The Nonprofit Hero Factory
Join us for conversations with experts and thought-leaders on how to tap into storytelling, technology, best practices and latest trends to augment your communications and fundraising, maximize your resources, develop and deliver new programs, and generate revenue… so you can create a better world for all of us.
Episode 53: How Nonprofits Successfully Navigated the Pandemic, with Steven Shattuck
March 31, 2022 • 35 MIN
How can nonprofits fundraise during a crisis without sounding opportunistic or worse, tone-deaf? Whether it’s disease, war or natural disaster, there always seems to be an emergency in the headlines. One thing is clear: in times of crisis, people become more empathetic and generous—and not just to causes directly related to the emergency. Data from the pandemic now shows that people gave to a wide diversity of nonprofit organizations. So why were some nonprofits able to expand while others felt sidelined and had to consolidate? A more nuanced look at the data delivered across the board revealed that those that did the best during the pandemic did two things: They asked for donations often, and they contextualized their appeals. Steven Shattuck, the Chief Engagement Officer at Bloomerang, looks at the data they and others collected and shares the takeaways that nonprofits can apply to their development strategy. ** Episode Links and Shownotes: https://nphf.show/ep53 ** What we discussed: • Why directly addressing a crisis can help you raise money • How to avoid the trap of a scarcity mindset • What is necessary for a humanistic appeal to supporters • Blending old and new technologies to build strong connections
Episode 52: Nonprofit Supporter Communities with ROI for All, with Louis Diez
March 24, 2022 • 35 MIN
The word “community” is frequently thrown around in nonprofit communications. But what does it actually mean, and what does it take to form a true community that provides value and drives increased repeat giving? At a time when nonprofits struggle with donor retention, efforts to tap into identity, increase value to donors, make them feel more invested, and retain them year after year, have to be a top priority for every nonprofit development, marketing and communications professional. Louis Diez, Director of the Annual Fund at Muhlenberg College believes describes his superpower as building communities of purpose that energize donors and raise donor participation and major gifts—and he has the numbers to prove it. Louis joins The Nonprofit Hero Factory to share how he builds communities that deliver ROI both to donors and to the organization, and how other nonprofits can do the same. ** Episode Links and Shownotes: https://nphf.show/ep52 ** What we’ll be discussing: • Why communities are critical to nonprofit organizations • Four factors that define community • How building communities of purpose energizes donors and raises donor participation and major gifts • How to create a community where people are so involved that it becomes a part of their identity • The best way to get donations without asking for them directly
Episode 51: New Report: The State of Nonprofit Donor Support, with Tim Sarrantonio
March 17, 2022 • 38 MIN
There’s a new individual giving report, and the good news is that household charitable giving is on the rise. The bad news is that over 80% of new donors don’t give to the same nonprofit again the following year. The biggest difference maker? Treating donors as individuals, understanding their motivations, and reinforcing how your work connects to their personal identity. In other words: personalized, story-based communication. Today, for example, people are generously donating in support of Ukraine, which is on our minds because of the invasion, violence and humanitarian crisis we are witnessing. For Boris, the crisis in Ukraine goes much deeper than what we are seeing on TV, but how likely are most people to continue giving when another crisis dominates headlines? Are we just locked in a cycle of emergency response giving? Tim Sarrantonio, the Director of Corporate Brand at Neon One, an integrated network of products and support for nonprofits, knows that finding accurate data and making connections between data and the broader story is the key to successful nonprofit fundraising. Neon One’s data report, Donors: Understanding the Future of Individual Giving, was released on March 8. He’s here to talk about what they discovered. ** Episode Links and Shownotes: https://nphf.show/ep51 ** What we’ll be discussing: • Where to find strong, relevant and timely data about individual giving behavior • What objective data says about what’s actually happening now • How data and storytelling come together to improve donor retention
Episode 50: Tenth-Year Takeaways and What’s Next for GivingTuesday, with Kathleen Murphy Toms
March 10, 2022 • 32 MIN
Whether you participated this year or not, the reach and impact of GivingTuesday is undeniable. Nonprofits in the U.S. alone raised $2.7 billion in 24 hours. Millions of people around the world gave money, time and voice to the causes they care about. But it’s not as simple as saying it’s GivingTuesday and asking for money. We invited Kathleen Murphy-Toms, GivingTuesday’s Director of Digital Strategy, back on the show to talk about what works, what doesn’t, what to do now, and what’s next for the movement after 10 years. Not surprisingly, we had a lot to talk about… ** Episode Links and Shownotes: https://nphf.show/ep50 ** What we discussed: • The growth of GivingTuesday and what’s next • How nonprofits can use GivingTuesday as a springboard • Why the scarcity mindset is counterproductive • Cause coalitions to raise the tide (and more donations) for all • Creating and harnessing urgency • Preparing for a great GivingTuesday 2022
Episode 49: Recognize Your Three Donor Types… or Leave Money on the Table, with Sybil Ackerman-Munson
March 3, 2022 • 37 MIN
“If you approach the wrong donor the wrong way, then you will leave money on the table and you'll lose them at hello." All your donors are not alike. They may all have one thing in common: they want to support your work. But their motivations and interests may vary widely. Understanding why they support you and how they prefer to do so can make the difference between greater support and alienation. Unlike actors, they’re not going to ask you “what’s my motivation?” Instead, that’s a question that you should be asking them. Sybil Ackerman-Munson of Do Your Good has helped funders give away over $45 million to nonprofits whose work aligns with their own ethos. In the process, she identified three donor archetypes, based on their motivations. Sybil joins the show to explain how nonprofits can better understand and communicate with each type of donor to create better, more beneficial relationships for both sides. ** Episode Links and Shownotes: https://nphf.show/ep49 ** What we’ll be discussing: • The importance of positive messaging even in dire times • Three three categories that every donor falls into, and what that means for your fundraising • How to determine what type of donor each person is • The problem with the competitive scarcity mindset • Opportunities and fundraising advantages of collaboration
Episode 48: Using Donor Data to Deepen Relationships, with Regina Alhassan
February 24, 2022 • 34 MIN
Most every organization keeps records of their donors—whether it’s in advanced CRMs or simple spreadsheets. But there’s a wide gap between keeping records and maximizing donor data to build strong relationships that raise more money. Regina Alhassan of ResearchPRO joins us to share her strategies for collecting valuable data, tracking it over time and allocating your resources and your requests accordingly. ** Episode Links and Shownotes: https://nphf.show/ep48 ** What we’ll be discussing: • The types of data nonprofits aren’t tracking well • Using data to build relationships • Maintaining data integrity in your database • Screening donors to match your ask to their capacity
Episode 47: Evaluating and Optimizing Your Nonprofit Programs, with Allison Shurilla
February 17, 2022 • 32 MIN
Which is a better way to serve your nonprofit’s program participants: Experience and knowledge-based assumptions, or regular input from the participants themselves? The answer is, of course, combining both. After all, how do you know how to apply your knowledge if you’re not regularly asking your beneficiaries what they need and how it’s working? That’s where evaluation comes in, to collect the feedback and input from your constituents and provide insights (and stories) to how you’re doing and how you can serve them better. Allison Shurilla is the founder of AS Community Consulting. In this interview, she lays out how evaluations can help nonprofits by first clarifying what they want to achieve, then establishing the evaluative processes that they can use, and finally incorporating them into their regular processes. ** Episode Links and Shownotes: https://nphf.show/ep47 ** What we’ll be discussing: • The problem with how most nonprofits lead programs and devote resources today. • What evaluation means, how it works and how it helps optimize your hero creation systems • Ways that nonprofits can start incorporating evaluation into their practices and processes.
Episode 46: Raise Your Nonprofit’s Profile with an Effective Media Strategy, with Sean Kosofsky
February 10, 2022 • 37 MIN
Getting media attention for your nonprofit’s work is a powerful way to reach new people, build your authority, and shape the narrative around your mission. It's not enough to put out a press release and hope it gets picked up by some new source. Today, nonprofits of all sizes need a media strategy built on relationships and the ability to provide value to both the reporter and their audience. For better and worse, news media itself has been undergoing rapid change over the last 20 years. With newsrooms shrinking, news cycles accelerating, and news sources multiplying, the competition for attention presents both a challenge and an opportunity for media-savvy nonprofits to step in and make their voices heard. Sean Kosofsky, founder and CEO of Mind The Gap Consulting has been working with nonprofits to develop their media strategy. He joins us this week to break down how any org can develop relationships with news media and to be part of the public conversation versus simply reacting to it. ** Episode Links and Shownotes: https://nphf.show/ep46 ** What we’ll be discussing: • How news media has changed and the opportunities it creates for nonprofits • What it takes to develop relationships with reporters • How to identify the outlets and reporters you want to work with • Ways to lead or add your voice to the conversation
Episode 45: Email Sequences that Keep Donors Donating, with Rachel Bearbower
February 3, 2022 • 42 MIN
Does it feel like your nonprofit running on a donor treadmill? You’re constantly expending your resources to attract new donors, hoping that you get them quicker than you lose the ones that you had before so that you can do more. It’s exhausting and often demoralizing… and it doesn’t have to be that way. Improved donor engagement and retention starts with a great welcome experience. Using a combination of personalization and automation, an email welcome sequence can start a conversation and build a relationship that provides value to both sides and lasts for years. Rachel Bearbower of Small Shop Strategies helps overwhelmed executive directors create simple, effective welcome sequences on autopilot. She joins us this week to share how they work, and the 5-email formula you can use to get started today. ** Episode Links and Shownotes: https://nphf.show/ep45 ** What we’ll be discussing: • How personalization and humanization helps make a genuine connection • The cost of acquiring a new donor vs. retaining them over time • What to put in your donor welcome series to keep them coming back and donating again
Episode 44: Nonprofit Website Trends for 2022, with Boris Kievsky
January 27, 2022 • 41 MIN
What website trends should nonprofits be conscious of in 2022? The last two years have dramatically changed the way that the world connects and does business. Everything possible went online in 2021, and with it, the noise level has made it harder and harder to capture attention, make a connection and inspire action. If nonprofit websites don’t keep up with visitors’ expectations, they’re likely to lose more potential heroes than they gain. In this episode, Boris looks at the 5 biggest trends from 2021 and 5 ways nonprofit websites must respond if they are to achieve their goals. ** Episode Links and Shownotes: https://nphf.show/ep44 **
Episode 43: Navigating Nonprofit Cybersecurity to Reduce Risk, with Joshua Peskay
January 20, 2022 • 33 MIN
For most nonprofits, the cost of a cybersecurity professional seems unjustifiable. However, the cost of an attack could be catastrophic. (And if a cyberattack sounds like something that happens to large tech companies, you haven’t been keeping up with the headlines.) Fortunately, there are simple approaches along with low-cost tools and training that can help mitigate those threats, help you meet requirements and help you sleep easier at night knowing that your supporter data, funds and, more importantly, supporter trust is secure. Joshua Peskay of RoundTable Technology started out as an “accidental techie” in a small nonprofit, so he understands the struggles they face. He joined us on the show to talk about the risks, the tools and the strategies for minimizing and managing the threats that we all face today. ** Episode Links and Shownotes: https://nphf.show/ep43 ** What we’ll be discussing: • The threats that nonprofits are facing and the pressures they’re feeling from all sides • Challenges of justifying cybersecurity costs to supporters vs. the true costs of not being secure • Free assessment tools and trainings to identify and shore up weaknesses • Three simple, inexpensive measures that nonprofits can take to dramatically decrease the risks of cyber attacks • A plan for starting and not feeling overwhelmed
Episode 42: The Behavioral Science of Rallying Support in the Digital Age, with Sarah Welch
January 13, 2022 • 40 MIN
The digital age, accelerated by the pandemic, has pushed most activities, including fundraising online. That has opened up our stories to audiences around the world. At the same time, that has removed some of the personal connection that we have to each other and causes. Sarah Welch is a behavioral scientist and Vice President at ideas42. She focuses her time thinking about—and helping organizations—affect positive change through the principals of behavioral science. Sarah joined the show to chat about what’s been happening in the nonprofit world. How do we navigate the changing landscape and rally support for causes large and small? ** Episode Links and Shownotes: https://nphf.show/ep42 ** • What we’ll be discussing: • The changing landscape of philanthropy • Navigating the new reality to rally support for causes large and small • The advantages and disadvantages of online events • How to adapt our storytelling to generate support for different size causes
Episode 41: Training Your Nonprofit Board to Tell Stories for Fundraising, with Stephanie Minor
January 6, 2022 • 0 MIN
Is your nonprofit board making the most of your stories to connect others to your work? We know the power of stories to build empathy, understanding and connection to others. It’s critical to fundraising and nonprofit success as a whole. Your board is likely made up of intelligent, successful individuals who care deeply about your work. Chances are, however, their backgrounds are not in storytelling for fundraising. So how do you equip them with the knowledge and skills to share your stories with the world and raise more money for your work? Stephanie Minor of NPO Centric helps nonprofits with capacity building and board training. She joins us on the show to share her strategies and best practices to help your board get on board with storytelling. ** Episode Links and Shownotes: https://nphf.show/ep41 ** What we’ll be discussing: • The importance of board storytelling • The tools board members need to help them help you • Training your board on client storytelling • Making the most of client stories for your board and beyond
Episode 40: How CoachArt Is Using Tech and 10x Thinking to Scale Impact, with Greg Harrell-Edge
December 16, 2021 • 42 MIN
When Greg Harrell-Edge first joined CoachArt, they were doing great work in the Los Angeles area. They knew that there were so many more kids who could benefit from their services, but with their current systems, it was taking 7 hours to match one child to a volunteer. In the last 5 years since Greg joined, CoachArt has quadrupled impact, doubled revenue, quintupled cash reserves and have now gone nationwide. The journey began with questions about what was holding them back, and what it would look like if they could grow. That led them to exploring and adopting technology and dramatically changing their story. Greg joins us to talk through the challenges they faced, successes they’ve realized and how other organizations can adopt innovation into their own strategy. ** Episode Links and Shownotes: https://nphf.show/ep40 ** What we’ll be discussing: • Identifying the bottlenecks and obstacles in a nonprofit’s work • The growth questions every nonprofit should be asking • Developing and adopting tech solutions that help you scale without breaking the budget • Persevering in the face of pushback and setbacks • The impact of innovation on culture and fundraising
Episode 39: How to Build and Grow Nonprofit Legacy Programs, with Ligia Peña
December 9, 2021 • 34 MIN
How do you build and grow a nonprofit legacy gift program at the most sensitive time in modern history? Legacy planning can be tough to talk about in general… but during a pandemic that has claimed millions of lives might be the toughest. And yet, we have a responsibility. Not to our organizations, but to the people who care about the issues we’re tackling. We owe them the opportunity to make a lasting impact on the world. When legacy inquiries spiked 300% last year, nonprofits that had well-established gift-in-will programs found themselves better-equipped to maintain their funding and services. They were also in a better position to honor the hopes of their supporters for a better future. Legacy fundraising consultant Ligia Peña helps organizations create or reboot their legacy programs systematically. She joins us on the show to share how nonprofits of all sizes can identify and track the most important key performance indicators, creating simple dashboards that assess the health of the program. ** Episode Links and Shownotes: https://nphf.show/ep39 ** What we’ll be discussing: • The need for legacy giving opportunities today • Legacy gift tracking mistakes that most nonprofits make • The two types of KPIs every organization should measure • The four stages of gift prospects you can track • Dangers of false security and how to spot them • Simple tools for tracking your program’s performance
Episode 38: Adapting and Scaling In-Person Programs Online, with Constanza Roeder
December 2, 2021 • 39 MIN
When Covid shut down non-essential access to hospitals, it effectively shut down all of Hearts Need Art’s programming, as it did for so many other service-based nonprofits. Artists were no longer able to perform for patients, patients were no longer able to get much-needed emotional support, and they couldn’t deliver on their promise to donors. This easily could have been the end of the line for the arts in health nonprofit that Constanza Roeder created just a few years prior, based on her first-hand experience of being a cancer patient and the support that got her through it. Instead, the young non-technical, resource-strapped organization took on the challenge with their greatest asset: creativity. They developed new programs to meet the new constraints and, in the process, created a significantly more scalable system for delivering their programming that creates stronger connections between their work and their donors, provides a greater continuity of care for their clients, and allows them to reach exponentially more people in need… without over-taxing their resources. Hearts Need Art founder Constanza Roeder joins the show to share her story and break down how any organization can do the same. ** Episode Links and Shownotes: https://nphf.show/ep38 ** What we’ll be discussing: • Transitioning an arts-based in-person program online • Responding to the needs of your communities in crisis • Creating scalable systems on a budget • Communicating pivots to donors • Impact and lessons learned from going digital
Episode 37: Decrypting Crypto for Nonprofits—Bitcoin Donations and Beyond, with Alex Wilson
November 18, 2021 • 31 MIN
What happens when socially conscious millennials and others profit billions of dollars from cryptocurrency investments? They look for ways that their windfall can help those less fortunate. This year, one platform alone will handle over $100 million in cryptocurrency donations to nonprofits. And they expect it to 10x next year. What started out as a novelty in the tech and finance space has now turned into a three trillion dollar movement that impacts most aspects of life today. Yet, it still seems complex (cryptic?) for nonprofits to get involved. Between the technical aspects and the legal concerns, most nonprofits have been hesitant to dive in. Alex Wilson co-founded The Giving Block when he saw that nonprofits had a hard time overcoming the hurdles necessary to accept and process Bitcoin donations. He joined us this episode to demystify cryptocurrency donations for nonprofits and why it’s important to join the movement sooner rather than later. ** Episode Links and Shownotes: https://nphf.show/ep37 ** What we’ll be discussing: • The current state of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrency donations for nonprofits • What’s different about the cryptocurrency donor avatar versus most others • Why crypto investors need to be able to donate in their favorite cryptocurrencies • The tax implications for donors and nonprofits • How nonprofits can get started and take advantage of the possibilities this season and next year
Episode 36: Tapping the Power of Online Volunteers to Deliver ROI for Your Nonprofit, with Dana Litwin
November 11, 2021 • 33 MIN
Nonprofit volunteer time across the U.S. in 2021 is now $28.54/hr on average. They are often your greatest investors and champions… and that’s not even counting the donations that they make on top of their time. But with COVID and other challenges, too many organizations just don’t know how to capitalize on this opportunity. Even for nonprofits who understand the tremendous value of their volunteer force, COVID-19 presented seemingly insurmountable challenges. Many halted or completely abandoned their volunteer programs, breaking the connection with their biggest supporters or worse, breaking their trust at the worst time possible. Dana Litwin is a Certified Volunteer Administrator (CVA) who specializes in helping nonprofits create more volunteer opportunities online. She joins us on the show this week to share her insights on the ROI of volunteers and how we can help them help us regardless of pandemics, geographical and time constraints. ** Episode Links and Shownotes: https://nphf.show/ep36 ** What we’ll be discussing: • How volunteer engagement, online and off is critical to a nonprofit’s success • Lessons learned from nonprofits’ response to the pandemic • The three Cs to a happy and engaged volunteer team • Creating engaging virtual opportunities for volunteers • Challenges associated with the lack of value and understanding of volunteer services • Expectations, responsibilities, and tools for successful volunteer programs
Episode 35: What Nonprofits Can Learn from IKEA to Increase Support & Impact, with Boris Kievsky
November 4, 2021 • 23 MIN
Can asking your supporters for their help and input actually raise the amount they’re willing to support your nonprofit’s work? There’s a phenomenon in psychology, studied and demonstrated by behavioral economists, in which people consider something they’ve taken part in creating to be worth more than the same thing made by a professional. This cognitive bias is called the IKEA Effect In this episode, Boris discusses strategies for nonprofits to capitalize on the power of the IKEA Effect to form a stronger connection with supporters, increasing your perceived value and raising more money for your work. ** Episode Links and Shownotes: https://nphf.show/ep35 ** What we’ll be discussing: • The IKEA Effect — using cognitive bias to create stronger connections and raise more money. • The Endowment Effect and how it can be beneficial to your organization. • The importance of creating valuable experiences for your supporters. • Why should your supporters be connected with beneficiaries? • Connecting actions and results by telling stories. • Avoiding the Disenfranchisement Effect.
Episode 34: Nonprofit Storytelling the Hollywood Way (part 3 of 3), with Boris Kievsky
October 28, 2021 • 22 MIN
The power of storytelling lies in its ability to connect people and share experiences. Regardless of how great a story you tell in the middle of the forest, if no one’s there to hear it, it doesn’t make an impact. In this third and final part of our exploration of Nonprofit Storytelling the Hollywood Way, we’re going to focus on elements of story craft that make stories more impactful, give them greater reach, and keep people coming back for more. ** Episode Links and Shownotes: https://nphf.show/ep34 ** What we’ll be discussing: • Tricks borrowed from Hollywood, Shakespeare and Dick Wolf • Ways to make sure your most important message gets through • Packaging your story to get the most attention and interest
Episode 33: The Role of Curiosity in Major-Gift Nonprofit Fundraising, with Rhea Wong
October 21, 2021 • 38 MIN
Studies have shown that as much as 88% of a nonprofit’s donated funds come from just 12% of their donors. That trend is only increasing, as a larger portion of all donations is coming from high-net-worth individuals. Each nonprofit might define a major gift at a different level based on their budget, but the need to cultivate and maintain relationships with major gift donors is undeniable. Unlike clearly defined grant applications or other sources of funding, donors are individuals without instruction manuals, and they want to be treated as such (and not as checkbooks). How can a nonprofit fundraiser identify prospective major gift donors and what does it take to build a relationship? Major gift fundraising consultant Rhea Wong teaches people how to (and how to love) major gift fundraising. She believes it comes down to having a system and developing a curiosity mindset, and she joins us this episode to lay out an effective approach to both. ** Episode Links and Shownotes: https://nphf.show/ep33 ** What we’ll be discussing: • Why focusing on high-net-worth individuals is not as hard as it might sound • What is considered a major gift for a nonprofit • How to identify and qualify major gift prospects • What to put in your Major Gift Donor avatar • How to treat major-gift donors as people with curiosity • Building relationships with donors • Stewarding donors after a gift • Becoming a Curious Chameleon
Episode 32: Forming Win-Win Nonprofit Corporate Sponsorships, with Heather Nelson
October 14, 2021 • 38 MIN
It may be surprising to learn that nonprofit corporate sponsorships actually increased throughout the pandemic. Even as many for-profit businesses and nonprofit orgs tightened their budgets, businesses have responded to the needs in their communities and leaned into partnerships with like-minded nonprofits in greater numbers than ever before. For many nonprofits, however, creating successful corporate sponsorships is full of uncertainty. How does one identify good potential partners? Whom should they approach? What should they offer to make it a worthwhile endeavor? This overwhelm leads many to doubt or abandon the idea altogether, choosing instead to channel resources to more tried-and-true donor-based and grant-based sources. Heather Nelson’s mission is to help more nonprofits and businesses form successful, win-win partnerships. That’s why she started BridgeRaise, a consultancy that focuses exclusively on raising money from companies for nonprofits. We invited her to The Nonprofit Hero Factory to demystify the process and break down her methodology into simple, actionable steps that anyone can use to start or scale their organization’s corporate fundraising. ** Episode Links and Shownotes: https://nphf.show/ep32 ** What we’ll be discussing: • Trends in corporate sponsorship that have accelerated during Covid • Factors that make a great nonprofit-corporate partnership • The best ways to reach out, what to say and what to hold back • How your website and social media can indicate that you’re open to partnerships • Your goals for your first call, what to say and what to ask • How to build the relationship over time • Where to being with your corporate partnership program
Episode 31: How Nonprofits Are Re-Engaging Donors by Listening to Their Data, with T. Clay Buck
October 7, 2021 • 35 MIN
Are nonprofit fundraisers forgetting that donors are people and alienating them in the process? When it comes to campaigns, donors are commonly segmented into convenient, pre-defined buckets, based on the amount of and time period since their last donation. While that’s a good starting point, its assumptions and lack of nuance may be doing more harm than good. The truth is that nonprofit donors don’t see themselves in terms of your fiscal year, your budget or your segments. Segmenting and communicating with them based on their last gift or trackable trend reduces your relationship to “what have you done for me lately?” T. Clay Buck, an individual giving consultant, has performed countless database audits and has witnessed this alienating segmentation trend too many times. Clay joins us this episode to share his approach to finding the story that donors are telling organizations, and challenging the standard segmentation processes, to make a more personal connection and increase donor engagement. ** Episode Links and Shownotes: https://nphf.show/ep31 **
Episode 30: A Systematic Approach to Asking for Money for Nonprofits, with Andrew Frank
September 30, 2021 • 35 MIN
Whether you’re a nonprofit development professional, a staff member, or an individual with a passion for making the world a better place, asking for money is often a dreaded necessity. The only thing worse is the possibility of not being able to provide the service that your community needs. How can we overcome our fears and roadblocks to ask for funding with confidence and increase the number of yeses we get? Andrew Frank has been fundraising for projects and organizations his entire professional life. Now the Executive Director of NYC Children's Theater and consultant to numerous organizations, Andrew teaches his step-by-step approach to nonprofit execs, development professionals, board members and even individual artists. He joins us to share his process for overcoming fears, approaching prospective donors, crafting a four-part pitch, and making the ask in a way that is most likely to get a “yes.” ** Episode Links and Shownotes: https://nphf.show/ep30 **
Episode 29: Nonprofit Storytelling the Hollywood Way (part 2 of 3), with Boris Kievsky
September 23, 2021 • 35 MIN
Welcome to part 2 of our exploration of nonprofit storytelling lessons from Hollywood and beyond. This installment covers 15 elements of style and structure, and another 6 tips for laying out your action. Each concept can be directly applied to better telling your nonprofit’s stories. When most people think of storytelling, they tend to think of it as a freeform art. While that’s true to some extent, most every great story relies on specific structural elements and clear stylistic decisions. Of course, within that structure and those guidelines, there is endless room for creativity. Whether you’re new to nonprofit, new to storytelling or have been working with both for years, these concepts can help you refine your strategy and spark ideas for new ways to share your important work with the people who need to hear it. ** Episode Links and Shownotes: https://nphf.show/ep29 **
Episode 28: Digital Fundraising Strategies, with Steve Daigneault
September 15, 2021 • 34 MIN
The world of fundraising and giving is evolving rapidly. Online fundraising has been growing at 20-43% annually over the last three years. As of 2020, it accounted for 13% of all donations, far outpacing the growth of giving overall. As the landscape and tools develop, so do the strategies for best engaging and converting donors. Steve Daigneault has spent nearly two decades leading digital marketing, fundraising, and advocacy programs for nonprofits. He joins Boris this week on the Nonprofit Hero Factory to discuss some of the emerging trends and best practices in online fundraising; breaking down how nonprofits can incorporate them into their campaigns and overall development strategy. ** Episode Links and Shownotes: https://nphf.show/ep28 **
Episode 27: Navigating the Nonprofit Digital Divide, with Elizabeth Ngonzi
September 9, 2021 • 42 MIN
The nonprofit funding landscape continues to shift in response to the changing landscape in the pandemic and post-pandemic era. At the same time, there is a growing digital divide between those that are quickly adapting and adopting new strategies and those that are in danger of losing the ability to achieve their mission. Elizabeth Ngonzi, founder and CEO of the International Social Impact Institute joins Boris this week to talk about how some nonprofits are staying ahead of the changes and new opportunities to connect with communities and funders alike. We also discuss how LinkedIn is fast becoming a critical platform for nonprofits, and how professionals can improve their skill sets to help their organizations and themselves. ** Episode Links and Shownotes: https://nphf.show/ep27 **
Episode 26: How Nonprofits Can Get the Most Out of #GivingTuesday… and What Not to Do, with Director of Digital Strategy Kathleen Murphy Toms
September 2, 2021 • 36 MIN
GivingTuesday Director of Digital Strategy Kathleen Murphy Toms shares strategies, tips and hacks for getting the most out of GivingTuesday and launching your year-end fundraising campaign. In its nine years, GivingTuesday has become the largest philanthropic movement in history—with activity in every country on the planet! And it’s showing no signs of slowing down. With that success, come new opportunities and new challenges for nonprofit fundraisers looking to participate. ** Episode Links and Shownotes: https://nphf.show/ep26 **
Episode 25: How to Use Data to Increase Your Nonprofit’s ROI, with Alexandra Mannerings
August 26, 2021 • 31 MIN
One of the key roles of nonprofits is to channel resources—time, money and voice—to communities in need. We work hard to get people to trust us with those resources. So how do we make sure to then allocate them as effectively as we can to do the greatest good? The answer is likely in our data. Alexandra Mannerings is a data scientist blending human wisdom and values with the insights and knowledge of science to help amplify the impacts of nonprofits. We talk to her about what data can do for nonprofits, where to start (even if you have never considered using analytics and don’t have any background in data science and analytics), and how to make sure you’re using it to steer you in the right direction. ** Episode Links and Shownotes: https://nphf.show/ep25 **
Episode 24: How to Use Video to Engage Supporters, with Michael Hoffman
August 19, 2021 • 35 MIN
The worlds of online and even traditional media are crowded with information and misinformation. Competition for attention is at an all-time high and trust, arguably, at all-time lows. Creating genuine connections and convincing people to support your cause only gets harder every day. One of the most effective mediums for conveying stories that drive empathy and action today, is video. Once reserved for big-budget galas, video is increasingly accessible. In fact, most of us carry powerful video cameras in our pockets all the time. This week’s Nonprofit Hero Factory guest, Michael Hoffman, is on a mission to make capturing a nonprofit’s communities’ stories through video as easy as visiting a website or pulling out your phone. Michael joins Boris to talk about why video works, best practices, and how to get the most out of your nonprofit’s stories to create more heroes for your cause. ** Episode Links and Shownotes: https://nphf.show/ep24 **
Episode 23: Increasing Donor Conversion & Retention with Gratitude, with Ephraim Gopin
August 12, 2021 • 37 MIN
The average donor retention rate among nonprofit donors is 45%. The average first-year retention rate is around 20%. Combine that with the fact that it costs more to acquire a new customer or donor than it does to keep them coming back, something is clearly not working well at most nonprofits today. Ephraim Gopin, Founder of 1832 Communications, joins Boris to discuss the benefits of having a Marketing Team and Fundraising Team work well together to attract new subscribers, nurture them into donors, and keep donors coming back again and again rather than chasing new prospects year after year. ** Episode Links and Shownotes: https://nphf.show/ep23 **
Episode 22: Nonprofit Storytelling the Hollywood Way (part 1 of 3), with Boris Kievsky
August 5, 2021 • 24 MIN
What does it take for a nonprofit to tell a great story? In this episode we’ll start at the beginning: 16 fundamental questions to ask yourself about your organization, your goals and your characters before you start crafting a story. We know that great stories are the most effective way to connect with others, take them on a journey and inspire them to action. A nonprofit has potentially hundreds of stories to tell. Hollywood tells thousands every year. No two are identical, but they all have fundamental elements in common. In this series on Hollywood Storytelling Tips for Nonprofits, we’ll focus on those elements and how they can inspire your stories and take your storytelling to new levels. ** Episode Links and Shownotes: https://nphf.show/ep22 **
Episode 21: The Promise & Problems of Philanthropy in the U.S. Today, with Doug White
July 29, 2021 • 42 MIN
Charity and nonprofits have had a special role in the American system since its earliest days: to fulfill a need that the government is not designed to or capable of meeting. They are an important part of the individualist character of our nation and its development. While donations to charity have risen in recent years, the average donation size has outpaced the number of donations. It seems that fewer people are giving, with the difference being made up by larger philanthropists. What does this trend portend for the charity world as a whole? Philanthropy advisor Doug White joins Boris to discuss the trends and pitfalls of organizations increasingly relying on larger philanthropic donors, their responsibility to large donors and the communities they serve, and how to navigate the two.
Episode 20: Building Remote Nonprofit Teams, with Jaime Jay
July 22, 2021 • 38 MIN
As the pandemic shifted so many things to “remote” and “work-from-home”, it has created opportunities for nonprofits (like so many other businesses) to expand their talent pool beyond the neighborhood and around the world. Nonprofits have long been a leader in employee culture and benefits, but how do we translate these ideals into the new paradigm? And how do we keep our teams connected to the mission if we can’t meet in person? ** Episode Links and Shownotes: https://npherofactory.com/ep20 ** Jaime Jay has been helping organizations of all types and sizes scale their workforce with remote assistants for over 15 years. Jaime and Boris discuss how you can find and hire your ideal candidates, keep everyone on the same page, and keep them connected to your mission.
Episode 19: The Science of Creating Heroes for Nonprofits, with Dr. Beth Karlin
July 15, 2021 • 37 MIN
Over the last few decades, there has been a sea change in the way we understand human behavior and guide or sway people to making decisions and taking action. This wave of research—observation and experimentation—has come to be known as Behavioral Science. Dr. Beth Karlin created the See Change Institute and devoted her career to help organizations use this power for good. In this episode, Beth joins Boris to discuss why and how organizations should apply the principles of behavioral science to their communications and campaigns. From messaging that increases action-taking, to fostering a sense of identity around your cause, we break down dozens of ideas and strategies to activate more heroes for your cause.
Episode 18: What Hollywood Storytelling Can Teach Nonprofits, with Alex Litvak
July 6, 2021 • 29 MIN
Hollywood screenwriter Alex Litvak (Predators, Three Musketeers, Society of Second-Born Royals), joins Boris to discuss the craft of effective storytelling and what nonprofits can learn from an industry that brings in over $10 billion annually. From how they’re structured to what makes them effective, Alex helps us break down the keys to effective writing and how to craft stories that resonate.
Episode 17: How a Nonprofit Increases Impact Through Innovation with Sarah Lee
June 29, 2021 • 49 MIN
What role should innovation play in fulfilling your nonprofit’s mission? How do you justify allocating precious resources to technology and moonshots versus on-the-ground work? Sarah Lee, COO of New Story, joins Boris to talk about how nonprofits can leverage technology and innovation to create a great impact on the world. Whether you’re a small community-based organization or a Silicon-Valley-based Y-Combinator graduate like New Story, this episode is guaranteed to inspire some conversations at your organization.
Episode 16: Strategic Planning for Nonprofits in the Post-Covid Digital Age with Joseph Barretto
June 22, 2021 • 40 MIN
Strategic Planning Consultant Joseph Barretto joins Boris to discuss how nonprofits can create and maintain a strategic plan that keeps the organization on-mission during good times, tough times, and black swan events like pandemics. What should nonprofits be thinking about as they plan for their futures today? What are the questions they need to be asking themselves and their clients regularly? And, with the accelerated shift to life online, how can nonprofit organizations incorporate technology in serving their communities and their staff?
Episode 15: 60-Second Nonprofit Stories that Spark Conversation with Sam Horn
June 15, 2021 • 39 MIN
Sam Horn, CEO of Intrigue Agency, shares techniques for crafting nonprofit stories that start conversations, intrigue your audience and inspire them to action. Whether it’s a donor pitch, a virtual meeting or a face-to-face conversation, Sam and Boris discuss how to use story to illustrate the power of your work and gain the trust of your audience for your nonprofit.
Episode 14: Building a Compelling Nonprofit Brand in a Noisy World with Matthew Quint
June 8, 2021 • 51 MIN
Matthew Quint, Director of the Center on Global Brand Leadership at Columbia Business School, discusses the challenges and opportunities nonprofit brands are facing today. Boris and Matthew talk about what defines a brand and how your brand can be an authentic voice that rises above the noise. They also discuss the importance of understanding your donors and how you can connect with them using your brand’s story to help them understand your purpose and support it.
Episode 13: Thinking Like a Donor to Build Authentic Relationships with Lisa Greer
July 30, 2020 • 37 MIN
Lisa Greer is on a mission to change the way nonprofits view and relate to donors. As the author of the book "Philanthropy Revolution: How to Inspire Donors, Build Relationships and Make a Difference", she's here to share her research and insights.
Episode 12: How a CRM Can Work for Your Nonprofit (and Not Vice-Versa) with Michael Panas
July 23, 2020 • 39 MIN
From donor acquisition to management and reporting, how you manage your data can make all the difference. How do you choose a Constituent Relationship Management system and when should you build your own? And how do you make the most out of the new tools?
Episode 11: Advocating for Change and Empowerment with Quentin Phipps
July 17, 2020 • 46 MIN
How does one advocate for change and for your nonprofit? Quentin "Q" Phipps is one of the few people who live on both sides of the equation—as a nonprofit advocate in education and a member of the Connecticut General Assembly… And he's here to share the keys to a successful advocacy campaign.
Episode 10: Labels and Ethics in Nonprofit Communications with Yonason Goldson
July 9, 2020 • 33 MIN
What role do ethics and diversity play in your nonprofit's communications? Are labels helping or hurting your cause? Yonason Goldson is a community rabbi, TEDx presenter and author, teaching leaders how ancient rabbinic wisdom can apply to the challenges of the modern world.
Episode 9: The No-Shortcut Formula to Crowdfunding Success with Dr. Amir Giveon
June 25, 2020 • 37 MIN
There are no tricks when it comes to crowdfunding. But there are time-tested, proven strategies that increase your chances of success. With Jewcer, Dr. Amir Give’on has helped nearly 1,000 nonprofits and individuals raise millions of dollars for worthwhile causes. Join us as Boris and Amir discuss what works and what doesn’t, and the pitfalls and benefits of crowdfunding you have to consider.
Episode 8: Is Your Nonprofit Making the Most of Messaging with Mike Sabat
June 18, 2020 • 36 MIN
Mobile messaging is the fastest-growing communications channel with click-through rates far above email. How are nonprofits using it successfully today and how can you incorporate it into your successful engagement and fundraising strategies?www.linkedin.com/company/atmssg npherofactory.comatmssg.comtwitter.com/atmssg
Episode 7: Digital Tools and Strategies for Affecting Change with Boris Kievsky
June 11, 2020 • 16 MIN
Digital tools and strategies for effecting change are about current events and the strategies you can use to make a change, whether it be in your community, country or globally. Don't stand by and watch injustice, make a difference in your world. Boris also shares websites and ideas about how to make those changes. https://www.usa.gov/election-officehttps://blacklivesmatter.com/https://www.mobilejusticeca.org/https://signal.org/en/https://citizen.com/
Episode 6: Making Your Nonprofits Data Work for You with Isaac Shalev
June 4, 2020 • 33 MIN
When it comes to stretching resources, most nonprofits focus on minimizing their spending and maximizing donations. But many are not taking advantage of everything their data and technology have to offer. From donor engagement to setting and measuring ROI, to scaling your impact, Isaac shares his insights on how your data can take your work to the next level.
Episode 5: How Foundations and Nonprofits Are Evolving Through the Crisis with Tracy Kaufman
May 28, 2020 • 29 MIN
How have funders responded to COVID-19? What should nonprofits do in turn? And how has this pandemic changed the field ina the near and long terms? As the Programs Manager at Candid, Tracy Kaufman has a front-row seat to the challenges that grantmakers and nonprofits are experiencing in response to the coronavirus pandemic. What's working, what isn't, and what's next?
Episode 4: Grants, Fundraising and Storytelling in Times of Crisis with Marian Stern
May 21, 2020 • 32 MIN
Boris talks to Marian Stern, Principle of Projects in Philanthropy, who shares how nonprofits are impacted and advice on how to pivot during COVID to create your budget, reach out to donors, share your message and stay true to your mission while creating new funding needs. Shownotes and links at: https://npherofactory.com/ep4
Episode 3: Attract and Convert Traffic with Mike Ruman
May 14, 2020 • 33 MIN
Boris talks to Mike Ruman, founder of Reach the Lost, about nonprofit funnels—automated systems for finding audiences looking for your work and converting them into heroes and supporters, while maximizing the use of your Google Ads grant.Shownotes and links at: https://npherofactory.com/ep3
Episode 2: How Nonprofits Can Use Video to Build Community with Russ Johns
May 7, 2020 • 28 MIN
Boris and guest Russ Johns talk about how nonprofits can use video to engage and grow their communities on—and generate content for—social media. Russ’s superpower is building communities through video, something he’s been doing for nearly 20 years. Today, as the host of the daily #PirateBroadcast, Russ knows a thing or two about showing up, talking and really listening to his audience. Learn about the tools and strategies that you can apply to your nonprofit’s engagement strategy on LinkedIn, Youtube and other social media channels.Shownotes and links at: https://npherofactory.com/ep2
Episode 1: Our Story Begins… with Host Boris Kievsky
May 3, 2020 • 15 MIN
In this first episode, host Boris Kievsky shares the goals for and personal inspiration behind this series. Sharing his own personal story that brought him to this point in life, and why he now dedicates his time to helping nonprofit organizations. Shownotes and links at: https://npherofactory.com/ep1