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.
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Episodes
4 days ago
4 days ago
In this episode we talk with Christopher Acebo, director, designer, producer, and CEO of Broken English Productions, to explore the intersection of art, community, and leadership. Drawing on his theater background, Christopher introduces the concept of the "leader host": someone who doesn't just invite people into a space but actively connects them, elevates them, and creates the conditions for safety, trust, and risk-taking. This combination is where truly new ideas are born.
The conversation expands into the connector role in nonprofit organizations, where threading relationships between staff, board, and donors is one of the most critical (and often invisible) contributions a leader can make. With joy as a north star and storytelling as a tool for empathy, Christopher encourages nonprofit leaders to start small: reframe the overwhelming "event" as simply a chance to connect with one other person, and trust that human connection is both the beginning and the point.
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
Christopher Acebo
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christopher.acebo/
| 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 Christopher Acebo’s Work: https://acebocreative.com/
Wednesday Apr 01, 2026
Wednesday Apr 01, 2026
Episode #113: Raise More Money at Your Next Event — An Auctioneer Roundtable on Fundraising Strategy That Actually Works
This episode gathers a roundtable of benefit auctioneers to discuss what's working in nonprofit fundraising events. The conversation centers on the paddle raise as an underutilized superpower, pushing back on the fear of asking and making the case that a strategic, well-planned ask is not only expected by donors, it's something their brains are wired to want. The panel also champions a broader shift in events: less stuff, more mission, tighter programs, and a move from transactional giving to genuine community connection.
The second half makes the case for hiring a professional benefit auctioneer, explaining how expertise in fundraising strategy, neuroscience, and audience management can make a huge difference in your fundraising. The panel also highlights the urgent need for more auctioneers of color and multilingual auctioneers to better represent the communities nonprofits serve. The closing wisdom is simple: your mission is the star and everything else is in service of that.
Featuring:
Sasha Summer Cousineau, Revel Rouser Events
Bobby D. Ehlert, Call to Auction
Stephen Kilbreath, Kilbreath Events
Adrienne Livingston, Artisan Auctions
Matt Roben, The Kilted Auctioneer
Kelly Russell, Artisan Auctions
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
Connect with The AV Department: https://theavdept.com/
Connect with Sasha Summer Cousineau: https://www.sashasummercousineau.com/
Connect with Call to Auction: https://www.calltoauction.com/
Connect with Kilbreath Events :https://www.kilbreathevents.com/
Connect with Artisan Auctions :https://www.artisanauctions.com/
Connect with The Kilted Auctioneer:https://www.thekiltedauctioneer.com/
Paddle Raise Demo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nx7vQEeya2c
Get 50% off Gala Toolbox with the code ELEVATE: https://www.galatoolbox.com/
Wednesday Mar 25, 2026
Wednesday Mar 25, 2026
In episode 112 we gathered six event planners to discuss what's working in a rapidly changing events landscape. The dominant theme is authenticity. Audiences are done with bloated, performative events and instead crave real human connection and experiences that feel true to an organization's mission. The group explores how planners are helping nonprofits respond boldly to current events, turning community crises and funding cuts into powerful moments for collective action and giving.
The conversation also tackles joy as a form of resistance, with planners sharing ways to build delight into every event touchpoint. Reflecting on the Elevate conference, guests highlight takeaways around storytelling, direct mail's surprising resurgence, and digital tools for nonprofits. The episode closes with myth-busting on event costs, overprogramming, and silent auctions, with a throughline message: less, done with more intentionality, delivers more impact.
Featuring:
Crystal Chanel, Press Release Marketing, LLC
Hannah Hegman, Do Good Events
Paige Jacobs, Powered by Paige
Matthew Kerrigan, The Fundraising Event Co.
Kel Moody, Alluvium Gatherings
Beth Sandefur, Beth Sandefur Events
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
Connect with The AV Department: https://theavdept.com/
Connect with Press Release Marketing, LLC: https://www.justpressrelease.com/
Connect with Do Good Events: https://dogoodevents.com/
Connect with Powered by Paige: https://www.poweredbypaige.com/
Connect with The Fundraising Event Co.: https://www.fundraisingeventco.com/
Connect with Alluvium Gatherings: https://www.alluviumgatherings.com/
Connect with Beth Sandefur Events: https://www.bethsandefur.com/
Wednesday Mar 18, 2026
Wednesday Mar 18, 2026
In this lively episode recorded live at the Elevate Conference, hosts Kristin and Sam welcome veteran fundraiser Clay Buck and behavioral science expert Cherian Koshy for a wide-ranging conversation about the heart and science of fundraising. Both guests share their accidental paths into the profession before diving into what genuinely excites them about fundraising today. Despite the doom and gloom narratives circulating in the sector, both guests push back with conviction: human generosity is hardwired, giving is alive, and the real opportunity lies in returning to authentic, relationship-centered fundraising over transactional, wealth-chasing tactics.
The conversation takes a fascinating turn into the neuroscience of giving, where Clay and Cherian challenge fundraisers to rethink one of their most overlooked moments: the thank you. When organizations acknowledge donors only for the dollar amount of their gift, they miss everything that actually mattered: the identity, emotion, and meaning behind the decision to give. The duo also tackles the evolution of fundraising events, arguing that the classic fancy gala model is losing relevance as the line between nonprofit and for-profit experiences blurs, and younger generations demand more meaningful, participatory ways to engage. Their parting wisdom? Stop pitching and start inviting. Meet donors in their joy, see them fully, and trust that the work you're already doing matters.
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
Clay Buck
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tclaybuck/
Cherian Koshy
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheriankoshy/
| 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 T. Clay Buck: https://www.nextriverfundraising.com/
Connect with Cherian Koshy:https://www.cheriankoshy.com/
Get Neurogiving by Cherian Koshy: https://neurogivingbook.com/
Wednesday Mar 11, 2026
Wednesday Mar 11, 2026
In this timely and wide-ranging conversation with Deborah Steinkopf and Anthony Petchel, co-founders of the Nonprofit Financial Leadership Academy, we take stock of the 2026 philanthropic landscape. With decades of nonprofit leadership experience between them, Deborah and Anthony paint a picture defined by one word: uncertainty. From federal funding being clawed back across human services to an economy widening the gap between everyday donors and the ultra-wealthy, nonprofits are facing a reckoning. Yet the guests find reason for hope: total giving is still rising, Giving Tuesday saw a surge in volunteerism and advocacy, and the sector's long-standing capacity to adapt and do more with less may be exactly the muscle the moment demands.
The conversation gets actionable fast, diving into the explosive growth of Donor Advised Funds, the impact of shifting tax policy on giving behavior, and what the donor retention rate in the U.S. reveals about where nonprofits are leaving relationships and money on the table. Deborah and Anthony challenge leaders to move beyond crisis mode and into strategic thinking: building belonging with donors, embracing collaboration and even mergers, and treating stewardship not as a nice-to-have but as the core of a sustainable funding model.
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
Nonprofit Financial Leadership Academy: https://www.linkedin.com/company/nonprofit-financial-leadership-academy/
| 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 Nonprofit Financial Leadership Academy: https://www.npfla.com/
Use Code Elevator 2026 for 20% Off Your Registration
Giving USA: https://givingusa.org/
DAFpay: https://www.dafpay.com/
National Council of Nonprofits: https://www.councilofnonprofits.org/
AFP Reports: https://afpglobal.org/research-reports/reports
Wednesday Mar 04, 2026
Wednesday Mar 04, 2026
In this episode, Nel Taylor—organizational equity strategist and ethical fundraising expert—explores what it truly means to host a community-centric event. They unpack how traditional gala models have long centered exclusivity, social status, and a narrow definition of donor value, and how shifting to a community-centric framework means rethinking everything from ticket pricing and venue selection to seating arrangements, childcare stipends, and who gets honored on stage.
Nel walks listeners through a compelling real-world case study, sharing the creative, budget-conscious decisions that made it a standout success, including sliding scale tickets, honorariums for community storytellers, and a paddle raise that went to an $18 giving level. The conversation also dives into practical tools for expanding accessibility, and aspirational budgeting practices that start with generosity first and work backward. Nel leaves listeners with a powerful guiding principle: always ask yourself what the most generous thing you can do is, and then figure out how to make it work.
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
Nel Taylor
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nel-taylor/
| 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 Nel Taylor: https://www.nowthisconsulting.com/
Free Fundraising Equity Lens Guide: https://www.nowthisconsulting.com/lens
SyncWords: https://www.syncwords.com/
Wednesday Feb 25, 2026
Wednesday Feb 25, 2026
In this episode hosts Sam and Kristin continue their exploration of Dr. Paul Zak's SIRTA framework, drawn from his book Immersion, and how it can be applied to nonprofit learning events and conferences. The hosts use their upcoming Elevate Conference as a case study to walk through each element. From pre-event communications and name tags to scripted transitions and a diverse mix of session formats, they illustrate how thoughtful event design removes friction, calms the brain, and primes attendees to absorb and act on new information.
The conversation builds on the most overlooked element of any gathering: the action. Whether it’s a donation ask, a sign-up, a Q+A, or simply a clear directive for what attendees should do next, every event needs a call to action. It gives the brain the resolution and satisfaction it's been building toward. The hosts close with a broader rallying cry: in a moment of uncertainty and social strain, gathering people together around a shared mission is one of the most powerful tools nonprofits have.
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
Connect with The AV Department: https://theavdept.com/
Immersion: https://pauljzak.com/books/
Paul Zak TED Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rFAdlU2ETjU
The Fundraising Elevator Podcast with Dr. Paul Zak Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HWAwlEVz5M
The Fundraising Elevator Podcast with Dr. Paul Zak Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kSKDbgNSxZk
Wednesday Feb 18, 2026
Wednesday Feb 18, 2026
Coach Sam Balto, executive director and co-founder of Bike Bus World, shares how a simple weekly gathering transformed into a global movement. Bike Bus is an organized group bike ride where students cycle to school together with adult chaperones, creating safety in numbers while building community, independence, and joy. What started with a few kids in Portland has grown and inspired bike buses worldwide. The rides provide essential physical activity before school, improve focus and social skills, reduce traffic, and create magical moments of connection between kids, parents, teachers, and neighbors.
The movement has captured global attention through viral social media, attracting celebrities including Justin Timberlake and Benson Boone, plus a Netflix Stranger Things collaboration. Now a nonprofit supporting over 300 bike bus leaders worldwide, Bike Bus World demonstrates how a simple idea executed with joy and commitment can build movement. Coach Balto's message: "You don't need to ask for permission to do good things.” Sometimes meaningful change just requires showing up and riding together.
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
Coach Balto
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachbalto/
| 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/
Portland Bike Bus on NBC Nightly News: https://www.nbcnews.com/nightly-news/video/oregon-school-s-unique-way-of-getting-students-to-class-a-bike-bus-150514245826
Connect with Coach Balto: https://www.instagram.com/coachbalto/
Connect with Bike Bus World: https://bikebus.world/
Wednesday Feb 11, 2026
Wednesday Feb 11, 2026
In this episode Kat Topaz and Jim Abeles, owners of Topaz Farm on Sauvie Island near Portland join us. They share their unexpected journey from tech and marketing careers to becoming regenerative farmers. What began as a search for a place to moor their tugboat transformed into a 130-acre farm centered on community connection and sustainable agriculture. They describe how neighboring farmers generously supported them through their first challenging seasons, and how they quickly realized their mission extended beyond farming to creating meaningful gathering spaces where people could reconnect and find community.
The conversation explores how they built Topaz Farm into a beloved community hub through intentional design and storytelling. From meticulously creating the perfect concert lawn to hosting farm-to-table dinners under a 500-year-old oak tree, every detail reflects their commitment to helping guests be present. The episode also covers their viral advocacy moment when proposed regulations threatened small farms—their heartfelt video mobilized thousands. Kat and Jim offer wisdom for nonprofits about gathering, emphasizing that the best events leave space for organic connection rather than over-programming, and that creating quality environments where people can simply be together is often more transformative than any planned activity.
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
Jim Abeles
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abeles/
Kat Topaz
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kattopaz/
| 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 Topaz Farm: https://topazfarm.com/
Topaz Farm Video That Went Viral: https://www.instagram.com/p/DMYhkfmBW0D/
Wednesday Feb 04, 2026
Wednesday Feb 04, 2026
In this special episode hosts Samantha Swaim and Kristin Steele dive deep into Dr. Paul Zak's powerful SIRTA framework from his book Immersion. They break down how organizations can apply brain science to create truly transformational fundraising events. Drawing from research into what motivates people to act, the SIRTA acronym stands for Staging, Immersion, Relevance, Target, and Action. These five critical elements work together to help guests feel psychologically safe, emotionally engaged, and empowered to participate meaningfully in your mission. The episode provides practical, actionable guidance for each component.
In our current "connection recession," where loneliness and isolation are an epidemic, intentional gatherings aren't just fundraising tools, they're pathways to building connections that make exponential impact possible. This framework offers nonprofit leaders a research-backed approach to move beyond transactional galas toward transformational events that leave guests feeling genuinely satisfied and eager to share their experience.
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
Connect with The AV Department: https://theavdept.com/
Immersion: https://pauljzak.com/books/
Dr. Paul Zak on The Fundraising Elevator Podcast Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HWAwlEVz5M
Dr. Paul Zak on The Fundraising Elevator Podcast Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kSKDbgNSxZk