194. Donor Engagement Kindergarten Style: Share Equally - Jonathan McCoy and CFRE, Becky Endicott, CFRE
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Overview
We're diving back into another Friday series discussions, Donor Engagement: Kindergarten Style. This week we're discussing how to Share Equally. What happens when we democratize our good work, share frameworks, pass the microphone and share our seat at the table? Only the best things! 🎉 Tune in, we're bringing principles, case study examples and Pro Tips too.
“We feel like it is our responsibility to share what we are learning. If you care about changing the world, if you aren’t actively sharing to grow that ripple, that is such a missed opportunity. Each of us has something we can share, and it is up to you to do that.”
Episode Transcript
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Episode Overview
Sharing equally (1:30)
Principles of sharing equally (6:00)
Case studies - where this has worked! (12:00)
Pro tips - where to take action today! (19:00)
Powerful quotes
“We’re going to unpack this concept of looking at the principles of why sharing is important through all aspects of development.” -Jon
“We believe in the democratization of good work.” -Becky
“What happens when we learn lessons learned to fuel our great work?” -Becky
“We’re not saying that all these things are always bad or wrong, but it is worth the discussion to see what is blocking us from having the biggest movement possible.” -Jon
“Information is not the scarcity, it’s peoples’ attention.” -Jon
“A donor doesn’t belong to anybody. This is somebody that is connected to the organization. What would happen if donors’ learned the names of lots of people on our staff. It will create a richness within the fabric of our organization.” -Becky
“When a transformational gift comes in, development is a team sport. Acknowledge and spread the camaraderie and love through the whole team.” -Jon
“You’re trying to galvanize and grow believers. The best way to do that is to connect all the dots for them.” -Jon
“How can you use sharing at all levels to further deepen peoples’ belief, love, and passion for what you are doing?” -Jon
“When you pair authenticity with this radical transparency, you give your community a glimpse into the real you.” -Becky
“There is a lot to making a well oiled development machine. As you find success as a team, it is critical to share that. There is no competition in this.” -Jon
“If we don’t create a place where people feel safe to try new things, innovation will be impossible.” -Jon
“People think failure is this very heavy weight, but there is a concept around failing up. Create a culture where it is ok to fail, you will grow, iterate, and keep trying stuff.” -Becky
“Don’t try to control, just try to share it.” -Becky
“We feel like it is our responsibility to share what we are learning. If you care about changing the world, if you aren’t actively sharing to grow that ripple, that is such a missed opportunity. Each of us has something we can share, and it is up to you to do that.” -Jon
“There is such a superpower to not have ego and share openly.” -Jon
“Lift other voices at your organization. Share the microphone.” -Becky
“If you really are intent on sharing, you have to share the information you know about your donors.” -Jon
Theories to debunk about sharing in nonprofits
Hoarding good news for premier donors
Hoarding donors, the donor does not belong to anyone or a gift officer because they’re in your portfolio. Your blocking the organization’s ability to understand this donor’s heart for their mission
Frontline fundraisers get all the credit for gifts, but it’s really a team sport that should be shared.
Principles: Sharing equally... Applied 👇
Sharing knowledge and wins with your internal team
Share what you know. Are you bringing donors into the mission through communication + an insiders peek?
When authentic sharing is paired with radical transparency, you give your community a glimpse into the real, vulnerable You. And that’s when passion and hearts align to build radical community that rapidly gathers and expands for good.
Share processes that work. If you find success or a process that’s revolutionary - share it! There’s no competition in this.
Case studies - where we’ve seen this work! 🎉
Movember
Equipped their rabid fans with the resources, tools and assets needed to start, grow and launch crowdfunding efforts
They use a brand and voice style guide to empower but create consistency of brand and campaign tone
They developed a toolkit that is easily accessible
Listen now: 165. How Movember Grew a Worldwide Digital Community (+5 Million Moustaches Too!) - Katelynn Whitaker
Team Rubicon
Quarterly livestream event for monthly donors - The Support Squad - and hosted by CEO.
The theme is communicating the impact of unrestricted monthly gifts - showing how donors fuel immediate response and long-term recovery.
Volunteers do Q&A,
Communicate heavily via email and text. Text photos from the field. Multichannel touchpoints.
Sharing the story equally - Our volunteers are the ones who deliver/power our mission. “the gray shirts” - origin story,
DC Kitchen
Share what you know.
Share frameworks, share knowledge, share partnerships.
“So a lot of the work now I do is trying to help food programs work with their city councils or legislators to change their procurement policies. So that it's an even playing field because I think nonprofits again, if I'm a mayor of any town, and you told me there's a business in which they will only reinvest profit back in the city. I want to know who, what, where and when, because I want to do business with them.”
Listen now: 152. How Nonprofits Should Step Into an Activist Role - Robert Egger
Connect with Jon
Connect with Becky
PRO Tips 🎉
It is our responsibility to share what we are learning- if you are subscribed to the promise of our sector, the growing impact… share what you learn
re you bringing donors into the mission through communication + an insiders peek?
When authentic sharing is paired with radical transparency, you give your community a glimpse into the real, vulnerable You. And that’s when passion and hearts align to build radical community that rapidly gathers and expands for good.
Put your data in. Sharing what you know empowers others, keeps everyone speaking with one voice, and can stop others from “stepping in it.”
Share what you know! If you find success or a process that’s revolutionary - share it! There’s no competition in this.
Share the load with your volunteers and rabid fans. Their unique spin on their gratitude can provide another viewpoint on saying thanks and shares that gratitude is a family effort.
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FREE Workshop! Write less and engage more, today!
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