How to Balance Data and Heart in Nonprofit Marketing + Fundraising

In this episode of The brndBrief Podcast, Rose Crichton-White joins us to discuss her work as Director of Marketing, Development and Special Events at Brooklyn Conservatory of Music. The 127-year-old nonprofit community music school serves over 80 sites across NYC, offering both paid music classes and free resources to underserved communities. Rose oversees the external affairs that keep this organization connected to its diverse audience, from young children learning violin to seniors returning to piano.

The conversation covers how storytelling drives fundraising success, strategies for authentic engagement across age groups, and the organization's measured approach to adopting AI tools for workflow improvement.

Key points include:

📌 Brooklyn Conservatory uses its 125-year history and community impact stories to show donors they're more than just a music school - they provide free and low-cost resources to schools and community organizations using revenue from paid classes.

📌 Success comes from listening to community keywords, observing local trends, and using data to inform messaging while staying true to core mission and avoiding platforms where your audience isn't active.

📌 Nonprofits are slowly adopting AI tools like ChatGPT for grant writing, brainstorming, and workflow management - but the core focus remains on people over technology to maintain authentic community connections.

📌 Present measurable outcomes alongside compelling stories that demonstrate both current impact and future potential, using tools like mid-year impact reports with focused case studies to show donors the full picture of your organization's effectiveness.

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Guest Information

Bkcm.org

@brooklynconservatory