How to Turn Passion into Action with Susan Kramer | Ep. 18

On this episode of CRESCENDO, we interview Susan Kramer, an accomplished nonprofit development expert. We talk about overcoming fears, finding and amplifying one's authentic voice, and the importance of relationships and mentoring in building a successful entrepreneurial journey.

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Susan has served as Chief Development Officer at Allied Jewish Federation of Colorado, where she implemented an annual campaign producing $13M from 6.2K donors. She spent time as CEO at the Jewish Federation of Greater Dallas where she laid the groundwork for an entirely new fundraising approach geared to 21st century donors and built a Women’s philanthropy center from the ground up. She also served as the Director of External Relationships for Momentum, where she increased overall donation dollars $1.4M, led dozens of large-scale events in major cities, and facilitated a major initiative to ensure organizational compliance.

In addition to her executive leadership, she’s personally raised millions in gifts, launched a philanthropy education platform that empowers families to develop a giving strategy, and served on The Opus Prize jury that determined the recipient of a $1M grant.  Her well-known talent for mentoring young adults also resulted in her reconnection with Regis University as an adjunct professor in the Master of Non-Profit Development program.

Susan offers a teachable platform that prepares executives, boards, teams, and individuals to shift into a new paradigm of nonprofit development. This new model is proven to reinvigorate passion, engage stakeholders at every level, and catalyze a new relationship-based approach to donor development. Through educational programming, executive guidance, and on-the-ground support she partners with organizations to overcome common stumbling blocks, strengthen teams, and tap into new sources of funding.

Susan Kramer holds a Masters in Non-Profit Management from Regis University, a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, and is a certified Competent Toastmaster.

Connect with Susan:
Website: https://susankramerconsulting.com/ 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/susan.kramer.9 | https://www.facebook.com/SusanKramerConsulting 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kramersusan/ | https://www.linkedin.com/company/susan-kramer-consulting/

Registration is now open for my Revenue Roadmap workshop, an in-person event here in Modiin on December 11, where we’ll spend five hours together mapping out your personalized strategy and action plan for 2025.

If you’ve ever struggled to put strategy behind your to-do list or felt like you’re spinning your wheels, this workshop will be a game-changer. I guarantee you’ll walk away with clarity, focus, and a clear roadmap to achieve your goals in the new year. To get all the details and to register, head over to my website to sign up. I’d love to see you there!

https://relimpact.com/revenue-roadmap-2025

Follow Rachel and her work as a Business Mentor + Strategist at REL Impact:

www.relimpact.com

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

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

Episode Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Crescendo

01:11 Revenue Roadmap Workshop Announcement

02:15 Introducing Susan Kramer!

03:09 The Power of Connection

06:00 Susan's Journey from Hairdresser to Fundraiser

08:59 Making the Leap to Consultancy

12:55 Rachel's Process to Organize the Chaos

16:15 Overcoming Fear and Embracing Change

19:25 “You Are a Badass” Calendar

20:43 The Power of a Growth Mindset

21:10 House Dog vs. Street Dog Mentality

22:27 Identifying Your Unique Communication Style

24:14 Finding and Amplifying Your Voice in Business

25:36 Human-Centered Design in Fundraising

26:56 The Role of Data and Analytics

31:34 Empowering Others and Building a Team

37:01 One Tip for Women Striving to Honor Their Authentic Voice

EPISODE CREDITS:
Produced, edited and mixed by Pod2Go
Music from #Uppbeat by Infraction (Tropic of Life)
License code: SAZGVKPQTBNJEMWC