The Fundraising Elevator Podcast

The Fundraising Elevator Podcast
  • 4.9 (14)
  • Education
  • Updated Weekly

The Fundraising Elevator: where we’re all headed up. Samantha Swaim and Kristin Steele are using their decades of fundraising, event strategy and storytelling experience to help you change the world at your next event. Listen to conversations with industry leaders for insights and tools you can use to connect more people to your mission. New episodes drop every Wednesday.

  1. 6d ago

    How to Tell Your Nonprofit's Story at Fundraising Events (So Donors Actually Give) | The Fundraising Elevator

    Most nonprofits make the same storytelling mistake at their fundraising events: they lead with programs and metrics instead of the one thing that actually moves donors to give — the why. In this fan-favorite encore episode, co-host Kristin Steele breaks down the art and science of organizational storytelling, and how to structure your event narrative so it builds toward your fundraising moment with intention and impact. Whether you're planning a gala, a luncheon, or a smaller cultivation event, this episode gives you a practical framework for crafting stories that resonate, speakers that connect, and a program arc that makes the ask feel inevitable not awkward. In this episode, you'll learn: Why your donors don't automatically understand your mission  and why clarity in storytelling is your most important event job How to move beyond program listings and metrics to tell the story of why your organization exists How to apply Simon Sinek's Golden Circle of Why to your nonprofit's event narrative How to distill even the most complex organizational mission (hunger, poverty, systemic issues) into a compelling, accessible story The event arc framework — how to structure your program so storytelling builds naturally toward the fundraising moment How to use video storytelling to showcase impact inside the event room and across social media How to prepare and coach speakers so their message aligns with your organization's goals not just their own experience Strategies for infusing your entire event — entertainment, keynote, and ask — with your core mission This is essential listening for development directors, executive directors, and nonprofit event planners who want to stop leaving emotional impact — and dollars — on the table. 🎧 Subscribe to The Fundraising Elevator so you never miss an episode: https://www.youtube.com/@thefundraisingelevator  ⭐ Leave a review it helps other nonprofit professionals find the show. The Fundraising Elevator is a production of swaimstrategies.com sponsored by The AV Department, Bloomerang, and Feathr.

    How to Tell Your Nonprofit's Story at Fundraising Events (So Donors Actually Give) | The Fundraising Elevator

  2. Sep 16

    The Art of Nonprofit Storytelling: How to Make Donors Feel Your Mission and Inspire Giving | The Fundraising Elevator

    Facts tell, but stories give. In this fan-favorite encore episode, co-host and storytelling expert Kristin Steele breaks down exactly how to craft narratives that connect with donors on an emotional level by turning complex issues into compelling stories that make your mission impossible to forget and impossible not to support. If your fundraising your event program isn't landing the way you hoped, or you're struggling to translate the complexity of your work into something donors truly feel, this episode is the reset you need. In this episode, you'll learn: Why emotional storytelling is the single most powerful tool in your fundraising toolkit How to craft relatable, emotionally driven narratives that cut through donor fatigue How to translate complex or systemic issues — poverty, homelessness, education inequity — into stories donors can feel and act on The key elements of a fundraising story that creates genuine donor connection How strategic storytelling makes your mission unforgettable long after the event ends How to inspire action, not just empathy, through the stories you tell at events, in appeals, and across channels Practical techniques for finding and shaping the right stories within your organization This episode is essential listening for development directors, communications staff, executive directors, and anyone responsible for donor-facing messaging who wants to raise more by saying less — and meaning more. 🎧 Subscribe to The Fundraising Elevator so you never miss an episode: https://www.youtube.com/@thefundraisingelevator  ⭐ Leave a review it helps other nonprofit professionals find the show. The Fundraising Elevator is a production of swaimstrategies.com sponsored by The AV Department, Bloomerang, and Feathr.

    The Art of Nonprofit Storytelling: How to Make Donors Feel Your Mission and Inspire Giving | The Fundraising Elevator

  3. Sep 9

    How to Land More Nonprofit Event Sponsors (Even in an Uncertain Economy) | The Fundraising Elevator

    Struggling to secure sponsors for your next nonprofit event? The problem might not be the economy,  it might be your approach. In this fan-favorite encore episode, Mariah Monique of The Sponsorship Catalyst shares what most nonprofits get wrong about corporate sponsorship, and exactly how to fix it. Drawing from experience on both sides of the sponsorship relationship, Mariah brings rare insight into what sponsors are actually looking for and why the organizations that treat sponsors as equal partners consistently outperform those still sending generic sponsorship decks. In this episode, you'll learn: Why sponsorship budgets are actually growing right now and how to position your organization to benefit Why you should stop chasing only large corporations and how small and mid-size businesses can transform your sponsorship portfolio How to identify and connect with the "sponsorship gatekeepers" who actually make the decisions Why your nonprofit's cultivated audience is more valuable to sponsors than you think and how to make that case confidently How to move beyond transactional sponsorship asks toward genuine, enduring partnerships What sponsors really want from experiential marketing and how your events can deliver it Practical strategies for diversifying your sponsorship portfolio across industries and business sizes This episode is essential listening for development directors, event planners, and executive directors who want to build a sponsorship program that doesn't start from scratch every year. 🎧 Subscribe to The Fundraising Elevator so you never miss an episode: https://www.youtube.com/@thefundraisingelevator  ⭐ Leave a review it helps other nonprofit professionals find the show. The Fundraising Elevator is a production of swaimstrategies.com sponsored by The AV Department, Bloomerang, and Feathr.

    How to Land More Nonprofit Event Sponsors (Even in an Uncertain Economy) | The Fundraising Elevator

  4. Sep 2

    Why a Dinner for 10 Might Be Your Most Powerful Fundraising Move This Year | The Fundraising Elevator

    What if your next major gift didn't come from your biggest event of the year but from a carefully curated dinner for ten? In this fan-favorite encore episode, co-host Samantha Swaim steps into the guest seat to make a persuasive case for small, intentional gatherings as one of the most underutilized fundraising strategies in the nonprofit world. From a seven-week dinner series that re-engaged an entire lapsed donor base to a whiskey tasting that turned a board member's passion into a major gift moment, this episode is packed with real examples of what intimate events can unlock for your organization. In this episode, you'll learn: Why small, curated events are the antidote to the "connection recession" hitting nonprofits right now How donors consolidating their giving to fewer causes makes intimate gatherings more strategic than ever Real examples of small event formats that have generated major gifts and re-engaged lapsed donors How to assess whether your organization is ready to step back from big events and what to do instead How to design a small event for a specific audience so everyone in the room has a reason to be there The fears nonprofits have about smaller events (leaving money on the table, smaller reach) and how to reframe them How to make an ask at an intimate gathering that feels easy, specific, and natural  not transactional This episode gives you both the permission and the practical blueprint to start smaller, go deeper, and raise more. Essential listening for development directors, executive directors, and major gift officers looking for a fresh approach to donor cultivation. 🎧 Subscribe to The Fundraising Elevator so you never miss an episode: https://www.youtube.com/@thefundraisingelevator  ⭐ Leave a review it helps other nonprofit professionals find the show. The Fundraising Elevator is a production of swaimstrategies.com sponsored by The AV Department, Bloomerang, and Feathr.

    Why a Dinner for 10 Might Be Your Most Powerful Fundraising Move This Year | The Fundraising Elevator

  5. Aug 26

    How to Create a Fundraising Event Experience That Turns Guests Into Donors and Advocates | The Fundraising Elevator

    What separates a forgettable fundraising event from one guests are still talking about months later? In this fan-favorite encore episode, seasoned event producer Tanya Mikkelson breaks down exactly what it takes to create a guest experience so exceptional it turns first-time attendees into long-term advocates for your mission. If you're planning a gala, auction, or any nonprofit fundraising event, this episode is your blueprint for getting the details right. In this episode, you'll learn: How to understand your audience and tailor your event to different donor demographics Interactive and innovative engagement strategies that keep guests invested in your cause How to use technology to elevate the guest experience without losing the human connection The small, thoughtful touches that have an outsized impact on guest satisfaction Common event planning pitfalls and Tanya's practical solutions for avoiding them How to collect and actually use guest feedback to improve future events Real-life success stories from Tanya's career as a professional event producer Whether you're a first-time event planner or a seasoned development professional, this episode will help you think beyond logistics and start designing experiences that deepen donor relationships and extend your organization's reach long after the event ends. 🎧 Subscribe to The Fundraising Elevator so you never miss an episode: https://www.youtube.com/@thefundraisingelevator  ⭐ Leave a review it helps other nonprofit professionals find the show. The Fundraising Elevator is a production of swaimstrategies.com sponsored by The AV Department, Bloomerang, and Feathr.

    How to Create a Fundraising Event Experience That Turns Guests Into Donors and Advocates | The Fundraising Elevator

  6. Aug 19

    The Science Behind Why Fundraising Events Work (And Why You Shouldn't Cancel Yours) | The Fundraising Elevator

    Thinking about scaling back or canceling your next fundraising event? The science says don't. In this fan-favorite encore episode, hosts Kristin Steele and Samantha Swaim make a compelling, research-backed case for why in-person fundraising events are more powerful than ever, and how to run them in a way that actually moves donors to give. From the neuroscience of shared experiences to the psychology of collective giving, this episode will change the way you think about every event you host. In this episode, you'll learn: The neuroscience behind why gatherings work — including how shared experiences literally sync heartbeats and build trust What "collective effervescence" is and why it's your most powerful fundraising tool Why oxytocin, neural alignment, and social proof all work in your favor when donors are in the same room How to use storytelling strategically and why trying to showcase every program in one night backfires Why removing transactional clutter leads to stronger donor connection and higher satisfaction The counterintuitive reason skipping the ask actually tanks donor satisfaction scores How to host with intention so your event builds the long-term donor relationships your organization depends on This episode is essential listening for nonprofit event planners, development directors, and executive directors who want to stop running events out of obligation and start running them as a genuine community-building and fundraising strategy. 🎧 Subscribe to The Fundraising Elevator so you never miss an episode: https://www.youtube.com/@thefundraisingelevator  ⭐ Leave a review it helps other nonprofit professionals find the show. The Fundraising Elevator is a production of swaimstrategies.com sponsored by The AV Department, Bloomerang, and Feathr.

    The Science Behind Why Fundraising Events Work (And Why You Shouldn't Cancel Yours) | The Fundraising Elevator

  7. Aug 12

    Double Your Fundraising Event Revenue Using an Anchor Gift Strategy | The Fundraising Elevator

    What if one strategic gift could double the revenue of your next fundraising event? In this fan-favorite encore episode, Brandon Lenzi, founder of Bowtie Strategies, shares the exact approach he used to transform a $500,000 event into a million-dollar fundraiser and shares how you can apply the same framework to your organization. Brandon also reframes the way nonprofit professionals think about donor relationships entirely: fundraising isn't about asking, it's about inviting donors to realize their vision for the community they want to live in. In this episode, you'll learn: How to use an anchor gift strategy to create collective giving momentum Why fundraising is a flywheel — not a water pump — and what that means for your year-end campaign How to sit on the same side of the table as donors and solve problems together The case for radical transparency with donors about funding gaps How to navigate a challenging giving environment by doubling down on individual donors Why donors are consolidating their giving and how to make sure your org makes the cut Authentic storytelling strategies that turn donors into true team members This episode is a must-listen for development directors, executive directors, and fundraising professionals preparing for year-end giving season or looking to level up their next fundraising event. 📊 Breakdown of the Million-Dollar Strategy: https://swaimstrategies.substack.com/p/how-to-turn-your-fundraising-event 🎧 Subscribe to The Fundraising Elevator so you never miss an episode: https://www.youtube.com/@thefundraisingelevator  ⭐ Leave a review it helps other nonprofit professionals find the show. The Fundraising Elevator is a production of swaimstrategies.com sponsored by The AV Department, Bloomerang, and Feathr.

    Double Your Fundraising Event Revenue Using an Anchor Gift Strategy | The Fundraising Elevator

  8. Aug 5

    How to Get Your Nonprofit Board to Actually Support Fundraising Events | Encore Episode

    Is your nonprofit board showing up for fundraising — or just showing up? In this fan-favorite encore episode, Susan Howlett breaks down exactly how to activate your board before, during, and after your next fundraising event so your team isn't carrying the weight alone. Whether you're heading into fall fundraising season or planning your next gala, auction, or annual appeal, this episode gives you a practical roadmap for turning passive board members into active fundraising partners. In this episode, you'll learn: Why fundraising is everyone's job, not just the development team's How to align board members with your organization's fundraising goals Practical strategies to boost board engagement and participation How to run more effective board meetings that actually drive action The case for building a culture of philanthropy from the top down How to leverage each board member's unique network and strengths Ways to recruit and retain a more diverse, effective board How to measure board engagement and celebrate wins This episode is essential listening for nonprofit executive directors, development directors, and fundraising professionals who want more from their boards — not just attendance, but real commitment. 🎧 Subscribe to The Fundraising Elevator so you never miss an episode: https://www.youtube.com/@thefundraisingelevator  ⭐ Leave a review it helps other nonprofit professionals find the show. The Fundraising Elevator is a production of swaimstrategies.com sponsored by The AV Department, Bloomerang, and Feathr.

    How to Get Your Nonprofit Board to Actually Support Fundraising Events | Encore Episode
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4.9
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About

The Fundraising Elevator: where we’re all headed up. Samantha Swaim and Kristin Steele are using their decades of fundraising, event strategy and storytelling experience to help you change the world at your next event. Listen to conversations with industry leaders for insights and tools you can use to connect more people to your mission. New episodes drop every Wednesday.

Information

  • Creator
    The Fundraising Elevator Podcast
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    158
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved
  • Show Website
    The Fundraising Elevator Podcast

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