Nonprofit Lowdown #359: Accidental Fundraiser with Stephanie Roth and Haley Bash

Host: Rhea Wong
Guests: Stephanie Roth & Haley Bash
Date: October 13, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode dives into the challenges, mindset shifts, and practical strategies behind "accidental fundraising"—when individuals find themselves fundraising without formal training or intent, often in grassroots or community contexts. Rhea Wong is joined by Stephanie Roth (veteran consultant and co-author of The Accidental Fundraiser) and Haley Bash (grassroots fundraiser and executive director at Organizer Hub). Together, they discuss their new, updated edition of The Accidental Fundraiser and share insights for making fundraising approachable, impactful, and more human—no matter your level of experience.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Why "Accidental Fundraising"? Origins and Intent

• Gap in Resources:

  • Stephanie Roth (02:00): Early fundraising guides only targeted trained staff or leaders; there was nothing for "everyday people who want to raise $1,000, $5,000, or $10,000 without big infrastructure."
  • The new edition updates advice for today's digital context while reaffirming the basics.

• Overwhelmed by Tools:

  • Haley Bash (03:00): Many believe they must invest in expensive fundraising software just to host simple events—"you can just have a nice Google Sheet...call them up directly, text them, get them in."

2. The Shift from Galas to House Parties: Authentic Connections Over Big Events

• Trends Changing:
  • Traditional galas are losing ground to more intimate house parties and small gatherings (04:00-04:50).
  • Haley: "People do want to connect...on a more intimate level."
  • Stephanie: Once anti-event, now acknowledges "events have a role…they connect socially and build energy," but a simple house party is often more effective and sustainable.

3. The “F Word”: Fear in Fundraising and the Art of the Ask

• Overcoming the Fear of Asking

  • Stephanie (06:48): “How do you feel when you are giving money to a cause you care about?... Most people say it feels pretty good.”
  • Reframes the ask—donors are often more comfortable being asked than fundraisers think.
  • Not every connection is a good fundraising target; relevance matters.

• Don’t Blanket Ask Everyone

  • Haley (08:27): Introduces the CBAs (Contact, Belief, Ability): Be strategic—"If I am reaching out to you, Ria, about an animal rights group...I know that you don't have pets...But I would get buns from Stephanie, who owns two cats."

• Reciprocal Giving Ethics

  • Stephanie (10:00): “That’s why it’s so important...you really think about who are the right people to ask...I have had to say no to friends sometimes.”

4. Mindset Shifts: From Scarcity to Collective Good

• Leadership and Abundance

  • Rhea (11:42): "It's not about the money...there's more than enough out there for all of us."
  • Competition between nonprofits is a myth—collaboration and mutual goals create greater impact.

• Setting Broader Goals

  • Haley (12:47): "Have a second goal besides dollars—like the number of conversations about your cause.” This builds community awareness and engagement beyond the gift.

• Fundraising as Public Leadership

  • Stephanie (13:56): From social justice roots, learned fundraising is “not separate from the work—it is the work. People want to make a difference...and give money...it’s all action.”

5. Money Myths: Addressing Discomfort and “Dirty Money”

• Unpacking Grassroots Aversion to Asking

  • Rhea (15:15): Especially in progressive spaces, money is viewed with suspicion or even moral aversion.
  • Haley (16:23): More people donate than vote or go to church; giving can form identity and deeper engagement.

• Money as a Tool

  • Stephanie (17:47): “Money is a tool. It's been used badly to oppress...but as an exchange, it's simply a tool.”

6. Effective Grassroots Strategies & the Power of the Personal Ask

• Practical, Person-to-Person Approaches
  • Small, actionable strategies: house parties, “bullethons,” and one-on-one conversations (20:54).
  • Haley (20:54): “If you want to raise the most money the quickest, [make] the one-on-one fundraising ask.”
  • Stephanie (21:31): Personalize—"Even a one-on-one email is more effective than a mass message... Face to face is best, but personal connection is key."

7. Tech Tools: Beware the Temptation of Mass Messaging

• Haley (22:56): “Don’t use this AI power to blast your whole list all the time.”
• Return to Shoe Leather Fundraising:
  • Rhea (23:09): "We need to get back to shoe leather fundraising...meet people where they are."

8. Conversation, Not Monologue: Ditch the Pitch

• Conversation over Presentation:

  • Haley (26:15): Many default to “pitching” at donors like to an investor; instead, fundraising is a dialogue.
  • Stephanie (27:25): "Even if we say, 'ditch the pitch', you need to practice key talking points—answer questions, but keep it conversational."

• Stories and Authenticity:

  • Rhea (28:26): "People will respond when they see how much you care... Practice a succinct story about why you care personally."

9. Lessons from Organizing: Ladders of Engagement

• Stephanie (29:56): Draws parallels from community organizing—bring people in at entry-level involvement, train and elevate them.

• Haley (31:06): Turn donors into participants and coaches—"from donor, to fundraiser, to coach."

• Adding Value for Donors:

  • Haley (32:29): Even a ‘no’ is a community learning event; a ‘yes’ builds pride and purpose.
  • Stephanie (33:15): Fundraising opens doors for bigger conversations—support is about belonging and participation, not just money.

10. Fundraising in a Polarized, Digital, and Disconnected World

• Controversial Issues Can Mobilize Action

  • Stephanie (35:01): "Controversial issues are the easiest to raise money for because you know where people stand."
  • Haley (36:06): Volunteers get most fired up for high-stakes, high-impact campaigns.

• Younger Generations & Connection

  • Haley (38:07): Gen Z fundraises in their own ways—Discord, Twitch streams, online pledges.
  • Stephanie (39:16): Some young people are starting to seek more face-to-face experiences, signaling a possible analog revival even as digital persists.

• Haley (40:24): Using flipcharts in trainings, even for adults, fosters attention and presence.

11. Making Fundraising Accessible to All

• Actionable, Practical Guidance
  • Stephanie (41:25): “People really want the practical: How do I actually do that thing?”
  • Haley (42:10): "Even I reference our own book to check timelines—like six to eight weeks before a house party, who does what when?"
  • Rhea (42:31): "It's person to person. We're just making friends."

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Stephanie Roth (06:48):

  “How do you feel when you are giving money to a cause you care about? Most people say it feels pretty good…”

• Haley Bash (08:27):

  “If I am reaching out to you, Ria, about an animal rights group...but I know that you don't have pets...I would be more likely to get buns from Stephanie, who I know owns two cats, one named Mr. Cuddles.”

• Rhea Wong (11:42):

  “It's not about the money...there's more than enough out there for all of us.”

• Haley Bash (13:09):

  “What we ask people to have is a second goal...number of conversations you’re having about your cause…”

• Stephanie Roth (13:56):

  “I realized...not asking those activists to also donate money meant we were leaving money on the table...people want to make a difference, show up...and also give.”

• Stephanie Roth (17:47):

  “Money is a tool...It’s just a tool.”

• Rhea Wong (28:26):

  "People will respond when they see how much you care about the thing...get that down to three sentences.”

• Haley Bash (32:29):

  "Even if somebody says no to my ask, they're learning...the person that says no has some knowledge where it could actually support...When somebody says yes, they're being invited to feel good.”

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Timestamp | Segment Description | |-------------|--------------------------------------------------------------| | 01:26-02:51 | Origins of the Accidental Fundraiser book & resource gaps | | 03:54-05:53 | House parties vs. gala events, connecting authentically | | 05:53-08:27 | Fear of asking for money, CBAs framework | | 11:42-13:43 | Mindset: Fundraising as leadership, redefining scarcity | | 15:15-18:32 | Attitudes toward money; dirty money debates | | 20:54-22:56 | Most effective strategies: personal asks, beware mass email | | 26:08-28:26 | Conversation vs. pitch, storytelling | | 29:56-32:29 | Lessons from community organizing | | 34:25-36:49 | Fundraising for controversial causes | | 38:07-40:55 | Young people, digital disconnection, analog revivals | | 41:25-43:09 | Final thoughts on practical tools for accessible fundraising |

Final Takeaways

• Fundraising is for everyone. You don’t need fancy tech or a development team to get started—just a reason, a personal story, and the willingness to ask.
• Prioritize relationships and conversation—not one-way pitches or slick presentations.
• Be strategic and relevant: Don’t ask everyone; find the right overlap in belief, connection, and ability.
• Mindset matters: View fundraising as a public act of leadership and organizing—not mere solicitation.
• Practical tools help, but don’t lose the personal touch.
• Be open to both digital and old-school approaches: Whether it’s a Twitch stream, a Discord server, or a house party, adapt to how your community connects.
• “If you’re thinking ‘I can’t be a fundraiser’—yes you can.” (43:09)

For more actionable strategies and step-by-step guidance, check out Stephanie Roth and Haley Bash's new edition of The Accidental Fundraiser.