Many fundraising teams are stretched thin, yet the work keeps expanding. Instead of pushing harder, some organizations are stepping back and reimagining what healthy capacity really looks like. When leaders center people, clarity and collaboration, teams gain the space they need to grow with purpose.

In this episode, Marcie Maxwell talks with Diana Perrault, Director of Peer-to-Peer Fundraising at the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation. Diana brings deep frontline experience and a people first leadership approach that has helped her rebuild team infrastructure, expand staff capacity and create an environment where fundraisers feel supported.

Diana reflects on the early signs that a team needs to reset its structure, from burnout signals to stalled ideation. She shares thoughtful ways leaders can understand the true load their staff carry, make the most of one-on-one conversations and advocate for resources with confidence. The conversation also highlights how to choose tools and systems that truly serve the work and how remote teams can stay connected through trust and shared values.

Together, we’ll explore:​

• Assessing real capacity and identifying when a team is ready for a rebuild
• Creating people centered practices that prevent burnout and strengthen culture
• Advocating for resources and designing systems that support sustainable growth

Mentioned Links

https://themmrf.org

https://endurance.themmrf.org/endurance

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• (00:00) - Welcome to The P2P Soap Box
• (01:02) - Introducing Diana Perrault
• (02:26) - Diana's Journey
• (04:44) - The MMRF P2P Portfolio
• (07:54) - Burnout
• (15:56) - Leading the Team
• (33:10) - Managing Culture with a Remote Team
• (40:06) - Get Involved

Managing volunteer leadership presents unique challenges, especially when your entire executive team changes annually. The most successful campaigns don't just recruit great volunteers—they systematically develop them into unified, mission-driven teams that can execute at the highest level despite constant turnover.

In this episode, Marcie Maxwell talks with Suzanne Graney, Executive Director of Four Diamonds, the nonprofit behind Penn State's Dance Marathon (THON). With years of experience leading one of the largest student-run philanthropies in the world, Suzanne shares how THON successfully onboards brand-new leadership teams each year and maintains momentum across a full campaign cycle.

Suzanne discusses her approach to rapidly aligning diverse volunteers around shared goals and creating systems that sustain engagement throughout the year. She explores how succession planning works when your pipeline constantly refreshes, and reveals what she's learned about the evolving leadership styles of today's college volunteers. The conversation offers practical strategies for anyone working with rotating volunteer teams in large-scale fundraising efforts.

Together, we'll explore:

• Effective onboarding strategies that quickly transform individual volunteers into unified leadership teams
• Year-round engagement techniques that maintain focus and momentum between major campaign milestones
• Building sustainable leadership pipelines when your entire team changes annually

Mentioned Links

FourDiamonds.org

Facebook: @FourDiamondsFTK

Instagram: @FourDiamonds

X: @FourDiamonds

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• (00:00) - Welcome to The P2P Soap Box
• (02:19) - Introducing Suzanne Marie Gran
• (05:09) - Four Diamonds
• (07:52) - The Turnover Challenge

Recognition is no longer just about t-shirts or medals - it’s about meaning. Thoughtful, mission-driven recognition strategies can deepen fundraisers’ emotional connection and inspire long-term loyalty.

In this episode, Marcie Maxwell talks with Meredith Perkins, Director of Peer-to-Peer Fundraising at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Meredith shares how her team has evolved recognition from transactional to transformational, creating experiences that honor fundraisers’ motivations and celebrate their impact.

From weaving MD Anderson’s mission to eliminate cancer into every recognition moment to reimagining branded products with purpose, Meredith offers practical ways to make participants feel valued and connected. She also dives into how feedback and metrics guide continuous improvement, ensuring each recognition effort aligns with participant expectations and program goals.

Together, we’ll explore:

• How to design recognition programs that strengthen mission connection and emotional engagement
• Creative ways to recognize and reward fundraisers across participation levels and years
• Practical methods for measuring impact and evolving recognition strategies for sustained success

​Mentioned Links

www.MDAnderson.org/Fundraise

www.MDAnderson.org/BootWalk

www.MDAnderson.org/DIY

www.MDAnderson.org/Remember

​
Stay Connected on LinkedIn

Connect with Meredith

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Connect with the Peer-to-Peer Professional Forum

• (00:00) - Welcome to The P2P Soap Box