Podcast

June 23rd, 2022

Bright Spot · 100 – Rachel and Phoebe To celebrate our 100th episode, Rob spoke to two regular listeners, both with great fundraising stories to tell. Rachel Ketola shares how being proactive to create a series of small ‘WOW’ moments inspired one donor to increase his regular gift to the hospice from £50, to £1000... MORE

May 26th, 2022

Bright Spot · 99_Tiny Habits     Episode Notes After studying fundraising success for nearly two decades, Rob has found that great results rarely come from one stroke of brilliance. Rather, it usually comes from doing helpful (very do-able!) things consistently. In this episode, Rob shares examples of fundraisers who have used habits MORE

May 24th, 2022

Bright Spot · 98_Rob and Ben     Episode Notes When you hear real examples of your charities’ work, that connection to an important ‘why’ has a powerful effect on your fundraising mojo. But in most charities this doesn’t come naturally. It takes a deliberate decision to search out and share these stories. In this episode... MORE

May 17th, 2022

Bright Spot · 97_Ciaran Biggins Pt2     Episode Notes: Ciaran Biggins is an experienced fundraiser and the founder of MindFood, a small London charity which uses gardening to help people improve their mental health. In this episode Ciaran shares tactics that have helped him raise funds for his small charity, including a tool he used.. MORE

May 10th, 2022

Bright Spot · 96. MindFood – raising funds for a small charity, with Ciaran Biggins.     Episode Notes Ciaran Biggins is an experienced corporate fundraiser who over a decade ago decided to set up a social enterprise to help people with their mental health, called MindFood. It later became a charity. In this episode Ciaran... MORE

April 7th, 2022

Bright Spot · 85_Martha Awojobi     Episode Notes This time Rob interviews Martha Awojobi, who two years ago changed the focus of her career from fundraising to anti-racism consultancy for the charity sector. One of Martha’s many achievements is leading the ground-breaking BAME Online fundraising conference. This wide-ranging discus MORE

April 5th, 2022

Bright Spot · 94 Emily Casson     Episode Notes Clearly digital approaches can help your fundraising success, but digital also feels daunting to many charities. So how do make it work in practice? In this episode, the brilliant Emily Casson, Digital Marketing and Fundraising Manager at the Salvation Army, shares her powerful, succinct MORE

March 16th, 2022

Bright Spot · 93_Rob Woods     Episode Notes The first story I share in this episode is of a charity’s appeal raising SIX TIMES more than its (already ambitious) target. How did they do it? I believe the major factor is that they found a way to add consistent value to supporter relationships for months... MORE

March 8th, 2022

Bright Spot · 92_Laura Matthews     Episode Notes Sometimes you can build partnerships informally, without needing to pitch, but sooner or later most corporate fundraisers will be asked to pitch formally to a company. When this happens, clearly the stakes are high. So what can you do to increase your chances of winning? This time,... MORE

February 23rd, 2022

Bright Spot · 91_Lynda Harwood-Compton     Episode Notes Most fundraisers are aware that improving relationships with supporters helps grow high value results. But what can fundraisers do to achieve this in practice? In this episode Rob is delighted to again to talk to Lynda Harwood-Compton, Head of Philanthropy, UK, at Animals Asia. MORE

February 10th, 2022

Bright Spot · Ep 90 Contrast     Episode Notes When you get the chance to explain your charity’s work, we’ve found that what you choose to say or write makes a big difference to fundraising results. In this episode Rob is joined by long-standing Bright Spot trainer, Ben Swart. Together they share a technique for... MORE

February 1st, 2022

Bright Spot · 89_Clio Grissini Part 2     Episode Notes The partnerships and philanthropy team at Shelterbox have achieved fabulous growth in the last 18 months. In Episode 88 Clio Gressani shared their unusual approach, two very practical KPIs and examples of her team’s creativity. In this, the second part of Rob’s conversation w MORE

January 31st, 2022

Bright Spot · 88_Clio Gressani     Episode Notes What you decide to focus your energy on every day makes a BIG difference to your results… The fabulous growth in high value income achieved by Shelterbox over the last 18 months has been achieved in large part by a deliberate focus on two result areas: creating... MORE

Bright Spot · 87_Lynda Harwood Compton     Episode Notes When you better understand and improve relationships with supporters, it often follows that people give even more generously. But what can fundraisers do to better understand, engage and inspire? This time Rob welcomes back Lynda Harwood-Compton, Head of Philanthropy, UK, at Ani MORE

Bright Spot · 86_Jenny Crabtree Episode Notes One crucial element of successful Individual Giving programmes is growing income with existing donors. So being organised in asking supporters if they’d like to give more, and to give again once they’ve stopped, is key. In Episode 82 of this show, individual giving expert Jenny Crabtree s MORE