nonprofit fundraising

September 21, 2023

Episode #76: Flipping the Script on Nonprofit Fundraising with Sandy Rees

In this episode, Tobi engages in a thought-provoking discussion with Sandy Rees, CEO of Get Fully Funded, about innovative strategies for nonprofit fundraising success. Sandy Rees is Founder and Chief Encouragement Officer of Get Fully Funded, an organization that shows small nonprofits how to raise the money they need to fully fund their budget. She makes fundraising easy, showing people practical, proven strategies along with the inspiration they need to be wildly successful.

Sandy shares valuable insights on how organizations can shift their mindset from scarcity to abundance, and why this shift is crucial for success in the nonprofit sector. We’ll dive into the importance of investing in high ROI activities and how leadership’s attitude towards resources can impact the entire organization.

We’ll delves into the intersection between volunteer engagement and fundraising, revealing how these two components are intertwined in philanthropy. As experts in their respective fields, Sandy and Tobi, draw upon their extensive experience to provide practical strategies for nonprofits of all sizes, whether they rely on a dedicated staff or operate solely with volunteers.

Nonprofit Fundraising – Messaging

This episode dives into the significance of messaging and its impact on fundraising success. Sandy shares her own experience of seeing immediate results when changing up messaging and streamlining the volunteer process. By focusing on the impact and transformation of volunteering rather than just the requirements, organizations can resonate with potential volunteers and provide refreshing and meaningful experiences.

Nonprofit Fundraising – Embracing Abundance

Drawing from personal experiences, Sandy highlights the importance of embracing abundance and believing in the organization’s ability to obtain the necessary resources to fulfill its mission. They delve into the power of messaging, urging nonprofits to focus on the transformative impact of volunteering rather than just the requirements. Sandy shares stories of immediate results when changing up messaging and streamlining the volunteer process.

Nonprofit Fundraising – Show Highlights

00:23.8  Tobi started the episode and introduced the topic

01:23.7  Tobi introduced Sandy

02:19.5  Talking about mindset today

04:39.1  How did you get started in nonprofit work?

13:23.0  What are ways people had to pivot since the pandemic

25:00.0  Scarcity mindset

31:48.1  Ways to tell if an organization is affected by scarcity mindset

36:54.1  What role does leadership and organizational culture can play in addressing

42:55.5  Moving the conversation out of scarcity on a lower level (not management)

49:07.0  Should nonprofits ask volunteers for donations

52:30.1  How can nonprofits engage volunteers in fundraising

56:29.0  What are you most excited about in the year ahead

57:32.6  Where can people find Sandy

Nonprofit Fundraising – Quotes from the Episode

“Investing in things that will give a high return on investment is crucial for nonprofit fundraising.”
“A growth mindset cannot coexist with a scarcity mindset in the nonprofit sector.”
“Believing in abundance and the ability to obtain what is needed is crucial for success in nonprofit fundraising.”
“Messaging that focuses on the impact and transformation of volunteering yields immediate results in attracting volunteers.”
“Volunteer opportunities should be resilient and provide a healing and self-care experience for volunteers.”
“Fundraising is about connecting donors to the lives they can change, rather than just meeting organizational budgets.”
“Having clear calls to action and avoiding multiple asks on each page are basic digital marketing concepts for nonprofit organizations.”

Helpful Links

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Nonprofit leadership author, trainer, consultant, and volunteer management expert Tobi Johnson shares weekly tips to help charities build, grow, and scale exceptional volunteer teams. Discover how your nonprofit can effectively coordinate volunteers who are reliable, equipped, and ready to help you bring about BIG change for the better.

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