193. Small Shifts, Big Results, with Sarah Pryer

193. Small Shifts, Big Results, with Sarah Pryer

From Fundraising Bright Spots by Rob Woods, Bright Spot

March 11, 2026 · 34 min · Episode 193

About this episode

Rob Woods interviews Sarah Pryer about how small shifts in communication can lead to significant improvements in fundraising outcomes.

Relatively small shifts in what you say, and how you say it, lead to big differences in your fundraising results. Rob has always been fascinated by these distinctions and how they affect your applications, conversations and pitches for funding. He was very excited to talk to the brilliant Sarah Pryer, who is Director of Fundraising and Marketing at Bristol and Weston Hospitals Charity. Inspired by a team training day with Bright Spot a year ago, Sarah’s team have been creatively applying certain principles and enjoying the difference they have made. This wide-ranging conversation includes: the communication shift that inspired a new five figure gift from a foundation; the storytelling approach that moved a corporate partner to choose to extend for a new valuable three-year partnership; the factors that have boosted the team’s confidence; ideas for building relationships internally; and what led her team to create their Trolley of Joy! We’d love to know what you think! And thank you for supporting our podcast, e.g. by sharing it with colleagues or on social media. We are both on LinkedIn.

People in this episode

Host: Rob Woods

Guest: Sarah Pryer

Topics covered

  • fundraising
  • communication
  • storytelling
  • team training
  • relationship building

Keywords

  • fundraising results
  • communication shifts
  • storytelling approach
  • team confidence
  • partnerships

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Bristol and Weston Hospitals Charity

More episodes of Fundraising Bright Spots

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Fundraising Bright Spots podcast page.