24 episodes

Hi! We're Kim and Diana, the Freshman Fundraisers. two "elder millennials" who found themselves stuck in the gray area between being an early-career fundraiser and an experienced pro - wanting to learn more about the nonprofit world, and having our own thoughts and ideas to share. AND WE KNOW WE'RE NOT ALONE! On the podcast, we talk to fundraisers, nonprofit professionals, and other experts in all stages of their careers. Our guests are thought-leaders, innovators, problem-solvers, and creative thinkers who want to share their knowledge, first-hand experiences, and a few hot takes with others. Interviews are casual conversations, and we hope that listeners come away having learned something that they can apply to their own careers and work in the nonprofit sector.

The Freshman Fundraisers Podcast Kim Teter & Diana Forbus

    • Business
    • 5.0 • 9 Ratings

Hi! We're Kim and Diana, the Freshman Fundraisers. two "elder millennials" who found themselves stuck in the gray area between being an early-career fundraiser and an experienced pro - wanting to learn more about the nonprofit world, and having our own thoughts and ideas to share. AND WE KNOW WE'RE NOT ALONE! On the podcast, we talk to fundraisers, nonprofit professionals, and other experts in all stages of their careers. Our guests are thought-leaders, innovators, problem-solvers, and creative thinkers who want to share their knowledge, first-hand experiences, and a few hot takes with others. Interviews are casual conversations, and we hope that listeners come away having learned something that they can apply to their own careers and work in the nonprofit sector.

    Dust Yourself off and Try Again: Falling forward from failure with Anastasia Schriber

    Dust Yourself off and Try Again: Falling forward from failure with Anastasia Schriber

    You failed. You were let go (or left before you were) and find yourself at an all-time low. How do you bounce back and move on better than you were before? Anastasia Schriber joins us to talk about her personal story about how she dusted herself off and found herself in a better place after being let go from an organization.

    Anastasia Schriber is the Development Director of the Respiratory Health Association in Chicago. She uses her creative brain and love for data to identify and implement strategies to engage donors. When she's not fundraising, she is either vintage dancing with the Lake Shore Dames, recording my own podcast Conquering Classics, and nerding out to fantasy novels, video games, and family D&D
    Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/FFpod)

    • 31 min
    It’s Not Me, It’s You: Turnover, retention, and burnout in the sector with Ben Chambers

    It’s Not Me, It’s You: Turnover, retention, and burnout in the sector with Ben Chambers

    At some point or another, all fundraisers have been there - overworked, underpaid, burnt out. Nonprofits find themselves dealing with issues with turnover and retention. Join us for a frank conversation on these issues with Ben Chambers. Ben is a fundraising consultant with a group called Team Kat & Mouse. After spending nearly a decade in politics, public advocacy, and nonprofit fundraising, he decided to take the exciting and terrifying leap into consulting!
    Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/FFpod)

    • 39 min
    Strategery: Components of a Fundraising Plan with Lisa Tarshis

    Strategery: Components of a Fundraising Plan with Lisa Tarshis

    With the go go go mode that most fundraisers find themselves in, there’s not always time to sit down and write a fundraising plan, but according to Lisa Tarshis, these plans are of the utmost importance. Lisa discusses all the components of a plan and troubleshoots with us some common issues.

    From Lisa: I've been learning about philanthropy for as long as I can remember. My grandparents were involved with many organizations and as kids, they would tell us about them and take us to events. If I'm being honest, I understood the sparkle in their eye and the way they lit up when they talked about nonprofits long before I even know the word philanthropy. And today, I feel proud to carry on their legacy of making the world a better place by helping fundraisers, founders, boards, and staff gain the skills they need to raise funds to change their communities for the better.

    I believe that planning is key to success. As nonprofit professionals, we are wearing so many hats and running in so many directions. It's a never-ending hamster wheel and without a plan, it can feel impossible to accomplish everything that needs to be done even if you are working a 70-80 hour workweek. This is why I created Plans That Produce, a course that takes fundraising professionals step by step through the process of creating a fundraising plan that is tailor-made to their organization. Orgs with a fundraising plan on average raise 30% more than those without. If you're ready to fundraise more intentionally, focus on the items that will really move the needle, and still find time to have dinner with your friends or family (at a reasonable hour) this course is for you!

    Bio: https://evolvegivinggroup.com/about-us/our-team/
    Plans That Produce: https://www.plansthatproduce.com/
    Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/FFpod)

    • 34 min
    Stop, Collaborate and Listen: Program Evaluation Made Simple with Chari Smith

    Stop, Collaborate and Listen: Program Evaluation Made Simple with Chari Smith

    Every fundraiser knows the importance of making a measurable impact, but how do you measure what most of us see as intangible? Chari Smith is the Founder of Evaluation into Action and believes evaluation should be accessible, practical, and usable. She founded Evaluation into Action to help nonprofit professionals create realistic and meaningful program evaluation processes. Learn more at:  www.evaluationintoaction.com
    Book: Nonprofit Program Evaluation Made Simple: Get Your Data. Show Your Impact. Improve Your Programs.  Are you overwhelmed on how to do nonprofit program evaluation? You’re not alone. 
    There are many ways to do program evaluation, making it difficult to know how to start. Funders require data to demonstrate impact, which just adds to the stress. Those stressful and overwhelming days are over. This book outlines a clear approach, filled with real-world stories as well as examples of evaluation plans, surveys, and reports. Chari details exactly how to adopt this simple approach so that you have the data you need to satisfy funder requirements and to make program planning decisions.
    ·         Workshop: Thursday, October 21, 9 am PST. Program Evaluation Made Simple. If you work with nonprofits or want to understand a collaborative approach to creating outcomes, please join Chari. Info & Registration here.
     
    Connect with Chari:
    Newsletter: sign up at evaluationintoaction.com or drop Chari a line and she’ll add you.
    Twitter: @evalenthusiast
    Linked In: Chari Smith
    E: chari@evaluationintoaction.com



    Connect with the Freshman Fundraisers on IG
    Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/FFpod)

    • 34 min
    IYKYK: Knowing When to Make the Ask (and how to prepare) with Elizabeth Abel

    IYKYK: Knowing When to Make the Ask (and how to prepare) with Elizabeth Abel

    What do you need to know in order to make an ask? According to Elizabeth Abel, 80% of the work is done before you even walk in the room to meet with the donor. Elizabeth is a Corporate Vice President at CCS Fundraising, a fundraising consulting firm for nonprofit organizations worldwide. She has designed, advised, and directed development initiatives and capital campaigns that have collectively raised more than $250 million, positively impacting tens of thousands of lives.

    Connect with the Freshman Fundraisers on IG
    Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/FFpod)

    • 32 min
    Okay boomer: Generational shifts in Donor behaviors with Travis McDearmon

    Okay boomer: Generational shifts in Donor behaviors with Travis McDearmon

    Guest: Travis McDearmon

    Baby Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, Gen Z - each generation has its own set of core values and priorities, and for fundraisers, it’s important for us to think about how this impacts our work. We’re seeing a dramatic shift as the “boomers” move on from being the top major and principal-level donors to organizations worldwide. We talk to Travis McDearmon, a Lead Development Officer at Butler University and founder of Role Identity Solutions about what this means for fundraising practices and the mindsets that each generation has when it comes to who they support, how they want to be asked, and where their loyalties may lie. This discussion will look into the future of our profession based on the preliminary research about generations and how we expect them to act towards charitable giving

    Connect with the Freshman Fundraisers on IG
    Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/FFpod)

    • 39 min

Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5
9 Ratings

9 Ratings

samseles ,

Nice Work and Fun

Kim and Diana are dynamite hosts with so much to offer their listeners! I’m so glad I discovered this podcast as I’ve learned quite a bit. Two thumbs up! 👍 👍

Kare_Bear13 ,

Don’t be afraid to ask!

I loved getting to know Kim and Diana in their first podcast and learn more about fundraising. I’ve been fundraising for various organizations for most of my life and it can definitely be overwhelming and intimidating.

Kim and Diana provide different insights and ideas to help in your fundraising, and they’re funny!

Whether you’re a fundraising nübe or veteran, give these girls a listen. I guarantee you’ll have a laugh and gain some nice takeaways.

P.S. Don’t be afraid of “the ask” - the worst thing you’ll hear is “no” and the person you least expect may say “YES!”.

Marykate113 ,

Love this podcast

A great podcast with lots of good info!

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