The P2P Soapbox TruStory FM

Long before nonprofit organizations had local offices and national program leads, peer-to-peer fundraising thrived through the dedication of volunteer leaders passionate about raising money for causes they loved. While volunteer management remains a critical strategy for the success of our events, it is often an elusive task for many organizations.
Identifying the right people, placing them in suitable roles, empowering them to make decision and holding them accountable can be challenging - and time-consuming. As a result, it's often tempting to handle the work ourselves. However, this approach limits our potential to expand our reach and influence within the community.
In the episode, P2PPF’s Marcie Maxwell is joined by Bryan Sherwood, Senior Director for Relay For Life  at the American Cancer Society  (ACS). Bryan will share his personal journey from local and national volunteer to national program lead. Together, they explore how the volunteer experience and volunteer expectations have evolved over the years, particularly in the post-pandemic era. Bryan also highlights the key qualities his team seeks when identifying new volunteer leaders.
Additionally, this episode covers:
Lessons learned from working volunteers across different generationsTips for training staff on critical volunteer management skillsThe role that volunteers can play in diversifying your P2P portfolioMentioned Links
American Cancer Society
Relay For Life
Instagram: @relayforlife

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(00:00) - Welcome to The P2P Soap Box
(01:52) - Introducing Bryan Sherwood
(05:49) - How has the volunteer experience evolved?
(07:49) - Exploring the National Volunteer Committee
(13:40) - Training Volunteers on the Ground
(16:44) - Learning Across Audiences
(20:32) - Diversification
(23:59) - Engaging Volunteers
(27:56) - Get Involved!

Those of us deeply entrenched in the world of peer-to-peer fundraising have long recognized that one of the greatest strengths of our events and campaigns lies within the sense of community and shared experiences we create for our supporters. However, in an increasingly data-driven environment, quantifying the return on investment (ROI) for cultivating these relationships and creating impactful mission moments can be challenging.
By examining the impact of P2P participation on a donor's lifetime value, we can begin to truly understand the long-term significance of our efforts and therefore make the case for even greater investment. By speaking a common language, we can break down the silos between peer-to-peer and individual giving teams and open our organizations up to even greater opportunity.
In the episode, P2PPF’s Marcie Maxwell sits down with Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s Kevin McMahon & Jon Thompson.   This dynamic team will dig into how looking at peer-to-peer fundraisers through the lens of lifetime value has shifted their overall philosophy and strategies behind their signature P2P events.  
In this episode, we’ll also explore:
How this fresh approach to data has changed their staffing, goals and budgetsThe tangible & intangible value of communityThe importance of humility in cross-functional partnerships
Mentioned Links
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia

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(00:00) - Welcome to The P2P Soap Box
(01:50) - Introducing Kevin McMahon and Jon Thompson
(06:02) - P2P at CHOP
(08:17) - Lifetime Value
(17:01) - The State of the Industry
(30:23) - The Future
(34:49) - Getting Started with Lifetime Value
(40:01) - Learn more and get involved!

Being a leader in the peer-to-peer world can feel like a whirlwind of demands. Stay relevant. Innovate. Stick to the fundamentals. Explore new revenue streams. Prioritize effectively. Cultivate meaningful relationships. It’s a lot to juggle and can leave even the most seasoned leader feeling a bit dizzy.
In the midst of this whirlwind, it’s crucial not to lose sight of our "why" - the reason we embarked on a career in the nonprofit sector in the first place and also why we  joined our respective organizations.
In this episode, P2PPF’s Marcie Maxwell is joined by Kim Slone, Executive Vice President for Development and Community Health of the American Heart Association, which was recently recognized as the 2024 Peer-to-Peer Professional Forum Organization Of The Year .  They delve into how this century-old organization remains relevant to today's volunteers and supporters, the importance of building relationships with internal colleagues & volunteers, and how all of this can be accomplished by staying true to your “why”.

In this episode, we’ll also explore:
Messaging strategies to engage a new generation of fundraisersThe delicate balance between revenue diversification and strategic focusThe importance of understanding your community’s motivation
Mentioned Links
American Heart Association
Heart Walk
Kids Heart Challenge
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(00:00) - Welcome to The P2P Soap Box
(01:01) - Introducing Kim Slone
(06:16) - How does the American Heart Association use P2P?
(08:29) - Staying Relevant over 100 Years
(16:34) - The Importance of Relationships
(20:34) - Growing from Where You Are
(24:36) - Get Involved

In the world of peer-to-peer fundraising, endurance events present a distinct set of challenges and opportunities. These events typically entail a much longer engagement window, offering both the chance to cultivate enduring relationships with participants and the hurdle of sustaining their involvement over an extended period of time.

For many participants, the commitment required—both physically and in fundraising—can be daunting, especially for first-timers. As nonprofits, it's easy to focus our communication solely on fundraising goals and our mission, but in doing so, we may overlook a crucial aspect: supporting the individual athlete in their personal journey.
In this episode, P2PPF’s Marcie Maxwell is joined by World Vision USA’s Lyndsey Deane Ratchford. They delve into the significance of crafting a fundraiser communication journey that revolves around the needs and motivations of their runners and discuss how these overarching concepts can translate into a comprehensive multi-channel messaging strategy.
In this episode, we’ll also explore:
- The value of creating custom messaging strategies for different demographic audiences
- The power of vulnerability & empathy in peer-to-peer relationships
- How to help your team prioritize participant-centric communication
Mentioned Links
Team World Vision
World Vision USA
World Vision International
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(00:00) - Welcome to The P2P Soap Box
(02:18) - Introducing Lindsey Deane Ratchford
(10:23) - About Team World Vision
(14:56) - A Focus on Messaging
(35:44) - Learn More

It seems obvious that peer-to-peer fundraising events would be designed with the organization's missions in mind.
 
However, amidst the critical logistics decisions, competing messaging priorities and the influence of multiple stakeholders, prioritizing a mission-centric approach can inadvertently take a back seat.

In this episode, Cure SMA’s Jesse Aynes & Kyle Houlihan join P2PPF’s Marcie Maxwell for a conversation on the importance of leading with a mission-first strategy. Kyle & Jesse will share how their team is expanding the Walk-n-Roll community by engaging direct mission providers and tell the story of how they launched a new on-site mission experience - and what they learned from it.

In this episode, we’ll also explore:
- The importance of a consistent branding & mission experience - and the distinction between the two
- How their program is evolving to meet the needs and share the stories of the SMA community
- The full-circle impact of the Walk-n-Roll program on Cure SMA’s mission

Mentioned Links
Cure SMA
Cure SMA Walk-n-Roll
On Social: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube & Twitter/X

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(00:00) - Welcome to The P2P Soap Box
(03:34) - Introducing Jesse & Kyle
(07:25) - About SMA
(10:40) - Igniting the community around the mission
(17:58) - The Care Center Network
(32:33) - Facing Better Problems
(37:35) - Learn More

At its core, peer-to-peer fundraising is built on relationship-building and community - it’s all about the people. And at the same time, the most successful fundraising campaigns are equally driven by the numbers.

With hundreds of events, thousands of participants and an extensive supporter base, even minor adjustments can have an exponential impact, meaning it is critical to understand your key performance indicators and build intentional strategies to both maintain and grow each one.

In the episode, P2PPF’s Marcie Maxwell is joined by Mary Sorensen & Morgan Sills of NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness).  Mary & Morgan will delve into how their team is drilling down into their data from the national program level to individual markets and even to individual teams and fundraisers to find their greatest areas of opportunity for NAMIWalks.

In this episode, we’ll also explore:
- How small changes can lead to exponential growth
- Using data to gain strategy buy-in
- How to customize communications based on data

Mentioned Links
NAMI
NAMIWalks
On Social: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn &Twitter/X

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