In this special live episode of the Classy Podcast, we sat down with Tyler Riewer, brand content lead at charity: water, and Audrey Milicevic, annual giving manager at Blood:Water, to discuss their top tips on how to build successful recurring giving programs. Listen in to hear their most effective acquisition strategies on different channels, the language and communication tactics that work best to get donor buy-in, and how their teams plan to grow their programs.

In this special live episode of the Classy Podcast, we sat down with Tyler Riewer, brand content lead at charity: water, and Audrey Milicevic, annual giving manager at Blood:Water, to discuss their top tips on how to build successful recurring giving programs.   Listen in to hear their most effective acquisition strategies on different channels, the language and communication tactics that work best to get donor buy-in, and how their teams plan to grow their programs.

Charity: Water and Blood:Water on Recurring Giving Strategies

The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, also known as JDC, has been serving their constituents for over a century, and they are continuing to evolve with their donor base and improve the way they interact with supporters. That requires a keen understanding of who their donors are. Andres Jimenez, senior director of marketing, shares how they leverage donor segmentation, collect the right "clusters" of donor data, and execute communication strategies that keep supporters coming back.

How JDC Tracks Donor Data to Identify Giving Trends

With nearly 500 recurring donors and a median recurring gift size of $79, the Miracle Foundation is a standout leader when it comes to monthly giving. In this episode, project manager Anna Marr and systems manager Kat Jones walk us through their main acquisition and retention strategies, the platforms they leverage, and their communications tactics that keep monthly donors in the fold.  

With nearly 500 recurring donors and a median recurring gift size of $79, the Miracle Foundation is a standout leader when it comes to monthly giving. In this episode, project manager Anna Marr and systems manager Kat Jones walk us through their main acquisition and retention strategies, the platforms they leverage, and their communications tactics that keep monthly donors in the fold.

How Miracle Foundation Grows Its Recurring Giving Program  

Feed My Starving Children considers their volunteer activities as their greatest donor acquisition model. In 2005, when Andy Carr Feed My Starving Children as VP of Development and Marketing, the organization was packaging around 18 million meals every year for their community. Since then, he’s helped the organization scale their impact to package 365 million meals every year. Learn how he engages new volunteers, retains them from event to event, and converts them into donors. 

Feed My Starving Children considers their volunteer activities as their greatest donor acquisition model. In 2005, when Andy Carr Feed My Starving Children as VP of Development and Marketing, the organization was packaging around 18 million meals every year for their community. Since then, he’s helped the organization scale their impact to package 365 million meals every year. Learn how he engages new volunteers, retains them from event to event, and converts them into donors.

How Feed My Starving Children Retains and Converts Volunteers

Tracee Henneke had over 12 years of nonprofit experience when she came on as annual giving manager at Mobile Loaves &amp; Fishes. She shares insights on how to grow a recurring giving program, including tips on how to convert volunteers into monthly donors, test and track the success of appeals, and provide every possible option to give routinely. 

Tracee Henneke had over 12 years of nonprofit experience when she came on as annual giving manager at Mobile Loaves &amp; Fishes. She shares insights on how to grow a recurring giving program, including tips on how to convert volunteers into monthly donors, test and track the success of appeals, and provide every possible option to give routinely.

How Mobile Loaves & Fishes Converts Volunteers Into Recurring Donors

Michael Prodor, Classy's technical engagement manager, shares the unique insights he’s gained from helping nonprofits implement fundraising software and solve business problems with technology. Learn how technology helps nonprofits grow and scale, the mistakes you might be making with your current tech stack, why you need to lean into conversations with technical-minded people to solve business problems, and more. 

Michael Prodor, Classy's technical engagement manager, shares the unique insights he’s gained from helping nonprofits implement fundraising software and solve business problems with technology. Learn how technology helps nonprofits grow and scale, the mistakes you might be making with your current tech stack, why you need to lean into conversations with technical-minded people to solve business problems, and more.

Bridging the Gap Between Nonprofit Business and Technology

As the director of interactive solutions in the fundraising office at Massachusetts General Hospital, Noam oversees the organization’s marketing communication stack, peer-to-peer solution, and marketing automation solution. He works with the data team and various IT stakeholders to streamline all of these components, optimizing their content production and creating a phenomenal user experience that influences donor behavior.  Tune in and learn how to solve for the user’s experience so they get the best-in-class online experience that they expect, why WordPress has been a great open-source technology for their team, how they’ve leveraged APIs to architect custom integrations and scale up their marketing, and more.

As the director of interactive solutions in the fundraising office at Massachusetts General Hospital, Noam oversees the organization’s marketing communication stack, peer-to-peer solution, and marketing automation solution. He works with the data team and various IT stakeholders to streamline all of these components, optimizing their content production and creating a phenomenal user experience that influences donor behavior.    Tune in and learn how to solve for the user’s experience so they get the best-in-class online experience that they expect, why WordPress has been a great open-source technology for their team, how they’ve leveraged APIs to architect custom integrations and scale up their marketing, and more.

Massachusetts General Hospital on Creating a Phenomenal User Experience

Joe Kraynak shares how an organization that’s over 90 years old is holding its own in the online fundraising space. Tune in as he shares how to use technology in order to streamline business and the back-end, how he relates consolidated donor data to social media platforms, how Shriners Hospitals for Children are evolving their fundraising model and growing their network with peer-to-peer fundraising, and more. 

Joe Kraynak shares how an organization that’s over 90 years old is holding its own in the online fundraising space. Tune in as he shares how to use technology in order to streamline business and the back-end, how he relates consolidated donor data to social media platforms, how Shriners Hospitals for Children are evolving their fundraising model and growing their network with peer-to-peer fundraising, and more.

Data Tips From the Director of Development, Information Systems at Shriners Hospitals for Children

As the director of data quality and technology at Teach For America (TFA), Queen Golder identifies the technology needs of 53 regions across the country and enhances the user experience for their regional and national fundraising base. Working as a bridge between the development department and IT, she identifies the solutions that their users crave, and then translates these needs to IT to execute on them. Tune into this episode and learn how she does it—as well as how she trains users and measures adoption of those systems.

How Teach For America’s Director of Data Quality and Technology Bridges IT and Development

As CIO and CTO of Team Rubicon, Raj is spearheading a digital transformation that builds a strong technology framework for the organization. In this episode, he shares how he's preparing the groundwork and implementing the change management process that will help Team Rubicon scale. You'll also learn why Raj focuses on collaborative partnership models for his tech and IT teams, his beliefs on the future of the API, the only way you can set yourself to make data-driven decisions into the future, and more.  This episode is brought to you by Qlik.

As CIO and CTO of Team Rubicon, Raj is spearheading a digital transformation that builds a strong technology framework for the organization. In this episode, he shares how he's preparing the groundwork and implementing the change management process that will help Team Rubicon scale. You'll also learn why Raj focuses on collaborative partnership models for his tech and IT teams, his beliefs on the future of the API, the only way you can set yourself to make data-driven decisions into the future, and more.    This episode is brought to you by <a href="https://www.qlik.com/us/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Qlik</a>.

How Team Rubicon's CIO Is Spearheading a Digital Transformation

The Classy Podcast tells the stories of today's leading founders and executives in the social sector. Each week, we unlock their founding stories and share them with you to inspire the next generation that is mobilized to drive change. Visit classy.org/podcast or classy.org.

I have enjoyed every interview on the Classy podcast. I have been working on lauching a nonprofit called 3DP4ME. The content on the Classy podcast has been inspiring and extremely helpful in my journey. I appreciate the Classy marketing team for doing such an excellent job!

Thankful!

Listened to my first Classy podcast this morning and it was awesome!  Can&#39;t wait for more.

Excited for more

The Classy Podcast tells the stories of today's leading founders and executives in the social sector. Each week, we unlock their founding stories and share them with you to inspire the next generation that is mobilized to drive change. Visit <a href="http://classy.org/podcast" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">classy.org/podcast</a> or <a href="http://classy.org" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">classy.org</a>.

The Classy Podcast

Lauren Bush Lauren

You’ve likely seen or even own Lauren Bush Lauren’s most popular product: a burlap tote that was inspired by the bags of food rations she saw being delivered by the World Food Programme in 2007. Nearly a decade later Lauren has inspired a movement of artisans and buyers and has established FEED as a leader within the intersection of business and social impact. In this episode, the FEED Founder &amp; CEO speaks openly about her early days founding the social business and the challenges and milestones that have carved her path since. She also reveals her hacks on finding balance in a busy world, where she finds inspiration, and mentors that have shaped her and FEED's trajectory.

You’ve likely seen or even own Lauren Bush Lauren’s most popular product: a burlap tote that was inspired by the bags of food rations she saw being delivered by the World Food Programme in 2007. Nearly a decade later Lauren has inspired a movement of artisans and buyers and has established FEED as a leader within the intersection of business and social impact. In this episode, the FEED Founder &amp; CEO speaks openly about her early days founding the social business and the challenges and milestones that have carved her path since. She also reveals her hacks on finding balance in a busy world, where she finds inspiration, and mentors that have shaped her and FEED's trajectory.

Lauren Bush Lauren, FEED | Approaching Business With Head and Heart

In this episode, former COO of charity: water Rod Arnold discusses their emergence as a premier nonprofit brand and his years of experience as a nonprofit consultant. Tune in to discover what led to their success, how to leverage inbound marketing to capture target audiences, and Rod’s expert advice for tackling growth as a nonprofit organization. 

In this episode, former COO of charity: water Rod Arnold discusses their emergence as a premier nonprofit brand and his years of experience as a nonprofit consultant. Tune in to discover what led to their success, how to leverage inbound marketing to capture target audiences, and Rod’s expert advice for tackling growth as a nonprofit organization.

Former COO of charity: water Shares His Keys to Growth 

Katie Meyler and Emily Bell of More Than Me, an organization that provides education to the most vulnerable girls in the capital of Liberia, join us in this episode of the Classy Podcast. Soon after More Than Me opened their academy for girls, the Ebola crisis erupted and schools were shut down. More Than Me turned their academy into an Ebola outreach center working alongside the community on the frontlines. Katie, the founder &amp; CEO, was recently recognized by Time Magazine as the person of the year for fighting Ebola, and Emily, the marketing and development manager, has been quoted in Forbes, Mashable, and PBS News Hour, among others.

Katie Meyler and Emily Bell of More Than Me, an organization that provides education to the most vulnerable girls in the capital of Liberia, join us in this episode of the Classy Podcast. Soon after More Than Me opened their academy for girls, the Ebola crisis erupted and schools were shut down. More Than Me turned their academy into an Ebola outreach center working alongside the community on the frontlines. Katie, the founder &amp; CEO, was recently recognized by Time Magazine as the person of the year for fighting Ebola, and Emily, the marketing and development manager, has been quoted in Forbes, Mashable, and PBS News Hour, among others.

The Beginning of a Movement with More Than Me's Founder & CEO

Why does fundraising have to be so hard? It’s a question that guided Scot Chisholm as he transitioned Classy from a neighborhood fundraising event into a leading SaaS company in San Diego. Learn about his serendipitous journey from pizza parlor to CEO, how he handled challenges building an organization from scratch, how the for-profit and nonprofit worlds can work together, and how to create a work environment that drives professional and personal growth for employees.

Why does fundraising have to be so hard? It’s a question that guided Scot Chisholm as he transitioned Classy from a neighborhood fundraising event into a leading SaaS company in San Diego. Learn about his serendipitous journey from pizza parlor to CEO, how he handled challenges building an organization from scratch, how the for-profit and nonprofit worlds can work together, and how to create a work environment that drives professional and personal growth for employees.

How Classy's CEO Built a Top Fundraising Platform for the Social Sector

Honor

In this episode, the CEO and founder of The Honor Foundation discusses the unconventional mindsets and practices that grew the organization’s online revenue by 191 percent in one year. Tune in to discover how to stay close to your mission through growth, overcome challenges unique to founders, and hire the right team to take you to the next level.

In this episode, the CEO and founder of The Honor Foundation discusses the unconventional mindsets and practices that grew the organization’s online revenue by 191 percent in one year. Tune in to discover how to stay close to your mission through growth, overcome challenges unique to founders, and hire the right team to take you to the next level.

How The Honor Foundation's CEO Maintains a Growth Mindset 

In early 2016, Cindy Jones-Nyland stepped down as CMO of Heifer International, citing in a recent blog that “intuition spoke very clearly about needing to allow more time and space for other things I am passionate about, and for spending more moments with my family.” This trust in her own judgment and courage to take new steps are exactly what define Cindy as a leader. Her advice on authenticity in leadership and using intuition to make important life and career decisions, as well as her healthy opposition to the work/life balance debate, will leave you feeling renewed and rejuvenated in your own position. Not to mention, she shares a behind-the-scenes take from her experience running the marketing team of one of the largest, most trusted nonprofits in the world.

In early 2016, Cindy Jones-Nyland stepped down as CMO of Heifer International, citing in a recent blog that “intuition spoke very clearly about needing to allow more time and space for other things I am passionate about, and for spending more moments with my family.” This trust in her own judgment and courage to take new steps are exactly what define Cindy as a leader. Her advice on authenticity in leadership and using intuition to make important life and career decisions, as well as her healthy opposition to the work/life balance debate, will leave you feeling renewed and rejuvenated in your own position. Not to mention, she shares a behind-the-scenes take from her experience running the marketing team of one of the largest, most trusted nonprofits in the world.

Cindy Jones-Nyland, Heifer International | Leading With Intuition

In this episode, Shannon McCracken, chief development officer at Charity Navigator, discusses how the roles of the fundraiser and marketer have transformed over the past two decades, and how the modern donor expects to be engaged. Learn how connected data creates stellar donor experiences, Shannon's tips for nonprofits whose impact can be difficult to explain, how experiments impact their fundraising success, and more. 

In this episode, Shannon McCracken, chief development officer at Charity Navigator, discusses how the roles of the fundraiser and marketer have transformed over the past two decades, and how the modern donor expects to be engaged. Learn how connected data creates stellar donor experiences, Shannon's tips for nonprofits whose impact can be difficult to explain, how experiments impact their fundraising success, and more.

Charity Navigator's Chief Development Officer on Modern Donor Expectations

Susan G. Komen

Christina Alford had over a decade of nonprofit experience when she came on as senior VP of development at Susan G. Komen. She shares a few of the lessons she’s learned along her journey, including why diversified revenue is key to successfully forecast and innovate, how to prioritize tasks in a resource-constrained environment, anecdotes about a major rebranding initiative, and more.

Christina Alford had over a decade of nonprofit experience when she came on as senior VP of development at Susan G. Komen. She shares a few of the lessons she’s learned along her journey, including why diversified revenue is key to successfully forecast and innovate, how to prioritize tasks in a resource-constrained environment, anecdotes about a major rebranding initiative, and more.

How Susan G. Komen’s SVP of Development Gets People to Invest in Possibility

Before joining Heifer International, Linda Rogers oversaw the corporate social responsibility arms at two companies you might have heard of: Disney and Coca-Cola. When it comes to corporate partnerships, she’s a seasoned expert that has sat on both sides of the fence—and she’s using her wealth of knowledge to engage influencers. Learn how to identify a strong partner and steward them from start to finish, create ambassadors of your brand, conduct change management, and more.

Before joining Heifer International, Linda Rogers oversaw the corporate social responsibility arms at two companies you might have heard of: Disney and Coca-Cola. When it comes to corporate partnerships, she’s a seasoned expert that has sat on both sides of the fence—and she’s using her wealth of knowledge to engage influencers. Learn how to identify a strong partner and steward them from start to finish, create ambassadors of your brand, conduct change management, and more.

How Heifer International’s Director of Influencer Marketing and Brand Partnerships Activates Power Players

Jacob Lief

Jacob Lief was only 21-years-old when he first visited the townships of Port Elizabeth, South Africa. It was 1998 and the country was transitioning out of apartheid. With a college degree in his back pocket, Jacob cultivated a team of other inspired individuals and together they founded Ubuntu Education Fund with the hope of giving Port Elizabeth’s youth a more promising future. Jacob’s founding story is one of grit, perseverance, and personal development. His journey of growing Ubuntu into a world-renowned leader in education is marked with many monumental challenges and milestones—including a pivot that completely changed the organization’s funding model, seven years into its operations. Today, Jacob is a celebrated thought leader with a contagious vision for a better philanthropic sector—one that allows nonprofits to dream big and execute beyond the traditional walls of restricted funding and antiquated benchmarks of success. In this episode, Jacob shares: What it was like to turn down seven-figure funding from USAID Key facets of the Ubuntu internal culture and how that culture has kept his core executive team together for 13 years His personal growth as a CEO Why he thinks culture is the most dangerous word in English dictionary The mentor who pushed him to take care of himself first

Jacob Lief was only 21-years-old when he first visited the townships of Port Elizabeth, South Africa. It was 1998 and the country was transitioning out of apartheid. With a college degree in his back pocket, Jacob cultivated a team of other inspired individuals and together they founded Ubuntu Education Fund with the hope of giving Port Elizabeth’s youth a more promising future. Jacob’s founding story is one of grit, perseverance, and personal development. His journey of growing Ubuntu into a world-renowned leader in education is marked with many monumental challenges and milestones—including a pivot that completely changed the organization’s funding model, seven years into its operations. Today, Jacob is a celebrated thought leader with a contagious vision for a better philanthropic sector—one that allows nonprofits to dream big and execute beyond the traditional walls of restricted funding and antiquated benchmarks of success. In this episode, Jacob shares: <ul><li>What it was like to turn down seven-figure funding from USAID</li> <li>Key facets of the Ubuntu internal culture and how that culture has kept his core executive team together for 13 years</li> <li>His personal growth as a CEO</li> <li>Why he thinks culture is the most dangerous word in English dictionary</li> <li>The mentor who pushed him to take care of himself first</li></ul>

The Visionary Who’s Redefining Philanthropy | Jacob Lief, CEO, Ubuntu

In this episode, we sit down with the senior vice president of development services at PBS Betsy Gerdeman to learn from her 20 years in public television. Hear her expert insights on managing a large network of affiliates, adapting to an ever-changing sector, and balancing suppor for hundreds of chapters that each have their unique challenges. You’ll see why Betsy believes a core message doesn’t change, only the way it’s articulated. 

In this episode, we sit down with the senior vice president of development services at PBS Betsy Gerdeman to learn from her 20 years in public television. Hear her expert insights on managing a large network of affiliates, adapting to an ever-changing sector, and balancing suppor for hundreds of chapters that each have their unique challenges. You’ll see why Betsy believes a core message doesn’t change, only the way it’s articulated.

How PBS’ SVP of Development Services Engages New Generations of Donors

Leah Gilliam

If you had to describe Leah Gilliam—the VP of education, strategy, and innovation at Girls Who Code—in three words, “always be learning” would be the most appropriate. Early influences (like her mom, who covered the Civil Rights Movement as the first black female journalist at The Washington Post) and experiences (growing up in D.C. and watching marches on the White House) has nurtured Leah into a life-long learner who leads through empathy.

If you had to describe Leah Gilliam—the VP of education, strategy, and innovation at Girls Who Code—in three words, “always be learning” would be the most appropriate. Early influences (like her mom, who covered the Civil Rights Movement as the first black female journalist at The Washington Post) and experiences (growing up in D.C. and watching marches on the White House) has nurtured Leah into a life-long learner who leads through empathy.

Leah Gilliam, Girls Who Code | Leading the Way for Women in Tech

Dirk Van Velzen

Few people can say they spent nearly 20 years in prison and then received President Obama’s Volunteer Service Award. Dirk Van Velzen, the founder and executive director of the Prison Scholar Fund (PSF), can. On this episode of the Classy Podcast, Dirk takes us on his journey through applying to and graduating from Penn State, starting the Prison Scholar Fund, and awarding scholarships to fellow inmates who wanted to pursue education—all during his incarceration. After his release in May 2015, Dirk spearheaded the infrastructure building and program delivery of the organization, continuing to apply his lessons learned from previous challenges.

Few people can say they spent nearly 20 years in prison and then received President Obama’s Volunteer Service Award. Dirk Van Velzen, the founder and executive director of the Prison Scholar Fund (PSF), can. On this episode of the Classy Podcast, Dirk takes us on his journey through applying to and graduating from Penn State, starting the Prison Scholar Fund, and awarding scholarships to fellow inmates who wanted to pursue education—all during his incarceration. After his release in May 2015, Dirk spearheaded the infrastructure building and program delivery of the organization, continuing to apply his lessons learned from previous challenges.

Dirk Van Velzen, Prison Scholar Fund | Thriving in the Face of Adversity

From selling cars for about a decade, to launching and running a couple publicly traded companies, to stepping into his current role as Executive Director of Integrated Marketing and feedONE at Convoy of Hope, Jeff Roman has cultivated a rich history of diverse leadership experience. Over the years, he’s honed a leadership style that has built and drives a nonprofit department rooted in excellence.

Convoy of Hope’s ED of Integrated Marketing Talks Excellence in Leadership

As the managing director of annual and major giving at Teach For America (TFA), Meghan Cressman is focused on expanding the organization’s individual giving from the national level. Learn how she supports 53 TFA regions—each with their unique philanthropic landscapes—to cultivate a culture of giving within their communities, especially among their alumni.  Get ready to learn how TFA motivates their alumni to contribute financially, how they leverage and activate their national and regional boards, how Meghan helps maintain consistent branding across 53 regional chapters, and more.

As the managing director of annual and major giving at Teach For America (TFA), Meghan Cressman is focused on expanding the organization’s individual giving from the national level. Learn how she supports 53 TFA regions—each with their unique philanthropic landscapes—to cultivate a culture of giving within their communities, especially among their alumni.    Get ready to learn how TFA motivates their alumni to contribute financially, how they leverage and activate their national and regional boards, how Meghan helps maintain consistent branding across 53 regional chapters, and more.

How Teach For America's Managing Director of Annual and Major Giving Engages Alumni

As the director of digital engagement at Oxfam America, Mason Weintraub shares how they built a digital team that thrives on a culture of collaboration, creativity, and empowerment. As a leader, they know that their team environment translates directly into the success of their digital efforts. You won’t be afraid to try bold, new ideas after listening to this episode.

As the director of digital engagement at Oxfam America, Mason Weintraub shares how they built a digital team that thrives on a culture of collaboration, creativity, and empowerment. As a leader, they know that their team environment translates directly into the success of their digital efforts. You won’t be afraid to try bold, new ideas after listening to this episode.

How Oxfam’s Digital Engagement Director Drives a Winning Team

Among her many responsibilities, Murphy Dunne spearheads the University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center’s online fundraising and runs one of their largest annual events, Race for Research 5K. Learn how she constantly upgrades the run/walk to increase participation, implements modern tools that drive success, and successfully engages communities year after year.

How the UW Carbone Cancer Center Grows Their Annual 5K 

The best podcasts about ourselves as well as the world through the lense of Science. Specific topics include things about our brain, emotions to biology, physics and more!

Best Episodes on Science, Humans & The World

The best episodes for anyone looking to learn more about topics such as happiness, fulfillment, depression and psychology/mental health in general. With interviews with industry experts, personal stories of individuals, this topic has lessons applicable to everyone. Add episodes you're interested into your queue below!