Abundant Vision Fundraising Podcast

Fundraiser turnover costs organizations money, momentum, and donor relationships. Sue Frost set out to study it through graduate research on onboarding, and she found two distinct reasons fundraisers walk away. Early-career fundraisers leave when they feel disconnected from the mission. More experienced fundraisers leave when they lack support from their manager or the resources to do the job. You'll learn why onboarding should run on a 12-month cycle, and why helping new hires build relationships outside the development office keeps them around longer. Sue explains why a new fundraiser needs to understand how decisions actually get made, and how a simple three-way check-in at 30 and 60 days catches problems early. She also shares why a ride-along on a delivery route can teach more than a week of orientation. Tom and Sue also talk through the biggest mistake organizations make when hiring a gift officer, the moment a routine offer of "coaching" made a new employee freeze, and how to tell whether onboarding actually worked. This is Part 2 of a three-part conversation with Sue Frost. Looking for fundraising coaching? Check out www.abundantvision.net [http://www.abundantvision.net/]

After decades in fundraising, Joe Bull has seen nearly everything—from million-dollar surprises to the conversations that quietly define a donor's legacy. In this episode, he joins Tom Dauber to share the stories, near-misses, and timeless lessons that shaped his approach to planned giving and donor relationships that last a lifetime. In this conversation, Joe and Tom discuss: * How one sponsorship pitch turned into an eight-figure gift—and a career-defining lesson in silence * The stewardship visit that safeguarded an $11 million estate gift * Why fundraisers lose legacy donors simply by forgetting about them * How to spot hidden wealth and reframe your assumptions about "who gives" * The emotional power of connecting donors directly to the impact they've created * What awkward mistakes (including a very ill-timed voicemail) can teach you about accountability * How patience and gratitude form the foundation of every successful planned giving relationship For anyone serious about legacy fundraising, this episode distills forty years of experience into stories that remind us why planned giving is both an art and a calling. Website: philanthropyadvisorycouncil.com • Email: [email protected] Looking for fundraising coaching? Check out www.abundantvision.net [http://www.abundantvision.net/]

Joe Bull never set out to become one of the most respected voices in planned giving. Trained in law and athletic administration, he thought he'd spend his career on the sidelines of college sports—not in development offices. One unplanned job at Duke University changed everything, launching a forty-year journey through higher ed, national nonprofits, and the evolution of modern fundraising. In this episode, Joe talks with host Tom Dauber about: * How an accidental entry into Duke's planned giving office became the start of a lifelong vocation * Lessons from early mentors and the value of being "in the right place at the right time" * The growing professionalism of planned giving—from two-person shops to major enterprise teams * Transitioning from Duke to NC State to Ohio State and leading his first campaign * Moving from higher education to The Nature Conservancy just before the 2008 financial crash * Why networking and timing shape more careers than strategy ever will * The origin of "fractional planned giving" work and why many nonprofits need it today This conversation offers a rare look at how one unplanned turn can define a lifetime of impact. Website: philanthropyadvisorycouncil.com • Email: [email protected] Looking for fundraising coaching and free fundraising resources? Check out www.abundantvision.net [http://www.abundantvision.net/]

In this final segment of Tom's conversation with Phil Washburn, President and CEO of the Furniture Bank of Central Ohio, the focus turns squarely to the inner game of fundraising, the power of relationships, and what it takes to lead a mission-focused organization through major campaigns and big transitions.Phil shares honestly about his own journey from nervous asker to more confident, conversational fundraiser, and how deep donor trust, clear vision, and strong board partnership all work together to fuel impact.In this episode, we cover: How Phil's "baptism by fire" into fundraising shaped his relational approach with donors Why honest, unvarnished conversations about financial challenges actually deepen donor trust Moving from transactional pitches to conversational, collaborative asking Practical question prompts Phil uses to understand what truly resonates with donors before making the ask A powerful "Unity Build" story that brought diverse partners together around a shared community goal How a clear sense of purpose sustains you through the hard and exhausting seasons of nonprofit work Why the CEO–board relationship can make or break an organization What a healthy, mission-centered board looks like in practice How Phil invests in individual relationships with board members to strengthen governance and alignment An inside look at the Furniture Bank's capital campaign, new warehouse, expanded woodshop, and growing thrift enterprise model How social enterprise and thrift stores are helping fuel mission, divert waste from landfills, and stabilize revenue Looking for fundraising coaching? Check out www.abundantvision.net