 the nonprofit show. We are so glad you're here and also I want to say welcome to Nashville because we are live with the one cause raise conference in Nashville. Really excited to be here today. We are here for two days. So today is day one and we will also be live broadcasting the nonprofit show tomorrow for day two. So thrilled to have you with us as we move forward in today's conversation. I want to say thank you to Julia Patrick for creating the nonprofit show. So glad to be alongside with you and thank you for you know the opportunity to take the show live. This was always a dream of ours and really excited to be doing it. I'm Jarrett Ransom your nonprofit nerd and CEO of the Raven Group. So I actually gave away a lot of nerd glasses this morning. I spoke this morning and they were hot commodities. We also want to say thank you to our amazing sponsors that allow us these opportunities coming up on our 900th episode. So gratitude goes out to our friends at Bloomerang that are also here at the conference. Thank you to American Nonprofit Academy Fundraising Academy at National University also has a representative here at the one cause conference. Thank you to non-profit thought leader your part-time controller staffing boutique non-profit nerd as well as non-profit tech talk. These are the companies that have been with us from the very beginning and helped us to produce such a plethora of information. So if you haven't checked these companies out do yourself a favor and check them out because they are here to help you elevate your mission. If you missed any of our previous episodes are you like what you're hearing today and you want to listen to it again. We've got you covered. You can find us on many streaming platforms. You can download the app. So if you're watching right now you can actually actually scan that QR code. You can also find us on broadcast and podcast platforms. So again really excited to be here live at the one cause conference. I'm going to invite up with me. Emily Newberry is here with me. Welcome. Hi it's so nice to be here. Thanks for having me. I am thrilled you're here. Tell us a little bit about yourself Emily for those viewers and listeners that might be watching and listening but say I don't think I've met Emily yet. So tell us a little bit about yourself and a little bit about the conference. Well I'm a previous fundraiser so I started my career in fundraising and then landed at one cause 12 years ago. So I've been with the organization for a long time in many different roles but my current one is Vice President of National Accounts. So I get to work with a lot of national organizations and really make sure that there is alignment between their fundraising strategy and what we're trying to do with our SaaS products. Oh that sounds like a lot of fun. So this conference this is not the first year so tell us about a little bit about the history of the of the race conference. So we started this is its seventh year and it has grown exponentially. It's actually wild to see all of these people here. It's just grown so much. It started as 125 person conference in Washington DC in 2017 and every year has grown so much and I think that's because the reputation that we have in our space just as thought leaders in general and just the amazing experience people have here and the I think the motivation they leave with after being at our sessions here. Well the energy is vibrant. It's a lot of fun and how many attendees are here with us today. There are just under 600 people here with us today. So when I say it grows it grows every single year. I mean seven years ago so eight years ago this was a this was an idea. Our marketing team has grown this into something so wild and so fantastic and so yeah we're at 500 and over 550 attendees today. That is fantastic. There's a lot of innovation. I feel like there's a lot of innovation in our sector but we're seeing it here at the conference. So what are you seeing by way of innovation from our speakers from our vendors from your sponsors. What are you seeing out here? Well I think that starts with the nonprofits the fundraisers because they lean into technology now they lean into innovation and I think that we don't give I mean I I still think of myself as a fundraiser even though I've been out of that direct space but I am and I think that we don't give ourselves enough credit and we actually are leading into that and we are expecting more of the people around us in the space and so those vendors and those software providers and just the people in the industry are starting to bring it to meet the needs of fundraisers and then by an extension of that they're donors so it's really interesting to see. I love that you still consider yourself a fundraiser. I yes I think once a fundraiser always a fundraiser really looking at it from a space of how can we be of service to our community. There is a lot going on and I remember and you guys are always there at AFP icon and I feel like that was the first time Emily a couple years ago that I really realized how technology focused our sector has become. Can you speak to to any point really of how technology has played an impactful role in our sector. Yeah I think I mean it was always like that right but I I had the same experience about that two three four years ago and I think that that's a post COVID thing too it's that we started to expect of our nonprofit experience the same way we do of our normal consumer experiences right so you think about the big companies that are serving up these experiences the way we bring that to nonprofits should be no different and so that's really what we're seeing is we're seeing like say hey we understand what technology is we understand that our donors know how to use it and so the expectation is there the bar has been risen and so now all of us are trying to meet that but we're seeing that in the different tools that we use in in making sure that organizations are efficient in some of their like everyday administrative tasks we're seeing that in obviously fundraising software and some of the things that one cause is bringing to the table but we're seeing I mean just AI AI is a huge topic here at raise let me tell you so we are starting to see all of that in so many different ways but it's because the fund the donor expectation has risen so much and I think that's a COVID thing because we all had to use technology very differently during COVID yeah I agree it's really up leveled how we serve and how how we can be smarter in the tools and technology that we have I love that you mentioned AI yesterday I had the great pleasure of meeting with Sean Olds from Bootle AI he will actually be on the show tomorrow so excited to have him on tomorrow to talk about yeah he does have great stuff hear him talk about what's going on in the generative AI space but there is so much really happening I would love it because I I know this conference is going to continue but what are we looking forward to as we celebrate you know this year's success what can we start looking for next year because Emily my thought is there's viewers and listeners that aren't part of the 550 people here and we'd love to have them next year well one we need to get you here because it's sad that you're not here you should all be here I think what you can expect is another awesome venue and another awesome city first and foremost because I will say well the content at raise it's really great it is fun yeah it is just a fun and very like relaxed and a very easy way to engage with people and I will say that we are going to lean into this idea of community so we have a lot of sessions and there's a lot of great content that you'll walk away from but we really do focus on making sure that we give people time in space to engage with one another to have downtime to have really real conversations and to you know build that community of fundraisers that we all want so you know you mentioned fun and I just have to show help me grab some of these here because there's some fun labels just show them to the camera there's some fun labels well first time attendee so a lot of those actually and so maybe one of you will be a first time attack actually I'm a first time attendee can you believe that that's why so much and I need to put it on and I'm just laughing okay oh repeat I know the fun ones here we go hot hot chicken and honky tonk we got a lot live live play and dance I don't know something but a lot of fun like we really do foster a really fun environment here and I think that more than anything is what you will expect well Emily thank you it's been fantastic and excited to be here I'll share to this morning yeah this morning speaking of this live laugh and line dance we started this morning with line dancing because tonight there's a party and I have a sneaky suspicion line dancing is part of it yeah bring your boots Emily thank you it's been so great yeah well Emily Newberry with one cause so excited to have her join us today I mentioned we have three amazing individuals joining me so I want to invite up with me today we have Barbara O'Reilly so welcome thank you it's great to be here yeah excited to have you with us tell us a little bit about yourself because we have the opportunity to meet last night in person or as Julia Patrick my co-host likes to say I RL but you are with Windmill Hill Consulting is that right that's right yeah that's the consultancy that I found it 14 years ago we're about the same timeframe because I started my company also 14 years ago and you're tell me what part of the country you're in and a little bit about the work you do in our sector so I'm based in the DC metro area I live in northern Virginia and I founded the company 14 years ago having been a career fundraiser in house in large organizations and I decided that I wanted when my daughter was born to become a consultant I in truth when I was younger as a baby fundraiser I always thought in the back of my mind I'd want to be a consultant at some point and so I decided that that was the moment to be able to go out and launch my own firm and I've had the great honor not only to work in house with incredible organizations but to partner alongside so many valuable nonprofits who are doing impactful work around the country in our communities and around the world I love that origin story and I just have to share at the conference and I'm sure you know her Mallory Erickson is also here very pregnant and very impactful and so just had her on the main stage sharing so loving that you're doing this you you saw the vision of this for for your life and for your family what are you seeing here at the conference I know or I feel like it's still early this morning but there's still a lot going on so what are you seeing that's really you know showing up big for you here well first of all this is one of the conferences that I love to come to it's it's absolutely on my priority list every year I love attending I love presenting and what I'm seeing certainly the the sessions that will be we're leading I'm monitoring a panel this afternoon where we're going to talk about old school new school fundraising and you know what are we seeing in terms of how we balance with what we call relationship fundraising with all of this new digital landscape that we're living in and I think that there's pros and cons to both sides and how we can integrate and there's a lot of fear frankly from a lot of nonprofits a lot of stretched bandwidths who think it's not possible and we're going to be in one or the other more likely the ones so I so we're really going to break down those myths and tackle this head on I'm also seeing a lot of data that's being brought into this I know you're a nonprofit nerd and I love data as well and I'm always thinking about what can we learn from studies from the research from the trends that are happening sector-wide so that we can bring them bring the things that are actionable for our nonprofits to our organizations to become scalable and sustainable over time there's so much in what you just said right and really looking at the new dare I say old right like really looking at what that looks like so you're right you're moderating a panel and I believe Sean Olds is on that panel and some other amazing guests but tell us a little bit about what's going to be talked there I know you touched on it right and then you're speaking in another session too or maybe already did that but tell me a little bit about both of those if you can because again our viewers and listeners across the globe our goal here right is to bring it to you we can't bring all of it but give us a little you know snapshot further if you can into these sessions yeah of course so at 130 I'm going to be presenting four ways to rock your year in fundraising that's a fun title cute so it's you know because this is the place to do it right there's fun Emily was just talking about how much fun they bring into this conference so that's one that I'm really excited to present about you know here we are in mid-September and nonprofits hopefully have got their year in plans in place but hopefully right that's that's a big hopefully it's not too late if you don't so no shaming at all but you know right now we have to be thinking about you know 30% of all contributions are made in the month of December and so how do we prepare in the 11 months leading up to it so that we don't feel like we're overstretching and working even harder than we already do but how do we work more strategically and effectively for those for those bigger and better results so that's what we cover at 130 then at four o'clock I'm going to be moderating this panel of incredible thought leaders and we're going to really dig into what does it mean for to be old school right and I grew up I started right pre-internet is a baby fundraiser doing all of the old school things of in-person phone print and so we're going to break down what that means to be old school relationship based what does it mean for digital fundraising the new school and we're going to cover topics like AI and what does AI actually mean a lot of people think only chat GPT or GPT for but it's a lot of other things like generative AI I'm going to be tapping Sean on that and what he's up to at Boodle there you know we're already using AI and so many things now predictive modeling we do that our firm does that now with our clients where we can offer more strategic nuanced segmentation than just and again not slamming the last year but not yet this year kind of donor segments so we're going to touch upon that we're going to talk about what what is working and not working what are some things that we need to really speak against so you know oh there's always that myth about direct mail is dead or I don't have time to meet with my donors or to pick up the phone how can we change that model how can we flip that script so that nonprofits and fundraisers see the value of building their donor relationships adding to them the digital communication channels again like there's so much happening here and those were just two sessions right and really looking into this Barbara thank you I want to I'm going to put you on the spot right and and today we're really just doing little 10 minute teaser sections but I'd love to get you on for a full episode of the nonprofit show oh wait wait say that for the I would love that Jared well thank you so much for joining me it's been a pleasure you know really looking at all of the thought leaders here with us today and I just I can't wait to have more conversations with them because that was just scratching the surface with Barbara windmill hill consulting out of DC but really talking about you know the new ways the old ways are so many opportunities so my next final guest for this morning I'm excited to bring up with me today she is back by popular demand hi Lashonda hi Jared it's so fabulous to be here so Lashonda as you know is with fundraising academy Lashonda Williams fundraising academy at National University has been a wonderful supporter of the nonprofit show tell us what you're doing here at the conference Lashonda so very excited to be here to be part of the panel with Barbara so we'll be talking about old school versus new school and ways to integrate technology in a way that's meaningful and creating some dynamic donor experiences but in addition to that joining my good friend here today Jared so we can talk a little bit about nonprofit show as well as the fundraising academy and some of the fantastic programming that we offer and possibly tease you all about some upcoming things to look forward to with the fundraising academy absolutely now again I'm going to put you on the spot I shared that this is my let's see it's in here the first time attendee badge which I do absolutely need to put on my lanyard that says I'm a first time attendee would you first time or repeat I would pick first time and I will say that the first time is definitely leaving a phenomenally lasting impression we got a wonderful start last night had an opportunity to meet with some of our colleagues in the space and then also meeting some of the attendees and being an attendee today I'm definitely amplified and excited about the program and it's here I just saw Jared's show session she was on the main stage and when I tell you all if you're not here you have absolutely positively missed a treat on rents repeat and recycle tools that you can use social media guru that is you well thank you LaShonda she was a wonderful supporter there with me and you're right there's just a lot of information to take away but talk to us about the energy here because we really are getting I mean there's six floors right six floors so talk talk to our viewers and listeners a little bit about what you're seeing the energy the vendors you know from an attendee perspective so from attendees perspective first and foremost this space is phenomenal being a part of country music history in the building Dolly Parton Garth Brooks and all of the greats I feel nothing but amplified everyone here is very excited each floor offers a variety of different training the attendees here today are very excited they're eager to learn more most importantly it's a great space for us to create our own COPs beyond this space today industry professionals everything from event experts to actually development directors executives all under one roof everyone is amplified and earlier today in our opening session we were asked to repeat a word and the word was love and the energy was filled in the main hall with lots of love you're so good at sharing what's going on and you've joined me here for the non-profit show live from several conferences now we did AFP icon together we've done cultivate fundraising academy cannot wait to hear more about that in May because what I'm seeing here at the raise conference is definitely attendees are back I mean you heard Emily Newberry say just shot by a 600 people with us today but are you seeing and feeling that the event attendees will continue to rise as we look for more opportunities to build I think both donors as well as all of us in this philanthropic space are looking for that opportunity to engage in real time we are definitely on the upward trajectory as it relates to in person events everyone is also thinking of ways to continue to creatively engage those for a hybrid option but we are definitely going to see a consistent increase in in person events as everyone is excited to cultivate relationships knowledge and impact yeah absolutely there it's so exciting to see because even at the hotel Lashonda there are so many people staying at the hotel enjoying even that walk to the conference center having that camaraderie meeting for coffee meeting for cocktails really using this opportunity to connect and and again it's always exciting when we see each other IRL and this is for so many industry leaders you know even here today as I look at the room and we look around there are so many industry leaders in our community representing who they are and what they do what is the big thing you're looking to take away from this conference because you're at fundraise academy but you also work for a higher education and so for me I am here for two folds you know the double dip that is me so here we have a variety of vendors that offer a plethora of services to help us become more effective in everything that we do as far as strategy contacts engaging donors and then most importantly maintaining a database and can help us with creating database decision-making which we know proves to deliver results and you mentioned that today during your session the importance of taking your time to look at the analytics so I'm looking to not only secure information about event planning and fundraising strategy but most importantly some of the dynamic tools that are available to us to help us connect more effectively and efficiently as we're developing meaningful donor relationships so everything is under one roof and this is definitely the one-stop shop tour so if you missed it this year you might want to go ahead and sign up for next year because we sold out and we will definitely be selling up and selling out again next year I'm sure. You should get commission for this LaShonda you're so good at that and you're right I mean there's just I can't repeat it enough there's so much going on here I saw you in my session taking plenty of notes how does it feel as a participant at a conference no because I said this you know in my presentation you're here at an event your emails are piling up your phone calls and voicemails are probably piling up but you're getting so many great opportunities to take notes and hopefully implement when you get back how does that feel it feels surreal because yes the the anxiety is a little bit high with some of the emails and I'm checking my phone I'm being very active on the app for the conference so I'm taking pictures I'm uploading photos I'm multitasking at its finest but most importantly I'm taking the time to really just enjoy the moment and that means allowing myself to show up and be able to be an active participant in all aspects of everything that's happening today and so I will say that this the best way to describe the way I feel in this moment is immense gratitude gratitude to have the opportunity to engage with other fundraising professionals experts in the industry who are equally excited and amplified about making a difference for their cause so overall I would say in this moment again amplified gratitude gratitude is a good one you know and as I stand here and realize there's a lot of individuals that have also used this conference as an opportunity to get away with their family and their loved ones and so ourselves included we have loved ones with us not here on studio but they're here and I've heard from so many other event attendees they've really used the the prior weekend to bring their friends and family in you go to get around Nashville a little bit so what are some of the sights and scenes because as again viewers and listeners you're thinking about I want to talk to my supervisor or I want to build this into my budget to attend conferences going forward but to how might we consider tailoring this to really see the local community and maybe even capitalize on bringing a loved one with us you know work-life balance is very very important and COVID taught us that you know everyone should have a part of their daily routine where they create that moment where they can just have oneness with themselves but when we're talking about creating caring communities it's important to foster that as well in the workplace and we've managed to kind of curate that in our own special ways and it's really important and so while I was here you know I got off the air airline and I hit the ground running I brought my mom with me I'm super excited to share Nashville with her we had a chance to tour this particular area we went down so was it 6th street where all the action happens and we were able to see everyone in rare form on Broadway yes I love that you said rare form on Broadway I had a chance to get a little culture in attended the African American country African American Museum of Music yesterday had a gospel choir concert and Lashonda I'm going to interrupt you you also became a member yesterday I literally purchased a dual membership yesterday and we often talk about ways to not only cultivate but also to engage donors well that was a phenomenal cultivation tool I was at Hattie and I heard the music and I was like it drew me into the space literally because they had the sound amplified in addition to that we also walked around the area just seeing some of the wonderful sites went by one of the museums and saw that one of the performance halls the symphony common is coming to Nashville in October so I'm really trying to figure out a way to make that happen can we get a conference can we get a conference in October another conference here we need another conference here so work life is about work life balance is really important we work very hard as fundraising professionals but most importantly we care a lot and we must love equally as harder as we share this morning with the first word being love and so with that I'm loving everything about today's conference tomorrow is going to be even more spectacular if that is such a thing line dancing tonight and then getting up in the morning work hard play hard but most importantly we're doing it on behalf of our organizations making sure that we kind of read up and get ready and we finish strong this final quarter because end of the year is coming so this is the time for us to capitalize off of all things to amplify and raise the bar as we are garnering philanthropic support for our organizations you know sometimes when I have Lashonda on I just want to like give her the microphone because she could take over the entire conversation I love that you mentioned like re-energize you're coming up on Q4 and so what we're learning here is really big and this is day one so day two tomorrow uh you know we'll we'll wrap up the conference but we'll be live again uh here at the non-profit show so Lashonda thank you I'm gonna ask you to stay with me as I wrap up the show you know how this goes but it's really it's been a lot of fun we've got some really good stuff happening with us today so again if you missed any of our conversation today I had Emily Newberry with one cause Barbara O'Reilly with Windmill Hill Consulting and she's part of the um the conversation you're having right very excited to share a conversation with Barbara she will definitely be leading the charge as we talk about old school new school one of the many sessions as we close out today and we will close out today strong literally with lots of great tips as we're incorporating AI into our fundraising strategies making sure that we're segmenting properly that's really important and then of course Lashonda Williams so three powerhouses starting off today in Nashville again if you missed any of today's conversation you want to go back and listen you can find us on the app you can find us on streaming uh broadcast as well as podcast platforms uh want to thank Reyes for having us here you know this is their first broadcast studio there's other podcasters that will be here on this same stage actually using this it's a beautiful setting that they've set up for us so thank you to one cause for allowing this opportunity to join us thank you to Julia Patrick we miss her we'd love to see her here that's right and of course I'm Jarrett Ransom your non-profit nerd and CEO of the Raven group we always want to give more gratitude to our partners because without them we wouldn't be able to be here so thank you again to Bloomerang in fact did you see Josh Myers he just snapped a photo of us so Bloomerang is here thank you to American Non-profit Academy thank you to Fundraising Academy at National University again just really happy to have LaShawna as one of the trainers joining me here also thank you to non-profit thought leader your part-time controller staffing boutique non-profit nerd and non-profit tech talk these are the companies that have been with us from day one coming up on you know the number almost 900 episodes ladies and gentlemen 900 for the non-profit show so again thank you so very much and you know as we end every episode it is so important but as I have LaShawna with me and all of you watching and listening hopefully joining us tomorrow as well we invite you we encourage you to please stay well so you can do well thanks everyone