425. LIVE from New Orleans: 6 Takeaways From AFP ICON (Part 2)

9:00PM May 18, 2023

Speakers:

Julie Confer

Becky Endicott

Jonathan McCoy

Aidan Augustin

Tammy Zonker

Jennifer Pinskie

Laurie Kellegher

Carly Euler

Natalie Monroe

Kim Nyoni

Rebecca Snapp

Marci Bradley

Clarena Tobon

Mary Kate Hoerr

Keywords:

community

people

nonprofit

love

conversation

person

share

storytelling

donor

habitat

relationships

meet

incredible

podcast

world

learned

humanity

sit

friends

fundraising

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Hey, I'm John.

And I'm Becky.

And this is the We Are For Good podcast,

nonprofits are faced with more challenges to accomplish their missions and the growing pressure to do more, raise more and be more for the causes that improve our world.

We're here to learn with you from some of the best in the industry, bringing the most innovative ideas, inspirational stories, all to create an Impact Uprising.

So welcome to the good community, where Nonprofit Professionals, philanthropist, world changers and rabid fans who are striving to bring a little more goodness into the world. So let's get started. Happy Friday, b What's up? Happy Friday, glad we're continuing this conversation.

I know like it's it's continuing on. So if you're just joining us last week, we kicked off a little mini episode because we've kind of hit the road lately. And we wanted to catch her buddy up with some conversations we've been having. And so a recent trip was to New Orleans to the AFP icon conference, where there was like more than 3000 development professionals all under one roof. It was kind of completely overwhelming, let's be clear. But we had some lot of amazing moments of just meeting people from the community or meeting people that we had followed online. So we didn't want to just go We obviously wanted to bring our microphone and just get the heartbeat. What's the pulse? What are people thinking about? And so our friends at feather, you know them, they've been great supporters of the podcast, they opened up their booth to us, they put a couple couches together. And we were able to podcast from a corner of the expo hall. And today we're sharing a continuation of the conversations that we had. And y'all the takeaways were so huge, and they were so good. You know, I don't know, heart filling, but also challenging at the same time. So we're excited to keep sharing those with you today.

I mean, it never gets old. Can we say that to sit down, take our microphones and literally ask our favorite question, which is, what is your one good thing? And we're asking people as they're walking by what is one good thing that you have learned at this conference that you would like to knowledge share. And if you miss last week, we talked about, you know, the Fundraising Effectiveness Project and where we are with philanthropy right now and how to empower fundraisers, we talked about how generosity looks different. We talked about the technology and data revolution. And so we want to get into key takeaway number four today, which is really about network and the power of building community to advance our work. And we had some brilliant thought leaders in here, Tammy Zonker, who is such a force for good in our community. And we also talked to Jennifer Pinsky over at Family Service Rochester. We also heard from Aiden Augustine, who's the founder and CEO of feather about marketing and the power of marketing within community. And then rounding it out. You're going to meet Lori Kilgour from ability building community who is an incredible leader within the Rochester Minnesota area. Here's what they had to say.

Well, thank you for chatting with me in that really generous, lovely introduction. So what am I up to? I mean, I've, we founded fundraising transformed 15 years ago, I've been full time in it for two years. And you know, the word transformed is very intentional. Because you know, change is not enough. We can change something and it only changes back. But intentionally the word transform, like once you transform, there is no going back. And we you know, we have our logo, the butterfly, and that is intentional, because once the caterpillar becomes a butterfly, that's it, and

then going back and going back exactly right. Gone. Wings are here.

And that's what we need. And that's what we do in this sector. Right? That is the aim is to really, truly transform the world.

Oh my gosh, that is beautiful. And as your resident designer here, graphic designer, thank you for that word picture, like I can just see it. So you've been an icon. This is clearly not your first icon. But what are you thinking about? What is the one good thing that you've taken from this experience that you'd like to share with everybody?

You know, maybe it's my listening, like, I'm always listening for transformation. But I do feel like fundraisers, the great amazing big hearted people that are here, they are stepping up. They're ready to take everything tight to that to that energy. Yeah. And so, you know, it really is time to reimagine philanthropy and fundraising role in it. And you see that in the sessions that aren't just the normal Typical, like do A, B and C. And you can expect why. But we're looking at Chet GBT, we're looking at behavioral modeling at this next level in artificial intelligence and, and yet not losing the human side of it. I mean, it's an ad strategy, right? It's actually to get us closer to our donors and to understand them even better. So we can engage and really be partners.

I love this so much. And it just I'm sitting here thinking about the word transformation in relation to what you said, Tammy has been transforming before transforming was cool. We have been trying to modernize and disrupt this sector for just a mere two and a half years. And this has been your bread and butter and the way that you showed up kindly, and the way that you're listening, I just want to compliment you and say that that translates through though your thought leadership through the way you market your incredible company. Thanks for pouring into this community. Thank you.

Thank you. Thanks so much for having me. I'm Jennifer Pinskie. I am the director of community engagement at Family Service Rochester in Rochester, Minnesota, Rochester. Yeah, thank you. So one of the good things that I've learned, I think the biggest excitement about and the buzz about being here is you're around everybody that's trying to do the same thing. As you, we're all here for good. We're here for our mission. We're here to advance if you have the passion for it, and the excitement about it, you can meet people that you can take nuggets from, and share them out. And so like, the excitement is that get the basics of the relationships have been networking with others and finding what you need on your teams and in your strategy. So I went to a session about strategic planning, I went to a session about innovation, I went to sessions about tactical things you can do and the details. And there's just so much to do. And part of this, it's just amazing. Oh my gosh,

I mean, you're spilling back our values to us. I love that you're centering community. I mean, we believe community is everything. And that's the power of this of finding people that are advanced, who have the same values or advancing the same things in the world. Let's lock arms together so we can go faster. So

yes, that's exactly what it is just that the opportunities of the communities and that and the people here with all the same excitement, it's just amazing.

Now one good thing from if the icon as a meeting people in person that I've only met the zoom you to like us it's a number of you know, wonderful connections from this great community of the you know, the social good world and the nonprofit world is that, you know, the recent years, meeting people only remotely and even people that you've gotten to know again, like like the two of you, but never having a chance to actually see each other face to face. So that's been my one good thing from if the icon,

you don't have to, like reinforce that on us, we will shout it from the rooftops as long as we can that marketing is mission. This is one of our 2023 trends, that marketing is mission. It is messaging, it is connection, it is sharing storytelling, humanity and finding your people. And so I want to just thank you for how you build humanity into what you do. And can I share like a little story here, John, I'm going to do it. I don't know why I'm asking you for permission, because I'm just gonna do it. Okay, so I want to create a visual picture for everyone who's listening, we're in this massive exhibit hall, you could probably hear the buzzing behind you. And our dear friends at feather said you know what, come and take us part of our space. Come and invite your community in. And I want to tell you a thing, because we haven't had a time to really download this, like what's happened in this four by four space that we are sitting in, we have truly watched over the last three days. Nonprofits feel honored, empowered to have a voice, they want to share deeply what their mission is about. They want to be heard. They want to talk about the things that are heavy on their heart. And the fact that you would take such a massive event and share your space to allow people to feel seen created a massive sense of belonging in this movement. And that is what we believe is powering this Impact Uprising. It is the thread that everyone matters, and you shared what you had with us and I just want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for always being generous, not just with we're for good but just the way you show up and I want you to know that that matters and we're going to put some gasoline on that fire. And for all of you out there I just want you to know that your voice your lived experience, what you are going through and the heart you have for this mission, whatever your purpose is, it matters speak into that lean into that and if you need an amplification tool, this is not a sales pitch. We're not getting paid for this come to feather because I we do believe and see the power in marketing because it helps you find your people and it helps build that sense of belonging and when people feel seen and feel that they belong magical things can happen. And that is what we want you to do with in your space in your nonprofit in your social impact community, creative space, build that belonging, throw some marketing through some authentic storytelling behind it. It will not slow down.

Okay, we're back and we have Laurie from Minnesota. We can't wait to get all of your wisdom. We're here at I FP icon. And there's so many good ideas being shared. There's hugs being shared. Tell us your one good thing. What have you got?

There's so many good things. I don't really know where to start. But I'll say 20 years ago, I started in this profession, I came as the chamberlain scholar I've been so I think this is my 10th conference. And just the networking and the relationships you build with the people here are so wonderful, and it just helps you further your organization for the good.

I love that. For the good. I know that's like an extension of our brand. You've got it, Laurie. Okay, now you have something really special going on with a group of Minnesotans in the nonprofit space. Talk to us about that, because I think it's brilliant. And I want more people to be adopting this cohort that you've collected. Yes,

so many of you probably know, Stacey van and hubo. She's the press. She's the founder of our chapter. She's also our current chapter president. And she brought back Friday fellowship. It's the last Friday of every month where we can all gather and just talk about, I mean, there are topics that conversation but certainly we can talk about maybe issues we are having, you know, getting ideas from other fundraisers in the area, and it's just so beneficial for everyone. Yeah,

I love it. Because when Stacey was sharing this a few weeks ago, I was like, This is what we're seeing, like at a national level, but you're literally taking it down being the feet of hands and feet of doing this at the local level. I love that you're creating space for people a safe place. And so y'all rock I'm just so glad to see you finally in person.

And we just want to give a shout out to our southern Minnesota members of the We Are For Good community, they are the most hardwired, wonderful people we see you appreciate your knowledge sharing, keep going out there and rockin it.

Okay, love that we just got to geek out on the power of community because you know, that's one of our pillars around here. But Becky, we kind of had a moment because talking about the community that we built, we got to meet some of the matriarchs of the We Are For Good community, we get to meet Carly and Natalie, from memory Fox,

Natalie Monroe, Carly EULAR like to have the OGS of the rabid fans of we're for good to hug their necks talk about storytelling, man, what a gift.

It was. And so of course, we want to share one of the themes that they really lifted was that storytelling is king, especially that authentic storytelling. So I love what they left us with.

Hi, well, first, thanks for having us. This is super duper exciting to be on the same microphone as you guys have and to meet you in person. So I'm the marketing manager at memory Fox. I'm Carly. And basically, I get to do a lot of the really exciting things that you see externally from memory Fox, so run the website to the social posts. It's just like really fun time to be advocating for storytelling in the nonprofit world.

Absolutely. And I'm Natalie Monroe. I actually currently and I started one day apart and memory Fox, but this time that we got to meet in person. That's right, so we are making a lot of splashes between getting to know each other getting to be at our first day of the icon together. Memory foxes first AFP icon so a lot of firsts going on here,

and I can't even keep up I see how y'all interact we love you deeply. Y'all are in our community because of the way that you show up for people and that's I hear people talk about jobs booth people because booth has been so popular because you do center the humanity so I'm curious because you've been doing a lot of listening. what's your takeaway? What's your one good thing walking away from this weekend?

Well, aside from like the real Becky hug Becky hugs are thing and if you've never had one, you need one. And John's like in person story heart eyes that I see on the screen. And now to experience it in person is even more incredible. I think there's just, you know, we we love story. We love to talk story. And we've talked to storytellers, communications and marketing people about story before but to get to talk to fundraisers about story and to kind of see their wheels turn of like, what are the different ways we can collect from our community and to maybe like, see them have that moment of this is how I was collecting but now I have all these other ideas of like community stories I can share. That has just been a beautiful journey for us. And it's been that way with almost every single person we've talked to

okay, I mean, I gotta like double click on that because the evolution of story in the last two to three years I think a lot of us just thought it was very linear. Like we would interview someone we would put that either on video or a long form content and I Just think storytelling is evolving in the coolest way during this digital revolution that we're sitting in revolution, evolution, I don't know, they're probably interchangeable. And I and I just want to compliment you guys, because the way that you interpret it is so personal. It is so heartfelt. It is empowering by giving someone else the microphone and not giving them a script. So thank you for that. And Carly, I want to kick it to you talk to us about what you're hearing, what's your one good thing?

Sure. Yeah, my one good thing is very similar to what Natalie was saying. Because obviously, we're talking about the same stuff all day. But I really like when we get to the point of our sort of our pitch, where we explain how much more authentic a story can be when someone's capturing it on their own device, in their own home where they feel comfortable. And they really get to tell just like the little things that maybe you might miss if you get a little nervous when someone's interviewing you. It's really fun when you see like that light up in their eyes like, Oh, you're right, those stories might sound a lot more authentic, just coming from directly from the person. And yeah, it just think it's a really, I like seeing how the technology is really making a difference. And we're seeing it everywhere around here. But yeah, definitely in the storytelling space.

Oh my gosh, is it just their enthusiasm make you feel so good? Just to be able to adopt

them? Is that inappropriate? Like I just want to dump them into my family and invite them over for Thanksgiving dinner. I love that we sort of just ended on that note of authentic storytelling, because our final takeaway is Be human. And I know you guys hear that a lot on the podcast. But guess what? You're this community is saying it the sector is saying it. We had five different individuals sit in our chair and talk about the power of our humanity. We finally got to meet Kim Nyoni, who is an incredible major gift officer in the sector. Rebecca snap over at the Salvation Army in Rochester, Marcy Bradley, what an incredible evolved, thought leader and coach from Louisiana, Mary Kate Hoerr with beyond housing and St. Louis, Missouri. And Karina over at Habitat for Humanity and Austin, are all talking about the power of humanity in our work, take a listen.

One good thing is, I'm going to be human, by that means open arms, you need a hug, you need a good word you need whatever, I'm gonna be that. And that's that's how I view my life essentially, you know, I'm not about the rat race. You know, if you become successful, you become successful, your own terms. But for me, it's all about how do I help somebody who is struggling, always trying to find a way? Because I mean, we're here in wall is not even a mile away from us. There are people in poverty that haven't recovered from Katrina. Okay, while everything else is scaling up the new hotels, whatever, these people are struggling just to figure out how am I gonna buy groceries. And so if I could be the person that say, hi, you look good today. Or let me buy you a drink or whatever, right? I may, I'm making that person's day. And I may be the person that saves them from doing something that can harm themselves or whatever or for that one moment, they can have a nice, you know, alcoholic beverage or whatever beverage with a choice. And forget about the fact that, oh, I didn't pay rent today or whatever. And so the one thing is to be human. I think we all should be just be human. It's not complicated, but can do it.

Kim, you are an incredible human yourself. I mean, I feel lucky to count you as a friend in this life and just love the way that you show up. And friends listening. You've got friends around you. And I want to encourage everybody to listen to your podcast, mentorship matters. It's on everywhere that you can find podcasts. You're having these type of conversations all the time, but thank you. Good to see you.

Thank you too. I mean, it's such a fabulous thing to see you in the flesh, and to talk and you can feel the vibe, man. I'm feeling it.

My name is Rebecca snap. I am the director of community engagement for the Salvation Army in Rochester, Minnesota. Originally from the Mankato St. Peter area,

oh my gosh, my friend, we have already like found a kinship in you. I cannot wait. What is your one good thing? What's something you would share with our community that would just encourage them and speak to like someone that's working for y'all and Minnesota?

Oh, my goodness, there's so many things. The first thing I would say is actually something that I learned through AFP years ago, is relationships are the heart of every single thing that we do. And we've lost so much of that through COVID. Because everyone's moved to this digital platform where you think, Oh, we can totally keep up relationships through phone calls and zoom. It's not the same thing as meeting with people in person and having all of those outside of business conversations that are at the heart of every development centered relationship. And in southern Minnesota, our chapter and even the Minnesota chapter, everybody that I've met in my region I came tonight is so centrally focused on really rebuilding that center of relationships and meeting people in person and using our collective brainpower to help other young professionals and new people in the field to really just build their their programs and all these different nonprofits and really help people going further. So it's, it's something we've heard before, we'll hear forever and development, but relationships are the heart of everything we do. And I'm really glad to see that that's really alive. And well, in my chapter and in my region.

I'm Marci Bradley. And I'm actually based here in Louisiana. So it's really fun to have this conference near my hometown. But I offer fundraising strategy and implementation support to small shop nonprofit. So my background has been primarily working in small shops, being the person running all the things and so, you know, part of my role now I see as a consultant has really been able to help those people in the same shoes that I was overcome a lot of the same obstacles and, you know, make sure that they're doing things that are getting them to where they want to be. So you know, is telling you a little bit about a session I attended today, it was all about neuroscience, and how you could apply some of those concepts into your relationship management with your donors. And, you know, some of the things that I thought were just really interesting is, you know, he was talking about different cues that you could pick up on, you know, when you're having a conversation with someone, and, you know, for example, Becky, if I was to ask you your origin story, and you started telling me about how you and your husband met, you know, maybe y'all went to Vegas, and you got married on the fly, or, you know, you dated for a couple of years, you know, those are really good cues to if you actively listen to say, Oh, well, maybe they're a little more thoughtful, or maybe they're, you know, quick to make decisions. If you take the time to actually listen to that you're gonna learn a lot about a person and be able to be more thoughtful and strategic about when and why you ask them for certain gifts. organization, we're raising

the roof over here, because I'm really glad that we're not the answer is not like, what is their score on their wealth profile as the best indicator of this? It's looking at the soft things, it's understanding it's building relationships and

getting to know people for who they are. Right? Yeah. Oh, my gosh.

Hi, my name is Mary Kate Hoerr, I'm with beyond housing in St. Louis, Missouri. We are a wraparound community development organization that serves families and individuals in lower income communities and making sure that they're not just surviving, but that they're thriving, whether it's equal opportunity to health care, child care, employment access, financial literacy, we do it all. So I'm, I work in the fundraising department there.

Thank you for everything that yells team does. I mean, this is overwhelming to say the least to be in a place like this, where there's so many amazing people and so many good ideas being shared. What's sticking out to you? What's the one good thing that you're walking away with?

Yeah, so I just actually attended a session called anti racist nonprofit community. And something they said, that really stuck with me that you can do with a donor, a board member, a volunteer, is if you try to like if they're doing something that's disruptful or harmful or disrespectful to the environment, whether they're a donor or volunteer board member is to bless and release. Because if you have had a conversation with them and explained your dei initiatives and how their behavior isn't appropriate with what you align, and they still don't agree with you, it's not worth your energy at some point, right? And so blessing and releasing, because you can use that energy to talk about to talk to people who are open to learning and being a continuous learner, Mary Kay,

you're my hero. I love that. You pick that. And you keep going with your amazing work in St. Louis, and please go eat on the hill at CU Neto is it's my favorite Italian restaurant into Oh, it's amazing. Go check it out. Okay, my sister lives in there. So we'll be there. See? You well, my friend. All right. Thanks, guys. Okay, we are here with Claude Dana, who is our new bestie because we gotta give a little shout out and create some space because she is a board member for little bit of good. Hello, Monique Parker. We are rapidly fighting for this incredible nonprofit that has just burst onto the scene. But you're also the annual giving director, manager I managed to no no, no. We're elevating you just got promoted on the we're good pilot, my boss. Somewhere in here. Yes. Okay, talk about what you're doing down in Texas. And then we're gonna ask you about your one good thing that you've learned here at the conference. Good question.

So now I got to think about it. Hello, everyone listening My name is Clarena Tobon and I'm the annual giving manager for Austin Habitat for Humanity. Also, hi Monique. I love you so much. You're beautiful. So What we're doing Austin Habitat for Humanity, I know that a lot of the folks out anywhere really kind of see Austin or habitat in general and think, oh, that they build homes. But we do so much more at Austin Habitat for Humanity, we really try to get the community involved in different ways, whether it's through volunteering, donating, coming to the Restore, I mean, let's shop. Like, that's how you get me, everybody can do this. And anyone can come to the restore and say, Hey, I need something for the house, or I'm looking for a couch or I'm looking for really, anything that's necessary. So we have so many different things that we do, we also work with developers in the community, that already have to have affordable housing, but they don't have the pipeline of people that can be in that position to actually go into those affordable homes. So the folks that we have that maybe don't meet the criteria to become homeowners through the program for Austin habitat, we just go ahead and get them set up with that. So it's called home bound. So we also do financial, like training, essentially, let's say you can't get a home. You can't become a homeowner through the what everyone knows habitat through, we will sit down and get you financially educated so that you can become a homeowner, so you know what the next steps are. So you don't feel like well, this isn't an avenue. Now, what do I do, we've got the education, we also have the really wonderful opportunity to have a lot of bilingual folks on staff, wow, amazing, which makes such a huge difference. Yes, accessibility, the opportunity to come in and sit down and say, Oh, I can have this conversation and have it in my language, and feel connected to this person, instead of having to bring maybe a third person in and talk about financial things that are very personal, like you can have that conversation with who's in front of you. And that team, the client services team, just beautiful, beautiful people that care about what they do. They've been doing it forever, they have all the answers. I'm gonna go to them when I'm ready to move out of my starter house and just be like, Okay, let's go down. I'll take you out to lunch. I don't care. Like, let's figure it out.

Okay, I want to know, your one good thing. We're asking people, what's some knowledge sharing that you could give to people who actually aren't at the conference today, something that is really hit you right between the eyes, and you feel empowered to take back to habitat,

Something that empowered me. So it actually doesn't have a lot to do with fundraising. And it's a more personal thing. We love that. But I went to one of our things here, and it was talking about motherhood and how it impacts you as a fundraiser. And it was a panel of women that were just talking about their experience of being a mother and having to go out into the field and be a fundraiser, and how that really impacts you how it impacts the way you've talked to people, how you get to know your donors. And so I think that was one of my favorite parts was just being there and listening to these wonderful women and feeling validated. And a lot of the things that I experienced day to day, from being pulled into the field and like, you know what I mean, but also being like, my kids are here like that struggle sometimes. But yeah, the validation was wonderful.

I love that you shared that because I feel like not that we needed permission. But it sure is nice to have it that we can show up as our whole person. That's the only way this is sustainable when we can really be the people we are every place and every moment. Were welcome in that room. So we just love you. Thank you for stopping by. To see

what a treasure of a human being. Thank you so much. Keep going with your incredible work. I love Austin, we love the community members and Austin, keep fighting for things that matter. Thank you so much.

Gosh, just hearing all those voices back just makes me smile so big. I mean, what cool takeaways, but what amazing people you know that all these conversations represent what a cool way to round out this little two part series. We hope you feel encouraged by this and just have the best weekend friends, we so appreciate you being here.

And it's just the sharing of ideas is life giving and having somebody just sit down and say, You know what, this is what's worked for me. And this is why we can easily see ourselves in those stories. And we just think the importance of the democratization of ideas should be the bedrock of how we learn and grow as a sector. It's going to help us be more innovative, it's going to help us reach outside of our comfort zone. And heck, guys, if we're ending with being human, it's about taking care of ourselves as much as we're taking care of their mission. So if this resonated with you at all, we want you to come into the conversation. Come join us at We Are For Good community.com We've got over 1500 Do gutters in that space, talking about what's working, getting unstuck, loving on each other when we have hard days and sharing what's really working. So come in there join us tell us which takeaway resonated with you and let's just keep this free flow of ideas flowing because we want you to rise we want your mission to rise and we want to do it together because community truly is everything

Hey friends, thanks so much for being here. Did you know we create a landing page for each podcast episode with helpful links, freebies and even shareable graphics? Be sure to check it out at the link in this episode's description. You probably hear it in our voices but we love connecting you with the most innovative people to help you achieve more for your mission than ever before. We'd love for you to join our good community. It's free and you can think of it as the after party to each podcast episode. You can sign up today at we are for good.com backslash Hello. One more thing If you loved what you heard today, would you mind leaving us a podcast rating and review? It means the world to us and your support helps more people find our community. Thanks friends. I'm our producer Julie confer and our theme song is Sunray by Remy Borsboom