Does your fundraising subtext tell donors they matter or that they don't?

FromFundraising is Beautiful

Start listening View podcast show

Does your fundraising subtext tell donors they matter or that they don't?

FromFundraising is Beautiful

ratings:

Length:

21 minutes

Released:

Sep 27, 2017

Format:

Podcast episode

Description

What's the subtext of your donor-communications stream? That is, what's the overarching message they're getting, even though you might not be saying it out loud? We'll show you how to change your subtext into one that thrills and involves donors -- and keeps them giving.

Released:

Sep 27, 2017

Format:

Podcast episode

Titles in the series (100)

In this podcast, Steven Screen & Jeff Brooks give you super-actionable information for how you can make your next fundraising effort raise more money.

Skip carousel

Recession fundraising: Interview with Mal Warwick: Don't miss this interview with fundraising legend Mal Warwick, author of the recent book (as well as many other books on fundraising). Find out how to survive the recession -- including the biggest mistake you can make. by Fundraising is Beautiful
29 min listen
Things to do that will make you a better fundraiser: Here are ten practical things you can do -- starting today -- that will make you into a better fundraiser: Donate. Send and receive snail-mail. Sign up for lots of email from other nonprofits. Participate in online social networking sites. Hang... by Fundraising is Beautiful
16 min listen
Our Holiday wishes for you: The entire Fundraising Is Beautiful staff gathers for a holiday party and to wish our listeners and friends (especially those who are both) some good things for the coming year. by Fundraising is Beautiful
5 min listen
Fundraising in a bad economy: There's really only one thing you need to be afraid of during this economic crisis. Find out what it is, and discover many other tips for surviving hard times -- and maybe even turning it to your fundraising and long-term advantage. by Fundraising is Beautiful
17 min listen
Donor-Centric Newsletters, Part 1: Why You Should Have One: Did you know that many donors ask for newsletters from the charities they support? A great newsletter can improve donor retention and upgrading and bring in revenue while it does it. Find out how you can benefit from the power of a donor-centric... by Fundraising is Beautiful
15 min listen
Donor-Centric Newsletters, Part 2: How to Make it Work: Now that you believe in producing a newsletter for donors, here are some of the little-known and seldom-done best practices for making your newsletter bring in net revenue even while it improves the health of your file. by Fundraising is Beautiful
18 min listen
It's Not Too Late to Boost Your 2008 Revenue: The year is nearly over, but there's still time to do a go to your donors online -- in fact, the next couple of week are prime time for online fundraising. We'll lay out a basic schedule and give some tips for the last, crucial impacts of the year. by Fundraising is Beautiful
16 min listen
It's all about editing: The good fundraiser knows that not everything you do makes good fundraising. We bring donors on board with the stuff that makes their heart sing. We don't insist that they fully get it before we'll accept their donations. If you've been paying... by Fundraising is Beautiful
2 min listen
Partnership (not marketing) with donors: An interview with Troy Stremler, CEO of , a company that helps nonprofits measure and report the impact of their programs. Troy sees a big change in the new generation of donors: They don't want to be "marketed to" -- they want to be partners with the... by Fundraising is Beautiful
19 min listen
Program vs. Fundraising: How to Break the Tension: In almost every nonprofit organization there's tension between program people (those who do the organization's mission) and fundraising people (those who raise the money to make the work possible). This podcast reveals some things you can do to ease... by Fundraising is Beautiful
15 min listen
Your E-Z 30-minute fundraising review plan: We're back -- after a delay we're attributing to the economy and a house-fire -- with practical hints for planning your upcoming fundraising campaigns in a way that will help keep you out of trouble in these hard times. by Fundraising is Beautiful
11 min listen
Put your heart into fundraising: An interview with Cass Wheeler, former CEO of the and author of the new book You've Gotta Have Heart: Achieving Purpose Beyond Profit in the Social Sector (available at and at ). Don't miss what this wise CEO has to say about people who are good at... by Fundraising is Beautiful
21 min listen
Branding and Fundraising, Part 1: How does the discipline of branding help your efforts to raise revenue for your cause? How does it hurt? How do you decide how to spend your marketing dollars? Get ready for a feather-ruffling, controversial look at this difficult topic. by Fundraising is Beautiful
17 min listen
What is your website for?: If the purpose of your website is to raise funds, why is fundraising limited to a couple of "DONATE" buttons? Here's a look at how you can maximize online revenue by making your website relevant, useful, and easy for donors. Websites mentioned in this... by Fundraising is Beautiful
16 min listen
Why donors go away, Part 2: Why do your donors leave? For the most part, it's your fault -- the things you do (and don't do) drive away donors. But there's a lot you can do to keep donors happy, engaged, and giving. We look at some of those smart fundraising moves in this... by Fundraising is Beautiful
14 min listen
How to Work with a Fundraising Consultant: Working with the right fundraising consultant or agency can take your organization to undreamed-of heights. Having the wrong partner can be as rewarding as a long afternoon with a hungry, sleep-deprived two-year-old. In this podcast we share the three... by Fundraising is Beautiful
17 min listen
How to destroy your year-end letter: Two years ago, they had a great year-end letter that raised a lot of money for the cause. Last year, the committee was full of ideas for improving the letter. The result: a 50% drop in giving. Using two real year-end fundraising letters from a real... by Fundraising is Beautiful
12 min listen
How many appeals should you send?: How much fundraising is too much? How much is too little? There's no single right answer to these questions, but we can help you move toward what's best for your organization. If you increase your number of appeals, you will see more net revenue, and... by Fundraising is Beautiful
15 min listen
The power of relevance in fundraising: It's pretty simple, really: Fundraising works when it's relevant to donors. When it's not relevant, people ignore it. Using the recent Haiti earthquake as an example, we look at what makes a situation relevant, and what you can do to increase that... by Fundraising is Beautiful
22 min listen
Branding and Fundraising, Part 2: We continue the discussion on how your brand can help or hurt your fundraising and reveal the top branding error that torpedoes so many nonprofits. And don't miss a rare disagreement between Steven and Jeff -- tensions rise over dueling analogies.... by Fundraising is Beautiful
18 min listen
What to cut when the budget is tight: Okay, you've cried, you've pleaded, you've made your case. But there's no way around it: You have to cut your fundraising budget. Find out the area you can cut with little damage to your program, the areas where cuts would be devastating, and areas... by Fundraising is Beautiful
14 min listen
How to deal with the next big thing in fundraising: For the sixth installment of our State of Fundraising series, we look at steady stream of innovations for nonprofits that happen all the time. How do you deal with it all? How do you know what to ignore and what to get involved with? Here's a... by Fundraising is Beautiful
13 min listen
Is your fundraising ratio killing your fundraising?: The over-focus on the amount nonprofits spend on fundraising and administration (as opposed to accomplishing their mission) is throttling many organizations, keeping them artificially poor and less able to do what they exist to do. We talk about some... by Fundraising is Beautiful
13 min listen
The Fundraiser's Guide to Irresistible Communications: After an embarrassingly long hiatus, we take a look at the new book The Fundraiser's Guide to Irresistible Communications: How it can help you raise more money for your cause, and why it may be the most important book ever published. The book is... by Fundraising is Beautiful
26 min listen
Why donors go away, Part 1: Why do your donors leave? Here's the bad news: It's mostly your fault. The good news: There's lot you can do to keep them engaged and giving. We look at some of those smart fundraising moves in this podcast and the next one. We are looking at donor... by Fundraising is Beautiful
13 min listen
How to Tell If Your Fundraising Is Good (Part 2: Content): Effective fundraising has some characteristics that you might find odd or off-putting: It's simple. It's about only one thing. There's an obsessive call to action. It's built around stories. It suggests specific amounts for donors to give. It's all... by Fundraising is Beautiful
14 min listen
3 steps to effective storytelling in fundraising: Storytelling that persuades donors to action isn't magic. You just have to make sure your has these elements: It's about the donor (not about your awesome organization) It leads to the donor taking action -- entering the story It's unfinished... by Fundraising is Beautiful
13 min listen
How to Tell If Your Fundraising Is Good (Part 3: Packaging): Direct mail, the life-blood of most fundraising programs, has different design conventions from other types of design. It's less pretty, more old-fashioned, and almost messy. Here's a look at direct mail design and packaging: Everything you need to... by Fundraising is Beautiful
16 min listen
Fundraisers beware of survey research: For the fifth installment of our State of Fundraising series, we take a look at survey research and how fundraisers can get value from it -- without being led dangerously astray. Surveys seem (and often claim) to report the truth. In reality, they... by Fundraising is Beautiful
15 min listen
Fundraising Manifesto for the New Year: Here are four truths about fundraising that can transform the way you approach this beautiful profession: Fundraising is good for donors. Fundraising is a lot like courtship. Fundraising is about your donors, not you. Fundraising is a science. (The... by Fundraising is Beautiful
21 min listen

More Episodes from Fundraising is Beautiful

Skip carousel

The Power of Donor Love: Interview with Jen Love & John Lepp: You'll be equipped and inspired by this interview with Jen Love and John Lepp of in Toronto. They are powerful spokespersons for the idea and practical expression of loving donors. You'll learn how Courier font is a practical tool for donor... by Fundraising is Beautiful
50 min listen
11 amazing fundraising truths discovered by new writers: We asked two new fundraising (and very successful) writers who have been doing some very great work what they know about fundraising that's making them succeed. Here's what they told us: Write as one person connecting with one person. Avoid the word "we" by Fundraising is Beautiful
25 min listen
Fundraising is about so much more than money: Steven shares his short poem, "A Benediction for Fundraisers" (based on "Christ Has No Body" by St. Teresa of Avila [1515-1582]). We hope this very brief podcast inspires you to love the important work we do when we motivate donors to give. Program #109 C by Fundraising is Beautiful
3 min listen
Engagement fundraising -- how you raise the big bucks from the happiest donors: This is a powerful and super-informative interview with Greg Warner, founder of MarketSmart who also hosts a great podcast called Engagement Fundraising. The secret to accelerating your fundraising program is this: find the right level of engagement and g by Fundraising is Beautiful
23 min listen
How to conduct interviews that get you the fundraising stories that stir your donors' hearts: We all know how important it is to tell great stories in fundraising. Those stories almost never drop out of the sky! We have to go and get them. In this quick discussion, you'll get some great interviewing tips, including: Know what you want to get what by Fundraising is Beautiful
8 min listen
Ultimate Fundraising Lesson: The most important thing you can learn about fundraising -- the one thing that can make the difference between mediocrity and big-time success -- it's this: It's not about you. It's about your donor! It's so easy to talk about how great our... by Fundraising is Beautiful
13 min listen
3 things that are probably wrong with your nonprofit website: We've looked at a lot of nonprofit websites. More than is good for our mental health, frankly. And we've found three things to be wrong with nearly all of them: Your website doesn't present some kind of need that the donor can meet. The idea of giving is by Fundraising is Beautiful
13 min listen
How to use photos in fundraising: Take note of this: A picture is worth a thousand words. So choose your pictures carefully! We take a look at the ways photos can emotional depth and measurable pull-power to your fundraising ... or undermine your message entirely! A good fundraiser knows by Fundraising is Beautiful
9 min listen
How to use photos in fundraising: We take a look at the ways photos can emotional depth and measurable pull-power to your fundraising ... or undermine your message entirely! by Fundraising is Beautiful
9 min listen
Does your fundraising subtext tell donors they matter, or that they don't?: What's the subtext of your donor-communications stream? That is, what's the overarching message they're getting, even though you might not be saying it out loud? For many organizations, it's: We've got this. We're taking care of the problem. You can partn by Fundraising is Beautiful
21 min listen
The right way -- and wrong way -- to thank your donors: A lot of nonprofit thank-you messages say something like this: "Thank you for being our partner...." That's about as thrilling to the donor as telling her she has nice elbows. Donors don't give in order to be our partner. They give to have a positive impa by Fundraising is Beautiful
9 min listen
The right way -- and wrong way -- to thank your donors: A lot of nonprofit thank-you messages say something like this: "Thank you for being our partner...." That's about as thrilling to the donor as telling her she has nice elbows. Donors don't give in order to be our partner. They give to have a positive... by Fundraising is Beautiful
9 min listen
MUST-LISTEN Interview with Scott Harrison of charity:water: Scott Harrison, founder of charity:water (and a fan of this podcast) reveals some of the thinking behind this innovative nonprofit that came on the scene 10 years ago and his virtually re-written the fundraising playbook in many ways. Get the inside scoop by Fundraising is Beautiful
39 min listen
Interview with Scott Harrison of charity:water: Scott Harrison, founder of (and a fan of this podcast) reveals some of the thinking behind this innovative nonprofit that came on the scene 10 years ago and his virtually re-written the fundraising playbook in many ways. Get the inside scoop on: ... by Fundraising is Beautiful
39 min listen
Two super-common errors that can kill your fundraising: There are two opposite impulses that almost all fundraisers fall prey to at some time or another. They are: Educating donors Abstraction They are guaranteed response-crushers. And the temptation to do both are powerful. With real-life... by Fundraising is Beautiful
16 min listen
Two super-common errors that can kill your fundraising: There are two opposite impulses that almost all fundraisers fall prey to at some time or another. They are: Educating donors Abstraction They are guaranteed response-crushers. And the temptation to do both are powerful. With real-life examples, we'll show by Fundraising is Beautiful
16 min listen
The upsides and downsides of holiday-based fundraising: Some of the strongest fundraising is connected to specific holidays. Some of the most ineffective fundraising is also connected to specific holidays. The special edition podcast will show you how to put holidays to work for you. And when not to do it... by Fundraising is Beautiful
20 min listen
How to create great direct mail fundraising teasers: The most impactful element of any direct mail project is the teaser -- what you put on the outer envelope. We'll share what works, what never works, and the surprising "most likely to succeed" approach. We'll also discuss email subject lines... by Fundraising is Beautiful
18 min listen
How to succeed at fundraising for a church: Houses of worship are a powerhouse of the fundraising world. But even they face new challenges in getting their people to donate. We take a practical and realistic look at the challenges churches face and what they can do to motivate their people to... by Fundraising is Beautiful
11 min listen
It's the donor's story -- not your own: Most fundraisers know that telling stories is the way to reach donors' hearts and minds and motivate them to give. But what's the right story to tell? It's the donor's story. The story she'll tell after she gives. This podcast takes a look... by Fundraising is Beautiful
19 min listen
Fundraising under President Trump: How is fundraising likely to do during the Trump administration? We take a look. We believe it will mean very different things to different organizations. Find out what you can expect in the coming months and years. And what you can do to maximize... by Fundraising is Beautiful
14 min listen
Your 6-word guide to powerful donor newsletters: Every piece of content in every donor newsletter should fit match this model. When you do that, you'll have a newsletter that raises funds, and improves donor retention by improving your donor relationships! by Fundraising is Beautiful
7 min listen
What is donor-focused fundraising, really?: Everybody knows that donor-focused fundraising is good. But what is it, actually? Listen to discover a new and more effective way to understand -- and create -- donor-focused fundraising by Fundraising is Beautiful
6 min listen
Keeping donors vs. getting new ones -- how to balance: Ever been told Stop acquiring new donors until you've improved your retention rates? It's bad advice. We'll take a close look at the important dynamic between acquisition and retention and show you how to arrive at the right balance for your... by Fundraising is Beautiful
9 min listen
How old are your donors?: For most fundraisers, your donors are a lot older than you think. We'll look at why this is so and what it means for you: How do you communicate with these people? About what? And in which channels? Knowing hold old your donors are -- and... by Fundraising is Beautiful
13 min listen
How to survive the "summer slump": Most fundraisers experience a drop in giving during the summer months. Here are some tips for minimizing the pain by maximizing summertime revenue ... and other ways you can profitably use the summer months to improve your fundraising all year 'round. by Fundraising is Beautiful
7 min listen
When the boss doesn't like your fundraising: It's one of the most common experiences in fundraising. You've created a powerful fundraising message. Then you show it to your boss -- and she hates it. We can't ignore bosses (and board members and other authorities) -- and they often dislike... by Fundraising is Beautiful
15 min listen
Tom Ahern on Donor-Focused Newsletters that Raise Money: Here's an info-packed interview with the Superb . We discuss how and why you can raise a lot of money with donor newsletters. Learn what's working and what's not, what most often goes wrong in donor newsletters, and what the heck is up with email... by Fundraising is Beautiful
26 min listen
Are you Yoda or Batman to your donors?: There are two fundamentally different approaches fundraisers can take to their donors: One stays in the background and empowers the donor to be the hero. The other stands in front and tells the donor to be a good side-kick -- keeping the hero label... by Fundraising is Beautiful
8 min listen
How to improve your donor's giving experience: Your donor gets nothing in return for her donation. Nothing but your communications. Your communications have a big job to do: To show her something she may have no way of knowing otherwise: What her gift made possible. That's how you cross the gap... by Fundraising is Beautiful
12 min listen

Related podcast episodes

Skip carousel

Does your fundraising subtext tell donors they matter, or that they don't?: What's the subtext of your donor-communications stream? That is, what's the overarching message they're getting, even though you might not be saying it out loud? For many organizations, it's: We've got this. We're taking care of the problem. You can partn by Fundraising is Beautiful
21 min listen
Ep 73: Reframing your story to your stakeholders perspective with Danny Combs from TACT by Relish THIS: The Nonprofit Marketing Podcast
48 min listen
Resonance and Engagement: Are your subject lines the headliner or just the opening act? ? We're jumping into the art of making your emails count. Join us as we explore how to connect with your subscribers on a personal level, crafting messages that resonate and engage. From... by List Building Lifestyle With Igor Kheifets
9 min listen
The errors of attribution by Donor Growth
41 min listen
Episode 276: Customer Satisfaction with Debbie Levitt: How do you measure customer satisfaction in a complex customer journey? Our guest today is Debbie Levitt, “The Mary Poppins of UX and CX” and author of Customers Know You Suck. You’ll learn how customer satisfaction relates to customer loyalty, why you should measure satisfaction qualitatively and quantitatively, how you can better capture and understand customer frustration, and more. by UI Breakfast: UI/UX Design and Product Strategy
35 min listen
4 hallmarks of donor-focused communications: Do you ever wonder if your donor communications are truly donor-focused? Check what you're saying against this list: Donors are the heroes of most of the stories you tell. Donors get prompt, detailed, and frequent information about the impact of... by Fundraising is Beautiful
13 min listen
MYW 42: Lead Magnets: In this episode, Katie gets real about how much lead magnets drive her nuts, and what to consider about how they communicate about your values. by You've Got This | Tips & Strategies for Meaningful Productivity and Alignment in Work and Life
51 min listen
How Word Choices Impact Customer Experience with Special Guest Terre Short: Join Tacey and her special guest, Author and Human Potential Developer, Terre Short. Today's topic is: "How Word Choices Impact Customer Experience." Terre shares with us the importance of making sure our personal podcast (voice in our head)... by Customers First Podcast
37 min listen
Episode 11 - Swap Your Pronouns to Raise More Money!: It's not about you - connect donors to your impact . . . by The Fundraising Coach
1 min listen
Thinking Differently About Presentations: In today's episode, we talk about how to think differently about your presentations and why it's not enough to simply present what you want your audience to know. In our podcasts, we discuss communication tips to help you get hired, promoted, and... by Communication Snacks: Tips for a Successful Professional Life
8 min listen
Why You Need a TLDR for Your Presentations: In today's episode, we talk about what a "tl;dr" is and why you need one for your presentations. In our podcasts, we discuss communication tips to help you get hired, promoted, and funded. We’re here to help you become more successful. Find us... by Communication Snacks: Tips for a Successful Professional Life
6 min listen
Driving Agent and Customer Experience the Dropbox Way: “The outcome of the customer journey and their experience starts and ends with us,” says Lewis Taylor, Global Head of Support with Dropbox. The company has improved its customer effort score significantly by enabling a customer experience that... by TP Talks Podcast
25 min listen
Using ChatBots to Delight Your Donors and Engage Your Community: Interview with Ashley Buffa, Ambient Promotions by Grow Your Non-Profit: Marketing and Technology
30 min listen
5 Best Newsletter Templates to Skyrocket Your Email List In 2024: Unlock the Full Potential of Your Email Campaigns with These Stellar Templates! Dive into a discussion that unveils 2024’s top five newsletter designs, each promising to captivate your audience and send your subscriber count soaring. by Newsletter Growth School | Neural Newsletters
11 min listen
The Nonprofit Email Strategy That Works with Sara Hoshooley by The Small Nonprofit
45 min listen
How old are your donors?: For most fundraisers, your donors are a lot older than you think. We'll look at why this is so and what it means for you: How do you communicate with these people? About what? And in which channels? Knowing hold old your donors are -- and... by Fundraising is Beautiful
13 min listen
58. Creating memorable & personalized customer experiences at scale with David Wachs: How often do you get a personalized handwritten letter in the mail? When received, how does it make you feel? Bet you remember it and may even look at the message longer than a quick text or email buried in your inbox. Stacy Sherman and David... by Doing Customer Experience Right‬ with Stacy Sherman
35 min listen
36: David Burkus | How to Become a Networking Superconnector: David Burkus is a sought after speaker, business school professor, regular contributor to Harvard Business Review, and author of Friend of a Friend...: Understanding the Hidden Networks That Can Transform Your Life and Your Career. by The Jordan Harbinger Show
57 min listen
#72 | How Low Podcast Engagement Can Sabotage Your Call To Action - Audience Building & Content Marketing by Why Your Podcast Isn't Growing: A Get More Listeners Podcast For Podcasters
14 min listen
Creative Strategies to Increase Engagement: In this episode, Alyssa and Melissa discuss the importance of focusing on subscribers and encouraging engagement. It’s time to stop viewing subscribers like spreadsheets and start building a real relationship with the people behind your metrics. by Deliverability Defined
33 min listen
Episode 69: Communication in Challenging Times - Building Relationships by Around with Randall
20 min listen
#81: If the donor isn’t the hero…who is she? by The Build Good Fundraising Podcast
47 min listen
How to Grow Your Mission with In-Kind Gifts by A Modern Nonprofit Podcast
22 min listen
How to Simplify Your Message So People Get It by SPARKED
36 min listen
How To Sell More Of Your Product: We have a not-so-secret formula for product launches that help us sell out every time. Most people quit before they really dial in on their audience, messaging, and conversion, but those are the three keys to an extraordinary launch. Join us on this... by The Chris Harder Show
21 min listen
How To Improve Your Email Deliverability with Brendan Dubbels by The DigitalMarketer Podcast
26 min listen
Good Ears, Under The Bus by Thriving Twogether
5 min listen
81. The Truth About Attribution in Your Number One Marketing Channel by Growth Marketers - Digital Marketing Experts
23 min listen
Ep 74. Go Back To The Fundamentals: Create. Distribute. Repeat. Your Content Needs To Either Make The Demand Or Meet The Demand.: Creating good content consistently leads to conversations that lead to connections that lead to conversions. Your content either needs to make the demand to be valuable, or it meets the demand of the m marketplace to be valuable. Good content is only confirmed by those who consume it. Most will never see your content if you don't distribute it enough. by iDigress with Troy Sandidge
14 min listen
247: How to Communicate Recommendations (Strategy Skills Classics): For this episode, let's revisit a Strategy Skills classic where we discuss how to communicate recommendations that are radical in nature. If the recommendations are presented too early, they are hypotheses with little data backing them and they can be... by The Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving
14 min listen

Discover this podcast and so much more

Does your fundraising subtext tell donors they matter or that they don't?

Does your fundraising subtext tell donors they matter or that they don't?

Description

Titles in the series (100)

More Episodes from Fundraising is Beautiful

Related podcast episodes