Tips for Fundraising During an Election Year with Alyssa Wright
06/27/24 • 38 min
As the U.S. gears up for the 2024 presidential election, nonprofit professionals find themselves at the intersection of philanthropy and politics, considering the unique challenges and opportunities that come with fundraising during an election year.
My guest this week is Alyssa Wright, industry expert on fundraising. Having spent time as a human rights activist in Eastern Europe and Africa, Alyssa brings over a decade of experience in international philanthropy to Wright Collective. With a background in community organizing and the arts, Alyssa leads the Collective with skill, creativity, and passion.
In this episode, we delve into the complexities of setting fundraising goals for 2024, drawing reflections from historical trends, research, and insightful analyses.
This episode is sponsored by RSVPify. At RSVPify, you can host ticketed events for free - no subscription required. Host any free event with a monthly or annual subscription. Use the code NONPROFITNATION50 at checkout for an 50% off any annual subscription (discount applied for first year only) - or 50% off any monthly subscription for three months (billed at full rate subsequently).
About Alyssa Wright
Having spent time as a human rights activist in Eastern Europe and Africa, Alyssa brings over a decade of experience in international philanthropy to Wright Collective. With a background in community organizing and the arts, Alyssa leads the Collective with skill, creativity, and passion. As an accomplished facilitator, consultant, and coach, she builds new revenue streams, shifts cultural perspectives, and inspires people to believe that change is possible no matter what.
She has helped hundreds of both domestic and global social change organizations successfully launch major gifts programs, capital campaigns, and create sustainable funding models resulting in over $100,000,000 of resource flow. Everyone that has worked with Alyssa knows that she is a true partner. She answers late-night text messages, takes on difficult conversations for clients, and makes jokes that will keep clients smiling through rejected proposals and rained-out fundraising events. Her experience and wit has also allowed her to become a sought-after speaker on philanthropy and fund development as well as a regular contributor to ForbesWomen, Global Giving, and Network for Good. Alyssa is a powerful Millennial voice in the social change movement.
Fun Fact: Alyssa has had to handle a lot of stressful and harmful situations as a fundraiser over the last decade including a funder revoking a seven-figure gift at the last minute, sexual harassment while stewarding a male donor over the years, and having to fire and rebuild an entire board of directors in a few weeks. No situation seems unknown to her as a fundraiser.
Email: [email protected]
Connect with Alyssa on LinkedInBlog: Elevate Your Fundraising Strategy: Practical Tips for Election Year ChallengesBlog: Navigating social media marketing in an election year
Take my free masterclass: 3 Must-Have Elements of Social Media Content that Converts
As the U.S. gears up for the 2024 presidential election, nonprofit professionals find themselves at the intersection of philanthropy and politics, considering the unique challenges and opportunities that come with fundraising during an election year.
My guest this week is Alyssa Wright, industry expert on fundraising. Having spent time as a human rights activist in Eastern Europe and Africa, Alyssa brings over a decade of experience in international philanthropy to Wright Collective. With a background in community organizing and the arts, Alyssa leads the Collective with skill, creativity, and passion.
In this episode, we delve into the complexities of setting fundraising goals for 2024, drawing reflections from historical trends, research, and insightful analyses.
This episode is sponsored by RSVPify. At RSVPify, you can host ticketed events for free - no subscription required. Host any free event with a monthly or annual subscription. Use the code NONPROFITNATION50 at checkout for an 50% off any annual subscription (discount applied for first year only) - or 50% off any monthly subscription for three months (billed at full rate subsequently).
About Alyssa Wright
Having spent time as a human rights activist in Eastern Europe and Africa, Alyssa brings over a decade of experience in international philanthropy to Wright Collective. With a background in community organizing and the arts, Alyssa leads the Collective with skill, creativity, and passion. As an accomplished facilitator, consultant, and coach, she builds new revenue streams, shifts cultural perspectives, and inspires people to believe that change is possible no matter what.
She has helped hundreds of both domestic and global social change organizations successfully launch major gifts programs, capital campaigns, and create sustainable funding models resulting in over $100,000,000 of resource flow. Everyone that has worked with Alyssa knows that she is a true partner. She answers late-night text messages, takes on difficult conversations for clients, and makes jokes that will keep clients smiling through rejected proposals and rained-out fundraising events. Her experience and wit has also allowed her to become a sought-after speaker on philanthropy and fund development as well as a regular contributor to ForbesWomen, Global Giving, and Network for Good. Alyssa is a powerful Millennial voice in the social change movement.
Fun Fact: Alyssa has had to handle a lot of stressful and harmful situations as a fundraiser over the last decade including a funder revoking a seven-figure gift at the last minute, sexual harassment while stewarding a male donor over the years, and having to fire and rebuild an entire board of directors in a few weeks. No situation seems unknown to her as a fundraiser.
Email: [email protected]
Connect with Alyssa on LinkedInBlog: Elevate Your Fundraising Strategy: Practical Tips for Election Year ChallengesBlog: Navigating social media marketing in an election year
Take my free masterclass: 3 Must-Have Elements of Social Media Content that Converts
Previous Episode
Making Money While Making Change with Quilen and Hannah Blackwell
Financial sustainability is crucial, but social impact is the heart of nonprofits. With the social enterprise model, how can we ensure that our organization prioritizes its social mission while maintaining a viable business?
My guests today are Quilen and Hannah Blackwell, the co-founders of Southside Blooms, an off-grid flower farm youth social enterprise where participants convert vacant lots into commercial flower farms using solar powered rainwater irrigation. This creates jobs for young people on the south and west sides of Chicago.
Hannah and Quilen were married in 2015, and immediately set up the Chicago Eco House, a rehabbed two flat greystone property in the heart of Englewood and got to work getting to know the community. Soon they were farming several vacant lots close to their house, constantly researching what would fulfill their mission of using sustainability to alleviate poverty. It became clear that flowers would be the avenue to do this and Southside Blooms was born.
In this episode, we discuss:
- How Southside Blooms empowers at-risk youth through urban flower farming.
- The benefits of the social enterprise model for long-term financial sustainability in nonprofits.
- Balancing earned income with maintaining a charitable mission.
- Real-life examples of how Southside Blooms has transformed lives.
This episode is sponsored by RSVPify. At RSVPify, you can host ticketed events for free - no subscription required. Host any free event with a monthly or annual subscription. Use the code NONPROFITNATION50 at checkout for an 50% off any annual subscription (discount applied for first year only) - or 50% off any monthly subscription for three months (billed at full rate subsequently).
Guest Bios: Quilen and Hannah Blackwell are the co-founders of Southside Blooms, an off-grid flower farm youth social enterprise where participants convert vacant lots into commercial flower farms using solar powered rainwater irrigation. This creates jobs for young people on the south and west sides of Chicago.
Check out Southside Blooms
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Next Episode
Creating Sticky Teams That Thrive with Kishshana Palmer
What makes a nonprofit successful? A lot of things. An engaged donor base, for example. Enthusiastic Board members. A compelling case for support. Those are all necessary to grow your organization and sustain your mission.
But a critically important and often overlooked element is the employee. Nonprofits suffer higher turnover than any other sector. The nonprofit turnover rate clocks in at just over 21% and the overwhelming majority of that is voluntary. Surveys show that nearly half of nonprofit employees will seek other jobs by 2025.
So what can be done? This is where a successful employee retention strategy comes in.
My guest is the one-and-only Kishshana Palmer, Kishshana is CEO of ManageMint Inc., an organizational development firm focused on helping everyday leaders live well and lead well. In this episode, Kishshana will unravel the secrets behind creating sticky teams and boosting employee retention.
Listeners, if you found today's discussion insightful and want to learn more about creating sticky teams and boosting employee retention, don't forget to check out the on-demand training at www.managemint.co/freeresources. Success is within reach, and it starts with investing in your team's growth and well-being. Thank you for tuning in, and until next time, keep leading with purpose and compassion.
Today’s episode is brought to you by my friends at DonorPerfect. It’s an all-in-one fundraising software solution that helps fundraisers save time and raise more money. In fact, new DonorPerfect users typically raise 25% more funding in their first year.
DonorPerfect is trusted by over 50,000 nonprofit professionals with everything they need for efficient fundraising, so they can spend their time where it truly matters: on nurturing real, authentic relationships with their donors. Learn more at DonorPerfect.com
About Kishshana PalmerKishshana Palmer is an international speaker, trainer, and coach with a 20+ year background in fundraising, marketing, and talent management who helps leaders create high performing teams.
Kishshana is CEO of ManageMint, Inc., an organizational development firm focused on helping everyday leaders live well and lead well. Her firm's work centers on equity and social justice and practical solutions for today’s organizations. She is the founder of The Rooted Collaborative -- a global community focused on the growth and development of women leaders of color in the social sector. She's the host of the podcast "ManageMint Made Easy" formerly "Let's Take This Offline", an adjunct professor at Baruch College, a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE), a BoardSource Certified Governance Trainer (CGT), A Gallup Certified Strengths Coach, a Q3LC Certified Coach and an AFP Mas
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