In this powerful episode of the Rainmaker Fundraising Podcast, Andrew Olson is joined by Alan Clayton, author of Great Fundraising Organizations and founder of Revolutionise. Together, they explore what separates thriving nonprofits from those that struggle, why fundraising success starts with leadership, and how to run two distinct businesses (service delivery and fundraising) within one mission. Alan shares key insights from 12 years of global research, offers practical leadership strategies, and issues a call to embrace emotional storytelling, strategic investment, and purpose-driven culture. If you want to unlock transformational growth at your organization, this conversation is essential.

• (00:00:00) - Alan Clayton on the Rainmaker
• (00:00:52) - Revolutionizing What It Is to Raise Money for Nonprofits
• (00:01:29) - Great fundraising organizations: The journey from good to great
• (00:03:08) - Getting organizations to commit to a five year plan
• (00:04:44) - What Makes Nonprofit Organizations Successful?
• (00:06:50) - The need for emotionally relevant engagement
• (00:09:29) - The role of the leader in fundraising
• (00:13:24) - How to Get Your Salesforce CRM to Work
• (00:13:59) - Philanthropy: The Leadership Problem
• (00:16:58) - The Conflict and Tension of the Fundraising
• (00:21:12) - The 3 Step Process of Brand Management
• (00:24:31) - In the Elevator With Andrew Carnegie
• (00:25:17) - What Makes a Charitable Leader So Driven?
• (00:28:58) - Laughably Leadership: A challenge to the
• (00:30:53) - Andrew Olson on the Biggest Mistakes Nonprofits Make
• (00:31:24) - A Few Favors for the Rainmaker