Fundraising Bright Spots
Episodes
89. Creative story-telling and inspiring stewardship, with Clio Gressani
31 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The partnerships and philanthropy team at Shelterbox have achieved fabulous growth in the last 18 months. In Episode 88 Clio Gressani shared their unu...
88. Leadership, high value growth and WOW tactics, with Clio Gressani
26 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
What you decide to focus your energy on every day makes a big difference to your results. The fabulous growth in high value income achieved by Shelter...
87. Growing major and mid-level results through deeper engagement, with Lynda Harwood-Compton
19 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
When you better understand and improve relationships with supporters, it often follows that people give even more generously. But what can fundraisers...
86. More ideas for increasing and reactivating individual gifts, with Jenny Crabtree
10 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
One crucial element of successful IG programmes is growing income with existing donors. So being organised in asking supporters if they’d like to gi...
85. Six Valuable Listens, with Louise Morris and Rob Woods
05 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
If you’d like to hear some useful lessons and stories from the podcast in 2021, or you’d like tips on what to listen to next, we hope this one wil...
84. More ideas for successful fundraising in tough times, with Rob Woods and Ben Swart
15 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
As the environment we raise funds in will continue to bring plenty of challenges in 2022, how can we nevertheless find opportunities for growth? In th...
83. How to find opportunities in tough times, with Rob Woods and Ben Swart
12 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Even major difficulties sometimes bring opportunities. This is the central theme of The Obstacle is the Way, by Ryan Holiday, a book Rob read in March...
82. How to upgrade gift size and reactivate cancellations, with Jenny Crabtree
04 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
An important element of successful individual giving programmes is growing income from those who currently support. To achieve this, being organised a...
81. Inspire your supporters like Rose – Part 2, with Rob Woods
29 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
It’s one thing to help your supporters / donors understand important issues intellectually, but some fundraisers find creative ways to help their au...
80. Inspire your supporters like Rose on Strictly, with Rob Woods
23 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In Programme 8 of the current series of Strictly Come Dancing, Rose Ayling-Ellis, the programme’s first deaf contestant, did something very powerful...
79. Leading from the back, with Rob Woods
15 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In his fascinating book The Captain Class, Sam Walker found that not one of the 16 most successful captains in the history of sport, was the teams’ ...
78. Leadership behaviours that lift fundraising performance, with Rob Woods
08 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
What behaviours and traits from the leader, help your team raise their game and perform at their very best? To answer this question, leadership expert...
77. Gaming fundraising – more tips to grow income, with Will Robinson
26 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Long before the era of lockdowns, gaming was growing steadily more popular and across all demographics. Tantalisingly, its highly likely that some of ...
76. Thanking – how to go the extra mile, with Laura Croudace
07 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Under pressure, its all too easy to put most of your energy into the search for new supporters. But if you want to grow fundraising income, a great pl...
75. How to test, prototype and implement new fundraising ideas, with Craig Linton
22 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This time we’re exploring ways to gather insight and test fundraising ideas. Whether it’s a new event, campaign or product, following a clear path...
74. Creating a culture that supports fundraising, with Mel Bushell
13 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
One of the factors most likely to affect fundraising results is the extent to which your colleagues understand and care about fundraising. So the fact...
73. Offering the chance to give - major donor fundraising, with Louise Morris
02 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Major donor income is now very important for many charities that need to make up for the COVID-induced shortfall in other areas. So to help, I’m exc...
72. Facebook Lives to grow fundraising, with Laura Croudace
02 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
All charities have needed to adapt during the pandemic and one powerful technique for engaging and inspiring your audience continues to be the Faceboo...
71. Creating a record-breaking Giving Day, with Mel Bushell
10 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In schools and higher education development we are starting to see more fundraising through Giving Days. There are clear benefits to creating a focal ...
70. Wonder Woman! Maximising a chance and multiplying results 10x, with Dan McNally
23 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We strive to do our best with every fundraising opportunity, but inevitably some have greater potential than others. An invaluable skill is being able...
69. The Leveller - Grace Under Fire, part 2, with Caroline Goyder
13 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Caroline is an experienced voice-coach who helps actors, leaders and fundraisers to grow their confidence and impact. She is the author of several bes...
68. Grace under fire, with Caroline Goyder
05 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
As in all complex organisations, relationships within charities are sometimes difficult. And negotiating with supporters can be far from easy. Clearly...
67. Winning a £1m strategic partnership for our small charity, with Pippa Hind-Walsh
21 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Many charities see the advantages of creating strategic, long-term partnerships with companies, as an anti-dote to the many intense challenges of appl...
66. Getting into gaming fundraising, with Will Robinson
15 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Even before the lockdowns of 2020 and 2021, gaming was growing ever more popular and across all demographics. This hobby is now so popular that some o...
65. Increasing engagement, with Henrietta Carter-Mayers
04 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
An important ingredient in fundraising success is engaging your community. An effective communications strategy makes a big difference. In this episod...
64. Boosting major gift income during the pandemic, with Angie Turner
17 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
As some income streams have been hit so hard, attracting major gifts has been more important than ever for many charities. But how do you do this, in ...
63. Adding value to your supporters’ experience, with Hannah Carter
12 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
During the pandemic, the leaders of the small music charity, Ensemble Reza have been determined that their organisation should continue to make a diff...
62. Creating a growth mindset in fundraising, with Davinia Batley
26 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In a crisis, its more tempting than ever to keep rushing to get things done. Sometimes, taking the time to make decisions about how you’re going to ...
61. Enticing new corporate partners – our sparkling proposition, with Laura Webb
14 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
If your charity works wants to win and grow corporate partnerships, then one really valuable asset is a proposition or first step that is both easy to...
60. More tactics that helped our hospice FR – Individual Giving and Major Gifts, with Paul Courtney
08 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Clearly fundraising has been immensely challenging for many hospices and small charities this year. It’s also true that the public still care about ...
59. Fundraising tactics bringing fabulous results for our hospice, with Paul Courtney
30 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Fundraising has been especially hard for many hospices and small charities this year because community and events fundraising has been so disrupted du...
58. Influencing colleagues within your charity, with Ben Swart
19 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
One of the biggest headaches for many fundraisers is encouraging colleagues see things from the donor or partners’ point of view, and to want to tak...
57. How we doubled income for our small arts charity, with Hannah Carter
11 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Raising funds has been hard for so many charities this year, but its been especially hard in the arts and for small charities. Ensemble Reza is both t...
56. The amazing value of learning – why and how, with Rob Woods
03 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
For the last five years, the pace of change (including in the fundraising environment) has been greater than ever. And since the pandemic began, it’...
55. Growing legacy income, with Dr Claire Routley
17 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The pressure to handle more urgent fundraising challenges mean that strategies to promote legacy giving often gets put to one side. Dr Claire Routley ...
54. Increasing Major Donor income, Part 2 – CONNECT! with Louise Morris
11 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Major donor income is so important to many charities looking to make up for the continuing COVID-induced shortfall in other areas. So in this episode ...
52. Individual Giving – setting up a successful programme, with Jenny Crabtree
26 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Do want to increase regular or one-off donations? Perhaps the effects of COVID on other income streams mean you need to improve how your charity appro...
51. Using online events to inspire high value giving, with Julide Troedson
20 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
As other income streams have been hit, high value fundraising has become more important than ever for many charities. But amidst all the challenges of...
50. More ways to create an AMAZING experience for your supporters - Richard Turner
12 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
If you’d like tangible examples and wise principles to help deliver successful fundraising during the pandemic, I hope you’re going to find this e...
49. FIVE listens to help you handle 2021 – with Rob Woods and Ben Swart
07 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
I’ve now been making this podcast for just over year, and now that there are nearly 50 episodes, I wanted to reflect on five episodes that I think a...
48. Story-telling and growing your resilience, with Max Newton
20 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
If you’d like ideas to help you be resilient; or ideas to improve the way you inspire your supporters through stories…then this episode is for you...
47. Favourite insights and listens of 2020 – with Rob Woods and Ben Swart
17 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
I’ve now been making this podcast for just over year. Not least because 2020 has created so many new fundraising challenges for charities, I’m so ...
46. Lucy Read – Harnessing the power of incremental gains
08 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Its human nature to get tempted to focus too much attention on the big shiny prize, such as the game-changing major gift. But after interviewing very ...
45. Richard Turner – How to create fabulous experiences for your supporters
01 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
If you’re looking for sound principles and real examples to help you deliver successful fundraising during the pandemic, I hope you’re going to fi...
44. Max Newton – Achieving what seems IMPOSSIBLE, in fundraising and beyond
26 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
If you’d like ideas to help you more confidently embrace very difficult, or even impossible-seeming challenges in this gruelling year, I hope you’...
43. Paul Nott – Getting a new job you’ll love, even now
20 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
As more charities are struggling financially, you may find yourself having to look for a new job when you really hadn’t planned to. And you may feel...
42. Louise Morris – Increasing Major Donor income with genuine relationships
10 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Major donor income is incredibly important to most charities looking to make up for the continuing COVID-induced shortfall in other areas in 2020 and ...
41. Jamal Iqbal, Part 2 – Story-telling, internal relationships and more
28 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
If you work in development in the Higher Education sector, or in major donor fundraising in any charity, I hope you will find this episode helpful. It...
40. Craig Linton – FIVE ideas to boost Individual Giving results
20 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
As other income streams are decimated by the effects of the pandemic and varying levels of lockdown, fundraising income from individual donors is more...
39. Jamal Iqbal – Growing major donor income in Higher Education and beyond
15 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Aristotle observed that excellence is less about one-off events and more about habits. If you broadly agree with this idea, then what are the habits t...
38. Ben Swart – Strategic corporate partnerships; why now more than ever
28 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
For many years, the orthodox way to secure a charitable partnership has been to apply through a formal process to the biggest companies. It usually in...
37. Dr Claire Routley – Silo smashing and promoting legacy giving
21 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
I recorded this interview with Dr Claire Routley, an expert in expert legacy fundraising, in early March 2020, when the world felt very different. Nev...
35. Andy Watts – Trust fundraising ideas for chaotic times, Part 2.
31 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Though some funders keep relationships with charities very formal, many of them really appreciate it when charities go the extra mile to create a deep...
34. Emma Insley – Six ways to improve your impact measurement, especially now
13 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Many charities have had to change their strategy or focus since the pandemic began, in order to adapt to the new challenges the world is facing. These...
33. Paul Davies – Generating major gifts momentum
05 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
What can you do to build relationships, warm, generous relationships with major donor supporters, even during the pandemic? If you are a high value fu...
32. Andy Watts – The trust fundraising approach that increased income by 349%
30 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Charities sometimes treat trusts in a more distant, formal way compared to the way they treat other donors. This is often a missed opportunity, given ...
31. Damian Chapman – Corporate fundraising for a niche cause
26 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
What do you do to succeed when your charity is in a very clear niche that is not universally popular? Many charities get demoralised or waste energy t...
30. Lucy Squance – Partnering with another charity
13 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Given the events of 2020, most charities are now thinking more radically about their strategies than ever before. And one option to consider for certa...
29. Rob Woods - Seven ways to increase income through more supporter conversations
05 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Too often, charities encourage their fundraisers to focus primarily on money, rather than building great relationships with the kinds of people who ca...
28. Dr Claire Routley – Talking to supporters about leaving a legacy
23 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
I recorded this interview with Dr Claire Routley, an expert in expert legacy fundraising, in early March 2020. The subject of our conversation was leg...
27. Emily Casson – More digital fundraising strategies that work, especially now – Part 2
16 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
If you’ve realised how crucial digital fundraising is during the pandemic, and you’re searching for ideas or just reassurance about what to do, I ...
26. Stevie Nicholson – Helping colleagues stay inspired and learning during lockdown
10 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
There are many factors that make it hard for your team to keep positive and proactive at the moment. In many charities, being separated geographically...
25. Emily Casson – Effective digital fundraising strategies during the pandemic
03 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
As most people have spent more time looking at their phones and tablets than ever before in recent months, digital fundraising has become more importa...
24. Paul McKenzie – ENERGY and FOCUS. Leadership during the crisis, part 2
13 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In spite of all the pressures on your team, and even when you’re separated physically, is it still possible to nurture and achieve a positive team c...
23. Paul McKenzie – Three leadership essentials during the pandemic
10 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The pressure on fundraising leaders is greater than ever at the moment, not least, to secure funding to help our charities continue to serve our commu...
22. Andy Sallnow – Virtual Challenge Events
29 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
As I’m sure you’re all too aware, events have been postponed and cancelled as the UK and many other countries have gone into lockdown. This is a h...
20. Lynda Harwood Compton – Using Virtual Project Visits to connect and inspire
01 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Clearly one implication of the virtual lockdown is that you can’t meet your supporters for the next few months. So if you’re wondering how on eart...
19. Ben Swart – How to inspire supporters in spite of the pandemic
26 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
With nearly everyone now staying at home and worried about their health, income and families, its hard to know how to keep and build relationships wit...
18. Jane Curtis – Coronavirus; some responses for event fundraising
19 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
As many charities are pushed to the limit in how they serve their beneficiaries during the current global pandemic, charities are also searching for w...
17. Di Gornall – Better supporter relationships with experiential fundraising.
11 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Many activities to raise funds for charities are successful because they’re relatively easy and can be used whatever the cause. An advantage to cake...
16. Emily Casson – Digital Fundraising Part 2. Think big, start small…
04 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
16. Emily Casson – Digital Fundraising Part 2. Think big, start small… by Rob Woods, Bright Spot
15. Emily Casson – Strategies to grow your digital income
27 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
As the influence of digital technology on our lives continues to grow, it clearly represents an important opportunity for any charity. But with so muc...
14. Jennifer Coleman-Peers – Volunteer board fundraising; doing it with more income and less stress
18 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
There’s nothing new about the benefits of charities working with a board of volunteers to raise funds. This is a classic strategy and there is a rea...
13. Lynda Harwood-Compton – Using webinars to inspire major and mid-level donors
12 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In this noisy, distracting world, charities are finding it harder than ever to hold donors’ attention long enough to have proper conversation. So wh...
12. Caroline Goyder – How to increase your gravitas
05 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
If you’ve ever needed to represent your charity at a meeting with someone important – eg a powerful supporter or a Board Member – then you know ...
11. Lesley Pinder – Part 2. More tips to improve your supporters’ experience
30 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Understanding and appreciating your supporters’ situation is a crucial element in consistent fundraising success, but how do you go about gathering ...
10. Lesley Pinder – How to improve the supporter experience through better insight
23 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
At the heart of most fundraising success stories you find that the fundraiser(s) worked hard to better understand the supporter’s world. And unless ...
9. Liz Tait – How to create a career that makes your heart sing
16 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
We spend so much of our life at work, it clearly makes sense that we should aim to make this time rewarding and enjoyable. But how can you increase yo...
8. Tony Gaston (Part 2) – Using smart phone films to increase high value income
06 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Over a five year period, high value income at EMMS International built steadily from almost nothing to £2m / year. In this episode of the Fundraising...
7. Tony Gaston – Growing major donor income from zero to £2m / year
17 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
How can you increase high value income for your charity? Clearly context matters - the same strategies will not work for every charity - but if you wa...
6. Resilience – three things that help you become more gritty
11 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
There is no factor more important to your success as a fundraiser than your grit. But is it possible to become more resilient? In this episode of Fund...
5. Adam Heuman – How do you get your board to invest in fundraising?
05 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Most fundraisers agree that you won’t achieve serious growth without first investing in fundraising. But how do you actually persuade the board to i...
4. Rachel Hunnybun: We recognised their ‘stretch’…then giving increased 174%
26 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
One major challenge for a fundraiser is how you help your colleagues and trustees to see things from the supporters’ point of view. In Episode 4 of ...
3. Jo Bega: Ace your media appeal
21 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Taking full advantage of an opportunity makes a huge difference to your fundraising momentum. In this episode of Fundraising Bright Spots, Rob Woods t...
2. Andy King: How we inspired 60% of event participants to support long-term.
11 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Many charities spend huge effort recruiting people to do fundraising events, but often fail to inspire them to become long-term supporters. In episode...
1. How ‘modelling’ helps you raise more money
11 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
How can anyone improve their fundraising skills and results? In this first episode of Fundraising Bright Spots, Rob Woods explains a powerful tactic h...