Shows
Let's Talk FundraisingWhy Momentum Beats Perfection in Fundraising WritingSend us a textEver found yourself paralyzed by a blinking cursor, struggling to craft the perfect donor message? You're not alone. Fundraising writing can be deeply intimidating—it needs to reflect understanding, empathy, clarity, and warmth all at once while connecting emotionally with donors.The secret to breaking through this paralysis lies in a simple mindset shift: momentum beats perfection. Every time. Rather than agonizing over creating the perfect message from scratch, what if you could instantly generate a solid first draft and focus your energy on refining it instead? This approach doesn't sacrifice qu...2025-07-2123 minLet's Talk FundraisingHow to Use ChatGPT Without Compromising Donor PrivacySend us a textEvery fundraiser knows that donor trust is the foundation of successful philanthropic relationships. But in our rush to embrace powerful AI tools like ChatGPT, we risk compromising that trust through accidental exposure of sensitive information. What begins as an innocent copy-paste into an AI prompt can instantly transform into a serious data breach that damages hard-earned relationships.This episode tackles the critical intersection of donor data privacy and AI efficiency. We explore how even small, routine actions—hastily copying donor details or pledge amounts—can lead to unintended privacy violations. Rather than...2025-07-1423 minLet's Talk FundraisingMore Donor Time, Less Desk Time: The Case for AI in Your Fundraising WeekSend us a textTrapped in an endless cycle of drafting donor emails while meaningful connections take a backseat? The silent crisis of administrative drag is depleting fundraisers' energy and passion nationwide. What if reclaiming hours every week could be as simple as embracing the right technological tools?This transformative exploration reveals how AI tools like ChatGPT can revolutionize your fundraising practice—not by replacing the human touch, but by magnifying it. Discover how cutting your email drafting time from 20 minutes to just 5 minutes per message can save you 2.5 hours weekly. Learn practical, step-by-step methods to...2025-07-0730 minLet's Talk FundraisingYou’re Not for Everyone—And That’s a Good ThingSend us a textHave you ever left a donor meeting wondering, “Why did I say it like that?”Or felt that quiet pressure to be more agreeable, more polished, more… perfect?In this episode, Keith shares a story fresh from the road—an alumni reception that turned into a powerful reminder: you don’t have to be everyone’s favorite to be an exceptional fundraiser.If you’ve ever struggled with people-pleasing, felt the weight of performance, or questioned your unique style in this work, this episode is your permission slip to stop contor...2025-06-1611 minLet's Talk FundraisingWhose Voice Is In Your Head? Releasing Inherited Limiting BeliefsSend us a textEver poured hours into a project only to watch it get worse, not better? That frustrating cycle of diminishing returns might be fueled by a deeply-held belief that's actually holding you back.Growing up, I absorbed my father's working-class ethos that hard work—defined by time spent, effort exerted, and suffering endured—was the only path to success. This belief followed me through school and into my career, where I'd routinely second-guess myself, redo perfectly good work until it deteriorated, and eventually develop unhealthy procrastination habits. The breaking point came when I wi...2025-06-0913 minLet's Talk FundraisingStop Wrestling with Technology and Start Connecting with DonorsSend us a textHave you ever left a donor meeting, recorded quick thoughts on your phone, then spent hours translating those scattered notes into a proper contact report? There's a better way.At AFP Icon in Seattle last month, I watched a room full of fundraisers experience a collective "aha" moment. It wasn't sparked by fancy tech demos or pie-in-the-sky AI promises. It happened when they realized that tools like ChatGPT could immediately solve real problems they face every day. One fundraiser's words particularly resonated: "I always thought this stuff was for the tech...2025-05-1909 min
Let's Talk FundraisingBehind the Ask: Navigating Your First Major Gifts RoleSend us a textThe journey from behind-the-scenes prospect researcher to frontline major gift officer can feel like jumping into the deep end without a life vest. In this illuminating conversation, Matt Stokes, Leadership Giving Officer at Yale University, shares his experience making this challenging career transition and the lessons he's learned along the way.Matt brings a unique perspective, having spent years analyzing data and identifying prospects before stepping across the table to build relationships with donors directly. He reveals how his background in research has shaped his approach to cultivation and solicitation, providing...2025-05-0534 min
Let's Talk FundraisingQuiet Power: The Introvert's Guide to Fundraising SuccessSend us a textWhen you picture a successful fundraiser, do you imagine someone who commands the room, speaks eloquently without hesitation, and thrives in crowds of donors? That stereotype has dominated our field for decades—but what if the most powerful fundraising superpower isn't being heard, but truly hearing others?Carissa Konesky, CFRE and advancement officer at Simon Fraser University, challenges this outdated notion through her remarkable career journey. Recognized as a Top 30 Under 30 by BC Business and Woman of the Year rising star, she's built meaningful donor relationships not by dominating conversations, but th...2025-04-2843 min
Rising Voices of Fundraising: The AFP Emerging Leaders PodcastPioneering Presentations: Insights from a First-Time Fundraising Conference SpeakerIn this episode of Rising Voices of Fundraising: The AFP Emerging Leaders Podcast, Keith Greer and Carissa Konesky, two presenters from AFP ICON 2025, offer tips for overcoming imposter syndrome, submitting a proposal that gets selected, and engaging your audience with an interesting session. We discuss how presenting at an AFP event can boost your career and increase the visibility of your organization’s fundraising efforts.
To learn more, check out their session, From Inspiration to Implementation: Turning Conference Insights into Action, at AFP ICON 2025 in Seattle, April 27-29.
Guests:
Keith Greer, CFRE: University of N...2025-03-2022 minLet's Talk FundraisingDitch Fear, Choose Joy: The Fundraising Shift You Need to MakeSend us a textFundraising shouldn’t feel like manipulation. It shouldn’t leave donors feeling drained, guilty, or pressured into giving. Yet, so much of our industry—especially certain political campaigns—leans into fear as a motivator. And while fear might work once, it doesn’t build relationships. It doesn’t make donors want to come back.You know what does? Joy.In this episode, I’m sharing two unforgettable stories from my time in hospice fundraising—one about a 102-year-old who became the town’s most eligible bachelor, and another about a ba...2025-02-1712 minLet's Talk FundraisingUsing AI to Amplify the Personal Side of FundraisingSend us a textCan AI really enhance human connection in fundraising, or is it just a high-tech distraction? Let's tackle this question head-on, revealing how AI can be a transformative force in the nonprofit sector. This episode isn't about replacing the personal touch — it's about using AI to deepen it. As I prepare for my upcoming session at the AFP Icon conference in Seattle, I'll guide you through the ethical integration of AI, showing how it can streamline repetitive tasks and allow us to focus on what truly matters: building genuine relationships and crafting compelling stories th...2025-02-1011 min