
Episode 4. The Power of Storytelling
11/20/23 • 26 min
Are you looking to inspire more generosity through your fundraising appeals? Start with storytelling!
Jhovany Quiroz and Courtney Hamilton from BDI’s Storytellers team share how powerful stories, photos and videos from your organization can unlock giving... and encourage your community’s investment in your cause long-term.
You’ll learn...
- How to tell inspiring, real-life stories of transformation that inspire giving.
- Tools and tips for effective and efficient storytelling interviews.
- Ideas to amplify your stories through compelling photography and video.
And get ready to check your biases at the door! ✅🚪Jhovany and Courtney also share some gentle but important reminders for making your interviews a safe and empathetic space for everyone involved.
Tune in now to unlock the fundraising potential of your nonprofit stories!
Episode Highlights:
- Jhovany and Courtney share their passion for storytelling
- The vision and purpose driving BDI Storytellers
- Actionable tips for great nonprofit storytelling interviews
- Thought-provoking questions to ask your interviewees
- The role of photography and video in powerful storytelling
- What is a “testimony” and how can it make your appeals more impactful?
- Building trust, leading with empathy and leaving behind your biases in interviews
- Tested strategies and advice to help nonprofit teams strengthen their storytelling
Connect with us!
- Connect with Jhovany Quiroz: LinkedIn
- Connect with Courtney Hamilton: LinkedIn
- Connect with Katrina Williams: LinkedIn
- Connect with BDI: Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram
Resources:
Are you looking to inspire more generosity through your fundraising appeals? Start with storytelling!
Jhovany Quiroz and Courtney Hamilton from BDI’s Storytellers team share how powerful stories, photos and videos from your organization can unlock giving... and encourage your community’s investment in your cause long-term.
You’ll learn...
- How to tell inspiring, real-life stories of transformation that inspire giving.
- Tools and tips for effective and efficient storytelling interviews.
- Ideas to amplify your stories through compelling photography and video.
And get ready to check your biases at the door! ✅🚪Jhovany and Courtney also share some gentle but important reminders for making your interviews a safe and empathetic space for everyone involved.
Tune in now to unlock the fundraising potential of your nonprofit stories!
Episode Highlights:
- Jhovany and Courtney share their passion for storytelling
- The vision and purpose driving BDI Storytellers
- Actionable tips for great nonprofit storytelling interviews
- Thought-provoking questions to ask your interviewees
- The role of photography and video in powerful storytelling
- What is a “testimony” and how can it make your appeals more impactful?
- Building trust, leading with empathy and leaving behind your biases in interviews
- Tested strategies and advice to help nonprofit teams strengthen their storytelling
Connect with us!
- Connect with Jhovany Quiroz: LinkedIn
- Connect with Courtney Hamilton: LinkedIn
- Connect with Katrina Williams: LinkedIn
- Connect with BDI: Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram
Resources:
Previous Episode

Episode 3. From Sinner to Saint: How to Avoid the 7 Sins of Email Marketing
Are you making these 7 email marketing mistakes?
BDI’s Digital Implementation Manager, Ashley Prior, has built a lot of great fundraising emails in her day... but she’s also seen a lot of nonprofit organizations struggle to apply email marketing best practices. They give in to common fears, and the temptation of sending “good enough” emails, when a few small tweaks could greatly increase their engagement!
You’ll learn...
- How to avoid common pitfalls that lead to email marketing purgatory 🪦(AKA the “spam” folder).
- The most important changes you should make to your email marketing today.
- Strategies for keeping your email subscribers and donors happy.
Plus, hear Ashley’s take on the biggest red flags in marketing today. 🚩🚩🚩
Episode Highlights:
- Ashley’s story and why she’s passionate about email marketing
- The “7 deadly sins” of email marketing
- The cardinal (email marketing) sin: not optimizing for mobile
- The sin of omission: not segmenting your list
- The sin of gluttony: spamming your subscribers
- The sin of laziness: not testing your emails
- The sin of confusion: using unclear CTAs
- The sin of neglect: not keeping your list clean
- The sin of greed: not personalizing your emails
- The biggest takeaways to be successful in email marketing
- Red flags and deal-breakers in marketing today
Connect with us!
- Connect with Ashley Prior: LinkedIn
- Connect with Katrina Williams: LinkedIn
- Connect with BDI: Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram
Resources:
- Article: 7 Email Marketing Mistakes and How to Fix Them
- Article: 5 Essentials for Your Email Marketing Platform
- Article: Multi-Channel Marketing for Nonprofits
- Email testing tools:
Next Episode

Episode 5. Nonprofit Development Strategies for All!
Want to boost your nonprofit team’s engagement? Looking to share the workload more evenly when it comes to development? Seeking ways to strengthen your fundraising? If you answered yes, tune in!
This week’s episode of “Ready Set Give” dives into development strategies for all! Learn to empower EVERYONE on your team to do the all-important work of development (while protecting them – and yourself – from burnout).
Drawing on 15 years in nonprofit fundraising, BDI Strategist and Sr. Account Director David Stolberg is sharing his recommendations for development strategies to keep in-house. You’ll learn...
- How to engage your internal team in the important work of development
- Which programs run well in-house (monthly giving, major donor outreach, etc.)
- Ideas to get your internal team on board with your development strategies
Listen now to learn how you can share the joys (and challenges) of development with others at your organization, and set your team up for success!
Episode Highlights:
- David shares about his unique career path to nonprofit fundraising
- Why it’s important for nonprofits to handle some strategic work in-house
- The programs David recommends to keep in-house
- Program #1: Monthly Giving
- Program #2: Major Donors
- Real-life examples of successful monthly giving & major donor programs
- Why should development be the responsibility of everyone on a nonprofit team?
- First steps to empowering your team to share in development
- David’s final words of advice for nonprofit teams
Connect with us!
- Connect with David Stolberg: LinkedIn
- Connect with Katrina Williams: LinkedIn
- Connect with BDI: Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram
Resources:
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