What we’ve been reading and listening to - February
Every now and then we thought we’d share some of the content we’ve been listening to and reading recently. Hopefully you’ll find some new inspiration and ideas for your own fundraising efforts.
From Eleanor:
Back in November I was invited onto the Cancer Research UK Tech Team podcast to talk about how I helped set up a new Innovation team primed to keep up with the changing needs of supporters. In this episode I share how we use principles like measuring supporter behaviour (not what they say they'll do!), how we run quick experiments and agile ways of working to uncover and meet supporter needs quickly: https://cruktechnologyteampodcast.podbean.com/e/innovation-at-cruk/
Then, last month, I was invited back to the podcast...as co-host! I was straight in there to set up an episode about a huge opportunity that many charities are overlooking; remote working. This episode I talk to Jess and Andy about why enabling working from home (or anywhere outside the office) is hugely valuable for both staff and organisations. We also share our tips on how to run your team remotely / work remotely yourself: https://cruktechnologyteampodcast.podbean.com/e/flexible-working-at-cancer-research-uk/
From Emily:
I love the Squiggly Careers podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/squiggly-careers/id1202842065
It covers themes from finding your strengths, to growth mindset, managing boundaries and many more. I really like Sarah and Helen's very practical approach in sharing experience and then giving some top tips. They have introduced guest speakers I found those pod casts less helpful. Why is this important to Supporter Experience? Supporter Experience is squiggly and therefore so are our careers. We are having to reshape our jobs and think differently about how we do things. This podcast gives loads of ways to do this.
Eat Sleep Work Repeat: https://eatsleepworkrepeat.com/
The premis being there must be more to life than this. Or that we should enjoy work. This is an exciting time for fundraising, there are lots of opportunities for change we just need the confidence and tools to embrace them.
The Power of Curiosity - I love this article that talks about how important curiosity is in the work place and the impact it can have on performance https://hbr.org/podcast/2018/10/the-power-of-curiosity
From Lianne:
I'd recommend these podcasts:
Fightback is about innovation in heritage brands. Whilst I love finding out about what startups get up to as much as the next gal, I think this kind of intrapreneurship is much more akin to what most of us in charities are tackling. I particularly liked the Sainsbury’s and Homeserve episode from the first season: https://open.spotify.com/show/3sX270P8rKXxqnHHabulmS
The Brave New Work podcast, from org design agency The Ready, explores themes from their founder’s book of the same name - fantastic discussions about everything from giving feedback and holding great retrospectives to the difference between complex and complicated and keeping our egos in check: https://open.spotify.com/show/7AwFAmF2OeJks4DcXe5aFQ (their newsletter is well worth subscribing to as well).
Creative Confidence is the podcast from IDEO U, the part of IDEO that trains people up in their user-centred design techniques. The podcast streams the recordings of their regular webinars covering a huge range of topics to help you apply design thinking to any challenge. It always gets me thinking: https://open.spotify.com/show/403jLZiYDfG0G98XSahJd2
From Craig:
I’ve enjoyed Rob Woods new Bright Spots podcast series: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/fundraising-bright-spots/id1487441822 For those of us interested in supporter experience, then the recent two-parter with Lesley Pinder from British Red Cross is well worth a listen. There’s a great discussion on gathering and using insight.
Mark Phillips has also a great series of podcasts with fundraising legends such as Lyndall Stein, Ken Burnett and Giles Pegram: https://queerideas.co.uk/category/podcast
Finally, I enjoy the humour of the Four Fundraiser’s Talk Shit written podcast. You might also learn a thing or two as well: https://www.fourfundraisers.com/episode-guide/ It also reminds me that I should write about the lobster quiz my wife and I once won…