171: You Don't Need Some Guy on a Yacht | Ditching the Fundraising Myths with Patrick Kirby

Fundraising doesn't have to be intimidating, jargon-filled, or a total drag.

I'm joined by Patrick Kirby, the nonprofit and fundraising consultant behind Do Good Better Consulting and a self-described human exclamation mark. Patrick brings so much energy and joy to fundraising that it's genuinely contagious. We tackle three listener questions, bust some persistent fundraising myths, and Patrick goes on a rant that you will not want to miss.

Real Listener Questions:

What do you do when your software is getting in the way of your marketing? How do you keep the faith when what you're trying just isn't working?

Patrick and I dig into what actually drives donations, why software is never the silver bullet, and why losing a program that made you almost no money might be the best thing that ever happened to your fundraising.

What You'll Learn:

Why "this is the way we've always done it" kills good ideas before they start How to be purposeful with your calls to action instead of always asking for money Why a CRM helps but won't magically fix your fundraising for you How to keep your motivation up when donor outreach feels like a grind Why a thank-you voicemail counts as a real, meaningful touchpoint How to make your fundraising about the donor and the community you serve

Bottom line: You're doing more impact than you think. Let the old ways go, focus on great stories and real relationships, and remember that you're part of the solution to problems the government can't fix on its own.

Resources from this Episode

Check out Do Good Better Consulting: https://www.dogoodbetterconsulting.com Previous Episode: https://birkenlaw.com/charity-therapy-podcast/ct170-fire-your-board/ Episode Transcript: https://birkenlaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/CT_Ep171_Transcript.pdf

Connect with Us

Jess Birken: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessbirken/ Patrick Kirby: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fundraisingdad/

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