The Difference: Nonprofit Fundraising in a For-Profit World

Send us a textConvergent's Jay Werth and Pam Reid discuss the importance of conducting a feasibility study before launching a capital or comprehensive campaign. Pam emphasizes that feasibility studies provide crucial intelligence for a case for investment development and informed decision-making. She also introduces the IMPACT acronym for case content: Introduction, Mission, Problem, Actual Impact, Call to Action, and Transparency. Pam advises that draft cases should be concise, visually appealing, and tailored to the audience. Curious why Comprehensive Campaigns are a game-changer for nonprofit fundraising? Sign up for updates!

Convergent Nonprofit Solutions' Tom Ralser explains why Asking Rights™ raises the sights for your organization's donors. Join Tom and The Difference Host Jay Werth as they discuss how nonprofit leaders and organizations can move the funding process from a charity mindset to one of investment. You don't want to miss it!Support the show

Convergent Senior Funding Strategist, Pam Reid, and Host Jay Werth, discuss Pam's transition from her for-profit corporate role to nonprofit fundraising. She emphasizes the importance of transparency in board member expectations, including giving, fundraising, and attendance. Pam also highlights the need for 100% board participation in campaigns and strategies to foster a productive board fundraising culture. Learn why Comprehensive Campaigns are a game-changer for nonprofit fundraising. Sign up for updates!Support the show

In this episode, 'The Difference' Host Jay Werth, sits down with Nat Auten, President & CEO of the YMCA of Catawba Valley in Western North Carolina, to explore what it takes to plan and execute a successful comprehensive fundraising campaign. From capital improvements to endowments and annual funds, Nat shares how his donor-centric approach, focus on legacy giving, and deep YMCA roots have shaped a strategy that resonates with supporters across the board. Whether you're a seasoned fundraiser or just getting started, this conversation offers practical insights and inspiring takeaways. Learn why Comprehensive Campaigns are a game-changer for nonprofit fundraising. Sign up for updates!Support the show

Convergent's Capital Campaign series features Daniel Hall, Director of Managed Service for Harness Giving, and host Jay Werth, discussing how nonprofit leaders can best communicate a strategic plan that is actionable, transparent, and compelling to internal stakeholders and potential donors. Learn why Comprehensive Campaigns are a game-changer for nonprofit fundraising. Sign up for updates.Support the show

Join Sarah Sprinkle, CEO and Founder of Sarah Sprinkle Philanthropy, and The Difference podcast host, Jay Werth, as they discuss the importance of a comprehensive strategic plan before launching a fundraising campaign. Sprinkle emphasizes aligning the mission with the organization's impact, creating time-sensitive goals, and involving stakeholders. Sprinkle also shared her approach to strategic planning, using spreadsheets to outline goals and strategies, and the importance of adaptability in response to changing circumstances.We invite you to continue tuning in to learn why Comprehensive Campaigns are a game-changer for nonprofit fundraising... sign up for updates.Support the show

In the latest episode of Convergent's The Difference podcast, Host Jay Werth discusses comprehensive fundraising campaigns with Li Li from Foursquare Research, Inc. Li Li explains the importance of market analysis as a tool for nonprofits, likening it to a GPS for efficient planning. She emphasizes the need for unbiased research to avoid confirmation bias and highlights the significance of involving stakeholders.We invite you to continue tuning in to learn why Comprehensive Campaigns are a game-changer for nonprofit fundraising... sign up for updates.Support the show

In this episode of The Difference, Convergent's Rex Otey and Jay Werth discuss the importance of development audits for nonprofit organizations, emphasizing their role in evaluating fundraising effectiveness and readiness for comprehensive campaigns. Otey highlights that audits are not punitive but aim to improve fundraising efficiency. He shares an example of a higher education client that followed audit recommendations to enhance staffing and fundraising. Tune in to learn why Comprehensive Campaigns are a game-changer for nonprofit fundraising... sign up for updates.Support the show

In an era of economic shifts and political uncertainty, how can nonprofits secure sustainable funding and continue their vital work? In this episode of The Difference, host Jay Werth speaks with Amber Wynn, philanthrepreneur, about the impact of today's political climate on fundraising. They explore key strategies for financial stability, compliance, and effective communication, that help nonprofits weather uncertainty while maximizing impact.Tune in to discover actionable insights on resilience, advocacy, and building a strong financial foundation for long-term success. Support the show

In this episode of The Difference, host Jay Werth sits down with Brian Abernathy, General Manager of Convergent Nonprofit Solutions.Brian oversees Convergent's strategic direction, daily operations, and project success, ensuring clients achieve their fundraising goals.Kicking off a new series on Comprehensive Campaigns, Jay and Brian explore the benefits of this multi-year fundraising approach—how it fosters cohesive messaging, strengthens donor engagement, and drives long-term success.Tune in to learn why Comprehensive Campaigns are a game-changer for nonprofit fundraising... sign up for updates.

In this episode of 'The Difference', join host Jay Werth, and guest, Doug Croft, Senior Project Manager with Convergent Nonprofit Solutions.Croft has 30 years of nonprofit management experience, starting early in his career with the Boy Scouts of America, and eventually leading three chambers of commerce in North Carolina and Texas. In this episode, Croft discusses his all-time favorite volunteer role as Volunteer Coordinator and Mentor for the national All-America City Awards program. Learn more and submit your community's application by February 27, 2025:  https://www.nationalcivicleague.org/america-city-award/. For more episodes, visit Convergent Nonprofit Solutions' podcast page.

In this episode of 'The Difference', join host Jay Werth, and guest, Tom Ralser, Convergent Nonprofit Solutions' Principal and Director of Asking Rights. Tom Ralser has a three-decade career in fundraising. He's consulted with and added value to numerous nonprofit organizations, and pioneered applying return on investment principles to nonprofit fundraising. In this episode, Tom will give an overview of "asking rights" and how it focuses on the value outcomes that nonprofit organizations deliver to donors or investors, a term Convergent stresses in its communications. For more information to assist you with your fundraising efforts, visit convergentnonprofit.com.

Tune in to hear Jay Werth's latest conversation on 'The Difference' podcast with Convergent's Project Director, Andy Brubaker. Brubaker just finished an incredible two-week volunteer deployment with the American Red Cross in Georgia, where he supported disaster response and relief efforts. He describes what it was like to help Georgia's communities affected by Hurricane Helene and witness the resilience and strength of those impacted. 

Mike Goorhouse, Founder of Inspiring Impact, explains how planned giving can be transformational for nonprofits.Speaker BioMike Goorhouse is Founder and Lead Consultant at Inspiring Impact, LLC, a firm dedicated to helping nonprofit and philanthropic organizations effectively inspire change in their community.He has spent his entire career in philanthropy including working with Family Foundations, Community Foundations and Youth Grantmakers while at the Council of Michigan Foundations and serving as President/CEO for the Community Foundation of the Holland/Zeeland Area (CFHZ) for 10 years.Mike's most notable accomplishments during his time at CFHZ include successfully completing a $35 million unrestricted endowment campaign which included 100 new estate gift commitments and launching a multi-sector collaborative effort to significantly improve the affordability of local housing options. During his leadership, CFHZ tripled its assets from $40 million to $120 million, grew annual gifts from $5 million to $20 million and expanded its community impact strategies to include significant investments in strengthening the local nonprofit sector, impact investing and an equity focused grantmaking strategy.Over the years Mike has been recognized for his commitment to philanthropy and the community. In 2011 he was named one of the top 30 Civic Leaders under the age of 30 in the nation by the National Conference on Citizenship. In 2017 he was named Young Executive of the Year as part of the MiBiz Best Managed Nonprofit Awards. Finally, he has been recognized as one of the Grand Rapids Business Journal's Forty Under 40 Business Leaders six times and three times has been named one of GRBJ's top 200 most influential business leaders in WestMichigan.Mike has served on numerous local, state, national and international nonprofit boards including: Association for a More Just Society, Bread for the World, Housing Next, Movement West Michigan, Grand Valley University Foundation and Kids Food Basket.Mike has a degree in Secondary Education from Calvin University and a Masters' degree in Public and Nonprofit Administration from Grand Valley State University.

In this episode of 'The Difference', Convergent's Jay Werth is joined by Gabe Cooper, Founder and CEO of Virtuous, a Responsive Nonprofit CRM & Marketing Platform. Cooper and Ralser discuss the importance of listening and connecting to your donors, and how fundraising automation technology can give your organization valuable insight.Guest BioGabe Cooper is the Founder and CEO of Virtuous, a Responsive Nonprofit CRM & Marketing Platform helping nonprofits build lasting relationships with their donors. He is also the author of the top-selling books Responsive Fundraising and The Responsive Nonprofit: 8 Key Practices for Scaling Impact. After serving in a leadership role at a large nonprofit, Gabe went on to help build a series of successful software products in the nonprofit and for-profit sectors. His team's products have been featured in Wired, USA Today, NY Times, and Apple's WWDC. His drive stems from a passion to create market-defining software and help charities reimagine generosity.

Join Convergent Nonprofit Solutions' Jay Werth and Tom Ralser, as they discuss key takeaways from The Giving Institute's Giving USA: The Annual Report on Philanthropy in the latest episode of 'The Difference'. Convergent Nonprofit Solutions offers fundraising services to nonprofits throughout the country that are looking to increase their funding and make a bigger impact. Let our team of expert consultants help your nonprofit today. Contact us to get started!

Larry Raff is President of Copley Raff Inc., a global consultancy to nonprofits in support of fundraising and management, and he's the Principal and creator of Abacus Major Donor Ask Calculator LLC. In his conversation with Convergent Principal Tom Ralser, Raff shares how to leverage objective donor giving, behavioral, and relationship data specific to your organization to determine pledge asks and goals. Raff and Ralser also discuss tried and true strategies and language for making asks and closing more gifts at higher amounts.Guest BioLarry Raff, President of Copley Raff Inc., a global consultancy to nonprofits in support of fundraising and management, has a 40-year career in advancement. He is the Principal and creator of Abacus Major Donor Ask Calculator LLC and is of-counsel to Rising Tide Direct. Since 2011, he has authored the GivingTake blog with an international following. He co-created the Master Gift OfficerTM four-day immersion event and approach to training gift officers.www.donorabacus.com

In this latest episode of "The Difference" podcast, Convergent's General Manager, Brian Abernathy discusses how a new analytical tool developed by Convergent for economic development organizations can help uncover revenue potential and effective fundraising strategies.Convergent Nonprofit Solutions is pleased to announce the new EDO Revenue Benchmarking Analysis. This innovative tool is designed to provide actionable data and recommendations to economic development organizations seeking to understand their community's fundraising potential before they commission a feasibility study or embark on a high-gain, but high-risk capital campaign.  

Kate DiLeo is the Founder and CEO of Kate DiLeo Branding and its sister company The Brand Trifecta. She and Tom Ralser, Principal, Convergent Nonprofit Solutions, discuss how organizational value propositions help position nonprofit organizations for fundraising campaigns. Kate DiLeo is a dynamic and seasoned speaker whose vibrant personality, robust expertise, and pragmatic approach shine from stage. She brings a fresh lens to the topic of branding by delivering practical yet powerful content that audiences can immediately apply to their personal and organizational brands. Visit her website for more information.

Deb Page, CPT, CPIF, HPLJ, co-founded The Institute for Performance Improvement in 2010 to provide training and certification for performance improvement facilitators. In her conversation with Convergent's Jay Werth, Page discusses best practices for facilitating performance improvement for nonprofit organizations. She shares how performance improvement includes more than traditional organizational development and gives strategic approaches for overcoming communication gaps and challenges.Speaker BioAs a senior executive for a Fortune 20 company, she led human capital management, quality management, and performance improvement. She led the start-up of the Georgia Leadership Institute for School Improvement. Her book The School Improvement Specialist Field Book (2013) was co-authored by Dr. Judith Hale and received ISPI Outstanding Communication Award.  She is a Certified Performance Technologist and earned the Brinkerhoff High Performance Learning Journey global certification in 2018.The Institute for Performance Improvement is a training and performance consulting organization that applies the sciences of human performance improvement and adult learning to develop professionals and support organizations to reach their goals through collaborative performance improvement, innovation, and implementation. 

Howard Levy holds a 30-year track record of success in revitalizing organizational brands and creating effective campaigns that improve their visibility, increase engagement, and drive revenue. In this conversation with Convergent Principal Jay Werth, Levy discusses foundational concepts for using neuroscience for marketing and fundraising.  They discuss how understanding behavior economics can impact your nonprofit's fundraising campaigns.

In this episode of The Difference, we're joined by clinical researcher Alyssa Durfey, MPH, MBA, CNP.  She and Jay discuss the concept of limiting beliefs and how they can impact your work in the world of nonprofits. They discuss strategies to overcome limiting beliefs, like taking a personal inventory or creating a better map for your life.

In this episode, Jay discusses artificial intelligence tools with Michelle West,  founder and President of Chamber Speak. Michelle shares her thoughts on how to use AI tools to save time when you're busy or short on resources. She and Jay discuss ways to prompt AI tools to produce rich, helpful information that saves time in the long run. Using AI in this way can also help chambers segment their audiences, identify their target audience, and tailor their messaging so they reach the right people.  

In this episode, Jay engages in a thought-provoking discussion with Marc C. Perna, the founder and CEO of TFS Results. Together, they delve into the intricate relationship between workforce development and generational disparities. Marc, a passionate advocate for bridging the gap between education and employment, shares his insights on the vital role of workforce development in shaping the future. Focusing on Generation Z, hailed as the "benchmark generation," Marc and Jay dissect the unique perspectives and aspirations of this dynamic cohort. From understanding Gen Z's mindset to offering strategies for hiring and retaining talent, their conversation provides actionable insights for parents, educators, and employers. Tune in as Jay Werth and Marc C. Perna explore the transformative impact of understanding generational differences in today's ever-evolving workforce.

Join us for an insightful episode of The Difference, featuring Chuck Sexton, the dynamic CEO of The Next Move Group. In this engaging conversation, Sexton unravels the intricate aspects of successful economic development. Explore the importance of a clear vision, collaboration among stakeholders, strategic planning, and adaptability in the pursuit of economic growth. Gain valuable insights into the significance of resources, investment, and effective marketing strategies. Discover how regions can leverage these key factors, as highlighted by Sexton, to create thriving economies and enhance the overall well-being of their communities. Tune in for a comprehensive exploration of the essential elements that make a difference in economic development!

Join us on The Difference as Debbie Irwin, co-founder of the Manufactory Collective, shares the dynamic evolution of this unique shared space for makers and entrepreneurs. Discover how a strategic shift from seeking funds to exploring creative solutions attracted investors and led to collaborations with JMU for a rapid prototyping center. Learn about the crucial role of John Downey's certificate program in the collective's success and the broader vision of fostering entrepreneurship and innovation in the Shenandoah Valley through shared workspaces. Tune in for a concise yet insightful discussion on shaping the future of entrepreneurship in the Shenandoah Valley.

Discover the dynamic world of corporate philanthropy on The Difference! Join us as we chat with Matt Nash, Executive Director of Blackbaud Giving Fund. Learn how this 501(c)(3) charity revolutionizes workplace giving through donor-advised funds and diverse charity options. Uncover the crucial link between executive engagement, a company's purpose, and employee participation in social initiatives. Tune in for insights into driving meaningful change through purposeful giving!

In this episode of The Difference, Beth Napleton, a seasoned leadership coach, shares key insights on leading with empathy and achieving success in nonprofit organizations. She identifies challenges in external factors, team dynamics, and personal struggles. Beth emphasizes the use of personality assessments like Myers Briggs and StrengthsFinder for self-awareness and team improvement. From leadership strategies to fundraising tools, she provides practical advice. Drawing from her experiences, Beth stresses the importance of seeking support as a nonprofit leader. Her expertise offers a concise guide for navigating recruitment, retention, board engagement, and fundraising challenges. Tune in for a power-packed conversation on elevating nonprofit leadership and driving impactful change!

In this podcast, Jay Langston, Executive Director of the Shenandoah Valley Partnership, shares his rich background in economic development and discusses the profound changes witnessed over the past four decades, accentuated by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Jay highlights the growing significance of quality of life in decision-making and explores how the Shenandoah Valley, despite its rural setting, has experienced both economic and population growth. He emphasizes the importance of educating educators about job opportunities and underscores the region's success in talent attraction, challenging stereotypes that young professionals need to migrate to metropolitan areas for career growth. The episode provides a concise yet insightful narrative on the evolving dynamics of economic development and talent acquisition in the Shenandoah Valley, offering a fresh perspective on the region's untapped potential.

In this episode, we had the pleasure of speaking with Susan Norris, the director of the Pierce County Economic Development Corporation in Nebraska. Susan shares her experience with economic development and rural communities. Susan's insights into how the residents of Pierce County view economic development shed light on the unique perspectives of rural America. She reminds us that it's not all about wealth creation; in rural settings, it encompasses community placemaking, parks, recreation, and fostering social connections. Join us as Susan Norris discusses the true essence of economic development in rural Nebraska, focusing on building not just financial capital, but also social capital within these tight-knit communities. If you're curious about the heart and soul of rural America, this episode is a must-listen.

Discover the art of planned giving fundraising with Tony Martignetti, a 26-year veteran in the field and the driving force behind Martignetti Planned Giving Advisors. Tony shares why planned giving remains remarkably stable and discusses how even small nonprofits can launch successful planned giving. Is planned giving really that complicated? With all these myths floating around, it might seem like a tricky road to navigate. Delve into the podcast to have these myths debunked and complexities unraveled, as Tony clarifies the misconceptions surrounding planned giving. Tune in to gain actionable insights and embark on a transformative journey into the world of planned giving. 

In this episode of The Difference podcast, Dan Rogers, Senior Project Director and Consultant at Convergent joins us for a discussion on redefining homelessness as a humanitarian crisis. Discover why this shift in terminology is significant and gain insights into the challenges nonprofits face in the social services sector when it comes to fundraising. Learn from Dan's experiences coaching nonprofits and how his insider perspective informs effective fundraising strategies. Tune in for an enlightening conversation that explores the intersection of social issues and fundraising.

Join us on this episode of "The Difference" as we engage in a captivating conversation with Michael Papa, consultant at Convergent and Head of School Emeritus at Bayside Academy. With an impressive tenure of over four decades as an academic leader, Michael Papa possesses a profound expertise in formulating effective funding strategies for independent schools. In this enlightening podcast, we will delve into crucial subjects such as the fundamental pillars of strategic planning, maintaining a steadfast trajectory towards achieving objectives, and optimal approaches to fundraising. Discover the significant role that seemingly humble school bake sales play in bolstering the financial resources of independent schools.

Join Convergent Nonprofit Solutions for a discussion with Horton Hobbs IV, Vice President of Economic Development for the Greater Springfield Partnership. As a highly successful economic development leader, Horton has helped to guide Springfield, Ohio through a dramatic revitalization. Thousands of jobs have been created and that's created an increased need for workforce development and attraction. As an organization, the Greater Springfield Partnership decided to begin by engaging youth in middle and high school. Listen to their strategies, best practices, and how the plan is working. Horton also discusses, at a high level, how economic development has changed and how The Greater Springfield Partnership has tackled issues like child care and housing.

Join Convergent Nonprofit Solutions for a discussion with David Thornell, author and expert in economic development, as we discuss his newly released book Small Town Solutions. In this podcast we discuss strategies from Thornell's new book like how to network your small town, along with his thoughts on new challenges small communities are facing and how to overcome them. Also find out why David Thornell himself prefers to live in small towns. 

Join us in a discussion with John Hull, Executive Director of the Roanoke Regional Partnership, as we discuss workforce attraction. Is your community struggling to find its brand for workforce attraction? Then this is the podcast for you. In this conversation with Convergent Principal Jay Werth, he explains the importance of finding your community's brand and how that helps to bring in businesses and workers. John Hull also talks about the importance of attracting workforce through the “boomerang effect”. John Hull talks about his own experience and programs that Roanoke offers to help with talent attraction.

Is your communication strategy leading to significant donations for your organization? If not, Tom Ahern, a noted nonprofit copywriting genius, may have the solution you're looking for. In this conversation with Convergent Principal Jay Werth, Tom explains how to shift your copywriting to deepen donor relationships, turn donors into investors, and how to avoid the “7 deadly sins of writing the appeal or case statement.” He also elaborates on the power of storytelling and how nonprofits can use stories to create connections and engage an investor audience. If you have anything short of a 100% success rate with your donor communications, this podcast is for you!

Quality of life initiatives are essential in defining a community's sense of place and attracting and retaining residents. They are also crucial for attracting business investment - a key goal for any economic development organization. Convergent recently partnered with economic development marketing agency Golden Shovel on a whitepaper titled Strengthening Your Community's Competitive Potential By Improving Quality of Life. This episode dives further into this topic with Convergent Principal Andy Coe and Golden Shovel CEO Aaron Brossoit. We discuss successful examples of quality-of-life improvements, their importance, measuring their impact, and proving their ROI to investors.

Two former nonprofit and chamber of commerce leaders who are currently in the field fundraising for major organizations join Jay to discuss the FUD (fear, uncertainty, and doubt) that so many are feeling today and how it is (or is not) affecting their funding efforts. Dan Rogers and Doug Croft provided excellent insights in this episode on what investors and stakeholders want to know about a nonprofit in order to fund its future. We  talk "worry fatigue" and close with a great analogy on how a nonprofit can weather this economic storm.

From steel to a gallon of paint or even the tires for your car, supply chain disruption is being felt all over the country. We welcomed Chris Gullickson, Director of Development and Transportation Policy for the Port of Virginia, and Dennis Fraise, CEO of Lee County Economic Development Group and host of the popular DevelopThis! podcast, to discuss this issue in this episode. Chris and Dennis offer their viewpoints on how communities and businesses are dealing with the friction points in the supply chain. How did we get here? What went wrong and what will help bring about change?

We are joined in this episode by Tina Winner, CEO and Founder of Winner Partners, an executive search and recruitment firm in the economic development, chamber, and nonprofit space. Tina and Jay discuss the importance of being a "super collaborator" and activating relationships as a leader in your community. Tina also shares her experience with the changing face of public-private funding and how that is affecting leadership today. And, of course, we had to dig in to Tina's favorite recruiting questions and how she would answer them!

Tim Kachuriak joins us in this episode for an interesting discussion on Why People Give. Tim is the Founder and Chief Innovation and Optimization Officer for NextAfter, a fundraising research lab consultancy and nonprofit training institute. He has spent his entire professional career digging into this question. Hint: he thinks it's an irrational decision that doesn't make sense. Tim is adamant in his belief that human connections are at the core of philanthropic donations, and there is ONE thing that leads to more donors and higher levels of investment.

Antony Bell started his consulting firm, Leadership Development, Inc. after noticing that there were more than 64,000 books on leadership and yet still so many of the CEOs and leaders he was working with were struggling. He has consulted for Nike, Bank of America, the Girl Scouts, March of Dimes, the US Treasury, and more. In this episode, he tells us about his leadership framework that applies systems thinking to help drive success at any level, in any environment.  It starts with two buckets that encompass everything about being a good leader: Competence and Character. Listen to Tony tell us more!

Bethany Quinn, VP of Content and Strategy from Golden Shovel Agency, joins us to unpack the topic that is on everyone's mind these days: workforce shortages. Golden Shovel has helped hundreds of EDOs and Chambers shape and tell their stories through services including branding, marketing, strategy, web development, and online communications. Workforce shortages are a primary concern for their clients today. Bethany talks about some new solutions she's seeing in tackling this issue from mobile learning labs and virtual reality to using local ambassadors to spread the word about your community.

Tom Berquist, CMO of one of the largest financial institutions in the Northwest, joined our podcast for an interesting conversation from a funder's point of view. Tom discusses how he developed Boeing Employee Credit Union's philanthropic strategy over the last 20 years—and especially in the last 18 months—aligning their giving with their area of expertise and interest in impacting social justice. Who Tom meets with, who they decide to fund, how much support (and what kind) is offered. All of this is predicated on the goals of the economic development, education, or general nonprofit organization aligning with the intersection of financial wellbeing and equity.  Tom walks us through the evolution of this strategy, how collaboration factors in, and how it has shaped their support for today and the future. 

An expert in community growth, author, and respected chamber leader, Casey Steinbacher was a guest on this episode of our podcast.  Casey's book, From Relevant to Essential, talks about how chambers, EDOs, and nonprofits can ensure the critical status they achieved during COVID and work to combine their mission and model for success. Casey shared a few of her mantras on the symbiotic relationship of businesses and communities plus her thoughts on what's on every community leader's mind today—workforce development, livable wages, affordable housing, and more. She offers current examples, interesting trends she's noticed, and thoughtful insights on these topics and more in this episode. 

Bonnie Lowe, CEO of The Chamber of Lawrence, Kansas, joins us in this episode to talk about Rising Together, their five-year, $2.5 million economic development plan with the EDC of Lawrence. The feasibility study paving the way for stakeholder input, leadership from Bonnie and key community partners, campaign management expertise from Convergent--all of these ingredients led to an extremely successful capital campaign with strong commitments from investors. Bonnie discusses timing, solicitations, partnerships, and ensuring her Chamber's transformational role in the future growth of her community.

Sheree Anne Kelly, CEO of the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives, joins our podcast to discuss the three pillars of success for chambers today and the "chamber renaissance" emerging as so many chambers of commerce rise to align their mission with the needs of their community, provide courageous leadership, and discover sustainable business models to ensure their future. Sheree Anne discusses the importance of having a vision for community impact and utilizing the funding models that will help an organization become transformational versus transactional.

Former Nonprofit CEO Rich Trickel and Development Consultant Amy Sexton join our podcast to discuss outcomes and their importance in fostering a "culture of philanthropy" at your organization. These two seasoned experts offer some key virtual fundraising tips, discuss how to identify philanthropic intent with an investor, and walk through changing the conversation within a nonprofit to focus more on outcomes than activity or outputs.

Are you frustrated with your board's involvement (or lack of) in your funding? Are you looking for more donors to give at an "investor" level? Have you considered using a fundraising consultant for your campaign? Former Nonprofit CEO and Convergent Funding Strategist Len Romano offers a unique perspective with insight from both sides of the table. He knows it's getting harder and harder to raise money. In this 18-minute episode, Len discusses the trends he's seeing in fundraising today to improve board support, raise more money, and fully realize the fundraising skills needed to run a successful campaign.

A successful fundraising campaign won't happen by just asking those closest to you for money. Credibility helps your organization build a foundation and open the door for new donors as well as additional investments from current donors. Convergent Principal and Best-Selling Author Tom Ralser discusses the critical elements of credibility and common mistakes made by many nonprofits in the early stages of a capital campaign.