188. Donor Engagement Kindergarten Style: Play Nicely in the Sandbox- Jonathan McCoy and CFRE, Becky Endicott, CFRE

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Overview

We've been hearing great feedback from our new Friday series, Donor Engagement: Kindergarten Style. This week we dive into what we can learn from Playing Nicely in the Sandbox. Development is a team sport. Internal relationships are vital to your success, and external relationships can be creatively advantageous too (seriously, we're sharing some awesome examples!)🎉 We're bringing principles, case study examples, and Pro Tips of how to infuse this into your culture.

We have seen this play out very interestingly throughout our careers in nonprofit. Development is a team sport. Internal and external relationships are vital to your mission.
— Becky Endicott, CFRE, Co-Founder and Chief Storyteller, We Are For Good

Episode Transcript

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Episode Overview

  • Playing nicely in the sandbox (1:30)

  • Principle: Playing nicely in the sandbox… applied (2:30)

  • Benefits of this principle (8:00)

  • Case studies: where we’ve seen this applied (10:30)

  • Pro tips (18:00)

Powerful quotes

“We have seen this play out very interestingly throughout our careers in nonprofit. Development is a team sport. Internal and external relationships are vital to your mission.” -Becky

“People are looking for purpose. People are aligning more with their values.” -Jon

“Celebrate your wins together. We are in such a grind in nonprofit. There are so many tasks, and sometimes it is hard to create a pause.” -Becky

“There is a lot of hands that goes into the work that we do. We have to create pauses to celebrate wins together.” -Becky

“It can be crippling to nonprofits when it is about the leadership of the organization. It has to clearly be about the “why”.” -Jon

"If you are subscribed to this, you have to be bought in that everyone gets to be a part of the celebration.” -Jon

“Don’t just look one dimensionally at relationships. Take a step further.” -Jon

“I feel like there is a moment happening. Everyone is subscribed to bigger ideas right now. We are really trying to do big things and move together as an industry. We think that time is now.” -Jon

“It is so powerful to share. If you see something that is working, share it.” -Jon

“Prioritize well-being and love each other well.” -Becky

“Figure out the things that really matter, and become more flexible with the other things.” -Jon

“We have to lean into flexible options. If you’re doing the work and you’re getting in done, you have to be flexible.” -Jon

“We are in the human business. We can’t just know our donors well, we have to know our friends and colleagues well.” -Becky

“There is so much power in being in the loop. Make everyone feel a part of the team and seen.” -Jon

“Just imagine what can happen in this sandbox. Invite everyone in, everyone is welcome, and there is no ego. Imagine what is possible.” -Jon

Principle: Play Well in the Sandbox... Applied 👇

  • Keys to foster partnerships - clear communication, shared expectations and shared goals among teams

  • Establish and rally around shared values and norms for teams

  • Celebrate wins together

  • Remove your ego. Be clear on the “why” and be agnostic about “how” to get there.

Benefits of this principle 👇

  • Greater efficiency

  • Ability to have a larger social impact 

  • Working smarter not harder

  • Everyone has an integral part in celebrating the win

case studies - where we’ve seen this work! 🥳

107. Collective Giving and the Power of Giving Circles - Kyson Bunthuwong

133. The 3 Step Formula to Creating Lasting Social Change - Taneshia Nash Laird

14. How Feeding Tampa Bay Acquired 15,000 Donors During Covid-19


48. COVID-19 Response Story: How a Group of Restaurateurs Raised & Gifted $4M for Their Frontline Workers - Kathryn Lott and Lindsey Brown

81. Escaping the Rwandan Genocide to Bring Hope + Healing Worldwide - Alphonsine Anderson and Devin Hood

PRO Tips 🎉

  • Share what’s working

  • Prioritize well-being and caring for each other first. Healthy, safe workspaces breed greater collaboration & harmony in the office.

  • Relax stringent deadlines and get comfortable with being more flexible

  • Celebrate together! Birthdays, big team wins, new integrations, etc. 

    • Bring in external partners to these celebrations.

  • Taking internal communication global through WhatsApp

    • Frontline team shares impact, stories, questions and updates from the field.

    • U.S. -based team shares timely updates with donors in real-time

    • Celebrate as a global team the collective impact!

  • Publicize and publicly celebrate your successes with your team. Marketing and ripples grow more quickly and authentically in community. 

FREE Workshop! Write less and engage more, today!

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Development is a Team Sport
Play Nice in the Sandbox Applied, We Are For Good Podcast
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189. The Playbook for Building a Marquee Culture Within Your Organization - Mark Miller and Ted Vaughn

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187. Humility-Based Leadership Unlocking a Global Impact - Lola Adedokun