Fundraising Freedom Podcast with Mary Valloni: Recent Episodes
Mary Valloni: Fundraising Coach, Consultant, Trainer
If you have been following the Fundraising Freedom Podcast, when I first started it I actually called it the Mary Valloni Show. And if you've been following for a while, you know that I follow the steps that I teach in my book, Fundraising Freedom. Those steps follow the acronym FREEDOM because what I want for you, and what I want for me, is freedom. So, I have been spending the last several weeks and really the last several months thinking through what my vision is. What does it actually look like to focus your vision? 2020 has obviously caused us to have to take a step back and really look at everything. What is your vision for your life; the passion and purpose that you have for the work that you do? If you're anything like me, you've probably had some moments where you're like, ‘what am I doing? What is happening? Where do I even fit into all of this?’ I’ve spent a lot of time journaling and walking through my vision for this podcast, my vision for my business, and trying to really pull back the layers and remind myself why I do the work that I do.
In chapter one of Fundraising Freedom, I share with you that I really want to make sure that you have your mission, your vision, and your timeline in your budget. I also want to make sure that you know exactly why you're doing what you're doing. If you don't have a passion for the work that you're doing, people will see that. Usually, that means that your donations will run parallel to that. You may see that your donations declined because the people just don't follow this movement that you have created for your cause. At the top of every podcast episode, I talk about how I want to educate, encourage, and empower fundraisers to raise more funds and have more freedom. And I do believe that that is at the core of what I do. That is my mission. I want to teach you, I want to encourage you, and especially this year, I want to encourage you to keep going and to not give up. I want to empower you to know that it's possible to take that education and really step out into a new place in the work that you do so that you can speak on behalf of the people you serve. Those three core tenants are what I believe, and I spent several years really trying to nail down what that mission was. Of course, on the vision side, I've always wanted to end the lack and scarcity mindset. In the nonprofit sector, even the word nonprofit means not for profit. And so many people look at our nonprofits and say, ‘well, you can do this on less, you don't need that much.’ As nonprofit leaders, you are told that you maybe shouldn't make as much as you make or that you shouldn't be compensated well for the work that's being done and I just do not believe that I believe that you should be compensated well.
I also believe that your charity should have every dollar that it needs to actually end whatever problem you are trying to solve. I would say 100% of you are trying to raise dollars for your nonprofit because whatever you're trying to fix wasn't fixed by the for-profit sector. So not only do you have to do this on limited resources, you have to follow the government guidelines and you have to do it with very minimal income. I understand the challenges that you are faced with and I get that, and I feel your pain deep within my soul. I mean, I have been doing this for 20 years, and I know that you guys sacrifice, and you do this with very minimal rewards. I just think you guys are absolutely incredible; the heart that you have for the people you serve is just off the charts. I just want to tell you how much I appreciate the ability to share with you some of the things that I've learned in the nonprofit space. Of course, we know we can always do better and that there's always more that can be done. But the thing is that you guys are showing up every single day, doing the hard work that somebody else couldn't accomplish. For that, I just want to give you the biggest high five and virtual hug and to let you know that I'm really just so grateful that I get to really do life with you guys.
I’ve had to have some tough conversations with myself, and I'm sure you have been in this same boat, trying to figure out what are we going to do as we move into the new year. How are we going to stay focused on what we were actually called to do? For me, I’ve had such clarity in the last year that I was really called to help faith-based organizations. My heart is for people who are sharing the gospel and helping change lives. I've launched several programs over the last several years, mostly on one-on-one coaching and group coaching; helping people raise money in a group environment. The reason why I did those things was that that's what worked for me. So, I wanted to create an environment for you so that you knew that you weren't alone, which was my why statement. That was the why behind everything; I do not want you to be alone. I do not want you, for one second, to feel alone in the work that you're doing because you're not. You have so many people, me included, who care about you, who care about your work, and the fact that you are spending every day doing the hard stuff that nobody else is willing to do.
I've launched some programs, one of which is called Fundraising Freedom Academy. Several of you joined in and saw really, really great results. I mean, hundreds of thousands of dollars, which was just absolutely incredible. And to me, I was really humbled by the fact that those students of mine trusted me every couple of weeks, as we transitioned some of the things that we were doing, and you believed that what I was teaching was effective. Almost three years ago, I launched a program called Fully Funded Academy with my friend Mike Kim. I had actually been following Mike on his Brand You podcast for a couple of years as I was trying to build out my own personal brand, Mary Valloni Consulting. When I actually got a chance to meet him, we sat down and decided that we were going to open up a program called Fully Funded Academy, I was so excited because I had such a passion for missionaries, but it was really more of a passion project. When we launched that program, it was just absolutely incredible. We have hundreds of students now and that program has grown exponentially over the last few months. And I know that the writing is on the wall, that I have to put more of my focus on those students of mine.
If you joined in on my webinar this week, you know that I have opened up a new program called Fully Funded Orgs. Fully Funded Orgs is all about raising funds for your organization. It’s a modification of my former program, Fundraising Freedom Academy. But this is really just streamlining and getting back to focusing my vision on helping those faith-based organizations and individuals. I really cannot tell you how thrilled I am about all the people who have already joined. We've already had people reaching out and sharing that they are so excited about this program and want to share with their organizations and the people that they knew about this resource. This is a program that runs for a year and is specifically focused on raising those big dollars - six figures, even seven figures for your organization. But the really great thing is, is that I have this whole team of coaches who are helping me, I have people who are experts in the space of administrative support, website support, and large-scale major gift donations. I know that I can only do so much on my own – I know a lot about fundraising, but we're always better together and I want to follow what I teach in step 3 of Fundraising Freedom, which is to enlist your team. I want to bring people around my students and make sure that they are taken care of and that they have the resources they need to continue to grow year after year after year. I'm officially starting my first session on January 6th.
I do want to share with you that because of these big things that are happening through Fully Funded Orgs and Fully Funded Academy, as well as my one-on-one coaching, I have decided to make some shifts for 2021. One of those big shifts is that I will be putting this podcast on hiatus. I don't want to say that I won't ever do another episode on this show. But I do want to share with you that because I'm shifting my attention over into those programs that I'm doing, I have another podcast. If you have not already listened, we have two seasons of the Fully Funded Podcasts that are live. You can immediately go there and check out those episodes. I love podcasting and I love helping people raise money so I’m not going anywhere. I will continue to share resources, educate, encourage, and empower nonprofit leaders until I am in the grave. Because I believe in you, I want to help you however I can. But I want to make sure that I'm also available and really there for my students. I have this really crazy radical empathy for these ministry leaders and for these faith-based nonprofit leaders. You are welcome to jump over there, download, and subscribe to that podcast. Every episode that we do is also on YouTube so you can watch these interviews and actually see me have conversations with some of these really great leaders in the nonprofit and ministry space.
Fully Funded Academy is an introductory level of raising support. My partner Mike Kim, who is a marketing expert, has written support letters and templates for emails or for blog posts. I mean, the resources are crazy good. Mike is the best in the industry - he's a former copywriter who teaches copywriting and is so good at what he does. It's only $49 a month and that is full price, it’s never going to go up on you. I invite you to join us over there, I do calls twice a month. And then Fully Funded Orgs is also two calls a month. So, for anybody who joins in on Fully Funded Orgs, they actually get four weeks every single month, with resources available to them from my team and me at Fully Funded Academy. We not only do the teaching with the coaching, but we also have a community on Facebook. You can post questions or whatever is going on in your fundraising world, and those people are there for you. They're just absolutely incredible people and so that is something that I just want to make sure that you know is available.
I simply cannot share with you how much I appreciate you and how I appreciate the ability to do this podcast. I started this podcast in January of 2017 and nearly every single week, I have been on the microphone sharing some crazy ideas that I have about fundraising. I have loved every second of it and as I said, podcasting, in general, is something that I will continue to do. As we roll into the holiday months, I want to wish you guys a Merry Christmas. I wish you crazy abundance in your year-end support raising and that you use those letters to speak boldly. That you invite people to just come be a part of the work that you're doing, and you do it with such confidence and being so empowered to step out and share the message of your cause. Thank you again, and I hope you all have an incredible holiday season here and I will see you over on the Fully Funded Podcast. Let's go change the world one volunteer and $1 at a time.
Resources:
Mike Kim
Brand You podcast
Fully Funded podcast
Fully Funded podcast on YouTube
Fully Funded Orgs
Connect with Mary:
Mary Valloni
Fully Funded Academy
If you have been following the Fundraising Freedom Podcast, when I first started it I actually called it the Mary Valloni Show. And if you’ve been following for a while, you know that I follow the steps that I teach in my book, Fundraising Freedom. Those steps follow the acronym FREEDOM because what I want…Continue reading Episode 181 | What It Looks Like to Focus Your Vision
Today we’re talking about how to create a personal or an organizational budget that actually works for you coming into 2021. I know that budgeting is something that some people love, and other people hate – there’s a love-hate relationship with the budget. And for many of you, you’ve probably already gone through the budgeting…Continue reading Episode 180 | How to Create a Personal or Organizational Budget That Actually Works for 2021
Today, we are jumping into the topic of thankfulness. As we gear up for our Thanksgiving holiday this week, I wanted to be sure that we talked about how we can thank our donors. So, we’re going to talk about the top 20 ways to thank your donors in 2020. As you know, this is…Continue reading Episode 179 | The 20 Ways to Thank Your Donors in 2020
My guest today is Sarah, Olivieri. Sarah is the founder and the heart behind the company Pivot Ground. She’s a nonprofit business strategist, an author, and a former executive director. I think she’s going to bring just a huge wealth of information to you on how to pivot during this season. Tell us a little…Continue reading Episode 178 | How to Pivot With Sarah Olivieri
Today we’re talking about the number one reason fundraisers fail. Contrary to popular belief, it’s not because we didn’t work hard enough. The number one reason fundraisers fail is from internal conflict. As you know, right now we are dealing with a pandemic, more than likely about to be hit with some economic challenges because…Continue reading Episode 177 | The #1 Reason Fundraisers Fail
We are talking about how to build a new relationship with money today. In the last couple of episodes, I have been really practical in my messaging. But today, I wanted to take a little bit of a different turn on our conversation and talk specifically about money itself. Now for those of you who…Continue reading Episode 176 | How to Build a New Relationship with Money
Today, we’re going digging into the year-end appeal and I’m sharing the three things you need to include in your letter. This is very specific for 2020. As you know, this year has been very unusual so that means that your year-end appeal needs a new and fresh update. Did you know that a quarter…Continue reading Episode 175 | 3 Things You Need to Include in Your 2020 Year-End Appeal
Today, we’re talking about how to end 2020 strong. And we’re really going to be talking about your 90-day plan. These last 90 days are going to end the year strong and allow you to really come into these final last months with some clarity, focus, and really give you some practical steps on how…Continue reading Episode 174 | How to End 2020 Strong (Your 90-Day Plan!)
Today we’re talking about the seven questions to ask yourself before that next big meeting. If you’ve been following the podcast for a while, you’ve been following the seven steps that I teach in my book, Fundraising Freedom. On all the lessons that I’ve taught over these last 173 episodes, I hope that you’ve gotten…Continue reading Episode 173 | The 7 Questions to Ask Yourself Before that Next Big Meeting
I want to share with you today some common things that successful people do. Number one, they don’t allow fear to cripple them. Now think about people who are public speakers, they do not let the fear of public speaking stop them from accomplishing or stepping foot on stage. They don’t allow fear to cripple…Continue reading Episode 172 | The 10 Things Successful People Do To Accomplish Their Goals
Today we’re talking about virtual events, live events, all that good stuff with my guest, Wendi Freeman. Wendi is the founder and CEO of Be Bright Events. She has worked in the for-profit space, and she’s done a lot of work in the nonprofit space as well. Wendi has more than 15 years of experience;…Continue reading Episode 171 | Planning Virtual Events with Wendi Freeman
Today we’re talking about the three things you need to effectively grow and multiply your cause. The reason why I wanted to talk on this topic is that multiplication is really what we’re all about, right? When we join or when we start up an organization, our goal here is to affect as many people…Continue reading Episode 170 | The 3 Things You Need to Effectively Grow and Multiply Your Cause
We’ve been talking a lot lately about a variety of different ways that you can raise funds and today, I wanted to bring a special guest on to talk specifically about working with philanthropists. Kris Putnam-Walkerly is a Global Philanthropy Advisor and she has more than 20 years of experience working with philanthropists. Kris has…Continue reading Episode 169 | How to Communicate With Philanthropists with Kris Putnam-Walkerly
My guest today is Ben Starling III. Ben is a former director of philanthropy, has worked on huge projects like the Museum of the Bible and Scripps Research Institute. He’s from Palm Beach, Florida, and he runs a business called Southern Philanthropy. Southern Philanthropy offers custom-tailored fundraising services for profit, nonprofit organizations, and philanthropists. Tell…Continue reading Episode 168 | Major Gift Fundraising with Ben Starling III
In the past few months, we have been talking about how to navigate this new “normal” as we walk through the season of a pandemic. Over the course of these last several months, you’ve had to make a shift. You’ve had to start looking at different ways of running your fundraising efforts. And so today,…Continue reading Episode 167 | The Industries That Are Booming During COVID-19 and What That Means for Your Cause
Today I’m joined by Philippa Fabbri, director of communications, fundraising, and school design at the Elsen Academy in Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape South Africa. What do you enjoy about fundraising? I wouldn’t say I’m passionate about fundraising but I’m passionate about showing the longevity of my school and making sure that we outlast any crisis…Continue reading Episode 166 | Making the Move from Live to Virtual Events With Philippa Fabbri
Today I’m talking about moving to online fundraising. How do we still build relationships and still communicate and engage donors in the online space? First of all, I just want to share a few statistics with you. Only 3% of charities rated their board and executive leadership as being digitally savvy. This means that we…Continue reading Episode 165 | What You Need to Do to Shift Your Fundraising Online
This episode airs the week of my 40th birthday and I’m pretty excited about it! I’m looking forward to the next decade and letting my thirties live in the past like they are supposed to. Today I want to take you on a walk down memory lane and share a little about what has happened…Continue reading Episode 164 | The Single Most Important Thing I Learned in My Thirties
Today we are talking about the eight words that might explain why you’re stuck. As we’ve been talking about over the last several episodes, we’ve been dealing with a pandemic and trying to navigate not being in our offices and adjusting to working from home. Now, some of you may have already been working from…Continue reading Episode 163 | 8 Words That May Explain Why You’re Stuck
Today, I am joined by special guest Evan Cox. Evan works for Joyce Meyer Ministries and has a background in nonprofit work with the St. Louis Dream Center, Hand of Hope, and many others. He’s also an incredible copywriter. I’ve invited him onto today’s show to share his insight on fundraising and the work he’s…Continue reading Episode 162 | Fundraising with Evan Cox
I am a huge fan of you raising a ridiculous amount of money and changing the world. I know that’s what you’re focused on and why you’re here listening to this show but I want you to realize one thing. If you’re awesome at fundraising and awesome at helping other people, there’s a good chance…Continue reading Episode 161 | The 6 Basic Needs to Live Your Best Life
If you’ve been with me for a while, you know I’m big into goal setting. I think this is why I love fundraising so much because it’s all about goal setting and can be very rewarding when you reach them. So today I want to talk to you about how I set goals. Every time…Continue reading Episode 160 | The Fool-Proof Process to Achieving Any Goal
I am joined today by Marissa Nehlsen, CEO of a 7-figure business, public speaker, coach, philanthropist, and an all-around incredible person. Like me, she is originally from North Dakota which makes my heart happy! What advice would you give to someone who is stuck in the financial mindset? I love this question and here’s my…Continue reading Episode 159 | How to Create a Rich Nonprofit with Marissa Nehlsen, Part 2
I am joined today by Marissa Nehlsen, CEO of a 7-figure business, public speaker, coach, philanthropist, and an all-around incredible person. Like me, she is originally from North Dakota which makes my heart happy! Tell us why the world needs us rich. The world needs us rich in all areas and my team and I…Continue reading Episode 158 | How to Create a Rich Nonprofit with Marissa Nehlsen, Part 1
Today I want to talk about the basics of fundraising. During this season where we are in the midst of a lot of uncertainty, I understand that people are being sensitive when it comes to asking for money. I want to take a step back and talk about why people say yes in the first…Continue reading Episode 157 | What You Need to Know to Get Someone to Say Yes
In today’s episode, I’m sharing with you the 3-part process I use to help charities raise more money. These last couple of months have been a bit crazy and the last several episodes I’ve talked a lot about this pandemic and how to walk through this season. But I want you to know that the…Continue reading Episode 156 | The 3-Part Process I Use to Help Charities Raise More Money
I’m joined today with Casey Hill, Head of Growth at Bonjoro. Bonjoro is a personalized video messaging app with the mission of empowering every organization to build real and lasting relationships with its customers, donors, or community, no matter where they live or work. Casey is a published contributor with Forbes, Entrepreneur, Inc., and many…Continue reading Episode 155 | Why Every Nonprofit Needs to Use Video with Casey Hill
In today’s episode, we are talking about the free resource every charity needs to reboot and start again. We are in a season where we do need to reboot because we’ve never been here before. If we look at anything that’s happened in our past, recessions, depressions, etc. we can look to them and see…Continue reading Episode 154 | The Free Resource Every Charity Needs to Reboot and Start Again
Today I want to talk through how we can take back some control and turn things around for our causes so that when we come out of this pandemic, we are stronger than ever. I want to share a few ideas with you as you’re walking through this season. First, it’s all about perspective. There…Continue reading Episode 153 | How I Raised $500,000 in New Money in a Recession
Dr. Jonathan Roe has been a non-profit coach and trainer in AZ for more than a decade and is the Founder and CEO of Venture 1:9. Venture 1:9 guides non-profits to a place of courage, health, sustainability and impact, through free training, coaching and granting. After graduating college in Boston, Jonathan spent 17 years in church…Continue reading Episode 152 | Advice for Startup Nonprofits with Jonathan Roe
In the United States alone, we’ve gone through 15 recessions in the last 91 years. Many people talk about the Great Depression that started in 1929, which played a huge role in the way we live today. That generation still hides money under their mattresses and in different parts of the house because they couldn’t…Continue reading Episode 151 | How to Thrive During Unprecedented Times
This podcast began in 2017 right after I’d written my book, Fundraising Freedom. It was a huge undertaking, I used all of 2016 to write the book. I pretty much locked myself inside for one year – surrounded myself with authors – and it was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. One of the topics…Continue reading Episode 150 | How to Adjust During This New Season
Today I’m talking with Danielle Holly, CEO of Common Impact, which focuses on connecting corporations and companies with nonprofit organizations. The core mission behind Common Impact is to tap into the superpowers that each of us has as individuals and to channel them for social good. The primary way we do that is by working…Continue reading Episode 149 | Common Impact with Danielle Holly
In light of COVID-19, I’ve been getting a lot of questions about fundraising during this time. Do I continue on? Do I push pause? Do I cancel my event? My number one piece of advice I want to give you is do NOT stop your fundraising. Don’t allow this to stale or stagnate or freeze…Continue reading Episode 148 | How to Fundraise During a Pandemic
On Saturday, I was running around doing my typical weekend errands and since we’ve been having spring-like weather, I decided to start looking for pots to plant herbs in and wound up at Ikea. I found what I was looking for and as I was loading up the back up of my car, I heard…Continue reading Episode 147 | Three Lessons Learned from the Homeless
If you are new to the nonprofit space, I know this may sound crazy. Just like some people don’t work out in for-profit businesses, the same happens in nonprofits too. This is a topic that comes up fairly frequently and it’s a hard conversation to have, which is why I want to make sure you…Continue reading Episode 146 | How to Gracefully Fire a Volunteer
Martin Leifeld is an author, consultant, coach, and public speaker. Martin is a professional fundraiser who’s raised a staggering 500 million dollars in his career that has spanned more than two decades. Two years ago, he was named the Outstanding Fundraising Executive by the Association of Fundraising Professionals in the St. Louis Regional Chapter. Why…Continue reading Episode 145 | Five Minutes for Fundraising with Martin Leifeld
In the last few weeks I’ve been doing a lot of traveling, not just for work but also with friends and family. It was great spending time with my family and to remind me of what’s important – it’s healthy to shut down for a while and regroup. Time away allows me to clear out…Continue reading Episode 144 | Are You Playing the Short or the Long Game?
As I look back on my nearly 40 years of life, I can tell you how many different major things just didn’t go my way. When I think back to those things and what I actually wanted, I am completely grateful and thankful that things did NOT go my way. But I know when we’re…Continue reading Episode 143 | What to Do When Things Don’t Go Your Way
The last couple of episodes we’ve been talking about the new year and goal planning. Today I want to go over the difference between stretch and SMART goals and how you can incorporate them into the work you do. Most of you have probably heard of stretch and SMART goals but may not know how…Continue reading Episode 142 | What’s Better…Stretch or SMART Goals?
As we talk about goal planning in the new year, it is easy to fall into one-upping ourselves and wanting bigger, better, more. When is enough, enough? My answer is, never. Our vision should be so big that it’s something we probably won’t accomplish in our lifetimes. Of course, there will be goals on your…Continue reading Episode 141 | When is Enough…Enough?
I don’t know about you, but I’m feeling pretty excited about the upcoming year. We are moving into a new decade, I’m celebrating a big birthday this year, the big 4-0. It’s hard to believe. As you are planning out your 2020, I want to share with you some ideas on how I plan and…Continue reading Episode 140 | Goal Planning for 2020
On today’s show, I am talking with Brent Silkey. Brent and his wife serve college students in St. Paul, Minnesota through the ministry of Chi Alpha and they started a program called 30 for Freedom. The idea is 30 for Freedom exists to end sex trafficking in our lifetime. We engage college students in biblical…Continue reading Episode 139 | How to Raise Funds on Social Media with Brent Silkey
I recently had a conversation with a friend of mine who was feeling so defeated because she was in a group of business leaders and felt she was letting down the group and her business coach because she wasn’t living up to their expectations. I had to remind her that she is not a for…Continue reading Episode 138 | Why Business Advice Doesn’t Work for Nonprofits
On today’s show I am featuring an episode from a new podcast I am co-hosting with my friend, Joel Kessel. The Nonprofit Executive Podcast is for growth-minded executives who are looking to take their nonprofits to the next level through strategic planning and fundraising. On this podcast, Joel discusses his steps to create a successful…Continue reading Episode 137 | Nonprofit Executive Podcast
We are just coming off the holiday weekend and we’re gearing up for the end of the year. If you’re anything like me, you’re thinking about all of the things you want to accomplish in the new year. December is also the biggest giving month of the year; more than 30% of all donations are…Continue reading Episode 136 | How to Avoid Begging at the End of the Year
On today’s episode, I’m joined by my friend and client, Dan Hurrelbrink. Dan is the director of Barnabas Ministries and is coming to us from Romania. Dan realized that what he was doing to raise money wasn’t working and he needed to make the necessary changes to be able to meet his fundraising goals. Barnabas…Continue reading Episode 135 | How to Manage a Board 7000 Miles Away with Dan Hurrelbrink
My guest today is April Jurgensen, who is the co-founder of The Boaz Project and one of my Fundraising Freedom Academy students. April just recently won an author academy award for her book, The Orphan’s Abba. April and her husband inspire and equip leaders around the world to care for orphans in their own communities. …Continue reading Episode 134 | How Founder, April Jurgensen, Raised $200,000 in 7 Months
These last few weeks have been quite the whirlwind for me. I went out of town for 10 days that kicked off with a workshop I did with my friend Joel for nonprofit executives, then to the Igniting Souls author conference, and concluded with taking on a brand new client. What is gratitude? It’s a…Continue reading Episode 133 | How Gratitude Changes Everything
Today we are talking with Danny Ozment, founder and producer at Emerald City Productions. Danny was on a path to becoming a conductor when his daughter’s birth necessitated flexibility and a major change in priorities. Danny spent the first seven years in his new business focusing on a cappella given his 20-year music career as…Continue reading Episode 132 | Should You Start a Podcast with Danny Ozment
Today we are talking with Danny Ozment, founder and producer at Emerald City Productions. Danny was on a path to becoming a conductor when his daughter’s birth necessitated flexibility and a major change in priorities. Danny spent the first seven years in his new business focusing on a cappella given his 20-year music career as a singer and producer of choral music and contemporary a cappella. Being a fan of many podcasts, Danny started his own show and quickly began editing and producing podcasts for others.
Do you think every nonprofit should have a podcast?
Yes – anyone who has something to say should have a podcast. Most organizations are either developing or have developed content for marketing. Podcasting can be a way of saving time because you can record a podcast as if you were dictating notes to someone who was going to write a blog post or article. And then you transcribe it and then you or your support staff can generate the necessary blog articles or quotes for social media. Podcasts are the one form of new media where you can have a long-form, nuanced conversations and share stories. People who are listening to podcasts right now are lonely and starved for actual conversation. When they’re stuck in their long commutes, their frustrating jobs, they want to connect with someone. Or, maybe they want to learn something while they are running or cleaning their house; podcasts are the way to do that. The podcast host then becomes their friend or the expert/authority on a topic after a few episodes. Nonprofits have an expertise in an area and podcasts are how they can share that content.
Right now, there are more than 50% of Americans who listen to podcasts on a weekly basis and that number continues to steadily increase. 90% of podcast listeners consume at least half or more than half of an episode. These people are giving you much more attention than blogs or videos, even more so than social media posts.
Traditionally, podcasts start out establishing the pillars or core values or the cause they are focusing on. Once you’ve established that evergreen content, it’s a good idea to bring in other experts – from other organizations, other people from within your organization, people from around the world who can support what you’re saying because then the people listening to you realize that you really do know what you are talking about. You also need to think about your audience. I have clients who will interview an audience member and do a live coaching. Or they will do a focus group and ask a lot of questions.
If someone wants to start a podcast, what is the first thing they need to know?
You have to have the desire to improve communication between you and your community (your cause). You need a USB microphone – the one I love is the Audio-Technica ATR2100 – since it’s a USB mic, you can plug it right into your computer and start recording. To record, you can use QuickTime, Garage Band, or Audacity for PC and then all you need after that is a hosting solution; companies like Libsyn, Blubrry, or Podbean take your file and spread it to the rest of the world.
What are you seeing nonprofits do well that you think others should replicate?
They stay on mission. They have a reason they exist. Strong nonprofit game right now is hosting events that engage the community and really fit people.
What have you seen that’s not working?
The number one complaint I hear out of the nonprofit world is we never have enough staff; the whole staff is overworked and underpaid. Nonprofits don’t outsource enough. For example, if a nonprofit is wanting to start a podcast, though it’s not hard work, it’s a lot of work because it’s a long play – it could take six months to a year. Consistency is key – if you are going to podcast once a week or once a month, then you have to stick to that schedule. What my company, Emerald City Productions, does is produce podcasts for businesses. On the business’ end, they record into a mic and then we handle everything else from the tech side to show notes to content for blogs and/or social media posts. This is what I see nonprofits not doing well, which is taking advantage of the contract help that’s out there.
Are there any resources you would recommend?
If you’re thinking about a podcast, my podcast is a great place to start it’s called Podcast Strategies and people can find it wherever they get their podcasts. If you are a LinkedIn Learning member, I have an A-Z course called Producing Podcasts and it covers everything from how to choose the audience you’re speaking to, here’s how to choose your title or format, here’s what you do to create the artwork, etc. For more research on podcasting, Edison Research released The Podcast Consumer 2019.
What does freedom mean to you?
Freedom to me means having the time to develop new ideas and concepts in my business and organization without having to worry about managing the machine that is the day to day of running the organization.
For Danny’s podcast, please go to dannyozment.com. Want to work with Danny? Set up a discovery call here, emeraldcitypro.com/call.
For more information about Mary Valloni, visit maryvalloni.com and to download our free Fundraising Freedom Roadmap, go to maryvalloni.com/roadmap.
Interested in joining the Nonprofit Executive Club? Check out nonprofitexecutiveclub.com
On today’s show, we are joined by my guest, Meredith Noble. Meredith is the lead instructor and founder of SenecaWorks project management consulting firm and learngrantwriting.org. Their mission is to empower natural change-makers in making our communities vibrant, sustainable, and healthy. Can you demystify grant writing for us? Grant writing is not free money; it’s…Continue reading Episode 131 | Grant Writing with Meredith Noble
This time of year, the weather starts to get chilly, the leaves begin to turn, and we start thinking about the upcoming holidays. People enjoy spending time together in this season and it’s a great time to invite folks into your home for an intimate fundraiser. You don’t have to put on huge fundraising events…Continue reading Episode 130 | The 6 Key Components of a Successful Home Fundraiser
On today’s show, I’m talking with Paul Klein, who has moved through the business world into consulting. Paul’s story is a very common one, he worked in the corporate world for 18 years and around the age of 40, realized how unhappy he had become and decided to make a change. Although he was experiencing a very successful career, he felt unfulfilled and miserable and just couldn’t take it anymore. Fast forward 9 years and he’s started three successful businesses generating well over 6 figure incomes with no debt.
What is the process for someone who wants to price out their products or services?
Most people don’t value their expertise. However, what’s common to you may be gold to someone else. And it’s not about trying to pull one over on people and charge an exorbitant amount of money. It’s more about finding that win-win so that you have high value for yourself and great value to your client. Another component is determining whether or not you and the client will be a good fit with each other. If your services are not a good fit – you get so much more credibility by referring them to someone who is.
Once there is a revenue plan in place, how do you coach people on who to invite into the cause?
Whether it’s in for-profit or nonprofit, the answer is the same. At the end of the day, donors are seeking outcomes. If someone is going to make a donation to a cause, they want to know what the end result is. What is the value? How many lives are you going to change? You have to make a tangible connection between the results and the outcomes.
Why do you think people undervalue themselves?
It goes back to what’s common to us; if you see a really great guitar player, you may think that talent is a rare find but to that guitar player, it’s what they do every day, so they see it as common. In the pre-Internet society (and still today), there was a common belief that the harder, or worse, a job is the more you should get paid. We associate something that is difficult with charging more or making more money, but this just isn’t the case. As buyers, we buy outcomes not time – we want results and value, not how much time it takes.
When you tell people don’t sell your hours, what are trying to get them to understand about the work they are doing?
It all comes back to value. In the nonprofit space, you can’t really put a dollar amount on something that is valuable. And value is so subjective – what’s valuable to you is totally different than what’s valuable to someone else. You have to focus on the value and the outcomes of the organization or cause. It’s great if your donors have a good experience, but the deeper meaning is that that we are impacting lives or making a change.
As a businessman, what have you seen nonprofits doing well?
The most effective organizations I’ve seen have adapted to the new knowledge economy and the new environment we’re in. Pre-Internet is over – we can’t market through snail mail and phone calls anymore. The organizations that have effective online marketing, content marketing, and bringing people in through workshops is where’s it’s at.
Can you help demystify the businessperson for my audience?
It’s not good to stereotype any group, but the overall majority of businesspeople I know who work in the Fortune 500 companies, are good, loving people who want to help but they are very busy. Make a connection with them and make it easy – here’s our cause, here are the donations needed, here are the lives we’re going to affect. Simple is always better. Don’t overwhelm them with facts and figures – just provide the basics. And, don’t have the stench of desperation.
Tell us more about your podcast.
The podcast is called Pricing is Positioning and it’s geared toward freelancers and consultants who want to charge more based on value. I just hit 38 episodes and I’ve had some great guests – Mike Kim being one of them. You can find it at pricingispositioning.com or my website paulklein.net.
For more information about Mary Valloni, visit maryvalloni.com and to download our free Fundraising Freedom Roadmap, go to maryvalloni.com/roadmap.
Interested in joining the Nonprofit Executive Club? Check out nonprofitexecutiveclub.com
On today’s show, I interview Mary Hiland with Hiland Consulting. Mary has been involved with nonprofit organizations for more than 40 years. She went from volunteer to staff to executive director. Mary led two mergers of her nonprofit with 530 staff and has worked with budgets ranging from $100,000-$26 million. Mary is now a consultant and coach for nonprofit leaders and their boards.
What are some of the challenges executive directors face with their boards?
Nonprofits do not orient board members. In a recent survey, 75% of the board members said in terms of understanding governing, they really didn’t get oriented into what that meant. The challenge with that is that the executive director is not in a place to teach the board what their roles and responsibilities are. Board members need to understand the why of what they are there to do and why they are so important to the nonprofit they serve. Board recruitment is another area where there are a lot of challenges – finding the people you need and want. And of course, board diversity is also a challenge.
What are the keys to building a powerful executive to board member relationship?
- Capacity – good executive directors have onboarded/oriented board members.
- Connection – the relationships between the executive director and the board members, the relationships among the board members, and all of those players and their relationships with the external world.
- Culture – the successful board (and nonprofits) have a culture of abundance. Mindset is about the positive things, so they don’t have negative beliefs holding them back.
When you come across boards that are struggling, what do you see that’s not working?
The relationship between the board chair and the executive director is so important. In a recent study, when board chairs were asked what they felt qualified them to be the board chair, 51% of them answered nothing. There was nothing that prepared them to be the board chair. The leadership on the board determines the success of the board; the leadership/recruitment of the board chair and it’s other members must be nurtured. If the executive is the most important leader in the nonprofit, then the board chair is the second – he or she can stall the board for their entire term. This leads back to the initial orientation of the board chair – did they know their role and responsibility? It is your job as the staff to make that volunteer look really good and shine.
You don’t have to have an entire board that interested in fundraising. That’s when you start creating committees made up of members who are interested in fundraising, or other areas like mission, advocacy, etc. All of this should be driven by your strategic goals – where you are going, what you are trying to accomplish, and who are the champions you need.
Do you have a resource for people looking for board development?
I recommend people to look at podcasts because they are free and there is a lot of good advice out there. I also recommend two books: Group Alchemy: The Six Elements of Highly Successful Collaboration by Deborah Pruitt, which is very practical and discusses how to have an effective work group; and Nonprofit Sustainability by Jeanne Bell, Jan Masaoka, and Steve Zimmerman has a model for having conversations about how you make decisions about money with your mission in mind and do it in a way that really works.
What does fundraising freedom mean to you?
I think it means empowerment, feeling like I can make a contribution personally and I can help others make a contribution. I am empowered to both invest in and attract investment in the causes that I care about because this is how we connect with each other and have meaning in our own lives.
Connect with Mary Hiland at mary@hilandconsulting.org or hilandconsulting.org. You can also find her podcast, Inspired Nonprofit Leadership, on iTunes.
For more information about Mary Valloni, visit maryvalloni.com and to download our free Fundraising Freedom Roadmap, go to maryvalloni.com/roadmap.
Interested in joining the Nonprofit Executive Club? Check out nonprofitexecutiveclub.com
If you’re anything like me, you love good motivation. We’re told we need to motivate our teams, our volunteers, ourselves, but is it actually garbage? The definition of motivation is the desire or willingness to do something. Motivation Garbage comes from Mel Robins and her book The 5 Second Rule. She says motivation is garbage because if we wait to feel motivation that we will never get anything done. Her 5 second rule says count backward 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 and just do it. It counters your brain from feeling scared. Moving forward and taking action is what helps you accomplish your goals, not waiting for the time you’re going to actually feel motivated.
Our own motivation to get something done comes from the reason or the “why” you’ve set specific goals. Once you’ve determined your reason, you will naturally feel more compelled to get it done. Staying actively surrounded with things that are going to help you get to that next place will make a huge difference. I’ve been listening to Zig Ziglar and I recently found one of his books while I was moving, See You at the Top. He’s such a great storyteller and knows how to really connect the dots. He mentions frequently about listening to things repeatedly, and when you do you are much more likely to take action and to make things happen. The more you rinse and repeat, the more your dopamine receptors are engaged – this can last anywhere from 2 hours to 2 days. Maybe you’ve gone to hear a speaker at a conference, and you’re all fired up and ready to get to work but then you find yourself not getting anything done so you go back and listen to another speaker to find that high from before. And still, you get nothing done. The problem in this scenario is you can search externally for all the motivation in the world, but you still MUST take action.
You’re trying to put on that fundraiser and raise those dollars and you’re motivated to do it, but then reality kicks in and your day to day schedule comes into play and demands your time and attention. Your motivation begins to wane because your focus is scattered everywhere. This is when you have to come back to your why and find that internal motivation, rather than external, to help you stay the course.
Any big goal is going to take time, so you have to be able to wake up every day and stay focused. You have to trick your brain and set yourself up for success by removing the obstacles standing in your way. Our brains are hardwired to protect us, and when they detect something that is unfamiliar or uncomfortable, it’s hard for us to reach outside that comfort zone. This is why it’s so important to remind yourself that you are in control of your decisions and actions. Try using the 5 second rule in your life this week to get tasks marked off your list. The perfect moment to get something done does not exist, so you might as well take that moment right now.
For missionaries or ministry leaders go check out fullyfundedacademy.com, nonprofitexecutiveclub.com for nonprofit leaders. For more information about Mary Valloni, visit maryvalloni.com and to download our free Fundraising Freedom Roadmap, go to maryvalloni.com/roadmap.
Your Zone of Genius is the intersection of your interests, passions and skills and ultimately result in your superpower or your zone of genius. On today’s show we tackle the 7 questions to ask yourself to harness your zone of genius. To start let’s review the four main operating zones as described in Gay Hendricks book, The Big Leap - https://amzn.to/2TBLYFw . 1. Zone of Incompetence - Working in an area that you don’t understand and have no skills (fundraising, event planning, etc.) 2. Zone of Competence - An area that your efficient in, but so are others (thank you cards, mailings, emails, social media, organizing calls, travel, etc.) 3. Zone of Excellence - the area where you are very skilled. You’ve worked in this space and have mastered your craft. 4. Zone of Genius - The area where you shine and is most effortless. This is the area that you feel especially gifted in. Others don’t pick up on it as easy as you do. You gain energy and inspiration from doing this work.
Here are the 7 questions to ask yourself to harness your zone of genius… 1. Are you willing to set aside 10 minutes a day to cultivate your zone of genius? (journaling, prayer, meditation, vision board, affirmations, etc.) 2. Why do you do the work you do? 3. What part of your job doesn’t seem like work? 4. What part of your work makes you feel really good? 5. What is your unique ability? 6. What comes most naturally to you? 7. What would it look like to way up everyday and work in your zone of genius?
After you’ve identified how to harness your zone of genius here are the three action steps you should take with your results. 1. DO 2. DELEGATE (to a human/automate to a system) 3. DUMP
What will you do, delegate and dump? For more information about Mary Valloni, visit maryvalloni.com, to download our free roadmap, go to maryvalloni.com/roadmap and to join THE Club for nonprofit executives, visit nonprofitexecutiveclub.com.
Over the last two years, my husband and I have been in the process of building our dream home. It all started when I did this one thing…I made a decision! To make a decision means you’re cutting off all other options to achieve your goal/dream. For me, I wrote a personal check to myself for $250,000 and hung it on the refrigerator. I told my husband that I was going to will that money into our bank account no matter what. He looked at the check and the ball started to roll – he immediately thought of all the ways we could spend that money – if you can’t tell, I’m the saver and he’s the spender.
Within a few days of that check being on the refrigerator, my husband reached out and called an architect. We’d always wanted to build a modern home but thought we would buy one rather than build. However, we hadn’t had any luck finding just the right home for us as well as one we could actually afford. The great thing was, that in our search for what we didn’t want, we were able to find clarity on what we did want. And it all came back to making the decision that we were going to do something; to move forward.
If you’ve read my book, you know that the seven steps are based on the word F.R.E.E.D.O.M. which is what I’ve used do to all of my fundraising and I used the exact same process to build our dream home. Once we made the decision, it came back to focusing our vision. So often, we struggle with not knowing what we want. We don’t put it on paper, we don’t live it out as if it’s already happened because our inner peanut gallery starts to take over with the “this will never be a reality and will never happen” and kills the dream. Focusing the vision is where I start with all my fundraising - I give numbers, I make a decision.
When I built out my million-dollar fundraiser, I immediately wrote out that one million dollars and I talked about it all the time. I made the decision that we were going to raise one million dollars by recruiting the right people to come around me to make sure that those dollars came to life. To get what you want, you have to make a clear, definitive decision and don’t stop until you get what you want. My challenge to you right now is if there is something you want, you have to be obsessive about it.
Once I uncovered a potential build site for our house, I would drive to it and sit and stare at the grass. I prayed that if this is what God wants for us to show us the way. I journaled over it and wrote out my vision in its entirety. This is the exact same process I use when starting a fundraiser. I spend a lot of time journaling, putting stuff up on my dry erase board, and building clarity around what needs to happen to make everything work. For the house, we started our research by talking to people – home builders, architects, general contractors, etc. to find out what it would take; what we would need to do to make this happen. As this applies to you and your fundraising, you do your research and decide who you want to bring on board to be your core team. Now, you’re going to start building out the branding or the blueprint.
After you have figured out the blueprint, sometimes you run into issues or areas you need make changes. Maybe your volunteers flake out or your donors don’t say yes. We start digging in and we end up digging up stuff, but this is what helps make the fundraiser stronger. It helps move the needle and keeps us moving forward. At this point, you’re in – the house is being built, the event is happening. You have to have crazy belief that no matter what happens, you will figure it out. There are times when you’ll think it’s not going to work out, but when you have momentum in your corner, you can absolutely get it done.
Whenever you’re building something, there are always going to be issues. That’s when we have to make sure we’re patient with the process, that we’re flexible as we move forward and know that in the end, it will all be worth it. Once you’ve executed the plan and gotten what you want, the next step is to celebrate. Then you get to dream about the next thing you want to build. The great part is, you now have all this knowledge and can start to think about how you can take the thing, whatever it is, to the next level.
In the end, the final product was one hundred times greater than my original vision – for the house as well as my past fundraisers. I pushed through my self-doubt and fears and was able to create this thing for myself that is so much greater than my dream. You have to believe in yourself and know that you have every tool inside you to see your dream/vision come to fruition. You don’t have to know everything today to make your dream a reality. You just have to know you have a vision and have made a decision.
Before you move on to the next thing in your day, pause right now and say, “I decide _________.” And then do it.
For more information about Mary Valloni, visit maryvalloni.com and to download our free Fundraising Freedom Roadmap, go to maryvalloni.com/roadmap.
For more details about the Nonprofit Executive Club, visit nonprofitexecutiveclub.com.
I modeled this fundraiser off of a conference I recently attended. The conference felt so special and exclusive and that’s how I wanted the guests to feel at this fundraiser. I always want every person – donors, staff members, and volunteers alike – to feel special and like they are a part of something bigger than themselves.
I wanted to create a fundraiser that was a little more low-key but felt very extraordinary. The guestlist was extremely exclusive, only 100 guests were invited, and we ended up with 50 people. We didn’t do any printed invitations, all we did was a 1-pager that highlighted the guest speakers, explained the fundraiser, and listed the sponsor. We also had a link to the event via a hidden page on the main website. The organization has well over 1000 people who work for the organization, but very few knew about the fundraiser because it was so exclusive. Guests registered on the link and were also asked to provide the name of who nominated them. At the event, attendees were allowed to speak on an issue that is near and dear to their hearts. This event was specifically a major gift, high-level executive fundraiser.
I opened a private Facebook group a week before the event and invited everyone in who was a guest of this event. This afforded everyone an opportunity to get to know each other and figure out who they wanted to meet in these two days.
Friday night was the welcome reception. The majority of people were not local – but Facebookallowed them to engage with each other before the event. Once everyone came in that night,they didn’t want to leave.
The next two days were all about opening up conversations to start building relationships. The one thing their conversations all had in common was how intentional they are about their giving, their family values, and the things they were doing.
On the second day, we made the ask. We asked them if they would consider giving to the cause. It wasn’t a high-pressure ask; the purpose was to invite them in. The whole time we were together we discussed how they could use their giftings to advance the work of our cause and how they could take it to the next level.
The third day was a time of prayer and ministering to the guests. It was so special because they don’t get this in their daily lives. By the time everyone walked out of the room, everyone was ready to take action and make positive changes. The call to action was “do more” and push yourself to the next level.
We had 4-figures, 5-figures, and one 6-figure gift come in and that was due to a relationship that has been built over the last two years and that started off with just an introduction that led our organization to becoming their favorite.
You don’t have to have these huge fundraisers with formal invitations and thousands of guests. You don’t have to have that to raise significant dollars. Today’s world we’re living in, people want to feel like they are part of something bigger than themselves. Here’s what I want you to take away from my experience:
- Know what you want. 2. Know your audience. 3. Take action. For more information about Mary Valloni, visit maryvalloni.com and to download our free Fundraising Freedom Roadmap, go to maryvalloni.com/roadmap.
For more details about the Nonprofit Executive Club, visit nonprofitexecutiveclub.com.
Arlene Cogen spent more than 20 years in the trust and investment services industry, and 9 years in non-profit development. She is a sought-after speaker and coach as well as a certified financial planner. Arlene is also the author of Give to Live: Make A Charitable Gift You Never Imagined.
Why is philanthropic giving so important?
People give to causes for so many different reasons; they overcame something they never imagined possible. Business owners give because promotes their business cares aboutcommunity. Science has found that when you give away money, it stimulates the prefrontal cortex of your brain, which makes you feel joy. We help people self-actualize through giving.
What do you see nonprofits doing well to attract people?
Nonprofits are passionate about their work and do amazing things. The best ones are excellent storytellers – they get out and interview recipients of their work and show the actual impact they’ve had in the community.
What is holding people back from taking it to the next level with an organization?
People don’t see leadership by the board of directors. Many organizations let their boards off too easily. The boards need to lead by example in helping raise funds, “I’ve given, join me.” Donors like to know that all the board members have given. Also, nonprofit leaders need to look generationally, meaning how each generation decides to give away their money. The older generations come in as successful people with more money to give, but millennials give differently and want to have an experience before giving. Fundraising is like sales:
• What’s in it for your donor? • Do they know, like and trust you? • You have to ask. What is it about being a certified planner that gets you excited?
Credibility – do they know, like, and trust you?
Why did you decide you wanted to write a book?
Born out of 20 years of trust and investment work and 10 years of working with nonprofit organizations, I wanted to break down my knowledge into bite-sized pieces so people could digest the information easier and so it’s available to everyone. I want people to understand that it’s not just about the affluent – it’s about the people who feel they can start giving but think they can. The book ends with the financial advisor. Next to your spouse, the most powerful person as to donating is your financial planner. The book is a great tool to hand donors so they can begin to make gifts they never imagined.
If you feel like giving is out of your range, what is your advice on getting started?
The first thing you should do as a fundraiser is to make a charitable gift to the organization, which goes back to the “I’ve given, join me.” Also, a large amount of people who modestly givegoes a long way. You then have a lot of people invested in the work you’re doing. If the senior leaders/executives aren’t giving to their organizations, then there’s something wrong. Those people should not be serving in your top leadership roles. You want A+ volunteers in your top leadership because they will bring in A+ volunteers. The same goes for giving. If you have C and D level board members, they aren’t going to bring in A+ level philanthropic givers.
What do you want nonprofits to know about philanthropists? What could change things?
Philanthropists want to give and it’s yours to lose. They want to give and make a difference. Connect their values with your values and steward them greatly.
Parting advice?
Development and nonprofit executives really to meet their donors. Donors have a lot to say and share and too often we leave it to development staff and volunteers. The more you can connect with donors, the more they will give. And if the executives don’t know how to ask, they need to bring someone along who does. Or, take fundraising courses to understand how to do it. If you don’t ask, the answer is always no.
You can purchase Arlene’s book, Give to Live: Make A Charitable Gift You Never Imagined, on Amazon. To receive the last chapter and reflection workbook, email Arlene at arlene@arlenecogen.com or visit arlenecogen.com.
For more information about Mary Valloni, visit maryvalloni.com and to download our free Fundraising Freedom Roadmap, go to maryvalloni.com/roadmap.
David Baker is a recovering lawyer who has provided comprehensive fund development services to nonprofits, social service agencies, churches, and libraries for over 20 years. David has raised hundreds of millions of dollars through major gift efforts. He has consulted with organizations in California, Ohio, Michigan, Missouri, Georgia, Tennessee, Utah, Arkansas and more for capital and endowment campaigns, comprehensive fundraising efforts, planned giving, development professional recruitment and coaching, charitable interest assessments (aka feasibility studies) and board training.
What is stewardship?
Stewardship is basically doing the donor rightly, or how we treat them. The problem is when you’re a smaller organization, stewardship tends to get dropped. But you can’t go from a $25 one-time gift to an entire estate without the stuff in between. Instead of taking a transactional view with people, stewardship is about honoring the person and treating them as a human, not an ATM. Organizations need to develop a bigger process than just thanking donors and sending them information.
What is a planned gift?
A planned gift is literally a gift that requires planning. What’s the state of the family? Are theretax consequences? Is there a charitable interest? You need to determine the donor’s needs as well as the charity’s needs so it’s a win for everyone.
What is the most ideal situation to go from the $25 to a planned gift?
- Celebration/acknowledgement positing the donor. 2. Impact communication, meaning NO newsletters because no one wants another newsletter. Rather, tell stories. There are 3 stories you should tell: the staff/board story, the donor story, and the served story and they should all be focused on outcomes. 3. Initiations – what can you invite them into? Do you need intellectual capital? You want them to see the organization’s mission in action. a. Example: David worked with a major donor who gave a modest 4-figure gift that also involved giving away books to children. He was invited to the book giveaway event and he helped hand the books to the kids, some of who said it was the only book they had ever owned. After the event, the donor said the experience was the most meaningful thing he’d ever done. That simple invitation was all it took for him to be hooked – he got to see impact right away. 4. Personalization – acknowledge previous gift rather than generic appeals for the next gift. 5. Empathy – the process can’t just be about money and estates. It requires heavy relationship building with the families. The process could start with a birthday card,knowing when the kids leave for college, or maybe there is a death in the family. As you build relationships, you’ll know when these live events occur, and you need to have a way track these them. How can we use databases to our advantage?
It starts with an audit conversation. What are you doing now and what do you actually need that you haven’t been able to do? Online giving; how does it tie to the database? How simple are the gift forms? Then you put a system in place that includes workflows. The system should track your campaign, data points you want to capture, and the reports you want to generate. Your reports will only be as good as the data that is entered; you should hire someone to serve in this realm. David and his team use Salesforce, which free to begin with up to 10 users.
• Mattress Example – David and his wife purchased a mattress online and after the purchase received a barrage of emails and calls about purchasing a new mattress – the mattress company’s own system didn’t know that he’d already bought one. It’s no different with donors – when donors receive impersonal generic asks for money, they feel that the organization doesn’t even know what they’ve already done. This is why it’s vital to keep good records of your donor information. NEVER JUST THANK AND ASK AGAIN. What does fundraising freedom mean to you?
When you can start seeing your donors as people and they know you – this is where the freedom comes from. Getting to the point when get long gains takes work but is fun!
Find David Baker at givingdesign.com.
For more information about Mary Valloni, visit maryvalloni.com and to download our free Fundraising Freedom Roadmap, go to maryvalloni.com/roadmap.
Culture in the U.S. is driven by success and the Enneagram teaches that every type has a driver/motivator.
Teresa McCloy has been married to her husband Dale for 36 years and live on a 3rd generation family grain farm in Central Illinois. Now that she’s living and leading her passion, the joy has returned to her everyday, ordinary REALIFE! It continues to be a process and she wants you to feel the joy too.
Learning Points from This Episode:
Explanation of the Enneagram
The Enneagram is a drawing of 9 different personality styles, or a map, to guide and lead us to name our story and be aware of how the story is moving authentically through the styles.
The 9 types include:
- Reformer: Rational, principles, self-controlled 2. Helper: Caring, generous, possessive 3. Achiever: Adaptable, ambitious, image-conscious 4. Individualist: Intuitive, aesthetic, self-absorbed 5. Investigator: Perceptive, innovative, detached 6. Loyalist: Engaging, responsible, defensive 7. Enthusiast: Upbeat, accomplished, impulsive 8. Challenger: Self-confident, decisive, domineering 9. Peacemaker: Receptive, reassuring, complacent REALIFE Process®:
This is a 5-step system to help people live their life intentionally.
5 steps of intentionality:
- What do you want to be moving towards? 2. What are your values? 3. How do you manage that in time on your calendar? 4. How do you take a sabbath day/how do you have fun in your life? 5. How do you do you review and start all over again? We can’t do everything, but we can choose the things that are the most important. What in the next 90 days are the 1-3 things you want to move forward in business and personal life? Look at these as projects instead of goals – only do 3 big bucket projects in 90 days. Ask yourself, what do I value? What do I want to see on my calendar? It’s not practical to tackle everything at once. You may have 12 projects that need to get done but breaking them down into bite-sized pieces makes the projects more manageable.
How do you mix Enneagram with REALIFE Process®?
If you get to know yourself through daily/weekly examinations, you can make decisions and move forward. We’re more than our type, we’re connected with our head, heart, and gut.
Centers of Intelligence:
• 8,9,1: Instinctual center (gut) – honest, direct, make decisions this way • 2,3,4: Feeling center (heart) – are we taking care of our people? Image conscious, how are others perceiving me. “This is how I feel about that…” • 5,6,7: Thinking center (head) – process through careful planning and taking action, worry about things, gather information about things. Once we discover which we are, we can learn how we connect with the other centers and figure out how to access more of the others.
Enneagram is about how to identify and understand yourself. It’s how you process information as well as how you see the world; the “tape that’s playing in your head.”
• Gut center says, “I’ve had enough, not done enough” • Heart center says, “I’m not enough, I must prove I’m enough” • Head center says, “I won’t have enough, because I don’t have enough information.” How can someone in nonprofit/business use this?
When presenting information to others, many times we do it through our own lens, not realizing we’re leaving out 2/3 of the people. Who is my audience? Need more info? Make quick decisions? Want to make sure you appeal to all three centers. The Enneagram isn’t about manipulating others, it’s learning how to really love other people well as well as how we relate to others.
Parting wisdom – every ordinary day has extraordinary moments and we just have to look for them. Don’t miss the moments.
You can listen to Teresa McCloy on her podcast: Enneagram in Your Real Life, join one of her free social media groups, or go to teresamccloy.com for more information.
For more information about Mary Valloni, visit maryvalloni.com and to download our free Fundraising Freedom Roadmap, go to maryvalloni.com/roadmap.
Today’s guest is my dear friend and new business partner, Joel Kessel.
I love talking strategy and in this episode Joel shares his 8-Steps to a successful strategic plan including:
Step 1 ==> Plan-To-Plan
Step 2 ==> Environmental Scan
Step 3 ==> Ideal Future Vision
Step 4 ==> Current State Assessment
Step 5 ==> Areas of Focus
Step 6 ==> Performance Measures and Targets
Step 7 ==> Tactics
Step 8 ==> Plan-To-Implement
We also share all the details to our brand NEW program, the Nonprofit Executive Club!
To find out more about Joel, visit https://www.kesselstrategies.com/nonprofit/ http://kesselstrategies.com/nonprofit and to join the Nonprofit Executive Club, visit https://www.nonprofitexecutiveclub.com.
For more information about Mary Valloni, visit http://maryvalloni.com and to download our free Fundraising Freedom Roadmap, go to http://maryvalloni.com/roadmap
In today’s episode we address the very common desire to want to jump right to our final destination. Of course we want to raise those funds fast, but we just might miss the best part…the journey!
Mary shares how to enjoy the journey by doing the following 5 things:
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Travel with people you like.
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Pay attention to the sites and sounds that surround you.
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Listen to good music, podcasts, and audiobooks.
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Eat good food and take in the conversations.
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Stop along the way.
For more information about Mary Valloni, visit http://maryvalloni.com and to download our free Fundraising Freedom Roadmap, go to http://maryvalloni.com/roadmap
Today’s episode features social media expert, small business owner, and nonprofit executive director, Lauren Davis. Lauren lives close to Chicago in Rockford, Illinois, but works with people around the world to overcome their personal branding discontent and grow their presence so that they can focus on sales, exposure, leadership and community impact. She was named one of the 20 People You Should Know in 2013 by the Rockford Illinois Chamber of Commerce, one of the Register Star (Gatehouse Media’s) “People to Watch” in 2018, a “Face of Tourism” by her city in 2017, an “Up Next” future leader in 2019 by the Register Star (Gatehouse Media) and has received Senate recognition for her passionate dedication to her local business community. Lauren is the executive director of Winnebago Buy Local, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to connect local businesses together to collaborate and bring the community closer to them, creating raving fans. Learning Points From This Episode: What’s Working? Lauren shares that Instagram is up to 1 billion users and 60% of those users make 6-figures and 83% share they are discovering new brands/products/organizations on Instagram. She shares the importance of participating with your audience on every social media platform you choose to use. Think of comments like a digital handshake – comments show you are an actual human being. For Instagram, consider posting 4 times a week and 6 to 8 stories a day; for Facebook, post 6 days a week, stories every day. Share with your audience - What is your organization doing? Why is it important? What is your mission? Do you have any personal stories about how your work is affecting others? What can you do to create a FOMO (fear of missing out) experience? Lauren recommends having your hashtag readily available so that when people post they can tag your organization. A hashtag is literally a search tool to see what people are saying about you and your cause. Your hashtag needs to be easy to remember, short if possible, and unique to you. What’s NOT Working (Social Media Misses): 1. The marketing team/intern will schedule a bunch of posts with CTAs (calls to action) and then never touch it again. Lauren recommends spending at least 30 minutes a day responding and liking other people’s pages/posts. Perpetual motion is key. Find a volunteer who is already on social media who can help keep up with it – they also need to understand and value the importance of cultivating relationships. A marketing person who understands the basic level of relationships is worth paying for. 2. It doesn’t matter how many times you are posting if people don’t care about the content. The purpose of having an online presence is to build your community and make new connections. This is how you get more contacts. Post stories that inspire as well as highlight what your organization is doing, meaning you’re doing the work you say you’re doing, which translates into using donor dollars wisely. 3. Recognize the businesses that support your cause by going above and beyond on social media to recognize people/organizations who have donated. This is a missed opportunity if you don't use social media to recognize your donors.
For more information about Lauren Davis, follow her on instagram at @ldaviscreative or visit laurendaviscreative.com. For more information about Mary Valloni, visit maryvalloni.com and to download our free Fundraising Freedom Roadmap, go to maryvalloni.com/roadmap.
Today we may get a bit emotional, but as you know emotions are important especially when raising funds for your cause.
In this episode we tackle 3 important questions (that I totally stole from my friend, Mike!).
They include:
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What Pisses You Off? (The Injustice)
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What Breaks Your Heart? (The Compassion)
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What is the Big Problem You Are Trying to Solve? (Your Cause)
I also shared about the new “Club” I’m launching with my friend, Joel. If you’re interested in being a part of the first group, email me at mailto:mary@maryvalloni.com and tell me you want in! I’ll give you all the details to get started!
For more information about Mary Valloni, visit http://maryvalloni.com and to download our free Fundraising Freedom Roadmap, go to http://maryvalloni.com/roadmap
Some of us have an easier time than others, but the same thing holds us all back from growth and it comes back to…TRUST.
It’s for good reason that our guard goes up especially if you really care about your cause. So how do we overcome our trust issues.
These four things will help:
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Enlist team members who are more skilled at the job than you.
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Expect success and don’t assume people will let you down or quit.
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Address problems and conflict head on.
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Don’t put your trust in people, put your trust in the end result - your vision.
For more information about Mary Valloni, visit http://maryvalloni.com and to download our free Fundraising Freedom Roadmap, go to http://maryvalloni.com/roadmap
It is common to assume that our potential donors know exactly how they can give and serve our causes. But could you imagine if you walked into a restaurant, sat down at a table, and the waiter or waitress never gave you a menu? I’m sure you’d be annoyed and frustrated and probably wouldn’t come back, which is exactly what your donors are doing.
Our prospective donors need us to tell them how they can help and the best way we can do that is by creating a winning sponsorship packet. Whether you’re raising funds for operating expenses, a project like a building campaign, or a fundraising event a sponsorship, often called a case document, is essential.
We talk through the essential components of the packet found on page 75 of my book, Fundraising Freedom, in addition to how you can use the FREEDOM Steps to build out that winning packet. Ask yourself the following questions as you create your winning sponsorship packet.
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Focus Your Vision - What do you have to offer?
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Run Your Research - Who are your potential sponsors?
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Enlist Your Team - Who would say yes (make a list)?
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Enhance Your Brand - What do you need in your packet?
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Deploy Your Team - Who can schedule the appointment?
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Organize Your Ask - What questions do you need to ask to find out if they are a good fit?
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Make Your Difference - What did you provide that warrants your sponsor giving again?
For more information about Mary Valloni, visit http://maryvalloni.com, to download our free roadmap, go to http://maryvalloni.com/roadmap and to join our Fundraising Freedom community on Facebook, find us at http://facebook.com/groups/fundraisingfreedomtribe/
Most nonprofit and ministry leaders are determined to fund their mission and often wonder if they are doing everything they possibly can to raise funds, which leads to the question…”Is cold-calling a good idea?”
In today’s episode we talk through the most efficient way to cold-call and how to add warm-calls to your marketing efforts.
We also dig into interruption marketing and Seth Godin’s permission marketing to discuss how we can connect with potential donors the way they prefer.
For more information about Mary Valloni, visit http://maryvalloni.com, to download our free roadmap, go to http://maryvalloni.com/roadmap and to join our Fundraising Freedom community on Facebook, find us at http://facebook.com/groups/fundraisingfreedomtribe/
In today’s episode we jump in and look at how we’re uniquely equipped to raise funds using our specific strengths.
We talk through the four stages of competence by Martin M. Broadwell (known as the four levels of teaching) including:
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Unconscious incompetence
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Conscious incompetence
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Conscious competence
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Unconscious competence
and
Gay Hendricks four main operating zones from the book, The Big Leap:
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Zone of Incompetence
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Zone of Competence
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Zone of Excellence
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Zone of Genius
Both of these tools will help you to understand how to use what you do best to raise the funds you need.
For more information about Mary Valloni, visit http://maryvalloni.com and to join our Fundraising Freedom community on Facebook, go to http://facebook.com/groups/fundraisingfreedomtribe/
In this episode, I can’t help but go after the lies that our charities are believing.
The three lies that need to die include:
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There is only so much money to go around.
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No one wants to give.
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People only want to give to projects.
All three of these tap into the lack and scarcity mindset. Listen in to get the action item to kill these lies today!
For more information about Mary Valloni, visit http://maryvalloni.com and to join our Fundraising Freedom community on Facebook, go to http://facebook.com/groups/fundraisingfreedomtribe/
In this episode we dig deep into “The Donor’s Journey.” This is the path that every donor, volunteer and staff goes through when they decide whether to link arms with your cause and align themselves with the work you do.
The 7 Steps include:
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Know
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Like
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Trust
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Try
-
Give
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Repeat
-
Refer
Find out why some people get you and others don’t and lets create sustainability for our causes so you can spend less time recruiting and more time changing lives.
For more information about Mary Valloni, visit http://maryvalloni.com and to join our Fundraising Freedom community on Facebook, go to http://facebook.com/groups/fundraisingfreedomtribe/
In this episode we not only talk through the three reasons why it’s hard to motivate your board members (or advisory group), but we also dig in and talk through what you can do to turn things around.
Here are the resources we talked about on today’s show:
Free webinar training for board members is this Tuesday, March 12th at 1pm CST on the “7 Fundraising Secrets Every Nonprofit Board Member Should Know”, register at http://bit.ly/7boardsecrets.
To catch last week’s training on the “7 Proven Strategies to Overcome Fundraising Failure”, watch the recording at bit.ly/7provenstrategies.
To apply for the Spring Class of Fundraising Freedom Academy, go to http://bit.ly/applyforffa.
For more information about Mary Valloni, visit http://maryvalloni.com and to join our Fundraising Freedom community on Facebook, go to http://facebook.com/groups/fundraisingfreedomtribe/
“If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always got.” -Henry Ford, founder of the Ford Motor Company
At 15 years old, Ford left home to become an apprentice and if it’s good enough for Ford it should be good enough for us. Growing and learning from others is an absolute must. On today’s show, I share why it’s so important to surround yourself with the right people and that you push yourself outside of your comfort zone.
To attend my free webinar training on Tuesday, March 5th at 1pm CST on the “7 Proven Strategies to Overcome Fundraising Failure”, register at http://maryvalloni.com/7strategies.
To apply for the Spring Class of Fundraising Freedom Academy, go to http://bit.ly/applyforffa.
For more information about Mary Valloni, visit http://maryvalloni.com and to join our Fundraising Freedom community on Facebook, go to facebook.com/groups/fundraisingfreedomtribe/
Today’s interview is with Dr. Michael Hudson - a speaker, coach, and “idea-junkie” - who wants to help leaders do work that truly matters.
During our time together Michael shares his 3 R’s and gives insight into how we can improve our storytelling so our message not only gets heard, but also get’s repeated.
For more information about Michael Hudson, visit michaelhudson.com.
For more information about Mary Valloni, visit maryvalloni.com. To join our fundraising freedom community on Facebook, go to facebook.com/groups/fundraisingfreedomtribe/
There are a lot of things that we may be afraid to say, but these are the four we shouldn’t shy away from:
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“I Don’t Know”
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“I Made a Mistake”
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“I Need Help”
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“I’m Sorry”
In this episode we dive into each one and talk through why they are important to address especially for you and your charity.
For more information about Mary Valloni, visit maryvalloni.com. To join our fundraising freedom community on Facebook, go to facebook.com/groups/fundraisingfreedomtribe/
What do you really want?
Today’s episode will challenge you to 1.) give your vision language, 2.) use your imagination to mentally create your vision, and 3.) build the plan that will physically create your vision.
Every vision needs a mission statement. Here’s the template I share to get that mission on paper…
I/We are ________ who (serves/does) ________ so that (results) ________.
For more information about Mary Valloni and Fundraising Freedom Academy, visit maryvalloni.com. To join our fundraising freedom community on Facebook, go to facebook.com/groups/fundraisingfreedomtribe/
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey is available on Amazon here - https://amzn.to/2E3epXC
We’ve all been there where we feel so exhausted and overwhelmed that something has to change. Burnout is often caused by overwork or stress so to recharge our batteries we need to make time to unplug and relax.
Typical signs and symptoms of burnout include:
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Failure to take responsibility
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Abuse of food, drugs or alcohol
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Irritability and lashing out
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Absenteeism
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Procrastination
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Isolation
We talk through how to address the stress, how to protect your peace, and how to focus on the 80% so you don’t get caught up in the chaos that often leads to burnout.
For more information about Mary Valloni and Fundraising Freedom Academy, visit maryvalloni.com. To join our fundraising freedom community on Facebook, go to facebook.com/groups/fundraisingfreedomtribe/
Bridgett Myers is the Chief Development Officer at FosterAdopt Connect (and Mary’s former boss). Bridgett assumed the new role in January 2018 after serving in executive leadership with the American Cancer Society for 23 years.
Bridget digs in and shares incredible fundraising tips and hiring advice every non-profit executive leader should know. You don’t want to miss out on how she made a few changes in her 2018 signature fundraiser that resulted in 8 new leads and a new $25,000 corporate donor that called and asked if they could sponsor her 2019 event!
To connect with Bridgett or to learn more about her organization, FosterAdopt Connect, visit http://fosteradopt.org.
For more information about Mary Valloni, visit http://maryvalloni.com. To join our fundraising community on Facebook, go to http://www.facebook.com/groups/fundraisingfreedomtribe/ and to be considered for Mary’s next class of Fundraising Freedom Academy apply at https://www.fundraisingfreedomacademy.com
Today’s episode features CFRE and AFP Master Trainer, Jason Lewis. Known for his willingness to question deeply engrained beliefs and assumptions of how effective fundraising really works, Jason shares his knowledge and expertise in this episode. If you’re interested in hearing how fundraising should really work, then you need to listen in.
Here are some of the questions I asked Jason:
• What is the future of fundraising?
• What do you see that’s NOT working, yet seems to be perpetuated by nonprofits?
• Imagine you woke up today and you were tasked with raising $100,000. What would you do to raise those funds in the next 12 months?
• What does fundraising freedom mean to you?
• What’s the one thing you want fundraisers to know?
To pick up a copy of Jason’s book, The War For Fundraising Talent, on Amazon, visit https://amzn.to/2T5NDCO or to connect with him on LinkedIn, go to https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonlewis/.
For more information about Mary Valloni, visit http://maryvalloni.com.
To join the Fundraising Freedom Podcast community on Facebook, go to http://www.facebook.com/groups/fundraisingfreedomtribe/.
To apply for Mary’s Fundraising Freedom Academy, go to https://www.fundraisingfreedomacademy.com
After 100 episodes, I’m more committed than ever to your success. In this episode I share my three big takeaways from the past 100 episodes including:
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I started this podcast with the intention of teaching others how to raise funds, but I ended up learning so much more.
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Habits are hard to start, but easy to keep.
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I’ve connected with the listeners of the show in ways I never imagined.
My primary advice as we start the new year is to choose wisely who you will follow this year. Let’s be sure we surround ourselves with good people who will stretch us to new places and push us to the next level.
For more information about Mary Valloni, visit http://maryvalloni.com. To join our fundraising community on Facebook, go to http://www.facebook.com/groups/fundraisingfreedomtribe/ and to be considered for Mary’s next class of Fundraising Freedom Academy apply at https://www.fundraisingfreedomacademy.com
Today’s episode is the last episode of 2018 and the last episode before a new name change for 2019! Catch the #1 thing holding you back and we’ll talk through the 20 things successful people do to achieve their goals so you’re all set for 2019. The 20 things include…
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They make time for what they want.
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If they don’t know how to do something they figure it out - If it’s been done before you can always find a roadmap to get there.
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They are committed.
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They don’t give up.
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They take action.
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They focus on success and not on the fear of failure.
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Failure makes them better.
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They follow a proven plan.
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They have specific goals with dates and times.
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They listen to only those who win.
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They have very few goals with laser focus.
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They have confidence in themselves.
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They surround themselves with only amazing people who meet and exceed their goals.
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They spend time on only the most important tasks.
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They focus on the infinite game - the vision.
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They have crazy drive and motivation.
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They have inspirational goals.
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They are focused and don’t get distracted easily.
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They don’t make excuses.
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They actually go after what they want.
For more information about Mary Valloni and to get weekly email updates, visit http://maryvalloni.com. To join our free fundraising community on Facebook, go to http://www.facebook.com/groups/fundraisingfreedomtribe/
Instead of focusing on what doesn’t work, let’s talk about what is working! On today’s episode, we talk through 5 things that charities are doing really well this holiday season. We reflect back on episodes 72-77 where we talk about the 6 Principles of Persuasion by Robert Cialdini. I share real examples of how you can implement these ideas into your communication as you engage with your donors and volunteers at the end of the year.
To check out the Junior Achievement/Citi Commercial I mention, go to https://www.ispot.tv/ad/d_6f/citi-progress-makers-junior-achievement.
To be a part of the 100th episode of the show, send your text or voicemail message with your #1 challenge to achieve your 2019 fundraising goal along with your fundraising questions. Listen in for all the details.
For more information about Mary Valloni and to get her weekly emails, visit http://maryvalloni.com. To join our fundraising community on Facebook, go to http://www.facebook.com/groups/fundraisingfreedomtribe/
On today’s podcast we take a trip down memory lane and we look at all the things we’ve wanted. What have you always wanted? Do you want to start a new fundraiser? Build that new building? Pay off debt?
We address these 3 questions you should ask yourself…
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What do I want?
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Why do I want it?
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How can I get it?
So what do you want and let’s go after it in 2019!
Here are just a few resources we talked about on the show today.
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Apply by December 14th for my 18-month program, Fundraising Freedom Academy, to create your killer signature fundraiser in 2019 - Apply at http://bit.ly/applyforffa.
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Catch the recording of last week’s training on the “7 Year-End Fundraising Secrets Every Nonprofit Should Know” at http://maryvalloni.com/7secrets.
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Join Eric Eaton, founder of the Knights of Heroes Foundation, and I LIVE on December 11th at 1pm CST for a FREE online training on “How to Start a 6-Figure Charity Fundraiser” - register now at http://maryvalloni.com/webinar.
For more information about Mary Valloni and to get her weekly resources by email, visit http://maryvalloni.com. To join our fundraising community on Facebook, go to http://www.facebook.com/groups/fundraisingfreedomtribe/
Today’s guest is wealth advisor, Laura Waller, with P3 Life Builders where she focuses on helping for profit and nonprofit leaders to live a life of Purpose, Power, and Prosperity.
Listen in as Laura shares the 3 S’s to fund and fuel your growth in 2019 including:
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State of Mind
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Story
-
Strategy
To hear more about Laura and to enter in to the Giving Tuesday Giveaway, visit http://www.p3lifeabundance.com
Mark your calendar for Wednesday, December 5th at 1pm and join Mary and nonprofit strategic advisor, Joel Kessel, for the FREE Online Training on the “7 Year-End Fundraising Secrets Every Nonprofit Should Know”. To register, go to https://www.maryvalloni.com/7secrets.
For more information about Mary Valloni, visit http://maryvalloni.com and to join our fundraising community on Facebook, go to http://www.facebook.com/groups/fundraisingfreedomtribe/
A common mistake made on Giving Tuesday is to tell people “It’s Giving Tuesday!” and then ask for their money. Instead of going that route this year, let’s consider giving and not taking by doing one or more of the following…
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Share helpful resources.
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Answer donor questions.
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Showcase your donors with a picture and quote about why they give.
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Repost or share your donors’ fundraising campaigns and relevant content.
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Post a FB live thank-you video or email your supporters a personalized thank you video. I recommend checking out Loom - https://www.useloom.com.
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Provide exclusive access to your board chair or charity Executive Director.
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Show impact with a story or interview.
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Show gratitude for your staff, volunteers and donors.
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Connect donors to each other.
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On your private FB page, invite your supporters to post and share about their business end-of-the-year promotion.
Good luck on your #GivingTuesday campaign. Update us on your campaign in the Fundraising Freedom Tribe page.
For more information about Mary Valloni, visit http://maryvalloni.com and to join our fundraising community on Facebook, go to http://www.facebook.com/groups/fundraisingfreedomtribe/
“Opportunities, relationships, even money flowed my way when I learned to be grateful no matter what happened in my life.” — Oprah Winfrey
“When you are grateful, fear disappears and abundance appears.” — Tony Robbins
It’s too easy to accept other people’s generosity without reciprocating the kindness. As we gear up for the largest giving season of the year, we talk through the 25 ways to thank your donors so they keep coming back, including:
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Say Thank You.
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Share why you appreciate them.
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Do something small, but thoughtful.
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Give a hug.
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Demonstrate that they have your full attention by shutting down the distractions.
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Offer to be there if they ever need someone to run ideas by.
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Care about what they care about.
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Encourage them in an area that they’ve mentioned - travel, writing, speaking, teaching, etc.
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Offer to do something that you know they don’t like to do.
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Give compliments about their skills and talents.
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Look them in the eyes and say, “You make the world a better place.”
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Listen.
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Think of something that you admire about them and share that with them.
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If you did something because they encouraged you, tell them what happened and thank them for it.
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Dedicate a blog or email post to them because of something they taught you.
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Introduce them to someone you think could help them achieve their personal or professional goals.
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Smile.
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Send a special note of appreciation.
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Buy them a coffee or drop by with donuts.
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Start on time, end on time - Value you their time.
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Ask them about their lives.
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Send flowers.
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Tell their boss what a great job they are doing for you.
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If someone thanks you, show appreciation by receiving it.
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Acknowledge your accomplishments and don’t forget to show appreciation to yourself.
For more information about Mary Valloni, visit http://maryvalloni.com and to join our fundraising community on Facebook, go to http://www.facebook.com/groups/fundraisingfreedomtribe/
On this week’s show we continue the conversation on the Enneagram where we break down each number by money strengths, weaknesses and advice given by people of the same number.
The Enneagram is broken down into 9 types including:
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The Reformer - The Rational & Idealistic Type
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The Helper - The Caring & Interpersonal Type
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The Achiever - The Success-Oriented, Pragmatic Type
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The Individualist - The Sensitive, Withdrawn Type
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The Investigator - The Intense, Cerebral Type
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The Loyalist - The Committed, Security-Oriented Type
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The Enthusiast - The Busy, Fun-Loving Type
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The Challenger - The Powerful, Dominating Type
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The Peacemaker - Easygoing, Self-Effacing Type
To get your Enneagram number, visit http://exploreyourtype.com or http://enneagraminstitute.com.
For more information about Mary Valloni, visit http://maryvalloni.com and to join our fundraising community on Facebook, go to http://www.facebook.com/groups/fundraisingfreedomtribe/
The personality test that everyone is talking about is the Enneagram, which is Greek for the number nine.
The Enneagram is broken down into 9 types including:
-
The Reformer - The Rational & Idealistic Type
-
The Helper - The Caring & Interpersonal Type
-
The Achiever - The Success-Oriented, Pragmatic Type
-
The Individualist - The Sensitive, Withdrawn Type
-
The Investigator - The Intense, Cerebral Type
-
The Loyalist - The Committed, Security-Oriented Type
-
The Enthusiast - The Busy, Fun-Loving Type
-
The Challenger - The Powerful, Dominating Type
-
The Peacemaker - Easygoing, Self-Effacing Type
To take an Enneagram test to find your type, visit http://exploreyourtype.com or http://enneagraminstitute.com.
For more information about Mary Valloni, visit http://maryvalloni.com and to join our fundraising community on Facebook, go to http://www.facebook.com/groups/fundraisingfreedomtribe/
After the death of her daughter, Laura’s life turned upside down. Through the grief, she realized that she wasn’t alone and it later became the start to her charity, Grieving Parents Sharing Hope.
On this episode, Mary and Laura walk through the first steps of the Fundraising Freedom process to ensure your fundraisers are innovative and well received.
For more information about Laura and Grieving Parents Sharing Hope, visit http://gpshope.com and to contact Mary Valloni, visit http://maryvalloni.com. To join the fundraising community on Facebook, go to http://www.facebook.com/groups/fundraisingfreedomtribe/
On today’s episode we talk through the 6 Basic Emotions and how you can use emotion to reach your 90-Day Challenge Goal and bring in more donations to your cause.
The 6 Basic Emotions include:
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Happiness (joy, trust, anticipation)
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Fear
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Surprise
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Sadness
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Disgust
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Anger
Definition of Emotion: Any conscious experience characterized by intense mental activity and a certain degree of pleasure and displeasure.
For more information about Mary Valloni, visit http://maryvalloni.com and to join our fundraising community on Facebook, go to http://www.facebook.com/groups/fundraisingfreedomtribe/
As you work on your 90-Day Challenge goals, this one office supply could be the difference between reaching or not reaching your goals.
Take action and complete this week’s exercise by writing down your 5 goals and completing your list of who you need to be, what you need to do to have what you want to have.
Share your Be-Do-Have lists in the Fundraising Freedom Tribe at http://www.facebook.com/groups/fundraisingfreedomtribe/.
For more information about Mary Valloni, visit http://maryvalloni.com
We’re just 90 days away from the end of the 2018 calendar year and the largest giving season of the year!
Join us as we take the 90-Day Challenge!
Write down your top 25 goals and circle your top 5. As Warren Buffet’s 5/25 Rule suggests, focus 100% of your attention on the top 5 goals and ignore the rest until you’ve successful completed one off the list.
Share your top 5 in the Fundraising Freedom Tribe at http://www.facebook.com/groups/fundraisingfreedomtribe/.
For more information about Mary Valloni, visit http://maryvalloni.com
Your personal feelings around money does make a difference in the donations you bring in. Take some time to evaluate how you handle money personally and professionally and ask yourself the following questions.
⁃ What is your money story?
⁃ What emotions does money bring up?
⁃ What is your new story going to be?
⁃ What value do you bring in exchange for the salary/income you receive?
⁃ What value do you bring in exchange for the donations you receive?
For more information about Mary Valloni, visit http://maryvalloni.com and to join our fundraising community on Facebook, go to http://www.facebook.com/groups/fundraisingfreedomtribe/
Every year we experience the four season of winter, spring, summer and fall. Without a doubt spring always follows winter and an up always follows a down. In today’s episode we walk through each season to see how we can come with expectancy for each new fundraising season.
Here are the lyrics to the song “Turn, Turn, Turn” written by Pete Seeger (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8).
To everything - turn, turn, turn
There is a season - turn, turn, turn
And a time to every purpose under heaven
A time to be born, a time to die
A time to plant, a time to reap
A time to kill, a time to heal
A time to laugh, a time to weep
To everything - turn, turn, turn
There is a season - turn, turn, turn
And a time to every purpose under heaven
A time to build up, a time to break down
A time to dance, a time to mourn
A time to cast away stones
A time to gather stones together
To everything - turn, turn, turn
There is a season - turn, turn, turn
And a time to every purpose under heaven
A time of love, a time of hate
A time of war, a time of peace
A time you may embrace
A time to refrain from embracing
To everything - turn, turn, turn
There is a season - turn, turn, turn
And a time to every purpose under heaven
A time to gain, a time to lose
A time to rend, a time to sew
A time for love, a time for hate
A time for peace, I swear it's not too late!
For more information about Mary Valloni, visit http://maryvalloni.com and to join our fundraising community on Facebook, go to http://www.facebook.com/groups/fundraisingfreedomtribe/
Is it even possible to take back the hours in your day and actually say “NO”?
YES!
Today, we talk through how to move the mindless tasks from our list so we can prioritize on the big things that actually produce something. Let’s start to value results and not busy work.
Listen in to find out the difference between busyness and production and how you can turn into a more productive person as a result.
For more information about Mary Valloni, visit http://maryvalloni.com and to join our fundraising community on Facebook, go to http://www.facebook.com/groups/fundraisingfreedomtribe/
In the United States, we celebrate Labor Day and many of us will take the day off to enjoy time with family and friends. As we gear up for a busy end-of-the-year season it’s important that we remember to rest.
Resting is a skill that needs to be practiced especially by our selfless nonprofit leaders.
Rest results in us being more creative and productive.
Our lives can be richer and more fulfilling when we take the time to rest. Be sure to reserve time for a walk, get up earlier to carve out time for your “big rock” items and be sure to spend time in play with a hobby or sport.
On this week’s episode find out what forms of rest are most essential and why they are important to the funds you raise.
For more information about Mary Valloni, visit http://maryvalloni.com and to join our fundraising community on Facebook, go to http://www.facebook.com/groups/fundraisingfreedomtribe/
Is it possible to be FOR optimism? On today’s episode we address the following 10 ways to become an unshakeable optimist.
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Be grateful.
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Be willing to share your story - both positive and negative ones.
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Forgive.
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Be a good listener.
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Turn envy and jealousy into energy.
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Smile more.
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Exercise, Eat Healthy, Get Vitamin D.
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Think positively.
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Stop blaming others.
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Decide that the past is not the blueprint for your future.
Determine any areas that you struggle with and put some energy towards making a change in that area. Share your success stories and optimism hacks in the Fundraising Freedom Tribe.
For more information about Mary Valloni, visit http://maryvalloni.com and to join our fundraising community on Facebook, go to http://www.facebook.com/groups/fundraisingfreedomtribe/
“I was once asked why I don't participate in anti-war demonstrations. I said that I will never do that, but as soon as you have a pro-peace rally, I'll be there.” - Mother Teresa
We only have so much mental capacity and it doesn’t make any sense to waste your limited energy on the things you are against. Just like Mother Teresa, we need to decide what we’re FOR and then do everything in our power to live that lifestyle.
Take a few minutes to write down what you choose.
⁃ I choose ______________________.
⁃ I choose ______________________.
⁃ I choose ______________________.
After you’ve completed your list of the things you choose, then imagine what it looks like for someone who chooses those things. What does that person do? What does someone who wants to raise $_________ a month or year do, say and think?
For more information about Mary Valloni, visit http://maryvalloni.com and to join our fundraising community on Facebook, go to http://www.facebook.com/groups/fundraisingfreedomtribe/
What you do with your life is your choice. You choose to do the work you do. You choose to have the relationships in your life. You choose how much money you make. You choose.
If we get to choose what we want then what questions do we have to ask ourselves to actually get it. In today’s episode, Mary talks through the 5 questions you need to ask yourself to get what you really want.
Here they are…
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Why do I want it?
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What do I gain if I get it?
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What do I have to lose to get it?
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What if I fail?
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What if I succeed?
For more information about Mary Valloni, visit http://maryvalloni.com and to join our fundraising community on Facebook, go to http://www.facebook.com/groups/fundraisingfreedomtribe/
Procrastination can take hold of nearly every area of your life—writing a thank you letter, picking up the phone, doing the dishes and so much more.
Procrastination is everywhere, but what if you had a tool that could help you quiet the voice in your head and help you knock out your to-do list.
You may be just 5 seconds away from solving that problem every time. You just might make “taking action” a habit in the process!
For more information about Mary Valloni, visit http://maryvalloni.com and to join our fundraising community on Facebook, go to http://www.facebook.com/groups/fundraisingfreedomtribe/.
If you’re interested in joining our 3-month group coaching program to build out your fundraising team, send an email to mary@maryvalloni.com to get all the details.
In this episode we talk about the top three things your donors are saying behind your back, which explains why your donors may be unhappy with you and leave. We talk through what those are and what you can do to turn it around.
Ask yourself, do you only care about your donors’ lives because they support your cause? Would you spend time with them if they weren’t giving to you? If so, they already know the answer and that’s why they aren’t sticking around. What could you do to improve the relationship so they become lifelong donors to you and your cause?
I’ll give you a hint…1.) Care, 2.) Listen, and 3.) Say Thank You!
For more information about Mary Valloni, visit http://maryvalloni.com and to join our fundraising community on Facebook, go to http://www.facebook.com/groups/fundraisingfreedomtribe/.
If you’re interested in joining our 3-month group coaching program to build out your fundraising team, send an email to mary@maryvalloni.com to get all the details.
Anxiety may be one of, if not the worst, enemy of a fundraiser. In this episode we talk through the 4 tips to manage the anxiety and stress of an upcoming fundraising event, how to take care of your body and how a fundraising team can help drastically reduce your anxiety level.
Here are the 4 tips we cover:
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Accept the fact that you can’t control everything. What’s the worst that could happen?
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Do your best with what you have. Be proud of what you’ve done.
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Maintain a positive attitude. You have the choice of positive or negative thoughts. Choose to go positive.
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Identify the pattern of your anxiety. When does it get triggered?
If you’re interested in hearing more about building out your fundraising team through our 3-month group coaching program, send an email to mary@maryvalloni.com to get all the details.
For more information about Mary Valloni, visit http://maryvalloni.com and to join our fundraising community on Facebook, go to http://www.facebook.com/groups/fundraisingfreedomtribe/
Join me as we take a trip down memory lane. In this episode, I share why I do the work that I do and why this podcast exists. You also get to be the first to hear about my next project. Space is limited for this NEW project, so don’t waste any time in reaching out. To get more details, email mary@maryvalloni.com.
For more information about Mary Valloni, visit http://maryvalloni.com and to join our fundraising community on Facebook, go to http://www.facebook.com/groups/fundraisingfreedomtribe/
This is the final part of our 6-part series on persuasion and we’re talking about scarcity. Are you tired of pushing projects to get people excited about your cause? Well, this week’s persuasion principle will give you the ability to drive your donors to any budgetary need of your choice including your general operating budget!
For more information about Mary Valloni, visit http://maryvalloni.com and to attend our July Fellowship on July 13th at 10am CST, go to http://www.facebook.com/groups/fundraisingfreedomtribe/
This is part 5 of our 6-part series on persuasion. This fifth part focuses on authority. People defer to experts and to those in positions of authority. We all want to know “Who’s in charge?”.
Find out how you can be the leader others want to follow by becoming a subject matter expert.
For more information about Mary Valloni, visit http://maryvalloni.com and to join our fundraising community on Facebook, go to http://www.facebook.com/groups/fundraisingfreedomtribe/.
To check out the Influence and Impact Summit and to catch Mary’s exclusive interview, register at http://bit.ly/IandISummit
This is part 4 of our 6-part series on persuasion. This fourth part focuses on commitment and consistency. People want to be consistent. If they make a public commitment to give, there is a good chance they will follow through. Find out how you can use written and verbal commitments to increase donations and volunteer hours for your cause.
For more information about Mary Valloni, visit http://maryvalloni.com and to join our fundraising community on Facebook, go to http://www.facebook.com/groups/fundraisingfreedomtribe/.
To check out the Influence and Impact Summit and to catch Mary’s exclusive interview, register at http://bit.ly/IandISummit
This is part 3 of a 6-part series on persuasion. This third part focuses on social proof and how people will do what they see others doing. Find out how you can use peer pressure to increase donations and create model volunteers and donors for your cause.
For more information about Mary Valloni, visit http://maryvalloni.com and to join our fundraising community on Facebook, go to http://www.facebook.com/groups/fundraisingfreedomtribe/.
To check out the Influence and Impact Summit and to catch Mary’s exclusive interview, register at http://bit.ly/IandISummit
This is part 2 of a 6 part series on persuasion. This second part focuses on reciprocity. Listen in to hear how your donors and your cause can receive mutual benefit from partnering together.
For more information about Mary Valloni, visit http://maryvalloni.com and to join our fundraising community on Facebook, go to http://www.facebook.com/groups/fundraisingfreedomtribe/
This is part 1 of a 6 part series on persuasion. The first of the six focuses on our ability to be likable. Listen in to hear the 5 things we all need to do to attract more people to us so and to our cause.
For more information about Mary Valloni, visit http://maryvalloni.com and to join our fundraising community on Facebook, go to http://www.facebook.com/groups/fundraisingfreedomtribe/
Tanya is a longtime volunteer and supporter of the MS Society, but after years of volunteering her role drastically changed when she was almost fired from her volunteer role.
On this episode, listen in to find out how you can recruit a dedicated volunteer like Tanya to your organization and what you need to do to keep her coming back year after year.
For more information about Mary Valloni, visit http://maryvalloni.com and to join our fundraising community on Facebook, go to http://www.facebook.com/groups/fundraisingfreedomtribe/
How long can you do one thing, and just one thing, before you get pulled away by something else of equal (but probably less) importance?
This is the world we’re living in today where distractions and information overload consume our day to day activities. It’s harder than ever to be successful, but it is possible.
It’s possible if you learn the skill of focus. In this episode you’ll learn how to take back your calendar so you can improve your work and raise more funds.
For more information about Mary Valloni and to download the “7 Step Roadmap to Get Fully Funded”, visit http://maryvalloni.com and join our fundraising community on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/groups/fundraisingfreedomtribe/
One of the most admired women of all time is Mother Teresa (Saint Teresa of Calcutta). Known for her charitable work she has inspired nonprofit leaders for decades. In this episode we talk about 6 of the life-lessons we can learn from Mother Teresa including:
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We need each other.
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You matter.
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The only cure for loneliness, despair, and hopelessness is love.
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A smile is a gift.
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You won’t be given more than you can handle.
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Start where you are.
For more information about Mary Valloni and to download the 7 Step Roadmap to get fully funded, visit http://maryvalloni.com and join our fundraising community on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/groups/fundraisingfreedomtribe/
It’s easy to slip into trying to sell your cause to a potential donor if every dollar matters. If you are desperate for donations you’ll do whatever it takes to bring in the dollars including selling without serving. What if you “served” your potential donor and come without wanting anything in return?
On today’s episode, we talk about how to effectively serve your potential donors and supporters by working for them. If you take the time to raise awareness and educate your people well, you’ll find that people who care about the same group of people you serve will be drawn to your cause and will want to see you succeed. If you help others, they will want to help you.
They’ll want to see you financially secure and you’ll want the same for them. Listen in to hear the rest of the conversation.
For more information about Mary Valloni and to download the 7 Step Roadmap to get fully funded, visit http://maryvalloni.com and join us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/groups/fundraisingfreedomtribe/ to join in on the fundraising conversation and catch the recording of our May Fellowship.
Most nonprofit organizations start because of a great need, but nearly 50% can’t keep up with the demand.
On today’s episode we talk about the challenges of our nonprofits and the three primary killers of our nonprofits today:
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Leadership can’t get out of the way.
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Crazy growth too fast without a foundation
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Confusing vision and mission
For more information about Mary Valloni Consulting, visit http://maryvalloni.com and join us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/groups/fundraisingfreedomtribe/
Authenticity is one of the primary concerns for nonprofit leaders, but all you have to do is be you. No one expects you to be anything else. Remember social media is just a tool in your tool belt. It is one of many ways to engage with prospective donors and volunteers.
When using social media, consider these three ways to promote you and your cause:
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Create a Private Facebook Group and Build New Relationships
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Be Consistent - Show up and share insider information
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Focus your posts on what people are doing for you!
For more information about Mary Valloni Consulting, visit http://maryvalloni.com and join us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/groups/fundraisingfreedomtribe/
There is no doubt that we all need to surround ourselves with people who “get” us and that starts with these four people.
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Coach - a person who supports a learner in achieving a specific personal or professional goal by providing training and guidance.
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Mentor - an experienced and trusted advisor, a more experienced or more knowledgeable person helps to guide a less experienced or less knowledgeable person.
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Peer - someone with similar interests.
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Coachee - someone you invest into.
For more information about Mary Valloni Consulting, visit maryvalloni.com and join us on Facebook at facebook.com/groups/fundraisingfreedomtribe/
Often times we spend our time focused on the dollars we want to bring in for our cause, but we don’t spend time figuring out what it will actually take to fulfill our mission. If freedom is what you desire, you want to spend as much time as possible actually enjoying the work you do.
Figure out what the minimum amount of money it will take and then go for it. It’s probably closer than you think!
For more information about Mary Valloni Consulting, visit http://maryvalloni.com and join us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/groups/fundraisingfreedomtribe/
“To achieve something you have never achieved before you must become someone you have never been.” – Les Brown
We’re all faced with trying to figure out what we need to do to become more effective at what we do. Many times we protect ourselves with habits and routines that are comfortable, but I want you to challenge yourself to work towards the person you need to become to be the leader you want to be.
Ask yourself these questions:
•What new habits, disciplines, or behaviors do I need to START?
•What good habits, disciplines, or behaviors do I need to DO MORE OF?
•What poor habits or behaviors do I need to STOP?
Then join us at 10am CST this Friday, April 6th for the Fundraising Freedom Fellowship call as we talk through the habits you need to get rid of and the 3 habits to add to your life. Find out all the details on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/groups/fundraisingfreedomtribe/. For more information about Mary Valloni Consulting, visit http://maryvalloni.com
Change is hard. If it were easy we’d all be walking around with fully funded retirement accounts and six-pack abs. Because we know it’s hard, we just need to know what obstacles to overcome so we can tackle each of them one at a time. In this episode, we talk through how your past, your habits, your mind and your surroundings could be the culprit and how to overcome them and embrace positive change along the way.
For more information about Mary Valloni Consulting, visit http://maryvalloni.com and join us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/groups/fundraisingfreedomtribe/
When did we decide that our nonprofits deserved less and that we needed handouts from the community? It’s time to change the way we think so we can actually fulfill our mission. On today’s episode we talk through how to get an abundance mindset by eliminating three statements from your thoughts. Do you believe there are people out there who want to be a part of your cause, they just don’t know you exist? Find out how to find them and start attracting them to your cause today.
For more information about Mary Valloni Consulting, visit http://maryvalloni.com and join us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/groups/fundraisingfreedomtribe/
Is it possible to have the same excitement knocking on door #1 as door #101 when people say no after no after no? The answer is YES and it’s possible to enjoy the rejection along the way. We know we don’t need everyone to say yes, but regardless it’s hard to hear no. On today’s episode, find out how you can get more yeses and avoid the feeling of rejection all together!
For more information about Mary Valloni Consulting, visit http://maryvalloni.com and join us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/groups/fundraisingfreedomtribe/
There’s usually two reasons why it feels like someone is dodging you, either 1.) they are or 2.) it’s all in your head. If you find yourself following up with potential donors over and over again, you may need to rethink your approach or you may need to avoid being too hard on yourself by assuming it’s all about you. Learn how to avoid the dreaded follow up call, how to ensure someone follows up with you, and much more in this week’s episode.
For more information about Mary Valloni Consulting, visit http://maryvalloni.com and join us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/groups/fundraisingfreedomtribe/
No one wants so sit through a painful fundraising pitch, so why would we ask our potential donors to say yes to that? Instead, let’s ask them for their valuable advice and then do what they say. After all, they are our potential donors. Many of them will tell you exactly what to do and say if you were giving the pitch to them. What would they say yes to? That’s what we all want to know. What do our donors want and let’s give it to them.
Face-to-face communication is the best way to get a YES, so let’s get in front of our potential donors and let THEM tell us how to sell to them!
For more information about Mary Valloni Consulting, visit http://maryvalloni.com and join us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/groups/fundraisingfreedomtribe/
The Winter Olympics are in full swing in Pyeongchang, South Korea bringing together the best athletes from around the world. As the media interviews these athletes, we continue to see patterns of how each of them made it to the big stage and how each of us can learn from them.
Here are the 8 things every nonprofit leader can learn from the athletes of these Winter Games.
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Olympians expect obstacles and embrace them when they come.
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Olympians put their lives on the line.
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Olympians know Winning isn’t everything, but wanting to win is.
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Olympians have accountability
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Olympians are teachable.
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Olympians know that good is not good enough.
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Olympians are consistent and are creatures of habit.
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Olympians compartmentalize their emotions.
For more information about Mary Valloni Consulting, visit http://maryvalloni.com and join us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/groups/fundraisingfreedomtribe/
Many of us forget that our nonprofit is ineffective if our leaders are overworked, exhausted and burnt out. Your cause is only as good as your leadership, so this episode focuses on how to protect your most valuable asset - You!
For more information about Mary Valloni Consulting, visit http://maryvalloni.com and join us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/groups/fundraisingfreedomtribe/
As you seek to raise more funds for your cause, the most important piece to the puzzle is having enough donors to fulfill every need that comes up. This means we need to ensure we can attract more donors to our cause. On this episode we talk through the 5 things you can do to attract donors in including:
1. Have a clear vision.
2. Invite more people to be insiders into your cause (vs. outsiders).
3. Tell your donors what impact their dollars will have.
4. Tell people what you need (create a wish list) and let them save the day.
5. Be where they are.
For more information about Mary Valloni Consulting, visit http://maryvalloni.com and join us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/groups/fundraisingfreedomtribe/
It is 2018 and we are seeing less and less print mail in our mailbox these days, but does that mean that our nonprofits should stop sending out mailings as well? The answer is NO. Mass mailings absolutely still work, but why? Find out how you can make them work for you and how you can add mailings into your communication plan as you connect with your donors and donor prospects.
Mark your calendar and join Mary and other nonprofit leaders for her free monthly online fellowship this Friday, February 2nd. All the details are in the Fundraising Freedom Tribe on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/groups/fundraisingfreedomtribe/ and for more information about Mary Valloni Consulting, visit http://maryvalloni.com
Find out the two most critical ways to overcome the pressure to succeed. Mary shares how to take it easy on yourself as you focus on your ability to turn any stressful situation around. Often our greatest pressure comes from a place of opportunity. Find out how you can ensure that opportunity is a blessing and not a curse.
For more information about Mary Valloni Consulting, visit http://maryvalloni.com and join us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/groups/fundraisingfreedomtribe/
Nonprofit and ministry leaders often jump into fundraising events before doing this one thing and that’s attending other events. How do you know how to put on a great fundraising event if you’ve never attended another event? Mary shares why it’s so important to attend events that are similar to the one you want to put on and how you can take ideas from those events to ensure your success. Mary also shares why it’s important to be ready to share your need. You never know what someone might do for you and your cause when you are in the right place at the right time and ready to share!
For more information about Mary Valloni Consulting, visit http://maryvalloni.com and join us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/groups/fundraisingfreedomtribe/
Who is your ideal donor? What do they do and why would they like you? We address these questions and more in this episode. Do you find that you are running out of prospects? Identify how to create a plan and how to promote the work you do where your donors are and not where they aren’t.
For more information about Mary Valloni Consulting, visit http://maryvalloni.com and join us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/groups/fundraisingfreedomtribe/
It’s a new year and with the new year, you may need a new attitude to match! Today’s episode is about how to free yourself from the negativity, how to be a giver, and how to do more of what works. We are in more control of our success than we think we are and if you want more of what works it’s time to remove the things that don’t.
Ministry leaders, be sure to check out Mary’s new podcast, The Fully Funded Podcast with Mike Kim and Mary Valloni, at http://apple.co/2q4BnIW.
For more information about Mary Valloni Consulting, visit http://maryvalloni.com and join us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/groups/fundraisingfreedomtribe/
One of the most popular Christmas movies of all time is Elf, featuring Will Ferrell and Zooey Deschanel. Check out this episode for the top 5 happiness quotes from the movie and how they relate to nonprofit leaders today.
For more information about Mary Valloni Consulting, visit http://maryvalloni.com and join us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/groups/fundraisingfreedomtribe/
With only a few weeks left in the calendar year, I wanted to share with you the questions you need to ask yourself. Find out what needs to stay and what needs to go as we wrap up 2017 and head into 2018. How will you best share your message and clear out anything that could be holding you back.
For details about our January 2nd Mastermind Group, go to http://maryvalloni.com/coaching and be sure to submit your application by Friday, December 15th at 12:00 midnight CST.
For more information about Mary Valloni Consulting, visit http://maryvalloni.com and join us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/groups/fundraisingfreedomtribe/
It’s December, which means it’s the most wonderful time of the year and the most stressful as well! If you are feeling totally overwhelmed here’s the 7 things you should do today. Don’t let your mind run you down the wrong path, learn what to do to take back control and stay on target to finish out the year strong.
For details about our January 2nd Mastermind Group, go to maryvalloni.com/coaching and be sure to submit your application by Friday, December 15th at 12:00 midnight CST.
For more information about Mary Valloni Consulting, visit http://maryvalloni.com and join us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/groups/fundraisingfreedomtribe/
Tuesday, November 28th is #GivingTuesday and we’re gearing up for the biggest nonprofit holiday of the year. Listen in to find out what 3 things you must do to make the most out of #GivingTuesday.
For more information about Mary Valloni Consulting, visit http://maryvalloni.com and join us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/groups/fundraisingfreedomtribe/
This is our seventh episode in our 7-part series on “What is Fundraising Freedom and How Can I Get It?” This seventh step is all about making a difference and celebrating your success. This is why we work so hard. Find out how to speak your team’s language so you can celebrate them, how to create a thank-you plan and how to enjoy every moment of the journey with your team.
Thanks to those of you who joined my free training this past week with Mike Kim. We announced that we are doing a LIVE event for missionaries in San Diego next March. Our early bird pricing ends soon, so be sure to reserve your seat, only 40 seats are available, at http://fullyfundedworkshop.com.
For more information about Mary Valloni Consulting, visit http://maryvalloni.com and join us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/groups/fundraisingfreedomtribe/
This is the sixth episode in our 7-part series on “What is Fundraising Freedom and How Can I Get It?” This sixth step is centered around how to organize your ask. We talk through how fundraising is like dating, how to avoid giving money and wealthy individuals more power than they deserve, and how to ask for in-kind donations and cash.
Be sure to reserve your seat for my free online training with Mike Kim on the “7 Year-End Fundraising Secrets Every Missionary Needs to Know” on Tuesday, November 14th at 12:00pm CST. Register at http://mikekim.com/7-secrets.
For more information about Mary Valloni Consulting, visit http://maryvalloni.com and join us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/groups/fundraisingfreedomtribe/
This is the fifth episode in our 7-part series on “What is Fundraising Freedom and How Can I Get It?” This fifth step is centered around how to deploy your team. Learn how to create a strong staff/volunteer partnership, give the right titles to empower your team and trust your team while releasing them to share your message.
For more information about Mary Valloni Consulting, visit http://maryvalloni.com and join us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/groups/fundraisingfreedomtribe/
This is the fourth episode in our 7-part series on “What is Fundraising Freedom and How Can I Get It?” This fourth step is centered around how to enhance your brand. Learn how to create a personal brand, an organizational brand, a high-quality logo, a one-page document, a case document, and a fundraising website.
For more information about Mary Valloni Consulting, visit http://maryvalloni.com and join us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/groups/fundraisingfreedomtribe/
This is the third episode in our 7-part series on “What is Fundraising Freedom and How Can I Get It?” This third step is centered around how to enlist your team. Learn how to find and recruit your lead volunteer, that one person who can serve as a team captain for your leadership team. Mary shares stories of how she has identified and gone after previous leaders for the organizations she’s worked with and encourages you to go enlist your team.
For more information about Mary Valloni Consulting, visit http://maryvalloni.com and join us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/groups/fundraisingfreedomtribe/
This is the second episode in our 7-part series on “What is Fundraising Freedom and How Can I Get It?” This second step is centered around how to run your research to understand your allies, competition, prospects and yourself. Identify how to best reach out and get the information you need to prepare for your next fundraising campaign.
For more information about Mary Valloni Consulting, visit http://maryvalloni.com and join us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/groups/fundraisingfreedomtribe/
This is the first episode in our 7-part series on “What is Fundraising Freedom and How Can I Get It?” This first step is centered around how to focus your vision to attain maximum clarity so your donors know who you are and what you stand for.
For more information about Mary Valloni Consulting, visit http://maryvalloni.com and join us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/groups/fundraisingfreedomtribe/
Mary kicks off a 7-part series on the 7 Steps to Fundraising Freedom. This episode is an overview of what is to come with a breakdown of each step and what she’ll be unpacking over the next several weeks.
For more info about Fundraising Freedom, check out maryvalloni.com
The 80/20 Rule, commonly called the Pareto principle, states how 80% of the effects come from 20% of the causes. This principle can be a great tool in our tool belt as we tackle our fundraising goals. Find out how you can use this rule to increase the odds that you’ll achieve your fundraising goal and be productive while doing it.
Sometimes ideas resonate and sometimes they don’t. So, how do you know when you have a good idea you should implement? Mary shares the 5 ways to know and the next steps to ensure your team all moves in the same direction towards the same goal.
Most people show up to opportunities and experiences in their life with an empty cup. They show up looking for others to serve them. They make decisions based on what’s in it for them and not what’s in it for others. What would happen if you showed up with your cup full? Could you eliminate the fear and self-limiting beliefs all together?
Find out what to do when a disaster strikes and you still have funds to raise. How do you and your organize move forward without taking a major loss?
Join us Friday, September 8th at 10am CST for the September Fundraising Freedom Fellowship. Submit your questions to mary@maryvalloni.com and join us Sept. 8th. Call in info is posted in the Fundraising Freedom Tribe page at http://facebook.com/groups/fundraisingfreedomtribe
1.Busy people are hard workers. Productive people are smart workers.
2.Busy people look like they have a mission. Productive people have a mission.
3.Busy people are fixated on taking action (just do something). Productive people focus on clarity before action.
4.Busy people try to do it all on their own. Productive people find the best people and tools to help them.
5.Busy people have a lot of priorities. Productive people have only a few.
6.Busy people say yes to the good stuff. Productive people say yes to the great stuff (take their time).
7.Busy people talk about how busy they are. Productive people let their results do the talking.
8.Busy people talk about how little time they have. Productive people make time for what is important.
9.Busy people multitask. Productive people focus.
10.Busy people let others control their direction. Production people set their direction and continuously reevaluate their progress.
Are you productive or just busy?
Are you willing to shut down the negativity and focus 100% on the positive? As a fundraiser, you are in full control of your mindset. What if you looked at every ask as an opportunity. On this episode, you’ll learn how to make that shift and start to enjoy the fundraising experience.
In this episode, Mary shows you how to reach out to your ideal donor, ask the right questions, and get the exact verbiage you need to attract future donors to your cause. Learn how to create your target donor profile and understand how you can use testimonials to increase donations from your current donors and bring in tens, hundreds and thousands of new donors.
Mary dives into the DISC model to discuss how to use your personality type to your advantage and how to surround yourself with the right people to build out your fundraising team. Using the DISC model, you have the ability to develop insights (Sherlock Holmes Research) after only a few minutes of working with someone.
Fundraising Freedom Tribe - facebook.com/groups/fundraisingfreedomtribe/
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What options do you have when your donors become hard to please? Learn how to avoid getting yourself into the position and what to do once your there. This episode addresses the reality around giving and receiving gifts.
To connect with Mary and the Fundraising Freedom Tribe, go to facebook.com/groups/fundraisingfreedomtribe/
How would it feel to know at a glance the status of your fundraising and whether you or your charity will be getting paid this month? This episode is a behind the scenes interview with the owner and founder of SupportGoal, a support raising tool created by former fundraiser and missionary, Karl Meisterheim. After raising personal support for a decade, Karl created SupportGoal in hopes of seeing more missionaries and nonprofit leaders thrive in the area of fundraising.
Check out SupportGoal at http://supportgoal.com.
Visit the SupportGoal Forum at http://forum.supportgoal.com.
Apply for the August Session of the Fundraising Freedom Coaching Program at http://maryvalloni.com/coaching.
Whatever that BIG goal is in your life there are only three ways to go after it.
Do you…
0.Go it alone
0.Hire a coach
0.Recruit a team
Mary shares her experience with coaches and how they have transformed her view on how to reach her big goals.
Send Mary a birthday message by:
•Private FB message
•Email - mailto:mary@maryvalloni.com
•Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/groups/fundraisingfreedomtribe/
We all have those prospect names that remain on our list for weeks, months and sometimes years. The question we often ask is, “When do I remove them from my list?” On this episode we drill down into this question by asking the right questions and organizing our lists so we don’t waste time or energy.
To stay connected with Mary, join the Fundraising Freedom Tribe on Facebook at http://facebook.com/groups/fundraisingfreedomtribe/.
For apply for the August Coaching Session, visit http://maryvalloni.com/coaching
It’s too easy to create this fundraising character that isn’t really authentically you. You don’t have to chance who you are just because you have funds to raise. In this episode you’ll learn the 3 things you can do in your next fundraising meeting to remain authentic and genuine.
The #1 question all fundraisers ask is “How much should I ask for?” Do you ever wonder if you ask for too much you may insult your potential donor or if you ask for too little that could be a disaster as well. Mary takes on the question and gives you the tips so you know how to ask for the appropriate amount and never leave money on the table.
Who does it best? We all want to know, are we at an advantage or disadvantage. Mary also addresses the emotional maturity that comes with being a fundraiser.
Are you a fundraiser looking for community? Join the Fundraising Freedom Tribe at
https://www.facebook.com/groups/fundraisingfreedomtribe/
It’s one thing to have a donor, but it’s another thing for that donor to advocate on your behalf. Mary shows you how to motivate your donors to share your message and share it better than you. How you can help spread Mary’s message: 1.) Share this episode, 2.) Write a review on iTunes and Amazon, 3.) Join us on Facebook in the Fundraising Freedom Tribe. Details on our June 16th Fellowship are in the tribe!
Get the 6 steps you need to create a burning desire and reach your fundraising goal. This episode is based off of Napolean Hill’s book, Think and Grow Rich.
To receive a FREE download of Think and Grow Rich visit our Fundraising Freedom Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/fundraisingfreedomtribe/
Mary shares the mistakes we all want to avoid when it comes to fundraising. Why not make a few tweaks to increase and sustain those donations and donors for years to come.
Your cause is worth so much more than a multi-level marketing product, so don’t follow their lead if you want to be socially savvy. Learn how to be your true, authentic self and still connect potential donors to your cause using social media.
To connect, visit http://maryvalloni.com.
For information about the Fundraising Freedom Coaching Course, visit http://maryvalloni.com/coaching
In honor of Mother’s Day, this episode highlights how important women are to the donations you receive. How are you engaging them into your organization and what changes can you make to invite more women in?
Great success comes from great leadership. Some nonprofit staff believe they can raise funds alone without volunteer leadership not knowing that this is a bad plan. Learn how a lead volunteer can make all the difference for your cause and why you need to start today to find your next campaign chair.
Create value in every newsletter and learn how to effectively share your message, highlight your donors, and stay on brand while doing it.
Mary shares what 3 things you need in order for people to give to your cause. She breaks it down for you so you know exactly what to do so you can bring more donors in who won’t stop giving.
If you are dealing with donor fatigue or donor burnout, Mary shares how to avoid burnout altogether and if burnout has set in how to turn those relationships around. Learn how to ask for help from potential new donors and how to love on your current donors so they keep coming back!
Mary interviews communications advisor, Joel Kessel, who has been working with the media for nearly 25 years. He shares not only his expertise in the field of communications, but also his experience as a nonprofit volunteer and donor.
For more information or to connect with Joel, visit joelkessel.com.
Learn how to modify and share your story in a way that resonates with your audience and find out how you can turn those stories into more volunteers and more donors for your cause.
Have you been asking for donations, but feel uncomfortable doing it? Here’s how to get to the point to best present your need in print, media, over the phone, and in person.
Mary shares the pros and cons to fundraising through an event and how you can create urgency around a non-event fundraiser.
Chi Alpha Campus Ministries Campus Director, Stephen MacDonald, shares his journey of going from poverty to fully funded with the help of a fundraising coach.
Mary asks Fortune 500 executive spouse, Colette Young, why she and her husband give and what you can do to recruit someone like her to your cause.
Mary shares her best and worst partnership experiences and gives you tips to finding the right partnership for you and your cause.
Knights of Heroes founder, Eric Eaton, shares how he partners with individuals and corporations to fund their mission.
How can YOU influence the size of your future donations by the decisions you make today?
How confidence and clarity transformed the fundraising efforts for nonprofit leaders, Rob and Nichole Plaster.