651. The Art of Sustainable Fundraising + Building Resilient Nonprofits (Christina Martin Kenny)
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Overview
Meet Christina Martin Kenny 🤝, founder of Guava Tree Strategies. In this episode, Christina shines a light on sustainable fundraising and why keeping passionate staff is so important in nonprofits. She shares her inspiring journey into social impact, blending personal stories with her professional experience.
Christina busts common fundraising myths like the pressure to bring in money instantly and instead champions building genuine, lasting relationships with donors. She also opens up about fundraiser burnout and the weight of unrealistic expectations, reminding us to honor the people behind the work ✨
Tune in for a heartfelt reminder that philanthropy is about people and the love we pour into our causes.
.Learn:
Sustainable fundraising requires a long-term vision
Data is crucial for understanding fundraising success
Staff retention is key to effective fundraising
Job descriptions should focus on realistic expectations
Building relationships with donors is essential
A culture of philanthropy is necessary for success
Understanding your organization's data can simplify fundraising
“We are all human beings who need to thrive to be able to do this work.”
Episode Transcript
Download Full Episode Transcript Here
Episode Highlights
Christina's Journey into Social Impact (02:29)
Understanding Sustainable Fundraising (09:14)
Tactical Steps for Fundraising Success (18:46)
The Importance of Retention in Fundraising (18:46)
Supporting Fundraisers for Long-Term Success (28:14)
Avoiding Burnout During Year-End Fundraising (38:16)
Misconceptions About Fundraising Goals (40:20)
Christina’s One Good Thing (42:22)
Powerful Quotes
"Retention is an inside job because it's not just about retaining the donors, it's about retaining our staff." - Christina Martin Kenny
"Building relationships with donors is not difficult. Knowing how to spend your time is." - Christina Martin Kenny
“Sustainable fundraising is knowing where your revenue is coming from and how much of it." - Christina Martin Kenny
"We are not one thing. We are not one human being. We are not one dimensional." - Christina Martin Kenny
"You need a culture of philanthropy before you can successfully hire fundraisers." - Christina Martin Kenny
"Fundraising is hard because we don't have the systems to actually understand how to fundraise." - Christina Martin Kenny
"It's about breaking down everything so much and so simply that it starts to be an easier picture." - Christina Martin Kenny
Christina’s One Good Thing: Take care of your people. Ask them for what they need, and be willing to listen and hear it and provide it.
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