Community Conversations: A podcast collaborative with AFP Toronto & Responsive Fundraising
We are proud to collaborate with The Fundraising Talent podcast & Responsive Fundraising to bring you stories of fundraising in the time of COVID-19.
In this special 7-episode series, members share their unique experiences with The Fundraising Talent podcast and host, Jason Lewis, about working hard to pivot operations and to secure important funding for front-line workers, community programs, the arts, environment and more. Through these conversations, we hope to continue to strengthen our global fundraising community and to provide valuable insights for continued dialogue and future learning.
Many thanks to our members who spoke candidly on what it means to be a fundraiser during this critical time.
Episode 1 – Coming Together as a Community
Members Teresa Vasilopoulos, Meghan Nicholls, CFRE, Sharon Avery, and Aaron Sanderson, ACFRE, join host Jason Lewis to discuss their insights about what it means to be a fundraising professional in these challenging times. Throughout this candid conversation, each member brings a unique fundraising perspective that demonstrates the urgent and complex needs of front-line community organizations during this critical time. In addressing these needs, it is apparent how interconnected each of their organizations are in providing community support. It is also apparent how generous Canadian donors are when given an opportunity to respond in meaningful ways, and how this experience has changed each of them as fundraisers – shaping who they are and how they approach their work.
Listen:
____________________________________________________________________________
Episode 2 – Fundraising for the Front-line
Members Nicole McCahon, Sandra Hawken, Amy McKinnon, and Amy Wilkinson talk with host Jason Lewis about their unique experiences fundraising for front-line healthcare organizations. Even as they describe themselves and their front-line colleagues as being exhausted and challenged with the realities of COVID-19, they also describe feeling a renewed sense of purpose that’s keeping them energized, enthusiastic and eager to press on despite all the obstacles. They talk about the importance of collaboration and new initiatives such as the Front-line Fund taking place in response to the pandemic and the importance of continuing to advocate for their cause.
For more information about the Front-line Fund and to donate, please visit https://www.frontlinefund.ca/.
Listen:
____________________________________________________________________________
Episode 3 – Fundraising for the Arts
Members Katie Hutchinson, Marilyn Brown, Carol Kehoe, and Diana Reitberger talk with host Jason Lewis about the importance of the arts in bringing communities together. Now more than ever, people are consuming different types of art across all platforms and all kinds of media, but how can arts organizations like museums and galleries continue to provide new experiences for their members and donors? How has the pandemic changed the live arts and cultural landscape? What can we learn from social distancing to keep people feeling inspired and connected and how can the arts plan to make a safe yet exciting comeback? Guests discuss these questions in more along with the importance of continuing to fund and build the arts.
Listen:
____________________________________________________________________________
Episode 4 – Fundraising for Education
Members David Bell, Andrew Young, Nicole Treitz and Jeff O’Hagan talk with host Jason Lewis about what it means to be fundraising for educational organizations in these challenging times. They discuss their own personal learning through this experience of having to quickly adapt and adjust to new ways of interacting with their colleagues, donors and community.
Listen:
____________________________________________________________________________
Episode 5 – Fundraising for the Environment
Members Andrea Simpson, Marsha Russell, Will Scott, and Kyria Knibb-McLuhan talk with host Jason Lewis about how the pandemic has changed their fundraising efforts when it comes to supporting the environment. They discuss the harsh realities COVID-19 has had on individuals and organizations, while looking at the benefits staying home has had on the environment. Like in previous episodes, the sense of community that has been built out of this crisis continues to be an inspiring motivator for each of them to continue in their efforts to raise funds and make a positive global impact.
Listen:
____________________________________________________________________________
Episode 6 – Global Giving in a Pandemic
Members Catherine Chalmers, Chryslyn Pais, Gail Black, and Linton Carter talk with host Jason Lewis about fundraising for international organizations and development groups during a global pandemic. They discuss the new funding priorities their organizations are facing as well as the dilemmas donors are now facing as COVID-19 has shifted everyone’s priorities. Together they discuss the urgency this pandemic has created as well as the unveiling of many systemic issues that need to be addressed by government, corporations and the non-profit sector. Where do international organizations go from here? What impact has this pandemic had on global giving and how are we to manage and respond to both crises at home and abroad? Listen to find out.
Listen:
Thank you to all of our members who volunteered their time to speak on behalf of their organizations as part of this collaborative podcast series. Special thank you to The Fundraising Talent podcast and host Jason Lewis for facilitating these discussions and for inviting our members to provide their unique personal, Canadian perspectives. We look forward to continuing this dialogue online and in different virtual spaces as we all continue adjust to a new reality.