunderbird School of Global Management. As IPM's managing director & chief strategist, Russ serves as lead fundraising strategist, award-winning content creator, and program analyst specializing in applied system dynamics.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/russphaneuf/
Rich Frazier has worked in the nonprofit sector for over 30 years. In his role as senior consultant with IPM Advancement, Rich offers extensive understanding and knowledge in major gifts program management, fund development, strategic planning, and board of directors development.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/richfrazier/

A workforce shortage in the nonprofit industry is forcing many organizations to do more with less, resulting in stress and burnout that only worsens staff turnover. How can we expect nonprofits to go out and make the world a better place if the organizations themselves are not well? In today's episode, we take a deep dive into the topic of organizational wellness to help nonprofits improve their internal health and increase their impact.
Free 30-minute fundraising consultation for NPFX listeners:
http://www.ipmadvancement.com/free
Want to suggest a topic, guest, or nonprofit organization for an upcoming episode? Send an email with the subject "NPFX suggestion" to contact@ipmadvancement.com.
Additional Resources
IPM's free Nonprofit Resource Library:
https://www.ipmadvancement.com/resources
[NPFX] How to Prevent Nonprofit Staff Burnout and Create a Culture of Wellness
https://www.ipmadvancement.com/blog/how-to-prevent-nonprofit-staff-burnout-and-create-a-culture-of-wellness
Best Wellness Practices for Nonprofit Fundraisers (#4 Might Surprise You)
https://www.ipmadvancement.com/blog/best-wellness-practices-for-nonprofit-fundraisers-4-might-surprise-you
[NPFX] Self-Care for Nonprofit Fundraisers: How to Avoid Burnout
https://www.ipmadvancement.com/blog/self-care-for-nonprofit-fundraisers-how-to-avoid-burnout
5 Ways to Improve Your Fundraising Team’s Morale
https://www.ipmadvancement.com/blog/5-ways-to-improve-your-fundraising-team-s-morale
Shaun Leonardo, a Brooklyn-based artist and Co-Director of the arts nonprofit Recess, specializes in multidisciplinary work that negotiates societal expectations of manhood, namely definitions surrounding black and brown masculinities, along with its notions of achievement, collective identity, and experience of failure. His performance practice, anchored by his work in Assembly — a diversion program for system-impacted youth at Recess — is participatory and invested in a process of embodiment. Shaun received his MFA from the San Francisco Art Institute and is a recipient of support from Creative Capital, Guggenheim Social Practice, Art for Justice and A Blade of Grass. His work has been featured at The Guggenheim Museum, the High Line, and New Museum, and profiled in the New York Times and CNN. His solo exhibition, The Breath of Empty Space, was presented at MICA, MASS MoCA and The Bronx Museum. And his first major public art commission, Between Four Freedoms, premiered at Four Freedoms Park Conservancy, in the fall of 2021.
https://shaunleonardo.com/




Melissa Cowley Wolf has 20 years of experience in philanthropy, strategic planning, and programming for art museums and higher education institutions across the United States. A philanthropy consultant for nonprofit organizations, an advisor to next generation philanthropists, and arts advocate working across industries, she was named to the Artnet 2020 Innovators List as one of 51 global innovators transforming the art industry. Melissa founded advising firm MCW Projects LLC in 2017 to expand the next generation of cultural philanthropists, advocates, and audiences. She is also the founding director of the Arts Funders Forum (AFF) an advocacy, media, convening, and research platform designed to develop new models of impact-driven financial support for the cultural sector.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-cowley-wolf-6440a79/
Russ Phaneuf, a co-founder of IPM Advancement, has a background in higher education development, with positions at the University of Hartford, Northern Arizona University, and Thunderbird School of Global Management. As IPM's managing director & chief strategist, Russ serves as lead fundraising strategist, award-winning content creator, and program analyst specializing in applied system dynamics.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/russphaneuf/
Rich Frazier has worked in the nonprofit sector for over 30 years. In his role as senior consultant with IPM Advancement, Rich offers exten

Messaging that engages your audience is the key to good fundraising, which in turn is what allows your organization to deliver the programs and services that impact your community. In today's episode, we examine the 5 essential elements of messaging, share real world examples of how to apply them, discuss pitfalls to watch out for, and more.
Free 30-minute fundraising consultation for NPFX listeners:
http://www.ipmadvancement.com/free
Want to suggest a topic, guest, or nonprofit organization for an upcoming episode? Send an email with the subject "NPFX suggestion" to contact@ipmadvancement.com.
Additional Resources
Nonprofit Fundraising Messaging Cheat Sheet
https://bit.ly/49IVMV5
IPM's free Nonprofit Resource Library:
https://www.ipmadvancement.com/resources
[NPFX] When Your Nonprofit's Case for Support Just Isn't Working
https://www.ipmadvancement.com/blog/when-your-nonprofit-s-case-for-support-just-isn-t-working
What Should I Write About in My Next Fundraising Appeal?
https://www.ipmadvancement.com/blog/what-should-i-write-about-in-my-next-fundraising-appeal
[NPFX] Ask the Experts: Listener Questions about Copywriting for Nonprofit Fundraising
https://www.ipmadvancement.com/blog/ask-the-experts-listener-questions-about-copywriting-for-nonprofit-fundraising
Samantha Timlick is the VP of Client Services at IPM Advancement. Since 2007 she has managed renewal, appeal, and acquisition programs encompassing more than 200 million total recipients — focusing on highly segmented direct mail microtargeting, personalized inbound and outbound telemarketing, and integrated e-campaigns.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/stimlick/
Russ Phaneuf, a co-founder of IPM Advancement, has a background in higher education development, with positions at the University of Hartford, Northern Arizona University, and Thunderbird School of Global Management. As IPM's managing director & chief strategist, Russ serves as lead fundraising strategist, award-winning content creator, and program analyst specializing in applied system dynamics.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/russphaneuf/
Rich Frazier has worked in the nonprofit sector for over 30 years. In his role as senior consultant with IPM Advancement, Rich offers extensive understanding and knowledge in major gifts program management, fund development, strategic planning, and board of directors development.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/richfrazier/

The percentage of individuals giving to nonprofits has reached its lowest point in 40 years. This "giving crisis" has led to an overreliance on major gifts that isn't sustainable for most nonprofits. In today's episode, we discuss why measuring donor relationships (not just revenue) must be a part of your fundraising plan, how to enroll your leadership and board, and strategies to track and improve donor relationships at every level of giving.
Free 30-minute fundraising consultation for NPFX listeners:
http://www.ipmadvancement.com/free
Want to suggest a topic, guest, or nonprofit organization for an upcoming episode? Send an email with the subject "NPFX suggestion" to contact@ipmadvancement.com.
Additional Resources
IPM's free Nonprofit Resource Library:
https://www.ipmadvancement.com/resources
[NPFX] Meaningful Donor Relationships: The Key to Financial Stability
https://www.ipmadvancement.com/blog/meaningful-donor-relationships-the-key-to-financial-stability
Writing a Great Thank You Letter: The First Step in Successful Donor Stewardship
https://www.ipmadvancement.com/blog/writing-a-great-thank-you-letter-the-first-step-in-successful-donor-stewardship
The Secret to Keeping Your Donors Giving: Make Them Feel Special
https://www.ipmadvancement.com/blog/the-secret-to-keeping-your-donors-giving-make-them-feel-special
Michele Rebeor is a founder of Synergy Philanthropy and an IPM Advancement consultant. Her work supporting nonprofit organizations focuses on building and maximizing donor relationships that result in greater levels of giving. Michele also has a rare expertise in effecting strategies that acknowledge the role and importance of women donors and their impact on the future of philanthropy.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelerebeor/
Elizabeth Silverstein has served the not-for-profit sector for more than 40 years, specializing in transformational giving, vision casting, inspiring boards, and building passionate, effective teams. Beth has been instrumental in cultivating major gifts for capital campaigns in healthcare, two presidential libraries, higher education, K-12 independent schools, and social service organizations.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-reynolds-silverstein-b211b7a/
Russ Phaneuf, a co-founder of IPM Advancement, has a background in higher education development, with positions at the University of Hartford, Northern Arizona University, and Thunderbird School of Global Management. As IPM's managing director & chief strategist, Russ serves as lead fundraising strategist, award-winning content creator, and program analyst specializing in applied system dynamics.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/russphaneuf/
Rich Frazier has worked in the nonprofit sector for over 30 years. In his role as senior consultant with IPM Advancement, Rich offers extensive understanding and knowledge in major gifts program management, fund development, strategic planning, and board of directors development.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/richfrazier/

Good donor relationships where supporters are engaged and satisfied with giving to your nonprofit can have a profound effect on the success of your organization. More than just ensuring financial support, meaningful relationships with donors foster trust, loyalty, and a sense of shared purpose. In today's episode, we will discuss common stewardship mistakes, how to better understand the experience of the donor, and strategies you can use to elevate your nonprofit's engagement with donors and forge stronger bonds.
Free 30-minute fundraising consultation for NPFX listeners:
http://www.ipmadvancement.com/free
Want to suggest a topic, guest, or nonprofit organization for an upcoming episode? Send an email with the subject "NPFX suggestion" to contact@ipmadvancement.com.
Additional Resources
IPM's free Nonprofit Resource Library:
https://www.ipmadvancement.com/resources
Writing a Great Thank You Letter: The First Step in Successful Donor Stewardship
https://www.ipmadvancement.com/blog/writing-a-great-thank-you-letter-the-first-step-in-successful-donor-stewardship
[NPFX] 12 Mistakes Nonprofits Make in Their Fundraising Copywriting
https://www.ipmadvancement.com/blog/12-mistakes-nonprofits-make-in-their-fundraising-copywriting-part-1
The Secret to Keeping Your Donors Giving: Make Them Feel Special
https://www.ipmadvancement.com/blog/the-secret-to-keeping-your-donors-giving-make-them-feel-special
Lisa Zola Greer and her husband Josh experienced a transformative life change in 2012 as they became members, almost overnight, of the 1%, sparking a desire to share their new wealth with compelling charitable causes. As newcomers to the world of charitable giving, they found themselves frustrated and shocked by the impersonal interactions, scripted engagements, and dated methods pervasive in the nonprofit sector. After several years studying the sector, continually experiencing the same issues, and recognizing that millions of donors shared the same negative experience with giving, Lisa decided to promote fundamental change in how fundraising is done by teaching nonprofits how to do better. Today, Lisa writes, teaches, and advises fundraisers on incorporating the donor perspective into all their fundraising activities. As a fundraising coach, nonprofit changemaker, major donor, and author of the bestselling book Philanthropy Revolution, Lisa is on a mission to "Save Giving." Her second book, The Fundraiser's Handbook, will be released in 2024. Between her books, her teaching, and her highly successful blog, Philanthropy 451, Lisa helps nonprofits see a clear path to sustainable and long-term success.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisazgreer/
https://lisagreer.com/
Sami Zoss, Interim President and Chief Executive Officer for DSU Foundation, is a passionate nonprofit leader who likes to make lasting connections and perpetuate worthwhile causes. With an MBA in Finance and Marketing from Miami University, Sami has given her time and talent to several organizations including Camp Gilbert Inc., a volunteer-led, not-for-profit company supporting a one-week summer camp for children in the South Dakota area living with Type 1 diabetes. Her professional expertise lies in stewardship, alumni and donor relations, and external engagement.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sami-zoss-mba-7535778b/
https://trojansunite.org/
Russ Phaneuf, a co-founder of IPM Advancement, has a background in higher education development, with positions at the University of Hartford, Northern Arizona University, and Thunderbird School of Global Management. As IPM's managing director & chief strategist, Russ serves as lead fundraising strategist, award-winning content creator, and program analyst specializing in applied system dynamics.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/russphaneuf/
Rich Frazier has worked in the nonprofit sector for over 30 years. In his role as senior consultant with IPM Advancement, Rich offers extensive understanding and knowledge in m