What You Need to Know Before You Hire Your Next Fundraiser
The Business Behind Fundraising
Release Date: 08/09/2022
The Slow & Steady Path to Large Gifts: A Case Study with Lauren M. Scott at Foundation for Fresh Produce
The Business Behind Fundraising
Lauren M. Scott is working on growing a healthier world to help change the trajectory of human health. Such a task might seem daunting, but the President of the Foundation for Fresh Produce has used her prior experience in crucial ways to help bridge the gap between sharing their big vision and providing tangible results. The process has not always moved at a rapid pace, but Lauren's patience is paying off in a big way for her organization. Sherry and Lauren discuss the importance of clear and effective communication - not just with your donors, but throughout the entire organization. There...
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Diversifying Your Human Service Org's Revenue: A Case Study with Carina Santa Maria at Shelter, Inc.
The Business Behind Fundraising
Carina Santa Maria is a first time ED making veteran moves at her organization. At Shelter Inc., Carina helps youth experiencing homelessness find emergency shelter, transitional housing, and clinical care, filling a crucial need for a vulnerable population within her community. Such a need requires great funding, and when Carina stepped into the role, things weren't where they needed to be. Fast forward to today - Shelter Inc. has seen their revenue grow nearly 5x thanks to changes in strategy implemented by Carina. Sherry and Carina discuss the growth and challenges faced by...
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Pressing Pause on Your Gala: A Case Study with Janelle Miller Moravek at Youth & Family Counseling
The Business Behind Fundraising
Janelle Miller Moravek describes herself as an "accidental" nonprofit employee, but when you see the thought and care she puts into her organization, the results are no accident at all! As the Executive Director at Youth & Family Counseling, Janelle works on providing and educating her community on affordable mental health care. She has done a bit of everything at the organization, and that experience has proven useful for understanding the needs of her team during a time of change and growth. Janelle and Sherry discuss the bold act of cutting her organization's gala out of the budget and...
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Cultivating & Captivating Next Gen Board Members with Julia Patrick of American Nonprofit Academy
The Business Behind Fundraising
Julia Patrick exemplifies that it’s never too late in your career to make an impact on the world around you. After a career in media covering social, political, and cultural issues in Arizona, Julia pivoted and dedicated her life to helping the nonprofit sector through the American Nonprofit Academy. As the CEO and Founder, as well as being the co-host of The Nonprofit Show, Julia allows nonprofit professionals to engage in discussions on problem-solving, innovation, and change within the sector. Sherry and Julia discuss how growing up in Arizona influenced her passion for nonprofit work....
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Fall Funder Series: A Discussion with Aba Taylor Brookline Community Foundation
The Business Behind Fundraising
On the final episode of this year’s Fall Funder Series, Sherry Quam Taylor speaks with Aba Taylor of the Brookline Community Foundation. Located in the immediate suburbs of Boston, BCF partners with nearly 50 organizations, seeking to improve the financial equity and economic growth of vulnerable populations in their area. As Executive Director, Aba not only cultivates relationships with organizations seeking their assistance, but also fundraises on her own, helping secure the money from private donors that will then flow to community partners that align with BCF’s values. The importance...
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Fall Funder Series: A Discussion with John Tracey, Program Director of the Simons Foundation
The Business Behind Fundraising
In the next edition of the Fall Funder Series, John Tracey of the Simons Foundation joins the show. As the Program Director managing the Science Sandbox, an incubatory portfolio focused on funding science communication practitioners, John helps organizations emphasize the importance of science in our everyday lives, helping build trust in modern practices and expanding access into new communities. Sherry and John dive into how organizations can get their foot in the door with larger funding operations. Spoiler alert: it’s not as hard or scary as you may think! Similar to working with the...
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Fall Funder Series: A Discussion with Shireen Zaman, Program Officer, BUILD // Ford Foundation
The Business Behind Fundraising
Welcome to the Fall Funder Series, where Sherry Quam Taylor demystifies common misconceptions about how organizations can secure general operating revenue. First up is Shireen Zaman of the BUILD program at the Ford Foundation. As a Program Officer, Shireen works directly with organizations in identifying their greatest fundraising needs and preparing a funding strategy that best supports those efforts. Shireen gets real about what she looks for when choosing organizations to support. It's important to remember that there are real people behind these funding efforts who are eager to...
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Case Study with Eve Turow-Paul of Food for Climate League: Creating Sustainability after extreme launch success
The Business Behind Fundraising
Eve Turow-Paul didn’t set out to start a nonprofit, but once she identified a crucial need in her community, the pieces quickly fell into place. As the founder and Executive Director of Food for Climate League, she’s helping change the narrative of sustainable food systems by addressing the emotional underpinnings that drive people’s food choices. The women-led team is influencing culinary workers to reduce emissions, embrace plant-based options, and increasing biodiversity. Sherry and Eve discuss starting a nonprofit with little planning behind it, growing your organization...
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Nonprofit Decision Making During Times of Growth with Emily Taylor of teenyBIG
The Business Behind Fundraising
As the principal of teenyBIG, Emily Taylor helps nonprofits at an inflection point make big decisions that affect their community so they can move from indecision to intentional, next-level growth. She empowers bold leaders to gather the information they need to make big decisions with buy-in so they can move from a holding pattern and into next-level growth. Emily discusses the need for nonprofits to reset and make strategic decisions in the post-COVID world, the challenges of strategic planning, and the importance of taking a step back before diving into the process. What You Will...
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Case Study with Veronika Trufanova at the Emerald Necklace Conservancy: Preparing to Fully Fund your New Strategic Plan
The Business Behind Fundraising
Veronika Trufanova always had a passion for environmental sustainability, making her the perfect fit for her role as Director of Development at the Emerald Necklace Conservancy, a historic linear park system in Boston that introduced one the first example of green infrastructure in the nation. Nika now works to sustain the parks impact on the city while growing awareness for its rich history, a huge task in a city with over 650,000 residents. Nika discusses how Sherry’s fresh perspective has revamped her team’s strategic plan while generating morale throughout her organization. The...
info_outlineLet me guess. Right now, you’re looking for your next developmental director.
It’s pretty crazy. And I admit, it’s the most difficult hire for an organization. The worst-case scenario would be ending up with the wrong person on the bus. And we don’t want that, right?
But today, let’s make it a little bit easier as I share the things you need to watch out for in your next fundraiser so your organization can hit revenue goals!
Tune in to The Business Behind Fundraising — What You Need to Know Before You Hire Your Next Fundraiser with Sherry Quam Taylor.
What You Will Discover:
✔️ Rethink the qualifications. Once you look deeper into your current challenges and your true need, you’ll determine what your future director should be able to do and what skills they should have.
✔️ Knowing the path to get fully financed is a must. Your future developmental director should know how to plan your year around your organization’s cash flow and be able to secure unrestricted funds for full flexibility. We don’t want to depend on grants and events all the time.
✔️ Look for a proven track record. COVID-19 has taken a toll on nonprofits. See if your potential hire has experience in securing 50-75% of revenue from top donors.
✔️ Fix root problems to ensure success. Your director can’t work their best if the groundwork isn’t established, such as your donor fully knowing your need, what you do, and the problem you’re solving. Get rid of what’s blocking revenue generation.
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