The Fundraising Elevator Podcast

In this episode we sit down with Denise Spivak, CEO of CenterLink,  the world's largest coalition of LGBTQ+ community centers, representing over 350 member organizations. Denise shares how centers have evolved from small grassroots efforts into sophisticated service providers offering everything from medical clinics to mental health care, while remaining rooted in community connection and belonging. She paints an honest picture of the current funding landscape — one marked by federal cuts, corporate DEI pullbacks, and heightened political targeting — but counters the grim narrative with a testament to resilience.
The conversation digs into the practical and philosophical tools keeping LGBTQ+ centers afloat, from airtight 501(c)(3) compliance and board governance to diversified funding strategies and collaborative re-granting models. Denise makes a compelling case for doubling down on mission rather than softening identity in the face of political pressure — and shares how centers that have done exactly that are watching new donors step in to fill the gaps. She also spotlights the power of Pride as both celebration and resistance, traces its roots from Stonewall to today's massive community gatherings.
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
 
Denise Spivak
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/denisespivak/
 
| 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 CenterLink: https://www.lgbtqcenters.org/
Find an LGBTQ+ Center Near You: https://web.lgbtqcenters.org/atlas/directory/category/all-centerlink-members
Elton John Impact Awards: https://cantcancelpride.lgbtqcenters.org/Details/aa2115e0-1b83-4c4c-2f9f-08dd5dbd0947
Connect with Looking Out Foundation:https://www.lookingoutfoundation.org/
Connect with Elton John AIDS Foundation: https://www.eltonjohnaidsfoundation.org/

In this episode we sit down with TiWanna "TK" Kenney — US Army veteran, the first Black woman to earn the Benefit Auctioneer Specialist designation, and founder of Astounding Auctions — to completely reframe what a benefit auctioneer can do for your nonprofit. TK breaks down why the best auctioneers aren't hired guns who show up at the last minute, but strategic partners embedded in your planning at least 90 days out, asking the questions your team stopped asking years ago. From reading donor floor plans to weaving personal stories into the appeal moment, TK reveals the behind-the-scenes magic that moves donors from a planned gift to a spontaneous one.
The conversation goes deep on why fundraising is really just dating, why your gala should never feel like a recitation of your annual report, and why the paddle raise might be the most underutilized tool in the nonprofit sector. TK's philosophy is disarmingly simple: donors don't give because they have to, they give because you made them feel something. She shares powerful stories of unsuspecting donors moved to tears, clients who once needed help proudly raising their paddle, and rooms exhaling together in collective generosity. If you've ever wondered why your event didn't hit its goal, this episode will change the way you think about every moment of your next fundraiser.
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
 
TiWanna A. Kenney
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tiwanna-kenney/
 
| 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 Astounding Auctions: https://astoundingauctions.com/
Connect with TiWanna A. Kenney: https://www.instagram.com/tksaysdoit/
 
Episode #124: The Right Strategy with TiWanna A. Kenney
Release date June 17, 2026

Episode #123: Travel as Generosity with Elizabeth West of Sojourn Ventures
In this episode, we sit down with Elizabeth West, President of Sojourn Ventures Travel, to talk about one of the most underutilized tools in nonprofit fundraising: consignment travel. Elizabeth breaks down what the model actually means for cash-strapped, short-staffed organizations: zero upfront risk, no volunteer hours managing donor logistics, and the ability to add a high-quality auction item the day before your event. She also reveals why the right auctioneer can turn a $2,000 package into an $8,000 revenue moment on the spot, or sell the same Bali villa eight times in a single night.
The conversation goes well beyond live auctions. Elizabeth shares how organizations are stretching consignment into online campaigns, employee benefits, and member perks — creating entirely new revenue streams without adding to an already thin team. And because Sojourn's boutique properties can’t be Googled or pre-shopped, they protect bidding energy in ways donated packages simply can’t. If your organization is running low on time, volunteers, and auction items, this episode is your easy button, backed by a company that has helped nonprofits raise over $200 million.
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
 
Elizabeth West
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-west-46056231/
 
| 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 Sojourn Ventures Travel: https://www.sojournventurestravel.com/

Recorded live at Bloomerang’s GiveCon 2026, this episode gets real about some of the most valuable advice that never makes it onto a conference slide. In this live roundtable, four of the sector’s most candid voices get into the conversations they usually save for hallways and happy hours. They explore the mistakes they see nonprofits repeat, the tradeoffs leaders know exist but rarely say out loud, and the places where even experienced consultants genuinely disagree. It’s exactly the kind of discussion that reminds you you’re not alone.
Featuring:
Ann Fellman, Bloomerang 
Julia Campbell, J Campbell Social Marketing 
Christina Tzavaras Edwards, Host of The Purpose & Profit Club Podcast and Founder of Splendid Consulting 
Samantha Swaim, Swaim Strategies 
 
Learn more about GiveCon by Bloomerang. 
GiveCon by Bloomerang: Atlanta May 3-6, 2027
 
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
 
Ann Fellman
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annfellman/
 
Julia Campbell
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliacampbell/
 
Christina Tzavaras Edwards
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christinatza/
 
| 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 J Campbell Social Marketing: https://jcsocialmarketing.com/
Listen to Julia Campbell’s Podcast: https://jcsocialmarketing.com/podcast/
Connect with Splendid Consulting: https://www.splendidatl.com/
Listen to Christina Tzavaras Edwards’ Podcast: https://www.splendidatl.com/podcast

The most powerful fundraising move your organization could make right now might not be a bigger gala, it could be a dinner for ten. Co-host Samantha Swaim steps into the guest seat to make a compelling case for small, curated events as one of the most underutilized tools in the nonprofit playbook. With virtual work flattening human connection and donors drifting toward deeper investment in fewer causes, Sam argues that the antidote to the "connection recession" isn't another mass email blast, it's a deliberate, hospitality-forward invitation that says simply: we see you and we want you back. From a seven-week dinner series that re-engaged an entire lapsed donor base to a whiskey tasting that turned a board member's passion into a major gift moment, this episode is packed with real examples of what intimate gatherings can unlock.
Sam also gets tactical about the fears organizations face when stepping back from big events: leaving money on the table, the pressure to cast a wider net, the chaos when three different audiences show up for three completely different reasons. She walks through how to assess your actual needs, design for a specific audience, and make an ask that's easy, specific, and actionable every time. This episode delivers both the permission and the blueprint to start smaller, go deeper, and raise more.
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/
Want to work with Swaim Strategies? https://swaimstrategies.com/request-for-proposal/
Cultivation Event Podcast Episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hru2SCqMkk
Special Appeal Podcast Episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61onFuwgiSI
Event Planner Roundtable Podcast Episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PFzefXTUT0

What does it look like when a nonprofit event stops feeling like an obligation and starts feeling like a movement? In this episode, we sit down with Brittini Lasseigne, CEO of YWCA Clark County, who just pulled off a record-breaking, sold-out gala that had sponsors asking for extra seats instead of donating them back. Brittini takes us behind the scenes of SHINE and reveals why centering joy, diversity, and survivor resilience didn't just fill a room, it built an entirely new generation of donors. From a custom song that got 450 people on their feet to an organizational video told from the point of view of a shelter dog in a tutu, this episode is a shows what happens when purpose drives every single decision.
Brittini also breaks open her organization's approach to corporate sponsorship: a 20-page values-aligned partnership booklet, a permission-based meeting process, and relationships so strong one sponsor has stayed for 30 years. She shares how her team flipped the script on transactional giving, why leading with curiosity over judgment has unlocked unexpected partnerships, and what a gift acceptance policy has to do with human dignity and repair. 
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
 
Brittini Lasseigne
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brittini-lasseigne/
 
| 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 YWCA Clark County: https://www.ywcaclarkcounty.org/
Follow YWCA Clark County: https://www.instagram.com/ywcacc/

In this episode, we sit down with Kendall Clawson, founder of NW Leadership Consulting and a three-decade veteran of nonprofit leadership, for a conversation that is equal parts honest, warm, and revelatory. Kendall shares the origin story that changed her life's trajectory and takes us inside the early days of building an LGBTQIA+ community center in Portland. She also introduces a perspective that will stop you mid-scroll: the wolf pack model, where the strongest leader leads from the back, not the front. If you've ever answered "how are you?" with a five-minute rundown of your organization's priorities, this episode will feel like someone finally handed you a mirror.
From the myth of the martyred nonprofit leader to the quiet crisis in board-ED relationships, Kendall delivers hard truths with the kind of care that makes you feel seen rather than called out. She breaks down why the average nonprofit leader burns out in three to four years, and why vulnerability isn't a liability, it's the very thing that opens the door to the support you've been white-knuckling through without. If you lead, serve on a board, or have ever felt like the mission's weight rests entirely on your shoulders, this one's for you.
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
 
Kendall Clawson
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kendall-clawson-169b235/
 
| 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 NW Leadership Consulting: https://www.nwleadershipconsulting.com/

In this episode, we sit down with Kim Warnick who is a culture organizer, violence prevention expert, and the person you want in the room when things get complicated. This is the conversation our listeners have been requesting more than any other, and it delivers. Kim reframes safety from something you add on at the last minute into something you design from the very beginning. And the difference, she argues, is felt in every single guest's nervous system before they ever take their seat.
This isn't a conversation about metal detectors and security guards. It's about site selection, staffing with intention, trauma-informed design, and the quiet signals your event is already sending about who belongs and who doesn't. Kim walks us through protest planning, alcohol policy, de-escalation training, and why "neutrality" at your event is never actually neutral—it's just the status quo in disguise. Whether you're planning a gala, a pride festival, or a community organizing event, this episode will change how you think about every decision you make between now and the moment the doors open. Because when your guests feel safe, they stop scanning the room for exits and start actually showing up for your mission.
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 Western States Center: https://www.instagram.com/wstatescenter/
Resources and Toolkits from Western States Center: https://www.westernstatescenter.org/toolkits-resources
Sign up for Western States Center Monthly Newsletter: https://www.westernstatescenter.org/joinus

In this episode, nonprofit consultant and ethical storytelling expert Derria Ford joins us for a conversation that every fundraiser, communications professional, and nonprofit leader needs to hear. Derria didn't set out to become an expert in this space, she was pushed into it by necessity, and then transformed by a single moment when a storyteller asked her to stop. What followed was years of building a practice rooted in dignity, consent, and the radical idea that the person telling the story should actually own it.
This isn't just a conversation about doing the right thing, it's about doing better work. Derria walks us through her entire process, from identifying who's truly ready to share their story, to co-creating it with them, to the policies that protect both your storytellers and your organization long after the campaign ends. She challenges the sector's obsession with tears-as-metrics, makes the case for informed consent over intake forms, and offers a litmus test so simple it stops you cold: tell the story as if it were yours. If you've ever rushed a story out the door, repurposed old content without checking in, or wondered if your organization's storytelling is doing more harm than good, this episode is your starting 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
 
Derria Ford
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/derria-ford-mba-ed-d-6b820060/
 
| 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 Seed Fundraisers
Connect with Derria Ford: https://www.derriaford.com/stay-connected

What if the biggest threat to your fundraising isn't a shrinking donor pool, but rather the story you're telling yourself about it?
In this episode, Mary Crogan of Bloomerang joins us to challenge the scarcity narrative that's taken hold in the nonprofit sector, and replace it with something far more powerful: an abundance mindset. Yes, the landscape is shifting. Funding is less predictable, need is growing, and the pressure is real. But generosity? It hasn't gone anywhere. Research backs this up showing scarcity thinking literally narrows your cognitive capacity and kills innovation, while an abundance mindset unlocks creativity, resilience, and the kind of bold strategy that actually moves the needle.
The question isn't whether generosity exists. It's whether your organization is positioned to meet it. Younger donors are redefining what giving looks like (volunteering, advocacy, peer fundraising) and the nonprofits that recognize and nurture those relationships are building something that lasts. Add the right technology to the mix, and suddenly you have a fuller picture of your supporters and the ability to show up for them in ways that actually resonate. Mary's message is clear and it's one every fundraiser needs to hear right now: tune out the headlines, trust your data, and believe that more is possible. Because the organizations that choose abundance? They're the ones heading up.
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
 
Mary Crogan
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marycrogan/
 
| 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/
Research from Sendhil Mullainathan and Eldar Shafir on Scarcity: https://www.hks.harvard.edu/centers/cid/publications/books/scarcity-why-having-too-little-means-so-much.
Growth Mindset Research: https://ctl.stanford.edu/students/growth-mindset
Positive Psychology Research: https://peplab.web.unc.edu/
Bloomerang’s GiveCon: https://bloomerang.com/givecon/