97. REACTION: Craziest Fundraising Advice on the Internet!

Summary

Detailed Summary of Episode 97: REACTION: Craziest Fundraising Advice on the Internet!

Release Date: July 23, 2025

Podcast Information:

• Title: The Fundraising Masterminds Podcast
• Hosts: Jim Dempsey and Jason Galicinski
• Description: As the #1 podcast for nonprofit leaders, the Fundraising Masterminds Podcast provides practical solutions to daily fundraising and development challenges. With over 5,000 nonprofits assisted and more than $2 billion raised globally, hosts Jim Dempsey and Jason Galicinski focus on cultivating the right mindset and implementing effective development strategies to help nonprofits become fully funded.

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Episode Overview

In Episode 97 titled "REACTION: Craziest Fundraising Advice on the Internet!", hosts Jim Dempsey and Jason Galicinski delve into some of the most unconventional and ineffective fundraising strategies circulated online. Through a series of Facebook posts, they critique misguided approaches, highlighting the stark contrast between poor fundraising tactics and their proven methods, specifically the "Perfect Vision Dinner."

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Section 1: Introduction to the Episode [00:00 - 00:52]

• Jason Galicinski kicks off the episode:

  "[...] the Fundraising Masterminds Podcast."
  (00:00)

• Jim Dempsey shares his initial reaction to a controversial fundraising approach:

  "To be honest with you, I would hate to be this person's spouse..."
  (00:10)

---

Section 2: Unveiling Crazy Fundraising Tactics [00:53 - 12:02]

A. The "UN Event" Gimmick [02:03 - 10:21]

• Jason introduces the first Facebook post:

  "For Christmas, I'm giving you the opportunity to get out of attending a fundraiser event..."
  (02:03)

• Jim's Analysis:

  "I've seen these before and they are totally failures."
  (02:29)

  He elaborates on past attempts by ministries to use similar tactics, such as the "UN dinner," which ultimately failed to raise funds and even resulted in financial losses due to printing costs.

• Notable Quote:

  "It's making fun of fundraising events."
  (05:42)

B. The "Simple Math Coupons" Approach [12:02 - 16:19]

• Jason presents another dubious fundraising method involving selling coupons:

  "50 coupons sold. $250 made. 100 coupons sold. $550 made..."
  (12:08)

• Jim's Skeptical Response:

  "Wow. And, man, I am. This motivates me to go out and send all my people out in the streets to sell coupons."
  (12:43)

  He humorously critiques the inefficiency and unrealistic expectations of such strategies.

• Notable Quote:

  "No, it's selling coupons. So I think..."
  (13:01)

C. Misuse of the Ice Bucket Challenge [14:00 - 16:19]

• Jason brings up a particularly insensitive example:

  "Last summer, I was the only person I knew who didn't do the ice bucket challenge. Five months later, I was diagnosed with motor neurone disease."
  (14:18)

• Jim's Reaction:

  "I was a little afraid that I might might end right there."
  (19:52)

  He condemns the use of guilt as a motivator, emphasizing the emotional harm it can cause.

• Notable Quote:

  "He's trying to get them to give using guilt."
  (15:27)

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Section 3: Critique of Fancy Gala Fundraising Events [16:37 - 25:37]

A. The "Big Fancy Gala" Snafu [16:37 - 25:37]

• Jason introduces a lengthy example of a poorly planned gala:

  "A big fancy gala... They tell you how to negotiate, how to save $8,000 before choosing their menus."
  (16:39)

• Jim's Satirical Reading:

  "[...] Pre established gifts at each solicitation level to build momentum and draw out other gifts."
  (20:05)

  He mocks the overcomplicated and shallow aspects of such events, highlighting the lack of genuine connection and reliance on superficial tactics like alcohol to pressure donors.

• Notable Quotes:

  "Lead them to feel nothing but regret and a severe hankering for a McDonald's and Diet Coke..."
  (19:52)
  "Motivation by guilt. That doesn't."
  (24:47)

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Section 4: Promoting the Perfect Vision Dinner [25:37 - 32:14]

A. Contrasting with Proven Strategies [25:37 - 32:14]

• Jason and Jim pivot to discuss their effective approach:

  "We are very focused for 21 weeks on putting together a vision casting event."
  (26:17)

• Key Differences Highlighted:

  • Vision Casting vs. Guilt-Tripping: Emphasis on inspiring donors with a compelling vision rather than manipulating them through guilt.
  • Relationship Building: Focus on cultivating genuine relationships and fostering long-term partnerships.
  • Strategic Planning: Detailed preparation and strategic execution to ensure fundraising success without resorting to unethical methods.

• Notable Quotes:

  "We don't do any of these things, Jason. And to be honest with you, I'm very proud to say we don't do any of that."
  (26:11)
  "It's all about winning people to our cause, keeping them through cultivation and lifting them to higher levels of giving."
  (30:35)

B. Success Stories and Testimonials [32:14 - 33:35]

• Jason shares a testimonial from John of the Niagara Gospel Mission:

  "He was more excited about the connections that the dinner did, the friends that he got..."
  (31:12)

• Jim underscores the impact of their approach:

  "It's incredible what you can do when you get a room filled with people who have the ability to make change happen."
  (31:49)

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Section 5: Conclusion and Call to Action [33:16 - 33:35]

• Jason wraps up by encouraging listeners to engage with their mentorship program:

  "If you're interested in, let's get in touch..."
  (32:07)

• Jim reinforces the invitation:

  "It's really by invitation only. It's for people who seriously, legitimately, truthfully want to raise money for their organization."
  (32:40)

• Final Remarks:

  "Thanks for going along with it."
  (33:30)

---

Key Takeaways

1. Avoiding Manipulative Tactics: The hosts strongly discourage using guilt or insincere methods to pressure donors, emphasizing respect and genuine connection.

2. Importance of Vision and Strategy: Effective fundraising relies on a clear, compelling vision and strategic planning rather than superficial event gimmicks.

3. Building Genuine Relationships: Success stems from cultivating meaningful relationships with donors, focusing on long-term partnerships and mutual goals.

4. Ethical Fundraising Practices: Upholding integrity and authenticity in all fundraising endeavors ensures sustainable support and positive community impact.

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Jim Dempsey on Disrespectful Fundraising:

  "He is making fun of fundraising... It must think this is funny, but to me, all he's doing is disrespecting me because he doesn't care enough about me."
  (07:28)

• Jim on Genuine Motivation:

  "What motivates me is something that's actually accomplishing something of value and presumably something that's making a difference for the kingdom."
  (16:23)

• Jason on Relationship-Focused Fundraising:

  "It's all about relationships. It's all about friend raising."
  (30:36)

• Jim on Their Proven Approach:

  "We have dinners with opportunities. And this fund a need... are going to take an organization to the next level."
  (27:42)

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Conclusion:

In this episode, Jim Dempsey and Jason Galicinski provide a critical examination of ineffective and unethical fundraising strategies circulating online. Through humor and candid discussion, they advocate for a respectful, vision-driven approach to fundraising, exemplified by their "Perfect Vision Dinner." This episode serves as both a cautionary tale against poor practices and a testament to the effectiveness of their proven methods in achieving sustainable funding and meaningful donor relationships.

Transcript

[Jason Galasinski]

You're listening to the number one podcast for nonprofit leaders getting your nonprofit fully funded. This is the Fundraising Masterminds Podcast.

[Jim Dempsey]

To be honest with you, I would hate to be this person's spouse. I mean, this would be like me saying to my wife, you know what, I would love to take you on a date, but instead, let's just not, because you would feel guilty about going and I don't respect you enough to actually take you on a date. So let's just say we went on a date and didn't. And we wonder why people like this have trouble raising money.

[Jason Galasinski]

Welcome back to another episode here at the Fundraising Masterminds Podcast. My name is Jason Galasinski and with me, my co host, Jim Dempsey.

[Jim Dempsey]

I'm not sure. I think I'm doing crazy stuff today.

[Jason Galasinski]

We've got a little bit of fun planned for Jim. He has no idea what I am going to say to him today because we are going to do kind of like a little game show thing. You know those game shows where, you know, they put something crazy in front of someone and they just want to see how they react to things.

[Jim Dempsey]

Yes.

[Jason Galasinski]

So Micah and I, the producer of our show, he thought it would be really fun if we just threw some crazy things and wanted to. These are legitimate things that we found on Facebook.

[Jim Dempsey]

Okay. These are real people asking real questions.

[Jason Galasinski]

No, not asking real questions. They're trying to do fundraising. Okay. They're. They're like crazy things that people do to try to raise money on the Internet.

[Jim Dempsey]

Their crazy advice. Okay, yeah.

[Jason Galasinski]

I'm going to read it to you and have you look at it.

[Jim Dempsey]

Okay.

[Jason Galasinski]

This episode is called the Craziest Fundraising Advice on the Internet. This is not the entire Internet. You know, this is just a small amount of what we could find. Right.

[Jim Dempsey]

Exhaustive.

[Jason Galasinski]

But this one act would actually kick this idea off.

[Jim Dempsey]

Right.

[Jason Galasinski]

For this episode was from a guy that I actually do know and I legitimately saw this post. Okay. And you know, and you're like, we.

[Jim Dempsey]

Gotta show Jim this one.

[Jason Galasinski]

So this is a guy who said on Facebook, he made a Facebook post and he said, for Christmas, I'm giving you the opportunity to get out of attending a fundraiser event in a few months that otherwise I would be guilting you into. You're welcome. And you're giving me the opportunity to stay focused on life giving ministry amongst the least of these instead of wasting your time planning fundraisers. Thank you. Give.

[Jim Dempsey]

Now, this is an UN event. I've seen these before and they are totally failures. For Christmas, I'm giving you the opportunity to get out of attending a fundraiser event. Not a fundraising event, but a fundraiser event in a few months that I would otherwise guilt you into. You're welcome. And giving me the opportunity to stay focused on life giving ministry. I think hokey things are really good. Oh, sorry. That was my reading between the lines. You know how much people are going to give. Jason, I. We tried these. A couple crew ministries tried these about 20 years ago. They were called the UN dinner. And you would invite people to, to an unvent. So it would be. They would give you a date, they would give you an invitation and you would be. You'd have the opportunity to go to an unevent in your living room and the event would not take place. And on that night everyone would give money. And you know how much people. We actually had ministries that printed unevent printed materials. So as a result they not only did not get money, they actually lost money because they had to pay pay for printing.

[Jason Galasinski]

What's interesting is, you know, this one comes a little close to home because my dad actually knows this individual.

[Jim Dempsey]

I'm so sorry for him.

[Jason Galasinski]

He's been trying to help him.

[Jim Dempsey]

Yeah.

[Jason Galasinski]

With year end letters and you know.

[Jim Dempsey]

He'S been trying to help for years.

[Jason Galasinski]

Yeah, he's been trying to help this guy for a long time. And, and anyways he's been sending him our podcast. He's been saying you got to do a vision dinner and.

[Jim Dempsey]

Yeah.

[Jason Galasinski]

You know, and he really wants to see this ministry grow, this guy. You know, he, he. This was sent out the last couple days of December because he didn't do the appeal. He was supposed to do an appeal and then it was kind of like just, just throw this out there. And the, the sad part is, is that this organization is really tight on.

[Jim Dempsey]

Funds and well, there's no question why because the guy doesn't have a clue how to have even a human relationship with someone. I would, to be honest with you, I would hate to be this person's spouse. I mean this would be like me saying to my wife, you know what? I would love to take you on a date. But instead let's just not because you would feel guilty about going and I don't respect you enough to actually take you on a date. So let's just say we went on a date and didn't. And we wonder why people like this have trouble raising money. It's. It's a sad state.

[Jason Galasinski]

What's like, let's just analyze this for a little bit, Jason.

[Jim Dempsey]

I know there is nothing redeemable there Is not. There's not even a word redeemable in this. It's terrible for Christmas. I'm giving you the opportunity. First of all, it's. It is making fun of fundraising events.

[Jason Galasinski]

Right?

[Jim Dempsey]

It's saying the only thing that would get you out to a fundraising event is because I guilted you into going. And. And is that what you do at.

[Jason Galasinski]

The Perfect Vision Dinner? Are we guilting people?

[Jim Dempsey]

I don't believe we are. I think we're giving people an opportunity to be involved in something exciting. So the guy doesn't respect himself. He doesn't respect his organization enough to think his organization is even valuable enough for people to come out to. And, and he's saying you're welcome. Like. Like he has really done us a favor. I, you know, this would be the last time I didn't want even any contact with him. You're giving me the opportunity to stay focused. Oh, aren't you so spiritual that I'm giving that you are, are. That I am helping you stay focused in your ministry. Apparently your ministry isn't important enough to you that the only thing important about your ministry is your life saving the least of these. But. So apparently raising money isn't ministry, isn't part of God's plan for your organization. And this guy wonders why he's having trouble financially. I wouldn't give to this person. I wouldn't give this person advice. I wouldn't give the him. I wouldn't give him the time of day. I'm sorry. It's just. It is so, so sad. I, I'm. I'm sad for this person. I legitimately. Because I think this guy actually believes what he's writing here.

[Jason Galasinski]

Yeah.

[Jim Dempsey]

To be honest with you, he really disrespects us, The. The donor, because he is. He is making fun of fundraising. He must think this is funny, but to me, all he's doing is disrespecting me because he doesn't care enough about me anywhere in scripture. What is the one topic?

[Jason Galasinski]

You as a donor.

[Jim Dempsey]

Me as a donor. Exactly. No, I don't think he wrote this specifically to me, but me as a donor. We know that God is going to bless those individuals who give. God wants us to give. God thinks it's great for us to give. But God is not about guilting people through things. And to be honest with you, I think he's. He's trying this reverse psychology approach that we're going to. We're going to. You know, I am going to spare you the guilt of that. I. I You know, I don't do events that guilt people into it. I'm not about manipulation. I'm about motivation. And he doesn't care about him. He doesn't care about the organization, and he just expects us to give.

[Jason Galasinski]

Right.

[Jim Dempsey]

You know what? Because he's focused on life giving ministry to the least of these. Yeah. No, no. Zero. Not at all. Sorry. And you know what? I've got the gift of giving. Yeah. I would. I wouldn't. I wouldn't even want my wife to see this, because my wife would blow a gasket at this point, because my wife. My wife would. She just would be so frustrated.

[Jason Galasinski]

Why would she blow a gasket at something like that?

[Jim Dempsey]

Because it's disrespectful. It is just. It's disrespectful to the people who are in the audience. And I wouldn't give. And I've got the gift of giving. She's a little bit more cynical on these kinds of things, and she would say, forget it.

[Jason Galasinski]

Yeah. The thing that bothered me was just because I knew some of the backstory. I mean, if you just came across this on your Facebook feed, you know, like, you know, I mean, it would have been better. I mean, I. Nothing really tops that, but in my, you know, in my opinion, it's kind of almost like he ran out of time and he was like, oh, no. I, I.

[Jim Dempsey]

No, he didn't even. He didn't even know. I don't think he ran out of time.

[Jason Galasinski]

I think it was intentional.

[Jim Dempsey]

I. No, I think he disrespects fundraising. I think that is.

[Jason Galasinski]

That is true because we've been trying to get him to do.

[Jim Dempsey]

No, he thinks it's dirty. He thinks it's. It's immoral. He thinks it's not necessary. He probably thinks it's spiritual to not do fundraising. Clearly, he does, or he wouldn't say, you know, I'm. I'm going to spare you the expense of not coming to something like this.

[Jason Galasinski]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Jim Dempsey]

So, so sad.

[Jason Galasinski]

Very sad.

[Jim Dempsey]

So sad.

[Jason Galasinski]

And the.

[Jim Dempsey]

He's probably got a good ministry, which is sad.

[Jason Galasinski]

He does.

[Jim Dempsey]

Yeah. But you know what? It.

[Jason Galasinski]

But it's not thriving.

[Jim Dempsey]

Well, of course not. It's d. And you didn't even need to tell me that. I read our organization is dying. Do not give to our organization. I am writing this to you because I disrespect you and I disrespect myself. I don't trust God enough to be faithful to his calling for my life. Wow. I just. Yeah. I Mean, I read that right in there.

[Jason Galasinski]

Yeah.

[Jim Dempsey]

Normally, end of year gifts sustain us until the fall. This year, I'm not sure we'll be able to pay the rents in February. Oh, so he didn't want. He didn't want to guilt us.

[Jason Galasinski]

Oh, man.

[Jim Dempsey]

He didn't want to guilt us by sending a vent, but he's going to guilt us by saying, I'm not sure we'll be able to pay the rents in February. Yeah, yeah, I forgot to even read.

[Jason Galasinski]

That because I'm sorry. I got so focused on the top part. The bottom part is incredible because he's talking about how he doesn't want to guilt us at an event, but.

[Jim Dempsey]

Yeah, he's got the guilt us here. Yeah, totally. Yeah. Let me read this for the audience. Normally, end of year gifts sustain us until the fall. This year, I'm not sure that we'll be able to pay the rents in February. No guilt. No, he. That's my words in between, not his.

[Jason Galasinski]

And what do we. What do we tell people in the Perfect Vision Inner mentorship program about how excited people are to pay for the rent?

[Jim Dempsey]

Yeah, it's one of the number one worst things to raise money for. Nobody wants to pay for rent. Yeah, it doesn't say anything to me.

[Jason Galasinski]

Yeah. I mean, really, this is, like, one of the worst Facebook posts I've seen in a long time. But, like, could be almost ever. It's pretty bad. That's why I wanted to get your reaction. But I've got it.

[Jim Dempsey]

It could be worse. Shoot me now. Put me out of my misery so I don't have to keep sending these to you.

[Jason Galasinski]

Yeah.

[Jim Dempsey]

Yeah.

[Jason Galasinski]

Well, Jim, the only thing works, unfortunately. We're just getting started.

[Jim Dempsey]

Okay, I'm looking forward to. Can't wait for the next one.

[Jason Galasinski]

Okay.

[Jim Dempsey]

I hope they get better. Okay, keep going.

[Jason Galasinski]

They don't get better.

[Jim Dempsey]

Okay, good. I don't think they would. I don't think.

[Jason Galasinski]

All right, now this one.

[Jim Dempsey]

Okay, here we go. Except. Okay, this one. Let me know.

[Jason Galasinski]

Let me read it to you.

[Jim Dempsey]

Okay.

[Jason Galasinski]

All right. All right, now this one we're gonna. We're gonna put on the screen. But this is a.

[Jim Dempsey]

An organization made easy.

[Jason Galasinski]

This sounds like this is fundraising made easy. Okay, so math. It's just simple math. Coupons sold, money made.

[Jim Dempsey]

Wow.

[Jason Galasinski]

50 coupons sold. 250 made. 100 coupons sold. 550 coupons sold. 2,500 made with a little picture of a car and, you know, little bubbles.

[Jim Dempsey]

Gasoline, something going out the other end. Yeah.

[Jason Galasinski]

No idea what this is for. But we've came across this on Facebook.

[Jim Dempsey]

Wow. And, man, I am. This motivates me to go out and send all my people out in the streets to sell coupons. Yes. Totally makes. That motivates me.

[Jason Galasinski]

I mean, all you got to do for fundraising is just buy some coupons, I think.

[Jim Dempsey]

No, it's selling coupons. So I think. I think the best use of my staff is not to have them in the office doing ministry and making a difference in people's lives. It's going door to door selling. So I can make the whopping amount of $2,500. Only 500 coupons. You know, that probably would take me a year and a half. I. I look forward on a daily basis, five days a week, eight hours a day for a year and a half.

[Jason Galasinski]

Yeah.

[Jim Dempsey]

To get 2500. You sold me. I'm right there.

[Jason Galasinski]

Yeah. Well, I think that's enough said on that one. I don't really know what else to say.

[Jim Dempsey]

Right. To fix it. I can't believe they didn't put their phone number. I'm so excited. Why is that not there?

[Jason Galasinski]

Do you remember the Ice Bucket Challenge?

[Jim Dempsey]

Bucket Challenge, Sure.

[Jason Galasinski]

Now, do you remember what that was all about?

[Jim Dempsey]

It was. It was. I thought it was diabetes, wasn't it?

[Jason Galasinski]

Yeah. It was something to the effect of, like, you took the Ice Bucket Challenge. Or.

[Jim Dempsey]

Well, you, but you. That's right. Because it was a more of a disincentive to give because. Yeah. I'm more willing to dump a bucket over my head than give. Terrific. Okay, so that's really smart.

[Jason Galasinski]

So we just put this.

[Jim Dempsey]

I forgot about that.

[Jason Galasinski]

We came across this on the Internet.

[Jim Dempsey]

Yeah.

[Jason Galasinski]

I love it. Read. Read what this says.

[Jim Dempsey]

Okay. It's a picture of a guy. Looks like an athlete, potentially. Last summer, I was the only person I knew who didn't do the ice bucket challenge. Five months later, I was diagnosed with motor neurone disease. Michael, 34. There is no cure for Michael's MND D. There is very little time. 50% of people die within two years of diagnosis. But thanks to the Ice Bucket Challenge and the incredible awareness and understanding. Hmm. Okay, great. You were the only one. Again, motivation by guilt. Yeah, motivation by guilt. I was the only one who didn't do the Ice Bucket Challenge. And yet because of that, I was diagnosed. In fact, God doesn't have a good sense of humor because he punished me by giving me mndo. And that's why. Because I didn't take the Ice Bucket Challenge. That's what it sounds like.

[Jason Galasinski]

Now we're not like discrediting this disease and I don't know this person at all.

[Jim Dempsey]

Right.

[Jason Galasinski]

But it's just. It's just the thing is they're trying to raise money this way.

[Jim Dempsey]

Yeah.

[Jason Galasinski]

Once again, how effective is this in raising money?

[Jim Dempsey]

You see the hashtag law, it's either lost or last summer. Last summer?

[Jason Galasinski]

Yeah.

[Jim Dempsey]

Or last. Could be last summer. Can you tell what it is? Minds think it's last summer. Last summer. Yeah. This is going to be his last summer. Alive, I guess.

[Jason Galasinski]

Yeah.

[Jim Dempsey]

Presumably.

[Jason Galasinski]

Wow.

[Jim Dempsey]

Again, motivation by guilt. That. That doesn't. Yeah, Well, I mean, that's. That's what we're doing with, you know, animal rescue organizations. You see these dogs dying and, you know, emaciated, and we're. We're trying to make feel guilty for these animals. And I'm. I'm a pet lover, but I, you know, I don't get motivated by guilt.

[Jason Galasinski]

Yeah.

[Jim Dempsey]

Few people don't motivate me, Jim.

[Jason Galasinski]

What motivates you to actually give?

[Jim Dempsey]

What motivates me is something that's actually accomplishing something of value and presumably something that's making a difference for the kingdom. A changed life is what motivates me.

[Jason Galasinski]

Yeah. All right, this one's kind of long. I'm going to send you the first part.

[Jim Dempsey]

A big fancy gala.

[Jason Galasinski]

Yep. This is. This is the last one. We're going to end with this one.

[Jim Dempsey]

Do you want me to read it?

[Jason Galasinski]

You're. This one. I. I can't decide which one's worse. The first one that we did or this last one.

[Jim Dempsey]

Okay.

[Jason Galasinski]

But this one almost is okay. Okay. Might really top your.

[Jim Dempsey]

Listen, I know events like gala's, wine tastings and other fancy pants events are a pain in the blank. And they actually use a vulgar word. Take a hideous amount of work to pull off and require managing a team of volunteers. Is this amber typing who have overly passionate opinions on the color of napkin rings rather than a laser? Focus on getting high capacity individuals to buy corporate tables. But hear me out. An event like a gala, done with purpose and with a unique flair.

[Jason Galasinski]

Well, let me, let me, let me interject here. This isn't someone asking for money.

[Jim Dempsey]

No, I can't. This is like someone selling a service.

[Jason Galasinski]

No, this is an article on the Internet about just fundraiser advice. Like someone like a consultant. Right, Right.

[Jim Dempsey]

They've got their. They've got their way of doing an event and they're trying to sell you a unique. An event with a unique flair.

[Jason Galasinski]

Right.

[Jim Dempsey]

Yeah. That matches the enthusiasm and attitude of the organization. If I've got a Sassy attitude. It's going to be a sassy dinner, man. That's my interjection. Can be a cash cow. Jason. I want a cash cow for your. For my bottom line. I. I want a cash cow. Sure, go ahead and get silent and live auction items that include those hard those handmade mittens your aunt makes that no one will bid on unless you pair it with a bottle of booze. Go planning crazy with those clever little games to entertain and nickel and dime your guests. Feel free to put your own personal touch on a wine pole that everybody in their dog does. Splurge and have the martini luge that will result in Phyllis having one too many cocktails. I am getting really fancy here myself. Leading her to feel nothing but regret and a severe hankering for a McDonald's and Diet Coke and cheeseburger the next morning. All these little event pieces will definitely put your guess in the oh, this is a fundraising event. I'm familiar with mood and mindset. But what you must do to have a successful event here is to execute a purposeful and strategically pre planned fund. A needle. It's like the Bassomatic that SNL used to do. It's called Fund a need. What's the craziest fund a thing? Talk. You ask the Fund a need. I want a fund a need. I can't wait. This would really get me going.

[Jason Galasinski]

Go to the next page. There's another page.

[Jim Dempsey]

Oh, I can't wait. Thank you, Jason. That this continues to go on. I was a little afraid that I might might end right there. All right.

[Jason Galasinski]

No. Don't you want to know how to do the fund?

[Jim Dempsey]

Now wait. Now wait.

[Jason Galasinski]

You got to.

[Jim Dempsey]

This is the money making portion of your gala event. Should be the pinnacle of your fundraising triumph. The coup de gras of your agenda for the night should be directly asking people in attendance to raise their hand at a different funding level. Start high and work back low. Each hand that shoots up deserves recognition, applause, high fives and audible praise for their help in donating to help get closer to your goal. Oh, please keep going because this has got me on the edge of my seat. The key to success. Have plants. No, not a love fern. The other kind of plants. I'm getting silly on you here as I'm reading this. Pre established gifts at each solicitation level to build momentum and draw out other gifts. What can you do that? The dirty little secret I'm doling out here is that every event that has a portion of their fundraising success tethered to a fund need has had conversations with donors, supporters and sponsors prior to the gala starting about a significant gift. Okay. I'm sure that's English.

[Jason Galasinski]

They had sponsors starting with a significant gift.

[Jim Dempsey]

Sure.

[Jason Galasinski]

So they already had. They already had them pre planned.

[Jim Dempsey]

Yeah. Yeah, I'm sure. This is English. In some foreign place you should know exactly. So the words are in cap. So I want to make sure everybody understands because that's important. You should know exactly what you have in the room from pre committed dollars before you open the doors. Well, what a great added bonus to have your event since you know all the money is pre committed. Everything you get above and beyond that bonus box. I can't wait. This portion of the event should be predicated. Yep. By a story of impact from someone you serve. There it is. Finally. That's the need. I was a little worried they weren't going to give me that need because fund a need is there for me. The success because of your programs and services make this an emotional high point of the night. I can't wait. And while you have the audience engaged in fantastic storytellers and bellies filled with bits of booze. Oh, I love a bit of booze at my event. Boom. Ask them to give as much as they possibly can. That's gonna do it. Jason, what are we thinking with our. With our event that's so properly planned and loving people and caring about relationships? All I needed to do was booze people up and put before them a story. I don't know what I was thinking. Ah, here's the end result. Fundraising awesomeness. Ah. Jason. This is the. Jason, how. What are you and I doing? We. We are in the we. I have the wrong model. This is. This is the perfect vision dinner. This is the perfect event. Ours.

[Jason Galasinski]

I think this is what people think we do.

[Jim Dempsey]

Yeah.

[Jason Galasinski]

I think when people hear. So when people hear that we. When we do the perfect vision dinner in a gala or whatever, they, they. I think they think like people like Kevin at the beginning.

[Jim Dempsey]

Yeah.

[Jason Galasinski]

Who's like I'm to save you the guilt of having to go to a dinner hearing this high pressure sales.

[Jim Dempsey]

Right.

[Jason Galasinski]

I think they think that we're doing something like this. These are.

[Jim Dempsey]

To me these are actually polar opposites. We're the only normal one in the middle. You got Kevin, who does the unevent. You got funded need. Who does. I don't know what hokey event. This is just mind numbing.

[Jason Galasinski]

So I. I think what they're trying to do in this event and it's hard to know by this article, but it Sounds like what they're doing is they're having a dinner and then they're making a need known.

[Jim Dempsey]

Okay.

[Jason Galasinski]

And then they're saying, who's willing to raise $5,000 for this need? And then like they, and then people raise their hands and then because they.

[Jim Dempsey]

Found out beforehand, they knew what the person was going to say, put people.

[Jason Galasinski]

In the audience that are, that are like phonies.

[Jim Dempsey]

Right.

[Jason Galasinski]

And they, they get people to raise their hand. So other people will raise their hand.

[Jim Dempsey]

Yeah.

[Jason Galasinski]

They say like peer pressure. It's like fundraising peer pressure.

[Jim Dempsey]

Right, right. The key to success. Have plants. No, not a love fern. The other kind of plant. Pre established gifts at each solicitation level to build momentum and draw out other gifts. Wow, that sounds shady and hokey. This sounds really hokey. Yeah. Unbelievable.

[Jason Galasinski]

I think the key to their success is get them a little booed up.

[Jim Dempsey]

Oh, absolutely. Here we go. Right here. This is it. This is the bottom line to success. Because of your programs and services. Makes an emotional high point for the night. And while you have the audience engaged in fantastic storytelling and bellies filled with a bit of booze. Boom. Oh, man. Ask as much as they possibly can. Give as much as they possibly can. Wow.

[Jason Galasinski]

We, we, like. I remember you telling stories of why we don't use alcohol.

[Jim Dempsey]

Right.

[Jason Galasinski]

In the Perfect Vision there. Right. Because it's like you, you don't want.

[Jim Dempsey]

People making commitments that they're going to regret later.

[Jason Galasinski]

Yeah. And I mean, this is like, this is awful.

[Jim Dempsey]

Use alcohol.

[Jason Galasinski]

Yeah.

[Jim Dempsey]

To get them to go with things they were going to regret later.

[Jason Galasinski]

Yeah, it's awful.

[Jim Dempsey]

Wow. Yeah. Okay, so.

[Jason Galasinski]

Well, if you've been listening to our podcast for a while and you think that the Perfect Vision dinner is remotely close to this, like guilting people into giving high pressure, you know, Auction. Auctioneer, you know, like we're to make you. You know, we're going to raise a hundred thousand dollars tonight. Who's in? You know, it's like, we don't actually do any of that, do we?

[Jim Dempsey]

I don't know if that's the case for Christmas. I'm going to give you an opportunity to get out of attending this fundraising event in a few months that I would otherwise guilt you into.

[Jason Galasinski]

Yeah. No. Is that, is that what we do, Jim?

[Jim Dempsey]

We do not do any of these things, Jason. And to be honest with you, I'm very proud to say we don't do any of these.

[Jason Galasinski]

I'm actually, I actually am very proud that we don't do any of that stuff. We, we, we are very focused for 21 weeks on putting together a vision casting event. And our Perfect Vision dinner event is similar to what you would see in like, Shark Tank. Has anyone watched Shark Tank before, Jim? Have you seen. Yeah, you know, you know, you get these, these panels of people. Right, right. They're investors.

[Jim Dempsey]

Yeah.

[Jason Galasinski]

And you get these people coming in and they're, they're throwing out all their ideas and they're just picking it apart, like, why should I invest in this? You know, and they're telling all the reasons. And if it's a stupid reason, they won't invest.

[Jim Dempsey]

Right, right.

[Jason Galasinski]

But every once in a while someone comes along, it's like a legitimately good idea.

[Jim Dempsey]

Yeah.

[Jason Galasinski]

And then they like, they kind of figure it out and then they.

[Jim Dempsey]

And, and they eat each other.

[Jason Galasinski]

Yeah.

[Jim Dempsey]

They fight against each other to try and get.

[Jason Galasinski]

We're not doing the whole back and forth or whatever. But the idea is that you're bringing your organization's vision to a bunch of people who legitimately want to hear something exciting that is going on in their community. Right. Basically being honest. Right. It's just, it's just saying here's the problem.

[Jim Dempsey]

Right.

[Jason Galasinski]

Here's what we're doing about it. Here's legitimately where we want to go in the next five years.

[Jim Dempsey]

And here's how we can partner together.

[Jason Galasinski]

Here's how we can partner together. And when you tell a compelling story and you have a, a good vision, not just like.

[Jim Dempsey]

Right. Not just a pie in the sky or pull it out of the air.

[Jason Galasinski]

No.

[Jim Dempsey]

You have a thing.

[Jason Galasinski]

No, we're, we're working with you to create a legitimate.

[Jim Dempsey]

Right.

[Jason Galasinski]

You know, five year plan.

[Jim Dempsey]

Exactly.

[Jason Galasinski]

And when you have a really good plan and it makes sense and people want to give towards impact.

[Jim Dempsey]

And to be honest with you, we don't have dinners for needs. We have dinners with opportunities. And this fund a need. Needs are, you know, needs are like little kernels of sand or whatever of corn. We ask people to put together legitimate opportunities. Legitimate accelerators are going to take an organization to the next level. Level and make a serious and legitimate difference in our world. Yeah.

[Jason Galasinski]

Well, there you have it. That was, that was like five. There is probably hundreds.

[Jim Dempsey]

Wow.

[Jason Galasinski]

You know, unfortunately, there's a lot of bad advice on the Internet. There is out there. And you know, unfortunately, you know, when you hear a name like fundraising masterminds, people probably associate a lot of that.

[Jim Dempsey]

Stuff with us or we are events like galas or other fancy pants events which are pains in the tail end and take a hideous amount of work to pull off and require managing a team of volunteers who have overly passionate opinions. The color of napkin rings. That doesn't sound like our event, but they sure would think our event could be that way. Yeah. How sad. Yeah.

[Jason Galasinski]

We've actually had people go through the program, though, and said they. They actually like that we tell them exactly how to do it because they don't have to worry about the color.

[Jim Dempsey]

Yeah.

[Jason Galasinski]

Of the napkins.

[Jim Dempsey]

That's right.

[Jason Galasinski]

They're like, this is what they tell us to do. So we're just going to do it.

[Jim Dempsey]

And we tell them how to negotiate, how to save $8,000 before they walk in the door in choosing their menus. And yeah, it's. We. We. Yeah. What we do, people are satisfied with. Yeah, yeah. We don't need fun to need.

[Jason Galasinski]

Well, there you have it. The craziest fundraising advice that we could find on the Internet. I hope that you guys enjoyed our comedy for the day. But if you'd love to learn more about the Perfect Vision Dinner, where we actually teach you how to put on a real serious event that actually raises.

[Jim Dempsey]

Not using guilt.

[Jason Galasinski]

Not using guilt. We walk you through a time tested, proven system that we've time tested over 3000 times over the past 40 years. Not guilting people into giving, but inspiring people with a vision, giving them the opportunity to invest in their communities. People are very generous today. In fact, the younger generation, I think the experts have kind of written them off as like, oh, they don't give, but they actually are very generous.

[Jim Dempsey]

We may find that this new generation may tap the baby boomers for generosity.

[Jason Galasinski]

They're very generous with people that they feel a genuine connection with. They're really into relationships and getting their.

[Jim Dempsey]

Hands dirty and going deep with people.

[Jason Galasinski]

And that's exactly what we teach you in the perfect Vision in our and in development. All the stuff that we teach you in our programs is all about winning people to our cause, keeping them through cultivation and lifting them to higher levels of giving. And it's all about relationships. It's all about friend raising.

[Jim Dempsey]

Right.

[Jason Galasinski]

Not fundraising. If you look up on our YouTube channel, I don't remember what episode it was. We interviewed John from the Niagara Gospel Mission a little while ago and he went through our program and he said one of the biggest things that he got out of the program, even though he raised well over a hundred thousand. Yeah, it was like close to 170 something.

[Jim Dempsey]

178.

[Jason Galasinski]

He wasn't even that excited. I mean, he was excited about the money.

[Jim Dempsey]

Right.

[Jason Galasinski]

But he was more excited about the connections.

[Jim Dempsey]

Right.

[Jason Galasinski]

That the dinner did, the friends that he got, and, you know, all the countless benefits he said. He's been on the news more times than he's ever been. The press is calling him and wanting to know, like, how things are going, you know, and that. All that buzz and all that, that, that connection.

[Jim Dempsey]

I can't wait till his next dinner. I think he's gonna. I think he's got almost 500 people. I think he's gonna have close to 700 next year. Yeah.

[Jason Galasinski]

Yeah.

[Jim Dempsey]

It's.

[Jason Galasinski]

It's incredible what you can do when you get a room filled with people who have the ability to make change happen.

[Jim Dempsey]

Right.

[Jason Galasinski]

And you give them a rock solid vision and they go, whoa, this. These guys are serious. Let's do it. You know, and they all jump in and. And we go for it.

[Jim Dempsey]

Yeah. Y.

[Jason Galasinski]

You know, and that's exactly what the Perfect Vision is all about.

[Jim Dempsey]

So just remember, fun to need is still out there should you want to.

[Jason Galasinski]

But I'll keep that in my back pocket in case, you know, just in case. But. But in the meantime, if you want to check out the Perfect Vision Dinner.

[Jim Dempsey]

Yeah.

[Jason Galasinski]

Instead of the fund, we're here for you. You can scan the QR code on the screen because we've got two classes a year happening and you know, you have to apply to be a part of this program. You can't just buy it. You know, it's not available to just anyone. It's a. It's a carefully process where we pick out the best, most serious people in the applications because we want to work with people who are serious. We don't want to work with funding people.

[Jim Dempsey]

Yeah. It's really by invitation only. It's for people who seriously, legitimately, truthfully want to raise money for their organization.

[Jason Galasinski]

And they're serious about, like wanting to develop friends and partners for their organization. So if that's something that you are interested in, check out the Perfect Vision Dinner mentorship program or scan the QR code on the screen and fill out the application. And we would love to get in touch with you to show you how you can plan and execute a Perfect Vision Dinner with the goal of raising a hundred thousand dollars. And I'm not exaggerating, most people do. That's like the base level that we go for.

[Jim Dempsey]

Right.

[Jason Galasinski]

If that's something you're interested in, let's get in touch. But, Jim, this was kind of a fun episode. I hope you enjoyed it.

[Jim Dempsey]

It was fun.

[Jason Galasinski]

I think I enjoyed just the element of surprise more than anything because I knew it was coming, but you had no idea. So thanks for going along with it.

[Jim Dempsey]

Yeah, my pleasure.

[Jason Galasinski]

Thanks, everyone, for joining us on today's episode. We look forward to seeing you in the next one.

[Jim Dempsey]

Take care.