Frontier FM – Details, episodes & analysis

What's a non-profit to do with no mail for over two weeks? 

In this episode, Megan and Naomi chat with Joanne Griffiths from Backpack Buddies to discuss some of the strategies they're trying as we head into their busiest giving season.

This podcast interview features Joanne Griffiths, co-founder of Backpack Buddies, a non-profit organization addressing childhood hunger. We explore Backpack Buddies growth over the last 13 years and talk about the challenges due to the Canada Post strike and explores alternative communication strategies to maintain donations.

(00:00:53) - The Origin of Backpack Buddies

(00:07:15) - Securing Essential Resources as a New NPO

(00:14:28) - Impact of the Canada Post Strike

(00:16:02) - Future of Direct Mail and Budgeting

(00:17:14) - Donor Awareness and Response to the Strike

(00:21:24) - Volunteer Mobilization and Alternative Strategies

(00:25:22) - Exploring BVMs and Text Messaging

(00:27:07) - Donor Stewardship and Thank-a-thons

(00:28:02) - Collecting Donor Contact Information

(00:30:38) - Tax Receipts and CRM Management

(00:31:36) - Revenue Predictions and Strike Impact

(00:35:24) - Exploring New Social Media Platforms

(00:37:01) - Threads, BlueSky, LinkedIn and Instagram

(00:47:42) - Pros and Cons of Event Fundraising

(00:55:00) - NotebookLM

(00:56:03) - Greatest Fears

• Email Frontier FM YOUR fundraising questions at [email protected]! 
• The latest on the Canada Post strike: https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/canada-post-strike-four-week
• Check out these stratgies and more on our blog: https://www.frontier.io/resources/canada-post-might-go-on-strike
• Backpack Buddies: https://www.backpackbuddies.ca/
• Connect with Joanne [email protected]
• NotebookLM: https://notebooklm.google.com/

• Follow Megan McCaffery on LinkedIn 
• Follow Naomi on LinkedIn
• Website: https://Frontier.io
• Frontier on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/frontiermarketingco/ 
• Frontier FM's NEW Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/frontier.fm/

Frontier.FM is produced by Megan McCaffery & the Frontier by Societ team

Canada Post gave a 72hr strike notice today, so what does that mean for your Year End fundraising?

In this episode, Megan and Naomi dive into some strategies you can implement in the face of a looming strike, and a few ideas you can still execute on before Giving Tuesday. 

• (00:02:50) Stewardship, phone calls, and updating your CRM
• (00:06:00) Advertising in digital
• (00:06:55) Leveraging buckslips effectively
• (00:07:30) Matches and Match alternatives
• (00:11:05) Giving Tuesday, there's still time!
• (00:11:45) Video, BVMs, and SMS
• (00:21:29) Creating effective ad campaigns
• (00:29:41) The role of your webite in your Year End fundraising
• (00:31:15) Building a consistent donor journey   
• (00:36:21) Thanking Canada Post on your OEs 
• (00:38:30) Stewardship through video content
• (00:44:55) Will they stirke? What we saw in 2018

• Email Frontier FM YOUR fundraising questions at [email protected]! 
• The latest on the Canada Post strike: https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/cupw-canada-post-strike-1.7380827
• Check out these stratgies and more on our blog: https://www.frontier.io/resources/canada-post-might-go-on-strike
• Calm's election ad: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4F8iGSCUyY
• ThankView: https://www.thankview.com/
• Cameo: https://www.cameo.com/
• Follow Derek on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/derekweiss/

• Follow Megan McCaffery on LinkedIn 
• Follow Naomi on LinkedIn
• Website: https://Frontier.io
• Frontier on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/frontiermarketingco/ 

Frontier.FM is produced by Megan McCaffery & the Frontier by Societ team

Megan returns to the pod for a message to our listeners about where we've been and where we're going!

Just because corporate fundraising feels complicated does not mean it is. It’s also not a money buffet that charities can just show up to for funding. It requires strategy, skill, and a little bit of patience. On this episode, Ben sits down with Heather Nelson of BridgeRaise to discuss the ins and outs of corporate fundraising, why charities seek corporate partnerships, the shadow side of corporate funding, and how to take your first steps as a charity into the space.

• Getting to know Heather Nelson [0:57]
• Defining corporate fundraising [6:18]
• Should charities seek corporate funds? [13:19]
• Understanding the shadow side of corporate giving [27:34]
• Taking the first steps toward corporate fundraising [37:35]
• Free resources and final questions [45:41]

• Email Frontier FM YOUR fundraising questions at [email protected]! 
• Ben's Previous Start-Up 
• Getting Started | BridgeRaise 
• Raise More Money | BridgeRaise
• Open For Business | BridgeRaise 
• Exploring Power Dynamics in Corporate Fundraising | BridgeRaise 

• Follow Heather on LinkedIn
• Email Heather 
• BridgeRaise

• Follow Benjamin Johnson on LinkedIn 
• Follow Matt Hussey on LinkedIn 
• Follow Megan McCaffery on LinkedIn 
• Follow Becca Gust on LinkedIn
• Website: https://Frontier.io
• Frontier on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/frontiermarketingco/ 

Sometimes it takes an outsider's perspective to bring clarity to the needs of an industry you work in every day. That’s why Ben asked his long-time friend, former co-worker, and now SAAS leader Steve Benjamins to weigh in on the state of tech in the charity world. The two also take a deep dive into the unique benefits and challenges of four-day work weeks and remote working environments.

• Getting to know Steve Benjamins and his career journey [0:45]
• How Steve built multiple tech products [8:06]
• The impact of tech entering the charity world [13:00]
• Makers, managers, and building trust in changing work environments [21:27]
• The power of in-person connection in a mostly remote world [28:41]
• Tactical advice for social media and final thoughts [38:53]

• Email Frontier FM YOUR fundraising questions at [email protected]! 
• Maker's Schedule, Manager's Schedule 
• Site Builder Report
• MBA-ish
• Atlist

• Follow Steve on Twitter
• Visit Steve’s website

• Follow Benjamin Johnson on LinkedIn 
• Follow Matt Hussey on LinkedIn 
• Follow Megan McCaffery on LinkedIn 
• Follow Becca Gust on LinkedIn
• Website: https://Frontier.io
• Frontier on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/frontiermarketingco/ 

What are your favorite fundraising trends for 2023? On this episode, Ben and Becca dive into all things trends for the ten months ahead. They discuss person-centered fundraising, using TikTok for donor acquisition, making giving easy, the future of phones in fundraising, and everything in between. You don’t want to miss it!

• Catching up with Becca and Ben’s Nonprofit Innovation Circle recap [0:09]
• Person-centered fundraising and breaking down the ideal donor [6:12]
• Using personalization to build deeper donor connections [14:17]
• The future of phones and SMS in fundraising [17:52]
• Changing payment methods and the need for a timed opt-out [27:30]
• Why charities need TikTok [32:36]
• Trust-based philanthropy, an unlikely recession, the potential peak of podcasting, and other lightning-round trends [41:14]

• Email Frontier FM YOUR fundraising questions at [email protected]! 
• 2023 Payment Trends Webinar with Fundraise Up 
• 3 Ways to Supercharge Your Text Message Fundraising for Year-End 

• Follow Benjamin Johnson on LinkedIn 
• Follow Matt Hussey on LinkedIn 
• Follow Megan McCaffery on LinkedIn 
• Follow Becca Gust on LinkedIn
• Website: https://Frontier.io
• Frontier on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/frontiermarketingco/ 

Change is often a bad word among charities. And nothing exemplifies change more than technology. Many charities avoid it for a myriad of reasons, but tech is a valuable piece to cracking the generosity puzzle for decades to come. On this episode, Ben sits down with Yulia from Giveffect to discuss how charities should choose the right technology for their organizations. The two dive into Yulia’s professional journey, the origin and mission of Giveffect, and the resistance to change in the nonprofit sector.

• Yulia’s professional journey and what led her to the nonprofit space [0:13]
• The story of Giveffect and its mission to streamline the tech side of charity [9:01]
• Unpacking resistance to change in the nonprofit sector [18:46]
• Where and how to start choosing the right tech for your organization [29:00]
• Cool Tools and final thoughts [37:23]

• Email Frontier FM YOUR fundraising questions at [email protected]! 
• Giveffect
• The Smart Nonprofit: Staying Human-Centered in An Automated World (Book)
• ChatGPT

• Follow Yulia on LinkedIn
• Email Yulia

• Follow Benjamin Johnson on LinkedIn 
• Follow Matt Hussey on LinkedIn 
• Follow Megan McCaffery on LinkedIn 
• Follow Becca Gust on LinkedIn
• Website: https://Frontier.io
• Frontier on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/frontiermarketingco/ 

Are you ready for the Fundraising Revolution? Nejeed Kassam of Keela is! On this episode, Ben sits down with Nejeed for an engaging discussion focused on pushing the charitable sector forward. From tech innovation to addressing the fear that so many fundraisers hide just under the surface, get ready for a thought-provoking conversation everyone living the nonprofit life needs to hear.

• Nejeed’s origin and going from practicing law to starting a tech company [0:54]
• NTEN, all about Keela, and where Nejeed believes fundraising is heading [12:22]
• Addressing the fear in fundraising and bringing change to the charity world [20:24]
• Risk, experimentation, and why charities need an ecosystem [24:23]
• Working at Keela and AI in the nonprofit space [27:24]

• Email Frontier FM YOUR fundraising questions at [email protected]! 

• Follow Nejeed on LinkedIn
• Email Nejeed

• Follow Benjamin Johnson on LinkedIn 
• Follow Matt Hussey on LinkedIn 
• Follow Megan McCaffery on LinkedIn 
• Follow Becca Gust on LinkedIn
• Website: https://Frontier.io
• Frontier on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/frontiermarketingco/ 

A major part of human-centered fundraising is human-centered design. How do you create mass marketing content that feels personal to the reader and accomplishes the goal of inspiring generosity through giving? On this episode, Ben sits down with Frontier OG and Creative Director Nick Tassell to discuss the importance of design, the power of humanity in marketing, and his experience starting at the beginning of Frontier.

• Getting to know Nick Tassell [1:22]
• Balancing form and function and why design matters [6:05]
• Nick’s experience on Frontier’s ground floor [12:48]
• Taking a closer look at Frontier’s team and the benefits of different leadership styles [23:26]
• Exploring human-centered design and its application in both print and digital marketing [35:08]
• Understanding the importance of the message in your medium [40:56]
• Nick’s perspective on the marketing journey of QR codes, the benefits of risk management with new tech, and final thoughts [49:20]

• Email Frontier FM YOUR fundraising questions at [email protected]! 
• Creative Deviations (Book)

• Follow Nick on LinkedIn

• Follow Benjamin Johnson on LinkedIn 
• Follow Matt Hussey on LinkedIn 
• Follow Megan McCaffery on LinkedIn 
• Follow Becca Gust on LinkedIn
• Website: https://Frontier.io
• Frontier on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/frontiermarketingco/ 

The first Frontier FM of 2023 is here and you don’t want to miss it! On this episode, Ben sits down with Neon One’s Director of Corporate Brand Tim Sarrantonio for a jam-packed discussion about the future of generosity from a technology standpoint. The two explore human-centered fundraising, the three-percent problem in the charitable sector, three trends for small shops in 2023, and making it easy for donors to grow in generosity.

• Getting to know Tim Sarrantonio [0:09]
• The gold standard in human-centered fundraising [6:19]
• Tackling the three-percent problem and why tech bros won’t save the charitable sector [11:57]
• Three trends for small shops in 2023 [24:33]
• Understanding the peak-end rule [33:37]
• Making it easy to join the generosity journey and Tim’s advice for overwhelmed fundraisers [36:41]

• Email Frontier FM YOUR fundraising questions at [email protected]! 
• Thinking, Fast and Slow (Book) 
• The Ethical Rainmaker 
• Mallory Erickson
• Dana Snyder
• The Fundraising Effectiveness Project

• Follow Tim on LinkedIn
• Neon One

• Follow Benjamin Johnson on LinkedIn 
• Follow Matt Hussey on LinkedIn 
• Follow Megan McCaffery on LinkedIn 
• Follow Becca Gust on LinkedIn
• Website: https://Frontier.io
• Frontier on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/frontiermarketingco/