The Fundraising Elevator Podcast

The Fundraising Elevator Podcast

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. 3d ago

    The Event Is Just the Beginning: Leya Simmons on Turning Event Donors Into Repeat Givers | Ep. 134

    The gala is over, your team is exhausted, and the real work is about to begin. In this episode, we’re joined by Leya Simmons, CEO and co-founder of BetterUnite, to talk about what to do after a fundraising event. We cover how soon to follow up and how many touchpoints to send, plus how to write your thank-yous before the event happens. You’ll also hear how to put board members to work with simple text-message workflows and why “the event is a launch, not a finish line.” Leya also shares trends she sees across 1,500+ organizations, including smaller segmented events, event data flowing into the CRM, and why volunteers today are donors tomorrow. Whether you run a gala, an auction, or a donor dinner, this episode gives you tactical steps to turn first-time attendees into long-term investors in your mission. Key Takeaways The event is a launch, not the end. Showing up is only potential. Turning that potential into a lasting relationship happens after the event. Most attendees are first-timers. Treat them like a first date: if you don’t follow up right after, the relationship doesn’t continue. “Investment moves at the speed of trust.” Donors are wary of institutions, so consistent, thoughtful follow-up is how you earn trust over time. Follow up within 24–48 hours. Send a receipt, a thank-you, and photos from the night within 24 hours, then a personal touchpoint within 48. Plan 3–4 touchpoints over the next 30–60 days. At least one should be clearly personal, such as a phone call, a voicemail, or an email from a real person. Don’t skip the next invitation. Giving circles, monthly giving, volunteer opportunities, appreciation events, Giving Tuesday, and year-end appeals are all ways to keep inviting people in. Leya noted that donor data shows monthly donors tend to give more at events, not less. Segment your attendees. Sponsors who didn’t attend, major sponsors who gave on site, and guests who attended but didn’t give each need a different path. Volunteers today are donors tomorrow. Sponsor tables filled with junior employees are a chance to cultivate volunteers and future supporters. Technology should help you “human.” Use automation to prompt personal action, such as an email that asks a board member to text five guests, rather than replacing the human touch. Ask donors why they gave. Even a lukewarm answer is useful data, and a clear answer can shape how you cultivate that donor. The event is the launch, not the finish line, and what you do in the days and weeks afterward decides whether first-time guests become lifelong supporters. Thank people quickly, reach out in a personal way, and keep inviting them into your work. Let technology handle the reminders so your team can spend its energy on real conversations. Investment moves at the speed of trust, and every thoughtful follow-up builds a little more of it. Loving The Fundraising Elevator? Please subscribe, rate and review the podcast. It really helps other people find the show.    This Episode Brought to You by:  Swaim Strategies: https://swaimstrategies.com Utilizing over 20 years of nonprofit event strategy and production expertise, Swaim Strategies coaches and teaches organizations how to increase the impact of their fundraising events.    The AV Department: https://theavdept.com/ As a full-service event AV and video production partner, The AV Department’s technical event production and media content generation provide you with a range of experience and talent from a partner who wants to know you and work together year after year.    Bloomerang: https://bit.ly/4hLqLVw Create the ideal giving experience with integrated fundraising tools and automated insights that maximize your impact. Keep donors close to the cause with mean-ingful outreach at the right time. Increase retention, major gifts, and all-around impact. Turn supporters into action-takers with tools that make it easy to recruit, organize, and engage volunteers at every level.   Speakers Samantha Swaim LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-swaim-a28a9a4/ Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies   Kristin Steele LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-steele777/ Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies   Leya Simmons LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leyasimmons/   | RESOURCES | Connect with Swaim Strategies: https://swaimstrategies.com Propose a Podcast Episode: https://swaimstrategies.com/propose-a-podcast-episode/ Get Event Help Right Now with Gala 911: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/gala-911/ Book Consulting Time with Sam: https://calendly.com/consultingwithsam Book Consulting Time with Kristin: https://calendly.com/eventstorytelling Learn More About the Elevate Conference: https://swaimstrategies.com/elevate-conference/ Get Planning a Successful Major Donor Event: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/#book Join Swaim Strategies on Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies Connect with The AV Department:  https://theavdept.com/ Connect with BetterUnite: https://www.betterunite.com/ 501(c) Drop Webinars with BetterUnite: https://blog.betterunite.com/webinars

    The Event Is Just the Beginning: Leya Simmons on Turning Event Donors Into Repeat Givers | Ep. 134

  2. Oct 21

    Hospitality as a Core Strategy with Kristin Steele + Samantha Swaim | Episode #133

    What if the most effective fundraising event you could host had no ask at all? In this episode, we look at hospitality as a core nonprofit fundraising strategy. You’ll learn why small, curated donor events often lead to bigger long-term gifts, how to train staff, board members, and volunteers to be great hosts, and a framework for putting hospitality into practice at your next event. Key Takeaways Hospitality is a lost art, but it’s not hard to bring back. The events with the biggest impact often take the least work, because they make room for real conversation and connection. No-ask events can lead to larger gifts. Reporting from the Chronicle of Philanthropy found that intimate donor gatherings can produce bigger gifts over time when guests connect with both the organization and each other. Be upfront about the “no ask.” Tell guests that tonight is about getting to know the organization and that a specific conversation will come later. That frees them to relax and engage. Talk with donors, not at them. At a gala, the organization holds the microphone. At a dinner table, donors ask questions, share their values, and help shape the solution. Everyone is a host. Hospitality isn’t only the event planner’s job. Look for the “super hosts” already on your team, often a volunteer or the person who remembers everyone’s name, and train your board to be ambassadors too. Spread relationships across the organization. When donors connect to the mission and not to a single staff member, leadership changes are far less disruptive. Donors who feel seen become advocates. Public thank-yous, tagged photos, and recap videos help guests share the experience. Over time, those guests may become volunteers, committee members, board members, and legacy donors. Hospitality isn’t an extra layer on top of your fundraising events. It’s the foundation, and it starts with how you make people feel. When you know who you’re inviting, understand why they give, and prepare your whole team to host with intention, every event becomes a chance to build lasting relationships, not just a one-night performance. Loving The Fundraising Elevator? Please subscribe, rate and review the podcast. It really helps other people find the show.  This Episode Brought to You by:  Swaim Strategies: https://swaimstrategies.com Utilizing over 20 years of nonprofit event strategy and production expertise, Swaim Strategies coaches and teaches organizations how to increase the impact of their fundraising events.    The AV Department: https://theavdept.com/ As a full-service event AV and video production partner, The AV Department’s technical event production and media content generation provide you with a range of experience and talent from a partner who wants to know you and work together year after year.    Bloomerang: https://bit.ly/4hLqLVw Create the ideal giving experience with integrated fundraising tools and automated insights that maximize your impact. Keep donors close to the cause with mean-ingful outreach at the right time. Increase retention, major gifts, and all-around impact. Turn supporters into action-takers with tools that make it easy to recruit, organize, and engage volunteers at every level.   Speakers Samantha Swaim LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-swaim-a28a9a4/ Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies   Kristin Steele LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-steele777/ Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies   | RESOURCES | Connect with Swaim Strategies: https://swaimstrategies.com Propose a Podcast Episode: https://swaimstrategies.com/propose-a-podcast-episode/ Get Event Help Right Now with Gala 911: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/gala-911/ Book Consulting Time with Sam: https://calendly.com/consultingwithsam Book Consulting Time with Kristin: https://calendly.com/eventstorytelling Learn More About the Elevate Conference: https://swaimstrategies.com/elevate-conference/ Get Planning a Successful Major Donor Event: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/#book Join Swaim Strategies on Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies Connect with The AV Department:  https://theavdept.com/ The Evolution of Fundraising Events, Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8zeU99YdBnE The Evolution of Fundraising Events, Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSJjECdcAk4   Chronicle of Philanthropy Events Article: https://www.philanthropy.com/solutions/small-events-that-win-big-gifts-no-gala-required/

    Hospitality as a Core Strategy with Kristin Steele + Samantha Swaim | Episode #133

  3. Oct 14

    The Evolution of Fundraising Events, Part 2 with Kristin Steele + Samantha Swaim |Episode #132

    Donors aren’t giving less, they’re going deeper with fewer organizations. In part two of our season-opening series, we look at where fundraising events are headed and how to design gatherings that make donors want to stay.  Events are being rethought across every industry, from music to tech to family farms. We share what the research says about relevance fatigue and selective generosity, why the big gala still has its place, and how purpose and immersion are at the core of the most powerful events right now.  In this episode:  Why relevance fatigue ("what's in it for me?") is pushing events toward smaller, personalized gatherings  Selective generosity: why donors are trimming their philanthropic portfolios, and what it means for your organization  When the big gala is the right choice, and when a more intimate event does more  Content dictates form: start with purpose, not "we've always done it this way"  Three ways to upgrade the donor experience at a gala: tighter speaker scripting, auction items tied to your mission, and bringing your mission into the room  A look inside an 80-guest immersive dinner that raised more than past events with big audiences and auctions  -Storytelling now: the whole event as one story, from invitation to post-event stewardship Why corporate sponsors are investing more, how to treat them as partners, and a practical tip: list "tickets available" instead of prescribing tables  The biggest opportunity right now: getting specific about who's in your room, and bringing committees back with clear roles  Key takeaway: Don't ask what your event will look like, ask what you want to make possible when people are in the room together. Loving The Fundraising Elevator? Please subscribe, rate and review the podcast. It really helps other people find the show.    This Episode Brought to You by:  Swaim Strategies: https://swaimstrategies.com Utilizing over 20 years of nonprofit event strategy and production expertise, Swaim Strategies coaches and teaches organizations how to increase the impact of their fundraising events.    The AV Department: https://theavdept.com/ As a full-service event AV and video production partner, The AV Department’s technical event production and media content generation provide you with a range of experience and talent from a partner who wants to know you and work together year after year.    Bloomerang: https://bit.ly/4hLqLVw Create the ideal giving experience with integrated fundraising tools and automated insights that maximize your impact. Keep donors close to the cause with mean-ingful outreach at the right time. Increase retention, major gifts, and all-around impact. Turn supporters into action-takers with tools that make it easy to recruit, organize, and engage volunteers at every level.   Speakers Samantha Swaim LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-swaim-a28a9a4/ Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies   Kristin Steele LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-steele777/ Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies   | RESOURCES | Connect with Swaim Strategies: https://swaimstrategies.com Propose a Podcast Episode: https://swaimstrategies.com/propose-a-podcast-episode/ Get Event Help Right Now with Gala 911: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/gala-911/ Book Consulting Time with Sam: https://calendly.com/consultingwithsam Book Consulting Time with Kristin: https://calendly.com/eventstorytelling Learn More About the Elevate Conference: https://swaimstrategies.com/elevate-conference/ Get Planning a Successful Major Donor Event: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/#book Join Swaim Strategies on Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies Connect with The AV Department:  https://theavdept.com/ Part 1 of the Conversation: https://youtu.be/8zeU99YdBnE Windmill Hill Consulting: https://whillconsulting.com/ Priya Parker: https://www.priyaparker.com/ Chronicle of Philanthropy Events Article: https://www.philanthropy.com/solutions/small-events-that-win-big-gifts-no-gala-required/

    The Evolution of Fundraising Events, Part 2 with Kristin Steele + Samantha Swaim |Episode #132

  4. Oct 7

    The Evolution of Fundraising Events, Part 1 with Kristin Steele + Samantha Swaim |Episode #131

    Fundraising events are changing faster than ever. Season 4 opens with a look back at how events evolved, and why belonging, hospitality, and the "invite-in" are the way forward. This is part one of a three-part intro to the season on where fundraising events have been, where they are now, and where they're headed.  We trace the shift from Gilded Age status displays and marathon auctions to today's shorter, story-driven, community-centered gatherings, and introduce the two themes guiding this season: the invite-in and the role of hospitality.  In this episode:  What "invite-in" means for nonprofits and why it keeps donors deeply invested  What a local farms teach us about hospitality, from farm-to-table dinners to a social media series on building a 69-foot table  Collective effervescence: the energy a group creates that's bigger than any one person in the room  How events evolved, from 750-person rooms and seven-hour nights to curated, experiential gatherings  The three motivations for giving, from Susan Howlett's research: mission, connection, and recognition  Why storytelling is moving away from deficit-focused narratives and "make them cry" tactics, toward consent and storyteller agency  Why a 60-minute program is possible  How more affordable technology is changing the guest experience  Key takeaway: Most people see themselves as generous. Our job is to give them the opportunity to show it. Tune in. Loving The Fundraising Elevator? Please subscribe, rate and review the podcast. It really helps other people find the show.    This Episode Brought to You by:  Swaim Strategies: https://swaimstrategies.com Utilizing over 20 years of nonprofit event strategy and production expertise, Swaim Strategies coaches and teaches organizations how to increase the impact of their fundraising events.    The AV Department: https://theavdept.com/ As a full-service event AV and video production partner, The AV Department’s technical event production and media content generation provide you with a range of experience and talent from a partner who wants to know you and work together year after year.    Bloomerang: https://bit.ly/4hLqLVw Create the ideal giving experience with integrated fundraising tools and automated insights that maximize your impact. Keep donors close to the cause with mean-ingful outreach at the right time. Increase retention, major gifts, and all-around impact. Turn supporters into action-takers with tools that make it easy to recruit, organize, and engage volunteers at every level.   Speakers Samantha Swaim LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-swaim-a28a9a4/ Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies   Kristin Steele LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-steele777/ Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies   | RESOURCES | Connect with Swaim Strategies: https://swaimstrategies.com Propose a Podcast Episode: https://swaimstrategies.com/propose-a-podcast-episode/ Get Event Help Right Now with Gala 911: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/gala-911/ Book Consulting Time with Sam: https://calendly.com/consultingwithsam Book Consulting Time with Kristin: https://calendly.com/eventstorytelling Learn More About the Elevate Conference: https://swaimstrategies.com/elevate-conference/ Get Planning a Successful Major Donor Event: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/#book Join Swaim Strategies on Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies Connect with The AV Department:  https://theavdept.com/ The Fundraising Elevator Episode with Topaz Farm: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asR2UiLRlp8 The 69-foot Table: https://www.instagram.com/p/DdHZSG-Gled Swaim Strategies Substack on Knicks in 5: https://substack.com/home/post/p-204701554 Neurogiving by Cherian Koshy: https://www.wiley.com/en-us/shop/general-introductory-business-management/neurogiving-the-science-of-donor-decision-making-p-9781394370450

    The Evolution of Fundraising Events, Part 1 with Kristin Steele + Samantha Swaim |Episode #131

  5. Sep 30

    Fundraising Auction Secrets From a Pro: What's Killing Your Paddle Raise (And How to Fix It) | The Fundraising Elevator

    Are tall centerpieces, low minimum gifts, and fundraising thermometers quietly sabotaging your fundraising event? In this fan-favorite encore episode, former NFL player turned professional benefit auctioneer Reggie Rivers delivers some of the most candid, actionable event fundraising advice you'll hear — and he doesn't hold back. From the neuroscience of giving to the psychology of collective momentum, Reggie breaks down why the paddle raise is the single most important moment at your entire event, and exactly what most nonprofits are doing wrong before they even get there. In this episode, you'll learn: Why tall centerpieces are silently killing your paddle raise and what to do instead The case for stopping at $100 minimum gifts to train donors upward rather than downward Why fundraising thermometers usually backfire and the one condition under which they actually work Why the paddle raise is the only moment at your event where you're purely selling your mission not conducting retail transactions Why dinner galas consistently outperform breakfast events and golf tournaments for fundraising How pre-committed gifts function as leadership and role modeling not just early revenue How to transform your event from a transactional experience into a collective action moment where the whole room celebrates together Why hiring a professional benefit auctioneer who understands the neuroscience of giving is one of the highest-ROI decisions your organization can make This episode is a must-listen for development directors, executive directors, and nonprofit event planners who want to stop leaving money on the table at their next gala, auction, or paddle raise 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.

    Fundraising Auction Secrets From a Pro: What's Killing Your Paddle Raise (And How to Fix It) | The Fundraising Elevator

  6. Sep 23

    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

  7. 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

  8. 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
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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
    163
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved
  • Show Website
    The Fundraising Elevator Podcast

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