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Mobilizing The Next Generation Of Fundraisers with the Canadian Cancer Society’s Laurie Benner

One of the most pressing questions facing the peer-to-peer (P2P) fundraising industry is, “How do we better engage the next generation of fundraisers?”

With each generational shift, it can be daunting to understand the motivations of the emerging group and adapt to their preferences. Gen Z and young Millennials, now aged 12 to 30, are no exception. Their expectations for transparency, community and social responsibility demand that P2P programs move beyond cookie-cutter fundraising approaches, focusing instead on building trust, fostering meaningful connections, and empowering personal autonomy.

In this episode, Marcie Maxwell sits down with Laurie Benner, the Interim VP, Signature Programs at the Canadian Cancer Society, to chat about the organization’s fastest growing P2P campaign, Relay For Life Youth Program. Together, they discuss how and why the organization has placed a strategic emphasis on the Gen Z & Young Millennial demographic and dig into the unique lessons learned about youth volunteers, including communication preferences and messaging.

This episode also covers:

Building trust with youth volunteers
How to harness unique skills of unique volunteers
Identify the right staff partners to work with this demographic

Mentioned Links

Relay For Life Canada

Canadian Cancer Society

Instagram: @YouthRelay

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Connect with Laurie

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Connect with the Peer-to-Peer Professional Forum

Confronting Societal Stigma Through P2P Fundraising with Shatterproof’s Shannon Greene

Navigating Crisis During Event Week with Lurie Children’s Ted McCartan

Casting A Wider Net For P2P Growth with the American Diabetes Association’s Megan Gavin

As peer-to-peer fundraising professionals, we are inherently passionate people. Passionate about our missions, our fundraisers, our events, and our campaigns. We barely shy away from sharing our opinions. Whether it’s the debate between back-to-basics, or searching for the next big idea, the battle of retention versus recruitment, or even our very strong feelings about T-shirts and registration fees.

Welcome to The P2P Soapbox, a brand new podcast that amplifies the voices of our peer-to-peer fundraising community and gives us a platform — a soapbox, if you will — to discuss the hot topics facing our industry.

Join your host and P2P BFF, Marcie Maxwell, the Managing Director of the Peer-to-Peer Professional Forum, as she sits down with industry peers and leaders, delving deep into their soapbox issues, sharing best practices, and celebrating success stories.