The Fundraising Elevator Podcast

The Fundraising Elevator Podcast
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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. Episode #106 | The Neuroscience of Connection Through a Concert Series with Kat Topaz + Jim Abeles

    5D AGO

    Episode #106 | The Neuroscience of Connection Through a Concert Series with Kat Topaz + Jim Abeles

    In this episode Kat Topaz and Jim Abeles, owners of Topaz Farm on Sauvie Island near Portland join us. They share their unexpected journey from tech and marketing careers to becoming regenerative farmers. What began as a search for a place to moor their tugboat transformed into a 130-acre farm centered on community connection and sustainable agriculture. They describe how neighboring farmers generously supported them through their first challenging seasons, and how they quickly realized their mission extended beyond farming to creating meaningful gathering spaces where people could reconnect and find community. The conversation explores how they built Topaz Farm into a beloved community hub through intentional design and storytelling. From meticulously creating the perfect concert lawn to hosting farm-to-table dinners under a 500-year-old oak tree, every detail reflects their commitment to helping guests be present. The episode also covers their viral advocacy moment when proposed regulations threatened small farms—their heartfelt video mobilized thousands. Kat and Jim offer wisdom for nonprofits about gathering, emphasizing that the best events leave space for organic connection rather than over-programming, and that creating quality environments where people can simply be together is often more transformative than any planned activity. 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.   Feathr: https://www.feathr.co/ Feathr is a marketing platform built specifically for mission-driven organizations, offering simple tools for digital advertising, email campaigns, and audience engagement. The platform uses real-time insights and AI-powered segmentation to help you reach the right people at the right time—whether you’re nurturing existing supporters or discovering new ones who share your values. It’s marketing that meets people where they are, building relationships that last beyond a single click.   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   Jim Abeles LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abeles/   Kat Topaz LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kattopaz/   | 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 Topaz Farm: https://topazfarm.com/ Topaz Farm Video That Went Viral: https://www.instagram.com/p/DMYhkfmBW0D/

    1h 49m
  2. Episode #105 | The Neuroscience of Connection to Transform Your Fundraising Event with Kristin Steele and Samantha Swaim

    FEB 4

    Episode #105 | The Neuroscience of Connection to Transform Your Fundraising Event with Kristin Steele and Samantha Swaim

    In this special episode hosts Samantha Swaim and Kristin Steele dive deep into Dr. Paul Zak's powerful SIRTA framework from his book Immersion. They break down how organizations can apply brain science to create truly transformational fundraising events. Drawing from research into what motivates people to act, the SIRTA acronym stands for Staging, Immersion, Relevance, Target, and Action. These five critical elements work together to help guests feel psychologically safe, emotionally engaged, and empowered to participate meaningfully in your mission. The episode provides practical, actionable guidance for each component. In our current "connection recession," where loneliness and isolation are an epidemic, intentional gatherings aren't just fundraising tools, they're pathways to building connections that make exponential impact possible. This framework offers nonprofit leaders a research-backed approach to move beyond transactional galas toward transformational events that leave guests feeling genuinely satisfied and eager to share their experience. 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.   Feathr: https://www.feathr.co/ Feathr is a marketing platform built specifically for mission-driven organizations, offering simple tools for digital advertising, email campaigns, and audience engagement. The platform uses real-time insights and AI-powered segmentation to help you reach the right people at the right time—whether you’re nurturing existing supporters or discovering new ones who share your values. It’s marketing that meets people where they are, building relationships that last beyond a single click.   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/ Immersion: https://pauljzak.com/books/ Dr. Paul Zak on The Fundraising Elevator Podcast Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HWAwlEVz5M Dr. Paul Zak on The Fundraising Elevator Podcast Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kSKDbgNSxZk

    30 min
  3. Episode #104 | A Stewardship Roundtable with The Cause Catalyst

    JAN 28

    Episode #104 | A Stewardship Roundtable with The Cause Catalyst

    In this episode the team from The Catalyst Co.—Erica Soto, Veronica Kim, and Amie Echeverria—demystify one of fundraising's most critical yet misunderstood practices: donor stewardship. True stewardship is about caring for donors in thoughtful, intentional ways that build genuine relationships over time. The team shares that many lapsed donors were never properly acknowledged or asked to give again—evidence that basic stewardship failures, not donor fatigue, are often behind lost relationships. True stewardship can create belonging and transform transactional giving into community partnership. We explore practical systems that make consistent stewardship sustainable rather than overwhelming. The team emphasizes starting with a clear assessment of your organization's current reality—examining donor data, communication flows, and team capacity before building ambitious plans. They introduce essential tools including gift entry flows, giving tables for segmenting donors, stewardship calendars for planning touchpoints, and their Donor Love Audit. The message is clear: effective stewardship doesn't require perfection or expensive gestures—it requires human connection, consistent rhythm, and clean systems that free fundraisers to focus on relationships rather than drowning in administrative chaos. 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.   Feathr: https://www.feathr.co/ Feathr is a marketing platform built specifically for mission-driven organizations, offering simple tools for digital advertising, email campaigns, and audience engagement. The platform uses real-time insights and AI-powered segmentation to help you reach the right people at the right time—whether you’re nurturing existing supporters or discovering new ones who share your values. It’s marketing that meets people where they are, building relationships that last beyond a single click.   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   The Cause Catalyst Co. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-cause-catalyst-co   | 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 The Cause Catalyst Co.: https://www.thecausecatalystco.com/ Free Tools + Templates from The Cause Catalyst Co.: https://www.thecausecatalystco.com/resources The Fundraising Elevator Podcast with Erica Soto: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRc45VbitSs The Stewardship Intensive Part 1: https://swaimstrategies.substack.com/p/webinar-day-1-the-stewardship-intensive The Stewardship Intensive Part 2: https://swaimstrategies.substack.com/p/webinar-day-2-the-stewardship-intensive Connect with Bloomerang: https://bit.ly/4hLqLVw Connect with DonorDock: https://www.donordock.com/ Connect with Little Green Light: https://www.littlegreenlight.com/   | TRAINING OPPORTUNITY | Looking to dive into Donor Stewardship? The Stewardship Reset Series with Cause Catalyst kicks of January 27th. Register here: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_2kWYBYlzT-ipLgQEMOiosg#/registration

    1h 29m
  4. Episode #103 | Unlocking Donor Advised Funds with Chariot's Mitch Stein

    JAN 21

    Episode #103 | Unlocking Donor Advised Funds with Chariot's Mitch Stein

    In this episode we explore donor-advised funds (DAFs) with Mitch Stein, head of strategy at Chariot. Mitch explains how DAFs work as tax-advantaged accounts where donors commit funds irrevocably to charity. He challenges the notion that DAFs hoard money, noting they actually encourage more generous giving, with donors increasing their gift sizes by an average of 10 times once they start using DAFs. We also look at practical solutions through Chariot's DAFpay technology, which integrates directly into donation platforms to allow instant gift completion. Traditional DAF processes can create friction at fundraising events, sometimes resulting in losses from unfulfilled pledges. Mitch’s key advice is for nonprofits to educate their teams and incorporate DAF language into all communications. Tune in to get the full rundown on DAFs and how you can powerfully integrate them into your fundraising. 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.   Feathr: https://www.feathr.co/ Feathr is a marketing platform built specifically for mission-driven organizations, offering simple tools for digital advertising, email campaigns, and audience engagement. The platform uses real-time insights and AI-powered segmentation to help you reach the right people at the right time—whether you’re nurturing existing supporters or discovering new ones who share your values. It’s marketing that meets people where they are, building relationships that last beyond a single click.   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   Mitch Stein LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitch-stein/   | 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 Chariot: https://www.givechariot.com/#newsletter Connect with Mitch Stein: mitch@givechariot.com Get the DAF Fundraising Report: https://www.givechariot.com/daf-fundraising-report Connect with DAFpay: https://www.dafpay.com/ DAF Day: https://www.dafday.com/ Daffy: https://www.daffy.org/ Charityvest: https://www.charityvest.org/

    1h 12m
  5. Episode #102 | The New Digital Marketing Landscape for Nonprofit Fundraising with Aleksander Levental

    JAN 14

    Episode #102 | The New Digital Marketing Landscape for Nonprofit Fundraising with Aleksander Levental

    In this episode, Aleksander Levental, Co-Founder and CEO of Feathr, discusses why digital marketing is essential for nonprofits in 2026. With federal funding decreasing and donor attention harder to capture, he makes a compelling case for why nonprofits should look at utilizing some of the same marketing tools and competitive mindset as for-profit companies. Our conversation breaks down how different tools serve distinct purposes: websites act as signal collectors tracking what visitors care about, email serves as both a signal generator and activation tool, social media provides the cheapest way to gain attention and test content, and digital advertising delivers the final push to convert interested prospects into donors. The episode demystifies advanced tactics like drip campaigns, retargeting, and geofencing. Throughout, Aleksander challenges nonprofits to adopt a growth-focused, marketing-savvy culture. Tune in for ideas about incorporating these tools into your own organization. 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.   Feathr: https://www.feathr.co/ Feathr is a marketing platform built specifically for mission-driven organizations, offering simple tools for digital advertising, email campaigns, and audience engagement. The platform uses real-time insights and AI-powered segmentation to help you reach the right people at the right time—whether you’re nurturing existing supporters or discovering new ones who share your values. It’s marketing that meets people where they are, building relationships that last beyond a single click.   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   Aleksander Levental LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alevental/   | 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 Feathr: https://www.feathr.co/demo See Feathr Case Studies: https://www.feathr.co/resources/case-studies Explore Feathr’s Blog: https://www.feathr.co/resources/blog

    1h 29m
  6. Episode #101 | Women Leading Bold Change with Shereen Thor

    JAN 7

    Episode #101 | Women Leading Bold Change with Shereen Thor

    In this inspiring episode, Shereen Thor—comedian turned executive coach and author of Revolutionary Woman—shares her journey from workplace drudgery to transformation through comedy and coaching. Using the Energy Leadership Index® assessment, she explains how sustainable success comes from collaborative energy rather than the competitive levels where most of corporate America operates.  Her advice for women leaders centers on building support systems, unplugging from toxic measuring sticks, and committing to healing as part of leadership development. She emphasizes that joy is a conscious choice that creates potential and encourages leaders that most people lead while scared—this offers the opportunity to redefine leadership toward more collaborative, transparent models.  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.   Feathr: https://www.feathr.co/ Feathr is a marketing platform built specifically for mission-driven organizations, offering simple tools for digital advertising, email campaigns, and audience engagement. The platform uses real-time insights and AI-powered segmentation to help you reach the right people at the right time—whether you’re nurturing existing supporters or discovering new ones who share your values. It’s marketing that meets people where they are, building relationships that last beyond a single click.   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   Shereen Thor LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shereenthor/   | 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 Shereen: https://shereenthor.com/ Read Shereen’s Book: https://shereenthor.com/book Energy Leadership Index Assessment: https://www.energyleadership.com/assessment APA Article on Women Leaders: https://www.apa.org/topics/women-girls/female-leaders-make-work-better Harvard Business Review on Women in Leadership: https://hbr.org/2019/06/research-women-score-higher-than-men-in-most-leadership-skills “How to Create a Future that Empowers Women” TEDx Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dUmw1Au7Y8 “The Intelligence of Being Irrational” TEDx Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IyWJHqlC9ss

    52 min
  7. ENCORE Episode #90 | Brain Science: How Immersion & Joy Drive Donor Giving | Paul Zak

    12/31/2025

    ENCORE Episode #90 | Brain Science: How Immersion & Joy Drive Donor Giving | Paul Zak

    In this ENCORE episode of The Fundraising Elevator, we continue our fascinating conversation with neuroscientist and author Dr. Paul J. Zak, diving deeper into the brain science behind fundraising storytelling, donor engagement, and happiness. If you missed part one, be sure to start there, this continuation builds on insights into why stories inspire generosity and action in the nonprofit sector. Dr. Zak explains his groundbreaking concept of neurologic immersion which is a blend of attention and emotional resonance in the brain that predicts which stories move people to act. He introduces the SIRTA framework (Staging, Immersion, Relevance, Targeting, Action), a practical tool that nonprofits can use to design donor experiences that increase connection, engagement, and giving. We explore real-world research on how immersive storytelling in fundraising videos drives donations, why staging matters for successful fundraising events, and how to lower barriers for donors by building camaraderie and relevance.  The conversation also shifts into the science of happiness, exploring Dr. Zak’s newest book, The Little Book of Happiness. He shares how high-value social experiences not only strengthen donor relationships but also enhance well-being, increase generosity, and even extend our lives. With wisdom rooted in both neuroscience and the practices of Benjamin Franklin, Dr. Zak offers a roadmap for living more connected, fulfilled, and generous lives. If you’re a nonprofit professional looking to improve donor retention, boost fundraising results, and create more impactful donor experiences, this episode is packed with actionable insights at the intersection of neuroscience, storytelling, and nonprofit fundraising strategies. 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.    Feathr: https://www.feathr.co/   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   Dr. Paul J. Zak LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-j-zak-91123510/   | 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 Paul Zak: https://pauljzak.com/ Immersion: https://pauljzak.com/books/ The Little Book of Happiness: https://pauljzak.com/books/ Paul Zak TED Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rFAdlU2ETjU

    50 min
  8. ENCORE Episode #89 | Neuroscience of Donor Storytelling: Raise More at Events | Dr. Paul J. Zak

    12/24/2025

    ENCORE Episode #89 | Neuroscience of Donor Storytelling: Raise More at Events | Dr. Paul J. Zak

    Happy holidays! During our break we are running an ENCORE episode. In this special two-part opener, hosts Sam and Kristin sit down with world-renowned neuroscientist Dr. Paul Zak, a pioneer in neuroeconomics, neuromanagement, and neuromarketing. Best known for discovering oxytocin’s role in trust and human connection, Dr. Zak brings cutting-edge insights on donor psychology, empathy, and storytelling in fundraising. In Part One, we explore the science of giving: why humans are wired to cooperate, how oxytocin fuels generosity and trust, and why storytelling is the most effective tool for donor engagement. Dr. Zak breaks down how attention, emotion, and immersion inspire people to act—and shares proven strategies for fundraisers to design high-impact campaigns and events. From crafting stories that spark empathy to creating immersive donor experiences, this episode offers practical applications backed by neuroscience. If you’re a nonprofit professional, fundraiser, or development leader looking to increase donor trust, deepen engagement, and inspire generosity, this episode delivers evidence-based strategies to elevate your fundraising success. 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.    Feathr: https://www.feathr.co/   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   Dr. Paul J. Zak LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-j-zak-91123510/   | 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 Paul Zak: https://pauljzak.com/ Empathy, Neurochemistry, and the Dramatic Arc: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1a7tiA1Qzo Immersion: https://pauljzak.com/books/ The Little Book of Happiness: https://pauljzak.com/books/ No One Wants to Read Your Sh*t: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30556551-nobody-wants-to-read-your-sh-t SIX: your6.com “Virtual Reality Education Increases Neurologic Immersion and Empathy in Nursing Students”: https://www.mdpi.com/2039-4403/15/9/336 Paul Zak TED Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rFAdlU2ETjU The Value Measurement: https://www.getimmersion.com/

    53 min
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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
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    126
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved
  • Show Website
    The Fundraising Elevator Podcast