Do You Have The Right Strategy for Your Fundraising Event | Ep. #124 with TiWanna A. Kenney

Do You Have The Right Strategy for Your Fundraising Event | Ep. #124 with TiWanna A. Kenney

In this episode we sit down with TiWanna "TK" Kenney — US Army veteran, the first Black woman to earn the Benefit Auctioneer Specialist designation, and founder of Astounding Auctions — to completely reframe what a benefit auctioneer can do for your nonprofit. TK breaks down why the best auctioneers aren't hired guns who show up at the last minute, but strategic partners embedded in your planning at least 90 days out, asking the questions your team stopped asking years ago. From reading donor floor plans to weaving personal stories into the appeal moment, TK reveals the behind-the-scenes magic that moves donors from a planned gift to a spontaneous one. The conversation goes deep on why fundraising is really just dating, why your gala should never feel like a recitation of your annual report, and why the paddle raise might be the most underutilized tool in the nonprofit sector. TK's philosophy is disarmingly simple: donors don't give because they have to, they give because you made them feel something. She shares powerful stories of unsuspecting donors moved to tears, clients who once needed help proudly raising their paddle, and rooms exhaling together in collective generosity. If you've ever wondered why your event didn't hit its goal, this episode will change the way you think about every moment of your next fundraiser. Loving The Fundraising Elevator? Please subscribe, rate and review the podcast. It really helps other people find the show.    This Episode Brought to You by:  Swaim Strategies: https://swaimstrategies.com [https://swaimstrategies.com] Utilizing over 20 years of nonprofit event strategy and production expertise, Swaim Strategies coaches and teaches organizations how to increase the impact of their fundraising events.    The AV Department: https://theavdept.com/ [https://theavdept.com/] As a full-service event AV and video production partner, The AV Department’s technical event production and media content generation provide you with a range of experience and talent from a partner who wants to know you and work together year after year.    Bloomerang: https://bit.ly/4hLqLVw [https://bit.ly/4hLqLVw] Create the ideal giving experience with integrated fundraising tools and automated insights that maximize your impact. Keep donors close to the cause with mean-ingful outreach at the right time. Increase retention, major gifts, and all-around impact. Turn supporters into action-takers with tools that make it easy to recruit, organize, and engage volunteers at every level.   Feathr: https://www.feathr.co/ [https://www.feathr.co/https://www.feathr.co/demo-referral-swaim] Feathr is a marketing platform built specifically for mission-driven organizations, offering simple tools for digital advertising, email campaigns, and audience engagement. The platform uses real-time insights and AI-powered segmentation to help you reach the right people at the right time—whether you’re nurturing existing supporters or discovering new ones who share your values. It’s marketing that meets people where they are, building relationships that last beyond a single click.   Speakers Samantha Swaim LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-swaim-a28a9a4/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-swaim-a28a9a4/] Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies [https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies]   Kristin Steele LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-steele777/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-steele777/] Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies [https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies]   TiWanna A. Kenney LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tiwanna-kenney/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/tiwanna-kenney/]   | RESOURCES | Connect with Swaim Strategies: https://swaimstrategies.com [https://swaimstrategies.com] Propose a Podcast Episode: https://swaimstrategies.com/propose-a-podcast-episode/ [https://swaimstrategies.com/propose-a-podcast-episode/] Get Event Help Right Now with Gala 911: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/gala-911/ [https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/gala-911/] Book Consulting Time with Sam: https://calendly.com/consultingwithsam [https://calendly.com/consultingwithsam] Book Consulting Time with Kristin: https://calendly.com/eventstorytelling [https://calendly.com/eventstorytelling] Learn More About the Elevate Conference: https://swaimstrategies.com/elevate-conference/ [https://swaimstrategies.com/elevate-conference/] Get Planning a Successful Major Donor Event: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/#book [https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/#book] Join Swaim Strategies on Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies [https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies] Connect with The AV Department:  https://theavdept.com/ [https://theavdept.com/] Connect with Astounding Auctions: https://astoundingauctions.com/ [https://astoundingauctions.com/] Connect with TiWanna A. Kenney: https://www.instagram.com/tksaysdoit/ [https://www.instagram.com/tksaysdoit/]   Episode #124: The Right Strategy with TiWanna A. Kenney Release date June 17, 2026

Is Your Auction Supporting Donor Cultivation

Episode #123: Travel as Generosity with Elizabeth West of Sojourn Ventures In this episode, we sit down with Elizabeth West, President of Sojourn Ventures Travel, to talk about one of the most underutilized tools in nonprofit fundraising: consignment travel. Elizabeth breaks down what the model actually means for cash-strapped, short-staffed organizations: zero upfront risk, no volunteer hours managing donor logistics, and the ability to add a high-quality auction item the day before your event. She also reveals why the right auctioneer can turn a $2,000 package into an $8,000 revenue moment on the spot, or sell the same Bali villa eight times in a single night. The conversation goes well beyond live auctions. Elizabeth shares how organizations are stretching consignment into online campaigns, employee benefits, and member perks — creating entirely new revenue streams without adding to an already thin team. And because Sojourn's boutique properties can’t be Googled or pre-shopped, they protect bidding energy in ways donated packages simply can’t. If your organization is running low on time, volunteers, and auction items, this episode is your easy button, backed by a company that has helped nonprofits raise over $200 million. Loving The Fundraising Elevator? Please subscribe, rate and review the podcast. It really helps other people find the show.    This Episode Brought to You by:  Swaim Strategies: https://swaimstrategies.com [https://swaimstrategies.com] Utilizing over 20 years of nonprofit event strategy and production expertise, Swaim Strategies coaches and teaches organizations how to increase the impact of their fundraising events.    The AV Department: https://theavdept.com/ [https://theavdept.com/] As a full-service event AV and video production partner, The AV Department’s technical event production and media content generation provide you with a range of experience and talent from a partner who wants to know you and work together year after year.    Bloomerang: https://bit.ly/4hLqLVw [https://bit.ly/4hLqLVw] Create the ideal giving experience with integrated fundraising tools and automated insights that maximize your impact. Keep donors close to the cause with mean-ingful outreach at the right time. Increase retention, major gifts, and all-around impact. Turn supporters into action-takers with tools that make it easy to recruit, organize, and engage volunteers at every level.   Feathr: https://www.feathr.co/ [https://www.feathr.co/demo-referral-swaim] Feathr is a marketing platform built specifically for mission-driven organizations, offering simple tools for digital advertising, email campaigns, and audience engagement. The platform uses real-time insights and AI-powered segmentation to help you reach the right people at the right time—whether you’re nurturing existing supporters or discovering new ones who share your values. It’s marketing that meets people where they are, building relationships that last beyond a single click.   Speakers Samantha Swaim LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-swaim-a28a9a4/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-swaim-a28a9a4/] Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies [https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies]   Kristin Steele LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-steele777/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-steele777/] Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies [https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies]   Elizabeth West LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-west-46056231/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-west-46056231/]   | RESOURCES | Connect with Swaim Strategies: https://swaimstrategies.com [https://swaimstrategies.com] Propose a Podcast Episode: https://swaimstrategies.com/propose-a-podcast-episode/ [https://swaimstrategies.com/propose-a-podcast-episode/] Get Event Help Right Now with Gala 911: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/gala-911/ [https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/gala-911/] Book Consulting Time with Sam: https://calendly.com/consultingwithsam [https://calendly.com/consultingwithsam] Book Consulting Time with Kristin: https://calendly.com/eventstorytelling [https://calendly.com/eventstorytelling] Learn More About the Elevate Conference: https://swaimstrategies.com/elevate-conference/ [https://swaimstrategies.com/elevate-conference/] Get Planning a Successful Major Donor Event: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/#book [https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/#book] Join Swaim Strategies on Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies [https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies] Connect with The AV Department:  https://theavdept.com/ [https://theavdept.com/] Connect with Sojourn Ventures Travel: https://www.sojournventurestravel.com/ [https://www.sojournventurestravel.com/]

The Things We Don't Say Live from the GiveCon by Bloomerang Stage

Recorded live at Bloomerang’s GiveCon 2026, this episode gets real about some of the most valuable advice that never makes it onto a conference slide. In this live roundtable, four of the sector’s most candid voices get into the conversations they usually save for hallways and happy hours. They explore the mistakes they see nonprofits repeat, the tradeoffs leaders know exist but rarely say out loud, and the places where even experienced consultants genuinely disagree. It’s exactly the kind of discussion that reminds you you’re not alone. Featuring: * Ann Fellman, Bloomerang  * Julia Campbell, J Campbell Social Marketing  * Christina Tzavaras Edwards, Host of The Purpose & Profit Club Podcast and Founder of Splendid Consulting  * Samantha Swaim, Swaim Strategies    Learn more about GiveCon by Bloomerang.  GiveCon by Bloomerang: Atlanta May 3-6, 2027 [https://bloomerang.com/givecon?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=evgr_en2_brd_givecon-podcasts&utm_targeting=all&utm_content=consultant-roundtable-sam-swaim&utm_creative=]   Loving The Fundraising Elevator? Please subscribe, rate and review the podcast. It really helps other people find the show.    This Episode Brought to You by:  Swaim Strategies: https://swaimstrategies.com [https://swaimstrategies.com] Utilizing over 20 years of nonprofit event strategy and production expertise, Swaim Strategies coaches and teaches organizations how to increase the impact of their fundraising events.    The AV Department: https://theavdept.com/ [https://theavdept.com/] As a full-service event AV and video production partner, The AV Department’s technical event production and media content generation provide you with a range of experience and talent from a partner who wants to know you and work together year after year.    Bloomerang: https://bit.ly/4hLqLVw [https://bit.ly/4hLqLVw] Create the ideal giving experience with integrated fundraising tools and automated insights that maximize your impact. Keep donors close to the cause with mean-ingful outreach at the right time. Increase retention, major gifts, and all-around impact. Turn supporters into action-takers with tools that make it easy to recruit, organize, and engage volunteers at every level.   Feathr: https://www.feathr.co/ [https://www.feathr.co/demo-referral-swaim] Feathr is a marketing platform built specifically for mission-driven organizations, offering simple tools for digital advertising, email campaigns, and audience engagement. The platform uses real-time insights and AI-powered segmentation to help you reach the right people at the right time—whether you’re nurturing existing supporters or discovering new ones who share your values. It’s marketing that meets people where they are, building relationships that last beyond a single click.   Speakers Samantha Swaim LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-swaim-a28a9a4/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-swaim-a28a9a4/] Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies [https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies]   Kristin Steele LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-steele777/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-steele777/] Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies [https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies]   Ann Fellman LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annfellman/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/annfellman/]   Julia Campbell LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliacampbell/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliacampbell/]   Christina Tzavaras Edwards LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christinatza/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/christinatza/]   | RESOURCES | Connect with Swaim Strategies: https://swaimstrategies.com [https://swaimstrategies.com] Propose a Podcast Episode: https://swaimstrategies.com/propose-a-podcast-episode/ [https://swaimstrategies.com/propose-a-podcast-episode/] Get Event Help Right Now with Gala 911: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/gala-911/ [https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/gala-911/] Book Consulting Time with Sam: https://calendly.com/consultingwithsam [https://calendly.com/consultingwithsam] Book Consulting Time with Kristin: https://calendly.com/eventstorytelling [https://calendly.com/eventstorytelling] Learn More About the Elevate Conference: https://swaimstrategies.com/elevate-conference/ [https://swaimstrategies.com/elevate-conference/] Get Planning a Successful Major Donor Event: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/#book [https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/#book] Join Swaim Strategies on Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies [https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies] Connect with The AV Department:  https://theavdept.com/ [https://theavdept.com/] Connect with J Campbell Social Marketing: https://jcsocialmarketing.com/ [https://jcsocialmarketing.com/] Listen to Julia Campbell’s Podcast: https://jcsocialmarketing.com/podcast/ [https://jcsocialmarketing.com/podcast/] Connect with Splendid Consulting: https://www.splendidatl.com/ [https://www.splendidatl.com/] Listen to Christina Tzavaras Edwards’ Podcast: https://www.splendidatl.com/podcast [https://www.splendidatl.com/podcast]

Small on Purpose: Why the Curated Event Is the Future with Samantha Swaim

The most powerful fundraising move your organization could make right now might not be a bigger gala, it could be a dinner for ten. Co-host Samantha Swaim steps into the guest seat to make a compelling case for small, curated events as one of the most underutilized tools in the nonprofit playbook. With virtual work flattening human connection and donors drifting toward deeper investment in fewer causes, Sam argues that the antidote to the "connection recession" isn't another mass email blast, it's a deliberate, hospitality-forward invitation that says simply: we see you and we want you back. From a seven-week dinner series that re-engaged an entire lapsed donor base to a whiskey tasting that turned a board member's passion into a major gift moment, this episode is packed with real examples of what intimate gatherings can unlock. Sam also gets tactical about the fears organizations face when stepping back from big events: leaving money on the table, the pressure to cast a wider net, the chaos when three different audiences show up for three completely different reasons. She walks through how to assess your actual needs, design for a specific audience, and make an ask that's easy, specific, and actionable every time. This episode delivers both the permission and the blueprint to start smaller, go deeper, and raise more. Loving The Fundraising Elevator? Please subscribe, rate and review the podcast. It really helps other people find the show.    This Episode Brought to You by:  Swaim Strategies: https://swaimstrategies.com [https://swaimstrategies.com] Utilizing over 20 years of nonprofit event strategy and production expertise, Swaim Strategies coaches and teaches organizations how to increase the impact of their fundraising events.    The AV Department: https://theavdept.com/ [https://theavdept.com/] As a full-service event AV and video production partner, The AV Department’s technical event production and media content generation provide you with a range of experience and talent from a partner who wants to know you and work together year after year.    Bloomerang: https://bit.ly/4hLqLVw [https://bit.ly/4hLqLVw] Create the ideal giving experience with integrated fundraising tools and automated insights that maximize your impact. Keep donors close to the cause with mean-ingful outreach at the right time. Increase retention, major gifts, and all-around impact. Turn supporters into action-takers with tools that make it easy to recruit, organize, and engage volunteers at every level.   Feathr: https://www.feathr.co/ [https://www.feathr.co/demo-referral-swaim] Feathr is a marketing platform built specifically for mission-driven organizations, offering simple tools for digital advertising, email campaigns, and audience engagement. The platform uses real-time insights and AI-powered segmentation to help you reach the right people at the right time—whether you’re nurturing existing supporters or discovering new ones who share your values. It’s marketing that meets people where they are, building relationships that last beyond a single click.   Speakers Samantha Swaim LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-swaim-a28a9a4/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-swaim-a28a9a4/] Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies [https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies]   Kristin Steele LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-steele777/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-steele777/] Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies [https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies]   | RESOURCES | Connect with Swaim Strategies: https://swaimstrategies.com [https://swaimstrategies.com] Propose a Podcast Episode: https://swaimstrategies.com/propose-a-podcast-episode/ [https://swaimstrategies.com/propose-a-podcast-episode/] Get Event Help Right Now with Gala 911: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/gala-911/ [https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/gala-911/] Book Consulting Time with Sam: https://calendly.com/consultingwithsam [https://calendly.com/consultingwithsam] Book Consulting Time with Kristin: https://calendly.com/eventstorytelling [https://calendly.com/eventstorytelling] Learn More About the Elevate Conference: https://swaimstrategies.com/elevate-conference/ [https://swaimstrategies.com/elevate-conference/] Get Planning a Successful Major Donor Event: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/#book [https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/#book] Join Swaim Strategies on Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies [https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies] Connect with The AV Department:  https://theavdept.com/ [https://theavdept.com/] Want to work with Swaim Strategies? https://swaimstrategies.com/request-for-proposal/ [https://swaimstrategies.com/request-for-proposal/] Cultivation Event Podcast Episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hru2SCqMkk [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hru2SCqMkk] Special Appeal Podcast Episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61onFuwgiSI [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61onFuwgiSI] Event Planner Roundtable Podcast Episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PFzefXTUT0 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PFzefXTUT0]

Changing the Playbook with Brittini Lasseigne | Episode #120

What does it look like when a nonprofit event stops feeling like an obligation and starts feeling like a movement? In this episode, we sit down with Brittini Lasseigne, CEO of YWCA Clark County, who just pulled off a record-breaking, sold-out gala that had sponsors asking for extra seats instead of donating them back. Brittini takes us behind the scenes of SHINE and reveals why centering joy, diversity, and survivor resilience didn't just fill a room, it built an entirely new generation of donors. From a custom song that got 450 people on their feet to an organizational video told from the point of view of a shelter dog in a tutu, this episode is a shows what happens when purpose drives every single decision. Brittini also breaks open her organization's approach to corporate sponsorship: a 20-page values-aligned partnership booklet, a permission-based meeting process, and relationships so strong one sponsor has stayed for 30 years. She shares how her team flipped the script on transactional giving, why leading with curiosity over judgment has unlocked unexpected partnerships, and what a gift acceptance policy has to do with human dignity and repair.  Loving The Fundraising Elevator? Please subscribe, rate and review the podcast. It really helps other people find the show.    This Episode Brought to You by:  Swaim Strategies: https://swaimstrategies.com [https://swaimstrategies.com] Utilizing over 20 years of nonprofit event strategy and production expertise, Swaim Strategies coaches and teaches organizations how to increase the impact of their fundraising events.    The AV Department: https://theavdept.com/ [https://theavdept.com/] As a full-service event AV and video production partner, The AV Department’s technical event production and media content generation provide you with a range of experience and talent from a partner who wants to know you and work together year after year.    Bloomerang: https://bit.ly/4hLqLVw [https://bit.ly/4hLqLVw] Create the ideal giving experience with integrated fundraising tools and automated insights that maximize your impact. Keep donors close to the cause with mean-ingful outreach at the right time. Increase retention, major gifts, and all-around impact. Turn supporters into action-takers with tools that make it easy to recruit, organize, and engage volunteers at every level.   Feathr: https://www.feathr.co/ [https://www.feathr.co/] Feathr is a marketing platform built specifically for mission-driven organizations, offering simple tools for digital advertising, email campaigns, and audience engagement. The platform uses real-time insights and AI-powered segmentation to help you reach the right people at the right time—whether you’re nurturing existing supporters or discovering new ones who share your values. It’s marketing that meets people where they are, building relationships that last beyond a single click.   Speakers Samantha Swaim LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-swaim-a28a9a4/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-swaim-a28a9a4/] Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies [https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies]   Kristin Steele LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-steele777/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-steele777/] Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies [https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies]   Brittini Lasseigne LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brittini-lasseigne/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/brittini-lasseigne/]   | RESOURCES | Connect with Swaim Strategies: https://swaimstrategies.com [https://swaimstrategies.com] Propose a Podcast Episode: https://swaimstrategies.com/propose-a-podcast-episode/ [https://swaimstrategies.com/propose-a-podcast-episode/] Get Event Help Right Now with Gala 911: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/gala-911/ [https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/gala-911/] Book Consulting Time with Sam: https://calendly.com/consultingwithsam [https://calendly.com/consultingwithsam] Book Consulting Time with Kristin: https://calendly.com/eventstorytelling [https://calendly.com/eventstorytelling] Learn More About the Elevate Conference: https://swaimstrategies.com/elevate-conference/ [https://swaimstrategies.com/elevate-conference/] Get Planning a Successful Major Donor Event: https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/#book [https://swaimstrategies.com/solutions/#book] Join Swaim Strategies on Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies [https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies] Connect with The AV Department:  https://theavdept.com/ [https://theavdept.com/] Connect with YWCA Clark County: https://www.ywcaclarkcounty.org/ [https://www.ywcaclarkcounty.org/] Follow YWCA Clark County: https://www.instagram.com/ywcacc/ [https://www.instagram.com/ywcacc/]