Podcast Archives | The Better Fundraising Company

Now What? A Fundraising Call to Action with Steven Screen

Steven Screen | June 4, 2024June 10, 2025Podcast

How do you keep going in a time of financial uncertainty? How does a nonprofit respond to outside shocks like funding cuts, and how should your fundraising change?

Steven responds to these questions and more in this video podcast from The Fundraising Elevator. Hosts Samantha and Kristin ask Steven what strategies to use to encourage donor giving, and whether it’s possible for fundraising – and nonprofits – to thrive even now.

Once you’ve watched the video, click here to download the White Paper that Steven describes as a vital resource.

The Power of Donor Love: Interview with Jen Love & John Lepp

Steven Screen | August 8, 2018June 10, 2020Podcast

You’ll be equipped and inspired by this interview with Jen Love and John Lepp of Agents of Good in Toronto. They are powerful spokespersons for the idea and practical expression of loving donors. You’ll learn how Courier font is a practical tool for donor love, why innovation in fundraising so often doesn’t work, why ugly powers great fundraising, and how fundraisers can take care of themselves in our sometimes emotionally draining work.

Click here to listen

11 amazing fundraising truths discovered by new writers

Steven Screen | May 2, 2018June 10, 2020Podcast

We asked two new fundraising (and very successful) writers who have been doing some very great work what they know about fundraising that’s making them succeed.

Here’s what they told us:

Write as one person connecting with one person.
Avoid the word “we” — unless it very clearly means you the reader and I the writer.
Start your first draft with this phrase: I’m writing to you today because…
Use the word you a lot.
Articulate the fundraising offer early and often.
Tell a story of need, not success.
Ask clearly for money. (Don’t hint around!)
Write at a 6th grade reading level.
Include a P.S. and restate whatever is the most important thing in your message.
Have a deadline, and mention it often.
Keep the organization out of the way — make it about what the donor can do.

If you’re new to the work, or feel intimidated by it, this list can push you way up your learning curve, and fast!

Click here to listen

Fundraising is about so much more than money

Steven Screen | March 14, 2018June 10, 2020Podcast

Steven shares his short poem, “A Benediction for Fundraisers” (based on “Christ Has No Body” by St. Teresa of Avila [1515-1582]).

We hope this very brief podcast inspires you to love the important work we do when we motivate donors to give.

Click here to listen

Engagement fundraising — how you raise the big bucks from the happiest donors

Steven Screen | February 14, 2018June 10, 2020Podcast

This is a powerful and super-informative interview with Greg Warner, founder of MarketSmart who also hosts a great podcast called Engagement Fundraising.

The secret to accelerating your fundraising program is this: find the right level of engagement and giving for every donor, especially:

Those who will leave your organization a bequest.
Those with the capacity to become mid-level or major donors.

How do you discover this? Some combination of science and magic?

Or just ask them?

You’ll love Greg’s energy and passion as he describes all the love we’re missing by not asking — engaging with — donors.

Click here to listen

How to conduct interviews that get you the fundraising stories that stir your donors’ hearts

Steven Screen | January 31, 2018June 10, 2020Podcast

We all know how important it is to tell great stories in fundraising. Those stories almost never drop out of the sky! We have to go and get them.

In this quick discussion, you’ll get some great interviewing tips, including:

Know what you want to get what you want.
Dealing with language barriers and working with translators.
“Lead the witness.”
The “Columbo” technique.

And more. Don’t miss this opportunity to collect the best stories.

Click here to listen

Ultimate Fundraising Lesson

Steven Screen | January 18, 2018June 10, 2020Podcast

The most important thing you can learn about fundraising — the one thing that can make the difference between mediocrity and big-time success — it’s this: It’s not about you. It’s about your donor! It’s so easy to talk about how great our organization is … and to forget that donors don’t give because you’re awesome. They give because they are awesome. That’s why successful fundraising is about donors, not about us.

Click here to listen

3 things that are probably wrong with your nonprofit website

Steven Screen | January 10, 2018June 10, 2020Podcast

We’ve looked at a lot of nonprofit websites. More than is good for our mental health, frankly.

And we’ve found three things to be wrong with nearly all of them:

Your website doesn’t present some kind of need that the donor can meet.
The idea of giving is not clear and strong.
You’ve created it to make your leadership and board happy.

We’ll show you how to fix these common issues and transform your website into the fundraising vehicle you want.

Click here to listen

How to use photos in fundraising

Steven Screen | October 11, 2017June 10, 2020Podcast

Take note of this:

A picture is worth a thousand words. So choose your pictures carefully!

We take a look at the ways photos can emotional depth and measurable pull-power to your fundraising … or undermine your message entirely!

A good fundraiser knows when to use “negative” images and when to use the positive ones we prefer. Find out in this episode the rhythm and balance of images that motivate donors to give. And to keep giving.

Click here to listen