Donor Diaries is a podcast that delves into the beauty and complexity of living organ donation. Tune in to hear extraordinary stories of people who choose to share their organs and give the gift of life. The world of kidney and organ donation is a powerful testament to kindness, love, and the human spirit. With over 90,000 individuals on the kidney transplant waitlist and about 13 people dying each day while waiting, the urgency is real. One in three Americans is at risk for chronic kidney d ...
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Non Directed Donor Podcasts
A different kind of nonprofit podcast! Dynamic Nonprofits' mission is to help nonprofit organizations increase their impact with an unsiloed approach to fundraising. With over 15 years of industry experience, host Dan Sonners helps deconstruct fundraising trends from the tried and true to the brand new. Episodes include interviews with other experts and step-by-step analysis to help your fundraising channels and nonprofit operations work better together in order to improve the donor experien ...
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Send us a text A spiritual calling, a kidney voucher, and two pastors reconnecting after decades apart—this is no ordinary transplant story. When Jim Pearl was diagnosed with Fabry's disease in 2004, he had no idea his journey would lead him back to Jeff Barker, a seminary friend from the '90s. After five years on dialysis, Jim clung to his mantra:…
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Could a Facebook Scroll Save Your Life? | EP 32
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35:16Send us a text What if a casual Sunday scroll through Facebook could save a life? In this heartfelt episode of Donor Diaries, Rich and Cali share the extraordinary story of how a social media post led to a life-saving kidney transplant and an unexpected lifelong connection. Rich, living with polycystic kidney disease, feared the wait for a deceased…
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The Gift of Hope with Dr. Harry Wilkins | EP 31
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59:25Send us a text Join us on Donor Diaries as we welcome Dr. Harry Wilkins, CEO of Gift of Hope, who transitioned from a 36-year career as a trauma surgeon to leading an organ procurement organization in 2020. With his unique perspective as both a physician and an industry leader, Dr. Wilkins offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at the complex and dee…
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Transporting Second Chances- When Kidneys Fly | EP 30
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33:08Send us a text Join us as we welcome the extraordinary Mike Lollo, a former NYPD detective whose journey led him to become a passionate advocate for kidney donation. Mike's life took an inspiring turn in 2018 when he donated his kidney to a stranger. He shares his remarkable story with us, reflecting on how chance encounters with people like Ned Br…
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Find Your Kidney Donor Now: Taking Charge of Your Journey with Marilyn Day | EP 29
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29:18Send us a text Join us as we sit down with Marilyn Day, a founding member of Transplant Village and a two-time kidney recipient who has dedicated over a decade to guiding others through the transplant journey. In this episode, Marilyn shares how her personal story highlights the transformative power of sharing your journey to inspire action and fin…
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Healing, Sobriety, and Connection with Triple Donor Anthony Cernera | EP 28
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35:02Send us a text In this episode, Anthony Cernera, a three-time living organ donor, opens up about his transformative journey of giving and personal healing. His story began with a simple Facebook post that sparked a deep desire to help others, leading him to donate a portion of his liver, kidney, and stem cells. These selfless acts not only changed …
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German Kidney Exchange: Crossing Oceans to Give the Gift of Life | EP 27
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31:29Send us a text What would compel an American living in Germany to navigate a labyrinth of legal and cultural barriers to donate a kidney to a stranger? Join us as we uncover the incredible story of Will Johnson, whose altruistic journey sheds light on the stark contrasts between organ donation practices in the US and Germany. In this episode, recor…
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DNP Groundbreakers: Paul Bobnak, Direct Mail Evangelist w/ Who's Mailing What?
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56:33Reading the mail is one of the best ways to get an idea what techniques are working and gain inspiration for your next campaign test. Who's Mailing What! has been helping commercial and nonprofit mailers keep track of what's in the mail since 1984. Direct Mail Evangelist and content creator Paul Bobnak joins the show for a deep dive into the Who's …
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A Senior Donor’s Unwavering Generosity | EP 26
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31:27Send us a text How old is too old to save a life? At the age of 74, Tom Duncan defied societal norms to become America's oldest non-directed living kidney donor, and his story will change the way you think about aging and altruism. Join us for an intimate conversation from his serene home in Ruidoso, New Mexico, where Tom recounts the journey that …
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DNP Groundbreakers: Molly Connors, Development Manager @ C-SPAN
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1:02:24Since 1979, C-SPAN has been providing unfiltered access into the inner workings of American democracy. Until recently though, the network was funded entirely by the cable industry and had never attempted to fundraise from private donors. However, the disruption produced by cord cutting necessitated innovation and late last year C-SPAN launched a de…
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DNP Groundbreakers: Dave Raley, Founder @ Imago Consulting
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48:30Fundraising thought leader Dave Raley drops by the show for a casual chat about innovation...more specifically what's holding innovation back in the nonprofit sector. Much deeper than a philosophical discussion, Dave and Dan dig into innovation tactics and shifts which can benefit nonprofits of all sizes (some of which require little to no overhead…
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Living Donors: Shedding Pounds to Save Lives | EP 25
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30:43Send us a text Imagine stepping into a world where giving the gift of life is made more accessible to all. That's the transformative journey we embark on with Ruby Rorty and Rachel Watson in the latest episode of Donor Diaries, as they share the details of a program called Project Donor. Ruby, from Stephen Levitt’s Center for RISC, shares the progr…
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Discovering the Unexpected Rewards of Donating a Kidney to a Stranger | EP 24
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39:10Send us a text Imagine opening your heart to a complete stranger in one of the most profound ways possible. That's exactly what our guests, Josiah Wolfson and Kat Gordon, did when they each made the life-affirming decision to donate a kidney to someone they'd never met. Their compelling stories of self-discovery and transformation are sure to reson…
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DNP Groundbreakers: Jon DeLange, Co-Founder StrategicFundraisingPlan.com
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40:59These days it seems like there are more answers than questions for the nonprofit sector. There are tactics, solutions, and strategies for just about every challenge that nonprofit organizations face. There are so many answers that it can be overwhelming and lead to decision paralysis. Enter Jon DeLange and his essay series "12 Rules For Fundraisers…
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Nutcracker Kidneys with LJ the Medium | EP 23
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28:00Send us a text LJ Dong, also known as LJ the Medium, embodies resilience and determination in her journey with Nutcracker Syndrome. Despite facing significant health challenges, LJ's refusal to discard her kidney led her on a remarkable path toward organ donation advocacy. As the American Miss National Mrs. for 2024, LJ leverages her platform to ra…
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DNP Deep Dive: Email Hacks For Nonprofits w/ Jay Schwedelson CEO @ Outcome Media & Founder, GURU Events
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53:40We cover a lot of ground on the Dynamic Nonprofits Podcast, but some of our favorite discussions are when we deep dive into tactics and practical tips that can help transform your fundraising program. If you're an email fundraiser, or just a fundraiser who shares our passion for A/B testing, you'll love Dan's conversation with email GURU Jay Schwed…
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DNP Groundbreakers: Nathan Chappell, The Generosity Crisis Co-Author
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43:13There are a lot of books about fundraising, but one in particular has driven conversation within the nonprofit sector this year - The Generosity Crisis. Co-Author Nathan Chappell joins Dan to look back on a year of The Generosity Crisis and what he's learned from '10,000 conversations' since the book's release. They discuss what's driving the crisi…
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Send us a text Imagine a world where living kidney donors are compensated for their life-saving gift. A world where a severe shortage of kidneys doesn't result in the preventable deaths of over a million Americans. In this riveting dialogue, we're joined by four non-directed kidney donors - Ned Brooks, Elaine Perlman, Dr. Matt Harmody, and Cody May…
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DNP Groundbreakers: Tim Sarrantonio, Director of Corporate Brand @ Neon One
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53:59Renown speaker and non-profit champion Tim Sarrantonio joins the show for a high energy conversation about the state of philanthropy and actionable steps small to mid-sized non-profits can take to rise above the economic headwinds. Dan's interview with Tim is a fast paced, information packed chat that will leave you feeling equally informed and ins…
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Diane Lee Reporting Live with 1 Kidney | EP 21
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32:35Send us a text Diane Lee Reporting Live with 1 Less Kidney Diane Lee is an Emmy nominated anchor and two-time Emmy Award winning reporter with more than 20 years of broadcast news experience. Diane is currently the 7NEWS Consumer Anchor. Her exclusive reports focus on warning them about scams as well as highlighting money saving tips and investigat…
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DNP Quick Take #25 - Multi-Channel Mini-Con & The Fundraising Education Renaissance
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21:10Dan shares his thoughts from last week's Multi-Channel Mini-Con and discusses the ongoing renaissance in nonprofit / fundraising education.
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Deep Dive: Non-Profit Marketer's Guide to Trust w/ Amanda Wasson Executive VP, Client Services @ RKD Group
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30:26There's a trust crisis in America. According to Gallup, trust is down in institutions ranging from government, to the media, schools, and just about everything in between. Unfortunately, non-profit organizations aren't immune from this decline in trust. In fact, the Edelman Trust Barometer shows that non-profits are now trusted less than businesses…
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DNP Quick Take #24 - The Value of Cross-Channel Education
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14:25Back from a summer hiatus, Dan talks about why fundraisers benefit from cross-channel education and shares an example of a tip he picked up at a digital show that he was able to apply to direct mail. He also discusses his recent trip to the NIO Summit in Dallas and the upcoming Multi-Channel Mini-Con.…
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Transcending Borders: International Kidney Exchange with Dr. Satish Nadig | EP 20
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38:11Send us a text There’s a wide range of reasons why kidney transplant is available to some, but not all. Imagine the lives that could be saved worldwide if we organized a globally inclusive kidney exchange. What could be possible if we could break down borders and share kidneys with other countries? Meet Dr. Satish Nadig, Chief of Transplant, and th…
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Send us a text Exchanging kidneys is a complicated process that involves multiple collaborations between kidney patients, living donors, transplant centers, insurance companies, airlines and more. It’s truly remarkable if you stop to think about the number of people and organizations that need to come together to make 1 paired exchange possible. We…
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Send us a text Meet Phillip Hanks, a walking miracle! Philip had his first liver transplant in 2007 and lived an active life. Then in 2019, extreme pain sent him back to the hospital where he received horrifying news. Not only did he need a new liver, but he needed a new stomach, intestines, pancreas, and kidney. Two different transplant centers tu…
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Direct Mail Review: Best Fundraising Email Ever...
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29:06In this special edition of the Direct Mail Review, Dan breaks down a political fundraising email which may be the best he's ever seen.It was enough to break through the noise and earn the "Direct Mail Review" treatment.Have a listen and continue the conversation on LinkedIn...https://www.linkedin.com/in/dansonners/…
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DNP Quick Take #23 - Are We In The Upswing?
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22:17Dan discusses the current state of fundraising and explores whether the sector is in the midst of an upswing.
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Effective Altruism and Kidney Donation With Dylan Matthews | EP 17
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27:26Send us a text Do you ever stop to think about the effectiveness of the time and attention you put towards making a difference? We all have the power to make the world a better place, but what could be possible if we all put more thought into maximizing our personal and financial resources? Welcome to the world of Effective Altruism (EA) with non-d…
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DNP Groundbreakers: Kevin Gentry, Vice President w/ Stand Together
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51:13"If you constantly have a mindset about helping to improve the lives of others, your life will be improved in the process" Kevin Gentry has been a staple in the fundraising community for nearly four decades and his Fundraising Tips newsletter is a weekly must read for many in the sector. Kevin joined the show to discuss getting back to basics and h…
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Fundraising Perspectives: 5 Best Super Bowl 57 Ads
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37:03Dan shares and breaks down (from a Fundraiser's Perspective) his 5 favorite ads from Super Bowl 57.Show Notes:5. T-Mobile / John Travolta https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSO-Whn2sCQ4. Amazon / Saving Sauerhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bueUljGJ2M3. Bud Light / Holdhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azCNwGnxq0s2. Dunkin / Ben Affleck https://www.yout…
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DNP Deep Dive: Why America Gives w/ Michelle Boggs, Executive Nonprofit Industry Advisor @ Classy
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1:01:33Why do Americans give? It's the question which drives our fundraising strategies and holds the keys to improving our relationships with donors. Classy's Michelle Boggs joins the show to answer that foundational question and much more as Michelle and Dan deep dive into Classy's annual "Why America Gives" report. You'll want to have a notepad ready (…
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Altruists and Psychopaths with Abby Marsh | Ep 16
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34:27Send us a text Have you ever wondered why some people have a powerful drive to donate a kidney or liver to a stranger, while others would never consider such a thing? Professor Abigail Marsh has spent over a decade answering this question through studies on topics such as altruism, empathy, and the depths of human nature. She answers complex questi…
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DNP Deep Dive: Finding a Better Way to Fundraise w/ Andrew Olsen, SVP @ DickersonBakker
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53:38Over his 25 years in the non-profit sector, Andrew Olsen has helped raise over half a billion dollars while helping to build multiple successful agencies in the process. He has also established himself as a thought leader for the industry as the host of The Rainmaker Fundraising Podcast and with two best selling titles to his name (Rainmaker: The F…
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Damar Hamlin and the Generosity of the Human Spirit
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12:57Dan discusses Damar Hamlin, why his incident resonated with so many people, and what the collective response says about generosity and why we give. Give To Damar Hamlin's "Chasing M Foundation": https://www.gofundme.com/f/mxksc-the-chasing-ms-foundation-community-toy-drive
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Donor Disincentives, with Martha Gershun | EP 15
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29:52Send us a text In 2018 Martha donated a kidney to a woman she read about in the newspaper. She co-authored a book, Kidney to Share, published by Cornell University Press, about that experience and has given presentations at more than 35 transplant clinics, medical schools, and bioethics centers on her experience as a living kidney donor. In today’s…
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A Double Donor’s Story of Loss and Redemption | EP 14
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36:35Send us a text According to United Network of Organ Sharing, only 133 living donors in the entire U.S. have donated both a kidney and a portion of their liver to two different recipients. A few years back, this was very uncommon, but more recently, we have been seeing it in the news more and more. Many transplant centers won’t even entertain the id…
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DNP Groundbreakers: Michael Gorriarán, President @ Arjuna Solutions
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51:24How much is the right amount to ask donors for? Michael Gorriarán, President @ Arjuna Solutions, joins the show to answer this fundamental question. Dan and Michael discuss how Arjuna applies behavioral economics to determine the optimal ask amount for creating long-term relationships with donors which maximizes their lifetime value potential. Topi…
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Can I Drink After Donation? And Other Donor FAQs | EP 13
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21:39Send us a text Welcome to Season 2 of Donor Diaries! To kick of season 2, we are going to jump into some basics about kidney donation- some helpful Q&A for anyone out there who may identify as donor-curious. You’ll also get a peak onto Season 2, and hear about some of our upcoming guests! Kelly Schmitt, Patty Graham and Emily Wise are not only livi…
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DNP Quick Take #22 - Mastercard's Recurring Giving Regulations
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18:13Dan breaks down Mastercard's new regulations for recurring giving and discusses why the new rules could be an opportunity to innovate how nonprofits communicate with their monthly donors. Show Notes: Read along with the Non-Profit Pro article Dan discusses on the show https://www.nonprofitpro.com/article/mastercard-extends-deadline-how-to-comply-to…
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DNP Deep Dive: Gaming Fundraisers w/ April Stallings
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50:32Fundraising through gaming and livestreaming has become a multi-billion dollar revenue channel by marrying tried and true peer to peer fundraising psychology with modern technology, but it remains a mystery to many experienced fundraisers and a medium which is labeled with misconceptions by those who don't game themselves. Think your donors don't g…
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DNP Deep Dive: Caging and Lockbox Services w/ Dennis Hoffman
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37:47When it comes to caging donor data, time and accuracy are money and delays and poor data hygiene can cost non-profits a lot in revenue and delayed decision making. The importance of lockbox and caging services have come to the forefront for many organizations since the start of the pandemic, but the mechanics of these vital services remain a blind …
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DNP Deep Dive: Creative Deviations w/ John Lepp
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1:00:07John Lepp, Founder of Agents of Good, returns to the program to talk about his exciting new book "Creative Deviations" and the 12 deviations which hold the keys to unleashing the non-profit sector's full potential. Topics Discussed Include: - The inspiration behind "Creative Deviations" and what John hopes the industry takes away from the book - Wh…
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Special Episode: How to Fundraise When The World is a Mess w/ Mike Duerksen
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1:03:02Mike Duerksen, Founder of the BuildGood Agency and Host of the Build Good Fundraising Podcast, returns to the show to discuss his advice for fundraising when the world is a mess. With a backdrop of war, record inflation, division, and a possible looming recession it's a question on the mind of most fundraisers. It's a conversation which will help y…
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Direct Mail Review: American Battlefield Trust
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59:57Dan reviews a mail piece from American Battlefield Trust which does an excellent job of weaving an urgent concept in with a multi-layered institutional message. https://www.battlefields.org/
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DNP Groundbreakers: Alan Rich, President @ Nova Label Company
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56:40Label and paper availability have been among the biggest headwinds facing fundraisers in 2022. We wanted to know where things stood and where they were going so we decided to go straight to the source. Alan Rich has been President of Nova Label Company for close to 4 decades and knows the ins and outs of labels as well as anyone in the business. Al…
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Send us a text Welcome to Donor Diaries’ Season 1 closer! In Season 1 of Donor Diaries, we covered a range of topics. We covered how to ask somebody for a kidney, the pains and history of dialysis, how to manifest a kidney, kidney chains, living donor protections, the racial disparity that exists in our current transplant system, the economic value…
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DNP Groundbreakers: Olga Moshinsky Woltman, Founder & Principle @ LemonSkies
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44:47Over the course of Olga Moshinsky Woltman’s career she’s led multi-channel fundraising campaigns for some of the nation's most well known non-profits. Today, she's an industry thought leader, content creator, and Founder & Principle of LemonSkies a digital agency which helps organizations execute fundraising campaigns, provides them with marketing …
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Send us a text Meet donor extraordinaire Jeramy Davies. He’s not only a bone marrow expert, but he is a two-time donor, having donated both bone marrow and a kidney to the same person. This in itself is unique to have donated twice, but so is his story. Jeramy and his recipient Kelly have not only crushed her Hodgkin's Lymphoma together, but they h…
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DNP Groundbreakers: Benjamin Johnson, Founder and Lead Strategist @ Frontier Marketing
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1:21:20Founder of Frontier Marketing and Host of the Frontier FM Podcast Benjamin Johnson joins the show for a candid and wide ranging conversation about the state of fundraising. Dan and Ben start out by discussing the crisis in Ukraine and implications for the non-profit sector. Then, Ben shares his thoughts on the most important trends in digital fundr…
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