Episode Library
Episode 1: Growing from 0 to 10,000 Contacts with Massachusetts Review
What do you do when your 50-year-old nonprofit has never done any fundraising? For Emily Wojcik of Massachusetts Review, it’s about “Giving people the opportunity to participate in something they love.” Listen to a new episode of Accidental Fundraiser to learn about the inner workings of Massachusetts Review and hear a donor story that blew Emily away.
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Episode 2: How Icing Smiles Built a Network of 12,000 Volunteers
How can you take a hobby and turn it into a nationwide nonprofit that brings smiles to the faces of sick children daily? After being disillusioned by her job in the corporate world, Tracy Quisenberry did just that. Listen to a new episode of Accidental Fundraiser to hear about how Tracy’s organization, Icing Smiles, utilizes peer-to-peer campaigns and keeps volunteers engaged.
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Episode 3: Mastering (and Crisis-Proofing) Long-Distance Fundraising
What do you do when the people you’re trying to help are halfway across the world? Find a team of volunteers you can put your faith in. That’s what Fereshteh Forough did when she started Code to Inspire, a coding school for girls, in Afghanistan. Listen to the latest episode of Accidental Fundraiser to hear how Fereshteh continues to make a difference in her home country, even in times of crisis.
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Episode 4: How to Build a Donor Base from Scratch
At Dorthy Day House, an organization that provides support services for the homeless, Brit Hotaling believes that fundraising best happens through storytelling. After all, most donors are drawn in when they’re touched after hearing about the people a nonprofit serves. As Brit puts it, “people give to people.” Listen to a new episode of Accidental Fundraiser to hear how she’s also using her volunteers’ experiences to promote the cause.
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Episode 5: Turning $1,000 into $10,000 With a Personal Message
Bonnie Sawyer, Executive Director at the Herren Project, once sent a simple birthday message to a donor and then saw their annual contribution increase. Using a personal touch is her main strategy for keeping donors engaged and feeling appreciated. Listen in to hear more ideas for connecting with those who give to your nonprofit. Bonus: She’s also got great advice on engaging board members as well
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Episode 6: Raising $750,000 without Fundraising Experience
At I Can Do That Performing Arts Center, Shayna Ronen found the confidence she needed to commit to the fundraising process. And it came from the most unexpected places. In this new episode of Accidental Fundraiser, she shares the lessons she learned from their first capital campaign and how focusing on the human-to-human connection made all the difference.
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Episode 7: Money Will Follow the Mission with Monkey’s House
There’s nothing wrong with focusing on the ask, but sometimes all you need is to share a story and show some gratitude. That’s the philosophy of Jeff Allen of Monkey’s House, where he’s learned to leverage the power of social media to grow their donor base. Check out this episode of Accidental Fundraiser to hear his tips and tricks for expressing gratitude for every contribution, big or small.
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