7-Figure Fundraising Podcast

7-Figure Fundraising
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Welcome to the 7-Figure Fundraising Podcast hosted by Trevor Bragdon. Each episode features a successful nonprofit leader who explains a fundraising strategy or tactic to increase your impact and rapidly grow your organization.

  1. 04/03/2025

    How To Answer Tough Questions Confidently

    What do you do when you're hit with a tough question—one you didn’t expect and don’t have a polished answer ready for? Whether it’s a curveball in a donor meeting, a media interview, or a town hall Q&A, today's episode of the 7-Figure Fundraising Podcast breaks down three clear strategies you can use to stay composed and persuasive—even under pressure. Trevor shares a memorable story from the Miss Teen USA pageant that became one of the first viral “word salad” moments on YouTube—and how most of us would probably stumble in similar high-stakes situations. From there, he walks through three tactics you can practice and deploy to answer confidently, clearly, and concisely. What You’ll Learn The 3 go-to frameworks for answering tough questions:Two Points – A simple, structured response to organize your thinking.Story + Insight – A technique to connect emotionally and drive home a takeaway.Thinking Then and Now – A method for gracefully correcting misinformation.Why pausing for just a few seconds before responding can help you sound more thoughtful and credible.Download the One-Page Cheat Sheet Click here to download a quick reference guide to the three tactics you can print or keep at your desk. https://7figurefundraising.kit.com/f7370c2df6 To see all the show notes visit: https://www.7figurefundraising.com/podcast/ To learn more about fundraising and our training visit: 7FigureFundraising.com

    22 min

  2. 02/19/2025

    53 - The Power of Storytelling in Your Pitch: 7-Figure Fundraising Book Clip

    How many of you know a good story? One you've never forgotten—one that moved you, inspired you, or stuck with you long after you heard it. What made it so compelling? In this clip, we dive into why stories are the lifeblood of an effective pitch and how you can find and frame great stories to persuade donors. Learn about: The Story Safe—a simple habit for collecting powerful storiesThe Story Buckets method for organizing and retrieving compelling narrativesHow to frame your story to maximize its impactWant to get the full formula for crafting unforgettable fundraising stories? Get the book:  Paperback & Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/7-Figure-Fundraising-guide-millions-change/dp/B0DC8K1MRD/  Audiobook: https://www.audible.com/pd/B0DJRSBL79?source_code=ASSORAP0511160006 To see all the show notes visit: https://www.7figurefundraising.com/podcast/ To learn more about fundraising and our training visit: 7FigureFundraising.com

    8 min

  3. 02/05/2025

    52 - Create an Amazing First 100 Days for Your New Donors: 7-Figure Fundraising Book Clip

    What do you want your new donors to see and hear from your organization during their first 100 days? This period is your chance to make a lasting impression and turn a first-time donor into a lifelong supporter. In this clip, we break down how to craft a 100-day plan that keeps donors engaged, including: The four-part thank-you strategy that sets the right toneHow to plan four meaningful touchpoints over the first 100 daysProven ideas like behind-the-scenes insights, success stories, and impact updatesWant the full strategy to build donor relationships that last? Get the book:  Paperback & Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/7-Figure-Fundraising-guide-millions-change/dp/B0DC8K1MRD/ Audiobook: https://www.audible.com/pd/B0DJRSBL79?source_code=ASSORAP0511160006 Make the first 100 days count—and create donors for life. To see all the show notes visit: https://www.7figurefundraising.com/podcast/ To learn more about fundraising and our training visit: 7FigureFundraising.com

    9 min

  4. 10/10/2024

    51 - Don't Project Fundraise

    In this episode, Trevor Bragdon and Tarren Bragdon discuss why project fundraising is not a sustainable strategy for nonprofits. They compare project fundraising to a gift card that offers a one-time benefit but does not engage donors in the organization's overall mission. They explain that project fundraising can actually cost money and send a negative message internally. They emphasize the importance of having a compelling vision and avoiding one-off projects that distract from the organization's mission. They provide tips on how to pitch the big vision to donors and build long-term partnerships. Takeaways Project fundraising is not a sustainable strategy for nonprofits as it reduces the organization's vision to one-off projects and can cost money.Donors who are engaged in the organization's overall mission are more likely to become long-term partners.When pitching to donors, focus on the problem you solve from their perspective, present a solution that feels safe or unique, and explain how it works in a concise and compelling way.Share success stories that demonstrate the impact of your organization's work and paint a vision of how lives will be improved in the future.Avoid project fundraising and instead focus on building relationships with donors based on the organization's big vision. To see all the show notes visit: https://www.7figurefundraising.com/podcast/ To learn more about fundraising and our training visit: 7FigureFundraising.com

    24 min

  5. 08/28/2024

    50 - 7-Figure Fundraising: A guide to help you raise millions to change the world

    In this episode of the 7-Figure Fundraising Podcast, hosts Trevor and Tarren Bragdon explore the key strategies outlined in their new book, 7-Figure Fundraising: A Guide to Raising Millions to Change the World. They discuss the practical, step-by-step approach nonprofit leaders can use to transform their fundraising efforts and scale their impact. Why We Wrote the Book: To help nonprofit leaders understand fundraising both at the big picture level and with specific tactics. It’s a short, actionable read—just 127 pages.Key Lessons:Fundraising is a Skill: No one is born a natural fundraiser—it’s a skill you can work on and improve.Three Levers of Fundraising Growth: GROW your existing donors, KEEP them by increasing retention, and ADD new donors strategically.Focus Areas for Success:ASK: Ask once a year with the right timing and a persuasive pitch.PARTNER: Treat major donors like partners with a 4-star level of service.FIND: Add a few new donors each year by securing referrals and hosting strategic events.Team Roles:Closer: The person who makes the ask—often the CEO.Conductor: Manages donor relations and ensures they receive top-tier service.Connector: Focuses on finding new donors and setting up prospect meetings. Get your copy today, available exclusively on Amazon. The audiobook will be released at the end of September. To see all the show notes visit: https://www.7figurefundraising.com/podcast/ To learn more about fundraising and our training visit: 7FigureFundraising.com

    36 min

  6. 12/20/2023

    49 - From Vision to Creation: Starting Musizi University in Uganda with Elaine Alowo-Matovu and Takako Mino

    View Episode 49 Show Notes on our website here. Co-founders Elaine Alowo-Matovu and Takako Mino discuss the founding and fundraising journey of Musizi University, a new university in Uganda, and their vision behind it.  They discuss their backgrounds and how they came together to start the university. Elaine and Takako also explain the unique programs and curriculum offered at Musizi University, emphasizing the importance of practical skills and indigenous knowledge.  The podcast includes insights into their fundraising strategy, the importance of warm introductions, building relationships, and crafting compelling pitches. In addition, you’ll hear insights on overcoming university startup challenges, actionable advice for ambitious ideas, donating to Musizi University, and the interesting significance of "Musizi." 00:00 Introduction 00:43 Background and Inspiration for starting Musizi University03:53 Unique Approach and Model of Musizi University07:09 Co-founding Musizi University and Takako's Background13:58 The Meaning of Musizi 16:16 Blending Western and Ugandan Talent in the University26:32 Fundraising for a Startup University30:43 Fundraising Success and Building Relationships38:26 Tactics for Warm Introductions and Relationship Building41:52 Crafting a Compelling Pitch47:41 Navigating Challenges of Starting a University48:16 Actionable Advice for Ambitious Ideas49:43 Building Meaningful Relationships with Donors51:07 How to Donate and Learn More About Musizi UniversityTo learn more about Musizi University visit: https://www.musizi.ac.ug/ To see all the show notes visit: https://www.7figurefundraising.com/podcast/ To learn more about fundraising and our training visit: 7FigureFundraising.com

    54 min

  7. 06/28/2023

    48 - How to Never Lose an Employee Again with Joey Coleman

    View Episode 48 Show Notes on our website here. Joey Coleman helps companies keep their customers and employees. As an award-winning speaker, he shares his First 100 Days® methodology for improving customer and employee retention with organizations worldwide (e.g., Whirlpool, Volkswagen Australia, and Zappos). His Wall Street Journal #2 best-selling book, Never Lose a Customer Again, shows how to turn any sale into a lifelong customer or donor. His new book, Never Lose an Employee Again, details a framework companies and nonprofits can use to reduce turnover, and increase employee engagement. In this episode we cover Employee RetentionTreat Employees the same way you would treat a donorDonor/customer experience is similar to the Employee experienceNew Employees ExperienceThe importance of the first 100 days with a new employeeJob PostingHow to entice the right applicants from the startWhy you should provide interview questions in advanceOff-the-cuff questioning vs. the more common interview questionsLearning about the person as a person instead of an employeeMaking a Job OfferWhat to do during the "quiet period" - the time between the offer and the first dayMaking a lasting impression on the first day and how to "Give them something to talk about."Making sure a new employee understands their role in the company and why they matter.CloseJoey's  challenge for the audiencePick up a copy of Joey's book, Never Lose an Employee Again To see all the show notes visit: https://www.7figurefundraising.com/podcast/ To learn more about fundraising and our training visit: 7FigureFundraising.com

    54 min

  8. 06/07/2023

    47 - Fundraising for a Startup Nonprofit

    View Episode 47 Show Notes on our website here. Trevor and Tarren Bragdon discuss how to think about fundraising for a startup nonprofit.  We have a lot of people new to fundraising who find us through the podcast and we’d wanted to do a podcast specifically for fundraising for a startup nonprofit.  3 phases of a Startup NonprofitIdea phase - Finding the product and market fitRead the book The Mom Test by Rob FitzpatrickProof phase - show your idea works - pilot or small scale successScale phase - figuring out how to take things that work on a small scale and make them work on large scaleTheory of Change FormulaWhat is the ProblemWhat is your Solution?Why are you the best team to solve the Problem?Write out your theory of change in less than 140 words.Refine and edit.You'll want to be able to explain it in about 1 minuteHow to introduce yourself - to new people and talk about your nonprofitProblem, Solution and then a StoryIntroduction from The 1-Page Marketing Plan by Alan Dibs“You know how [state the problem you solve]. Well I’m starting a nonprofit that [insert your solution here]. In fact, [give a story about your solution]”Start working on your pitch - See our short video on How to Build a PitchElevator Close VideoWe have a video on this and a short course on Udemy on how to build a pitch - almost 600 students enrolledPhase 2 the Proof phase - showing your idea works - pilot or small scale successCommunication with donors keyStart thinking about the size of the nonprofit you want to createBuilding out your team Wrap up To grow your fundraising as a Startup, focus on these steps. Idea PhaseAsk why isn’t this done alreadyDevelop out your theory of change Create your introduction and begin your pitchBegin testing your idea on a small scale Pitch donors and listen to their feedback Expect a lot of No’s Proof PhaseDecide the type of nonprofit you want to buildBuild out your teamFigure out how to scale  To see all the show notes visit: https://www.7figurefundraising.com/podcast/ To learn more about fundraising and our training visit: 7FigureFundraising.com

    49 min
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4.8
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34 Ratings

About

Welcome to the 7-Figure Fundraising Podcast hosted by Trevor Bragdon. Each episode features a successful nonprofit leader who explains a fundraising strategy or tactic to increase your impact and rapidly grow your organization.

Information

  • Creator
    7-Figure Fundraising
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2025
  • Episodes
    54
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 7-Figure Fundraising Podcast
  • Show Website
    7-Figure Fundraising Podcast