Long before nonprofit organizations had local offices and national program leads, peer-to-peer fundraising thrived through the dedication of volunteer leaders passionate about raising money for causes they loved. While volunteer management remains a critical strategy for the success of our events, it is often an elusive task for many organizations.

Identifying the right people, placing them in suitable roles, empowering them to make decision and holding them accountable can be challenging - and time-consuming. As a result, it's often tempting to handle the work ourselves. However, this approach limits our potential to expand our reach and influence within the community.

In the episode, P2PPF’s Marcie Maxwell is joined by Bryan Sherwood, Senior Director for Relay For Life at the American Cancer Society (ACS). Bryan will share his personal journey from local and national volunteer to national program lead. Together, they explore how the volunteer experience and volunteer expectations have evolved over the years, particularly in the post-pandemic era. Bryan also highlights the key qualities his team seeks when identifying new volunteer leaders.

Additionally, this episode covers:

• Lessons learned from working volunteers across different generations
• Tips for training staff on critical volunteer management skills
• The role that volunteers can play in diversifying your P2P portfolio

Mentioned Links

American Cancer Society

Relay For Life

Instagram: @relayforlife

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• (00:00) - Welcome to The P2P Soap Box
• (01:52) - Introducing Bryan Sherwood
• (05:49) - How has the volunteer experience evolved?
• (07:49) - Exploring the National Volunteer Committee
• (13:40) - Training Volunteers on the Ground
• (16:44) - Learning Across Audiences
• (20:32) - Diversification
• (23:59) - Engaging Volunteers
• (27:56) - Get Involved!

Those of us deeply entrenched in the world of peer-to-peer fundraising have long recognized that one of the greatest strengths of our events and campaigns lies within the sense of community and shared experiences we create for our supporters. However, in an increasingly data-driven environment, quantifying the return on investment (ROI) for cultivating these relationships and creating impactful mission moments can be challenging.

By examining the impact of P2P participation on a donor's lifetime value, we can begin to truly understand the long-term significance of our efforts and therefore make the case for even greater investment. By speaking a common language, we can break down the silos between peer-to-peer and individual giving teams and open our organizations up to even greater opportunity.

In the episode, P2PPF’s Marcie Maxwell sits down with Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s Kevin McMahon & Jon Thompson. This dynamic team will dig into how looking at peer-to-peer fundraisers through the lens of lifetime value has shifted their overall philosophy and strategies behind their signature P2P events.

In this episode, we’ll also explore:

• How this fresh approach to data has changed their staffing, goals and budgets
• The tangible & intangible value of community
• The importance of humility in cross-functional partnerships

Mentioned Links

Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia

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• (00:00) - Welcome to The P2P Soap Box
• (01:50) - Introducing Kevin McMahon and Jon Thompson
• (06:02) - P2P at CHOP
• (08:17) - Lifetime Value
• (17:01) - The State of the Industry
• (30:23) - The Future
• (34:49) - Getting Started with Lifetime Value
• (40:01) - Learn more and get involved!

Being a leader in the peer-to-peer world can feel like a whirlwind of demands. Stay relevant. Innovate. Stick to the fundamentals. Explore new revenue streams. Prioritize effectively. Cultivate meaningful relationships. It’s a lot to juggle and can leave even the most seasoned leader feeling a bit dizzy.

In the midst of this whirlwind, it’s crucial not to lose sight of our "why" - the reason we embarked on a career in the nonprofit sector in the first place and also why we joined our respective organizations.

In this episode, P2PPF’s Marcie Maxwell is joined by Kim Slone, Executive Vice President for Development and Community Health of the American Heart Association, which was recently recognized as the 2024 Peer-to-Peer Professional Forum Organization Of The Year . They delve into how this century-old organization remains relevant to today's volunteers and supporters, the importance of building relationships with internal colleagues & volunteers, and how all of this can be accomplished by staying true to your “why”.

In this episode, we’ll also explore:

• Messaging strategies to engage a new generation of fundraisers
• The delicate balance between revenue diversification and strategic focus
• The importance of understanding your community’s motivation

Mentioned Links

American Heart Association

Heart Walk

Kids Heart Challenge

Stay Connected on LinkedIn

Connect with Kim

Connect with Marcie

Connect with the Peer-to-Peer Professional Forum

• (00:00) - Welcome to The P2P Soap Box
• (01:01) - Introducing Kim Slone
• (06:16) - How does the American Heart Association use P2P?
• (08:29) - Staying Relevant over 100 Years
• (16:34) - The Importance of Relationships
• (20:34) - Growing from Where You Are
• (24:36) - Get Involved