People in Fundraising: A Nonprofit Podcast by Tim Wilson

People in Fundraising, Season 1, Ep. 31: James Cheng, Boston University

Originally recorded and aired in winter 2022: James Cheng is Boston University's inaugural Senior Director of Prospect Information Strategies. In our conversation, he talks about how this role, which he has held since March 2022, focuses on prospect analytics and pipeline development & management in support of BU's Development and Alumni Relations (DAR) office.
Highlights of our conversation:
*James' experience in computational philanthropy at Dana Farber Cancer Institute and Memorial Sloan Kettering, and the differences and similarities with his higher ed. role (the pool is smaller, but the depth is deeper in higher ed.)
*"Computational philanthropy," which is an intriguing, new-to-me description of fundraising data science *"Machine learning is my jam" :-)
*Positive perceptional changes frontline fundraisers have shown about understanding and using computational philanthropy as an integral partner in development (e.g., some staff held on to an idea that "the narrative about this donor is not in the numbers")
*Any conversation with James will naturally include him excitedly talking about his passion for karaoke

People in Fundraising, Season 1, Ep. 30: Lydia Kamicar, Smithbucklin

Originally recorded and aired in fall 2022: Lydia Kamicar does a terrific job explaining the association management company Smithbucklin's involvement with client nonprofit organizations in Episode #30 of "People in Fundraising."
Highlights of our conversation:
*The years-long dynamics of discussing, planning, and running in-person events and online webinars with client leadership and committee volunteers - and how we bring that all to life!
*Moments that stand out over her 18 years' career at Smithbucklin - including her first-ever work conference in the face of dire external weather events and internal company changes
*The power and motivation of creativity in Lydia's professional and personal lives
*Focusing on audience/attendee engagement with constantly changing tech advancements and participants' learning goals
*Reflecting on what the last few years have been like and what they mean for our careers ahead.
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People in Fundraising, Season 1, Ep. 29: Trina Landlord, Healthy Alaska Natives Foundation

Originally recorded and aired in fall 2022: November is Alaska Natives and Native American Heritage Month, and I am honored to have welcomed Trina Landlord to Episode #28 of “People in Fundraising.”
An Alaska Native of the Yup’ik tribe, Trina wonderfully and colorfully shares her personal and professional experiences working with Alaska-based non-profits that serve the 299 Indigenous tribes and 5 distinct cultural groups in the 49th state. She works in Anchorage, which is on the Dena’ina tribal land and is the 4th-largest U.S. city by land area.
Highlights of our conversation:
* Her passion is nonprofit work within the Alaska Native community
* The small community of nonprofit fundraisers in Alaska who come from the Alaska Native/Indigenous community
* General assumptions, misconceptions, and lack of awareness that people in the Lower 48 have about Alaska and the Indigenous Inuit peoples native to Alaska
*The answer is always no…until you ask 😉
* Trina’s emphasis on three R’s – respect, relationships, and reciprocity
* The significance of the raven (tulukaruq in Yup’ik) in Alaska Indigenous cultures. One is seen in a print behind Trina in our chat, titled “The Madonna of the Beginning of the Mountains to the North and to the South”

People in Fundraising, Season 1, Ep. 28: Jimmy Martello, Intermountain Health

Originally recorded and aired in fall 2022: In honor of Veterans Day this Friday, November 11th, 2022, I am pleased to have welcomed a veteran to my "People in Fundraising" program: Jimmy Martello. Jimmy is a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy, where he played football. After graduation, he served in the Air Force as an aircraft maintenance officer for several years. In our conversation, Jimmy describes how he learned about the nonprofit world and what sparked his curiosity in this field. This led to him working at his alma mater in his first nonprofit role. 
Other highlights:
* Re-framing the common answer ("I fell into it") to the question, "How did you enter philanthropy?" People often limit the time explaining their career route to a profession that doesn't have a clear path built into the collegiate experience and other mechanisms. * His mother's influence on Jimmy from a personal and professional perspective. * Philanthropy demonstrates the power of investing in big ideas.* What motivates Jimmy's personal philanthropy.

People in Fundraising, Season 1, Ep. 27: Jon Schaffrath, Harvard Business School

Originally recorded and aired in fall 2022: In Episode #27 of “People in Fundraising,” HBS’ Director of Development for Strategic Initiatives Jon Schaffrath shares his insights and experience from almost 20 years as a fundraiser. He describes a second professional hat he wears, as the Program Director for Boston University’s Certificate for Professional Fundraising Program.
At the 42-minute mark, Jon offers concluding observations: how to positively participate in inclusive fundraising; how to better address the unevenness of opportunities; and the value of friends at work.

People in Fundraising, Season 1, Ep. 26: Amy Lampi, BWF, Texas

Originally recorded and aired in fall 2022: BWF’s Amy Lampi, who co-authored the just-published book, “BeneFactors: Why Some Fundraising Professionals Always Succeed,” with BWF’s CEO Josh Birkholz! Amy and I spoke yesterday, part of her and Josh’s book launch efforts. 
“BeneFactors” is designed to help educate board members, CEO’s, emerging fundraising leaders, and longtime philanthropic professionals alike. It offers a primer on the soft skills in philanthropy as it seeks to guide, affirm, and inspire people in the nonprofit field.
Amy focuses on how the word “philanthropy” means the love of humanity. “How are we, as development professionals, connecting donors with their passion? That is the love of humanity. We are here for a higher calling. We are here to advance the missions of our organizations. I see that as what I am meant to do!”
She also firmly believes that “Development is all about the connecting business…Other people add to my life, as I hope to add to theirs. Collaborative fundraising is our future." 

People in Fundraising, Season 1, Ep. 25: Siobhan Crosby, Bentley University

Originally recorded and aired in fall 2022: In Episode #25, I am so pleased to feature my friend and former carpool buddy Siobhan Crosby, who represents the donor relations & stewardship sector of philanthropy. She is the Director of Donor Relations at undergraduate business school Bentley University in Waltham, Massachusetts, where I lived for over a decade before relocating to Utah in 2018. Siobhan talks about entering nonprofit work by utilizing a career coach, while led to her doing donor relations at Harvard Business School.
Siobhan talks about opportunities that kept her responsibilities fresh, and why she has really enjoyed being on the “thank you” side of fundraising, as opposed to the “please” give, engage, serve on boards, etc. side. “It is so, so important to tell the story of what donor gifts do…It inspires joy and hopefully inspires future giving.”

People in Fundraising, Season 1, Ep. 24: Brett Berger, Phillips Exeter Academy

Originally recorded and aired in fall 2022: Brett Berger proudly is the first guest to represent New Hampshire in my "People in Fundraising" podcast, in episode #24.
Most of our conversation centers around the motivations and challenges Brett balances with his full-time job, his young family, and a successful side business in real estate development and investing. He has a thoughtful and considerate way of explaining his priorities: "The work is why we do it all, for our family... Being happy while supporting your family." There are a lot of good insights and what works for Brett in this part of our chat. I know listeners will also find it valuable. Thank you, Brett!

People in Fundraising, Season 1, Ep. 23: Cayden Ferrin, University of Wyoming

Originally recorded and aired in fall 2022: Cayden Ferrin of the University of Wyoming Foundation is the 23rd guest in my "People in Fundraising" podcast/webcast, and I am so pleased to share his thoughts on our profession here. Cayden has been in prospect research for just 4 years, joining Robby Tabuchi's team of now 6 prospect management and research staff, and it is exciting to hear about Cayden's professional development in that time.
Our interview wraps up with a fascinating conversation about Cayden's interest in abductive reasoning and how he applies critical thinking approaches to his core responsibilities as the University's Associate Director of Prospect Development.

People in Fundraising, Season 1, Ep. 22: Christine Fairchild, University of Oxford, England

Originally recorded and aired in fall 2022: Christine Fairchild is my first international guest, joining us from Oxford on the day of Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral. Christine is the Director of Alumni Relations for the University of Oxford, and at the beginning of our chat, she shares how the Queen’s public vigil was the background for Oxford’s big alumni weekend.
Toward the end of our conversation, Christine shares her enthusiasm for advocating at Oxford and, via CASE, with other institutions, about investing in alumni relations. The final 5 minutes of our conversation are so rich and down-to-earth, as Christine talks about the qualities she most values in her work and in other people in the nonprofit world. Christine was a gracious guest on my podcast and I am grateful she shared some career experiences with our audience.