Swaim Strategies

10/07/2026

Fundraising events are changing faster than ever. Season 4 opens with a look back at how events evolved, and why belonging, hospitality, and the "invite-in" are the way forward. This is part one of a three-part intro to the season on where fundraising events have been, where they are now, and where they're headed.
We trace the shift from Gilded Age status displays and marathon auctions to today's shorter, story-driven, community-centered gatherings, and introduce the two themes guiding this season: the invite-in and the role of hospitality.
In this episode:

What "invite-in" means for nonprofits and why it keeps donors deeply invested
What a local farms teach us about hospitality, from farm-to-table dinners to a social media series on building a 69-foot table
Collective effervescence: the energy a group creates that's bigger than any one person in the room
How events evolved, from 750-person rooms and seven-hour nights to curated, experiential gatherings
The three motivations for giving, from Susan Howlett's research: mission, connection, and recognition
Why storytelling is moving away from deficit-focused narratives and "make them cry" tactics, toward consent and storyteller agency
Why a 60-minute program is possible
How more affordable technology is changing the guest experience

Key takeaway: Most people see themselves as generous. Our job is to give them the opportunity to show it. Tune in.
Loving The Fundraising Elevator? Please subscribe, rate and review the podcast. It really helps other people find the show.

This Episode Brought to You by:
Swaim Strategies: https://swaimstrategies.com
Utilizing over 20 years of nonprofit event strategy and production expertise, Swaim Strategies coaches and teaches organizations how to increase the impact of their fundraising events.

The AV Department: https://theavdept.com/
As a full-service event AV and video production partner, The AV Department’s technical event production and media content generation provide you with a range of experience and talent from a partner who wants to know you and work together year after year.

Bloomerang: https://bit.ly/4hLqLVw
Create the ideal giving experience with integrated fundraising tools and automated insights that maximize your impact. Keep donors close to the cause with mean-ingful outreach at the right time. Increase retention, major gifts, and all-around impact. Turn supporters into action-takers with tools that make it easy to recruit, organize, and engage volunteers at every level.

Speakers
Samantha Swaim
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-swaim-a28a9a4/
Substack: https://substack.com/

Kristin Steele
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-steele777/
Substack: https://substack.com/

| RESOURCES |
Connect with Swaim Strategies: https://swaimstrategies.com
Propose a Podcast Episode: https://swaimstrategies.com/propose-a-podcast-episode/
Get Event Help Right Now with Gala 911: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/gala-911/
Book Consulting Time with Sam: https://calendly.com/consultingwithsam
Book Consulting Time with Kristin: https://calendly.com/eventstorytelling
Learn More About the Elevate Conference: https://swaimstrategies.com/elevate-conference/
Get Planning a Successful Major Donor Event: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/
Join Swaim Strategies on Substack: https://substack.com/
Connect with The AV Department: https://theavdept.com/
The Fundraising Elevator Episode with Topaz Farm: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asR2UiLRlp8
The 69-foot Table: https://www.instagram.com/p/DdHZSG-Gled
Swaim Strategies Substack on Knicks in 5: https://substack.com/home/post/p-204701554
Neurogiving by Cherian Koshy: https://www.wiley.com/en-us/shop/general-introductory-business-management/neurogiving-the-science-of-donor-decision-making-p-9781394370450

09/29/2026

Are tall centerpieces, low minimum gifts, and fundraising thermometers quietly sabotaging your fundraising event? In this fan-favorite encore episode, former NFL player turned professional benefit auctioneer Reggie Rivers delivers some of the most candid, actionable event fundraising advice you'll hear — and he doesn't hold back.
From the neuroscience of giving to the psychology of collective momentum, Reggie breaks down why the paddle raise is the single most important moment at your entire event, and exactly what most nonprofits are doing wrong before they even get there.
In this episode, you'll learn:

Why tall centerpieces are silently killing your paddle raise and what to do instead
The case for stopping at $100 minimum gifts to train donors upward rather than downward
Why fundraising thermometers usually backfire and the one condition under which they actually work
Why the paddle raise is the only moment at your event where you're purely selling your mission not conducting retail transactions
Why dinner galas consistently outperform breakfast events and golf tournaments for fundraising
How pre-committed gifts function as leadership and role modeling not just early revenue
How to transform your event from a transactional experience into a collective action moment where the whole room celebrates together
Why hiring a professional benefit auctioneer who understands the neuroscience of giving is one of the highest-ROI decisions your organization can make

This episode is a must-listen for development directors, executive directors, and nonprofit event planners who want to stop leaving money on the table at their next gala, auction, or paddle raise event.
🎧 Subscribe to The Fundraising Elevator so you never miss an episode: https://www.youtube.com/
⭐ Leave a review it helps other nonprofit professionals find the show.
The Fundraising Elevator is a production of swaimstrategies.com sponsored by The AV Department, Bloomerang, and Feathr.

09/23/2026

Most nonprofits make the same storytelling mistake at their fundraising events: they lead with programs and metrics instead of the one thing that actually moves donors to give — the why. In this fan-favorite encore episode, co-host Kristin Steele breaks down the art and science of organizational storytelling, and how to structure your event narrative so it builds toward your fundraising moment with intention and impact.
Whether you're planning a gala, a luncheon, or a smaller cultivation event, this episode gives you a practical framework for crafting stories that resonate, speakers that connect, and a program arc that makes the ask feel inevitable not awkward.
In this episode, you'll learn:

Why your donors don't automatically understand your mission and why clarity in storytelling is your most important event job
How to move beyond program listings and metrics to tell the story of why your organization exists
How to apply Simon Sinek's Golden Circle of Why to your nonprofit's event narrative
How to distill even the most complex organizational mission (hunger, poverty, systemic issues) into a compelling, accessible story
The event arc framework — how to structure your program so storytelling builds naturally toward the fundraising moment
How to use video storytelling to showcase impact inside the event room and across social media
How to prepare and coach speakers so their message aligns with your organization's goals not just their own experience
Strategies for infusing your entire event — entertainment, keynote, and ask — with your core mission

This is essential listening for development directors, executive directors, and nonprofit event planners who want to stop leaving emotional impact — and dollars — on the table.
🎧 Subscribe to The Fundraising Elevator so you never miss an episode: https://www.youtube.com/
⭐ Leave a review it helps other nonprofit professionals find the show.
The Fundraising Elevator is a production of swaimstrategies.com sponsored by The AV Department, Bloomerang, and Feathr.

09/16/2026

Facts tell, but stories give. In this fan-favorite encore episode, co-host and storytelling expert Kristin Steele breaks down exactly how to craft narratives that connect with donors on an emotional level by turning complex issues into compelling stories that make your mission impossible to forget and impossible not to support.
If your fundraising your event program isn't landing the way you hoped, or you're struggling to translate the complexity of your work into something donors truly feel, this episode is the reset you need.
In this episode, you'll learn:

Why emotional storytelling is the single most powerful tool in your fundraising toolkit
How to craft relatable, emotionally driven narratives that cut through donor fatigue
How to translate complex or systemic issues — poverty, homelessness, education inequity — into stories donors can feel and act on
The key elements of a fundraising story that creates genuine donor connection
How strategic storytelling makes your mission unforgettable long after the event ends
How to inspire action, not just empathy, through the stories you tell at events, in appeals, and across channels
Practical techniques for finding and shaping the right stories within your organization

This episode is essential listening for development directors, communications staff, executive directors, and anyone responsible for donor-facing messaging who wants to raise more by saying less — and meaning more.
🎧 Subscribe to The Fundraising Elevator so you never miss an episode: https://www.youtube.com/
⭐ Leave a review it helps other nonprofit professionals find the show.
The Fundraising Elevator is a production of swaimstrategies.com sponsored by The AV Department, Bloomerang, and Feathr.

09/09/2026

Struggling to secure sponsors for your next nonprofit event? The problem might not be the economy, it might be your approach. In this fan-favorite encore episode, Mariah Monique of The Sponsorship Catalyst shares what most nonprofits get wrong about corporate sponsorship, and exactly how to fix it.
Drawing from experience on both sides of the sponsorship relationship, Mariah brings rare insight into what sponsors are actually looking for and why the organizations that treat sponsors as equal partners consistently outperform those still sending generic sponsorship decks.
In this episode, you'll learn:

Why sponsorship budgets are actually growing right now and how to position your organization to benefit
Why you should stop chasing only large corporations and how small and mid-size businesses can transform your sponsorship portfolio
How to identify and connect with the "sponsorship gatekeepers" who actually make the decisions
Why your nonprofit's cultivated audience is more valuable to sponsors than you think and how to make that case confidently
How to move beyond transactional sponsorship asks toward genuine, enduring partnerships
What sponsors really want from experiential marketing and how your events can deliver it
Practical strategies for diversifying your sponsorship portfolio across industries and business sizes

This episode is essential listening for development directors, event planners, and executive directors who want to build a sponsorship program that doesn't start from scratch every year.
🎧 Subscribe to The Fundraising Elevator so you never miss an episode: https://www.youtube.com/
⭐ Leave a review it helps other nonprofit professionals find the show.
The Fundraising Elevator is a production of swaimstrategies.com sponsored by The AV Department, Bloomerang, and Feathr.

09/02/2026

What if your next major gift didn't come from your biggest event of the year but from a carefully curated dinner for ten? In this fan-favorite encore episode, co-host Samantha Swaim steps into the guest seat to make a persuasive case for small, intentional gatherings as one of the most underutilized fundraising strategies in the nonprofit world.
From a seven-week dinner series that re-engaged an entire lapsed donor base to a wh***ey tasting that turned a board member's passion into a major gift moment, this episode is packed with real examples of what intimate events can unlock for your organization.
In this episode, you'll learn:

Why small, curated events are the antidote to the "connection recession" hitting nonprofits right now
How donors consolidating their giving to fewer causes makes intimate gatherings more strategic than ever
Real examples of small event formats that have generated major gifts and re-engaged lapsed donors
How to assess whether your organization is ready to step back from big events and what to do instead
How to design a small event for a specific audience so everyone in the room has a reason to be there
The fears nonprofits have about smaller events (leaving money on the table, smaller reach) and how to reframe them
How to make an ask at an intimate gathering that feels easy, specific, and natural not transactional

This episode gives you both the permission and the practical blueprint to start smaller, go deeper, and raise more. Essential listening for development directors, executive directors, and major gift officers looking for a fresh approach to donor cultivation.
🎧 Subscribe to The Fundraising Elevator so you never miss an episode: https://www.youtube.com/
⭐ Leave a review it helps other nonprofit professionals find the show.
The Fundraising Elevator is a production of swaimstrategies.com sponsored by The AV Department, Bloomerang, and Feathr.

08/26/2026

What separates a forgettable fundraising event from one guests are still talking about months later? In this fan-favorite encore episode, seasoned event producer Tanya Mikkelson breaks down exactly what it takes to create a guest experience so exceptional it turns first-time attendees into long-term advocates for your mission.
If you're planning a gala, auction, or any nonprofit fundraising event, this episode is your blueprint for getting the details right.
In this episode, you'll learn:

How to understand your audience and tailor your event to different donor demographics
Interactive and innovative engagement strategies that keep guests invested in your cause
How to use technology to elevate the guest experience without losing the human connection
The small, thoughtful touches that have an outsized impact on guest satisfaction
Common event planning pitfalls and Tanya's practical solutions for avoiding them
How to collect and actually use guest feedback to improve future events
Real-life success stories from Tanya's career as a professional event producer

Whether you're a first-time event planner or a seasoned development professional, this episode will help you think beyond logistics and start designing experiences that deepen donor relationships and extend your organization's reach long after the event ends.
🎧 Subscribe to The Fundraising Elevator so you never miss an episode: https://www.youtube.com/
⭐ Leave a review it helps other nonprofit professionals find the show.
The Fundraising Elevator is a production of swaimstrategies.com sponsored by The AV Department, Bloomerang, and Feathr.

08/19/2026

Thinking about scaling back or canceling your next fundraising event? The science says don't. In this fan-favorite encore episode, hosts Kristin Steele and Samantha Swaim make a compelling, research-backed case for why in-person fundraising events are more powerful than ever, and how to run them in a way that actually moves donors to give.
From the neuroscience of shared experiences to the psychology of collective giving, this episode will change the way you think about every event you host.
In this episode, you'll learn:

The neuroscience behind why gatherings work — including how shared experiences literally sync heartbeats and build trust
What "collective effervescence" is and why it's your most powerful fundraising tool
Why oxytocin, neural alignment, and social proof all work in your favor when donors are in the same room
How to use storytelling strategically and why trying to showcase every program in one night backfires
Why removing transactional clutter leads to stronger donor connection and higher satisfaction
The counterintuitive reason skipping the ask actually tanks donor satisfaction scores
How to host with intention so your event builds the long-term donor relationships your organization depends on

This episode is essential listening for nonprofit event planners, development directors, and executive directors who want to stop running events out of obligation and start running them as a genuine community-building and fundraising strategy.
🎧 Subscribe to The Fundraising Elevator so you never miss an episode: https://www.youtube.com/
⭐ Leave a review it helps other nonprofit professionals find the show.
The Fundraising Elevator is a production of swaimstrategies.com sponsored by The AV Department, Bloomerang, and Feathr.

08/12/2026

What if one strategic gift could double the revenue of your next fundraising event? In this fan-favorite encore episode, Brandon Lenzi, founder of Bowtie Strategies, shares the exact approach he used to transform a $500,000 event into a million-dollar fundraiser and shares how you can apply the same framework to your organization.
Brandon also reframes the way nonprofit professionals think about donor relationships entirely: fundraising isn't about asking, it's about inviting donors to realize their vision for the community they want to live in.
In this episode, you'll learn:

How to use an anchor gift strategy to create collective giving momentum
Why fundraising is a flywheel — not a water pump — and what that means for your year-end campaign
How to sit on the same side of the table as donors and solve problems together
The case for radical transparency with donors about funding gaps
How to navigate a challenging giving environment by doubling down on individual donors
Why donors are consolidating their giving and how to make sure your org makes the cut
Authentic storytelling strategies that turn donors into true team members

This episode is a must-listen for development directors, executive directors, and fundraising professionals preparing for year-end giving season or looking to level up their next fundraising event.
📊 Breakdown of the Million-Dollar Strategy: https://swaimstrategies.substack.com/p/how-to-turn-your-fundraising-event
🎧 Subscribe to The Fundraising Elevator so you never miss an episode: https://www.youtube.com/
⭐ Leave a review it helps other nonprofit professionals find the show.
The Fundraising Elevator is a production of swaimstrategies.com sponsored by The AV Department, Bloomerang, and Feathr.

08/10/2026

Join us Wednesday for a FREE webinar where we explore the true cost of free tools for nonprofits.

Many nonprofits are running their fundraising on "digital duct tape"—donate buttons, spreadsheets, and cash-register platforms that accept donations but don't manage donors. James Goalder of Bloomerang walks through the real cost of "free" tools: lost trust, abandoned donations, and a leaky bucket that fails to retain 6 out of 10 donors each year.

Register at the link below!

Many nonprofits are running their fundraising on "digital duct tape"—donate buttons, spreadsheets, and cash-register platforms that accept donations but don't manage donors. James Goalder walks through the real cost of "free" tools: lost trust, abandoned donations, and a leaky bucket that fails to...