Beyond The Blog
The Patterson Foundation drives meaningful change through strategic philanthropy by building relationships, fostering collaboration, and sharing knowledge. Moving beyond its weekly blog posts, the Foundation offers Beyond The Blog podcasts to inform and engage listeners while sharing compelling stories of people, organizations, and communities strengthened by its initiatives. Listen to Beyond The Blog podcasts on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and iHeartRadio.
Beyond The Blog
The Ripple Effect of Learning: How One Course Transformed the Literacy Council of Sarasota's Fundraising Results
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In this episode, we explore how "Principles & Techniques of Fundraising," a four-day, in-person training of Indiana University's Lilly Family School of Philanthropy's The Fund Raising School, equips nonprofit leaders with practical, research-backed tools to strengthen fundraising efforts.
Tom Melville, Executive Director of the Literacy Council of Sarasota, and Board President Laura Randall, who attended the course through TPF's Fueling Dynamic Fundraising initiative, share how the program helped them refine their case for support, engage their board more effectively, and take a more strategic approach to donor stewardship. With insights from both a seasoned fundraiser and a former development director, this conversation highlights how the right training can drive clarity, confidence, and measurable results.
Timestamps
- 00:00 – Intro to Fueling Dynamic Fundraising and guest introductions
- 03:40 – Laura on learning something new after 15 years in fundraising
- 06:30 – Tom on the power of peer learning in the cohort model
- 09:50 – Rethinking their case for support and internal culture
- 13:06 – A $100K donor becomes a $150K donor
- 19:45 – Board chair + ED: why attending together mattered
- 26:10 – Strategic planning, rebranding, and ongoing TPF support
Links to Learn More
- Fueling Dynamic Fundraising
- Literacy Council of Sarasota Website
- Blog: Fueling Dynamic Fundraising Lessons That Stick With Experienced Leaders
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