309. Driving Innovation in the Nonprofit Sector + What's Next for Capital Campaigns - Sterrin Bird
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Overview
Meet Sterrin. This fundraising expert spent three decades in campaigns and major gifts conducting more than three-dozen capital campaigns with combined goals in excess of $5.5 billion. Bottom line - she knows her stuff 🤩 This tech-for-good guru is walking us through innovation in the modern-day campaign and how to update outdated practices. And her personal story of how philanthropy intersected with her life will have you reaching for the Kleenex.
💡Learn
How the modern campaign is evolving in a post-pandemic world
How to integrate innovation & tech into your campaign
Advice for fundraisers preparing for their first capital campaign
Misconceptions fundraisers have about soliciting major gifts
Today’s Guest
Sterrin Bird, Senior Director, Nonprofit Industry Advisor, Salesforce
“The technology doesn’t raise more money. People give to people. The technology enables the nonprofit organization to be more nimble, and to have better actionable insights to do their work more efficiently.”
Episode Transcript
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Episode Highlights
Sterrin’s story and journey to where she is today (4:00)
Innovation in the nonprofit sector + where we are going (7:30)
Capital campaigns (21:00)
Misconceptions around Major Gifts (30:00)
A powerful moment of philanthropy in Sterrin’s life (41:10)
Sterrin’s One Good Thing: Courage, curiosity and letting go of the ear of fear of failure (48:00)
Powerful quotes
“My family of origin was what I would describe as philanthropic. My parents, grandparents, cousins, all of us were volunteers first.” -Sterrin
“I’ve been a giver and recipient of so much love and care which is the definition of philanthropy.” -Sterrin
“We have to innovate, and we have to be able to have data insights.” -Sterrin
“Data is king. We have to know what our data is telling us, what to do with it, and be able to make decisions about internal resources.” -Sterrin
“The technology doesn’t raise more money. People give to people. The technology enables the nonprofit organization to be more nimble, and to have better actionable insights to do their work more efficiently.” -Sterrin
“The biggest barrier to digital transformation or to innovation isn't the technology, it's fear.” -Sterrin
