Fundraising Is Beautiful

Back from the Brink: How a Sick Organization Got Better

In this episode we interview Chris Doyle, President and CEO of American Leprosy Missions, an organization that's leading the fight against leprosy around the world. Back in the mid-90s, when Doyle joined, the organization was in an accelerating downward slide. Learn about the steps Doyle and American Leprosy Missions took to turn the corner and return to health. It's an inspiring story that shows what you can do by getting the basics right.

Program #24

Play: How a Sick Organization Got Better (right click or "save as" to save the file for later).

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Time: 26:27

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 where you can make meaningful savings. We can't make the cuts feel good, but we can keep them from hurting your program too much.

Program #23

Play: What to cut when the budget is tight (right click or "save as" to save the file for later).

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Time: 13:50

Recession fundraising: Interview with Mal Warwick

Don't miss this interview with fundraising legend Mal Warwick, author of the recent book Fundraising When Money Is Tight (as well as many other books on fundraising). Find out how to survive the recession -- including the biggest mistake you can make.

Program #22

Play: Interview with Mal Warwick (right click or "save as" to save the file for later).

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Time: 28:52

Put your heart into fundraising

An interview with Cass Wheeler, former CEO of the American Heart Association and author of the new book You've Gotta Have Heart: Achieving Purpose Beyond Profit in the Social Sector (available at Amazon and at Powell's). Don't miss what this wise CEO has to say about people who are good at fundraising, how to make sure you get the right people, how to set bold goals, and how the right people with audacious goals can radically change a whole organization.

Program #21

Play: Partnership (not marketing) with donors (right click or "save as" to save the file for later).

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Time: 20:48

Partnership (not marketing) with donors

An interview with Troy Stremler, CEO of Newdea, 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 organizations they support. If he's right (and we think he is), that means we're going to need a radical new level of transparency, being able to report on the impact of their involvement, rather than trying to motivate them with the tired old stream of branding activities and low-involvement fundraising tactics we've relied on. This program will encourage and/or terrify you!

Program #20

Play: Partnership (not marketing) with donors (right click or "save as" to save the file for later).

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Time: 18:58

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 things you should think about when choosing the right fundraising partner.

Program #19

Play: How to Work with a Fundraising Consultant (right click or "save as" to save the file for later).

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Time: 16:46

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.

Program #18

Play: Your E-Z 30-minute fundraising review plan (right click or "save as" to save the file for later).

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Time: 11:20

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.

Update: Woops. I neglected to include the correct name of the mp3 file here. That means you couldn't listen to this program, and it didn't go out over iTunes. So, only a month late, listen to our holiday wishes for you. It's still all true.

Program #17

Play: Holiday Wishes (right click or "save as" to save the file for later).

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Time: 5:22

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.

Program #16

Play: It's Not Too Late to Boost Your 2008 Revenue (right click or "save as" to save the file for later).

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Time: 16:28

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. Listen to find out if the argument erupts into fisticuffs!

Program #15

Play: Branding and Fundraising, Part 2 (right click or "save as" to save the file for later).

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Time: 17:32