Revolutionizing Nonprofit Fundraising with Drew Friedrich

Inside: - Learn how to balance complex ops with simple storytelling - Steal his strategy for bridging marketing and operations - Get tips for using AI to supercharge your content creation

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Drew Friedrich
Operation Blessing
The feeling of giving as a corporation and making a difference in the form of a color blurr.

Episode Summary:

Breaking Barriers: Leveraging Cutting-Edge Technology in Nonprofit Organizations - Drew Friedrich

If you're feeling frustrated and overwhelmed by stagnant growth and a lack of donor engagement, despite your best efforts to make a difference in your Christian nonprofit organization, then you are not alone! You may find yourself tirelessly implementing traditional strategies that fail to yield the desired results, leaving you questioning the effectiveness of your approach. Instead of experiencing the enhanced growth and donor engagement you seek, you may be witnessing a plateau in impact and struggling to fulfill your organization's mission.

My special guest is Drew Friedrich

Drew Friedrich, the chief operating officer at Operation Blessing, brings a unique perspective to the table with his background in marketing and operations. Having previously worked with Operation Blessing, Drew returned to ministry after gaining experience in a for-profit marketing agency. With his passion for storytelling and an entrepreneurial mindset, Drew understands the importance of effectively communicating the impact of nonprofit work to engage donors. His expertise in bridging the gap between operations and marketing has allowed Operation Blessing to balance the complexity of their global organization with the simplicity of clear storytelling. Through collaboration and strategic communication, Drew and his team have been able to collect and share impactful stories that resonate with donors and drive growth for the organization.

We want to do our programs with excellence, but we also need to be able to tell that story, report well to our donors. So we have to begin thinking about how we're going to tell that story early on in the process. - Drew Friedrich

In this episode, you will be able to:

  • Discover the power of effective communication in nonprofits and unlock new opportunities for growth and impact.
  • Unleash the collective potential of your organization through unity and collaboration, fostering a culture of innovation and success.
  • Overcome the common challenges faced by marketing directors in nonprofit tech infrastructure, and learn strategies to maximize efficiency and effectiveness.
  • Embrace the entrepreneurial mindset and transform your nonprofit into a thriving ecosystem of innovation, resilience, and sustainable growth.
  • Harness the power of AI for content creation in nonprofits, elevating your messaging and engagement to new heights.

Unity and Collaboration for Success
The recipe for success in a nonprofit setting is no magic bullet – it is simply unity and collaboration. Underscoring this idea, Drew Friedrich feels that each team, be it at headquarters or global offices, should work in synchronization towards the organization's mission. Bolstering unity and working collaboratively leads to desirable results and ultimately fulfills the organization's purpose of service.

The resources mentioned in this episode are:

  • Donate to Operation Blessing: Visit the Operation Blessing website and click on the Donate button to make a financial contribution to support their mission of providing humanitarian aid and disaster relief around the world.
  • Sponsor a Child through Orphan's Promise: Consider sponsoring a vulnerable child through Orphans Promise, a sister ministry of Operation Blessing. Visit their website to learn more about their sponsorship program and how you can make a difference in a child's life.
  • Volunteer with Operation Blessing: If you're interested in getting involved in hands-on humanitarian work, consider volunteering with Operation Blessing. Visit their website to find out about volunteer opportunities and how you can contribute your time and skills to their efforts.
  • Stay Informed: Sign up for Operation Blessing's newsletter or follow them on social media to stay informed about their latest projects, updates, and success stories. This will help you stay connected with their work and find out about future opportunities to support their mission.
  • Share Their Story: Help spread the word about Operation Blessing and their impact by sharing their website, social media posts, and success stories with your friends, family, and network. By raising awareness, you can inspire others to get involved and support their mission

Go Deeper:

Have you heard these three myths about leveraging an entrepreneurial mindset in Christian nonprofits?

Myth 1: Nonprofits should focus solely on their mission and not worry about business strategies.
Myth 2: Nonprofits cannot take risks or embrace innovation.
Myth 3: Entrepreneurial thinking is only for for-profit organizations.

In this interview, Drew Friedrich will debunk these myths and share the truth about how an entrepreneurial mindset can drive growth and donor engagement in the nonprofit sector.

I just think everybody hears that idea. We're all fundraisers and it's true at the same time, we're all part of the same organization and we need the whole organization to grow.

This is Drew Friedrich's story:

Drew Friedrich, the guest on Holy Donuts, is a marketing expert who brings a unique perspective to the nonprofit sector. After spending time in a for-profit marketing agency, he felt a calling to do work that truly mattered. Joining Operation Blessing as the Director of Marketing for Orphans Promise, Drew gained firsthand experience in running an organization and learned the importance of storytelling in donor engagement. He believes that leveraging an entrepreneurial mindset is crucial for growth in the nonprofit world. Drew emphasizes the need for collaboration between the operations and marketing teams, as well as the power of effective communication and storytelling in conveying the impact of nonprofit work. By bridging the gap between operations and marketing, Drew is working towards creating a unified organization that can raise more funds to help more people in need.

In this episode, you will be able to:

  • Discover the power of effective communication techniques to build stronger connections with donors and stakeholders, ultimately boosting your nonprofit's impact and success.
  • Unleash the potential of unity and collaboration within your nonprofit organization to foster a culture of innovation, synergy, and shared vision, driving greater results and achieving your mission.
  • Navigate the unique challenges faced by marketing directors in nonprofit tech infrastructure, and uncover strategies to overcome these obstacles, leveraging technology to effectively reach and engage your target audience.
  • Harness the entrepreneurial mindset and learn how to think outside the box, take calculated risks, and embrace innovation, propelling your nonprofit forward and unlocking new opportunities for growth and sustainability.
  • Dive into the world of AI and discover how nonprofits can leverage artificial intelligence for content creation, streamlining processes, and enhancing storytelling to connect with donors, volunteers, and supporters on a deeper level.

Adopt A Long-Term Growth View


Taking risks and having a long-term view are crucial ingredients in the nonprofit's growth recipe. Often, focusing solely on immediate ROI might restrict from trying new strategies, letting them grow, and seeing their long-term impact. Patience can be challenging, especially when resources are limited, but it can significantly contribute to a nonprofit's sustainable growth when coupled with smart risk-taking. This emphasis on the long-term perspective is drawn from Drew's approach in steering Operation Blessing. He encourages nonprofits to break free from the constraints of immediate results, daring them to take smart risks. By promoting strategies that might not show instant success but have the potential for a considerable long-term impact, nonprofits can potentially tap into growth opportunities that would've otherwise left unexplored.

Embrace an Entrepreneurial Mindset


In understanding how an entrepreneurial mindset can benefit nonprofits, it's crucial to recognize that startups and nonprofits share similar foundations. Both are powered by a clear mission, a captivating vision to solve a problem, and a strategy to achieve those goals. However, translating this to the nonprofit world, often characterized by a conservative and risk-averse mentality, can present some challenges. One of them could be overcoming the mindset that being „non-profitable“ equates to an absence of entrepreneurial strategies. From Drew Friedrich's perspective, Operation Blessing might not have seen itself as a tech startup initially, but it saw the effectiveness and advantage of using powerful startup tools and mindset. The focus isn't about aiming for profit but driving for impact, leveraging technology, and cultivating an innovative environment. He advises not shying away from experimenting and taking risks, as these are essential elements to any entrepreneurial journey, and they should be in the nonprofit world too.

Leverage AI In Nonprofits


Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming every aspect of our lives and industries, and the nonprofit sector is not an exception. Typically, AI can help nonprofits expand their content creation capabilities, predict trends, and make data-driven decisions. It's understandable that nonprofits might be hesitant about adopting AI solutions, given their limited resources, but it's a game-changer worthy of consideration. It can help nonprofits operate more efficiently, maximizing the impact they bring to their cause. Drew provides a clear example of AI’s capability from the inner workings of Operation Blessing. They've been developing AI-powered systems that can, at the touch of a button, create multiple pieces of curated content for campaigns. He advises nonprofits not to be afraid of AI, as it becomes a powerful ally to extend their reach and capacity.

Focus on Multi-Channel Donor Engagement


There's a common misconception that focusing on Return on Investment (ROI) in digital marketing is an accurate measure of success. However, thinking of ROI as the sole criterion can limit a nonprofit's ability to engage donors effectively across various channels. This is because not every valuable engagement or action can be immediately reflected in ROI. For instance, building strong donor relations and increasing brand awareness are key aspects that might not directly link to immediate financial gains. Reflecting on Drew's experiences at Operation Blessing, he stresses the significance of a multi-channel strategy approach. He noticed that nonprofits often avoid or stop marketing efforts that didn't show immediate success, but he warns that those efforts may contribute to overall success, including offline donations. He encourages taking a broader perspective when examining the outcomes of their strategies, embracing patience, and remaining consistent in engaging donors on various channels.

Storytelling In Nonprofit Marketing


Data is vital in guiding nonprofits, but it doesn't necessarily reflect an accurate picture of their overall impact. Instead, a compelling narrative can effectively communicate a nonprofit’s cause and impact. Often, a meaningful story can capture donors' hearts more effectively than raw data. Hence, balancing between data and storytelling in nonprofit marketing is key. Matt Lombardi endorsed this emphasis on storytelling, quoting Jeff Bezos: "If the data conflicts with the storytelling, trust the story." Drawing from his journey at Operation Blessing, Drew illustrates how human channels of communication – storytelling – are vital tools in spreading the word about their work. He stresses that data equips them, but stories inspire them, encouraging nonprofits to incorporate relatable storytelling in their marketing strategies.

Adopt A Long-Term Growth View


Taking risks and having a long-term view are crucial ingredients in the nonprofit's growth recipe. Often, focusing solely on immediate ROI might restrict from trying new strategies, letting them grow, and seeing their long-term impact. Patience can be challenging, especially when resources are limited, but it can significantly contribute to a nonprofit's sustainable growth when coupled with smart risk-taking. This emphasis on the long-term perspective is drawn from Drew's approach in steering Operation Blessing. He encourages nonprofits to break free from the constraints of immediate results, daring them to take smart risks. By promoting strategies that might not show instant success but have the potential for a considerable long-term impact, nonprofits can potentially tap into growth opportunities that would've otherwise left unexplored.

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