Nonprofit Razzle Dazzle: Recent Episodes
Firefly Partners
The Nonprofit Razzle Dazzle is hosted by Firefly Partners' Jen Frazier and Taylor Shanklin. This podcast is all about uncovering real stories of impact from nonprofit do-gooders. We take the "frazzle" out of fundraising by helping listeners learn from their nonprofit marketing and fundraising peers and social impact innovators.
In this episode, Colleen Campbell and Wynn Hawker-Boehnke join Taylor Shanklin in a discussion on the challenges that non-profits are facing when taking their fundraising events virtual. Together, the trio explored ways to make virtual events "worth it" and how fundraising can still be personal even online.
- How the pandemic has changed the non-profit event space
- Challenges non-profits are facing when hosting events online
- Strategies that can help make virtual events more personal and yield better results
Find Wynn Hawker-Boehnke on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wynnhb/
Find Colleen Campbell on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/campbellcolleen/
In this episode, Tony Martignetti, host of Nonprofit Radio, joins Jen Frazier and Taylor Shanklin to delve into the agility nonprofits leaned into in 2020 and how to harness their agility for planned giving success. Together, the trio explored how 2020 impacted planned giving and how to re-envision planned giving with digital strategy.
- Planned giving successes with digital-channel approach
- Advice for navigating this time virtual engagement for planned giving programs
- Lessons from 2020
Tony Martignetti: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tonymartignetti/
Tony Martignetti Nonprofit Radio: https://tonymartignetti.com/category/tony-martignetti-nonprofit-radio/
In this episode, Kristina Villarini, Digital Director of Alliance for Safety and Justice, joins Taylor Shanklin in the virtual booth to discuss supporter acquisition during a recent webinar. Together, they explore the how-tos of effectively growing your lists with quality supporters to grow your outreach and digital fundraising prowess.
- Easy to pick up strategies for lead acquisition
- Considerations for implementing lead generation
- Examples of nonprofit lead acquisition success and mistakes
Kristina Villarini: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristinavillarini/
Alliance for Safety and Justice: https://allianceforsafetyandjustice.org/
In this episode, Taylor Shanklin and Jen Frazier is joined by Reggie Rivers, ex-NFL player and nonprofit gala partner, to discuss the transition from the field to business to nonprofit fundraising and what lessons he's learned moving galas virtual this year.
- Similarities between football and galas
- Lessons from moving galas virtual
- Teamwork tips
Learn more about Reggie Rivers: https://reggierivers.com/
In this episode, Jasmine Bright and Wynn Hawker-Boehnke borrowed the mic from Jen and Taylor for this week's Razzle Dazzle episode to delve into SMS messaging. Jasmine and Wynn explore for listeners how SMS was integrated into a census communications plan and key takeaway lessons. Listen along to glean:
- Recommended cadence and message tone
- When to use a human instead of automation
- Whether + how SMS could be beneficial in your comms plan
Find Jasmine Bright on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasminebright/
Find Wynn Hawker-Boehnke on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wynnhb/
In this episode, Jen and Taylor sat down with Elizabeth Wattley, Executive Director of Forest Forward in Dallas, TX. Elizabeth elaborates on investing in community wellness, bringing education into a community, being 100% true to yourself, and more! Here’s what you can expect in their discussion:
- Steps to create purpose-built communities
- Addressing the root of intergenerational poverty: systemic racism
- Rebuilding communities vs. gentrifying communities
Find Elizabeth Wattley on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-wattley-71719664/
Learn more about Forest Forward here: https://www.citysquare.org/foresttheater
In this episode, Jen and Taylor sat down with Firuzeh Mahmoudi and Tara Farahdi of United 4 Iran. Firuzeh and Tara share lessons learned from creating a culture of empowerment, forming and sustaining a new nonprofit, and making change around the globe. Here’s what you can expect in their discussion:
- How to build a horizontal culture
- Managing a humanitarian need from afar
- Lessons learned from growing and sustaining a nonprofit organization for 20+ years
Find Firuzeh Mahmoudi on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/firuzeh-mahmoudi-1241651a/
Learn more about United 4 Iran here: https://www.united4iran.org
In this episode, Jen and Taylor sat down with Ann Pifer and Melissa Hruza of AdoptAClassroom.org. Ann and Melissa share lessons learned from spearheading a new digital strategy platform and establishing an agile culture and methodology within their organization.
Here's what you can expect in their discussion:
- Creating a flexible model that's responsive to community needs
- Advice for nonprofit entrepreneurs
- How measurement lead to advantageous growth
Find Ann Pifer on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annruhrpifer/
For Melissa Hruza on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-hruza-019b9814/
Learn more about AdoptAClassroom here: https://www.adoptaclassroom.org/
In this episode, Jen and Taylor sat down with Sangram Vajre of Terminus. Sangram shares lessons learned from founding Terminus and building a marketing platform that prioritizes quality, long lasting relationships.
Here's what you can expect in their discussion:
- Prioritizing community + belonging over 'selling' in your marketing
- Find inspiration in small acts of stranger kindness
- Intentionality > brilliance
Find Sangram Vajre on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sangramvajre/
Learn more about Terminus here: https://terminus.com/
In this episode, Jen and Taylor sat down with Jennifer Lee of National MS Society. Jennifer shares lessons learned from shifting National MS Society’s 500+ peer-to-peer event virtual and how collaboration was key.
Here's what you can expect in their discussion:
- Enhanced digital experiences (think a VR hike)
- Takeaways from bringing their tech partners together to find the best way forward
- Why she envisions the peer-to-peer event to have a hybrid component moving forward
Find Jennifer Lee on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-lee-a331495/
Learn more about National MS Society here: https://www.nationalmssociety.org/
In this episode, Jen and Taylor sat down with Brett Hagler, CEO + Founder of New Story. The trio delve into homelessness and how Brett with New Story is literally 3D printing homes to address the house-less crisis across the globe. Brett also partnered with Appletv to launch the movie "Home". Here's what you can expect in their discussion:
- Learn how technology drives an innovative solution to homelessness
- Get tips on getting your cause in front of the camera
- "It's crazy until it's not"
Find Brett Hagler on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rbhagler/
Learn more about New Story here: https://newstorycharity.org/
In this episode, Jen and Taylor sat down with PaKou Her, Social Justice Organizer, Leadership Coach, Strategist and Principal at Tseng Development Group. The trio discuss racism and oppression within the nonprofit space and PaKou's work in anti-racist + anti-oppressive development. Join them to hear how:
- Learning to talk about power is a step towards equity
- Agitation as an important tool of the oppressed
- To engage a nonprofit organization in anti-racist + anti-oppressive practices
Find PaKou on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pakou-her-tdg/
In this episode, Jen and Taylor sat down again with our dear friend in the nonprofit tech world, Nejeed Kassam, CEO and founder of Keela to talk about leadership and how to find your "Why" as a leader. The three chatted about:
- The definition of leadership
- What works in leadership + what doesn't work
- Nejeed's big takeaway and one tip on leadership
To learn more about Nejeed and Keela, visit Keela online here: https://www.keela.co/
Find Nejeed on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nejeed/
In this episode, Jen and Taylor sat down with Nike Whitcomb, President of Nike B. Whitcomb Associates, Inc. and the first-ever female AFP Chapter President in Illinois in the 1970s. The three talked about:
- Nike's story of breaking the mold as a female leader during this era
- Her advice for aspiring female leaders
- How to build long-lasting relationships and tips for relationship building in one's career
- How to lead when "playing from behind", and how to make strides
Learn more about Nike and her consultancy on her website here: http://www.whitcombassociates.com/
In this episode, Jen and Taylor sat down with Gabe Cooper, CEO of Virtuous CRM to talk about what responsible marketing automation looks like and how nonprofits can implement the framework of what Gabe and his team have dubbed Responsive Fundraising. The three talked about:
- What Responsive Fundraising is
- How to create great donor experiences with responsible and effective marketing automation
- How to prioritize the donor experience and use technology to do that
- How we can drive innovation in the nonprofit sector
Learn more about Virtuous on their website https://www.virtuouscrm.com/ and find Gabe on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabecooper/
In this episode, Jen and Taylor sat down with Morgan Berman, CEO, and founder of Milkcrate. The three ladies talked about:
- The story of Milkcrate and Morgan's tips for female leaders in the nonprofit sector
- How to innovate in the nonprofit industry
- How to streamline operations and programs with mobile tools like apps
To learn more about Milkcrate, visit their website: https://milkcrate.tech/
In this episode, Jen and Taylor sat down with Glen Peck at Komen New York. The three talked about:
- How Komen NYC has been in the "hot spot" this year with covid-19 and recent protests
- What the organization has done to work through a crisis and still provide critical support to program recipients and donors
- What Komen NYC has learned and how they have remained agile, flexible and authentic in all of this
Learn more about Komen NYC on their website: http://www.komennyc.org/site/PageServer
In this episode, Jen and Taylor sat down with Nejeed Kassam, CEO of Keela, lawyer, board member, and change-maker. The three talked about:
- His perspective on race as a person of color, leader, and the events that have unfolded in our world recently.
- How to move forward, address racial injustice, and make progress.
Learn more about Nejeed and Keela on their website here: https://www.keela.co/team
In this episode of the Nonprofit Razzle Dazzle, Jen and Taylor sat down with Garry McIntosh to talk about:
- How Garry pivoted from startup guy to nonprofit development manager
- The story of Operation Underground Railroad and their mission
- How Underground Railroad is saving lives every day through their work to free victims of sex trafficking and human trafficking.
Learn more about Operation Underground Railroad on their website: https://ourrescue.org/