The Fundraising Elevator Podcast

In this episode John Lepp, co-founder of Agents of Good and author of Creative Deviations, joins us for a wide-ranging conversation about what it truly means to be human in fundraising. John makes the case that empathy isn't just a buzzword, it's the foundation of every meaningful donor relationship. He challenges fundraisers to pause before hitting send on that next e-blast and ask: what do I want this person to think, feel, and do? Drawing on nearly 30 years of experience, John argues that "messy" human communication — smeared ink, handwritten notes, a stamp placed on an angle — consistently outperforms polished, corporate-looking outreach because it signals to donors that a real person took the time to care. John also pushes back on the sector's growing obsession with automation and AI, arguing that the fundamentals like a handwritten thank-you card within 48 hours of a gift and a single phone call per year, do more to improve donor retention and lifetime value than any shiny new tool. He encourages fundraisers to see themselves as creative beings, reframing creativity not as a rare gift but as a muscle everyone can build, one small deviation at a time. His parting advice is deceptively simple: ask why more often. That single word, he says, opens the door to curiosity, conversation, and the kind of courageous change that makes fundraising and the sector more human. 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://swaimstrategies.com Utilizing over 20 years of nonprofit event strategy and production expertise, Swaim Strategies coaches and teaches organizations how to increase the impact of their fundraising events.    The AV Department: https://theavdept.com/ As a full-service event AV and video production partner, The AV Department’s technical event production and media content generation provide you with a range of experience and talent from a partner who wants to know you and work together year after year.    Bloomerang: https://bit.ly/4hLqLVw Create the ideal giving experience with integrated fundraising tools and automated insights that maximize your impact. Keep donors close to the cause with mean-ingful outreach at the right time. Increase retention, major gifts, and all-around impact. Turn supporters into action-takers with tools that make it easy to recruit, organize, and engage volunteers at every level.   Feathr: https://www.feathr.co/ Feathr is a marketing platform built specifically for mission-driven organizations, offering simple tools for digital advertising, email campaigns, and audience engagement. The platform uses real-time insights and AI-powered segmentation to help you reach the right people at the right time—whether you’re nurturing existing supporters or discovering new ones who share your values. It’s marketing that meets people where they are, building relationships that last beyond a single click.   Speakers Samantha Swaim LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-swaim-a28a9a4/ Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies   Kristin Steele LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-steele777/ Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies   John Lepp LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnlepp/   | RESOURCES | Connect with Swaim Strategies: https://swaimstrategies.com Propose a Podcast Episode: https://swaimstrategies.com/propose-a-podcast-episode/ Get Event Help Right Now with Gala 911: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/gala-911/ Book Consulting Time with Sam: https://calendly.com/consultingwithsam Book Consulting Time with Kristin: https://calendly.com/eventstorytelling Learn More About the Elevate Conference: https://swaimstrategies.com/elevate-conference/ Get Planning a Successful Major Donor Event: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/#book Join Swaim Strategies on Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies Connect with The AV Department:  https://theavdept.com/ Connect with Agents of Good: https://agentsofgood.org/ Free Resources from Agents of Good: https://agentsofgood.org/resources Get Creative Deviations by John Lepp: https://hilborn-civilsectorpress.com/collections/new-releases/products/creative-deviations Get John Lepp’s Resources: https://agentjohnlepp.myshopify.com The Fundraising Elevator Episode with Jen Love: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crOZxFCeoyY Get Tribes: We Need You to Lead Us by Seth Godin: https://www.powells.com/book/tribes-we-need-you-to-lead-us-9781591842330?condition=Used%20-%20Good  

In this episode we sit down with Denise Spivak, CEO of CenterLink,  the world's largest coalition of LGBTQ+ community centers, representing over 350 member organizations. Denise shares how centers have evolved from small grassroots efforts into sophisticated service providers offering everything from medical clinics to mental health care, while remaining rooted in community connection and belonging. She paints an honest picture of the current funding landscape — one marked by federal cuts, corporate DEI pullbacks, and heightened political targeting — but counters the grim narrative with a testament to resilience. The conversation digs into the practical and philosophical tools keeping LGBTQ+ centers afloat, from airtight 501(c)(3) compliance and board governance to diversified funding strategies and collaborative re-granting models. Denise makes a compelling case for doubling down on mission rather than softening identity in the face of political pressure — and shares how centers that have done exactly that are watching new donors step in to fill the gaps. She also spotlights the power of Pride as both celebration and resistance, traces its roots from Stonewall to today's massive community gatherings. 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://swaimstrategies.com Utilizing over 20 years of nonprofit event strategy and production expertise, Swaim Strategies coaches and teaches organizations how to increase the impact of their fundraising events.    The AV Department: https://theavdept.com/ As a full-service event AV and video production partner, The AV Department’s technical event production and media content generation provide you with a range of experience and talent from a partner who wants to know you and work together year after year.    Bloomerang: https://bit.ly/4hLqLVw Create the ideal giving experience with integrated fundraising tools and automated insights that maximize your impact. Keep donors close to the cause with mean-ingful outreach at the right time. Increase retention, major gifts, and all-around impact. Turn supporters into action-takers with tools that make it easy to recruit, organize, and engage volunteers at every level.   Feathr: https://www.feathr.co/ Feathr is a marketing platform built specifically for mission-driven organizations, offering simple tools for digital advertising, email campaigns, and audience engagement. The platform uses real-time insights and AI-powered segmentation to help you reach the right people at the right time—whether you’re nurturing existing supporters or discovering new ones who share your values. It’s marketing that meets people where they are, building relationships that last beyond a single click.   Speakers Samantha Swaim LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-swaim-a28a9a4/ Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies   Kristin Steele LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-steele777/ Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies   Denise Spivak LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/denisespivak/   | RESOURCES | Connect with Swaim Strategies: https://swaimstrategies.com Propose a Podcast Episode: https://swaimstrategies.com/propose-a-podcast-episode/ Get Event Help Right Now with Gala 911: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/gala-911/ Book Consulting Time with Sam: https://calendly.com/consultingwithsam Book Consulting Time with Kristin: https://calendly.com/eventstorytelling Learn More About the Elevate Conference: https://swaimstrategies.com/elevate-conference/ Get Planning a Successful Major Donor Event: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/#book Join Swaim Strategies on Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies Connect with The AV Department:  https://theavdept.com/ Connect with CenterLink: https://www.lgbtqcenters.org/ Find an LGBTQ+ Center Near You: https://web.lgbtqcenters.org/atlas/directory/category/all-centerlink-members Elton John Impact Awards: https://cantcancelpride.lgbtqcenters.org/Details/aa2115e0-1b83-4c4c-2f9f-08dd5dbd0947 Connect with Looking Out Foundation:https://www.lookingoutfoundation.org/ Connect with Elton John AIDS Foundation: https://www.eltonjohnaidsfoundation.org/

In this episode we sit down with TiWanna "TK" Kenney — US Army veteran, the first Black woman to earn the Benefit Auctioneer Specialist designation, and founder of Astounding Auctions — to completely reframe what a benefit auctioneer can do for your nonprofit. TK breaks down why the best auctioneers aren't hired guns who show up at the last minute, but strategic partners embedded in your planning at least 90 days out, asking the questions your team stopped asking years ago. From reading donor floor plans to weaving personal stories into the appeal moment, TK reveals the behind-the-scenes magic that moves donors from a planned gift to a spontaneous one. The conversation goes deep on why fundraising is really just dating, why your gala should never feel like a recitation of your annual report, and why the paddle raise might be the most underutilized tool in the nonprofit sector. TK's philosophy is disarmingly simple: donors don't give because they have to, they give because you made them feel something. She shares powerful stories of unsuspecting donors moved to tears, clients who once needed help proudly raising their paddle, and rooms exhaling together in collective generosity. If you've ever wondered why your event didn't hit its goal, this episode will change the way you think about every moment of your next fundraiser. 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://swaimstrategies.com Utilizing over 20 years of nonprofit event strategy and production expertise, Swaim Strategies coaches and teaches organizations how to increase the impact of their fundraising events.    The AV Department: https://theavdept.com/ As a full-service event AV and video production partner, The AV Department’s technical event production and media content generation provide you with a range of experience and talent from a partner who wants to know you and work together year after year.    Bloomerang: https://bit.ly/4hLqLVw Create the ideal giving experience with integrated fundraising tools and automated insights that maximize your impact. Keep donors close to the cause with mean-ingful outreach at the right time. Increase retention, major gifts, and all-around impact. Turn supporters into action-takers with tools that make it easy to recruit, organize, and engage volunteers at every level.   Feathr: https://www.feathr.co/ Feathr is a marketing platform built specifically for mission-driven organizations, offering simple tools for digital advertising, email campaigns, and audience engagement. The platform uses real-time insights and AI-powered segmentation to help you reach the right people at the right time—whether you’re nurturing existing supporters or discovering new ones who share your values. It’s marketing that meets people where they are, building relationships that last beyond a single click.   Speakers Samantha Swaim LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-swaim-a28a9a4/ Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies   Kristin Steele LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-steele777/ Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies   TiWanna A. Kenney LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tiwanna-kenney/   | RESOURCES | Connect with Swaim Strategies: https://swaimstrategies.com Propose a Podcast Episode: https://swaimstrategies.com/propose-a-podcast-episode/ Get Event Help Right Now with Gala 911: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/gala-911/ Book Consulting Time with Sam: https://calendly.com/consultingwithsam Book Consulting Time with Kristin: https://calendly.com/eventstorytelling Learn More About the Elevate Conference: https://swaimstrategies.com/elevate-conference/ Get Planning a Successful Major Donor Event: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/#book Join Swaim Strategies on Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies Connect with The AV Department:  https://theavdept.com/ Connect with Astounding Auctions: https://astoundingauctions.com/ Connect with TiWanna A. Kenney: https://www.instagram.com/tksaysdoit/   Episode #124: The Right Strategy with TiWanna A. Kenney Release date June 17, 2026

Episode #123: Travel as Generosity with Elizabeth West of Sojourn Ventures In this episode, we sit down with Elizabeth West, President of Sojourn Ventures Travel, to talk about one of the most underutilized tools in nonprofit fundraising: consignment travel. Elizabeth breaks down what the model actually means for cash-strapped, short-staffed organizations: zero upfront risk, no volunteer hours managing donor logistics, and the ability to add a high-quality auction item the day before your event. She also reveals why the right auctioneer can turn a $2,000 package into an $8,000 revenue moment on the spot, or sell the same Bali villa eight times in a single night. The conversation goes well beyond live auctions. Elizabeth shares how organizations are stretching consignment into online campaigns, employee benefits, and member perks — creating entirely new revenue streams without adding to an already thin team. And because Sojourn's boutique properties can’t be Googled or pre-shopped, they protect bidding energy in ways donated packages simply can’t. If your organization is running low on time, volunteers, and auction items, this episode is your easy button, backed by a company that has helped nonprofits raise over $200 million. 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://swaimstrategies.com Utilizing over 20 years of nonprofit event strategy and production expertise, Swaim Strategies coaches and teaches organizations how to increase the impact of their fundraising events.    The AV Department: https://theavdept.com/ As a full-service event AV and video production partner, The AV Department’s technical event production and media content generation provide you with a range of experience and talent from a partner who wants to know you and work together year after year.    Bloomerang: https://bit.ly/4hLqLVw Create the ideal giving experience with integrated fundraising tools and automated insights that maximize your impact. Keep donors close to the cause with mean-ingful outreach at the right time. Increase retention, major gifts, and all-around impact. Turn supporters into action-takers with tools that make it easy to recruit, organize, and engage volunteers at every level.   Feathr: https://www.feathr.co/ Feathr is a marketing platform built specifically for mission-driven organizations, offering simple tools for digital advertising, email campaigns, and audience engagement. The platform uses real-time insights and AI-powered segmentation to help you reach the right people at the right time—whether you’re nurturing existing supporters or discovering new ones who share your values. It’s marketing that meets people where they are, building relationships that last beyond a single click.   Speakers Samantha Swaim LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-swaim-a28a9a4/ Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies   Kristin Steele LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-steele777/ Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies   Elizabeth West LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-west-46056231/   | RESOURCES | Connect with Swaim Strategies: https://swaimstrategies.com Propose a Podcast Episode: https://swaimstrategies.com/propose-a-podcast-episode/ Get Event Help Right Now with Gala 911: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/gala-911/ Book Consulting Time with Sam: https://calendly.com/consultingwithsam Book Consulting Time with Kristin: https://calendly.com/eventstorytelling Learn More About the Elevate Conference: https://swaimstrategies.com/elevate-conference/ Get Planning a Successful Major Donor Event: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/#book Join Swaim Strategies on Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies Connect with The AV Department:  https://theavdept.com/ Connect with Sojourn Ventures Travel: https://www.sojournventurestravel.com/

Recorded live at Bloomerang’s GiveCon 2026, this episode gets real about some of the most valuable advice that never makes it onto a conference slide. In this live roundtable, four of the sector’s most candid voices get into the conversations they usually save for hallways and happy hours. They explore the mistakes they see nonprofits repeat, the tradeoffs leaders know exist but rarely say out loud, and the places where even experienced consultants genuinely disagree. It’s exactly the kind of discussion that reminds you you’re not alone. Featuring: Ann Fellman, Bloomerang  Julia Campbell, J Campbell Social Marketing  Christina Tzavaras Edwards, Host of The Purpose & Profit Club Podcast and Founder of Splendid Consulting  Samantha Swaim, Swaim Strategies    Learn more about GiveCon by Bloomerang.  GiveCon by Bloomerang: Atlanta May 3-6, 2027   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://swaimstrategies.com Utilizing over 20 years of nonprofit event strategy and production expertise, Swaim Strategies coaches and teaches organizations how to increase the impact of their fundraising events.    The AV Department: https://theavdept.com/ As a full-service event AV and video production partner, The AV Department’s technical event production and media content generation provide you with a range of experience and talent from a partner who wants to know you and work together year after year.    Bloomerang: https://bit.ly/4hLqLVw Create the ideal giving experience with integrated fundraising tools and automated insights that maximize your impact. Keep donors close to the cause with mean-ingful outreach at the right time. Increase retention, major gifts, and all-around impact. Turn supporters into action-takers with tools that make it easy to recruit, organize, and engage volunteers at every level.   Feathr: https://www.feathr.co/ Feathr is a marketing platform built specifically for mission-driven organizations, offering simple tools for digital advertising, email campaigns, and audience engagement. The platform uses real-time insights and AI-powered segmentation to help you reach the right people at the right time—whether you’re nurturing existing supporters or discovering new ones who share your values. It’s marketing that meets people where they are, building relationships that last beyond a single click.   Speakers Samantha Swaim LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-swaim-a28a9a4/ Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies   Kristin Steele LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-steele777/ Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies   Ann Fellman LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annfellman/   Julia Campbell LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliacampbell/   Christina Tzavaras Edwards LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christinatza/   | RESOURCES | Connect with Swaim Strategies: https://swaimstrategies.com Propose a Podcast Episode: https://swaimstrategies.com/propose-a-podcast-episode/ Get Event Help Right Now with Gala 911: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/gala-911/ Book Consulting Time with Sam: https://calendly.com/consultingwithsam Book Consulting Time with Kristin: https://calendly.com/eventstorytelling Learn More About the Elevate Conference: https://swaimstrategies.com/elevate-conference/ Get Planning a Successful Major Donor Event: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/#book Join Swaim Strategies on Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies Connect with The AV Department:  https://theavdept.com/ Connect with J Campbell Social Marketing: https://jcsocialmarketing.com/ Listen to Julia Campbell’s Podcast: https://jcsocialmarketing.com/podcast/ Connect with Splendid Consulting: https://www.splendidatl.com/ Listen to Christina Tzavaras Edwards’ Podcast: https://www.splendidatl.com/podcast

The most powerful fundraising move your organization could make right now might not be a bigger gala, it could be a dinner for ten. Co-host Samantha Swaim steps into the guest seat to make a compelling case for small, curated events as one of the most underutilized tools in the nonprofit playbook. With virtual work flattening human connection and donors drifting toward deeper investment in fewer causes, Sam argues that the antidote to the "connection recession" isn't another mass email blast, it's a deliberate, hospitality-forward invitation that says simply: we see you and we want you back. From a seven-week dinner series that re-engaged an entire lapsed donor base to a whiskey tasting that turned a board member's passion into a major gift moment, this episode is packed with real examples of what intimate gatherings can unlock. Sam also gets tactical about the fears organizations face when stepping back from big events: leaving money on the table, the pressure to cast a wider net, the chaos when three different audiences show up for three completely different reasons. She walks through how to assess your actual needs, design for a specific audience, and make an ask that's easy, specific, and actionable every time. This episode delivers both the permission and the blueprint to start smaller, go deeper, and raise more. 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://swaimstrategies.com Utilizing over 20 years of nonprofit event strategy and production expertise, Swaim Strategies coaches and teaches organizations how to increase the impact of their fundraising events.    The AV Department: https://theavdept.com/ As a full-service event AV and video production partner, The AV Department’s technical event production and media content generation provide you with a range of experience and talent from a partner who wants to know you and work together year after year.    Bloomerang: https://bit.ly/4hLqLVw Create the ideal giving experience with integrated fundraising tools and automated insights that maximize your impact. Keep donors close to the cause with mean-ingful outreach at the right time. Increase retention, major gifts, and all-around impact. Turn supporters into action-takers with tools that make it easy to recruit, organize, and engage volunteers at every level.   Feathr: https://www.feathr.co/ Feathr is a marketing platform built specifically for mission-driven organizations, offering simple tools for digital advertising, email campaigns, and audience engagement. The platform uses real-time insights and AI-powered segmentation to help you reach the right people at the right time—whether you’re nurturing existing supporters or discovering new ones who share your values. It’s marketing that meets people where they are, building relationships that last beyond a single click.   Speakers Samantha Swaim LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-swaim-a28a9a4/ Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies   Kristin Steele LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-steele777/ Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies   | RESOURCES | Connect with Swaim Strategies: https://swaimstrategies.com Propose a Podcast Episode: https://swaimstrategies.com/propose-a-podcast-episode/ Get Event Help Right Now with Gala 911: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/gala-911/ Book Consulting Time with Sam: https://calendly.com/consultingwithsam Book Consulting Time with Kristin: https://calendly.com/eventstorytelling Learn More About the Elevate Conference: https://swaimstrategies.com/elevate-conference/ Get Planning a Successful Major Donor Event: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/#book Join Swaim Strategies on Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies Connect with The AV Department:  https://theavdept.com/ Want to work with Swaim Strategies? https://swaimstrategies.com/request-for-proposal/ Cultivation Event Podcast Episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hru2SCqMkk Special Appeal Podcast Episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61onFuwgiSI Event Planner Roundtable Podcast Episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PFzefXTUT0

What does it look like when a nonprofit event stops feeling like an obligation and starts feeling like a movement? In this episode, we sit down with Brittini Lasseigne, CEO of YWCA Clark County, who just pulled off a record-breaking, sold-out gala that had sponsors asking for extra seats instead of donating them back. Brittini takes us behind the scenes of SHINE and reveals why centering joy, diversity, and survivor resilience didn't just fill a room, it built an entirely new generation of donors. From a custom song that got 450 people on their feet to an organizational video told from the point of view of a shelter dog in a tutu, this episode is a shows what happens when purpose drives every single decision. Brittini also breaks open her organization's approach to corporate sponsorship: a 20-page values-aligned partnership booklet, a permission-based meeting process, and relationships so strong one sponsor has stayed for 30 years. She shares how her team flipped the script on transactional giving, why leading with curiosity over judgment has unlocked unexpected partnerships, and what a gift acceptance policy has to do with human dignity and repair.  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://swaimstrategies.com Utilizing over 20 years of nonprofit event strategy and production expertise, Swaim Strategies coaches and teaches organizations how to increase the impact of their fundraising events.    The AV Department: https://theavdept.com/ As a full-service event AV and video production partner, The AV Department’s technical event production and media content generation provide you with a range of experience and talent from a partner who wants to know you and work together year after year.    Bloomerang: https://bit.ly/4hLqLVw Create the ideal giving experience with integrated fundraising tools and automated insights that maximize your impact. Keep donors close to the cause with mean-ingful outreach at the right time. Increase retention, major gifts, and all-around impact. Turn supporters into action-takers with tools that make it easy to recruit, organize, and engage volunteers at every level.   Feathr: https://www.feathr.co/ Feathr is a marketing platform built specifically for mission-driven organizations, offering simple tools for digital advertising, email campaigns, and audience engagement. The platform uses real-time insights and AI-powered segmentation to help you reach the right people at the right time—whether you’re nurturing existing supporters or discovering new ones who share your values. It’s marketing that meets people where they are, building relationships that last beyond a single click.   Speakers Samantha Swaim LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-swaim-a28a9a4/ Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies   Kristin Steele LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-steele777/ Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies   Brittini Lasseigne LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brittini-lasseigne/   | RESOURCES | Connect with Swaim Strategies: https://swaimstrategies.com Propose a Podcast Episode: https://swaimstrategies.com/propose-a-podcast-episode/ Get Event Help Right Now with Gala 911: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/gala-911/ Book Consulting Time with Sam: https://calendly.com/consultingwithsam Book Consulting Time with Kristin: https://calendly.com/eventstorytelling Learn More About the Elevate Conference: https://swaimstrategies.com/elevate-conference/ Get Planning a Successful Major Donor Event: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/#book Join Swaim Strategies on Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies Connect with The AV Department:  https://theavdept.com/ Connect with YWCA Clark County: https://www.ywcaclarkcounty.org/ Follow YWCA Clark County: https://www.instagram.com/ywcacc/

In this episode, we sit down with Kendall Clawson, founder of NW Leadership Consulting and a three-decade veteran of nonprofit leadership, for a conversation that is equal parts honest, warm, and revelatory. Kendall shares the origin story that changed her life's trajectory and takes us inside the early days of building an LGBTQIA+ community center in Portland. She also introduces a perspective that will stop you mid-scroll: the wolf pack model, where the strongest leader leads from the back, not the front. If you've ever answered "how are you?" with a five-minute rundown of your organization's priorities, this episode will feel like someone finally handed you a mirror. From the myth of the martyred nonprofit leader to the quiet crisis in board-ED relationships, Kendall delivers hard truths with the kind of care that makes you feel seen rather than called out. She breaks down why the average nonprofit leader burns out in three to four years, and why vulnerability isn't a liability, it's the very thing that opens the door to the support you've been white-knuckling through without. If you lead, serve on a board, or have ever felt like the mission's weight rests entirely on your shoulders, this one's for you. 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://swaimstrategies.com Utilizing over 20 years of nonprofit event strategy and production expertise, Swaim Strategies coaches and teaches organizations how to increase the impact of their fundraising events.    The AV Department: https://theavdept.com/ As a full-service event AV and video production partner, The AV Department’s technical event production and media content generation provide you with a range of experience and talent from a partner who wants to know you and work together year after year.    Bloomerang: https://bit.ly/4hLqLVw Create the ideal giving experience with integrated fundraising tools and automated insights that maximize your impact. Keep donors close to the cause with mean-ingful outreach at the right time. Increase retention, major gifts, and all-around impact. Turn supporters into action-takers with tools that make it easy to recruit, organize, and engage volunteers at every level.   Feathr: https://www.feathr.co/ Feathr is a marketing platform built specifically for mission-driven organizations, offering simple tools for digital advertising, email campaigns, and audience engagement. The platform uses real-time insights and AI-powered segmentation to help you reach the right people at the right time—whether you’re nurturing existing supporters or discovering new ones who share your values. It’s marketing that meets people where they are, building relationships that last beyond a single click.   Speakers Samantha Swaim LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-swaim-a28a9a4/ Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies   Kristin Steele LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-steele777/ Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies   Kendall Clawson LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kendall-clawson-169b235/   | RESOURCES | Connect with Swaim Strategies: https://swaimstrategies.com Propose a Podcast Episode: https://swaimstrategies.com/propose-a-podcast-episode/ Get Event Help Right Now with Gala 911: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/gala-911/ Book Consulting Time with Sam: https://calendly.com/consultingwithsam Book Consulting Time with Kristin: https://calendly.com/eventstorytelling Learn More About the Elevate Conference: https://swaimstrategies.com/elevate-conference/ Get Planning a Successful Major Donor Event: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/#book Join Swaim Strategies on Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies Connect with The AV Department:  https://theavdept.com/ Connect with NW Leadership Consulting: https://www.nwleadershipconsulting.com/

In this episode, we sit down with Kim Warnick who is a culture organizer, violence prevention expert, and the person you want in the room when things get complicated. This is the conversation our listeners have been requesting more than any other, and it delivers. Kim reframes safety from something you add on at the last minute into something you design from the very beginning. And the difference, she argues, is felt in every single guest's nervous system before they ever take their seat. This isn't a conversation about metal detectors and security guards. It's about site selection, staffing with intention, trauma-informed design, and the quiet signals your event is already sending about who belongs and who doesn't. Kim walks us through protest planning, alcohol policy, de-escalation training, and why "neutrality" at your event is never actually neutral—it's just the status quo in disguise. Whether you're planning a gala, a pride festival, or a community organizing event, this episode will change how you think about every decision you make between now and the moment the doors open. Because when your guests feel safe, they stop scanning the room for exits and start actually showing up for your mission. 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://swaimstrategies.com Utilizing over 20 years of nonprofit event strategy and production expertise, Swaim Strategies coaches and teaches organizations how to increase the impact of their fundraising events.    The AV Department: https://theavdept.com/ As a full-service event AV and video production partner, The AV Department’s technical event production and media content generation provide you with a range of experience and talent from a partner who wants to know you and work together year after year.    Bloomerang: https://bit.ly/4hLqLVw Create the ideal giving experience with integrated fundraising tools and automated insights that maximize your impact. Keep donors close to the cause with mean-ingful outreach at the right time. Increase retention, major gifts, and all-around impact. Turn supporters into action-takers with tools that make it easy to recruit, organize, and engage volunteers at every level.   Feathr: https://www.feathr.co/ Feathr is a marketing platform built specifically for mission-driven organizations, offering simple tools for digital advertising, email campaigns, and audience engagement. The platform uses real-time insights and AI-powered segmentation to help you reach the right people at the right time—whether you’re nurturing existing supporters or discovering new ones who share your values. It’s marketing that meets people where they are, building relationships that last beyond a single click.   Speakers Samantha Swaim LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-swaim-a28a9a4/ Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies   Kristin Steele LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-steele777/ Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies   | RESOURCES | Connect with Swaim Strategies: https://swaimstrategies.com Propose a Podcast Episode: https://swaimstrategies.com/propose-a-podcast-episode/ Get Event Help Right Now with Gala 911: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/gala-911/ Book Consulting Time with Sam: https://calendly.com/consultingwithsam Book Consulting Time with Kristin: https://calendly.com/eventstorytelling Learn More About the Elevate Conference: https://swaimstrategies.com/elevate-conference/ Get Planning a Successful Major Donor Event: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/#book Join Swaim Strategies on Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies Connect with The AV Department:  https://theavdept.com/ Connect with Western States Center: https://www.instagram.com/wstatescenter/ Resources and Toolkits from Western States Center: https://www.westernstatescenter.org/toolkits-resources Sign up for Western States Center Monthly Newsletter: https://www.westernstatescenter.org/joinus

In this episode, nonprofit consultant and ethical storytelling expert Derria Ford joins us for a conversation that every fundraiser, communications professional, and nonprofit leader needs to hear. Derria didn't set out to become an expert in this space, she was pushed into it by necessity, and then transformed by a single moment when a storyteller asked her to stop. What followed was years of building a practice rooted in dignity, consent, and the radical idea that the person telling the story should actually own it. This isn't just a conversation about doing the right thing, it's about doing better work. Derria walks us through her entire process, from identifying who's truly ready to share their story, to co-creating it with them, to the policies that protect both your storytellers and your organization long after the campaign ends. She challenges the sector's obsession with tears-as-metrics, makes the case for informed consent over intake forms, and offers a litmus test so simple it stops you cold: tell the story as if it were yours. If you've ever rushed a story out the door, repurposed old content without checking in, or wondered if your organization's storytelling is doing more harm than good, this episode is your starting point. 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://swaimstrategies.com Utilizing over 20 years of nonprofit event strategy and production expertise, Swaim Strategies coaches and teaches organizations how to increase the impact of their fundraising events.    The AV Department: https://theavdept.com/ As a full-service event AV and video production partner, The AV Department’s technical event production and media content generation provide you with a range of experience and talent from a partner who wants to know you and work together year after year.    Bloomerang: https://bit.ly/4hLqLVw Create the ideal giving experience with integrated fundraising tools and automated insights that maximize your impact. Keep donors close to the cause with mean-ingful outreach at the right time. Increase retention, major gifts, and all-around impact. Turn supporters into action-takers with tools that make it easy to recruit, organize, and engage volunteers at every level.   Feathr: https://www.feathr.co/ Feathr is a marketing platform built specifically for mission-driven organizations, offering simple tools for digital advertising, email campaigns, and audience engagement. The platform uses real-time insights and AI-powered segmentation to help you reach the right people at the right time—whether you’re nurturing existing supporters or discovering new ones who share your values. It’s marketing that meets people where they are, building relationships that last beyond a single click.   Speakers Samantha Swaim LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-swaim-a28a9a4/ Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies   Kristin Steele LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-steele777/ Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies   Derria Ford LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/derria-ford-mba-ed-d-6b820060/   | RESOURCES | Connect with Swaim Strategies: https://swaimstrategies.com Propose a Podcast Episode: https://swaimstrategies.com/propose-a-podcast-episode/ Get Event Help Right Now with Gala 911: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/gala-911/ Book Consulting Time with Sam: https://calendly.com/consultingwithsam Book Consulting Time with Kristin: https://calendly.com/eventstorytelling Learn More About the Elevate Conference: https://swaimstrategies.com/elevate-conference/ Get Planning a Successful Major Donor Event: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/#book Join Swaim Strategies on Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies Connect with The AV Department:  https://theavdept.com/ Connect with Seed Fundraisers Connect with Derria Ford: https://www.derriaford.com/stay-connected

What if the biggest threat to your fundraising isn't a shrinking donor pool, but rather the story you're telling yourself about it? In this episode, Mary Crogan of Bloomerang joins us to challenge the scarcity narrative that's taken hold in the nonprofit sector, and replace it with something far more powerful: an abundance mindset. Yes, the landscape is shifting. Funding is less predictable, need is growing, and the pressure is real. But generosity? It hasn't gone anywhere. Research backs this up showing scarcity thinking literally narrows your cognitive capacity and kills innovation, while an abundance mindset unlocks creativity, resilience, and the kind of bold strategy that actually moves the needle. The question isn't whether generosity exists. It's whether your organization is positioned to meet it. Younger donors are redefining what giving looks like (volunteering, advocacy, peer fundraising) and the nonprofits that recognize and nurture those relationships are building something that lasts. Add the right technology to the mix, and suddenly you have a fuller picture of your supporters and the ability to show up for them in ways that actually resonate. Mary's message is clear and it's one every fundraiser needs to hear right now: tune out the headlines, trust your data, and believe that more is possible. Because the organizations that choose abundance? They're the ones heading up. 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://swaimstrategies.com Utilizing over 20 years of nonprofit event strategy and production expertise, Swaim Strategies coaches and teaches organizations how to increase the impact of their fundraising events.    The AV Department: https://theavdept.com/ As a full-service event AV and video production partner, The AV Department’s technical event production and media content generation provide you with a range of experience and talent from a partner who wants to know you and work together year after year.    Bloomerang: https://bit.ly/4hLqLVw Create the ideal giving experience with integrated fundraising tools and automated insights that maximize your impact. Keep donors close to the cause with mean-ingful outreach at the right time. Increase retention, major gifts, and all-around impact. Turn supporters into action-takers with tools that make it easy to recruit, organize, and engage volunteers at every level.   Feathr: https://www.feathr.co/ Feathr is a marketing platform built specifically for mission-driven organizations, offering simple tools for digital advertising, email campaigns, and audience engagement. The platform uses real-time insights and AI-powered segmentation to help you reach the right people at the right time—whether you’re nurturing existing supporters or discovering new ones who share your values. It’s marketing that meets people where they are, building relationships that last beyond a single click.   Speakers Samantha Swaim LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-swaim-a28a9a4/ Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies   Kristin Steele LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-steele777/ Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies   Mary Crogan LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marycrogan/   | RESOURCES | Connect with Swaim Strategies: https://swaimstrategies.com Propose a Podcast Episode: https://swaimstrategies.com/propose-a-podcast-episode/ Get Event Help Right Now with Gala 911: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/gala-911/ Book Consulting Time with Sam: https://calendly.com/consultingwithsam Book Consulting Time with Kristin: https://calendly.com/eventstorytelling Learn More About the Elevate Conference: https://swaimstrategies.com/elevate-conference/ Get Planning a Successful Major Donor Event: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/#book Join Swaim Strategies on Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies Connect with The AV Department:  https://theavdept.com/ Research from Sendhil Mullainathan and Eldar Shafir on Scarcity: https://www.hks.harvard.edu/centers/cid/publications/books/scarcity-why-having-too-little-means-so-much. Growth Mindset Research: https://ctl.stanford.edu/students/growth-mindset Positive Psychology Research: https://peplab.web.unc.edu/ Bloomerang’s GiveCon: https://bloomerang.com/givecon/

In this episode Amina Abdul-Majeed, Vice President and Principal at Wingo, discusses cultivation events as a strategic tool for nonprofits. After noting renewed fundraising momentum in 2026 following a turbulent 2025, she defines cultivation events as small, intimate gatherings focused on relationship building rather than revenue. Unlike galas, these events feature a tight 20-minute speaking program, a soft ask, and a donor packet designed to deepen connections over time. Amina emphasizes that post-event follow-up is where the real work happens. For organizations just starting out, she recommends knowing your donor database, identifying reliable host committee members, keeping costs low, and sending invitations four to six weeks in advance. At its core, cultivation events work best as part of a sustained, relationship-first major donor strategy. 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://swaimstrategies.com Utilizing over 20 years of nonprofit event strategy and production expertise, Swaim Strategies coaches and teaches organizations how to increase the impact of their fundraising events.    The AV Department: https://theavdept.com/ As a full-service event AV and video production partner, The AV Department’s technical event production and media content generation provide you with a range of experience and talent from a partner who wants to know you and work together year after year.    Bloomerang: https://bit.ly/4hLqLVw Create the ideal giving experience with integrated fundraising tools and automated insights that maximize your impact. Keep donors close to the cause with mean-ingful outreach at the right time. Increase retention, major gifts, and all-around impact. Turn supporters into action-takers with tools that make it easy to recruit, organize, and engage volunteers at every level.   Feathr: https://www.feathr.co/ Feathr is a marketing platform built specifically for mission-driven organizations, offering simple tools for digital advertising, email campaigns, and audience engagement. The platform uses real-time insights and AI-powered segmentation to help you reach the right people at the right time—whether you’re nurturing existing supporters or discovering new ones who share your values. It’s marketing that meets people where they are, building relationships that last beyond a single click.   Speakers Samantha Swaim LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-swaim-a28a9a4/ Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies   Kristin Steele LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-steele777/ Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies   Aminah Abdul-Majeed LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aminah-abdul-majeed-3278176/   | RESOURCES | Connect with Swaim Strategies: https://swaimstrategies.com Propose a Podcast Episode: https://swaimstrategies.com/propose-a-podcast-episode/ Get Event Help Right Now with Gala 911: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/gala-911/ Book Consulting Time with Sam: https://calendly.com/consultingwithsam Book Consulting Time with Kristin: https://calendly.com/eventstorytelling Learn More About the Elevate Conference: https://swaimstrategies.com/elevate-conference/ Get Planning a Successful Major Donor Event: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/#book Join Swaim Strategies on Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies Connect with The AV Department:  https://theavdept.com/ Connect with Wingo: https://www.wingo.nyc/

In this episode we talk with Christopher Acebo, director, designer, producer, and CEO of Broken English Productions, to explore the intersection of art, community, and leadership. Drawing on his theater background, Christopher introduces the concept of the "leader host": someone who doesn't just invite people into a space but actively connects them, elevates them, and creates the conditions for safety, trust, and risk-taking. This combination is where truly new ideas are born. The conversation expands into the connector role in nonprofit organizations, where threading relationships between staff, board, and donors is one of the most critical (and often invisible) contributions a leader can make. With joy as a north star and storytelling as a tool for empathy, Christopher encourages nonprofit leaders to start small: reframe the overwhelming "event" as simply a chance to connect with one other person, and trust that human connection is both the beginning and the point. 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://swaimstrategies.com Utilizing over 20 years of nonprofit event strategy and production expertise, Swaim Strategies coaches and teaches organizations how to increase the impact of their fundraising events.    The AV Department: https://theavdept.com/ As a full-service event AV and video production partner, The AV Department’s technical event production and media content generation provide you with a range of experience and talent from a partner who wants to know you and work together year after year.    Bloomerang: https://bit.ly/4hLqLVw Create the ideal giving experience with integrated fundraising tools and automated insights that maximize your impact. Keep donors close to the cause with mean-ingful outreach at the right time. Increase retention, major gifts, and all-around impact. Turn supporters into action-takers with tools that make it easy to recruit, organize, and engage volunteers at every level.   Feathr: https://www.feathr.co/ Feathr is a marketing platform built specifically for mission-driven organizations, offering simple tools for digital advertising, email campaigns, and audience engagement. The platform uses real-time insights and AI-powered segmentation to help you reach the right people at the right time—whether you’re nurturing existing supporters or discovering new ones who share your values. It’s marketing that meets people where they are, building relationships that last beyond a single click.   Speakers Samantha Swaim LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-swaim-a28a9a4/ Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies   Kristin Steele LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-steele777/ Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies   Christopher Acebo Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christopher.acebo/   | RESOURCES | Connect with Swaim Strategies: https://swaimstrategies.com Propose a Podcast Episode: https://swaimstrategies.com/propose-a-podcast-episode/ Get Event Help Right Now with Gala 911: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/gala-911/ Book Consulting Time with Sam: https://calendly.com/consultingwithsam Book Consulting Time with Kristin: https://calendly.com/eventstorytelling Learn More About the Elevate Conference: https://swaimstrategies.com/elevate-conference/ Get Planning a Successful Major Donor Event: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/#book Join Swaim Strategies on Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies Connect with The AV Department:  https://theavdept.com/ Connect with Christopher Acebo’s Work: https://acebocreative.com/

Episode #113: Raise More Money at Your Next Event — An Auctioneer Roundtable on Fundraising Strategy That Actually Works   This episode gathers a roundtable of benefit auctioneers to discuss what's working in nonprofit fundraising events. The conversation centers on the paddle raise as an underutilized superpower, pushing back on the fear of asking and making the case that a strategic, well-planned ask is not only expected by donors, it's something their brains are wired to want. The panel also champions a broader shift in events: less stuff, more mission, tighter programs, and a move from transactional giving to genuine community connection. The second half makes the case for hiring a professional benefit auctioneer, explaining how expertise in fundraising strategy, neuroscience, and audience management can make a huge difference in your fundraising. The panel also highlights the urgent need for more auctioneers of color and multilingual auctioneers to better represent the communities nonprofits serve. The closing wisdom is simple: your mission is the star and everything else is in service of that. Featuring: Sasha Summer Cousineau, Revel Rouser Events Bobby D. Ehlert, Call to Auction Stephen Kilbreath, Kilbreath Events Adrienne Livingston, Artisan Auctions Matt Roben, The Kilted Auctioneer Kelly Russell, Artisan Auctions 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://swaimstrategies.com Utilizing over 20 years of nonprofit event strategy and production expertise, Swaim Strategies coaches and teaches organizations how to increase the impact of their fundraising events.    The AV Department: https://theavdept.com/ As a full-service event AV and video production partner, The AV Department’s technical event production and media content generation provide you with a range of experience and talent from a partner who wants to know you and work together year after year.    Bloomerang: https://bit.ly/4hLqLVw Create the ideal giving experience with integrated fundraising tools and automated insights that maximize your impact. Keep donors close to the cause with mean-ingful outreach at the right time. Increase retention, major gifts, and all-around impact. Turn supporters into action-takers with tools that make it easy to recruit, organize, and engage volunteers at every level.   Feathr: https://www.feathr.co/ Feathr is a marketing platform built specifically for mission-driven organizations, offering simple tools for digital advertising, email campaigns, and audience engagement. The platform uses real-time insights and AI-powered segmentation to help you reach the right people at the right time—whether you’re nurturing existing supporters or discovering new ones who share your values. It’s marketing that meets people where they are, building relationships that last beyond a single click.   Speakers Samantha Swaim LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-swaim-a28a9a4/ Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies   Kristin Steele LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-steele777/ Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies   | RESOURCES | Connect with Swaim Strategies: https://swaimstrategies.com Propose a Podcast Episode: https://swaimstrategies.com/propose-a-podcast-episode/ Get Event Help Right Now with Gala 911: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/gala-911/ Book Consulting Time with Sam: https://calendly.com/consultingwithsam Book Consulting Time with Kristin: https://calendly.com/eventstorytelling Learn More About the Elevate Conference: https://swaimstrategies.com/elevate-conference/ Get Planning a Successful Major Donor Event: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/#book Join Swaim Strategies on Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies Connect with The AV Department:  https://theavdept.com/ Connect with Sasha Summer Cousineau: https://www.sashasummercousineau.com/ Connect with Call to Auction: https://www.calltoauction.com/ Connect with Kilbreath Events :https://www.kilbreathevents.com/ Connect with Artisan Auctions :https://www.artisanauctions.com/ Connect with The Kilted Auctioneer:https://www.thekiltedauctioneer.com/ Paddle Raise Demo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nx7vQEeya2c Get 50% off Gala Toolbox with the code ELEVATE: https://www.galatoolbox.com/

In episode 112 we gathered six event planners to discuss what's working in a rapidly changing events landscape. The dominant theme is authenticity. Audiences are done with bloated, performative events and instead crave real human connection and experiences that feel true to an organization's mission. The group explores how planners are helping nonprofits respond boldly to current events, turning community crises and funding cuts into powerful moments for collective action and giving. The conversation also tackles joy as a form of resistance, with planners sharing ways to build delight into every event touchpoint. Reflecting on the Elevate conference, guests highlight takeaways around storytelling, direct mail's surprising resurgence, and digital tools for nonprofits. The episode closes with myth-busting on event costs, overprogramming, and silent auctions, with a throughline message: less, done with more intentionality, delivers more impact. Featuring: Crystal Chanel, Press Release Marketing, LLC Hannah Hegman, Do Good Events Paige Jacobs, Powered by Paige Matthew Kerrigan, The Fundraising Event Co. Kel Moody, Alluvium Gatherings Beth Sandefur, Beth Sandefur Events 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://swaimstrategies.com Utilizing over 20 years of nonprofit event strategy and production expertise, Swaim Strategies coaches and teaches organizations how to increase the impact of their fundraising events.    The AV Department: https://theavdept.com/ As a full-service event AV and video production partner, The AV Department’s technical event production and media content generation provide you with a range of experience and talent from a partner who wants to know you and work together year after year.    Bloomerang: https://bit.ly/4hLqLVw Create the ideal giving experience with integrated fundraising tools and automated insights that maximize your impact. Keep donors close to the cause with mean-ingful outreach at the right time. Increase retention, major gifts, and all-around impact. Turn supporters into action-takers with tools that make it easy to recruit, organize, and engage volunteers at every level.   Feathr: https://www.feathr.co/ Feathr is a marketing platform built specifically for mission-driven organizations, offering simple tools for digital advertising, email campaigns, and audience engagement. The platform uses real-time insights and AI-powered segmentation to help you reach the right people at the right time—whether you’re nurturing existing supporters or discovering new ones who share your values. It’s marketing that meets people where they are, building relationships that last beyond a single click.   Speakers Samantha Swaim LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-swaim-a28a9a4/ Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies   Kristin Steele LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-steele777/ Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies   | RESOURCES | Connect with Swaim Strategies: https://swaimstrategies.com Propose a Podcast Episode: https://swaimstrategies.com/propose-a-podcast-episode/ Get Event Help Right Now with Gala 911: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/gala-911/ Book Consulting Time with Sam: https://calendly.com/consultingwithsam Book Consulting Time with Kristin: https://calendly.com/eventstorytelling Learn More About the Elevate Conference: https://swaimstrategies.com/elevate-conference/ Get Planning a Successful Major Donor Event: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/#book Join Swaim Strategies on Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies Connect with The AV Department:  https://theavdept.com/ Connect with Press Release Marketing, LLC: https://www.justpressrelease.com/ Connect with Do Good Events: https://dogoodevents.com/ Connect with Powered by Paige: https://www.poweredbypaige.com/ Connect with The Fundraising Event Co.: https://www.fundraisingeventco.com/ Connect with Alluvium Gatherings: https://www.alluviumgatherings.com/ Connect with Beth Sandefur Events: https://www.bethsandefur.com/

In this lively episode recorded live at the Elevate Conference, hosts Kristin and Sam welcome veteran fundraiser Clay Buck and behavioral science expert Cherian Koshy for a wide-ranging conversation about the heart and science of fundraising. Both guests share their accidental paths into the profession before diving into what genuinely excites them about fundraising today. Despite the doom and gloom narratives circulating in the sector, both guests push back with conviction: human generosity is hardwired, giving is alive, and the real opportunity lies in returning to authentic, relationship-centered fundraising over transactional, wealth-chasing tactics. The conversation takes a fascinating turn into the neuroscience of giving, where Clay and Cherian challenge fundraisers to rethink one of their most overlooked moments: the thank you. When organizations acknowledge donors only for the dollar amount of their gift, they miss everything that actually mattered: the identity, emotion, and meaning behind the decision to give. The duo also tackles the evolution of fundraising events, arguing that the classic fancy gala model is losing relevance as the line between nonprofit and for-profit experiences blurs, and younger generations demand more meaningful, participatory ways to engage. Their parting wisdom? Stop pitching and start inviting. Meet donors in their joy, see them fully, and trust that the work you're already doing matters. 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://swaimstrategies.com Utilizing over 20 years of nonprofit event strategy and production expertise, Swaim Strategies coaches and teaches organizations how to increase the impact of their fundraising events.    The AV Department: https://theavdept.com/ As a full-service event AV and video production partner, The AV Department’s technical event production and media content generation provide you with a range of experience and talent from a partner who wants to know you and work together year after year.    Bloomerang: https://bit.ly/4hLqLVw Create the ideal giving experience with integrated fundraising tools and automated insights that maximize your impact. Keep donors close to the cause with mean-ingful outreach at the right time. Increase retention, major gifts, and all-around impact. Turn supporters into action-takers with tools that make it easy to recruit, organize, and engage volunteers at every level.   Feathr: https://www.feathr.co/ Feathr is a marketing platform built specifically for mission-driven organizations, offering simple tools for digital advertising, email campaigns, and audience engagement. The platform uses real-time insights and AI-powered segmentation to help you reach the right people at the right time—whether you’re nurturing existing supporters or discovering new ones who share your values. It’s marketing that meets people where they are, building relationships that last beyond a single click.   Speakers Samantha Swaim LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-swaim-a28a9a4/ Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies   Kristin Steele LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-steele777/ Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies   Clay Buck LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tclaybuck/   Cherian Koshy LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheriankoshy/   | RESOURCES | Connect with Swaim Strategies: https://swaimstrategies.com Propose a Podcast Episode: https://swaimstrategies.com/propose-a-podcast-episode/ Get Event Help Right Now with Gala 911: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/gala-911/ Book Consulting Time with Sam: https://calendly.com/consultingwithsam Book Consulting Time with Kristin: https://calendly.com/eventstorytelling Learn More About the Elevate Conference: https://swaimstrategies.com/elevate-conference/ Get Planning a Successful Major Donor Event: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/#book Join Swaim Strategies on Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies Connect with The AV Department:  https://theavdept.com/ Connect with T. Clay Buck: https://www.nextriverfundraising.com/ Connect with Cherian Koshy:https://www.cheriankoshy.com/ Get Neurogiving by Cherian Koshy: https://neurogivingbook.com/

In this timely and wide-ranging conversation with Deborah Steinkopf and Anthony Petchel, co-founders of the Nonprofit Financial Leadership Academy, we take stock of the 2026 philanthropic landscape. With decades of nonprofit leadership experience between them, Deborah and Anthony paint a picture defined by one word: uncertainty. From federal funding being clawed back across human services to an economy widening the gap between everyday donors and the ultra-wealthy, nonprofits are facing a reckoning. Yet the guests find reason for hope: total giving is still rising, Giving Tuesday saw a surge in volunteerism and advocacy, and the sector's long-standing capacity to adapt and do more with less may be exactly the muscle the moment demands. The conversation gets actionable fast, diving into the explosive growth of Donor Advised Funds, the impact of shifting tax policy on giving behavior, and what the donor retention rate in the U.S. reveals about where nonprofits are leaving relationships and money on the table. Deborah and Anthony challenge leaders to move beyond crisis mode and into strategic thinking: building belonging with donors, embracing collaboration and even mergers, and treating stewardship not as a nice-to-have but as the core of a sustainable funding model.  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://swaimstrategies.com Utilizing over 20 years of nonprofit event strategy and production expertise, Swaim Strategies coaches and teaches organizations how to increase the impact of their fundraising events.    The AV Department: https://theavdept.com/ As a full-service event AV and video production partner, The AV Department’s technical event production and media content generation provide you with a range of experience and talent from a partner who wants to know you and work together year after year.    Bloomerang: https://bit.ly/4hLqLVw Create the ideal giving experience with integrated fundraising tools and automated insights that maximize your impact. Keep donors close to the cause with mean-ingful outreach at the right time. Increase retention, major gifts, and all-around impact. Turn supporters into action-takers with tools that make it easy to recruit, organize, and engage volunteers at every level.   Feathr: https://www.feathr.co/ Feathr is a marketing platform built specifically for mission-driven organizations, offering simple tools for digital advertising, email campaigns, and audience engagement. The platform uses real-time insights and AI-powered segmentation to help you reach the right people at the right time—whether you’re nurturing existing supporters or discovering new ones who share your values. It’s marketing that meets people where they are, building relationships that last beyond a single click.   Speakers Samantha Swaim LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-swaim-a28a9a4/ Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies   Kristin Steele LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-steele777/ Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies   Nonprofit Financial Leadership Academy: https://www.linkedin.com/company/nonprofit-financial-leadership-academy/   | RESOURCES | Connect with Swaim Strategies: https://swaimstrategies.com Propose a Podcast Episode: https://swaimstrategies.com/propose-a-podcast-episode/ Get Event Help Right Now with Gala 911: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/gala-911/ Book Consulting Time with Sam: https://calendly.com/consultingwithsam Book Consulting Time with Kristin: https://calendly.com/eventstorytelling Learn More About the Elevate Conference: https://swaimstrategies.com/elevate-conference/ Get Planning a Successful Major Donor Event: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/#book Join Swaim Strategies on Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies Connect with The AV Department:  https://theavdept.com/ Connect with Nonprofit Financial Leadership Academy: https://www.npfla.com/ Use Code Elevator 2026 for 20% Off Your Registration Giving USA: https://givingusa.org/ DAFpay: https://www.dafpay.com/ National Council of Nonprofits: https://www.councilofnonprofits.org/ AFP Reports: https://afpglobal.org/research-reports/reports

In this episode, Nel Taylor—organizational equity strategist and ethical fundraising expert—explores what it truly means to host a community-centric event. They unpack how traditional gala models have long centered exclusivity, social status, and a narrow definition of donor value, and how shifting to a community-centric framework means rethinking everything from ticket pricing and venue selection to seating arrangements, childcare stipends, and who gets honored on stage. Nel walks listeners through a compelling real-world case study, sharing the creative, budget-conscious decisions that made it a standout success, including sliding scale tickets, honorariums for community storytellers, and a paddle raise that went to an $18 giving level. The conversation also dives into practical tools for expanding accessibility, and aspirational budgeting practices that start with generosity first and work backward. Nel leaves listeners with a powerful guiding principle: always ask yourself what the most generous thing you can do is, and then figure out how to make it work. 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://swaimstrategies.com Utilizing over 20 years of nonprofit event strategy and production expertise, Swaim Strategies coaches and teaches organizations how to increase the impact of their fundraising events.    The AV Department: https://theavdept.com/ As a full-service event AV and video production partner, The AV Department’s technical event production and media content generation provide you with a range of experience and talent from a partner who wants to know you and work together year after year.    Bloomerang: https://bit.ly/4hLqLVw Create the ideal giving experience with integrated fundraising tools and automated insights that maximize your impact. Keep donors close to the cause with mean-ingful outreach at the right time. Increase retention, major gifts, and all-around impact. Turn supporters into action-takers with tools that make it easy to recruit, organize, and engage volunteers at every level.   Feathr: https://www.feathr.co/ Feathr is a marketing platform built specifically for mission-driven organizations, offering simple tools for digital advertising, email campaigns, and audience engagement. The platform uses real-time insights and AI-powered segmentation to help you reach the right people at the right time—whether you’re nurturing existing supporters or discovering new ones who share your values. It’s marketing that meets people where they are, building relationships that last beyond a single click.   Speakers Samantha Swaim LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-swaim-a28a9a4/ Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies   Kristin Steele LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-steele777/ Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies   Nel Taylor LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nel-taylor/   | RESOURCES | Connect with Swaim Strategies: https://swaimstrategies.com Propose a Podcast Episode: https://swaimstrategies.com/propose-a-podcast-episode/ Get Event Help Right Now with Gala 911: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/gala-911/ Book Consulting Time with Sam: https://calendly.com/consultingwithsam Book Consulting Time with Kristin: https://calendly.com/eventstorytelling Learn More About the Elevate Conference: https://swaimstrategies.com/elevate-conference/ Get Planning a Successful Major Donor Event: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/#book Join Swaim Strategies on Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies Connect with The AV Department:  https://theavdept.com/ Connect with Nel Taylor: https://www.nowthisconsulting.com/ Free Fundraising Equity Lens Guide: https://www.nowthisconsulting.com/lens SyncWords: https://www.syncwords.com/

In this episode hosts Sam and Kristin continue their exploration of Dr. Paul Zak's SIRTA framework, drawn from his book Immersion, and how it can be applied to nonprofit learning events and conferences. The hosts use their upcoming Elevate Conference as a case study to walk through each element. From pre-event communications and name tags to scripted transitions and a diverse mix of session formats, they illustrate how thoughtful event design removes friction, calms the brain, and primes attendees to absorb and act on new information. The conversation builds on the most overlooked element of any gathering: the action. Whether it’s a donation ask, a sign-up, a Q+A, or simply a clear directive for what attendees should do next, every event needs a call to action. It gives the brain the resolution and satisfaction it's been building toward. The hosts close with a broader rallying cry: in a moment of uncertainty and social strain, gathering people together around a shared mission is one of the most powerful tools nonprofits have.  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://swaimstrategies.com Utilizing over 20 years of nonprofit event strategy and production expertise, Swaim Strategies coaches and teaches organizations how to increase the impact of their fundraising events.    The AV Department: https://theavdept.com/ As a full-service event AV and video production partner, The AV Department’s technical event production and media content generation provide you with a range of experience and talent from a partner who wants to know you and work together year after year.    Bloomerang: https://bit.ly/4hLqLVw Create the ideal giving experience with integrated fundraising tools and automated insights that maximize your impact. Keep donors close to the cause with mean-ingful outreach at the right time. Increase retention, major gifts, and all-around impact. Turn supporters into action-takers with tools that make it easy to recruit, organize, and engage volunteers at every level.   Feathr: https://www.feathr.co/ Feathr is a marketing platform built specifically for mission-driven organizations, offering simple tools for digital advertising, email campaigns, and audience engagement. The platform uses real-time insights and AI-powered segmentation to help you reach the right people at the right time—whether you’re nurturing existing supporters or discovering new ones who share your values. It’s marketing that meets people where they are, building relationships that last beyond a single click.   Speakers Samantha Swaim LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-swaim-a28a9a4/ Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies   Kristin Steele LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-steele777/ Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies   | RESOURCES | Connect with Swaim Strategies: https://swaimstrategies.com Propose a Podcast Episode: https://swaimstrategies.com/propose-a-podcast-episode/ Get Event Help Right Now with Gala 911: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/gala-911/ Book Consulting Time with Sam: https://calendly.com/consultingwithsam Book Consulting Time with Kristin: https://calendly.com/eventstorytelling Learn More About the Elevate Conference: https://swaimstrategies.com/elevate-conference/ Get Planning a Successful Major Donor Event: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/#book Join Swaim Strategies on Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies Connect with The AV Department:  https://theavdept.com/ Immersion: https://pauljzak.com/books/ Paul Zak TED Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rFAdlU2ETjU The Fundraising Elevator Podcast with Dr. Paul Zak Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HWAwlEVz5M The Fundraising Elevator Podcast with Dr. Paul Zak Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kSKDbgNSxZk

Coach Sam Balto, executive director and co-founder of Bike Bus World, shares how a simple weekly gathering transformed into a global movement. Bike Bus is an organized group bike ride where students cycle to school together with adult chaperones, creating safety in numbers while building community, independence, and joy. What started with a few kids in Portland has grown and inspired bike buses worldwide. The rides provide essential physical activity before school, improve focus and social skills, reduce traffic, and create magical moments of connection between kids, parents, teachers, and neighbors. The movement has captured global attention through viral social media, attracting celebrities including Justin Timberlake and Benson Boone, plus a Netflix Stranger Things collaboration. Now a nonprofit supporting over 300 bike bus leaders worldwide, Bike Bus World demonstrates how a simple idea executed with joy and commitment can build movement. Coach Balto's message: "You don't need to ask for permission to do good things.” Sometimes meaningful change just requires showing up and riding together. 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://swaimstrategies.com Utilizing over 20 years of nonprofit event strategy and production expertise, Swaim Strategies coaches and teaches organizations how to increase the impact of their fundraising events.    The AV Department: https://theavdept.com/ As a full-service event AV and video production partner, The AV Department’s technical event production and media content generation provide you with a range of experience and talent from a partner who wants to know you and work together year after year.    Bloomerang: https://bit.ly/4hLqLVw Create the ideal giving experience with integrated fundraising tools and automated insights that maximize your impact. Keep donors close to the cause with mean-ingful outreach at the right time. Increase retention, major gifts, and all-around impact. Turn supporters into action-takers with tools that make it easy to recruit, organize, and engage volunteers at every level.   Feathr: https://www.feathr.co/ Feathr is a marketing platform built specifically for mission-driven organizations, offering simple tools for digital advertising, email campaigns, and audience engagement. The platform uses real-time insights and AI-powered segmentation to help you reach the right people at the right time—whether you’re nurturing existing supporters or discovering new ones who share your values. It’s marketing that meets people where they are, building relationships that last beyond a single click.   Speakers Samantha Swaim LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-swaim-a28a9a4/ Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies   Kristin Steele LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-steele777/ Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies   Coach Balto LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachbalto/   | RESOURCES | Connect with Swaim Strategies: https://swaimstrategies.com Propose a Podcast Episode: https://swaimstrategies.com/propose-a-podcast-episode/ Get Event Help Right Now with Gala 911: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/gala-911/ Book Consulting Time with Sam: https://calendly.com/consultingwithsam Book Consulting Time with Kristin: https://calendly.com/eventstorytelling Learn More About the Elevate Conference: https://swaimstrategies.com/elevate-conference/ Get Planning a Successful Major Donor Event: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/#book Join Swaim Strategies on Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies Connect with The AV Department:  https://theavdept.com/ Portland Bike Bus on NBC Nightly News: https://www.nbcnews.com/nightly-news/video/oregon-school-s-unique-way-of-getting-students-to-class-a-bike-bus-150514245826 Connect with Coach Balto: https://www.instagram.com/coachbalto/ Connect with Bike Bus World: https://bikebus.world/

In this episode Kat Topaz and Jim Abeles, owners of Topaz Farm on Sauvie Island near Portland join us. They share their unexpected journey from tech and marketing careers to becoming regenerative farmers. What began as a search for a place to moor their tugboat transformed into a 130-acre farm centered on community connection and sustainable agriculture. They describe how neighboring farmers generously supported them through their first challenging seasons, and how they quickly realized their mission extended beyond farming to creating meaningful gathering spaces where people could reconnect and find community. The conversation explores how they built Topaz Farm into a beloved community hub through intentional design and storytelling. From meticulously creating the perfect concert lawn to hosting farm-to-table dinners under a 500-year-old oak tree, every detail reflects their commitment to helping guests be present. The episode also covers their viral advocacy moment when proposed regulations threatened small farms—their heartfelt video mobilized thousands. Kat and Jim offer wisdom for nonprofits about gathering, emphasizing that the best events leave space for organic connection rather than over-programming, and that creating quality environments where people can simply be together is often more transformative than any planned activity. 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://swaimstrategies.com Utilizing over 20 years of nonprofit event strategy and production expertise, Swaim Strategies coaches and teaches organizations how to increase the impact of their fundraising events.    The AV Department: https://theavdept.com/ As a full-service event AV and video production partner, The AV Department’s technical event production and media content generation provide you with a range of experience and talent from a partner who wants to know you and work together year after year.    Bloomerang: https://bit.ly/4hLqLVw Create the ideal giving experience with integrated fundraising tools and automated insights that maximize your impact. Keep donors close to the cause with mean-ingful outreach at the right time. Increase retention, major gifts, and all-around impact. Turn supporters into action-takers with tools that make it easy to recruit, organize, and engage volunteers at every level.   Feathr: https://www.feathr.co/ Feathr is a marketing platform built specifically for mission-driven organizations, offering simple tools for digital advertising, email campaigns, and audience engagement. The platform uses real-time insights and AI-powered segmentation to help you reach the right people at the right time—whether you’re nurturing existing supporters or discovering new ones who share your values. It’s marketing that meets people where they are, building relationships that last beyond a single click.   Speakers Samantha Swaim LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-swaim-a28a9a4/ Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies   Kristin Steele LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-steele777/ Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies   Jim Abeles LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abeles/   Kat Topaz LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kattopaz/   | RESOURCES | Connect with Swaim Strategies: https://swaimstrategies.com Propose a Podcast Episode: https://swaimstrategies.com/propose-a-podcast-episode/ Get Event Help Right Now with Gala 911: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/gala-911/ Book Consulting Time with Sam: https://calendly.com/consultingwithsam Book Consulting Time with Kristin: https://calendly.com/eventstorytelling Learn More About the Elevate Conference: https://swaimstrategies.com/elevate-conference/ Get Planning a Successful Major Donor Event: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/#book Join Swaim Strategies on Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies Connect with The AV Department:  https://theavdept.com/ Connect with Topaz Farm: https://topazfarm.com/ Topaz Farm Video That Went Viral: https://www.instagram.com/p/DMYhkfmBW0D/

In this special episode hosts Samantha Swaim and Kristin Steele dive deep into Dr. Paul Zak's powerful SIRTA framework from his book Immersion. They break down how organizations can apply brain science to create truly transformational fundraising events. Drawing from research into what motivates people to act, the SIRTA acronym stands for Staging, Immersion, Relevance, Target, and Action. These five critical elements work together to help guests feel psychologically safe, emotionally engaged, and empowered to participate meaningfully in your mission. The episode provides practical, actionable guidance for each component. In our current "connection recession," where loneliness and isolation are an epidemic, intentional gatherings aren't just fundraising tools, they're pathways to building connections that make exponential impact possible. This framework offers nonprofit leaders a research-backed approach to move beyond transactional galas toward transformational events that leave guests feeling genuinely satisfied and eager to share their experience. 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://swaimstrategies.com Utilizing over 20 years of nonprofit event strategy and production expertise, Swaim Strategies coaches and teaches organizations how to increase the impact of their fundraising events.    The AV Department: https://theavdept.com/ As a full-service event AV and video production partner, The AV Department’s technical event production and media content generation provide you with a range of experience and talent from a partner who wants to know you and work together year after year.    Bloomerang: https://bit.ly/4hLqLVw Create the ideal giving experience with integrated fundraising tools and automated insights that maximize your impact. Keep donors close to the cause with mean-ingful outreach at the right time. Increase retention, major gifts, and all-around impact. Turn supporters into action-takers with tools that make it easy to recruit, organize, and engage volunteers at every level.   Feathr: https://www.feathr.co/ Feathr is a marketing platform built specifically for mission-driven organizations, offering simple tools for digital advertising, email campaigns, and audience engagement. The platform uses real-time insights and AI-powered segmentation to help you reach the right people at the right time—whether you’re nurturing existing supporters or discovering new ones who share your values. It’s marketing that meets people where they are, building relationships that last beyond a single click.   Speakers Samantha Swaim LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-swaim-a28a9a4/ Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies   Kristin Steele LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-steele777/ Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies   | RESOURCES | Connect with Swaim Strategies: https://swaimstrategies.com Propose a Podcast Episode: https://swaimstrategies.com/propose-a-podcast-episode/ Get Event Help Right Now with Gala 911: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/gala-911/ Book Consulting Time with Sam: https://calendly.com/consultingwithsam Book Consulting Time with Kristin: https://calendly.com/eventstorytelling Learn More About the Elevate Conference: https://swaimstrategies.com/elevate-conference/ Get Planning a Successful Major Donor Event: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/#book Join Swaim Strategies on Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies Connect with The AV Department:  https://theavdept.com/ Immersion: https://pauljzak.com/books/ Dr. Paul Zak on The Fundraising Elevator Podcast Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HWAwlEVz5M Dr. Paul Zak on The Fundraising Elevator Podcast Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kSKDbgNSxZk

In this episode the team from The Catalyst Co.—Erica Soto, Veronica Kim, and Amie Echeverria—demystify one of fundraising's most critical yet misunderstood practices: donor stewardship. True stewardship is about caring for donors in thoughtful, intentional ways that build genuine relationships over time. The team shares that many lapsed donors were never properly acknowledged or asked to give again—evidence that basic stewardship failures, not donor fatigue, are often behind lost relationships. True stewardship can create belonging and transform transactional giving into community partnership. We explore practical systems that make consistent stewardship sustainable rather than overwhelming. The team emphasizes starting with a clear assessment of your organization's current reality—examining donor data, communication flows, and team capacity before building ambitious plans. They introduce essential tools including gift entry flows, giving tables for segmenting donors, stewardship calendars for planning touchpoints, and their Donor Love Audit. The message is clear: effective stewardship doesn't require perfection or expensive gestures—it requires human connection, consistent rhythm, and clean systems that free fundraisers to focus on relationships rather than drowning in administrative chaos. 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://swaimstrategies.com Utilizing over 20 years of nonprofit event strategy and production expertise, Swaim Strategies coaches and teaches organizations how to increase the impact of their fundraising events.    The AV Department: https://theavdept.com/ As a full-service event AV and video production partner, The AV Department’s technical event production and media content generation provide you with a range of experience and talent from a partner who wants to know you and work together year after year.    Bloomerang: https://bit.ly/4hLqLVw Create the ideal giving experience with integrated fundraising tools and automated insights that maximize your impact. Keep donors close to the cause with mean-ingful outreach at the right time. Increase retention, major gifts, and all-around impact. Turn supporters into action-takers with tools that make it easy to recruit, organize, and engage volunteers at every level.   Feathr: https://www.feathr.co/ Feathr is a marketing platform built specifically for mission-driven organizations, offering simple tools for digital advertising, email campaigns, and audience engagement. The platform uses real-time insights and AI-powered segmentation to help you reach the right people at the right time—whether you’re nurturing existing supporters or discovering new ones who share your values. It’s marketing that meets people where they are, building relationships that last beyond a single click.   Speakers Samantha Swaim LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-swaim-a28a9a4/ Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies   Kristin Steele LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-steele777/ Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies   The Cause Catalyst Co. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-cause-catalyst-co   | RESOURCES | Connect with Swaim Strategies: https://swaimstrategies.com Propose a Podcast Episode: https://swaimstrategies.com/propose-a-podcast-episode/ Get Event Help Right Now with Gala 911: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/gala-911/ Book Consulting Time with Sam: https://calendly.com/consultingwithsam Book Consulting Time with Kristin: https://calendly.com/eventstorytelling Learn More About the Elevate Conference: https://swaimstrategies.com/elevate-conference/ Get Planning a Successful Major Donor Event: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/#book Join Swaim Strategies on Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies Connect with The AV Department:  https://theavdept.com/ Connect with The Cause Catalyst Co.: https://www.thecausecatalystco.com/ Free Tools + Templates from The Cause Catalyst Co.: https://www.thecausecatalystco.com/resources The Fundraising Elevator Podcast with Erica Soto: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRc45VbitSs The Stewardship Intensive Part 1: https://swaimstrategies.substack.com/p/webinar-day-1-the-stewardship-intensive The Stewardship Intensive Part 2: https://swaimstrategies.substack.com/p/webinar-day-2-the-stewardship-intensive Connect with Bloomerang: https://bit.ly/4hLqLVw Connect with DonorDock: https://www.donordock.com/ Connect with Little Green Light: https://www.littlegreenlight.com/   | TRAINING OPPORTUNITY | Looking to dive into Donor Stewardship? The Stewardship Reset Series with Cause Catalyst kicks of January 27th. Register here: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_2kWYBYlzT-ipLgQEMOiosg#/registration

In this episode we explore donor-advised funds (DAFs) with Mitch Stein, head of strategy at Chariot. Mitch explains how DAFs work as tax-advantaged accounts where donors commit funds irrevocably to charity. He challenges the notion that DAFs hoard money, noting they actually encourage more generous giving, with donors increasing their gift sizes by an average of 10 times once they start using DAFs. We also look at practical solutions through Chariot's DAFpay technology, which integrates directly into donation platforms to allow instant gift completion. Traditional DAF processes can create friction at fundraising events, sometimes resulting in losses from unfulfilled pledges. Mitch’s key advice is for nonprofits to educate their teams and incorporate DAF language into all communications. Tune in to get the full rundown on DAFs and how you can powerfully integrate them into your fundraising. 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://swaimstrategies.com Utilizing over 20 years of nonprofit event strategy and production expertise, Swaim Strategies coaches and teaches organizations how to increase the impact of their fundraising events.    The AV Department: https://theavdept.com/ As a full-service event AV and video production partner, The AV Department’s technical event production and media content generation provide you with a range of experience and talent from a partner who wants to know you and work together year after year.    Bloomerang: https://bit.ly/4hLqLVw Create the ideal giving experience with integrated fundraising tools and automated insights that maximize your impact. Keep donors close to the cause with mean-ingful outreach at the right time. Increase retention, major gifts, and all-around impact. Turn supporters into action-takers with tools that make it easy to recruit, organize, and engage volunteers at every level.   Feathr: https://www.feathr.co/ Feathr is a marketing platform built specifically for mission-driven organizations, offering simple tools for digital advertising, email campaigns, and audience engagement. The platform uses real-time insights and AI-powered segmentation to help you reach the right people at the right time—whether you’re nurturing existing supporters or discovering new ones who share your values. It’s marketing that meets people where they are, building relationships that last beyond a single click.   Speakers Samantha Swaim LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-swaim-a28a9a4/ Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies   Kristin Steele LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-steele777/ Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies   Mitch Stein LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitch-stein/   | RESOURCES | Connect with Swaim Strategies: https://swaimstrategies.com Propose a Podcast Episode: https://swaimstrategies.com/propose-a-podcast-episode/ Get Event Help Right Now with Gala 911: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/gala-911/ Book Consulting Time with Sam: https://calendly.com/consultingwithsam Book Consulting Time with Kristin: https://calendly.com/eventstorytelling Learn More About the Elevate Conference: https://swaimstrategies.com/elevate-conference/ Get Planning a Successful Major Donor Event: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/#book Join Swaim Strategies on Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies Connect with The AV Department:  https://theavdept.com/ Connect with Chariot: https://www.givechariot.com/#newsletter Connect with Mitch Stein: [email protected] Get the DAF Fundraising Report: https://www.givechariot.com/daf-fundraising-report Connect with DAFpay: https://www.dafpay.com/ DAF Day: https://www.dafday.com/ Daffy: https://www.daffy.org/ Charityvest: https://www.charityvest.org/

In this episode, Aleksander Levental, Co-Founder and CEO of Feathr, discusses why digital marketing is essential for nonprofits in 2026. With federal funding decreasing and donor attention harder to capture, he makes a compelling case for why nonprofits should look at utilizing some of the same marketing tools and competitive mindset as for-profit companies. Our conversation breaks down how different tools serve distinct purposes: websites act as signal collectors tracking what visitors care about, email serves as both a signal generator and activation tool, social media provides the cheapest way to gain attention and test content, and digital advertising delivers the final push to convert interested prospects into donors. The episode demystifies advanced tactics like drip campaigns, retargeting, and geofencing. Throughout, Aleksander challenges nonprofits to adopt a growth-focused, marketing-savvy culture. Tune in for ideas about incorporating these tools into your own 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://swaimstrategies.com Utilizing over 20 years of nonprofit event strategy and production expertise, Swaim Strategies coaches and teaches organizations how to increase the impact of their fundraising events.    The AV Department: https://theavdept.com/ As a full-service event AV and video production partner, The AV Department’s technical event production and media content generation provide you with a range of experience and talent from a partner who wants to know you and work together year after year.    Bloomerang: https://bit.ly/4hLqLVw Create the ideal giving experience with integrated fundraising tools and automated insights that maximize your impact. Keep donors close to the cause with mean-ingful outreach at the right time. Increase retention, major gifts, and all-around impact. Turn supporters into action-takers with tools that make it easy to recruit, organize, and engage volunteers at every level.   Feathr: https://www.feathr.co/ Feathr is a marketing platform built specifically for mission-driven organizations, offering simple tools for digital advertising, email campaigns, and audience engagement. The platform uses real-time insights and AI-powered segmentation to help you reach the right people at the right time—whether you’re nurturing existing supporters or discovering new ones who share your values. It’s marketing that meets people where they are, building relationships that last beyond a single click.   Speakers Samantha Swaim LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-swaim-a28a9a4/ Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies   Kristin Steele LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-steele777/ Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies   Aleksander Levental LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alevental/   | RESOURCES | Connect with Swaim Strategies: https://swaimstrategies.com Propose a Podcast Episode: https://swaimstrategies.com/propose-a-podcast-episode/ Get Event Help Right Now with Gala 911: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/gala-911/ Book Consulting Time with Sam: https://calendly.com/consultingwithsam Book Consulting Time with Kristin: https://calendly.com/eventstorytelling Learn More About the Elevate Conference: https://swaimstrategies.com/elevate-conference/ Get Planning a Successful Major Donor Event: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/#book Join Swaim Strategies on Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies Connect with The AV Department:  https://theavdept.com/ Connect with Feathr: https://www.feathr.co/demo See Feathr Case Studies: https://www.feathr.co/resources/case-studies Explore Feathr’s Blog: https://www.feathr.co/resources/blog

In this inspiring episode, Shereen Thor—comedian turned executive coach and author of Revolutionary Woman—shares her journey from workplace drudgery to transformation through comedy and coaching. Using the Energy Leadership Index® assessment, she explains how sustainable success comes from collaborative energy rather than the competitive levels where most of corporate America operates.  Her advice for women leaders centers on building support systems, unplugging from toxic measuring sticks, and committing to healing as part of leadership development. She emphasizes that joy is a conscious choice that creates potential and encourages leaders that most people lead while scared—this offers the opportunity to redefine leadership toward more collaborative, transparent models.  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://swaimstrategies.com Utilizing over 20 years of nonprofit event strategy and production expertise, Swaim Strategies coaches and teaches organizations how to increase the impact of their fundraising events.    The AV Department: https://theavdept.com/ As a full-service event AV and video production partner, The AV Department’s technical event production and media content generation provide you with a range of experience and talent from a partner who wants to know you and work together year after year.    Bloomerang: https://bit.ly/4hLqLVw Create the ideal giving experience with integrated fundraising tools and automated insights that maximize your impact. Keep donors close to the cause with mean-ingful outreach at the right time. Increase retention, major gifts, and all-around impact. Turn supporters into action-takers with tools that make it easy to recruit, organize, and engage volunteers at every level.   Feathr: https://www.feathr.co/ Feathr is a marketing platform built specifically for mission-driven organizations, offering simple tools for digital advertising, email campaigns, and audience engagement. The platform uses real-time insights and AI-powered segmentation to help you reach the right people at the right time—whether you’re nurturing existing supporters or discovering new ones who share your values. It’s marketing that meets people where they are, building relationships that last beyond a single click.   Speakers Samantha Swaim LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-swaim-a28a9a4/ Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies   Kristin Steele LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-steele777/ Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies   Shereen Thor LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shereenthor/   | RESOURCES | Connect with Swaim Strategies: https://swaimstrategies.com Propose a Podcast Episode: https://swaimstrategies.com/propose-a-podcast-episode/ Get Event Help Right Now with Gala 911: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/gala-911/ Book Consulting Time with Sam: https://calendly.com/consultingwithsam Book Consulting Time with Kristin: https://calendly.com/eventstorytelling Learn More About the Elevate Conference: https://swaimstrategies.com/elevate-conference/ Get Planning a Successful Major Donor Event: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/#book Join Swaim Strategies on Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies Connect with The AV Department:  https://theavdept.com/ Connect with Shereen: https://shereenthor.com/ Read Shereen’s Book: https://shereenthor.com/book Energy Leadership Index Assessment: https://www.energyleadership.com/assessment APA Article on Women Leaders: https://www.apa.org/topics/women-girls/female-leaders-make-work-better Harvard Business Review on Women in Leadership: https://hbr.org/2019/06/research-women-score-higher-than-men-in-most-leadership-skills “How to Create a Future that Empowers Women” TEDx Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dUmw1Au7Y8 “The Intelligence of Being Irrational” TEDx Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IyWJHqlC9ss

In this ENCORE episode of The Fundraising Elevator, we continue our fascinating conversation with neuroscientist and author Dr. Paul J. Zak, diving deeper into the brain science behind fundraising storytelling, donor engagement, and happiness. If you missed part one, be sure to start there, this continuation builds on insights into why stories inspire generosity and action in the nonprofit sector. Dr. Zak explains his groundbreaking concept of neurologic immersion which is a blend of attention and emotional resonance in the brain that predicts which stories move people to act. He introduces the SIRTA framework (Staging, Immersion, Relevance, Targeting, Action), a practical tool that nonprofits can use to design donor experiences that increase connection, engagement, and giving. We explore real-world research on how immersive storytelling in fundraising videos drives donations, why staging matters for successful fundraising events, and how to lower barriers for donors by building camaraderie and relevance.  The conversation also shifts into the science of happiness, exploring Dr. Zak’s newest book, The Little Book of Happiness. He shares how high-value social experiences not only strengthen donor relationships but also enhance well-being, increase generosity, and even extend our lives. With wisdom rooted in both neuroscience and the practices of Benjamin Franklin, Dr. Zak offers a roadmap for living more connected, fulfilled, and generous lives. If you’re a nonprofit professional looking to improve donor retention, boost fundraising results, and create more impactful donor experiences, this episode is packed with actionable insights at the intersection of neuroscience, storytelling, and nonprofit fundraising strategies. 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://swaimstrategies.com Utilizing over 20 years of nonprofit event strategy and production expertise, Swaim Strategies coaches and teaches organizations how to increase the impact of their fundraising events.    The AV Department: https://theavdept.com/ As a full-service event AV and video production partner, The AV Department’s technical event production and media content generation provide you with a range of experience and talent from a partner who wants to know you and work together year after year.    Feathr: https://www.feathr.co/   Speakers Samantha Swaim LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-swaim-a28a9a4/ Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies   Kristin Steele LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-steele777/ Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies   Dr. Paul J. Zak LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-j-zak-91123510/   | RESOURCES | Connect with Swaim Strategies: https://swaimstrategies.com Propose a Podcast Episode: https://swaimstrategies.com/propose-a-podcast-episode/ Get Event Help Right Now with Gala 911: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/gala-911/ Book Consulting Time with Sam: https://calendly.com/consultingwithsam Book Consulting Time with Kristin: https://calendly.com/eventstorytelling Learn More About the Elevate Conference: https://swaimstrategies.com/elevate-conference/ Get Planning a Successful Major Donor Event: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/#book Join Swaim Strategies on Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies Connect with The AV Department:  https://theavdept.com/ Connect with Paul Zak: https://pauljzak.com/ Immersion: https://pauljzak.com/books/ The Little Book of Happiness: https://pauljzak.com/books/ Paul Zak TED Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rFAdlU2ETjU  

Happy holidays! During our break we are running an ENCORE episode. In this special two-part opener, hosts Sam and Kristin sit down with world-renowned neuroscientist Dr. Paul Zak, a pioneer in neuroeconomics, neuromanagement, and neuromarketing. Best known for discovering oxytocin’s role in trust and human connection, Dr. Zak brings cutting-edge insights on donor psychology, empathy, and storytelling in fundraising. In Part One, we explore the science of giving: why humans are wired to cooperate, how oxytocin fuels generosity and trust, and why storytelling is the most effective tool for donor engagement. Dr. Zak breaks down how attention, emotion, and immersion inspire people to act—and shares proven strategies for fundraisers to design high-impact campaigns and events. From crafting stories that spark empathy to creating immersive donor experiences, this episode offers practical applications backed by neuroscience. If you’re a nonprofit professional, fundraiser, or development leader looking to increase donor trust, deepen engagement, and inspire generosity, this episode delivers evidence-based strategies to elevate your fundraising success. 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://swaimstrategies.com Utilizing over 20 years of nonprofit event strategy and production expertise, Swaim Strategies coaches and teaches organizations how to increase the impact of their fundraising events.    The AV Department: https://theavdept.com/ As a full-service event AV and video production partner, The AV Department’s technical event production and media content generation provide you with a range of experience and talent from a partner who wants to know you and work together year after year.    Feathr: https://www.feathr.co/   Speakers Samantha Swaim LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-swaim-a28a9a4/ Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies   Kristin Steele LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-steele777/ Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies   Dr. Paul J. Zak LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-j-zak-91123510/   | RESOURCES | Connect with Swaim Strategies: https://swaimstrategies.com Propose a Podcast Episode: https://swaimstrategies.com/propose-a-podcast-episode/ Get Event Help Right Now with Gala 911: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/gala-911/ Book Consulting Time with Sam: https://calendly.com/consultingwithsam Book Consulting Time with Kristin: https://calendly.com/eventstorytelling Learn More About the Elevate Conference: https://swaimstrategies.com/elevate-conference/ Get Planning a Successful Major Donor Event: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/#book Join Swaim Strategies on Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies Connect with The AV Department:  https://theavdept.com/ Connect with Paul Zak: https://pauljzak.com/ Empathy, Neurochemistry, and the Dramatic Arc: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1a7tiA1Qzo Immersion: https://pauljzak.com/books/ The Little Book of Happiness: https://pauljzak.com/books/ No One Wants to Read Your Sh*t: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30556551-nobody-wants-to-read-your-sh-t SIX: your6.com “Virtual Reality Education Increases Neurologic Immersion and Empathy in Nursing Students”: https://www.mdpi.com/2039-4403/15/9/336 Paul Zak TED Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rFAdlU2ETjU The Value Measurement: https://www.getimmersion.com/

In this special episode of The Fundraising Elevator, hosts Kristin Steele and Samantha Swaim take listeners behind the scenes at the Nonprofit Storytelling Conference in San Diego, California. Recording live from the red carpet studio, Kristin and Sam talk to industry leaders, gathering their insights on what fundraisers should focus on right now and where they are finding inspiration in the sector.  Featured Guests: Ken Miller - President, Denali FSP Diana Farias Heinrich - CEO, Habrá Marketing Steven Screen - Co-Founder, The Better Fundraising Co. Janelle Suzanne - Chief Marketing Officer, Louder Agency T. Clay Buck - Principal, Next River Fundraising Strategies John Lepp - Partner, Agents of Good Erik Tomalis - Chief Revenue Officer, Avid Kelly Russell - Founder + Benefit Auctioneer, Artisan Auctions Frank Velásquez Jr. - Founder, 4 Da Hood Erica Soto - Fractional Fundraiser, The Cause Catalyst Co.  Special thanks to The AV Department and the Nonprofit Storytelling Conference. 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://swaimstrategies.com Utilizing over 20 years of nonprofit event strategy and production expertise, Swaim Strategies coaches and teaches organizations how to increase the impact of their fundraising events.    The AV Department: https://theavdept.com/ As a full-service event AV and video production partner, The AV Department’s technical event production and media content generation provide you with a range of experience and talent from a partner who wants to know you and work together year after year.    Bloomerang: https://bit.ly/4hLqLVw Create the ideal giving experience with integrated fundraising tools and automated insights that maximize your impact. Keep donors close to the cause with mean-ingful outreach at the right time. Increase retention, major gifts, and all-around impact. Turn supporters into action-takers with tools that make it easy to recruit, organize, and engage volunteers at every level.   Feathr: https://www.feathr.co/ Feathr is a marketing platform built specifically for mission-driven organizations, offering simple tools for digital advertising, email campaigns, and audience engagement. The platform uses real-time insights and AI-powered segmentation to help you reach the right people at the right time—whether you’re nurturing existing supporters or discovering new ones who share your values. It’s marketing that meets people where they are, building relationships that last beyond a single click.   Speakers Samantha Swaim LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-swaim-a28a9a4/ Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies   Kristin Steele LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-steele777/ Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies   | RESOURCES | Connect with Swaim Strategies: https://swaimstrategies.com Propose a Podcast Episode: https://swaimstrategies.com/propose-a-podcast-episode/ Get Event Help Right Now with Gala 911: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/gala-911/ Book Consulting Time with Sam: https://calendly.com/consultingwithsam Book Consulting Time with Kristin: https://calendly.com/eventstorytelling Learn More About the Elevate Conference: https://swaimstrategies.com/elevate-conference/ Get Planning a Successful Major Donor Event: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/#book Join Swaim Strategies on Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies Nonprofit Storytelling Conference: https://nonprofitstorytellingconference.com/ Connect with The AV Department:  https://theavdept.com/ Connect with Denali FSP: https://denalifsp.com/ Connect with Habrá Marketing: https://habramarketing.com/ Connect with The Better Fundraising Co.: https://betterfundraising.com/ Connect with Louder Agency: https://louderagency.com/ Connect with Next River Fundraising Strategies: https://www.nextriverfundraising.com/ Connect with Agents of Good: https://agentsofgood.org/ Connect with Avid: https://www.avidai.com/ Connect with Artisan Auctions: https://www.artisanauctions.com/ Connect with 4 Da Hood: https://4dahood.com/ Connect with The Cause Catalyst Co.: https://www.thecausecatalystco.com/  

In this special episode of The Fundraising Elevator, hosts Kristin Steele and Samantha Swaim take listeners behind the scenes at the Nonprofit Storytelling Conference in San Diego, California. Recording live from the red carpet studio, Kristin and Sam talk to two sector experts about their new books. Behavioral science expert Cherian Koshy’s book Neurogiving: The Science of Donor Decision Making is a groundbreaking exploration of how neuroscience, behavioral economics, and psychology reveal the true drivers of charitable giving. This book is not about persuasion or pressure. It’s about understanding the generosity that already lives inside every donor—and removing the friction that gets in its way. Veteran fundraiser Tammy Zonker’s book Calling All Heroes: Combining the Best of Donor-Centered and Community-Centered Fundraising for Greater Impact, delivers a compelling discussion about the crossroads at which the nonprofit sector finds itself. Here, traditional fundraising approaches are no longer sufficient to tackle the complex challenges of nonprofit organizations and the communities they serve. This book helps fundraisers, nonprofit leaders, and advocates find common ground by uniting around shared values and focusing on human-centered practices that empower communities and build genuine connections. Special thanks to The AV Department and the Nonprofit Storytelling Conference. 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://swaimstrategies.com Utilizing over 20 years of nonprofit event strategy and production expertise, Swaim Strategies coaches and teaches organizations how to increase the impact of their fundraising events.    The AV Department: https://theavdept.com/ As a full-service event AV and video production partner, The AV Department’s technical event production and media content generation provide you with a range of experience and talent from a partner who wants to know you and work together year after year.    Bloomerang: https://bit.ly/4hLqLVw Create the ideal giving experience with integrated fundraising tools and automated insights that maximize your impact. Keep donors close to the cause with mean-ingful outreach at the right time. Increase retention, major gifts, and all-around impact. Turn supporters into action-takers with tools that make it easy to recruit, organize, and engage volunteers at every level.   Feathr: https://www.feathr.co/ Feathr is a marketing platform built specifically for mission-driven organizations, offering simple tools for digital advertising, email campaigns, and audience engagement. The platform uses real-time insights and AI-powered segmentation to help you reach the right people at the right time—whether you’re nurturing existing supporters or discovering new ones who share your values. It’s marketing that meets people where they are, building relationships that last beyond a single click.   Speakers Samantha Swaim LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-swaim-a28a9a4/ Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies   Kristin Steele LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-steele777/ Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies   Cherian Koshy LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheriankoshy/   Tammy Zonker LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/tammyzonker/   | RESOURCES | Connect with Swaim Strategies: https://swaimstrategies.com Propose a Podcast Episode: https://swaimstrategies.com/propose-a-podcast-episode/ Get Event Help Right Now with Gala 911: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/gala-911/ Book Consulting Time with Sam: https://calendly.com/consultingwithsam Book Consulting Time with Kristin: https://calendly.com/eventstorytelling Learn More About the Elevate Conference: https://swaimstrategies.com/elevate-conference/ Get Planning a Successful Major Donor Event: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/#book Join Swaim Strategies on Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies Connect with The AV Department:  https://theavdept.com/ Nonprofit Storytelling Conference: https://nonprofitstorytellingconference.com/ Get Cherian’s Book: https://neurogivingbook.com/ Get Tammy’s Book: https://www.callingallheroesbook.com/

In this episode, we hear from Alice Ferris, founder of GoalBusters and a veteran fundraiser with over 30 years in the sector. Alice shares her insights on helping small nonprofit teams navigate Federal funding cuts, organizational upheaval, and unprecedented change. She introduces a powerful framework for decision-making: distinguishing between problems (which can be solved) and conditions (which must be adapted to). Alice emphasizes that sharing challenges with donors, even without having all the answers, is more effective than waiting in silence. We also explore the recent GoFundMe controversy, upcoming leadership transitions in the sector, and practical tools like the Fundraising Fitness Test from the Fundraising Effectiveness Project. Alice's key advice for organizations feeling overwhelmed: shorten your planning horizons. Rather than traditional three-to-five-year strategic plans that feel permanent and daunting, she recommends 12-week action plans that create achievable goals that can be reset when circumstances change. Her central message is clear—transparency, adaptation, and focusing on what you can control are essential strategies for nonprofits heading into an uncertain future. 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://swaimstrategies.com Utilizing over 20 years of nonprofit event strategy and production expertise, Swaim Strategies coaches and teaches organizations how to increase the impact of their fundraising events.    The AV Department: https://theavdept.com/ As a full-service event AV and video production partner, The AV Department’s technical event production and media content generation provide you with a range of experience and talent from a partner who wants to know you and work together year after year.    Bloomerang: https://bit.ly/4hLqLVw Create the ideal giving experience with integrated fundraising tools and automated insights that maximize your impact. Keep donors close to the cause with mean-ingful outreach at the right time. Increase retention, major gifts, and all-around impact. Turn supporters into action-takers with tools that make it easy to recruit, organize, and engage volunteers at every level.   Feathr: https://www.feathr.co/ Feathr is a marketing platform built specifically for mission-driven organizations, offering simple tools for digital advertising, email campaigns, and audience engagement. The platform uses real-time insights and AI-powered segmentation to help you reach the right people at the right time—whether you’re nurturing existing supporters or discovering new ones who share your values. It’s marketing that meets people where they are, building relationships that last beyond a single click.   Speakers Samantha Swaim LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-swaim-a28a9a4/ Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies   Kristin Steele LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-steele777/ Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies   Alice Ferris LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aliceferris/ | RESOURCES | Connect with Swaim Strategies: https://swaimstrategies.com Propose a Podcast Episode: https://swaimstrategies.com/propose-a-podcast-episode/ Get Event Help Right Now with Gala 911: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/gala-911/ Book Consulting Time with Sam: https://calendly.com/consultingwithsam Book Consulting Time with Kristin: https://calendly.com/eventstorytelling Learn More About the Elevate Conference: https://swaimstrategies.com/elevate-conference/ Get Planning a Successful Major Donor Event: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/#book Join Swaim Strategies on Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies Connect with The AV Department:  https://theavdept.com/ Connect with Alice at GoalBusters: https://goalbusters.net/ Free Resources from GoalBusters: https://goalbusters.net/free-stuff/ The Fundraising Effectiveness Project: https://afpglobal.org/FundraisingEffectivenessProject Fundraising Effectiveness Project Reports: https://fepreports.org/ GoalBusters on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/GoalBusters  

In this episode Rhodes Perry, Founder and CEO of Rhodes Perry Consulting, joins us for a powerful conversation about building psychological safety and trust. Rhodes introduces somatics—a body-based practice that helps leaders move from reactive responses to intentional choices—and breaks down the ingredients of true belonging. He reveals the actual financial cost of exclusion and contrasts the old model of belonging (where individuals had to change to fit in) with co-creation, where everyone contributes to building culture together. Rhodes emphasizes the importance of sitting with questions and building capacity to navigate uncertainty together. He offers practical wisdom for nonprofit leaders amid chaos, leaving listeners with a call to lift each other up and be vulnerable enough to ask for support when you need it, because belonging should extend to everyone. 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://swaimstrategies.com Utilizing over 20 years of nonprofit event strategy and production expertise, Swaim Strategies coaches and teaches organizations how to increase the impact of their fundraising events.    The AV Department: https://theavdept.com/ As a full-service event AV and video production partner, The AV Department’s technical event production and media content generation provide you with a range of experience and talent from a partner who wants to know you and work together year after year.    Bloomerang: https://bit.ly/4hLqLVw Create the ideal giving experience with integrated fundraising tools and automated insights that maximize your impact. Keep donors close to the cause with mean-ingful outreach at the right time. Increase retention, major gifts, and all-around impact. Turn supporters into action-takers with tools that make it easy to recruit, organize, and engage volunteers at every level.   Feathr: https://www.feathr.co/ Feathr is a marketing platform built specifically for mission-driven organizations, offering simple tools for digital advertising, email campaigns, and audience engagement. The platform uses real-time insights and AI-powered segmentation to help you reach the right people at the right time—whether you’re nurturing existing supporters or discovering new ones who share your values. It’s marketing that meets people where they are, building relationships that last beyond a single click.   Speakers Samantha Swaim LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-swaim-a28a9a4/ Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies   Kristin Steele LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-steele777/ Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies   Rhodes Perry LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhodesperry/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/rhodes-perry-consulting-llc/   | RESOURCES | Connect with Swaim Strategies: https://swaimstrategies.com Propose a Podcast Episode: https://swaimstrategies.com/propose-a-podcast-episode/ Get Event Help Right Now with Gala 911: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/gala-911/ Book Consulting Time with Sam: https://calendly.com/consultingwithsam Book Consulting Time with Kristin: https://calendly.com/eventstorytelling Learn More About the Elevate Conference: https://swaimstrategies.com/elevate-conference/ Get Planning a Successful Major Donor Event: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/#book Join Swaim Strategies on Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies Connect with The AV Department:  https://theavdept.com/ Connect with Rhodes Perry: https://www.rhodesperry.com/ Get Rhodes Perry’s Books: https://www.rhodesperry.com/book Follow Rhodes Perry on Substack: https://rhodesperry.substack.com/ Connect with john a. powell’s Work: https://www.johnapowell.org/

What can an encounter with a person in a war-torn Iraqi village teach us about nonprofit storytelling? In this compelling episode, Chris Miano, Founder and CEO of MemoryFox, reveals how his military service unlocked the transformative power of stories—and why the nonprofit sector urgently needs to shift how we collect and share them. Chris defines ethical storytelling as an approach that elevates storytellers rather than extracting their stories, with consent as the North Star: affirmative, written, informed consent that specifies where stories will be shared, how they'll be presented, and for how long. He challenges common practices like pressuring storytellers with last-minute requests and revisits why consent isn't a one-time checkbox but an ongoing conversation. Chris shares practical strategies from leveraging community-generated content that creates "welcome signs" for diverse supporters to moving away from trauma-heavy narratives toward strength-based messaging you can share consistently. Discover why composite videos featuring multiple perspectives outperform single stories, and how your next event could become a goldmine for authentic content. His game-changing advice: build a story bank—a centralized repository of ethically sourced content with proper consent—so you always have the right story for the right person at the right time. 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://swaimstrategies.com Utilizing over 20 years of nonprofit event strategy and production expertise, Swaim Strategies coaches and teaches organizations how to increase the impact of their fundraising events.    The AV Department: https://theavdept.com/ As a full-service event AV and video production partner, The AV Department’s technical event production and media content generation provide you with a range of experience and talent from a partner who wants to know you and work together year after year.    Bloomerang: https://bit.ly/4hLqLVw Create the ideal giving experience with integrated fundraising tools and automated insights that maximize your impact. Keep donors close to the cause with mean-ingful outreach at the right time. Increase retention, major gifts, and all-around impact. Turn supporters into action-takers with tools that make it easy to recruit, organize, and engage volunteers at every level.   Feathr: https://www.feathr.co/ Feathr is a marketing platform built specifically for mission-driven organizations, offering simple tools for digital advertising, email campaigns, and audience engagement. The platform uses real-time insights and AI-powered segmentation to help you reach the right people at the right time—whether you’re nurturing existing supporters or discovering new ones who share your values. It’s marketing that meets people where they are, building relationships that last beyond a single click.   Speakers Samantha Swaim LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-swaim-a28a9a4/ Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies   Kristin Steele LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-steele777/ Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies   Chris Miano LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/memoryfox/ | RESOURCES | Connect with Swaim Strategies: https://swaimstrategies.com Propose a Podcast Episode: https://swaimstrategies.com/propose-a-podcast-episode/ Get Event Help Right Now with Gala 911: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/gala-911/ Book Consulting Time with Sam: https://calendly.com/consultingwithsam Book Consulting Time with Kristin: https://calendly.com/eventstorytelling Learn More About the Elevate Conference: https://swaimstrategies.com/elevate-conference/ Get Planning a Successful Major Donor Event: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/#book Join Swaim Strategies on Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies Connect with The AV Department:  https://theavdept.com/ Connect with MemoryFox: https://www.memoryfox.io/ MemoryFox’s Ethical Storytelling Report: https://www.memoryfox.io/ethical-storytelling/ Memory Fox Webinars: https://www.memoryfox.io/category/webinars/ The Ethical Nonprofit Summit: https://habramarketing.com/ethicalnonprofitsummit/  

In this episode Brandon Lenzi, founder of Bowtie Strategies, shares his transformative approach to fundraising rooted in authentic relationships. Brandon defines fundraising as an opportunity for individuals to realize their vision for the community they want to live in, emphasizing the importance of sitting on the same side of the table with donors to solve problems together. He discusses navigating current challenges by focusing on individual giving and being transparent with donors about funding gaps while inviting them to be part of the solution. The episode also features a compelling case study of how Brandon transformed a $500,000 event into a million-dollar fundraiser using an innovative anchor gift strategy. By securing a $100,000 anchor gift and strategically matching it multiple times he created collective momentum that inspired broader participation. Brandon emphasizes that fundraising isn't a water pump but rather a flywheel that gains momentum through consistent relationship building. As year-end approaches, he advises organizations to focus on authentic storytelling and treating donors as team members, recognizing that donors are consolidating their giving to fewer organizations that matter most to them. Breakdown of the Million Dollar Strategy: https://swaimstrategies.substack.com/p/how-to-turn-your-fundraising-event   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://swaimstrategies.com Utilizing over 20 years of nonprofit event strategy and production expertise, Swaim Strategies coaches and teaches organizations how to increase the impact of their fundraising events.    The AV Department: https://theavdept.com/ As a full-service event AV and video production partner, The AV Department’s technical event production and media content generation provide you with a range of experience and talent from a partner who wants to know you and work together year after year.    Bloomerang: https://bit.ly/4hLqLVw Create the ideal giving experience with integrated fundraising tools and automated insights that maximize your impact. Keep donors close to the cause with mean-ingful outreach at the right time. Increase retention, major gifts, and all-around impact. Turn supporters into action-takers with tools that make it easy to recruit, organize, and engage volunteers at every level.   Feathr: https://www.feathr.co/ Feathr is a marketing platform built specifically for mission-driven organizations, offering simple tools for digital advertising, email campaigns, and audience engagement. The platform uses real-time insights and AI-powered segmentation to help you reach the right people at the right time—whether you’re nurturing existing supporters or discovering new ones who share your values. It’s marketing that meets people where they are, building relationships that last beyond a single click.   Speakers Samantha Swaim LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-swaim-a28a9a4/ Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies   Kristin Steele LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-steele777/ Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies   Brandon Lenzi LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandon-lenzi-992955138/   | RESOURCES | Connect with Swaim Strategies: https://swaimstrategies.com Propose a Podcast Episode: https://swaimstrategies.com/propose-a-podcast-episode/ Get Event Help Right Now with Gala 911: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/gala-911/ Book Consulting Time with Sam: https://calendly.com/consultingwithsam Book Consulting Time with Kristin: https://calendly.com/eventstorytelling Learn More About the Elevate Conference: https://swaimstrategies.com/elevate-conference/ Get Planning a Successful Major Donor Event: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/#book Join Swaim Strategies on Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies Connect with The AV Department:  https://theavdept.com/ Connect with Bowtie Strategies: https://www.bowtiestrategies.co/   Willamette Week’s Give!Guide: https://giveguide.org/  Tabor Dance: https://www.tabordance.org/ Bike Bus PDX: https://www.bikebuspdx.org/

In this episode we talk with Amy Eisenstein, CEO and co-founder of Capital Campaign Pro, about what it really takes to launch a successful capital campaign. With over 25 years of experience in major gift fundraising, Amy shares practical advice for organizations ready to dream big—and fund those dreams sustainably. Amy explains that a capital campaign is more than a fundraising goal, it’s a long-term investment in an organization’s future. She walks through the key phases of a campaign, from early planning and feasibility studies to the quiet and public phases, emphasizing that success begins with thoughtful preparation and authentic donor engagement. She talks about how annual fundraising and campaign efforts can strengthen one another rather than compete, and also introduces her modern approach to feasibility studies, where nonprofit leaders engage directly with donors to build stronger relationships and deeper trust. Her final advice is simple but powerful: have one meaningful conversation with a donor every single day. It’s a reminder that great fundraising isn’t just about dollars—it’s about relationships that sustain impact for years to come. 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://swaimstrategies.com Utilizing over 20 years of nonprofit event strategy and production expertise, Swaim Strategies coaches and teaches organizations how to increase the impact of their fundraising events.    The AV Department: https://theavdept.com/ As a full-service event AV and video production partner, The AV Department’s technical event production and media content generation provide you with a range of experience and talent from a partner who wants to know you and work together year after year.    Bloomerang: https://bloomerang.com/learn/demo-live/?utm_medium=referral_partner&pscd=try.bloomerang.co&ps_partner_key=OGI3NDc1MzkxZmEx&ps_xid=ASf9UvjXjU56ES&gsxid=ASf9UvjXjU56ES&gspk=OGI3NDc1MzkxZmEx Create the ideal giving experience with integrated fundraising tools and automated insights that maximize your impact. Keep donors close to the cause with mean-ingful outreach at the right time. Increase retention, major gifts, and all-around impact. Turn supporters into action-takers with tools that make it easy to recruit, organize, and engage volunteers at every level.   Feathr: https://www.feathr.co/ Feathr is a marketing platform built specifically for mission-driven organizations, offering simple tools for digital advertising, email campaigns, and audience engagement. The platform uses real-time insights and AI-powered segmentation to help you reach the right people at the right time—whether you’re nurturing existing supporters or discovering new ones who share your values. It’s marketing that meets people where they are, building relationships that last beyond a single click. Speakers Samantha Swaim LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-swaim-a28a9a4/ Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies   Kristin Steele LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-steele777/ Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies   Amy Eisenstein LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/capital-campaign-pro/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amyeisensteinacfre/   | RESOURCES | Connect with Swaim Strategies: https://swaimstrategies.com Propose a Podcast Episode: https://swaimstrategies.com/propose-a-podcast-episode/ Get Event Help Right Now with Gala 911: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/gala-911/ Book Consulting Time with Sam: https://calendly.com/consultingwithsam Book Consulting Time with Kristin: https://calendly.com/eventstorytelling Learn More About the Elevate Conference: https://swaimstrategies.com/elevate-conference/ Get Planning a Successful Major Donor Event: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/#book Join Swaim Strategies on Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies Connect with The AV Department:  https://theavdept.com/ Connect with Capital Campaign Pro: https://capitalcampaignpro.com/subscribe/ Free Strategy Session to Discuss Your Capital Campaign Plans: https://capitalcampaignpro.com/start/

In this powerful episode, hosts Kristin and Sam make an urgent case for why now is exactly the wrong time to cancel your fundraising events. They explore the neuroscience behind why gatherings work: shared experiences literally sync our heartbeats, create neural alignment that enhances trust and cooperation, and generate collective effervescence—that bubbly, transcendent energy that individuals simply cannot achieve alone. When we watch stories unfold together, oxytocin flows, bonds form, and donors can look around a room and see tangible proof that they're part of a movement. For event planners deep in the logistics trenches right now, the episode offers both inspiration and practical guidance: get specific with storytelling rather than trying to cram every program into one night, remove transactional clutter in favor of genuine connection, and always include a clear ask—because not inviting people to give actually tanks satisfaction scores. This episode is a rallying cry to gather with intention, host like the world depends on it, and remember that a room full of people holding up paddles isn't just raising money—they're building the safety net your organization needs to weather whatever comes next. 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://swaimstrategies.com Utilizing over 20 years of nonprofit event strategy and production expertise, Swaim Strategies coaches and teaches organizations how to increase the impact of their fundraising events.    The AV Department: https://theavdept.com/ As a full-service event AV and video production partner, The AV Department’s technical event production and media content generation provide you with a range of experience and talent from a partner who wants to know you and work together year after year.    Feathr: https://www.feathr.co/ Feathr is a marketing platform built specifically for mission-driven organizations, offering simple tools for digital advertising, email campaigns, and audience engagement. The platform uses real-time insights and AI-powered segmentation to help you reach the right people at the right time—whether you’re nurturing existing supporters or discovering new ones who share your values. It’s marketing that meets people where they are, building relationships that last beyond a single click.   Speakers Samantha Swaim LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-swaim-a28a9a4/ Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies   Kristin Steele LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-steele777/ Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies   | RESOURCES | Connect with Swaim Strategies: https://swaimstrategies.com Propose a Podcast Episode: https://swaimstrategies.com/propose-a-podcast-episode/ Get Event Help Right Now with Gala 911: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/gala-911/ Book Consulting Time with Sam: https://calendly.com/consultingwithsam Book Consulting Time with Kristin: https://calendly.com/eventstorytelling Learn More About the Elevate Conference: https://swaimstrategies.com/elevate-conference/ Get Planning a Successful Major Donor Event: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/#book Join Swaim Strategies on Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies Connect with The AV Department:  https://theavdept.com/ Podcast with Dr. Paul Zak, Part 1 :https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HWAwlEVz5M&t=3s Podcast with Dr. Paul Zak, Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kSKDbgNSxZk&t=1706s Audience Members Hearts’ Beat Together at the Theatre: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/brain-sciences/news/2017/nov/audience-members-hearts-beat-together-theatre “Beyoncé Isn’t Giving Up on America” Cannonball with Wesley Morris: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyonc%C3%A9-isnt-giving-up-on-america/id1151436460?i=1000721020745 “Quantifying Collective Effervescence”: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3306345/ Safety Protocols: https://swaimstrategies.substack.com/p/event-safety-recommendations-and  

In this power-packed episode, former NFL player turned professional benefit auctioneer Reggie Rivers tackles topics head-on: ditch the tall centerpieces that create barriers between auctioneers and donors, stop at $100 minimum gifts to train donors upward rather than nickel-and-diming them, and skip the fundraising thermometer unless you can set it with surgical precision. Most importantly he breaks down why the paddle raise is the only moment at your event when you're purely selling your mission not engaging in retail transactions.  Rivers explains why dinner galas outperform breakfast events and golf tournaments. He emphasizes that pre-committed gifts aren't just revenue, they're leadership and role modeling that teach audiences trust and create momentum. The paddle raise transforms events from transactional experiences into collective action moments where 500 people celebrate together, "We did this!" Reggie shows us why the best idea is to hire a professional benefit auctioneer who understands the neuroscience of giving and can read a room in real-time to maximize that mission-critical moment. Don’t miss this episode full of actionable advice from a professional who has seen a lot on and off the field! 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://swaimstrategies.com Utilizing over 20 years of nonprofit event strategy and production expertise, Swaim Strategies coaches and teaches organizations how to increase the impact of their fundraising events.    The AV Department: https://theavdept.com/ As a full-service event AV and video production partner, The AV Department’s technical event production and media content generation provide you with a range of experience and talent from a partner who wants to know you and work together year after year.    Feathr: https://www.feathr.co/ Feathr is a marketing platform built specifically for mission-driven organizations, offering simple tools for digital advertising, email campaigns, and audience engagement. The platform uses real-time insights and AI-powered segmentation to help you reach the right people at the right time—whether you’re nurturing existing supporters or discovering new ones who share your values. It’s marketing that meets people where they are, building relationships that last beyond a single click.   Speakers Samantha Swaim LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-swaim-a28a9a4/ Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies   Kristin Steele LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-steele777/ Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies   Reggie Rivers LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/reggierivers/   | RESOURCES | Connect with Swaim Strategies: https://swaimstrategies.com Propose a Podcast Episode: https://swaimstrategies.com/propose-a-podcast-episode/ Get Event Help Right Now with Gala 911: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/gala-911/ Book Consulting Time with Sam: https://calendly.com/consultingwithsam Book Consulting Time with Kristin: https://calendly.com/eventstorytelling Learn More About the Elevate Conference: https://swaimstrategies.com/elevate-conference/ Get Planning a Successful Major Donor Event: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/#book Join Swaim Strategies on Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies Connect with The AV Department:  https://theavdept.com/

In this special episode of The Fundraising Elevator, host Samantha Swaim takes listeners behind the scenes at the Raise Conference in San Antonio, Texas. Recording live from the Raise Nation Radio studio, Sam talks to six industry leaders, gathering their insights on what fundraisers should focus on right now and busting common fundraising myths. Featured Guests: Barbara O'Reilly - Founder and Principal, Windmill Hill Consulting Nathan Chappell - Author and Chief AI Officer at Virtuous Susan Kramer - Founder/CEO of Susan Kramer Consulting Christina Jones - Founder of Command Joy Matt Bitzegaio - CEO of DonorDock Bradley Martin - VP of Growth Marketing at Feathr This special episode offers you actionable insights and inspiration from leading voices in the fundraising sector all recorded in the energetic atmosphere of a live conference setting. Special thanks to GSF Media, OneCause, and Raise Nation Radio. 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://swaimstrategies.com Utilizing over 20 years of nonprofit event strategy and production expertise, Swaim Strategies coaches and teaches organizations how to increase the impact of their fundraising events.    The AV Department: https://theavdept.com/ As a full-service event AV and video production partner, The AV Department’s technical event production and media content generation provide you with a range of experience and talent from a partner who wants to know you and work together year after year.    Feathr: https://www.feathr.co/ Feathr is a marketing platform built specifically for mission-driven organizations, offering simple tools for digital advertising, email campaigns, and audience engagement. The platform uses real-time insights and AI-powered segmentation to help you reach the right people at the right time—whether you’re nurturing existing supporters or discovering new ones who share your values. It’s marketing that meets people where they are, building relationships that last beyond a single click.   Speakers Samantha Swaim LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-swaim-a28a9a4/ Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies   Kristin Steele LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-steele777/ Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies   | RESOURCES | Connect with Swaim Strategies: https://swaimstrategies.com Propose a Podcast Episode: https://swaimstrategies.com/propose-a-podcast-episode/ Get Event Help Right Now with Gala 911: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/gala-911/ Book Consulting Time with Sam: https://calendly.com/consultingwithsam Book Consulting Time with Kristin: https://calendly.com/eventstorytelling Learn More About the Elevate Conference: https://swaimstrategies.com/elevate-conference/ Get Planning a Successful Major Donor Event: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/#book Join Swaim Strategies on Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies Connect with The AV Department:  https://theavdept.com/ Connect with Barbara O’Reilly: https://whillconsulting.com/ Connect with Nathan Chapell: https://virtuous.org/ Connect with Susan Kramer: https://susankramerconsulting.com/ Connect with Christina Jones: https://www.commandjoyco.com/ Connect with Matt Bitzegaio: https://www.donordock.com/ Connect with Bradley Martin: https://www.feathr.co/ Thank you to GSF Media: https://gsfmedia.com/ Thank you to OneCause: https://www.onecause.com/ Thank you to Raise Nation Radio: https://www.onecause.com/raise-nation-podcast/

In this episode of The Fundraising Elevator, we continue our fascinating conversation with neuroscientist and author Dr. Paul J. Zak, diving deeper into the brain science behind fundraising storytelling, donor engagement, and happiness. If you missed part one, be sure to start there, this continuation builds on insights into why stories inspire generosity and action in the nonprofit sector. Dr. Zak explains his groundbreaking concept of neurologic immersion which is a blend of attention and emotional resonance in the brain that predicts which stories move people to act. He introduces the SIRTA framework (Staging, Immersion, Relevance, Targeting, Action), a practical tool that nonprofits can use to design donor experiences that increase connection, engagement, and giving. We explore real-world research on how immersive storytelling in fundraising videos drives donations, why staging matters for successful fundraising events, and how to lower barriers for donors by building camaraderie and relevance.  The conversation also shifts into the science of happiness, exploring Dr. Zak’s newest book, The Little Book of Happiness. He shares how high-value social experiences not only strengthen donor relationships but also enhance well-being, increase generosity, and even extend our lives. With wisdom rooted in both neuroscience and the practices of Benjamin Franklin, Dr. Zak offers a roadmap for living more connected, fulfilled, and generous lives. If you’re a nonprofit professional looking to improve donor retention, boost fundraising results, and create more impactful donor experiences, this episode is packed with actionable insights at the intersection of neuroscience, storytelling, and nonprofit fundraising strategies. 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://swaimstrategies.com Utilizing over 20 years of nonprofit event strategy and production expertise, Swaim Strategies coaches and teaches organizations how to increase the impact of their fundraising events.    The AV Department: https://theavdept.com/ As a full-service event AV and video production partner, The AV Department’s technical event production and media content generation provide you with a range of experience and talent from a partner who wants to know you and work together year after year.    Feathr: https://www.feathr.co/   Speakers Samantha Swaim LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-swaim-a28a9a4/ Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies   Kristin Steele LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-steele777/ Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies   Dr. Paul J. Zak LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-j-zak-91123510/   | RESOURCES | Connect with Swaim Strategies: https://swaimstrategies.com Propose a Podcast Episode: https://swaimstrategies.com/propose-a-podcast-episode/ Get Event Help Right Now with Gala 911: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/gala-911/ Book Consulting Time with Sam: https://calendly.com/consultingwithsam Book Consulting Time with Kristin: https://calendly.com/eventstorytelling Learn More About the Elevate Conference: https://swaimstrategies.com/elevate-conference/ Get Planning a Successful Major Donor Event: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/#book Join Swaim Strategies on Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies Connect with The AV Department:  https://theavdept.com/ Connect with Paul Zak: https://pauljzak.com/ Immersion: https://pauljzak.com/books/ The Little Book of Happiness: https://pauljzak.com/books/ Paul Zak TED Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rFAdlU2ETjU

Welcome to Season Three of The Fundraising Elevator! In this special two-part opener, hosts Sam and Kristin sit down with world-renowned neuroscientist Dr. Paul Zak, a pioneer in neuroeconomics, neuromanagement, and neuromarketing. Best known for discovering oxytocin’s role in trust and human connection, Dr. Zak brings cutting-edge insights on donor psychology, empathy, and storytelling in fundraising. In Part One, we explore the science of giving: why humans are wired to cooperate, how oxytocin fuels generosity and trust, and why storytelling is the most effective tool for donor engagement. Dr. Zak breaks down how attention, emotion, and immersion inspire people to act—and shares proven strategies for fundraisers to design high-impact campaigns and events. From crafting stories that spark empathy to creating immersive donor experiences, this episode offers practical applications backed by neuroscience. If you’re a nonprofit professional, fundraiser, or development leader looking to increase donor trust, deepen engagement, and inspire generosity, this episode delivers evidence-based strategies to elevate your fundraising success. 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://swaimstrategies.com Utilizing over 20 years of nonprofit event strategy and production expertise, Swaim Strategies coaches and teaches organizations how to increase the impact of their fundraising events.    The AV Department: https://theavdept.com/ As a full-service event AV and video production partner, The AV Department’s technical event production and media content generation provide you with a range of experience and talent from a partner who wants to know you and work together year after year.    Feathr: https://www.feathr.co/   Speakers Samantha Swaim LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-swaim-a28a9a4/ Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies   Kristin Steele LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-steele777/ Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies   Dr. Paul J. Zak LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-j-zak-91123510/   | RESOURCES | Connect with Swaim Strategies: https://swaimstrategies.com Propose a Podcast Episode: https://swaimstrategies.com/propose-a-podcast-episode/ Get Event Help Right Now with Gala 911: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/gala-911/ Book Consulting Time with Sam: https://calendly.com/consultingwithsam Book Consulting Time with Kristin: https://calendly.com/eventstorytelling Learn More About the Elevate Conference: https://swaimstrategies.com/elevate-conference/ Get Planning a Successful Major Donor Event: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/#book Join Swaim Strategies on Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies Connect with The AV Department:  https://theavdept.com/ Connect with Paul Zak: https://pauljzak.com/ Empathy, Neurochemistry, and the Dramatic Arc: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1a7tiA1Qzo Immersion: https://pauljzak.com/books/ The Little Book of Happiness: https://pauljzak.com/books/ No One Wants to Read Your Sh*t: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30556551-nobody-wants-to-read-your-sh-t SIX: your6.com “Virtual Reality Education Increases Neurologic Immersion and Empathy in Nursing Students”: https://www.mdpi.com/2039-4403/15/9/336 Paul Zak TED Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rFAdlU2ETjU The Value Measurement: https://www.getimmersion.com/

In this episode Christine Campbell, the Marketing Manager at The AV Department, dives into strategies for effectively capturing and utilizing content from live events. Hear  insights on simple tools and techniques to ensure you maximize the value of your event content. Learn the fundamentals of capturing high-quality content during live events and why it's crucial for your marketing efforts. Find out how to repurpose event content across various platforms to extend its reach and lifespan. Hear Christine’s advice on overcoming common challenges in event content capture and distribution. This episode offers actionable tips to enhance your content strategy and boost audience engagement.   Loving The Fundraising Elevator? Please subscribe, rate and review the podcast. It really helps other people find the show. This podcast is a production of elevatenonprofit.com.   This Episode Brought to You by:  Swaim Strategies: https://swaimstrategies.com Utilizing over 20 years of nonprofit event strategy and production expertise, Swaim Strategies coaches and teaches organizations how to increase the impact of their fundraising events.    The AV Department: https://theavdept.com/ As a full-service event AV and video production partner, The AV Department’s technical event production and media content generation provide you with a range of experience and talent from a partner who wants to know you and work together year after year.    Greater Giving: https://go.greatergiving.com   Speakers Samantha Swaim LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-swaim-a28a9a4/ Instagram (Swaim Strategies): https://www.instagram.com/swaimstrategies/   Kristin Steele LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-steele777/ Instagram (Swaim Strategies): https://www.instagram.com/swaimstrategies/   Christine Campbell LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-av-department Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/avenueportland Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theavdepartment   Resources Book Consulting Time with Sam and Kristin: Sam - https://calendly.com/consultingwithsam Kristin - https://calendly.com/eventstorytelling   Learn More About Elevate and the Elevate Conference for Your Fundraising Events: https://swaimstrategies.com/elevate-conference/   Connect with The AV Department: https://theavdept.com/   Swaim Strategies: https://swaimstrategies.com   Planning a Successful Major Donor Event: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/#book   The AV Department: https://theavdept.com/   AVENUE: https://avenueportland.com/ The AV Department Video Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@theavdepartment

In this episode we talk to Jason Allen Champion, Vice President of National Partnerships for Winspire, to discuss how consignment auctions can be a strategic tool for nonprofit fundraising. Consignment auctions offer nonprofits a low-risk way to enhance fundraising efforts while creating memorable donor experiences that reinforce organizational missions. Jason shares his expertise on maximizing revenue through consignment auction packages and provides insights on creating mission-aligned experiences that resonate with donors. We explore online auction strategies, creating packages, creative fundraising ideas, and the critical work of donor stewardship that can be a part of the experience of the packages they win at your auction.  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://swaimstrategies.com Utilizing over 20 years of nonprofit event strategy and production expertise, Swaim Strategies coaches and teaches organizations how to increase the impact of their fundraising events.    The AV Department: https://theavdept.com/ As a full-service event AV and video production partner, The AV Department’s technical event production and media content generation provide you with a range of experience and talent from a partner who wants to know you and work together year after year.    Greater Giving: https://go.greatergiving.com   Speakers Samantha Swaim LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-swaim-a28a9a4/ Instagram (Swaim Strategies): https://www.instagram.com/swaimstrategies/   Kristin Steele LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-steele777/ Instagram (Swaim Strategies): https://www.instagram.com/swaimstrategies/   Jason Allen Champion LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-allen-champion-802a7b13/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teamwinspire/   Resources Book Consulting Time: Strategy Consulting with Sam: https://calendly.com/consultingwithsam Story Consulting with Kristin: https://calendly.com/eventstorytelling   Learn More About Elevate and the Elevate Conference for Your Fundraising Events: https://swaimstrategies.com/elevate-conference/   Planning a Successful Major Donor Event: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/#book   Connect with The AV Department: https://theavdept.com/   Connect with Swaim Strategies: https://swaimstrategies.com   Winspire: https://www.winspireme.com/

In this episode, we chat with Chef Kiara Hardy of Kitchen Killa Culinary Solutions about the powerful role food plays in creating unforgettable event experiences. Learn how to collaborate with your event caterer to design an immersive atmosphere that aligns with your vision and budget. Chef Kiara shares her expert insights on the seasonality of food, different types of service, venue kitchen logistics, and how to tailor your menu to match your crowd’s dynamics. Don’t miss this chance to discover how thoughtful food choices can elevate your next fundraising event and create lasting impressions.   Loving The Fundraising Elevator? Please subscribe, rate and review the podcast. It really helps other people find the show. This podcast is a production of elevatenonprofit.com.   This Episode Brought to You by:  Swaim Strategies: https://swaimstrategies.com Utilizing over 20 years of nonprofit event strategy and production expertise, Swaim Strategies coaches and teaches organizations how to increase the impact of their fundraising events.    The AV Department: https://theavdept.com/ As a full-service event AV and video production partner, The AV Department’s technical event production and media content generation provide you with a range of experience and talent from a partner who wants to know you and work together year after year.    Greater Giving: https://go.greatergiving.com   Speakers Samantha Swaim LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-swaim-a28a9a4/ Instagram (Swaim Strategies): https://www.instagram.com/swaimstrategies/   Kristin Steele LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-steele777/ Instagram (Swaim Strategies): https://www.instagram.com/swaimstrategies/   Kiara Hardy LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kiara-hardy-265836270/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kitchen_killa/   Resources Book Consulting Time with Sam: https://calendly.com/consultingwithsam Book Consulting Time with  Kristin: https://calendly.com/eventstorytelling   Learn More About Elevate and the Elevate Conference for Your Fundraising Events: https://swaimstrategies.com/elevate-conference/   Connect with The AV Department: https://theavdept.com/   Swaim Strategies: https://swaimstrategies.com   Planning a Successful Major Donor Event: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/#book   Kitchen Killa Culinary Solutions: https://kitchenkilla.com/   Kitchen Killa Fry Seasoning: https://www.kitchenkillashop.com/product-page/fry-seasoning Kitchen Killa at Multnomah Whiskey Library: https://mwlpdx.com/event/kitchen-killa-brunch-series/

In this episode our very own storytelling expert Kristin Steele explores the art and impact of storytelling in nonprofit fundraising. Discover how strategic storytelling can connect with donors on an emotional level, making your mission unforgettable and inspiring action at your next fundraising event. Kristin shares essential strategies for crafting relatable, emotionally driven narratives that can transform complex issues into powerful stories, helping donors connect deeply with your cause. Loving The Fundraising Elevator? Please subscribe, rate and review the podcast. It really helps other people find the show. This podcast is a production of elevatenonprofit.com.   This Episode Brought to You by:  Swaim Strategies: https://swaimstrategies.com Utilizing over 20 years of nonprofit event strategy and production expertise, Swaim Strategies coaches and teaches organizations how to increase the impact of their fundraising events.    The AV Department: https://theavdept.com/ As a full-service event AV and video production partner, The AV Department’s technical event production and media content generation provide you with a range of experience and talent from a partner who wants to know you and work together year after year.    Greater Giving: https://go.greatergiving.com   Speakers Samantha Swaim LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-swaim-a28a9a4/ Instagram (Swaim Strategies): https://www.instagram.com/swaimstrategies/   Kristin Steele LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-steele777/ Instagram (Swaim Strategies): https://www.instagram.com/swaimstrategies/   Resources Book Consulting Time with Sam: https://calendly.com/consultingwithsam Book Consulting Time with  Kristin: https://calendly.com/eventstorytelling   Learn More About Elevate and the Elevate Conference for Your Fundraising Events: https://swaimstrategies.com/elevate-conference/ 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://swaimstrategies.com Utilizing over 20 years of nonprofit event strategy and production expertise, Swaim Strategies coaches and teaches organizations how to increase the impact of their fundraising events.    The AV Department: https://theavdept.com/ As a full-service event AV and video production partner, The AV Department’s technical event production and media content generation provide you with a range of experience and talent from a partner who wants to know you and work together year after year.    Greater Giving: https://go.greatergiving.com   Speakers Samantha Swaim LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-swaim-a28a9a4/ Instagram (Swaim Strategies): https://www.instagram.com/swaimstrategies/   Kristin Steele LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-steele777/ Instagram (Swaim Strategies): https://www.instagram.com/swaimstrategies/   Mariah Monique LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/thesponsorshipcatalyst Instagram: @thesponsrshipcatalyst   Resources Book Consulting Time with Sam: https://calendly.com/consultingwithsam Book Consulting Time with  Kristin: https://calendly.com/eventstorytelling   Learn More About Elevate and the Elevate Conference for Your Fundraising Events: https://swaimstrategies.com/elevate-conference/   Connect with The AV Department: https://theavdept.com/   Swaim Strategies: https://swaimstrategies.com   Planning a Successful Major Donor Event: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/#book   “Storytelling Animal” by Jonathan Gottschall: https://www.jonathangottschall.com/storytelling-animal   “Stories that Stick” by Kindra Hall: https://www.storiesthatstick.com/   “Wired for Story” by Lisa Cron: http://wiredforstory.com/wired-for-story   Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs: https://www.simplypsychology.org/maslow.html   About the Event Arc: https://swaim-strategies.slab.com/posts/event-arc-for-in-person-galas-jrqaxeea   Emcee Best Practices: https://swaim-strategies.slab.com/public/posts/c6b2kgm6   Storytelling Best Practices: https://swaim-strategies.slab.com/public/posts/aomiuvxd Camp Fire Columbia Org Video: https://youtu.be/kGPStrdYk4M

In this episode, we welcome Kimberly A.C. Wilson, Executive Director of Hedgebrook, to explore how hybrid events and radical hospitality are transforming fundraising. Hedgebrook, a writing residency for women-identified authors, has evolved its annual event, EQUIVOX, into a powerful hybrid experience that unites a global community of writers, readers, and supporters. Kimberly shares insights into the impact of virtual accessibility, the power of storytelling in fundraising, and the deep connections fostered between writers and readers. We discuss how Hedgebrook leveraged hybrid events to raise over half a million dollars, expanded donor engagement beyond geographical limits, and created a model for other organizations to follow. Plus, get a sneak peek at this year's EQUIVOX, featuring speakers Claudia Castro Luna, Jacqueline Woodson and Dr. Seema Yasmin, and learn how you can tune in for free. Whether you’re a nonprofit leader, an event planner, or just passionate about the arts, this episode is packed with insights on crafting immersive, inclusive fundraising experiences. 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://swaimstrategies.com Utilizing over 20 years of nonprofit event strategy and production expertise, Swaim Strategies coaches and teaches organizations how to increase the impact of their fundraising events.    The AV Department: https://theavdept.com/ As a full-service event AV and video production partner, The AV Department’s technical event production and media content generation provide you with a range of experience and talent from a partner who wants to know you and work together year after year.    Greater Giving: https://go.greatergiving.com   DC Auctions: https://dc-auctions.com/   Speakers Samantha Swaim LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-swaim-a28a9a4/ Instagram (Swaim Strategies): https://www.instagram.com/swaimstrategies/   Kristin Steele LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-steele777/ Instagram (Swaim Strategies): https://www.instagram.com/swaimstrategies/   Kimberly A.C. Wilson LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hedgebrook Google: https://www.hedgebrook.org/   Resources  sizes and industries while debunking the myth that only large corporations offer worthwhile sponsorships. Mariah stresses the importance of connecting with "sponsorship gatekeepers" and approaching sponsors as equal partners, confident in the value nonprofits provide through their cultivated audiences. By understanding sponsors' goals and moving beyond transactional interactions, nonprofits can build enduring partnerships that benefit all parties involved. 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://swaimstrategies.com Utilizing over 20 years of nonprofit event strategy and production expertise, Swaim Strategies coaches and teaches organizations how to increase the impact of their fundraising events.    The AV Department: https://theavdept.com/ As a full-service event AV and video production partner, The AV Department’s technical event production and media content generation provide you with a range of experience and talent from a partner who wants to know you and work together year after year.    Greater Giving: https://go.greatergiving.com   Speakers Samantha Swaim LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-swaim-a28a9a4/ Instagram (Swaim Strategies): https://www.instagram.com/swaimstrategies/   Kristin Steele LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-steele777/ Instagram (Swaim Strategies): https://www.instagram.com/swaimstrategies/   Mariah Monique LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/thesponsorshipcatalyst Instagram: @thesponsrshipcatalyst   Resources Book Consulting Time with Sam: https://calendly.com/consultingwithsam Book Consulting Time with  Kristin: https://calendly.com/eventstorytelling   Learn More About Elevate and the Elevate Conference for Your Fundraising Events: https://swaimstrategies.com/elevate-conference/   Connect with The AV Department: https://theavdept.com/   Connect with Swaim Strategies: https://swaimstrategies.com   Planning a Successful Major Donor Event: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/#book   Hedgebrook: https://www.hedgebrook.org/   EQUIVOX event livestream: https://www.avcast.me/equivox Virtual tickets to the Elevate Conference: https://swaimstrategies.com/elevate-conference/

In this episode, Kim Fountain from the San Diego LGBTQ Community Center discusses the profound importance of creating intentional spaces—both literal and figurative—where individuals can connect, belong, and thrive. Kim delves into the concept of "safe spaces," redefining them as co-created environments of respect, belonging, and creativity, where individuals are inspired to take risks—both personal and collective—that generate joy and progress. Kim shares moving stories from her work, including the magic of collaborative events like the San Diego Center’s gala, where joy united 800 attendees in celebration. Through these experiences, we see how moments of connection spark movements and turn guests into evangelists for a cause. Tune in to learn how creating spaces for belonging and celebration not only uplifts communities but also fuels the passion and resources necessary for meaningful change. This Episode Brought to You by:  Swaim Strategies: https://swaimstrategies.com Utilizing over 20 years of nonprofit event strategy and production expertise, Swaim Strategies coaches and teaches organizations how to increase the impact of their fundraising events.    The AV Department: https://theavdept.com/ As a full-service event AV and video production partner, The AV Department’s technical event production and media content generation provide you with a range of experience and talent from a partner who wants to know you and work together year after year.    Greater Giving: https://go.greatergiving.com   Speakers Samantha Swaim LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-swaim-a28a9a4/ Instagram (Swaim Strategies): https://www.instagram.com/swaimstrategies/   Kristin Steele LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-steele777/ Instagram (Swaim Strategies): https://www.instagram.com/swaimstrategies/   Kim Fountain LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kim-fountain-0a204328/ Google: https://thecentersd.org/   Resources Book Consulting Time with Sam: https://calendly.com/consultingwithsam Book Consulting Time with  Kristin: https://calendly.com/eventstorytelling   Learn More About Elevate and the Elevate Conference for Your Fundraising Events: https://swaimstrategies.com/elevate-conference/   Connect with The AV Department: https://theavdept.com/   Swaim Strategies: https://swaimstrategies.com   Planning a Successful Major Donor Event: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/#book   San Diego LGBT Center: https://thecentersd.org/   Association of Fundraising Professionals: https://afpglobal.org/ CenterLink: https://www.lgbtqcenters.org/

In this episode Mariah Monique of The Sponsorship Catalyst shares her expertise on nonprofit sponsorship strategies. Drawing from her experience on both sides of sponsorship relationships, Mariah brings great insight and strategy to event sponsorship. Despite economic uncertainties, sponsorship budgets are growing as companies recognize the value of experiential marketing. She advises nonprofits to diversify their sponsorship portfolio across businesses of different sizes and industries while debunking the myth that only large corporations offer worthwhile sponsorships. Mariah stresses the importance of connecting with "sponsorship gatekeepers" and approaching sponsors as equal partners, confident in the value nonprofits provide through their cultivated audiences. By understanding sponsors' goals and moving beyond transactional interactions, nonprofits can build enduring partnerships that benefit all parties involved. 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://swaimstrategies.com Utilizing over 20 years of nonprofit event strategy and production expertise, Swaim Strategies coaches and teaches organizations how to increase the impact of their fundraising events.    The AV Department: https://theavdept.com/ As a full-service event AV and video production partner, The AV Department’s technical event production and media content generation provide you with a range of experience and talent from a partner who wants to know you and work together year after year.    Greater Giving: https://go.greatergiving.com   Speakers Samantha Swaim LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-swaim-a28a9a4/ Instagram (Swaim Strategies): https://www.instagram.com/swaimstrategies/   Kristin Steele LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-steele777/ Instagram (Swaim Strategies): https://www.instagram.com/swaimstrategies/   Mariah Monique LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/thesponsorshipcatalyst Instagram: @thesponsrshipcatalyst   Resources Book Consulting Time with Sam: https://calendly.com/consultingwithsam Book Consulting Time with  Kristin: https://calendly.com/eventstorytelling   Learn More About Elevate and the Elevate Conference for Your Fundraising Events: https://swaimstrategies.com/elevate-conference/   Planning a Successful Major Donor Event: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/#book   Connect with The AV Department: https://theavdept.com/   Connect with Swaim Strategies: https://swaimstrategies.com Event Sponsorship Article: https://constellation.take2services.com/blog/3-things-your-nonprofit-must-do-when-securing-event-sponsors   Sponsorship Deck Template: https://thesponsorshipcatalyst.thrivecart.com/sponsorship-deck-template/   Nonprofit Event Sponsorship Accelerator: https://thesponsorshipcatalyst.thrivecart.com/nesacourse/?coupon=NESA2025   If you join the course they can use code NESA2025 for $200 off of the Nonprofit Event Sponsorship Accelerator course.   Event Sponsorship Webinar: https://thesponsorshipcatalyst.thrivecart.com/event-sponsors/   Sponsor Brand Benefit List: https://thesponsorshipcatalyst.thrivecart.com/event-sponsors/   Email: [email protected]

In this episode Jo Davis from OnPoint Community Credit Union shares invaluable insights on successful nonprofit sponsorship strategies. Jo discusses how OnPoint and similar corporate sponsors approach sponsorships as more than financial transactions—they’re dedicated partnerships. She underscores the importance of authentic relationships and tracking sponsorship impact to maximize community support. Jo also provides practical advice on navigating corporate sponsorship applications, including tips on researching sponsor priorities and aligning values to create stand-out proposals. This episode is a must-listen for nonprofit leaders seeking effective sponsorship techniques, ways to build enduring partnerships, and strategies to boost their nonprofit’s impact. *Correction: The grant provided to the housing nonprofit by OnPoint in partnership with the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines was for $100,000. The press release can be found here: https://www.onpointcu.com/press-releases/four-local-nonprofits-awarded-600000-by-onpoint-community-credit-union-federal-home-loan-bank-of-des-moines/ Loving The Fundraising Elevator? Please subscribe, rate and review the podcast. It really helps other people find the show. This podcast is a production of elevatenonprofit.com.   This Episode Brought to You by:  Swaim Strategies: https://swaimstrategies.com Utilizing over 20 years of nonprofit event strategy and production expertise, Swaim Strategies coaches and teaches organizations how to increase the impact of their fundraising events.    The AV Department: https://theavdept.com/ As a full-service event AV and video production partner, The AV Department’s technical event production and media content generation provide you with a range of experience and talent from a partner who wants to know you and work together year after year.    Greater Giving: https://go.greatergiving.com   Speakers Samantha Swaim LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-swaim-a28a9a4/ Instagram (Swaim Strategies): https://www.instagram.com/swaimstrategies/   Kristin Steele LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-steele777/ Instagram (Swaim Strategies): https://www.instagram.com/swaimstrategies/   Jo Davis LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jodavispdx/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jojobeanpdx/ Resources Book Consulting Time with Sam: https://calendly.com/consultingwithsam Book Consulting Time with  Kristin: https://calendly.com/eventstorytelling Learn More About Elevate and the Elevate Conference for Your Fundraising Events: https://swaimstrategies.com/elevate-conference/   Connect with The AV Department: https://theavdept.com/   Swaim Strategies: https://swaimstrategies.com   Planning a Successful Major Donor Event: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/#book OnPoint Community Credit Union: https://www.onpointcu.com/

Welcome to the final episode of Season 2 where co-hosts Samantha and Kristin sit down to talk about the evolving landscape of fundraising events. They reflect on the trends shaping nonprofit events today—from the resurgence of in-person gatherings post-pandemic to the essential role of celebration, community-building, and authenticity. You'll hear about the growing importance of intentionality in event programming, from centering joy and resilience to designing donor experiences that build real relationships. They also offer a roadmap for revenue strategy by looking at sponsorship, table sales, and partnership development. This episode is a celebration of what’s possible when we gather and a love letter to the power of mission-driven storytelling, leaving us with a call to be the architects of events that don’t just raise money—but raise the collective spirit. 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://swaimstrategies.com Utilizing over 20 years of nonprofit event strategy and production expertise, Swaim Strategies coaches and teaches organizations how to increase the impact of their fundraising events.    The AV Department: https://theavdept.com/ As a full-service event AV and video production partner, The AV Department’s technical event production and media content generation provide you with a range of experience and talent from a partner who wants to know you and work together year after year.    Greater Giving: https://go.greatergiving.com   DC Auctions: https://dc-auctions.com/   Speakers Samantha Swaim LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-swaim-a28a9a4/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/swaimstrategies/   Kristin Steele LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-steele777/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/swaimstrategies/   | RESOURCES | Book Consulting Time with Sam and Kristin: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/#consulting Learn More About Elevate and the Elevate Conference for Your Fundraising Events: https://swaimstrategies.com/elevate-conference/ Planning a Successful Major Donor Event: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/#book Connect with The AV Department: https://theavdept.com/ Connect with Swaim Strategies: https://swaimstrategies.com Be a Guest on the Podcast: https://swaimstrategies.com/propose-a-podcast-episode/ Raise Conference use code AMPLIFIER25: https://raise.onecause.com/ Nonprofit Storytelling Conference: https://nonprofitstorytellingconference.com/

In this episode Meena Das—CEO, speaker, and consultant at Namaste Data—explores AI through a critical lens grounded in ethics, equity, and humanity. Known for her deep expertise in equitable research design and data capacity building for nonprofits, Meena brings a powerful perspective on how the nonprofit sector can and should engage with AI. Rather than rushing into tools and tasks, Meena invites us to pause and dream. What would it look like if nonprofits started with their mission, their people, and their vision for community impact—and only then looked to AI as a tool to support that vision? What if every staff member had a seat at the table, contributing ideas not just about what tech can do, but what it should do? The conversation challenges the sector’s scarcity mindset, and the unchecked race to implement AI without deeper reflection. Meena takes us deep into the heart of her work, the AI Equity Project. This bold, multi-year research is an effort to uncover how nonprofits are engaging with AI and, more importantly, how they could be—ethically, equitably, and collaboratively. 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://swaimstrategies.com Utilizing over 20 years of nonprofit event strategy and production expertise, Swaim Strategies coaches and teaches organizations how to increase the impact of their fundraising events.    The AV Department: https://theavdept.com/ As a full-service event AV and video production partner, The AV Department’s technical event production and media content generation provide you with a range of experience and talent from a partner who wants to know you and work together year after year.    Greater Giving: https://go.greatergiving.com   DC Auctions: https://dc-auctions.com/   Speakers Samantha Swaim LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-swaim-a28a9a4/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/swaimstrategies/   Kristin Steele LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-steele777/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/swaimstrategies/   Meena Das LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meenadas/   | RESOURCES | Book Consulting Time with Sam and Kristin: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/#consulting Learn More About Elevate and the Elevate Conference for Your Fundraising Events: https://swaimstrategies.com/elevate-conference/ Planning a Successful Major Donor Event: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/#book Connect with The AV Department: https://theavdept.com/ Connect with Swaim Strategies: https://swaimstrategies.com Connect with Namaste Data: https://www.namastedata.org/freebies Join AI Advancement Lab for the August cohort: https://data-is-for-everyone.teachable.com/p/ai-advancement-lab AI Equity Project: https://aiequityproject.my.canva.site/2025