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Reframing The Role of “Fundraising Coaches” In A Digital World with National Kidney Foundation’s Deanna van Lear

Not too long ago, peer-to-peer fundraisers relied on letter-writing, phone calls, and pledge envelopes to raise money for their favorite causes. Now, we we have email, countless social media channels and mobile apps literally at our fingertips, making it even easier to fundraise. In theory, right?

However, the latest technology alone isn’t enough for successful peer-to-peer fundraising.  The most valuable resource for a peer-to-peer fundraiser is a great staff partner who guides them towards achieving their goals and making a real impact for the causes they love. But the shift to a remote working environment and turnover in many front-line fundraiser roles, the importance of our staff’s role as fundraising coach has been lost.

In this episode, P2PPF’s Marcie Maxwell is joined by Deanna van Lear, the National Kidney Foundation’s Kidney WalkNational Director.  The duo swap stories about the early 2000s, highlighting the differences and similarities between peer-to-peer fundraising then and now. They also discuss the essential need for professional fundraisers to adapt to the ever-changing landscape.

In today’s episode, we’ll explore:

  • How NKF is retraining its local field staff and volunteers to fundraise
  • The importance of coaching participants to achieve their goals
  • How to come out from behind the crutch of digital communication and get back to in-person conversations
  • Systems that NKF is putting in place to help local staff achieve their goals

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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.