Keep It Human Podcast: Recent Episodes
Ali Geake
Keep it Human is a resource for fundraising professionals wanting to develop deeper connections with your donors and your team. Packed full of communication skills and psychology-based behaviour insights, the show is aimed to help you make genuine connections - human to human.
Hosted by Ali Geake - communication coach and performance consultant - this podcast will help you cultivate, nurture and engage with partners for long-lasting impact - by keeping it human!
Is there any such thing as a self-less good deed?
In this week’s podcast, Ali talks about the Psychology of Giving. Listen in to gain a better understanding of:
- What is altruism and its competitor, egoism?
- The nine motivations for giving
- How to apply these nine motivations in your donor communications
A special shout-out to Charity Link for compiling these nine motivations for giving.
Ali Geake has over 20 years of experience in marketing and communications. Her overarching passion is people; how they change the world, especially when operating at maximum potential. With a background in psychology and lived cross-cultural experience, Ali brings a lens of human behavior and cultural context to the mix and her philosophy is you can do more with less. Her sole focus is to help you become a world-class fundraiser, without losing your humanity.
Connect with Ali:
LinkedIn Book a call
Do you use LinkedIn to deepen donor relationships?
In today's podcast episode Ali talks about:
- What LinkedIn is and isn't in 2022
- How to optimise your profile so you're not a blank face
- Connecting authentically and building your network
- How to use LinkedIn to deepen donor relationships
Many thanks to Louise Brogan for her insights for this episode. Go subscribe to her YouTube channel for more tips on building your presence on LinkedIn: https://www.youtube.com/@LinkedInwithLouise
About the host:
Ali Geake has over 20 years of experience in marketing and communications. Her overarching passion is people; how they change the world, especially when operating at maximum potential. With a background in psychology and lived cross-cultural experience, Ali brings a lens of human behavior and cultural context to the mix and her philosophy is you can do more with less. Her sole focus is to help you become a world-class fundraiser, without losing your humanity.
Connect with Ali:
LinkedIn Book a call
In the final interview of the season Ali talks with I'Ching Thomas, Associate International Director of OM and author of Jesus the Path to Human Flourishing: The Gospel to the Chinese Culture.
Join Ali and I'Ching as they discuss wide ranging topics about the crossover between culture and communications, including
- Leading a remote global team
- What to consider when having a conversation with someone from a different culture
- How to rebuild trust and credibility
- How cultural differences in a team can be a good thing
To get your hands on a copy of I'Ching's incredible book, you can find it here.
About the host:
Ali Geake has over 20 years of experience in marketing and communications. Her overarching passion is people; how they change the world, especially when operating at maximum potential. With a background in psychology and lived cross-cultural experience, Ali brings a lens of human behavior and cultural context to the mix and her philosophy is you can do more with less. Her sole focus is to help you become a world-class fundraiser, without losing your humanity.
Connect with Ali:
Book a call
No-one is exempt from losing donors.
In this episode Ali examines the three most common reasons donors leave and how you can put steps in place to stop it happening in the future.
She looks at:
- Why visits are so important
- What happens when you ghost your donor in between visits
- Why donors shouldn't be too reliant on their fundraising officers
About the host:
Ali Geake has over 20 years of experience in marketing and communications. Her overarching passion is people; how they change the world, especially when operating at maximum potential. With a background in psychology and lived cross-cultural experience, Ali brings a lens of human behavior and cultural context to the mix and her philosophy is you can do more with less. Her sole focus is to help you become a world-class fundraiser, without losing your humanity. Connect with Ali:
Book a call
Want to know how to improve your donor communications? A crucial part of any fundraiser’s role is to ensure you communicate effectively with your donors - whoever and wherever they are.
In this week’s episode Ali takes us through how by segmenting your donor portfolio you can improve donor communications, deepen relationships, enjoy higher rates of donor retention and see a greater level of ROI from your efforts.
You’ll learn:
- What segmentation is and why it makes a difference
- The importance of an up-to-date CRM
- A reminder to Keep it Human always
About the host:
Ali Geake has over 20 years of experience in marketing and communications. Her overarching passion is people; how they change the world, especially when operating at maximum potential. With a background in psychology and lived cross-cultural experience, Ali brings a lens of human behavior and cultural context to the mix and her philosophy is you can do more with less. Her sole focus is to help you become a world-class fundraiser, without losing your humanity. Connect with Ali:
Book a call
Who doesn't want to exceed their fundraising targets? But are you prepared to do it the unsexy way? Yes, this week's episode is all about metrics. They're not sexy but they work. You'll learn more about:
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Lead and Lag Indicators
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Why you can't just focus on the results
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Different ways you can achieve the same thing (one is easier!)
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Ali's top 5 lead indicators for success
Join Ali as she helps you learn how to structure your weeks to exceed your targets.
About the host:
Ali Geake has over 20 years of experience in marketing and communications. Her overarching passion is people; how they change the world, especially when operating at maximum potential. With a background in psychology and lived cross-cultural experience, Ali brings a lens of human behavior and cultural context to the mix and her philosophy is you can do more with less. Her sole focus is to help you become a world-class fundraiser, without losing your humanity. Connect with Ali:
Book a call
Visit her website
In the second interview of the season Ali talks with Jo Rice, CEO of Resurgo, a non-profit based in the UK which inspires and equips organizations to deliver bold and ambitious social change.
Join Ali and Jo as they discuss wide ranging topics about leading and managing a team, including:
- The importance of having both visionaries and implementers in non-profit organizations
- Why it's crucial to understand your team's communication preferences and personalities
- How to have tricky conversations
- What it's like working in a feedback culture
- What rebuilding trust, a jar of marbles and Brene Brown all have in common
For more about Resurgo, visit www.resurgo.org.uk and for more information about The Spear Programme please go to https://resurgo.org.uk/spear-programme/
About the host:
Ali Geake has over 20 years of experience in marketing and communications. Her overarching passion is people; how they change the world, especially when operating at maximum potential. With a background in psychology and lived cross-cultural experience, Ali brings a lens of human behavior and cultural context to the mix and her philosophy is you can do more with less. Her sole focus is to help you become a world-class fundraiser, without losing your humanity. Connect with Ali:
Book a call
Visit her website
Confidently asking for a gift is something every gift officer needs to be able to do but often this aspect of donor relations can become a stumbling block.
In this week’s episode Ali takes us through how increasing your confidence can come from:
- Money mindset
- Increasing your visits
- Practising conversations
Listen in to hear more and share with a friend you know needs to hear this today.
About the host:
Ali Geake has over 20 years of experience in marketing and communications. Her overarching passion is people; how they change the world, especially when operating at maximum potential. With a background in psychology and lived cross-cultural experience, Ali brings a lens of human behavior and cultural context to the mix and her philosophy is you can do more with less. Her sole focus is to help you become a world-class fundraiser, without losing your humanity. Connect with Ali:
Book a call
Visit her website
Do you feel you’re doing a ‘good enough’ job in your fundraising role but have the desire and ambition to be great? World-class even?
In this week’s episode Ali takes us through three key areas of what a world-class fundraiser looks like – the art, science and mindset of fundraising - and how you can get there yourself. She explains:
- The Art of Fundraising – how you can double down on your strengths and get help where you need it most
- The Science of Fundraising – the power of accountability and consistency
- The Mindset of Fundraising – what does ‘greatness in the moment’ look like?
Listen in to hear more and share with a friend you know needs to hear this today.
Links:
Gallup StrengthFinders
The 12 Week Year
About the host:
Ali Geake has over 20 years of experience in marketing and communications. Her overarching passion is people; how they change the world, especially when operating at maximum potential. With a background in psychology and lived cross-cultural experience, Ali brings a lens of human behavior and cultural context to the mix and her philosophy is you can do more with less. Her sole focus is to help you become a world-class fundraiser, without losing your humanity. Connect with Ali:
Book a call
Visit her website
The FIRST interview from the Keep It Human podcast is with the wonderful Tracy Daughtery, CEO of Freedom Challenge. Freedom Challenge is a non-profit based in the USA seeking to eradicate human trafficking through raising awareness in personal challenge as well as fundraise for anti-trafficking projects around the world.
We talk about how you can engage a team of volunteers to fundraise and raise awareness.
It's an inspiring conversation and Tracy is an inspiring leader!
Find out more:
Freedom Challenge Website
Freedom Challenge on Instagram
If you’re feeling the pressure of a looming year end then this episode is for you!
Ali helps her clients keep things simple. It makes life easier and gets better results. On this week's episode, she considers three options you have to utilise your time and energy for the rest of the year:
- Keep doing what you’re already doing
- Focus on cultivating new leads or
- Devote your attention to your existing relationships.
Listen in to hear which strategy is your winning choice to end your year on a high.
About the host:
Ali Geake has over 20 years of experience in marketing and communications. Her overarching passion is people; how they change the world, especially when operating at maximum potential. With a background in psychology and lived cross-cultural experience, Ali brings a lens of human behavior and cultural context to the mix and her philosophy is you can do more with less. Her sole focus is to help you become a world-class fundraiser, without losing your humanity. Connect with Ali:
Book a call
Visit her website
Don’t you just hate it when you feel like you’re being “sold to”? When your skin crawls or you find yourself physically stepping back because the pitch is just TOO MUCH.
In this episode, Ali shares three of her ‘bug bears’ about sales which also apply to fundraising:
- Only focusing on the gift
- Bending the truth
- Applying the 'dead to me' technique
She also provides tips on how to avoid accidentally becoming a shady salesperson.
Listen in to see if you agree.
About the host:
Ali Geake has over 20 years of experience in marketing and communications. Her overarching passion is people; how they change the world, especially when operating at maximum potential. With a background in psychology and lived cross-cultural experience, Ali brings a lens of human behavior and cultural context to the mix and her philosophy is you can do more with less. Her sole focus is to help you become a world-class fundraiser, without losing your humanity. Connect with Ali:
Book a call
Visit her website
Welcome back to the Keep it Human podcast. This season we will continue our themes of effective communication and getting curious about human behaviour as well as helpful tips to help you hit your targets, deepen your relationships, and increase your impact in the world.
Some of the episodes coming up include:
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How you can avoid becoming a robotic salesperson
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Ways and means to nurturing key relationships
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Increasing your confidence in asking for a gift and
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How to use social media to cultivate authentic relationships.
The first episode drops September 27, 2022
In this final episode of Season 1, Ali answers your questions.
Tune in to hear about:
- How to find your ideal donor
- Helping donors understand fundraising language
- What to do about the admin fee, and
- How you can rebuild trust
About the host:
Ali Geake has over 20 years of experience in marketing and communications. Her overarching passion is people; how they change the world, especially when operating at maximum potential. With a background in psychology and lived cross-cultural experience, Ali brings a lens of human behavior and cultural context to the mix and her philosophy is you can do more with less. Her sole focus is to help you nail your message, ensuring you spend more of your time working with the people you are meant to help. Other resources mentioned in this podcast:
Episode 5: How to speak your donor's language so they understand you better - Part I
Episode 6: How to speak your donor's language so they understand you better - Part II
Episode 7: 4 reasons context can improve your conversation with a donor
Ali's Blog: aligeake.com/blog
'The Speed of Trust' by Stephen M R Covey
Connect with Ali:
Website
Have you heard of 'deliberate practice'? It's a form of intentional practice with the objective to improve - not just repeat - behaviors.
In today's episode, Ali takes us through how practicing conversations with donors - deliberately - can have a significant impact, and how you can improve even by 1% in this area.
Join Ali as she investigates:
- What is deliberate practice?
- The secret sauce for practising well
- The impact of coaching for fundraisers
About the host:
Ali Geake has over 20 years of experience in marketing and communications. Her overarching passion is people; how they change the world, especially when operating at maximum potential. With a background in psychology and lived cross-cultural experience, Ali brings a lens of human behavior and cultural context to the mix and her philosophy is you can do more with less. Her sole focus is to help you nail your message, ensuring you spend more of your time working with the people you are meant to help. Discussed in this episode:
Outliers, by Malcolm Gladwell
Connect with Ali:
Website
Do you trust your boss? According to research, the answer to this one question alone is more predictive of team and organizational performance than any other question in a 360 review.
Trust within a team is huge. It can predict success or failure, retention rates, engagement levels and even the bottom line.
Join Ali in this episode where she takes us through
- The differences between high trust and low trust teams
- The "trust formula" to save money and increase speed
- Four tangible ways you can build trust with your team - by doing LESS
About the host:
Ali Geake has over 20 years of experience in marketing and communications. Her overarching passion is people; how they change the world, especially when operating at maximum potential. With a background in psychology and lived cross-cultural experience, Ali brings a lens of human behavior and cultural context to the mix and her philosophy is you can do more with less. Her sole focus is to help you nail your message, ensuring you spend more of your time working with the people you are meant to help. Connect with Ali:
Website
Improving team engagement has multiple benefits not least increased retention, improved donor experience and FUN!
Despite the myriad of information out there about improving engagement in your team, Ali feels there's still a trick being missed. Her approach takes an alternative look at 'team' and how we can think differently about what we can expect from our teams. Join Ali in this episode, to hear:
- What good and bad team engagement looks like in real life
- Ali's unique approach to improving engagement with your team
- A special team tool to try
About the host:
Ali Geake has over 20 years of experience in marketing and communications. Her overarching passion is people; how they change the world, especially when operating at maximum potential. With a background in psychology and lived cross-cultural experience, Ali brings a lens of human behavior and cultural context to the mix and her philosophy is you can do more with less. Her sole focus is to help you nail your message, ensuring you spend more of your time working with the people you are meant to help. Connect with Ali:
Website
Cultivating an attitude of gratitude has a multitude of benefits, not least an elevated donor experience. Focusing on establishing gratitude in your fundraising team not only benefits each individual in numerous proven ways but also sets a culture that can only attract generosity. Join Ali in this episode, to hear:
- The benefits of practicing the art of gratitude
- Real-life examples to show you how to create a culture of gratitude in your team
- How to go the extra mile and ensure gratitude (and its many benefits) are part of your team's DNA
About the host:
Ali Geake has over 20 years of experience in marketing and communications. Her overarching passion is people; how they change the world, especially when operating at maximum potential. With a background in psychology and lived cross-cultural experience, Ali brings a lens of human behavior and cultural context to the mix and her philosophy is you can do more with less. Her sole focus is to help you nail your message, ensuring you spend more of your time working with the people you are meant to help. Connect with Ali:
Website
You have found me on episode 8 of the very first season and if you’ve been here all along, well then thank you loyal listener.
I wonder if you’ve tuned in because the title is a problem you have on a regular basis.
During my coaching sessions with development officers, the issue of even getting the meeting in the first place – or a simple returned phone call – from a major donor has come up a few times recently so I thought I’d do a podcast episode to explore it a little more.
This kind of problem almost comes with the territory; especially if you’re attempting to start a new relationship with a donor, or take over someone else’s portfolio. But, to quote Benjamin Franklin, “Every problem is an opportunity in disguise.”
This episode we are talking about how understanding context can significantly improve your conversation with your major donors.
Whether it be the different types of context to look out for, remembering that all donors are human – and therefore all unique – and some ideas of how to put this all into practise when you next pick up the phone.
//
George Bernard Shaw famously once said, “The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place.”
What do I mean when I say “contextual?” Well, simply put it’s the context that is happening in the background when you are communicating back and forth.
And we’re going to examine some key reasons – or contextual varieties - that can improve the conversation you’re having with your major donor.
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What’s their mood (and what mood are you in too?)
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Where are you going to meet? Is it the most conducive environment for a fruitful conversation?
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How will you consider any cultural differences?
Ali Geake has over 20 years of experience in marketing and communications for non-profits and corporates. Her overarching passion is people; how they change the world especially when operating at maximum potential. With a background in psychology and lived cross-cultural experience, Ali brings a lens of human behaviour and cultural context to the mix. Her philosophy is people are human and communication is vital. Her sole focus is to help you and your team develop into world-class fundraisers by going from good to great in the way you communicate with humans wanting to make a difference through their philanthropic giving.
The importance of knowing your audience. Something any marketeer worth his or her dollars will know inside out. Knowing what’s going on in your donor’s world. Challenging your assumptions that their world hasn’t changed since the last time you spoke. Understanding what’s going on in their head. And why? Because once you know and understand your audience, you’re able to communicate soooo much more effectively.
And…you can start speaking their language too! The best way to be heard and understood
Join Ali in this episode to learn more about how to speak to donors by speaking their language.
Ali Geake has over 20 years of experience in marketing and communications for non-profits and corporates. Her overarching passion is people; how they change the world especially when operating at maximum potential. With a background in psychology and lived cross-cultural experience, Ali brings a lens of human behaviour and cultural context to the mix. Her philosophy is people are human and communication is vital. Her sole focus is to help you and your team develop into world-class fundraisers by going from good to great in the way you communicate with humans wanting to make a difference through their philanthropic giving.
This season is all about understanding our donors so we can have more effective and meaningful relationships – human to human.
And today and next week, we are diving a little deeper into how to speak you donor’s language so they understand you better.
Now unless they actually do speak an entirely different language to you, we are not talking about learning Chinese or something. But we are talking about learning to speak differently – or perhaps reframing how you currently use language to be understood.
Join Ali in this episode to learn more about you can speaker your donor's language by understanding who they are.
- How can you better know and understand your donors?
- How well do you feel you know your donors?
- And also what kind of shoes are you wearing today?
About the host:
Ali Geake has over 20 years of experience in marketing and communications for non-profits and corporates. Her overarching passion is people; how they change the world especially when operating at maximum potential. With a background in psychology and lived cross-cultural experience, Ali brings a lens of human behaviour and cultural context to the mix. Her philosophy is people are human and communication is vital. Her sole focus is to help you and your team develop into world-class fundraisers by going from good to great in the way you communicate with humans wanting to make a difference through their philanthropic giving. Connect with Ali:
Website
How good are you at listening? Listening can sound simple but in reality most people tend to focus on their opportunity to speak rather than what the other person is really saying. Quote from the show - “There is a difference between truly listening and waiting your turn to talk.” Ralph Waldo Emerson
Join Ali in this episode to learn more about better understanding our donors by learning and practising the much-ignored skill of listening.
- How to actually practice the skill of active listening
- How you can practice the art of reflecting back
- How to acknowledge what your donor is communicating
About the host:
Ali Geake has over 20 years of experience in marketing and communications. Her overarching passion is people; how they change the world, especially when operating at maximum potential. With a background in psychology and lived cross-cultural experience, Ali brings a lens of human behaviour and cultural context to the mix and her philosophy is you can do more with less. Her sole focus is to help you nail your message, ensuring you spend more of your time working with the people you are meant to help. Connect with Ali:
Website
Do you take the time to ask your donors questions that will allow you to learn more about them? Or is the pressure to pitch too great and you’re quick to share information about your mission, projects and needs?
What would it look like to take a few moments to be curious?
Join Ali in this episode to learn more about:
- How Ali applies the old proverb 'curiosity killed the cat’ to a donor relationship
- How you can be curious
- How the objective of a cultivation meeting and good questions go hand in hand
Quote from the show - ‘Curiosity may get you into trouble in some contexts but an abundance of curiosity in the fundraising world will surely get you out of trouble!’
About the host:
Ali Geake has over 20 years of experience in marketing and communications. Her overarching passion is people; how they change the world, especially when operating at maximum potential. With a background in psychology and lived cross-cultural experience, Ali brings a lens of human behaviour and cultural context to the mix and her philosophy is you can do more with less. Her sole focus is to help you nail your message, ensuring you spend more of your time working with the people you are meant to help. Connect with Ali:
Website
Do you listen more than you talk? Or talk more than you listen?
There’s something to be said about the art of pausing.
Join Ali in this episode to learn more about:
- The ratio of listening to talking
- How counting to three helps your donor provide more information
- How being silent can show respect
Quote from the show - ‘Especially if you’re nervous, it’s quite normal to just keep on talking. The fear keeps you talking! But practising shifting your talk to listen ratio so you’re listening more than you talk, will enable your donor to feel heard. Valued. And not ‘sold to’’.
About the host:
Ali Geake has over 20 years of experience in marketing and communications. Her overarching passion is people; how they change the world especially when operating at maximum potential. With a background in psychology and lived cross-cultural experience, Ali brings a lens of human behaviour and cultural context to the mix and her philosophy is you can do more with less. Her sole focus is to help you nail your message, ensuring you spend more of your time working with the people you are meant to help. Connect with Ali:
Website
Are you interested in learning how to cultivate better relationships with your donors?
Join Ali in this episode to learn:
- More about your host, Ali Geake
- What an effective cultivation strategy looks like between you and your fellow donor human
- Ali’s top five tips to improve your cultivation conversation
Quote from the show - ‘Rome wasn’t built in a day and whilst having a major donor give on your first visit may make you feel like a great fundraiser, it usually isn't best for the relationship. It can even be used just to get you to leave them alone.’.
About the host:
Ali Geake has over 20 years of experience in marketing and communications. Her overarching passion is people; how they change the world especially when operating at maximum potential. With a background in psychology and lived cross-cultural experience, Ali brings a lens of human behaviour and cultural context to the mix and her philosophy is you can do more with less. Her sole focus is to help you nail your message, ensuring you spend more of your time working with the people you are meant to help. Connect with Ali:
Website
Welcome to the Keep It Human Podcast, a show for fundraising professionals wanting to develop deeper connections with your donors and your team.
Listen to this podcast if you want to make a greater impact in the world by enhancing your human skills.
Launching on 15th March 2022!