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.
Episodes
May 6, 2026
May 6, 2026
1hr 17 min
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
Apr 29, 2026
Apr 29, 2026
55 min
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
Apr 22, 2026
Apr 22, 2026
55 min
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/
Apr 15, 2026
Apr 15, 2026
57 min
In this episode Amina Abdul-Majeed, Vice President and Principal at Wingo, discusses cultivation events as a strategic tool for nonprofits. After noting renewed fundraising momentum in 2026 following a turbulent 2025, she defines cultivation events as small, intimate gatherings focused on relationship building rather than revenue. Unlike galas, these events feature a tight 20-minute speaking program, a soft ask, and a donor packet designed to deepen connections over time.
Amina emphasizes that post-event follow-up is where the real work happens. For organizations just starting out, she recommends knowing your donor database, identifying reliable host committee members, keeping costs low, and sending invitations four to six weeks in advance. At its core, cultivation events work best as part of a sustained, relationship-first major donor strategy.
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
Aminah Abdul-Majeed
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aminah-abdul-majeed-3278176/
| 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 Wingo: https://www.wingo.nyc/
Apr 8, 2026
Apr 8, 2026
57 min
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/
Apr 1, 2026
Apr 1, 2026
56 min
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/
Mar 25, 2026
Mar 25, 2026
1hr 2 min
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/
Mar 18, 2026
Mar 18, 2026
48 min
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/
Mar 11, 2026
Mar 11, 2026
1hr 26 min
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
Mar 4, 2026
Mar 4, 2026
1hr 14 min
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/