The Accidental Fundraiser™ Podcast

When you’re a global humanitarian organization serving people from Ecuador to Tanzania, the support of your board and volunteers is crucial. Without them, your mission can’t continue.

In this episode, Bret Heinrich, president and CEO of Wings of Hope, shares how they’ve been able to get their board deeply and actively involved and why paying attention to the little things really goes a long way. You’ll also hear how Wings of Hope is leveraging technology to reach parts of the world too dangerous to enter.

There are multiple paths to becoming an accidental fundraiser and let's face it, accidental or not, fundraising is hard, but in the end, it's worth it.

Of course, it doesn’t hurt to be reminded of the joys of fundraising and the impact it can have on the world. Here’s a snippet of insight from those doing it to keep you inspired. Check out the full episode later this week and be sure to follow Accidental Fundraiser so you never miss any of our other conversations to help you reach your nonprofit goals.

When applying for funding from a grantmaking organization, it is crucial to understand its mission and goals.

Erin Hogue, senior director of strategic initiatives with Walmart Giving, has been involved in the nonprofit world for years, and is passionate about giving nonprofit organizations the visibility they need to reach donors.

In this episode, she shares how Walmart and Sam's Club engage their customers, members, and associates to support causes that are meaningful to them and their communities. You’ll learn how they work with public and private sector partners to solve, support, and address societal needs and what executive directors and fundraisers should think about when working with grantmaking organizations like Walmart.

There are multiple paths to becoming an accidental fundraiser and let's face it, accidental or not, fundraising is hard, but in the end, it's worth it.

Of course, it doesn’t hurt to be reminded of the joys of fundraising and the impact it can have on the world. Here’s a snippet of insight from those doing it to keep you inspired. Check out the full episode later this week and be sure to follow Accidental Fundraiser so you never miss any of our other conversations to help you reach your nonprofit goals.

Each year, accidental fundraisers ask themselves the question, “what am I going to do this GivingTuesday?”

Whether you use GivingTuesday as a key part of your year-end campaign or leverage the day to celebrate both your partners and volunteers, this global day of giving allows you to maximize impact within your community.

As GivingTuesday celebrates its 10th anniversary, Woodrow Rosenbaum, chief data officer for Giving Tuesday, and Pete Karns, senior vice president of corporate strategy at Bonterra, dive into the results, uncovering trends and heartwarming stories from the day.

Listen in to hear why GivingTuesday had its greatest day of giving yet and how things went from both an individual and corporate giving standpoint.

As we approach the end of 2022, we want to dive into the state of the social good sector with two of our personal fundraising coaches at Bonterra and Network for Good.

In this episode, Chany Ockert and Cherian Koshy share trends they’re hearing among nonprofit fundraisers and executive directors at organizations of all sizes and mission areas. They share their advice on what to think about for 2023, how to fundraise and engage supporters in a more personal way, and advice for avoiding burnout through the holidays and beyond.

There are multiple paths to becoming an accidental fundraiser and let's face it, accidental or not, fundraising is hard, but in the end, it's worth it.

Of course, it doesn’t hurt to be reminded of the joys of fundraising and the impact it can have on the world. Here’s a snippet of insight from those doing it to keep you inspired. Check out the full episode later this week and be sure to follow Accidental Fundraiser so you never miss any of our other conversations to help you reach your nonprofit goals.

Sometimes in fundraising, you have to step outside of your comfort zone, dive in and learn something new.

It can be challenging—there’s no question about it. But in the end, it’s all worth it.

In our second season of Accidental Fundraiser, you’ve heard stories from extraordinary individuals who have been challenged, learned how to keep going, and experienced success and failure along the way.

To celebrate the closing of this season, we're revisiting some key moments from these conversations and pausing to reflect on the wisdom our awesome guests shared. Listen in to hear some themes we noticed, like how clear purpose creates a strong, inspiring culture; why you should trust the process; and how authenticity is a key driver of success.

Even in the midst of massive growth and major impact, nonprofit work can be exhausting. How do you maintain your energy – and passion – when you’re dead tired?
In this conversation, [Mark Davis](https://www.linkedin.com/in/markedwarddavis/), Founder and Director of [Abundance International](http://www.abundanceinternational.org/), shares his secret to staying energized and on fire for his mission.
Mark and his team bring life-giving aid to orphans in Ukraine. Given recent attention on the war, Abundance International has had the opportunity to share their mission with a wider audience and experience incredible growth as a result.
During our conversation, Mark shares how he’s nurturing relationships with a new community of supporters, how he uses storytelling to connect audiences around the world with his mission, and what he’s learned from such rapid growth.

There are multiple paths to becoming an accidental fundraiser and let's face it, accidental or not, fundraising is hard, but in the end, it's worth it.

Of course, it doesn’t hurt to be reminded of the joys of fundraising and the impact it can have on the world. Here’s a snippet of insight from those doing it to keep you inspired. Check out the full episode later this week and be sure to follow Accidental Fundraiser so you never miss any of our other conversations to help you reach your nonprofit goals.

Frontline fundraisers face a difficult reality of a low donation rate, especially when cold calling. How can you increase your success?

Morgan Martell, self-described Zillennial and Assistant Director of Development at Texas Tech University, has advice. By shifting her perspective to learn and listen as much as possible, she’s built rapport with her donors and increased her success rate.

Martell has learned how to turn rejection into learning, create a culture of service, and align her donors’ interests with opportunities at her university.

There are multiple paths to becoming an accidental fundraiser and let's face it, accidental or not, fundraising is hard, but in the end, it's worth it.

Of course, it doesn’t hurt to be reminded of the joys of fundraising and the impact it can have on the world. Here’s a snippet of insight from those doing it to keep you inspired. Check out the full episode later this week and be sure to follow Accidental Fundraiser so you never miss any of our other conversations to help you reach your nonprofit goals.

Break out the pie chart. How much time, energy and resources do you devote to ensuring your funders and recipients are happy? 20%? Maybe 30%?

In her journey to founding and serving South Carolina’s Freedom Readers, Executive Director Tracy Bailey has learned it’s a two-way street.

In this episode of Accidental Fundraiser, Tracy shares how to reflect and celebrate your community, partner with key organizations for the benefit of all, and use your potential lack of access as a tool for motivation.

There are multiple paths to becoming an accidental fundraiser and let's face it, accidental or not, fundraising is hard, but in the end, it's worth it.

Of course, it doesn’t hurt to be reminded of the joys of fundraising and the impact it can have on the world. Here’s a snippet of insight from those doing it to keep you inspired. Check out the full episode later this week and be sure to follow Accidental Fundraiser so you never miss any of our other conversations to help you reach your nonprofit goals.

From getting no’s to a severe lack of feedback, the fundraising process can be frustrating. Who better to give advice than the grantmakers themselves?

In this episode, Donna Waites and Meredith Mathews from the Sisters of Charity Foundation, break down all the successful tactics you need to apply for, receive, and deploy funding from grantmakers. Hint: It’s not only about proving your outcomes – stories are also critical!

Continue listening to learn why trust and relationships are important in capacity building and how to prioritize DIEB to better serve your community.

There are multiple paths to becoming an accidental fundraiser and let's face it, accidental or not, fundraising is hard, but in the end, it's worth it.

Of course, it doesn’t hurt to be reminded of the joys of fundraising and the impact it can have on the world. Here’s a snippet of insight from those doing it to keep you inspired. Check out the full episode later this week and be sure to follow Accidental Fundraiser so you never miss any of our other conversations to help you reach your nonprofit goals.

As an Accidental Fundraiser and Chief Everything Officer, what do you prioritize – your organization’s viability or your ultimate mission and purpose? Many think you have to choose one or the other to be successful.

Bonterra CEO and tech titan Erin Mulligan Nelson says they go hand-in-hand – no need to choose between purpose and profit. Because if you’re properly doing what you set out to do, your donors will “stay with you, grow with you and advocate for you.” And your nonprofit will thrive.

Learn in this episode of Accidental Fundraiser how defining your purpose affects more than your marketing and talent acquisition, how social impact investing drives results, and why verifiable impact is the future of fundraising.

There are multiple paths to becoming an accidental fundraiser and let's face it, accidental or not, fundraising is hard, but in the end, it's worth it.

Of course, it doesn’t hurt to be reminded of the joys of fundraising and the impact it can have on the world. Here’s a snippet of insight from those doing it to keep you inspired. Check out the full episode later this week and be sure to follow Accidental Fundraiser so you never miss any of our other conversations to help you reach your nonprofit goals.

There are multiple paths to becoming an accidental fundraiser and let's face it, accidental or not, fundraising is hard, but in the end, it's worth it.

Of course, it doesn’t hurt to be reminded of the joys of fundraising and the impact it can have on the world. Here’s a snippet of insight from those doing it to keep you inspired. Check out the full episode later this week and be sure to follow Accidental Fundraiser so you never miss any of our other conversations to help you reach your nonprofit goals.

Getting your nonprofit off the ground can be really difficult. That’s why our Accidental Fundraiser Ayanna Nahmias went back to her home in Zimbabwe to, well, put her nonprofit in the ground. Literally.

Despite a troubling childhood, Nahmias started and runs the Zimbabwe Farm Project, soon to be Africa Vertical, a sustainable farming complex in Zimbabwe that employs women from the local community to tend organic crops. She’s overcome countless obstacles and benefited from some fortunate opportunities. Today, they’re expanding their mission beyond Zimbabwe and farming!

Learn in this episode of Accidental Fundraiser how Ayanna got her start “uplifting a nation” and how she’s literally and figuratively grown her grassroots nonprofit. Need a reminder why you do what you do? Ayanna’s story will reinspire you.

There are multiple paths to becoming an accidental fundraiser and let's face it, accidental or not, fundraising is hard, but in the end, it's worth it.

Of course, it doesn’t hurt to be reminded of the joys of fundraising and the impact it can have on the world. Here’s a snippet of insight from those doing it to keep you inspired. Check out the full episode later this week and be sure to follow Accidental Fundraiser so you never miss any of our other conversations to help you reach your nonprofit goals.

The issues facing the LGBTQ community have improved. Yet, they still encounter uphill battles every day.

Elizabeth Schedl, executive director at the Hudson Pride Center in New Jersey, knows this first hand. She joins Accidental Fundraiser to share how they’ve expanded their donor base, organized creative events for their community, and streamlined their acquisition and retention strategies.

There are multiple paths to becoming an accidental fundraiser and let's face it, accidental or not, fundraising is hard, but in the end, it's worth it.

Of course, it doesn’t hurt to be reminded of the joys of fundraising and the impact it can have on the world. Here’s a snippet of insight from those doing it to keep you inspired. Check out the full episode later this week and be sure to follow Accidental Fundraiser so you never miss any of our other conversations to help you reach your nonprofit goals.

Curious about how much fundraising, donations, and other aspects of the nonprofit sector have changed since 2021?

We’ve got a special update for you—a sneak peek from Giving USA’s 2021 report. Each year Giving USA (a public service initiative of The Giving Institute) conducts research on the nonprofit sector in the U.S. The full report will be released on July 12th, but they published a preview featuring some of their top-level findings from last year.

In this episode, you’ll hear Kimberly O’Donnell share her biggest takeaways and “aha” moments while helping dissect the data to better inform your nonprofit decisions moving forward.

The pandemic hit the economy hard. Perhaps none harder than the nonprofit world. In fact, 1/3 of organizations faced financial jeopardy, says PBS.

Camille Nitschky and the Children’s Grief Center of the Great Lakes Bay Region pivoted during the pandemic and increased fundraising by 27% despite the odds.

How’d they do it? Camille joins Accidental Fundraiser to discuss how her video strategy (and other creative fundraising ideas) led to the Grief Center’s best year yet and attracted interest both locally and nationally.

There are multiple paths to becoming an accidental fundraiser and let's face it, accidental or not, fundraising is hard, but in the end, it's worth it.

Of course, it doesn’t hurt to be reminded of the joys of fundraising and the impact it can have on the world. Here’s a snippet of insight from those doing it to keep you inspired. Check out the full episode later this week and be sure to follow Accidental Fundraiser so you never miss any of our other conversations to help you reach your nonprofit goals.

Just days before yet another deadly massacre at a Texas elementary school, Lori Alhadeff joined Accidental Fundraiser to share her journey in founding Make Our Schools Safe and lobbying for change at a national level.

Listen to this episode to learn from Lori’s unwavering dedication to her mission. Whether you are a parent or not, her passion for her daughter’s legacy and school safety will strike a chord. And may even inspire action.

There are multiple paths to becoming an accidental fundraiser and let's face it, accidental or not, fundraising is hard, but in the end, it's worth it.

Of course, it doesn’t hurt to be reminded of the joys of fundraising and the impact it can have on the world. Here’s a snippet of insight from those doing it to keep you inspired. Check out the full episode later this week and be sure to follow Accidental Fundraiser so you never miss any of our other conversations to help you reach your nonprofit goals.

Fundraising is hard. Really hard. But in the end, we all know it’s worth it. Because you’ve made your mark. You’ve made a difference. You’ve changed the world one dollar, one campaign, one life at a time.

Season 2 of Accidental Fundraiser is here. And it will take your fundraising career to the next level. Learn from stories across the globe of how Accidental Fundraisers successfully navigate board meetings and relationships, retain donors for years not months, raise dollars for their mission and values, and so much more.

Through the stories shared by your nonprofit friends and leaders, you’ll leave each episode saying “yes, yes I can” and ready for anything – including your next big fundraiser.

And, in case you haven't heard, Network for Good is becoming Bonterra, and we are excited to be a part of a tech company committed to empowering the doers of social good, accidental and otherwise.

What does our new partnership mean for you? Access to more powerful stories and even better resources for you and your fellow accidental fundraisers. It’s a win-win-win!

What are you waiting for? Follow along to hear our next season of amazing guests.

Figuring out what makes people give to a cause is a challenge for every fundraiser. Alyson Landers, Project Manager of Major Gifts for the Hudson River Museum in New York, joined Accidental Fundraiser to discuss her journey to becoming a fundraising professional.

As a former board member herself, she shared her unique perspective of engaging, educating and enabling members of the board of directors. Because without significant buy-in – financial and otherwise – fundraisers can struggle to launch and grow their initiatives. Alyson’s bonus episode will teach you how to get support from your board and excel in your initiatives.

As fundraisers, and especially accidental fundraisers, it’s easy to feel isolated. Sometimes you just need someone to help you grow and tell you, “You can do this.”

In this episode, Chany Ockert and Janet Cobb join to discuss what it takes to not just survive as a fundraiser, but thrive.

Chany and Janet have worked in the nonprofit world for decades, giving them unique perspectives on the current state of fundraising, and what it means to build relationships in a continually changing environment.

There are multiple paths to becoming an accidental fundraiser. And, let’s face it, accidental or not, fundraising is hard. But in the end, it’s worth it. Throughout this season of Accidental Fundraiser, you’ve heard story after story of...

You can’t create social impact without social media. is the Strategic Partner Manager of Social Impact at , which oversees social media properties like Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, and more. Michelle has a heart for fundraising and...

“What do we need to be doing to put ourselves out of business? Because if we're not working towards that, we are literally stealing from this community." is the CEO and Co-founder of an organization that walks alongside families on the path out of...

When it comes to fundraising initiatives, it’s easy to stick with what you know, but different markets call for different approaches. found this to be true when she moved from Miami, where galas were all the rage, to Santa Fe. As Executive...

Big, hairy, audacious goals can be terrifying, but that’s no reason not to set them. Nycky Miller is the Director of Development at where their goal is to end homelessness in the state of Oklahoma. Which to some may sound all but impossible, but...

As fundraisers, we often focus on the ask. Yet, sometimes it’s important to share a story and express your gratitude. For Jeff Allen, that means spreading the mission of to anyone who will listen and thanking every donor – no matter the size of...

In the nonprofit world, it's important to care about those you serve, but when it comes to fundraising, is that enough? is a nonprofit children’s theatre company dedicated to creating professional, full-scale musicals by combining quality training...

In a world where it seems like our whole lives are online, a personal touch can make all the difference. After a simple "Happy Birthday" message to a donor led to an increase in his annual contribution, realized how impactful those small details can...

You know a nonprofit is on the right path when the majority of their volunteers are people who once benefited from that the organization's support. provides housing and support services for those who find themself in need. , Director of Development...

What do you do when a terrorist organization takes over your country and your nonprofit still needs to function? Fereshteh Forough knows this better than most. Fundraising requires an endless amount of time and energy. Not to mention the added stress...

is the mother of two premature babies and saw firsthand the hardships families face in similar situations. While on medical leave with her son, she fell in love with the craft of cake decorating—little did she know where that would lead. Over a...

When the economic crash of 2008 threatened the financial stability of the , , now Managing Editor, knew their success depended on fundraising. The problem? In 50 years as a nonprofit, they had never done any fundraising. Massachusetts Review is a...

Accidental Fundraiser, an original show from Network for Good, is written to you - the nonprofit leader, the Chief Everything Officer– answering the often unspoken questions rattling around in your mind. Letting you know that no matter what’s...