The Influential Nonprofit Maryanne Dersch

After 15 years as an in-house fundraiser, Cindy started her business doing Fractional Fundraising. Today she teaches other fundraisers how to be their own boss by starting their own Fractional Fundraising business. She's also a consultant to nonprofit consultants, helping them shake off the “shoulds,” drop the scarcity hangover from the nonprofit sector, and abundance in entrepreneurship.



Key Takeaways:

The concept of fractional executives allows nonprofits to benefit from the strategic oversight and hands-on support of experienced fundraisers for a fraction of the time and cost.
it's important to note that hiring a fractional fundraiser is not a magic solution. It requires a long-term commitment and clear expectations from both parties to achieve the desired outcomes.
Shift your mindset from scarcity to abundance. By embracing innovative consulting models and hiring fractional experts, project-based workers, and specialists, organizations can optimize their in-house capacity and prevent staff burnout.
As fractional fundraising continues to gain traction, it's crucial for organizations to clarify the specifics when working with a fractional executive. By embracing this growing trend and walking through the discomfort of change, nonprofits can unlock the "secret option C" and achieve sustainable growth and success.



“How do we think differently about doing things in a way that allows our organizations to grow and flourish and achieve our missions without that scarcity or feeling like we have to self-sacrifice.”



“We are not magic.  The way I train fractional fundraisers and the way I talk to organizations about considering fractional executive support is it's not a short-term solution. It does not happen overnight, it takes a year minimum to start to see a return.”



“We're teaching them to fish, organizations need to know how to fish. But the unique thing about fractional executives is we're also kind of doing the fishing for them. Yeah, in the short to mid-term. Because sometimes the organization is literally starving and it takes time to learn how to fish.”

- Cindy Wagman



Reach out to Cindy Wagman at:

Website: https://www.fractionalfundraising.co/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cindywagman/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cindywagman.consulting/





Ask for and receive all you want need and deserve without feeling rejected, ineffective, or pushy. Learn to manage your mindset, lead yourself and others more effectively and have the meaningful conversations that drive your most important work.



Get your free starter kit today at www.theinfluentialnonprofit.com



Book your quickie intro call with Maryanne here!



Connect with Maryanne Dersch: https://www.courageouscommunication.com/connect

As the chief do-gooder and Founder of Get Fully Funded, Sandy has a calling to be your number-one cheerleader when it comes to funding your nonprofit.

For nearly 20 years, she has helped hundreds of small nonprofits go from “spaghetti-on-the-wall, nickel-and-dime” fundraising, to achieving 6 or 7-figure bottom-line results.

Using a proven process, Sandy shows students how to find ideal donors, and then connect and build genuine, long-term relationships. She guides you to figure out what to do next, with lots of ideas and practical tips along the way — so you know exactly how to get results, time and time again.

As your teacher and coach, Sandy is practical, warm, encouraging, approachable and sometimes, even a little goofy. “Fundraising doesn’t need to be a drag. I know how to make it fast, fun, and productive.”

When she’s not working, Sandy lives on a small farm in rural East Tennessee with 2 dogs, 6 cats, 2 horses, and the occasional miniature donkey fosters. She also volunteers for Project Linus, making quilts for kids in need.



Key Takeaways:

Focus less on donations and more on building long-lasting donor relationships. Treat donors like friends as opposed to sources of money, and build authentic and genuine relationships with them. When you put people first, the money will follow.
Utilize the power of storytelling to build donor relationships. Everything you create for the donor must come from a desire to give value and connect on a deeper, more emotional level.
You don’t have to try to change people’s minds. Be authentic and connect with like-minded people. Engage supporters with vulnerability and honesty, share true stories, discuss real problems, and ask for advice from them. All of these will lead to increased support.
Your ability to listen enhances your ability to be a good storyteller. Listen to your people with an open mind and an open heart. Show interest, and display curiosity for their lives. See them as people and know them.



“Donors are not a scary group of people. They are people who care about the work the organization is doing. And when you treat them like friends and not checkbooks or ATMs, magic happens.”



“Relationships are built on trust, then one of the most important things that any fundraiser can do is to be purposeful about building trust with donors.”



“How do you build relationships that stand the test of time? A real good way to do it is to truly be interested in donors for who they are, not just the money they can give.”

- Sandy Rees



Reach out to Sandy Rees at:

Website: https://getfullyfunded.com/





Ask for and receive all you want need and deserve without feeling rejected, ineffective, or pushy. Learn to manage your mindset, lead yourself and others more effectively and have the meaningful conversations that drive your most important work.



Get your free starter kit today at www.theinfluentialnonprofit.com



Book your quickie intro call with Maryanne here!



Connect with Maryanne Dersch: https://www.courageouscommunication.com/connect

Anne Murphy, the founder of Empowered Fundraiser Consulting, has over 25 years of experience in higher education and nonprofit advancement. Having successfully led campaigns and raised hundreds of millions of dollars, Anne not only brings her extensive expertise but also a skilled team of subject matter experts specialized in digital marketing, event planning, database conversions, board development, and more.



Key Takeaways:

AI levels the playing field. For example, there are a lot of leaders who are great at helping people grow and influencing them to achieve each one’s goals. However, not every leader is a great writer, and with AI, we can remove that limitation.
AI has a lot of features that are not commonly explored. It’s not only used for writing assistance, it can also be used for assistance with wardrobe choices, event planning, fundraising, and data analysis which can help make decisions in real time.
Don’t depend on AI for everything. Rather, treat AI as a strategist or a super smart intern, generating ideas and bouncing off of them for feedback. Think of ChatGPT as a co-pilot that assists with decision-making and idea creation. Learn to use ChatGPT for specific tasks that will greatly benefit your workflow.
Using AI to its greatest potential requires patience. Through trial and error, spend some time with AI and play around with its features until you get the result that you want.



“AI amplifies our humanity. It allows us to expand into our zone of genius and spend more time doing the things that only we can do.”



“Creating content is what people kind of think of first, but for me, the bigger level up has been using AI as a strategist, as a super smart intern. When I'm working through ideas, and options and strategies, I now have somebody right in my pocket to run these ideas by, not judging me.”



“Start playing. Remember Malcolm Gladwell said you have to do something for 10,000 hours before you're good at it. [Spend] 10 hours of just playing, learning, trying things. Don't quit before 10 hours. At that point, you will be better than 99.5% of people.”

- Anne Murphy



Reach out to Anne Murphy at:

Website: https://empoweredfundraiser.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anne-murphy-philanthropy/





Ask for and receive all you want need and deserve without feeling rejected, ineffective, or pushy. Learn to manage your mindset, lead yourself and others more effectively and have the meaningful conversations that drive your most important work.



Get your free starter kit today at www.theinfluentialnonprofit.com



Book your quickie intro call with Maryanne here!



Connect with Maryanne Dersch: https://www.courageouscommunication.com/connect

Key Takeaways:

Go through a seamless process with the donor, don’t go from unaware to action. Create a replicable, consistent donor experience through these stages of relationship building: awareness, interest, connection, and action.
Build relationships with donors through direct communication, creating content that provides value to others, rather than simply bragging about one's own accomplishments. Identify your areas of expertise and share them with others in a way that is informative, entertaining, or emotionally resonant.
Personalized invitations create deeper connections with potential donors and so does creating trust through smooth processes and acting in donors' best interests. Be a value to others in every interaction.
Set up nurture sequences before and after events in order to engage attendees. Connect with the attendees and understand their needs, build relationships with them by reaching out and listening to their values and interests. Don’t neglect follow-up.



“A lot of times what I see is people go from unaware to action. We have to create an experience. It's like courting or dating where you're enrolling someone slowly. And you're allowing them to move through this experience at their own pace.”



“They have to know you to like you, like you to love you or trust you enough to give, to act.”



“What gets smiles on screens and souls on seats is a personal invitation.”

- Maryanne Dersch





Ask for and receive all you want need and deserve without feeling rejected, ineffective, or pushy. Learn to manage your mindset, lead yourself and others more effectively and have the meaningful conversations that drive your most important work.



Get your free starter kit today at www.theinfluentialnonprofit.com



Book your quickie intro call with Maryanne here!



Connect with Maryanne Dersch: https://www.courageouscommunication.com/connect

Key Takeaways:

Mindset shifts cannot be achieved through strategy or training alone; coaching is necessary to remove barriers, create self-awareness, and build empathy. Staying sovereign means being in control of your own thoughts and actions, regardless of the outcome of your fundraising efforts.
Coaching can help in these four ways: First, it will help you get out of your own way or shift your mindset so that you can get rid of your barriers. Second, you will be able to create more self-awareness and learn to practice neutrality. Third, build empathy for others around you and stay sovereign.
Group coaching is very powerful! It is a great way to connect with other leaders and fundraisers, helping you see that you are not alone in your problems. It is also a great avenue for you to share your magic; giving, receiving, and exchanging wisdom with others just like you.
Start with a clear intention, don’t abdicate your success, be patient, hold accountability to yourself and others, and stay sovereign.



“Our world, our bodies, we're looking for balance. Fundraising training and fundraising coaching are two different things that can create that balance.”



“Be mindful of what your intention is and what you need to accomplish that. Strategy will not shift the mindset, training will not shift your thinking. What shifts your mindset is coaching.”



“No one can be more committed to your outcomes than you.”

- Maryanne Dersch





Ask for and receive all you want need and deserve without feeling rejected, ineffective, or pushy. Learn to manage your mindset, lead yourself and others more effectively and have the meaningful conversations that drive your most important work.



Get your free starter kit today at www.theinfluentialnonprofit.com



Book your quickie intro call with Maryanne here!



Connect with Maryanne Dersch: https://www.courageouscommunication.com/connect

As the VP of Community Engagement, Bethany Natoli is one of the driving forces behind Mightycause, an all-in-one nonprofit fundraising platform. With over 10 years of experience in the nonprofit sector and a passion for utilizing technology for social good, Bethany has helped countless organizations and campaigns enhance their fundraising efforts and streamline donation processes.



Key Takeaways:

Peer-to-peer fundraising is a powerful tool for garnering support for mission-driven organizations. Storytelling and building meaningful connections is the key to creating successful peer-to-peer campaigns.
Organizations that utilize the power of peer-to-peer fundraising should also apply the same strategies and tools that they teach others to use.
Peer-to-peer fundraising requires careful strategy to retain donors and fundraisers year after year. Building strong relationships and demonstrating the value of the organization's mission are crucial for long-term success.
To create a successful peer-to-peer fundraising campaign, nonprofits should focus on organizing committed campaigns, selecting the right fundraisers, and providing volunteers with easy-to-use templates, sample emails, and clear language about the organization's mission.



“Peer-to-peer fundraising is about activating individuals or groups that aren't the fundraising staff at your nonprofit to get the word out about your cause to fundraise on your behalf.”



“You may not retain all (donors) because of the way that they're coming in. But I think with with the concentrated focus on what does that post campaign stewardship looks like. Try and develop a relationship directly with that one removed donor, I think you have a lot more likelihood.”



“The way that I tried to reframe it for myself then and the way that I think about it now is like - you're not asking, you're presenting an opportunity to someone.”

- Bethany Natoli



Reach out to Bethany Natoli at:

Website: www.mightycause.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mightyapp/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/mightycause

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mightycause/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Mightycause/





Ask for and receive all you want need and deserve without feeling rejected, ineffective, or pushy. Learn to manage your mindset, lead yourself and others more effectively and have the meaningful conversations that drive your most important work.



Get your free starter kit today at www.theinfluentialnonprofit.com



Book your quickie intro call with Maryanne here!



Connect with Maryanne Dersch: https://www.courageouscommunication.com/connect