SummaryIn this episode of Fridays 4 Fundraising, Kelly talks about how to get your board to buy into professional development budgets.LinksCheck Out DonorboxRequest a Discovery Call TakeawaysPresent fundraising investments as gains, not a way to prevent losses.Use data to show the potential return on investment.Frame fundraising needs as opportunities for growth.Keywordsfundraising, nonprofit, professional development, donor retention, board engagement, fundraising strategy, nonprofit success, donor retention improvement, fundraising support

SummaryIn this episode of Fridays 4 Fundraising, Kelly emphasizes the importance of personal donor engagement through calls, advocating for a return to traditional relationship-building methods to boost fundraising effectiveness. She shares practical steps for nonprofit leaders to reconnect with donors and improve retention.LinksCheck Out DonorboxRequest a Discovery Call TakeawaysThe decline of digital-only fundraising strategiesThe importance of personal donor relationshipsPractical steps for calling and engaging donorsChapters00:00 Welcome to Fridays 4 Fundraising00:41 Thank You to Donorbox!01:08 This Week's Focus: Call Your Donors, part 2!04:10 How to Approach Calling Donors You Don't Know05:49 Let's hang out!06:53 Your Homework Assignment: Call 10 Donors You Don't Know Keywordsfundraising, donor engagement, nonprofit, relationship-building, donor calls, fundraising strategy, Kelly McLaughlin, From Scratch Fundraising

SummaryIn this episode of Fridays 4 Fundraising, Kelly explains how nonprofit fundraisers can leverage calendar scheduling links to increase efficiency and build stronger donor relationships. Kelly shares practical steps to implement these tools and improve fundraising outcomes. LinksCheck Out DonorboxRequest a Discovery Call TakeawaysUsing calendar links is now essential for donor engagement.Set up three default meeting types: 30-min virtual, 60-min virtual, 90-min in-person.Choose a platform that integrates well with your existing tools.Donors prefer efficient, no-hassle scheduling options.ChaptersChapters00:00 Welcome to Fridays 4 Fundraising01:07 The Shift in Donor Scheduling Preferences01:38 Why Calendar Links Are a Must Now03:55 Choosing the Right Scheduling Platform05:17 Setting Up Default Meeting Types06:09 Matching Meeting Types to Donor Needs06:50 Quick Setup Tips for Calendar Links06:58 Your Weekly Homework: Implement a Calendar Link Keywordsfundraising, nonprofit, calendar scheduling, donor relationships, efficiency, digital tools, fundraising tips

SummaryIn this episode of Fridays 4 Fundraising, Kelly shares insights on managing fundraiser burnout by understanding the physiological stress response and practical techniques to stay resilient.  LinksCheck Out DonorboxRequest a Discovery CallSign up for How To Fundraise Without Burning Out workshop TakeawaysBurnout is the freeze response, a physiological reaction to stress.Managing stress involves making your body feel safe through physical and social activities.Understanding the physicality of stress is crucial for long-term resilience.Chapters00:00 Welcome to Fridays 4 Fundraising02:40 Understanding Fundraiser Burnout05:19 Physiological Responses to Stress08:14 Strategies for Managing Stress10:58 Building a Burnout Recovery Action Plan13:51 Workshop Invitation and Conclusion Keywordsfundraiser burnout, stress management, nonprofit, sustainable fundraising, mental health, stress response, burnout recovery, Kelly McLaughlin, DonorBox, fundraising tips

SummaryIn this episode of Fridays 4 Fundraising, Kelly shares a simple yet powerful technique to enhance donor relationships and increase retention—BCC'ing team members on donation autoresponders. She explains how this easy step can foster real conversations, improve engagement, and ultimately boost fundraising success. LinksCheck Out DonorboxRequest a Discovery CallSign up for How To Fundraise Without Burning Out workshop TakeawaysUsing BCC in autoresponders helps to build relationships by prompting conversations with donors you wouldn't have otherwise.Improving donor retention requires personalized engagement Chapters00:00 Welcome to Fridays 4 Fundraising00:47 Thank You Donorbox!01:31 This Week's Focus: Optimize Your Thank Yous04:31 How To Set Up a BCC on your Autoresponder10:25 Workshop: How to Fundraise Without Burning Outt13:01 This Week's Assignment: Set up a BCC on your autoresponders Keywordsfundraising, donor relationships, autoresponders, donor retention, nonprofit, digital fundraising, relationship building, Kelly McLaughlin, fundraising tips

SummaryIn this episode of Fridays 4 Fundraising, Kelly talks about why phone calls to donors still matter—even (and maybe in spite of) the age of digital efficiency. This week, start with your top 10 donors to begin making strides in donor retention and upgrades. LinksCheck Out DonorboxRequest a Discovery CallSign up for How To Fundraise Without Burning Out workshop TakeawaysThe importance of calling donors for relationship buildingSteps to effectively call top donorsUsing digital tools to enhance face-to-face interactionsManaging fundraising burnout and stress ChaptersChapters00:00 Introduction to Fundraising Focus00:38 Kelly's Weekly Fundraising Assignment01:34 Introducing the Call Your Donors Series01:58 The Impact of Donor Calls on Fundraising03:51 Digital Tools vs. Personal Relationships06:04 How to Identify Your Top 10 Donors06:42 Simple Steps to Call Your Donors08:00 Treat Every Donor as Valuable08:52 Voicemail and Follow-up Tips09:22 Upcoming Free Workshop on Burnout Prevention11:36 Weekly Homework: Call Your Top 10 Donors Keywordsfundraising, donor calls, nonprofit, relationship building, donor retention, burnout prevention, digital tools, fundraising strategy

SummaryIn this episode of Fridays 4 Fundraising, Kelly shares practical strategies for nonprofit fundraising success, focusing on eliminating non-essential tasks to free up time for relationship building and mission impact. She emphasizes the importance of focusing on activities that directly support organizational goals.LinksJoin Sustain & Thrive: https://www.fromscratchfundraising.com/sustain-thriveSchedule a Discovery Call: https://www.fromscratchfundraising.com/scheduleCheck Out DonorBox: https://donorbox.org/?kfl_ln=zdbknjuTakeawaysEliminate tasks that don't support primary goals or organizational survival.Use a three-question test to evaluate each task's importance.Focus on relationship-building activities to move fundraising forward.Automation and delegation are key to increasing productivity.Chapters00:00 Welcome to Fridays 4 Fundraising00:45 Thank You to our First Sponsor: Donorbox!01:28 This Week's Focus: Boost Productivity & Eliminate!02:22 How to Eliminate Non-Essential Tasks04:24 Resources to Support You04:59 This Week's Assignment: Find things to eliminate on your to do list Keywordsfundraising, nonprofit, productivity, task elimination, relationship building, Kelly McLaughlin, From Scratch Fundraising, nonprofit tips

SummaryIn this episode of Fridays 4 Fundraising, Kelly shares a practical framework for nonprofit leaders to boost productivity by automating, operating efficiently, and delegating tasks. This episode offers actionable steps to free up time for relationship building and strategic growth via delegation--even when there's nobody to delegate to!LinksJoin Sustain & Thrive: https://www.fromscratchfundraising.com/sustain-thriveSchedule a Discovery Call: https://www.fromscratchfundraising.com/scheduleCheck Out DonorBox: https://donorbox.org/?kfl_ln=zdbknjuTakeawaysAutomate repetitive tasks using tools like Zapier and QuickBooks.Delegate non-value-adding tasks to volunteers, contractors, or software.Use platforms like Volunteer Match to find volunteers for specific tasks.Hiring an accountant can save time and money, often more than the cost.Focus on relationship-building activities that drive fundraising. Chapters00:00 Welcome to Fridays 4 Fundraising01:31 This Week's Focus: Framework for Productivity - Delegate!02:50 How To Delegate - even when there's nobody to delegate to06:49 Resources to Support You08:00 This Week's Assignment: Figure out something you can delegate todayKeywordsnonprofit, productivity, delegation, automation, fundraising, volunteer, small nonprofit, efficiency, Kelly McLaughlin, From Scratch Fundraising

SummaryIn this episode of Fridays 4 Fundraising, Kelly shares practical strategies for creating standard operating procedures (SOPs) to streamline operations, automate tasks, and build sustainable systems. She also introduces her Nurture and Grow consulting program to help organizations develop long-term fundraising strategies.LinksJoin Sustain & Thrive: https://www.fromscratchfundraising.com/sustain-thriveSchedule a Discovery Call: https://www.fromscratchfundraising.com/scheduleCheck Out DonorBox: https://donorbox.org/?kfl_ln=zdbknjuTakeawaysCreate SOPs for recurring tasks to save brainpower and ease delegation/handoffsPrepare your organization to operate smoothly even in your absence Chapters00:00 Welcome to Fridays 4 Fundraising00:00 A Note from Donorbox01:55 This Week's Focus: Productivity - Operate!03:05 How to Create Standard Operating Procedures07:30 This Week's Assignment: Create a few SOPsKeywordsnonprofit fundraising, SOP, standard operating procedures, automation, nonprofit strategy, Kelly McLaughlin, fundraising systems, nonprofit growth, donor relationships, fundraising success

SummaryIn this episode of Fridays 4 Fundraising, Kelly shares practical strategies for nonprofit fundraisers to boost productivity through automation, effective use of tools like Zapier, and strategic planning. She emphasizes the importance of simplifying tasks, automating repetitive processes, and building sustainable fundraising systems. LinksJoin Sustain & Thrive: https://www.fromscratchfundraising.com/sustain-thriveSchedule a Discovery Call: https://www.fromscratchfundraising.com/scheduleCheck Out DonorBox: https://donorbox.org/?kfl_ln=zdbknjuCheck Out Zapier: https://zapier.comTakeawaysReview your to-do list for automation opportunitiesUse tools like Zapier to automate repetitive tasksLeverage existing platform features for automation Chapters00:00 Welcome to Fridays 4 Fundraising00:40 Thank You to our First Sponsor: Donorbox!01:43 This Week's Focus: Boost Productivity & Automate!02:29 How To Boost Productivity through Automations05:07 Resources to Support You06:38 This Week's Assignment: Find things to automate on your to do list Keywordsnonprofit fundraising, automation, productivity, Zapier, donor management, fundraising strategy, nonprofit tips, efficiency, system building