Fundraising Growth Now!

Bob Swaney, RSC Founder and Chief Strategy Officer
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Fundraising Growth Now!

Fundraising conversations, advice, and best practices for arts and cultural organizations that want to strengthen donor relationships and raise more money. Learn how you can achieve Fundraising Growth Now!

  1. 3 DAYS AGO

    Giving Tuesday – Too Much Hype for Too Little Return?

    When Giving Tuesday rolls around each year, nonprofits of all kinds buzz with energy, hopeful for a big day of donations. Yet, for arts and cultural organizations, putting too much weight on Giving Tuesday can be fraught with potential pitfalls. In this episode, Bob outlines five reasons why relying heavily on Giving Tuesday could be more of a setback than a windfall, and then provides five alternative approaches that can create lasting support beyond just a single day.

    8 min

  2. OCT 27

    Obsessing Over Other People's Money

    We've all been in those Board meetings or had those conversations where someone drops a big name or points out a high-net-worth individual with the phrase, 'Wouldn’t it be great if we could just get them to give?' But chasing people who may have deep pockets but no real interest in the arts is most often a fool's errand, and it pulls us away from building lasting relationships with people who actually want them. Today, Bob will give you five reasons why this obsession isn't productive. Then, we'll flip the script to look at why we should focus on the people who are already passionate about your arts organization.

    9 min

  3. OCT 13

    Stop Making Fear-Based Fundraising Decisions

    Whether you’re a staff member or a Board volunteer, you know the pressure of asking for money. That pressure can manifest in hesitation, overthinking, and—let’s be honest—a lot of “what ifs” with things that almost never happen. Today, we’ll cover six common fear-based mistakes that fundraisers in the arts tend to make. Bob will also suggest some mindset shifts and practical alternatives to help you overcome those fears and take positive action.

    8 min

  4. SEP 15

    The Sacramento Philharmonic & Opera's Success Story

    In the past decade, the Sacramento Philharmonic & Opera has journeyed from near-insolvency to a sustainable fiscal and artistic future. Bob Swaney interviews the SP&O’s CEO, Giuliano Kornberg, along with Giuliano's longtime mentor, Paul Hogle, President & CEO of the Cleveland Institute of Music, to discuss the details of the incredible organizational success story, with a hint of what lies ahead.  Apologies for the slight technical issues encountered during the recording and editing of this episode.

    1h 9m

  5. AUG 25

    A Few Quotes to Irritate and Discourage

    In an earlier episode a few weeks ago, Bob shared a few of his favorite quotes. We all like funny, smart, creative sayings, the kind that remind us to be our best, do our best, and forge onward. But like with all things, there’s another side to this coin, and we frequently hear quotes that are limiting and, yes, irritating. This episode will highlight a few of those less-favored sayings—the ones we at RSC Associates tend to avoid using. You will no doubt agree that at least one of these sayings is designed to limit, not expand, creativity and productivity.

    23 min

  6. AUG 11

    Selling Your Story

    When developing the fundraising message, how do YOU promote your arts organization? What words do you use? What stories do you tell? Many staff, board, and artists have a tough time answering. Let’s touch on how to get better at telling your organizational story and selling it, too. At RSC Associates, we help clients build their messages balanced on Facts, Finances, and Feelings. The first two – facts and finances are fairly easy for anyone to pull together based on the information on hand. However, the “feelings” that can strongly influence a donor prospect can often be a ‘miss’ in the message. Without the ‘feelings’, the facts and finances fall flat. Facts and finances “Tell,” while Feelings “Sell.” This episode will help you find that sweet-spot in balancing your message.

    23 min

  7. JUL 28

    Excuses or Reality? Getting to the Heart of Donor Objections

    In this episode, we're tackling a topic that every fundraiser has faced at some point: excuses for not making a major philanthropic gift. We’ll review the top ten reasons we often hear and, more importantly, what arts organizations can do to be more persuasive. We’re also going to get honest about what those reasons might truly indicate yet remain unspoken by your donors.

    19 min

  8. JUL 14

    Adapting Fundraising Fundamentals to the Changing Arts Environment

    RSC’s fundraising coaching approach is geared toward time-tested best practices and fundamentals that arts and cultural organizations can rely on to grow their fundraising programs. However, we must always adapt best practices to present-day realities. This installment features RSC's CEO, Catherine Heitz New, who joins Bob Swaney in a lively discussion about adapting the fundamentals to a changing philanthropic environment.

    37 min
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About

Fundraising conversations, advice, and best practices for arts and cultural organizations that want to strengthen donor relationships and raise more money. Learn how you can achieve Fundraising Growth Now!

Information

  • Creator
    Bob Swaney, RSC Founder and Chief Strategy Officer
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2024
  • Episodes
    37
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Bob Swaney, RSC Founder and Chief Strategy Officer
  • Show Website
    Fundraising Growth Now!

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