Engaging the Next Generation of Philanthropists with Lauren Ott

On this episode, I sat down with Cindy Wagman, President and CEO of the Good Partnership and the author of Raise it! The reluctant fundraiser’s guide to raising money without selling your soul. "Cindy's goal is to unlock the potential of small nonprofits through fundraising. Having spent her entire career in fundraising, Cindy knows how to make it accessible to small nonprofits in a way that is mission-enhancing and empowering. Cindy is the host of the top-rated podcast, The Small Nonprofit and we also did an episode together that you can find in the show notes below. And Cindy has a special treat for you, our listeners - 10% off when you use the code btbs. In our conversation, Cindy talked about how to not be a reluctant fundraiser. We discussed what the good fundamentals are to kicking to reluctant fundraising to the curb - and whether you’re a small nonprofit or a fundraising machine this episode has something for you. I hope you enjoy this episode

On this episode I sat down with Jasmine Shaw, an amazing leader in the women and STEM space and the co-founder of the Ontario Sick day relief project Jasmine Shaw is an engineer, entrepreneur, speaker, and advocate for positive change in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math). She has over 5 years of experience in system design and project management in the aerospace sector, leading both engineering and enterprise-level activities. In 2021, she started a service-based business that helps women in STEM achieve their full career potential through mentorship, networking, and storytelling. That same year, she co-created the Ontario Sick Day Relief Project – an emergency fund to support Ontario’s essential workers through the third wave of COVID-19. The project raised $66,000 in paid sick days for over 130 people. This is episode is for you if you’re looking at how to raise money for an ‘unsexy’ cause, if you have a puny budget, and if you want to hear a masterclass in capitalizing on a moment in time to galvanize support for your cause. I hope you love listening to this episode as much I loved recording it.

On this episode I sat down with Lauren Ott, Chief Kits Officer at Kits for a Cause Lauren Ott is a social entrepreneur who connects leading Canadian businesses, families, and organizations to the causes they care about. After spending time teaching at a public high school on the side of a volcano in Ecuador, Lauren returned to Canada and turned her passion for community into a career of driving impact across the country and beyond. She has worked on Parliament Hill, one of the largest education boards in Canada, and WE (Free The Children). Lauren worked in communities in the Amazon region, as the right-hand for strategy and engagement, and eventually, as Director of Business Development responsible for 5 markets and operations from Saskatchewan to Atlantic Canada. In 2018, Lauren took on a new challenge as the Chief Kits Officer of the newly launched social enterprise, Kits for a Cause driving meaningful connections and impactful engagement. Lauren was recently nominated for Canada’s Top 40 Under 40. In our conversation Lauren and I talked about how charities and nonprofits can best engage the newest generation of donors and supporters and points to some organizations doing some very cool work. This episode is for you if you’re looking for some new ideas on how best to engage the younger generation in a meaningful way I hope you enjoy this episode

On this episode, I sat down with Amanda Weingarten Amanda is the Chief Development Officer of the International Crisis Group. The International Crisis Group is an independent organisation working to prevent wars and shape policies that will build a more peaceful world. She oversees Crisis Group’s fundraising efforts in the philanthropy, foundations and government sectors, and oversees the Communications and Outreach team. Within her first year as Chief Development Officer she increased Crisis Group’s revenue by 10%, established a foundation relations team and a development operations team, and launched a number of new fundraising programs.  In our conversation we discussed How to evaluate your team’s performance without metrics How to retain your talent at your organization  How to match passions to the position  And so much more I hope you enjoy this episode

An extended cut of our episode with Ronen Tal. Ronen currently oversees Nature Conservancy of Canada’s (NCC) Integrated Marketing & Fundraising department. His team interacts with donors at all touchpoints along their journey, from initial awareness of NCC to their first gift and, ultimately, to becoming a monthly donor or leaving a bequest. In his own words, he loves the work because “It is complex and fun. Messy and full of opportunities to experiment. An Excel-driven playground that is only limited by our imaginations and the stories we tell donors.”Somewhere within the numbers lies a perfect spot for every organization, where spending is optimized and donors feel engaged. It is the search for this admittedly personal fundraising utopia that drives Ronen.  

Ronen currently oversees Nature Conservancy of Canada’s (NCC) Integrated Marketing & Fundraising department. His team interacts with donors at all touchpoints along their journey, from initial awareness of NCC to their first gift and, ultimately, to becoming a monthly donor or leaving a bequest. In his own words, he loves the work because “It is complex and fun. Messy and full of opportunities to experiment. An Excel-driven playground that is only limited by our imaginations and the stories we tell donors.”Somewhere within the numbers lies a perfect spot for every organization, where spending is optimized and donors feel engaged. It is the search for this admittedly personal fundraising utopia that drives Ronen.

The idea for One Day’s Pay came out of the frustration Josh felt for how Indigenous Peoples are treated in Canada, in particular the disconnect in creating a federal statutory holiday that would not directly benefit those for whom the day is meant to recognize – Indigenous Peoples. In describing himself and One Day’s Pay, Josh explains, “I’m someone who had an idea that might make a difference if business leaders and regular Canadians get on board. I hope to create a groundswell of support. I was lucky enough to have some amazing friends who saw the potential impact in One Day’s Pay and so we ran with it. 100% team effort.” Kris Archie, a Secwepemc and Seme7 woman from the Ts’qescen First Nation, is passionate about heart-based community work and facilitating positive change. Kris is the Chief Executive Officer of The Circle. In all of her roles, Kris works to transform philanthropy and contribute to positive change by creating spaces of learning, relationship-building and activation.

Nicole is a Panamanian-American, workforce development specialist, published author of Game On! Relentlessly Pursue Your Dreams and the 101 Note-taking Affirmation Journal Series, motivational speaker, blogger podcast host of From The Suggestion Box; Navigating Feedback The Good The Bad and the Say Whaaatttt??? and dancer.  She earned her Bachelor's degree via a Division I full-ride track scholarship. After graduating, she founded Step It Up! Inc., a non-profit dance organization. Her experience in sports and entertainment, radio, TV and the performing arts has spanned nearly 20 years covering the Chicago, Houston and Miami markets. She has danced and cheered for four Professional and Semi-Professional sports teams, has prepared more than 500 interns to enter the workforce and has inspired crowds upwards of 2000. She was a contributing writer for The Life of a Single Mom for two years and in  October 2020 she was awarded an Emerging Leader Award from Alive Impact Awards  for Volunteer Engagement Professionals and in November 202 joined the Board of the Association for Leaders In Volunteer Engagement.  In 2019, She joined the Board of the Arts and Business Council of Miami, was listed as one of WLRN’s “Local Women Who Inspire You” and was selected as one of Legacy Miami’s Most Prominent and Influential Black Women In Business and Industry of 2019.

An extended cut of our episode with Mike Machargo. For his entire adult life, Mike has been running the CHEO BBQ. It started from the humble roots in his Grandma’s backyard 27 years ago, to the premier event that it has evolved to today. It is difficult to think of Mike without thinking about the CHEO BBQ, for the most part they are one and the same. Mike is proud of what the CHEO BBQ has become and his efforts have not gone unnoticed. He has earned him some impressive recognition along the way. The CHEO BBQ has raised over $750,000 and engaged hundreds of volunteers.

For his entire adult life, Mike has been running the CHEO BBQ. It started from the humble roots in his Grandma’s backyard 27 years ago, to the premier event that it has evolved to today. It is difficult to think of Mike without thinking about the CHEO BBQ, for the most part they are one and the same. Mike is proud of what the CHEO BBQ has become and his efforts have not gone unnoticed. He has earned him some impressive recognition along the way. The CHEO BBQ has raised over $750,000 and engaged hundreds of volunteers.