Fundraising is Funny

In this episode we dive into the sometimes cringeworthy world of performative allyship. Join us as we unpack the difference of waving the DEI banner in fundraising while sometimes sidestepping the real, hard work of inclusion.

Get ready to dive into everyone's favorite topic: those cringe-worthy, facepalm moments we all wish we could erase from existence. You know, the kind that make you want to melt into the floor? Yeah, we've been there, too. Tune in for our personal horror stories that'll make you laugh, cringe, and maybe feel a little better about your own.

Brace yourselves for a fun ride down a tech rabbit hole where we discuss the different ways people approach and think about technology, and how hilariously frustrating it can be. We share humorous stories about tech mishaps and misunderstandings.

Sometimes you just need to let it all out! In this lighthearted rant and rage session, we discuss the highs, lows, and downright ridiculousness of fundraising life. Remember it's okay to vent, and we'll be here to listen every step of the way.

What can we learn from a GoFundMe campaign that raised over $517,000 to throw a frat party? Turns out, a clever and comedic call to action can have donors throwing down cash faster than a solo cup at a kegger. Let's dive into how a little humor, emotion, and simplicity turned an ordinary ask into a viral fundraising success.

When a donor's actions clash with your organization's core values, how do you respond? In the nonprofit world, standing up for what's right can feel daunting, especially when donations are on the line. But here's the truth: You can say no. You can uphold your principles. Join us as we explore the power of drawing the line and always standing up for what truly matters. You can say no. Hold on to your values, stand on principle, and always stand up for what's right. https://www.flatbushcats.org/ Connect with Fundraising is Funny Website | LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook Connect with Lynne + DRG Group Website | LinkedIn | Instagram Connect with Clay + TCB Fundraising Website | LinkedIn  Our Amazing Sponsors Bloomerang Season 2 of Fundraising is Funny is brought to you by our friends at Bloomerang. Bloomerang offers donor management and online fundraising software that helps small to medium nonprofits, like First Tee of Greater Akron, a nonprofit that empowers kids and teens through the game of golf.  After just one year with Bloomerang they doubled their unique donors, improved donor stewardship, and raised more funds. Executive Director Josh Smith described their experience, “We love Bloomerang. It saves time. It's helped us raise more funds.” Click here to listen to the full interview with First Tee of Greater Akron. DonorPerfect DonorPerfect is an all-in-one fundraising software solution that helps you manage and track relationships with donors, raise money on and offline, and automate administrative tasks – all with a single nonprofit CRM. DonorPerfect has been serving the nonprofit community for over 30 years. Clients love them, board members trust them, and industry experts (like us!) recommend them. Right now, we recommend you check out their monthly giving success kit, a free guide to creating and growing your own recurring giving program.  Kindsight Kindsight is the combination of iWave, UC Innovation, and NonprofitOS delivers what has never been possible before: Fundraising Intelligence that empowers nonprofit and advancement professionals to have the right conversation, with the right donor, at the right time—every time. This solution combines big data, AI, and automation to power modern fundraising. Wired Production Group With more than 30 years of experience, Wired Production Group is the leading provider of full-service event solutions. They are award-winning event professionals who create unforgettable live, virtual, and hybrid experiences. They do more than just provide event and video production services - they create an experience that their clients will never forget. Their team stages creative projects across a broad range of markets and delivers a strategic process built to enhance, engage, and entertain your audience. MSP Cultivate This episode is brought to you by MSP Cultivate. New challenges arrive on your desk every day. New trends in communications are popping up faster than you can follow them, and technology affects everything you do. Our friends at MSP Cultivate help you find the right strategy and execution to help you accomplish your most fundamental goal: engaging and connecting with your donors. Learn more at www.mspcultivate.com.

Have you ever based a fundraising decision off of a single article or statistic presented in a study? Data is all around us, and statistics are often presented as "best practice" or "latest trends", but are they, really?

Comparison is the thief of joy. Many nonprofits look at what other organizations are doing and try to replicate their success, expecting the same results. But you are not them, and your donors are not their donors.

We spend a lot of time keeping score with our donors: retention rates, upgrades, downgrades, renewals—the list goes on. We categorize donors and expect certain behaviors without setting clear expectations. But at what cost?

In this nostalgic and entertaining episode filled with Muppet trivia, we draw funny paralells between Muppet characters to the diverse roles and personalities found in the fundraising world.

Our supporters donate more than money - they often donate their time and talents, too. How do we honor and recognize volunteers in our work?

Fundraising is funny, but it should also be FUN! Some of the stories we carry are heavy, and fundraising can be very hard work. But, it is work filled with the joy of seeing generous people help others. How can we infuse joy and laughter into our work?

Who are the most generous people in the world? Spoiler: It isn't the uber wealthy! It's time to shift from chasing money to chasing humanity.

What happens when donors feel like their generosity goes unnoticed? Sparked by a fiery op-ed, we take on the complexity of donor opinions and expectations.

The future is here. Artificial Intelligence is starting to infiltrate every industry—including the nonprofit world—and it's here to stay. What is the good, bad, and ugly of using this new technology in fundraising?

The nonprofit industry is notoriously resistant to change. We don't like it. It makes us uncomfortable. And we hold on to dated (and sometimes downright laughable) practices because of it. It's time to evaluate "the way we've always done things" and embrace modern tools and methods to drive meaningful change.

Ahhh technology. It's taken the nonprofit world by storm, and has provided some amusing tech fails along the way. In an industry full of shiny new tools, many nonprofits adopt new tech with hopes it will revolutionize their fundraising. The truth is, the tools can only do so much. We have to think critically and invest in training in order to avoid some rather amusing pitfalls.

LYBUNTS, SYBUNTS, and first-time donors — what does it all mean? Our nonprofit jargon is often perplexing, especially in the wild world of data segmentation. Get ready to unravel the comedic tapestry woven by the intricacies of our everyday lingo!

Have you ever felt like you're on a secret mission, but the only secret is what you're actually supposed to be doing? Collaboration is challenging, and the key is effective communication—on all sides of the coin.

The power and influence of women in generosity is on the rise, and so is their desire to be recognized differently. There are so many problems with formal salutations in fundraising, so why are we still using them?

We're gearing up for Season 2 of Fundraising is Funny—but before we laugh together, we're getting brutally honest about the absurd challenges we face every day in the nonprofit industry. Inspired by the iconic Barbie monologue, Lynne and Clay share why it's literally impossible to be a fundraiser.

There may be some legitimate reasons to uninvite someone to an event, but in this episode we dive into what NOT to do. This story has us asking serious questions about the fundraising profession + how we treat those who leave our organizations but still have a passion for our mission. 

How to know if a nonprofit is a healthy place to work? Go to the nonprofit in person! A happy office is a good office

Branding guidelines don't stop the world from spinning. Fundraising is funny because sometimes we hold more tightly to organizational standards than we do to serving those who are fueling our mission.

A feeling of belonging is important, but if we don't see ourselves, how do we belong?

Fundraising shops can be a zoo! And we know your shop has all kinds of work styles. No one has to get eaten.

Ever had someone badger you over an "urgent" email that wasn't at all on your radar? We thought so. Because humans are funny like that. We all have different ways of communicating and preferred (and not so preferred) methods for doing so.

We've seen a lot of hilarious things in our careers and on thing's certain - auctions never cease to amaze! From the countless hours of staff time consumed to the most random auction items, we've just gotta laugh.

What are the gimmicks in our industry that have always made you laugh? (We know a few just popped into your head) 

Have you had one of those situations where somebody has used numbers either against you or just not in a way that made sense for you? Tune into this episode as we share how to combat the number blues.

There's no way around it. We gotta laugh at the fact that billions of dollars are sitting in donor advised funds (DAFs) and not going to charities - or else we'll cry. And how are we reporting, stewarding and tagging them in our database?

Remember that time you came across a contact report that made your eyes bug?

"Low Hanging Fruit?"

Repeat after us: no donor is the same. And digging in beyond surface-level data can illuminate why two gents who own castles in England are two very different humans with different interests and giving motivations.

Oh mercy. It's the signage conversation we've all experienced (and may carry the emotional scars to prove it

A recent survey shows 100% of nonprofits need to be asking bigger and better questions. Do you have a culture of surveying, and are you (gulp) asking questions that you already have in your database?

We've all seen the unbelievable and disbelievable in our work. But there's just something maniacally funny about the oddest experiences that inform our work.

The battle lines have been drawn and its generosity vs philanthropy

We don't like change. And no we're not talking about the coins in your pocket. In this episode, we dive into the peculiarities of nonprofit business cards, explore the resistance to change within the sector, and discuss the importance of embracing new communication mediums. We share laughs while examining the prevalence of fax numbers and the absence of cell phone numbers on business cards, and discuss how some nonprofits still cling to outdated technology. Let's talk (and laugh) about the things that your nonprofit wont change no matter what!

You know your stuff. You've studied, you've failed, you've tested and followed good advice. Let's talk (and laugh) about when we've had our work overworked by non-fundraising experts.