The Most Powerful and Underused NPO Tool: An Interview with Patrick Kirby of Do Good Better Consulting
05/02/23 • 30 min
Our Guest: Patrick Kirby, Founder of Do Good Better Consulting
About Do Good Better Consulting: Patrick started Do Good Better as “a firm that helps nonprofits suck less at fundraising”, and he means that “with the most adoration”. The basics-of-the-basics is what Patrick loves helping NPOs master. Consulting, podcast, events, and Do Good YOUniversity are all plates Patrick is keeping spinning currently.
(4:00) Five Day Fundraising Framework
(7:25) "The last thing people remember is that handwritten thank you note.” - Patrick Kirby
(9:30) “I have never, in the 20 years that I have been doing fundraising, never been punched in the face for calling to say ‘hi’ or ‘thank you’, and I’ve also never been punched in the face for asking for money.” - Patrick Kirby
(10:10) How to stay top-of-mind with your donors
(11:00) A great question for donors
(13:25) Do Good YOUniversity
(18:40) Do Good Better on the road
(22:15) Consulting
Patrick’s Pro Tip: “Pick up the damn phone.”
Golden BTD Nugget: The power of picking up the phone and to convey your enthusiasm and gratitude with your voice is hard to throw off.
Patrick’s Bonus Tip: Don’t wait until the end of the year to call people to say thank you.
More About Do Good Better Consulting:
More About Patrick Kirby:
To Connect with Beyond the Donation Podcast:
Our Guest: Patrick Kirby, Founder of Do Good Better Consulting
About Do Good Better Consulting: Patrick started Do Good Better as “a firm that helps nonprofits suck less at fundraising”, and he means that “with the most adoration”. The basics-of-the-basics is what Patrick loves helping NPOs master. Consulting, podcast, events, and Do Good YOUniversity are all plates Patrick is keeping spinning currently.
(4:00) Five Day Fundraising Framework
(7:25) "The last thing people remember is that handwritten thank you note.” - Patrick Kirby
(9:30) “I have never, in the 20 years that I have been doing fundraising, never been punched in the face for calling to say ‘hi’ or ‘thank you’, and I’ve also never been punched in the face for asking for money.” - Patrick Kirby
(10:10) How to stay top-of-mind with your donors
(11:00) A great question for donors
(13:25) Do Good YOUniversity
(18:40) Do Good Better on the road
(22:15) Consulting
Patrick’s Pro Tip: “Pick up the damn phone.”
Golden BTD Nugget: The power of picking up the phone and to convey your enthusiasm and gratitude with your voice is hard to throw off.
Patrick’s Bonus Tip: Don’t wait until the end of the year to call people to say thank you.
More About Do Good Better Consulting:
More About Patrick Kirby:
To Connect with Beyond the Donation Podcast:
Previous Episode
From Pandemic Pitfalls to Philanthropic Windfalls: Rachel Cardwell/Friends of the Children Central Oregon
Our Guest:
Rachel Cardwell, Executive Director, Friends of the Children Central Oregon
About Friends of the Children Central Oregon: While FOTC has been around for about 30 years, with the original chapter being founded in Portland, OR, Rachel has been with FOTCCO for the last five years. She is leading this chapter in the journey of it growing from startup mode to something more stable. Friends of the Children Central Oregon serves three counties and focuses on amplifying the voice of the children it serves in their various communities.
(3:20) Explanation of the Model and function of FOTC
(5:30) Only professional mentoring program currently in the country.
(11:30) Managing the pandemic
(12:30) Moved into a virtual mentoring space, incorporating caregiver and parent outreach
(14:40) Philanthropic Windfall from MacKenzie Scott Foundation
(14:58) “That may have been the best day of my professional career!”
Golden BTD Nugget (18:52):
“Right after that feeling of relief came the weight of responsibility that we had to invest these dollars in ways that would make the biggest impact for youth in our region.”
(22:00) Challenges FOTC OR is facing
(25:30) More about working with private foundations
Rachel’s Pro Tip: The most successful tool is in story-telling. The way you tell your story has to be compelling. Find the best story-teller on your team, and allow your donors to feel the part they play in your organization’s impact.
More About Friends of the Children Central Oregon:
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Next Episode
A Chapter on Nonprofit Bookkeeping: An Interview With Maddie Craig of Blue Cypher Bookkeeping
Our Guest: Maddie Craig, Founder of Blue Cypher Bookkeeping
About Blue Cypher Bookkeeping: Based in Fargo, ND, Blue Cypher Bookkeeping has a client roster from across the United States. From Maddie’s experience as a grant manager at a private foundation, she realized the need nonprofits had to organize their data and accounts record keeping and built her company around supporting that need.
(2:13) Customer Snapshot
(3:30) New Nonprofit Advice
Golden BTD Nugget: “Surround yourself with the right people and the right resources that can help you... so you can run your organization the correct way.” - Maddie Craig
(6:28) Tools for Nonprofit account recordkeeping
(8:28) Accounting software security
(11:11) Differentiating NPO tools
(13:54) Fund Accounting
Maddie’s Pro Tip: “Start saving digital files.” Scanned receipts, bank statements, etc. using cloud-based software makes it easier to find documents you need when you need them.
More About Blue Cypher Bookkeeping:
More About Maddie Craig:
To Connect with Beyond the Donation Podcast:
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