The Focused Fundraiser
The Focused Fundraiser
Podcast Description
What if doing less made you a better fundraiser?
Welcome to The Focused Fundraiser — the podcast for nonprofit leaders who are tired of the chaos and ready to prioritize what actually drives impact.
Hosted by Rob Burke, each episode features honest conversations with fundraisers in the trenches who are cutting through the noise, saying no to the never-ending to-do list, and focusing on what matters most.
We cover:
✔️ Fundraising strategy that doesn’t burn you out
✔️ High-touch stewardship that builds real relationships
✔️ Personal productivity and leadership in nonprofit life
✔️ Systems that help you work smarter, not harder
If you’re ready to drop the “do more” mindset and lead with clarity, focus, and purpose — you’re in the right place.
Live every Tuesday at 11am CT.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast delves into fundraising strategy, high-touch stewardship, personal productivity, and best practices within the nonprofit sector. Episodes explore themes such as effective relationship building, avoiding burnout, and embracing technology, with examples like discussions on the importance of mentorship and actionable advice on setting goals to enhance fundraising impact.
What if doing less made you a better fundraiser?
Welcome to The Focused Fundraiser — the podcast for nonprofit leaders who are tired of the chaos and ready to prioritize what actually drives impact.
Hosted by Rob Burke, each episode features honest conversations with fundraisers in the trenches who are cutting through the noise, saying no to the never-ending to-do list, and focusing on what matters most.
We cover:
✔️ Fundraising strategy that doesn’t burn you out
✔️ High-touch stewardship that builds real relationships
✔️ Personal productivity and leadership in nonprofit life
✔️ Systems that help you work smarter, not harder
If you’re ready to drop the “do more” mindset and lead with clarity, focus, and purpose — you’re in the right place.
Live every Tuesday at 11am CT.
When your nonprofit earns revenue, some donors assume the sales cover everything. Laura Wetter, Development Director at Urban ArtWorks in Seattle, answers that by being specific about who pays for what.
Urban ArtWorks gets paid to paint commissioned murals, and that money supports the artists and staff. Foundations and individual donors fund the youth programs, which are free and pay teens a stipend to take part. Last year, 172 teens completed the mural apprentice programs, and every one of them earned $500.
In this episode of The Focused Fundraiser, Rob Burke talks with Laura about fundraising alongside earned revenue. She shares how Urban ArtWorks tells the story of outcomes donors can’t see on a finished wall, like confidence, leadership, and job readiness. She also walks through the four storytelling threads she leans on when arts funding is scarce, how her team treats corporate team-building days and mural commissions as the start of longer partnerships, and the biggest shift she made moving from grant writing to individual giving.
If your nonprofit earns revenue and raises gifts, or you’re thinking about adding an earned revenue stream, this one’s for you.
Laura joined the nonprofit sector in 2007 as an AmeriCorps VISTA in Chicago. Before Urban ArtWorks, she raised money for economic development work ranging from business lending and local food and farming to neighborhood development on Chicago’s West Side.
CHAPTERS
00:00 – Cold open: who actually funds the youth programs
00:45 – Welcome: fundraising when your nonprofit also sells its work
01:38 – From AmeriCorps VISTA in Chicago to Urban ArtWorks in Seattle
02:43 – Writing: the skill that carried across every mission
03:54 – Growing individual giving, and pausing the event to rethink it
05:04 – Earned revenue vs. donations: what commissions pay for and what gifts fund
07:10 – Raising money for outcomes donors can’t see
09:20 – Four storytelling threads for when arts funding is scarce
12:09 – Turning team-building days and mural clients into recurring partners
13:54 – From grant writer to individual giving: the biggest mindset shift
15:30 – Keeping relationships at the top of a crowded to-do list
16:59 – Tactical takeaway: be grateful for your team
17:37 – How to connect with Laura
CONNECT WITH LAURA
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-wetter-0691284/
Urban ArtWorks: https://urbanartworks.org
ABOUT THE FOCUSED FUNDRAISER
Hosted by Rob Burke, CMO at DonorDock. Seasoned fundraisers share hard-earned wisdom on what moves the mission forward, because doing more doesn’t lead to success. Focusing on what matters most does.
Learn how DonorDock helps you find clarity and build strong donor relationships through Smart Stewardship: https://www.donordock.com
Disclaimer
This podcast’s information is provided for general reference and was obtained from publicly accessible sources. The Podcast Collaborative neither produces nor verifies the content, accuracy, or suitability of this podcast. Views and opinions belong solely to the podcast creators and guests.
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