The Fundraising Elevator Podcast
The Fundraising Elevator: where we’re all headed up. Samantha Swaim and Kristin Steele are using their decades of fundraising, event strategy and storytelling experience to help you change the world at your next event. Listen to conversations with industry leaders for insights and tools you can use to connect more people to your mission. New episodes drop every Wednesday.
Listen on:
Episodes
4 days ago
4 days ago
Happy holidays! During our break we are running an ENCORE episode. In this special two-part opener, hosts Sam and Kristin sit down with world-renowned neuroscientist Dr. Paul Zak, a pioneer in neuroeconomics, neuromanagement, and neuromarketing. Best known for discovering oxytocin’s role in trust and human connection, Dr. Zak brings cutting-edge insights on donor psychology, empathy, and storytelling in fundraising.
In Part One, we explore the science of giving: why humans are wired to cooperate, how oxytocin fuels generosity and trust, and why storytelling is the most effective tool for donor engagement. Dr. Zak breaks down how attention, emotion, and immersion inspire people to act—and shares proven strategies for fundraisers to design high-impact campaigns and events. From crafting stories that spark empathy to creating immersive donor experiences, this episode offers practical applications backed by neuroscience.
If you’re a nonprofit professional, fundraiser, or development leader looking to increase donor trust, deepen engagement, and inspire generosity, this episode delivers evidence-based strategies to elevate your fundraising success.
Loving The Fundraising Elevator? Please subscribe, rate and review the podcast. It really helps other people find the show.
This Episode Brought to You by:
Swaim Strategies: https://swaimstrategies.com
Utilizing over 20 years of nonprofit event strategy and production expertise, Swaim Strategies coaches and teaches organizations how to increase the impact of their fundraising events.
The AV Department: https://theavdept.com/
As a full-service event AV and video production partner, The AV Department’s technical event production and media content generation provide you with a range of experience and talent from a partner who wants to know you and work together year after year.
Feathr: https://www.feathr.co/
Speakers
Samantha Swaim
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-swaim-a28a9a4/
Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies
Kristin Steele
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-steele777/
Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies
Dr. Paul J. Zak
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-j-zak-91123510/
| RESOURCES |
Connect with Swaim Strategies: https://swaimstrategies.com
Propose a Podcast Episode: https://swaimstrategies.com/propose-a-podcast-episode/
Get Event Help Right Now with Gala 911: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/gala-911/
Book Consulting Time with Sam: https://calendly.com/consultingwithsam
Book Consulting Time with Kristin: https://calendly.com/eventstorytelling
Learn More About the Elevate Conference: https://swaimstrategies.com/elevate-conference/
Get Planning a Successful Major Donor Event: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/#book
Join Swaim Strategies on Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies
Connect with The AV Department: https://theavdept.com/
Connect with Paul Zak: https://pauljzak.com/
Empathy, Neurochemistry, and the Dramatic Arc: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1a7tiA1Qzo
Immersion: https://pauljzak.com/books/
The Little Book of Happiness: https://pauljzak.com/books/
No One Wants to Read Your Sh*t: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30556551-nobody-wants-to-read-your-sh-t
SIX: your6.com
“Virtual Reality Education Increases Neurologic Immersion and Empathy in Nursing Students”:
https://www.mdpi.com/2039-4403/15/9/336
Paul Zak TED Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rFAdlU2ETjU
The Value Measurement: https://www.getimmersion.com/
Wednesday Dec 17, 2025
Wednesday Dec 17, 2025
In this special episode of The Fundraising Elevator, hosts Kristin Steele and Samantha Swaim take listeners behind the scenes at the Nonprofit Storytelling Conference in San Diego, California. Recording live from the red carpet studio, Kristin and Sam talk to industry leaders, gathering their insights on what fundraisers should focus on right now and where they are finding inspiration in the sector.
Featured Guests:
Ken Miller - President, Denali FSP
Diana Farias Heinrich - CEO, Habrá Marketing
Steven Screen - Co-Founder, The Better Fundraising Co.
Janelle Suzanne - Chief Marketing Officer, Louder Agency
T. Clay Buck - Principal, Next River Fundraising Strategies
John Lepp - Partner, Agents of Good
Erik Tomalis - Chief Revenue Officer, Avid
Kelly Russell - Founder + Benefit Auctioneer, Artisan Auctions
Frank Velásquez Jr. - Founder, 4 Da Hood
Erica Soto - Fractional Fundraiser, The Cause Catalyst Co.
Special thanks to The AV Department and the Nonprofit Storytelling Conference.
Loving The Fundraising Elevator? Please subscribe, rate and review the podcast. It really helps other people find the show.
This Episode Brought to You by:
Swaim Strategies: https://swaimstrategies.com
Utilizing over 20 years of nonprofit event strategy and production expertise, Swaim Strategies coaches and teaches organizations how to increase the impact of their fundraising events.
The AV Department: https://theavdept.com/
As a full-service event AV and video production partner, The AV Department’s technical event production and media content generation provide you with a range of experience and talent from a partner who wants to know you and work together year after year.
Bloomerang: https://bit.ly/4hLqLVw
Create the ideal giving experience with integrated fundraising tools and automated insights that maximize your impact. Keep donors close to the cause with mean-ingful outreach at the right time. Increase retention, major gifts, and all-around impact. Turn supporters into action-takers with tools that make it easy to recruit, organize, and engage volunteers at every level.
Feathr: https://www.feathr.co/
Feathr is a marketing platform built specifically for mission-driven organizations, offering simple tools for digital advertising, email campaigns, and audience engagement. The platform uses real-time insights and AI-powered segmentation to help you reach the right people at the right time—whether you’re nurturing existing supporters or discovering new ones who share your values. It’s marketing that meets people where they are, building relationships that last beyond a single click.
Speakers
Samantha Swaim
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-swaim-a28a9a4/
Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies
Kristin Steele
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-steele777/
Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies
| RESOURCES |
Connect with Swaim Strategies: https://swaimstrategies.com
Propose a Podcast Episode: https://swaimstrategies.com/propose-a-podcast-episode/
Get Event Help Right Now with Gala 911: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/gala-911/
Book Consulting Time with Sam: https://calendly.com/consultingwithsam
Book Consulting Time with Kristin: https://calendly.com/eventstorytelling
Learn More About the Elevate Conference: https://swaimstrategies.com/elevate-conference/
Get Planning a Successful Major Donor Event: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/#book
Join Swaim Strategies on Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies
Nonprofit Storytelling Conference: https://nonprofitstorytellingconference.com/
Connect with The AV Department: https://theavdept.com/
Connect with Denali FSP: https://denalifsp.com/
Connect with Habrá Marketing: https://habramarketing.com/
Connect with The Better Fundraising Co.: https://betterfundraising.com/
Connect with Louder Agency: https://louderagency.com/
Connect with Next River Fundraising Strategies: https://www.nextriverfundraising.com/
Connect with Agents of Good: https://agentsofgood.org/
Connect with Avid: https://www.avidai.com/
Connect with Artisan Auctions: https://www.artisanauctions.com/
Connect with 4 Da Hood: https://4dahood.com/
Connect with The Cause Catalyst Co.: https://www.thecausecatalystco.com/
Wednesday Dec 10, 2025
Wednesday Dec 10, 2025
In this special episode of The Fundraising Elevator, hosts Kristin Steele and Samantha Swaim take listeners behind the scenes at the Nonprofit Storytelling Conference in San Diego, California. Recording live from the red carpet studio, Kristin and Sam talk to two sector experts about their new books.
Behavioral science expert Cherian Koshy’s book Neurogiving: The Science of Donor Decision Making is a groundbreaking exploration of how neuroscience, behavioral economics, and psychology reveal the true drivers of charitable giving. This book is not about persuasion or pressure. It’s about understanding the generosity that already lives inside every donor—and removing the friction that gets in its way.
Veteran fundraiser Tammy Zonker’s book Calling All Heroes: Combining the Best of Donor-Centered and Community-Centered Fundraising for Greater Impact, delivers a compelling discussion about the crossroads at which the nonprofit sector finds itself. Here, traditional fundraising approaches are no longer sufficient to tackle the complex challenges of nonprofit organizations and the communities they serve. This book helps fundraisers, nonprofit leaders, and advocates find common ground by uniting around shared values and focusing on human-centered practices that empower communities and build genuine connections.
Special thanks to The AV Department and the Nonprofit Storytelling Conference.
Loving The Fundraising Elevator? Please subscribe, rate and review the podcast. It really helps other people find the show.
This Episode Brought to You by:
Swaim Strategies: https://swaimstrategies.com
Utilizing over 20 years of nonprofit event strategy and production expertise, Swaim Strategies coaches and teaches organizations how to increase the impact of their fundraising events.
The AV Department: https://theavdept.com/
As a full-service event AV and video production partner, The AV Department’s technical event production and media content generation provide you with a range of experience and talent from a partner who wants to know you and work together year after year.
Bloomerang: https://bit.ly/4hLqLVw
Create the ideal giving experience with integrated fundraising tools and automated insights that maximize your impact. Keep donors close to the cause with mean-ingful outreach at the right time. Increase retention, major gifts, and all-around impact. Turn supporters into action-takers with tools that make it easy to recruit, organize, and engage volunteers at every level.
Feathr: https://www.feathr.co/
Feathr is a marketing platform built specifically for mission-driven organizations, offering simple tools for digital advertising, email campaigns, and audience engagement. The platform uses real-time insights and AI-powered segmentation to help you reach the right people at the right time—whether you’re nurturing existing supporters or discovering new ones who share your values. It’s marketing that meets people where they are, building relationships that last beyond a single click.
Speakers
Samantha Swaim
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-swaim-a28a9a4/
Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies
Kristin Steele
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-steele777/
Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies
Cherian Koshy
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheriankoshy/
Tammy Zonker
LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/tammyzonker/
| RESOURCES |
Connect with Swaim Strategies: https://swaimstrategies.com
Propose a Podcast Episode: https://swaimstrategies.com/propose-a-podcast-episode/
Get Event Help Right Now with Gala 911: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/gala-911/
Book Consulting Time with Sam: https://calendly.com/consultingwithsam
Book Consulting Time with Kristin: https://calendly.com/eventstorytelling
Learn More About the Elevate Conference: https://swaimstrategies.com/elevate-conference/
Get Planning a Successful Major Donor Event: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/#book
Join Swaim Strategies on Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies
Connect with The AV Department: https://theavdept.com/
Nonprofit Storytelling Conference: https://nonprofitstorytellingconference.com/
Get Cherian’s Book: https://neurogivingbook.com/
Get Tammy’s Book: https://www.callingallheroesbook.com/
Wednesday Dec 03, 2025
Wednesday Dec 03, 2025
In this episode, we hear from Alice Ferris, founder of GoalBusters and a veteran fundraiser with over 30 years in the sector. Alice shares her insights on helping small nonprofit teams navigate Federal funding cuts, organizational upheaval, and unprecedented change. She introduces a powerful framework for decision-making: distinguishing between problems (which can be solved) and conditions (which must be adapted to). Alice emphasizes that sharing challenges with donors, even without having all the answers, is more effective than waiting in silence.
We also explore the recent GoFundMe controversy, upcoming leadership transitions in the sector, and practical tools like the Fundraising Fitness Test from the Fundraising Effectiveness Project. Alice's key advice for organizations feeling overwhelmed: shorten your planning horizons. Rather than traditional three-to-five-year strategic plans that feel permanent and daunting, she recommends 12-week action plans that create achievable goals that can be reset when circumstances change. Her central message is clear—transparency, adaptation, and focusing on what you can control are essential strategies for nonprofits heading into an uncertain future.
Loving The Fundraising Elevator? Please subscribe, rate and review the podcast. It really helps other people find the show.
This Episode Brought to You by:
Swaim Strategies: https://swaimstrategies.com
Utilizing over 20 years of nonprofit event strategy and production expertise, Swaim Strategies coaches and teaches organizations how to increase the impact of their fundraising events.
The AV Department: https://theavdept.com/
As a full-service event AV and video production partner, The AV Department’s technical event production and media content generation provide you with a range of experience and talent from a partner who wants to know you and work together year after year.
Bloomerang: https://bit.ly/4hLqLVw
Create the ideal giving experience with integrated fundraising tools and automated insights that maximize your impact. Keep donors close to the cause with mean-ingful outreach at the right time. Increase retention, major gifts, and all-around impact. Turn supporters into action-takers with tools that make it easy to recruit, organize, and engage volunteers at every level.
Feathr: https://www.feathr.co/
Feathr is a marketing platform built specifically for mission-driven organizations, offering simple tools for digital advertising, email campaigns, and audience engagement. The platform uses real-time insights and AI-powered segmentation to help you reach the right people at the right time—whether you’re nurturing existing supporters or discovering new ones who share your values. It’s marketing that meets people where they are, building relationships that last beyond a single click.
Speakers
Samantha Swaim
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-swaim-a28a9a4/
Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies
Kristin Steele
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-steele777/
Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies
Alice Ferris
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aliceferris/
| RESOURCES |
Connect with Swaim Strategies: https://swaimstrategies.com
Propose a Podcast Episode: https://swaimstrategies.com/propose-a-podcast-episode/
Get Event Help Right Now with Gala 911: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/gala-911/
Book Consulting Time with Sam: https://calendly.com/consultingwithsam
Book Consulting Time with Kristin: https://calendly.com/eventstorytelling
Learn More About the Elevate Conference: https://swaimstrategies.com/elevate-conference/
Get Planning a Successful Major Donor Event: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/#book
Join Swaim Strategies on Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies
Connect with The AV Department: https://theavdept.com/
Connect with Alice at GoalBusters: https://goalbusters.net/
Free Resources from GoalBusters: https://goalbusters.net/free-stuff/
The Fundraising Effectiveness Project: https://afpglobal.org/FundraisingEffectivenessProject
Fundraising Effectiveness Project Reports: https://fepreports.org/
GoalBusters on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/GoalBusters
Wednesday Nov 26, 2025
Wednesday Nov 26, 2025
In this episode Rhodes Perry, Founder and CEO of Rhodes Perry Consulting, joins us for a powerful conversation about building psychological safety and trust. Rhodes introduces somatics—a body-based practice that helps leaders move from reactive responses to intentional choices—and breaks down the ingredients of true belonging. He reveals the actual financial cost of exclusion and contrasts the old model of belonging (where individuals had to change to fit in) with co-creation, where everyone contributes to building culture together.
Rhodes emphasizes the importance of sitting with questions and building capacity to navigate uncertainty together. He offers practical wisdom for nonprofit leaders amid chaos, leaving listeners with a call to lift each other up and be vulnerable enough to ask for support when you need it, because belonging should extend to everyone.
Loving The Fundraising Elevator? Please subscribe, rate and review the podcast. It really helps other people find the show.
This Episode Brought to You by:
Swaim Strategies: https://swaimstrategies.com
Utilizing over 20 years of nonprofit event strategy and production expertise, Swaim Strategies coaches and teaches organizations how to increase the impact of their fundraising events.
The AV Department: https://theavdept.com/
As a full-service event AV and video production partner, The AV Department’s technical event production and media content generation provide you with a range of experience and talent from a partner who wants to know you and work together year after year.
Bloomerang: https://bit.ly/4hLqLVw
Create the ideal giving experience with integrated fundraising tools and automated insights that maximize your impact. Keep donors close to the cause with mean-ingful outreach at the right time. Increase retention, major gifts, and all-around impact. Turn supporters into action-takers with tools that make it easy to recruit, organize, and engage volunteers at every level.
Feathr: https://www.feathr.co/
Feathr is a marketing platform built specifically for mission-driven organizations, offering simple tools for digital advertising, email campaigns, and audience engagement. The platform uses real-time insights and AI-powered segmentation to help you reach the right people at the right time—whether you’re nurturing existing supporters or discovering new ones who share your values. It’s marketing that meets people where they are, building relationships that last beyond a single click.
Speakers
Samantha Swaim
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-swaim-a28a9a4/
Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies
Kristin Steele
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-steele777/
Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies
Rhodes Perry
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhodesperry/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/rhodes-perry-consulting-llc/
| RESOURCES |
Connect with Swaim Strategies: https://swaimstrategies.com
Propose a Podcast Episode: https://swaimstrategies.com/propose-a-podcast-episode/
Get Event Help Right Now with Gala 911: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/gala-911/
Book Consulting Time with Sam: https://calendly.com/consultingwithsam
Book Consulting Time with Kristin: https://calendly.com/eventstorytelling
Learn More About the Elevate Conference: https://swaimstrategies.com/elevate-conference/
Get Planning a Successful Major Donor Event: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/#book
Join Swaim Strategies on Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies
Connect with The AV Department: https://theavdept.com/
Connect with Rhodes Perry: https://www.rhodesperry.com/
Get Rhodes Perry’s Books: https://www.rhodesperry.com/book
Follow Rhodes Perry on Substack: https://rhodesperry.substack.com/
Connect with john a. powell’s Work: https://www.johnapowell.org/
Wednesday Nov 19, 2025
Wednesday Nov 19, 2025
What can an encounter with a person in a war-torn Iraqi village teach us about nonprofit storytelling? In this compelling episode, Chris Miano, Founder and CEO of MemoryFox, reveals how his military service unlocked the transformative power of stories—and why the nonprofit sector urgently needs to shift how we collect and share them. Chris defines ethical storytelling as an approach that elevates storytellers rather than extracting their stories, with consent as the North Star: affirmative, written, informed consent that specifies where stories will be shared, how they'll be presented, and for how long. He challenges common practices like pressuring storytellers with last-minute requests and revisits why consent isn't a one-time checkbox but an ongoing conversation.
Chris shares practical strategies from leveraging community-generated content that creates "welcome signs" for diverse supporters to moving away from trauma-heavy narratives toward strength-based messaging you can share consistently. Discover why composite videos featuring multiple perspectives outperform single stories, and how your next event could become a goldmine for authentic content. His game-changing advice: build a story bank—a centralized repository of ethically sourced content with proper consent—so you always have the right story for the right person at the right time.
Loving The Fundraising Elevator? Please subscribe, rate and review the podcast. It really helps other people find the show.
This Episode Brought to You by:
Swaim Strategies: https://swaimstrategies.com
Utilizing over 20 years of nonprofit event strategy and production expertise, Swaim Strategies coaches and teaches organizations how to increase the impact of their fundraising events.
The AV Department: https://theavdept.com/
As a full-service event AV and video production partner, The AV Department’s technical event production and media content generation provide you with a range of experience and talent from a partner who wants to know you and work together year after year.
Bloomerang: https://bit.ly/4hLqLVw
Create the ideal giving experience with integrated fundraising tools and automated insights that maximize your impact. Keep donors close to the cause with mean-ingful outreach at the right time. Increase retention, major gifts, and all-around impact. Turn supporters into action-takers with tools that make it easy to recruit, organize, and engage volunteers at every level.
Feathr: https://www.feathr.co/
Feathr is a marketing platform built specifically for mission-driven organizations, offering simple tools for digital advertising, email campaigns, and audience engagement. The platform uses real-time insights and AI-powered segmentation to help you reach the right people at the right time—whether you’re nurturing existing supporters or discovering new ones who share your values. It’s marketing that meets people where they are, building relationships that last beyond a single click.
Speakers
Samantha Swaim
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-swaim-a28a9a4/
Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies
Kristin Steele
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-steele777/
Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies
Chris Miano
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/memoryfox/
| RESOURCES |
Connect with Swaim Strategies: https://swaimstrategies.com
Propose a Podcast Episode: https://swaimstrategies.com/propose-a-podcast-episode/
Get Event Help Right Now with Gala 911: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/gala-911/
Book Consulting Time with Sam: https://calendly.com/consultingwithsam
Book Consulting Time with Kristin: https://calendly.com/eventstorytelling
Learn More About the Elevate Conference: https://swaimstrategies.com/elevate-conference/
Get Planning a Successful Major Donor Event: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/#book
Join Swaim Strategies on Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies
Connect with The AV Department: https://theavdept.com/
Connect with MemoryFox: https://www.memoryfox.io/
MemoryFox’s Ethical Storytelling Report: https://www.memoryfox.io/ethical-storytelling/
Memory Fox Webinars: https://www.memoryfox.io/category/webinars/
The Ethical Nonprofit Summit: https://habramarketing.com/ethicalnonprofitsummit/
Wednesday Nov 12, 2025
Wednesday Nov 12, 2025
In this episode Brandon Lenzi, founder of Bowtie Strategies, shares his transformative approach to fundraising rooted in authentic relationships. Brandon defines fundraising as an opportunity for individuals to realize their vision for the community they want to live in, emphasizing the importance of sitting on the same side of the table with donors to solve problems together. He discusses navigating current challenges by focusing on individual giving and being transparent with donors about funding gaps while inviting them to be part of the solution.
The episode also features a compelling case study of how Brandon transformed a $500,000 event into a million-dollar fundraiser using an innovative anchor gift strategy. By securing a $100,000 anchor gift and strategically matching it multiple times he created collective momentum that inspired broader participation. Brandon emphasizes that fundraising isn't a water pump but rather a flywheel that gains momentum through consistent relationship building. As year-end approaches, he advises organizations to focus on authentic storytelling and treating donors as team members, recognizing that donors are consolidating their giving to fewer organizations that matter most to them.
Breakdown of the Million Dollar Strategy:
https://swaimstrategies.substack.com/p/how-to-turn-your-fundraising-event
Loving The Fundraising Elevator? Please subscribe, rate and review the podcast. It really helps other people find the show.
This Episode Brought to You by:
Swaim Strategies: https://swaimstrategies.com
Utilizing over 20 years of nonprofit event strategy and production expertise, Swaim Strategies coaches and teaches organizations how to increase the impact of their fundraising events.
The AV Department: https://theavdept.com/
As a full-service event AV and video production partner, The AV Department’s technical event production and media content generation provide you with a range of experience and talent from a partner who wants to know you and work together year after year.
Bloomerang: https://bit.ly/4hLqLVw
Create the ideal giving experience with integrated fundraising tools and automated insights that maximize your impact. Keep donors close to the cause with mean-ingful outreach at the right time. Increase retention, major gifts, and all-around impact. Turn supporters into action-takers with tools that make it easy to recruit, organize, and engage volunteers at every level.
Feathr: https://www.feathr.co/
Feathr is a marketing platform built specifically for mission-driven organizations, offering simple tools for digital advertising, email campaigns, and audience engagement. The platform uses real-time insights and AI-powered segmentation to help you reach the right people at the right time—whether you’re nurturing existing supporters or discovering new ones who share your values. It’s marketing that meets people where they are, building relationships that last beyond a single click.
Speakers
Samantha Swaim
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-swaim-a28a9a4/
Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies
Kristin Steele
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-steele777/
Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies
Brandon Lenzi
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandon-lenzi-992955138/
| RESOURCES |
Connect with Swaim Strategies: https://swaimstrategies.com
Propose a Podcast Episode: https://swaimstrategies.com/propose-a-podcast-episode/
Get Event Help Right Now with Gala 911: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/gala-911/
Book Consulting Time with Sam: https://calendly.com/consultingwithsam
Book Consulting Time with Kristin: https://calendly.com/eventstorytelling
Learn More About the Elevate Conference: https://swaimstrategies.com/elevate-conference/
Get Planning a Successful Major Donor Event: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/#book
Join Swaim Strategies on Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies
Connect with The AV Department: https://theavdept.com/
Connect with Bowtie Strategies: https://www.bowtiestrategies.co/
Willamette Week’s Give!Guide: https://giveguide.org/
Tabor Dance: https://www.tabordance.org/
Bike Bus PDX: https://www.bikebuspdx.org/
Wednesday Nov 05, 2025
Wednesday Nov 05, 2025
In this episode we talk with Amy Eisenstein, CEO and co-founder of Capital Campaign Pro, about what it really takes to launch a successful capital campaign. With over 25 years of experience in major gift fundraising, Amy shares practical advice for organizations ready to dream big—and fund those dreams sustainably.
Amy explains that a capital campaign is more than a fundraising goal, it’s a long-term investment in an organization’s future. She walks through the key phases of a campaign, from early planning and feasibility studies to the quiet and public phases, emphasizing that success begins with thoughtful preparation and authentic donor engagement.
She talks about how annual fundraising and campaign efforts can strengthen one another rather than compete, and also introduces her modern approach to feasibility studies, where nonprofit leaders engage directly with donors to build stronger relationships and deeper trust. Her final advice is simple but powerful: have one meaningful conversation with a donor every single day. It’s a reminder that great fundraising isn’t just about dollars—it’s about relationships that sustain impact for years to come.
Loving The Fundraising Elevator? Please subscribe, rate and review the podcast. It really helps other people find the show.
This Episode Brought to You by:
Swaim Strategies: https://swaimstrategies.com
Utilizing over 20 years of nonprofit event strategy and production expertise, Swaim Strategies coaches and teaches organizations how to increase the impact of their fundraising events.
The AV Department: https://theavdept.com/
As a full-service event AV and video production partner, The AV Department’s technical event production and media content generation provide you with a range of experience and talent from a partner who wants to know you and work together year after year.
Bloomerang: https://bloomerang.com/learn/demo-live/?utm_medium=referral_partner&pscd=try.bloomerang.co&ps_partner_key=OGI3NDc1MzkxZmEx&ps_xid=ASf9UvjXjU56ES&gsxid=ASf9UvjXjU56ES&gspk=OGI3NDc1MzkxZmEx
Create the ideal giving experience with integrated fundraising tools and automated insights that maximize your impact. Keep donors close to the cause with mean-ingful outreach at the right time. Increase retention, major gifts, and all-around impact. Turn supporters into action-takers with tools that make it easy to recruit, organize, and engage volunteers at every level.
Feathr: https://www.feathr.co/
Feathr is a marketing platform built specifically for mission-driven organizations, offering simple tools for digital advertising, email campaigns, and audience engagement. The platform uses real-time insights and AI-powered segmentation to help you reach the right people at the right time—whether you’re nurturing existing supporters or discovering new ones who share your values. It’s marketing that meets people where they are, building relationships that last beyond a single click.
Speakers
Samantha Swaim
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-swaim-a28a9a4/
Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies
Kristin Steele
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-steele777/
Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies
Amy Eisenstein
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/capital-campaign-pro/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amyeisensteinacfre/
| RESOURCES |
Connect with Swaim Strategies: https://swaimstrategies.com
Propose a Podcast Episode: https://swaimstrategies.com/propose-a-podcast-episode/
Get Event Help Right Now with Gala 911: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/gala-911/
Book Consulting Time with Sam: https://calendly.com/consultingwithsam
Book Consulting Time with Kristin: https://calendly.com/eventstorytelling
Learn More About the Elevate Conference: https://swaimstrategies.com/elevate-conference/
Get Planning a Successful Major Donor Event: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/#book
Join Swaim Strategies on Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies
Connect with The AV Department: https://theavdept.com/
Connect with Capital Campaign Pro: https://capitalcampaignpro.com/subscribe/
Free Strategy Session to Discuss Your Capital Campaign Plans: https://capitalcampaignpro.com/start/
Wednesday Oct 29, 2025
Wednesday Oct 29, 2025
In this powerful episode, hosts Kristin and Sam make an urgent case for why now is exactly the wrong time to cancel your fundraising events. They explore the neuroscience behind why gatherings work: shared experiences literally sync our heartbeats, create neural alignment that enhances trust and cooperation, and generate collective effervescence—that bubbly, transcendent energy that individuals simply cannot achieve alone. When we watch stories unfold together, oxytocin flows, bonds form, and donors can look around a room and see tangible proof that they're part of a movement.
For event planners deep in the logistics trenches right now, the episode offers both inspiration and practical guidance: get specific with storytelling rather than trying to cram every program into one night, remove transactional clutter in favor of genuine connection, and always include a clear ask—because not inviting people to give actually tanks satisfaction scores. This episode is a rallying cry to gather with intention, host like the world depends on it, and remember that a room full of people holding up paddles isn't just raising money—they're building the safety net your organization needs to weather whatever comes next.
Loving The Fundraising Elevator? Please subscribe, rate and review the podcast. It really helps other people find the show.
This Episode Brought to You by:
Swaim Strategies: https://swaimstrategies.com
Utilizing over 20 years of nonprofit event strategy and production expertise, Swaim Strategies coaches and teaches organizations how to increase the impact of their fundraising events.
The AV Department: https://theavdept.com/
As a full-service event AV and video production partner, The AV Department’s technical event production and media content generation provide you with a range of experience and talent from a partner who wants to know you and work together year after year.
Feathr: https://www.feathr.co/
Feathr is a marketing platform built specifically for mission-driven organizations, offering simple tools for digital advertising, email campaigns, and audience engagement. The platform uses real-time insights and AI-powered segmentation to help you reach the right people at the right time—whether you’re nurturing existing supporters or discovering new ones who share your values. It’s marketing that meets people where they are, building relationships that last beyond a single click.
Speakers
Samantha Swaim
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-swaim-a28a9a4/
Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies
Kristin Steele
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-steele777/
Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies
| RESOURCES |
Connect with Swaim Strategies: https://swaimstrategies.com
Propose a Podcast Episode: https://swaimstrategies.com/propose-a-podcast-episode/
Get Event Help Right Now with Gala 911: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/gala-911/
Book Consulting Time with Sam: https://calendly.com/consultingwithsam
Book Consulting Time with Kristin: https://calendly.com/eventstorytelling
Learn More About the Elevate Conference: https://swaimstrategies.com/elevate-conference/
Get Planning a Successful Major Donor Event: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/#book
Join Swaim Strategies on Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies
Connect with The AV Department: https://theavdept.com/
Podcast with Dr. Paul Zak, Part 1 :https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HWAwlEVz5M&t=3s
Podcast with Dr. Paul Zak, Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kSKDbgNSxZk&t=1706s
Audience Members Hearts’ Beat Together at the Theatre: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/brain-sciences/news/2017/nov/audience-members-hearts-beat-together-theatre
“Beyoncé Isn’t Giving Up on America” Cannonball with Wesley Morris: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyonc%C3%A9-isnt-giving-up-on-america/id1151436460?i=1000721020745
“Quantifying Collective Effervescence”: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3306345/
Safety Protocols:
https://swaimstrategies.substack.com/p/event-safety-recommendations-and
Wednesday Oct 22, 2025
Wednesday Oct 22, 2025
In this power-packed episode, former NFL player turned professional benefit auctioneer Reggie Rivers tackles topics head-on: ditch the tall centerpieces that create barriers between auctioneers and donors, stop at $100 minimum gifts to train donors upward rather than nickel-and-diming them, and skip the fundraising thermometer unless you can set it with surgical precision. Most importantly he breaks down why the paddle raise is the only moment at your event when you're purely selling your mission not engaging in retail transactions.
Rivers explains why dinner galas outperform breakfast events and golf tournaments. He emphasizes that pre-committed gifts aren't just revenue, they're leadership and role modeling that teach audiences trust and create momentum. The paddle raise transforms events from transactional experiences into collective action moments where 500 people celebrate together, "We did this!" Reggie shows us why the best idea is to hire a professional benefit auctioneer who understands the neuroscience of giving and can read a room in real-time to maximize that mission-critical moment. Don’t miss this episode full of actionable advice from a professional who has seen a lot on and off the field!
Loving The Fundraising Elevator? Please subscribe, rate and review the podcast. It really helps other people find the show.
This Episode Brought to You by:
Swaim Strategies: https://swaimstrategies.com
Utilizing over 20 years of nonprofit event strategy and production expertise, Swaim Strategies coaches and teaches organizations how to increase the impact of their fundraising events.
The AV Department: https://theavdept.com/
As a full-service event AV and video production partner, The AV Department’s technical event production and media content generation provide you with a range of experience and talent from a partner who wants to know you and work together year after year.
Feathr: https://www.feathr.co/
Feathr is a marketing platform built specifically for mission-driven organizations, offering simple tools for digital advertising, email campaigns, and audience engagement. The platform uses real-time insights and AI-powered segmentation to help you reach the right people at the right time—whether you’re nurturing existing supporters or discovering new ones who share your values. It’s marketing that meets people where they are, building relationships that last beyond a single click.
Speakers
Samantha Swaim
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-swaim-a28a9a4/
Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies
Kristin Steele
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-steele777/
Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies
Reggie Rivers
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/reggierivers/
| RESOURCES |
Connect with Swaim Strategies: https://swaimstrategies.com
Propose a Podcast Episode: https://swaimstrategies.com/propose-a-podcast-episode/
Get Event Help Right Now with Gala 911: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/gala-911/
Book Consulting Time with Sam: https://calendly.com/consultingwithsam
Book Consulting Time with Kristin: https://calendly.com/eventstorytelling
Learn More About the Elevate Conference: https://swaimstrategies.com/elevate-conference/
Get Planning a Successful Major Donor Event: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/#book
Join Swaim Strategies on Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies
Connect with The AV Department: https://theavdept.com/