• (00:00:00) - Kevin Brown on Fundable & Findable
• (00:00:45) - How to Build a Brand for Nonprofits
• (00:02:00) - Writing Down the Book
• (00:02:33) - Getting Out There: The LinkedIn Content
• (00:03:44) - Mission Clarity and How to Raise Money
• (00:06:30) - What is Vision for Nonprofit Leaders?
• (00:08:38) - The Secret to Success in Raising Money
• (00:11:03) - Brand Investment in Community
• (00:11:43) - Brand Investment: An Investment
• (00:13:17) - What Role Do Boards Have in the
• (00:15:01) - Strategic Plan: Everything Is Possible, But Everything Isn't
• (00:17:15) - The Investment Strategy of Building a Brand
• (00:18:17) - Nonprofit Communications and Brand Teams Understaffed
• (00:20:05) - How to Build a Nonprofit Brand with Just One Word
• (00:23:37) - A Few Favors for the Rainmaker

• (00:00:00) - The Rainmaker Fundraising Podcast
• (00:01:21) - Virtuous's 2025 Nonprofit Benchmarking Report
• (00:02:17) - The 7 KPIs that Matter The Most to Driving Revenue Growth
• (00:03:49) - Donor Experience: Days Between First and Second Gifts
• (00:06:46) - Donor Welcome Series
• (00:08:31) - The decline of the everyday donor
• (00:12:12) - The Future of Fundraising: Data Literacy
• (00:16:13) - Will AI Change the Way Nonprofits Raise Money?
• (00:19:23) - Mid- and Major Donors
• (00:25:48) - Mid-level Donors: The Middle Child
• (00:27:11) - Donor Outreach
• (00:30:23) - Nonprofit Giving: Average Gift Increases
• (00:33:22) - Are You More Likely to Give Online?
• (00:34:41) - Nonprofit Giving: New Donor Acquisition
• (00:37:43) - Donors' Long Term Value
• (00:39:30) - Ask Again: How to Ask the Donor
• (00:42:07) - Virtuous Nonprofit Data 2017: Most Encouraged
• (00:45:09) - Top Nonprofit Executives Discuss the Benchmark Report
• (00:45:54) - A Few More Favors For You

Do you know what sets the most generous fundraisers apart from the rest?
In this episode of the Rainmaker Fundraising Podcast, Andrew Olson sits down with David Duxbury, Major Gift Officer at Hammer Residences, to explore the transformative power of generosity. David shares his personal journey from growing up in poverty to becoming a passionate advocate for donor impact. Together, they discuss the importance of humility in fundraising, the role of donor-centric communication, and how nonprofits can better empower the next generation of fundraisers. Packed with honest stories and practical wisdom, this conversation will inspire anyone working to build meaningful relationships in the nonprofit sector.

• (00:00:00) - The Rainmaker Fundraising Podcast
• (00:00:33) - Meet the Hammer Residences Major Gift Officer David Green
• (00:02:20) - In the Elevator With Charitable Givers
• (00:05:26) - Empowering the Next Generation of Fundraising
• (00:13:55) - The Importance of Humility
• (00:16:25) - How to Get Your Salesforce CRM to Do the Things You
• (00:16:57) - Donors Are Terrible People
• (00:17:37) - Philanthropist on How He Views Wealth
• (00:26:25) - Donor Centricity in Fundraising
• (00:31:11) - Donor Experience: How to Win at Fundraising
• (00:35:44) - What is Donor Stewardship?
• (00:39:42) - Top 10 Most Meaningful Donor Conversations
• (00:43:24) - The Rainmaker: Donating to Nonprofits

What does it really take to become a great fundraising organization?
In this powerful episode of the Rainmaker Fundraising Podcast, Andrew Olson is joined by Alan Clayton, author of Great Fundraising Organizations and founder of Revolutionise. Together, they explore what separates thriving nonprofits from those that struggle, why fundraising success starts with leadership, and how to run two distinct operations—service delivery and fundraising—under one mission. Alan shares insights from global research, practical leadership strategies, and a call to embrace emotional storytelling, strategic investment, and a purpose-driven culture

• (00:00:00) - Alan Clayton on the Rainmaker
• (00:00:52) - Revolutionizing What It Is to Raise Money for Nonprofits
• (00:01:29) - Great fundraising organizations: The journey from good to great
• (00:03:08) - Getting organizations to commit to a five year plan
• (00:04:44) - What Makes Nonprofit Organizations Successful?
• (00:06:50) - The need for emotionally relevant engagement
• (00:09:29) - The role of the leader in fundraising
• (00:13:24) - How to Get Your Salesforce CRM to Work
• (00:13:59) - Philanthropy: The Leadership Problem
• (00:16:58) - The Conflict and Tension of the Fundraising
• (00:21:12) - The 3 Step Process of Brand Management
• (00:24:31) - In the Elevator With Andrew Carnegie
• (00:25:17) - What Makes a Charitable Leader So Driven?
• (00:28:58) - Laughably Leadership: A challenge to the
• (00:30:53) - Andrew Olson on the Biggest Mistakes Nonprofits Make
• (00:31:24) - A Few Favors for the Rainmaker

Is your nonprofit leaving long-term donor value on the table?
In this episode of the Rainmaker Fundraising Podcast, Andrew Olson talks with Dave Raley, founder of Imago Consulting and author of The Rise of Sustainable Giving. Dave explains how the subscription economy is reshaping recurring giving and why many organizations fail to treat sustainers as the long-term partners they are. They explore the history of recurring giving, the elements of a strong sustainer program, and bust common myths about donor loyalty and communication. This episode is a must if your organization wants to grow predictable revenue and deepen donor commitment.

• (00:00:03) - Dave Raley on Why He Started Imago Consulting
• (00:04:12) - Bookmark: The Rise of Recurring Giving
• (00:09:08) - Subscriptions and Recurring Giving
• (00:15:24) - Your 90 Day Leaders Journey Email Course
• (00:19:03) - Sustainer vs. Long Term Value
• (00:20:37) - What Makes an Organization Ready for Sustainer?
• (00:25:49) - Should I Let a Major Donor Be a Monthly Donor?
• (00:26:21) - Are Your Recurring Donors More Valuable Than Your Major Don
• (00:29:50) - When Should a Major Donor Start Giving?
• (00:33:18) - Subscriptions in the Nonprofit Industry
• (00:37:56) - Cancel Your Subscriptions?
• (00:39:54) - Sustainer Program Launch: Benchmark, Evaluate and Design
• (00:44:08) - Sustainable Giving Growth Plan
• (00:45:52) - A Few Favors For You

Are you telling stories that truly inspire donor action?
In this episode of the Rainmaker Fundraising Podcast, Andrew Olson talks with Tayloe Clements, Director of Digital Marketing at Barna Group and host of the Mission Money podcast. Tayloe shares her journey from filmmaker to nonprofit strategist and breaks down five key elements of compelling storytelling. She explains why conflict and transformation are essential, and offers practical advice for creating impactful video content—even with limited resources. Whether you’re a seasoned marketer or just getting started, this episode will help you level up your digital storytelling.

• (00:00:03) - Rainmaker: The Fundraising Podcast
• (00:00:46) - Taylor on His Leader Journey
• (00:02:02) - Barna the Swing dancer on How To Fit It All In
• (00:03:02) - Nonprofit Missionary
• (00:06:25) - What Excites You About Storytelling?
• (00:07:35) - The Story of Donor Engagement
• (00:11:19) - 4 Key Elements of a Mission
• (00:14:04) - Your Leadership Journey Email Course
• (00:15:48) - The Donor: The Hero of Nonprofit Marketing
• (00:19:10) - How to Coach Nonprofit Leaders on Camera
• (00:22:18) - How to Tell a Story in Video
• (00:26:15) - Andrew Olson: The Nonprofit Future
• (00:30:32) - Social Media: How to Tell the Story
• (00:33:44) - How to Start a Business in the Digital World
• (00:35:23) - A Few Favors For You

Could treating fundraising like a skilled trade transform your results?
In this episode of the Rainmaker Fundraising Podcast, Andrew Olson sits down with Jason Zwang, founder of The Giving Group and longtime major gifts leader. Jason shares why major gift fundraising should be approached not just as a career, but as a craft that requires apprenticeship, trust-building, and continual learning. They explore the evolution of major gifts, the tension between science and art, and how organizations can prepare for the next generation of fundraising leadership. This is a masterclass in practical wisdom for anyone serious about long-term fundraising success.

• (00:00:00) - Raising Money Through Major Gifts
• (00:01:11) - Jason Levitt on Major Gifts
• (00:04:15) - Major Gifts as a Trade
• (00:05:13) - Philanthropy as a Trade versus a Career
• (00:09:15) - How to Balance the Pressure of Delivering This Year's
• (00:13:21) - Philanthropy and the Future
• (00:18:23) - The 90 Day Leader's Journey Email Course
• (00:19:47) - David Lively: The Need for Tradecraft
• (00:24:53) - The Art of Raising Money
• (00:28:22) - 3 Rules for Success in Raising Money
• (00:31:46) - What are you most excited for in philanthropy in the coming decade
• (00:33:38) - How Do Nonprofit Pro and Pro Speak?
• (00:34:11) - A Few Favors for the Rainmaker

How can failure become a catalyst for growth in nonprofit leadership?
In this honest and empowering episode of the Rainmaker Fundraising Podcast, Andrew Olson is joined by Beth Fisher, CEO of Fisher Strategic. They explore how failure—especially public failure—can be one of the most powerful teachers for nonprofit leaders. Beth shares how to recover from setbacks, how to create psychologically safe cultures, and why investing in people is non-negotiable for organizations that want to grow. This episode offers practical insights for leading with authenticity, resilience, and empathy.

• (00:00:00) - Rainmaker: Failure and What We Can Do About It
• (00:00:56) - In the Elevator With Templeton Religion Trust's Director
• (00:01:55) - What is the Risk of Failure?
• (00:07:16) - Tom Clancy on Recovering From a Big Failure
• (00:10:17) - On Coaching and the Need for Support
• (00:14:00) - Steve Jobs on How Do You Manage Your Life?
• (00:15:34) - The 90 Day Leaders' Journey Email Course
• (00:16:47) - On the Toxic Environment
• (00:18:36) - The Need for a Safe Workplace
• (00:19:54) - Performance Review and the Gray Area
• (00:21:08) - Does the Enneagram Affect How You're Seen?
• (00:22:10) - The 3 Biggest Mistakes Nonprofits Make
• (00:25:48) - WSJDLive: Leading Transformational Change
• (00:27:20) - What Have You Learned From Your Biggest Fails?
• (00:30:50) - Rainmaker: A Request for Help