Maximizing Impact: Inside the Communities Foundation of Texas and North Texas Giving Day

In this episode of The NonProfit Nook, host Wendy Kidd converses with Heather Lothes, Donor Relations Officer at the Communities Foundation of Texas (CFT). The discussion focuses on the role and impact of CFT in North Texas, emphasizing its efforts to support local nonprofits and philanthropic activities. They delve into the details of North Texas Giving Day, a significant regional initiative designed to boost donations and awareness for local nonprofits. Heather shares insights on how nonprofits can maximize their success on this day and the ongoing support CFT provides throughout the year. Listeners are encouraged to participate and spread the word to enhance community support and philanthropy.

Links:

CFT Website: https://www.cftexas.org/

North Texas Giving Day website: https://www.northtexasgivingday.org/

Social Handles - CFT: communitiesfoundationoftexas, NTGD: northtexasgivingday

https://www.bosslevelengaged.com/services-for-nonprofits-nonprofitnook

https://thenonprofitnook.com/

https://www.youtube.com/@BossLevelEngaged

00:00 Introduction to Community Foundations

00:58 Welcome to The NonProfit Nook

01:42 Meet Heather Lothes

02:43 Understanding Communities Foundation of Texas

05:18 North Texas Giving Day: Origins and Impact

08:03 Maximizing North Texas Giving Day

11:44 Upcoming Events and How to Get Involved

14:05 The Broader Impact of North Texas Giving Day

15:22 Riding the Wave of North Texas Giving Day

16:34 Maximizing Success on Giving Day

17:41 Leveraging Your Network and Resources

19:38 The Power of Follow-Up

22:29 Beyond North Texas Giving Day: CFT's Year-Round Impact

22:40 CFT's Multifaceted Support for Nonprofits

25:28 CFT's Role in Community Crises

25:56 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Mentioned in this episode:

Flodesk

you want to trust where you're giving.

2

Mm-hmm.

3

Especially you, you work hard for your

money or your, your time is also precious.

4

And so that's one of the, the IT

factors behind a community foundation

5

is that they do vet the organizations

that that we publish a list.

6

Mm-hmm.

7

Of organizations that are

in that specific area.

8

'cause we're in network together.

9

Right.

10

So whether it happens in our

own backyard or in California.

11

An organizational list will be posted on,

most of us will post it on our website.

12

So if you go to any of your community

foundations, wherever you might be

13

Wendy Kidd: mm-hmm.

14

Heather Lothes: Those, those

organizations will be on a list.

15

Okay.

16

And so that's just us saying, Hey, these,

these organizations have been vetted.

17

So if you care deeply about animals and

there's wildfires in California, this

18

is the organization that is providing

that service to animals or firefighters.

19

Or relief efforts.

20

And so then you can either give directly

to that organization or you can pull

21

together in a fund and the community

foundation will deploy those dollars.

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Wendy Kidd: Welcome to The NonProfit

Nook, the podcast for nonprofit

23

leaders, board members, and community

change makers who want to build

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stronger, smarter organizations.

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I'm your host, Wendy Kidd, a longtime

business owner and nonprofit leader.

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And I'm here to bring you real talk,

real tools and real stories to help

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you thrive in the nonprofit world.

28

I'll be talking with local nonprofit

leaders, community change makers,

29

and experts in everything from board

development to fundraising and digital

30

tools, sharing real stories and simple

strategies you can actually use,

31

because running a nonprofit is hard,

but you don't have to do it alone.

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Let's get started.

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My guest today is Heather Lothes,

Donor Relations Officer at

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Communities Foundation of Texas.

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She helps individuals, families, and

organizations grow their philanthropy

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and create lasting impact in North Texas

and beyond, with a special passion for

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guiding families through legacy giving.

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Heather is a dedicated community

leader serving with the Junior

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League of Collin County, the

women's auxiliary to Children's

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Medical Center, and Plano and more.

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When she's not making a difference,

she's keeping up with life at

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her sorority house, her home

to her three busy daughters.

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Welcome, Heather.

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Heather Lothes: Well, thank you so much,

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Wendy.

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I'm so pleased to be here.

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What, what a thrill for, I'm so

excited to hear a great afternoon.

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Wendy Kidd: Right.

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It for our viewers, our listeners,

we're doing this on a Friday

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afternoon and I'm loving that this

is how I'm spending my Friday.

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Me great.

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Me

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Heather Lothes: too.

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Thank

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Wendy Kidd: you.

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Great.

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Heather Lothes: Yeah.

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Thank you for opening your,

your studio to have me today.

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We're gonna, of course, we're gonna talk.

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Some great stuff today.

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Wendy Kidd: I,

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I'm very excited about this 'cause I

really feel like people do not know much

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about the Communities Foundation of Texas

and I think that it's actually something

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really important for people to know about.

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So that's where I want to start.

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So for those who don't know, what is

Communities Foundation of Texas and

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what role does it play in North Texas?

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Heather Lothes: Great question.

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So first off, I always like to start with

what is a community foundation and it's

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a tax exempt 5 0 1 C3 public charity.

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They are established to serve

a specific geographic area and

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to focus on community needs.

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And so they will come together

as a partner and in a, a various

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amount of creative ways to

support those community needs.

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Wendy Kidd: Love that.

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So it's on the ground.

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How do people get involved

in community foundations?

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Heather Lothes: Great question.

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So lots of people come to us

because of maybe a referral.

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Mm-hmm.

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Or they've heard about us.

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You may, I guess more, most recently,

you know, we can jump right into

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telling you a little bit about how

community foundations were a little

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more uplifted, unfortunately, due to

the tragic floods in central Texas.

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Yeah.

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In Kerrville.

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Mm-hmm.

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Yes.

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Yeah.

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So there are community

foundations all over.

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Wendy Kidd: Mm-hmm.

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Heather Lothes: The nation,

they're in small towns.

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Ours is one of the biggest in the nation.

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But as I was kind of.

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Pointing to what happened in Kerr County

, the community foundation of the Texas

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Hill country started a fund, and that

fund was to support flood relief efforts.

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Mm-hmm.

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And that was a way that

individuals and families and

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businesses could jump in, 'cause.

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You know, sometimes when natural

disasters or even tragedy strikes,

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we all want to do something.

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Yes.

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Wendy Kidd: Yes.

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And, and we don't really know

where to go or how to do it,

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percent, we just feel the call.

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Heather Lothes: You feel the call.

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Exactly.

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And on that note, you want

to trust where you're giving.

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Mm-hmm.

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Especially you, you work hard for your

money or your, your time is also precious.

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And so that's one of the, the IT

factors behind a community foundation

112

is that they do vet the organizations

that that we publish a list.

113

Mm-hmm.

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Of organizations that are

in that specific area.

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'cause we're in network together.

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Right.

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So whether it happens in our

own backyard or in California.

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An organizational list will be posted on,

most of us will post it on our website.

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So if you go to any of your community

foundations, wherever you might be

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Wendy Kidd: mm-hmm.

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Heather Lothes: Those, those

organizations will be on a list.

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Okay.

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And so that's just us saying, Hey, these,

these organizations have been vetted.

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So if you care deeply about animals and

there's wildfires in California, this

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is the organization that is providing

that service to animals or firefighters.

126

Or relief efforts.

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And so then you can either give directly

to that organization or you can pull

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together in a fund and the community

foundation will deploy those dollars.

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Wendy Kidd: Yeah,

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that's awesome.

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That's awesome.

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Okay, so I think what CFT does

here that most people know

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about if North Texas Giving Day.

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Yeah.

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So that, that's a huge event.

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So I, I kind of want to know

how did that get started and

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how has it grown over the years?

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Great.

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Great question.

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And tell us a little bit about what it is.

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'cause some people may not know.

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I, I don't know because it's

really popular, but for those

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that don't know, let's talk

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about that.

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Heather Lothes: Yeah.

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And I loved your first question.

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So CFT is the powerhouse behind

North Texas Giving Day, and it

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is a regional initiative for

giving it's a giving campaign.

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Yes.

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And why it got started, it, well,

let's start with time started in

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2009, so we're, you know, sweet 16.

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Mm-hmm.

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So essentially got started to just

raise awareness of our local nonprofits

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and the good work they're doing, but

also so many of our nonprofit friends

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are running on a shoestring budget.

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Yeah.

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How many have thrown an event

and it's just so costly, but

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this campaign is a light lift.

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Of course, there's a registration fee

that helps power the, the powerhouse or

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sure of what North Texas Giving Day is.

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And it started as just a day, just

a day of philanthropy, if you will,

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to acknowledge these nonprofits and

help them, help lift them up, not

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only in just dollars, but awareness.

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What are they doing?

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What is.

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You know, not many people

know that certain organization

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in Kaufman County is there.

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Mm-hmm.

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And so then it has grown.

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And so, I'm gonna look down at

my note, 'cause I, you know,

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numbers, we gotta be factual.

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Wendy Kidd: Yes, please.

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Heather Lothes: Over a $635

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million since this has started, has been

deployed into North Texas nonprofits.

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Wow.

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That's a 20 county Geograph

geographic space mm-hmm.

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In North Texas.

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So it covers 20 counties, 3,300 North

Texas nonprofits are participating.

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And last year we raised over $70 million

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Wendy Kidd: In one period?

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In one period, in one time period.

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This North Texas Giving Day time period.

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Heather Lothes: Yeah.

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Wendy Kidd: Wow.

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Heather Lothes: A hundred percent of

the donations go to the organizations.

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I just want to emphasize that

'cause I know that sometimes there

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can be, a little, I just want

to provide clarity around that.

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Wendy Kidd: Yes, absolutely.

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Heather Lothes: A hundred percent of

the donations goes to the nonprofit.

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We've had a generous sponsor this year.

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Credit card fees are, are being

covered, so no credit card fees,

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Wendy Kidd: which is

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amazing.

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Can I just point out to all of our

listeners that right there, the

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fees for just taking credit cards?

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It can be anywhere from three

to 6% for every transaction.

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And it's, that is the money

that the nonprofit does not get.

198

Mm-hmm.

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Just out the gate, just

because they accepted your

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dollars, they're already down.

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Right.

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6%.

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And you guys got a sponsor to take

care of that, and that is the number

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one reason nonprofits should make sure

they're taking money through this.

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Period.

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Heather Lothes: Absolutely.

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Just for that.

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And I want to highlight we

are always innovating, right?

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Yes.

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Like I said, it started as a day.

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We now do, early giving

starts on August 28th.

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Wendy Kidd: Yes.

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It's coming

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up.

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We're like, it's, it's kind

of like, well, I say it's

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coming up because it is for us

today, but when this drops, it

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will have already started y'all.

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Well,

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it's kind.

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So go visit the website.

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Yes.

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Heather Lothes: You

know, it's coming soon.

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Mm-hmm.

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And we love it.

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We are all in.

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But additionally it's just that

awareness factor, but also, well,

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I do want to highlight register.

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Mm-hmm.

229

But as the, as you said this, this will

drop after that registration closes.

230

Nonprofits will also be able

to see their donor list.

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And I want to highlight that.

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That's huge because sometimes people

think like, oh, we won't see it.

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Yes.

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You'll, you have access.

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On the website, we provide all kinds

of toolkits from donor acknowledgement

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letters of, you know, just appreciation.

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Thank you for your gift to, yeah.

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Social media guides just helping

you just with a draft Yes.

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To start.

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'cause sometimes, you know,

writer's block happens or you are.

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You are a nonprofit, like I say, going

back to that, like you're trying to boil

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the ocean, you may be a, that's a good

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way to look at it.

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Yes.

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Yeah.

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You may

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be a mighty team of one or one volunteer.

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Yes.

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And so it's just a way to just lift

these nonprofits, provide that awareness.

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I love the fact that you can,

our website is filterable.

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You know, you can.

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Hone in your, maybe your passion is

a equine therapy in Collin County.

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Mm-hmm.

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And you can filter through

our, through our website.

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And that website is actually open 365.

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Yes.

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So year round.

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Yes.

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Wendy Kidd: I love, I'm just gonna say

this to all our listeners, if you have

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not visited northtexasgivingday.org,

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the filters on this website are

fantastic because I can go in there

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and go, I just need to recommend.

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Yes.

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'cause so and so said they wanted

a, a nonprofit that's for this

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cause you can go in and filter by

cause, you can go in and filter

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by who's running a campaign right

then, who needs money right then.

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You can go in and filter by who has

a matching gift so that you know that

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your dollars are being maximized.

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This is a fabulous website and it's also

a fabulous website for the nonprofits.

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Yes, because there is an

entire nonprofit resources hub.

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Absolutely.

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And it is, it's overwhelming if

you are brand new to the game.

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I fully understand that.

274

It goes into way too much detail on

things if you've never done this before,

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now if you've done this before, you

appreciate the detail because there's so

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many more new resources for people Yes.

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In maximizing North Texas Giving Day.

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But I, it's just something that I think

everyone should take, take 20 minutes.

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I'm not gonna say it's five minutes.

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It's a 20 minute deep dive.

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Yeah.

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Go to the nonprofit Resources Hub

as a nonprofit and understand all

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your options and all the freebies

they're giving you to help you

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set up for success for this event.

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Heather Lothes: Absolutely.

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And again, like we said,

don't boil the ocean.

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Yeah.

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Pick, pick a lane.

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You know, there's, these

are merely suggestions.

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Yes.

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So, you know, the, some people can

feel very overwhelmed and while

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that's not the goal, we don't

want to ever overwhelm anyone.

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We want them to feel equipped and,

you know, strong for this, you

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know, mighty campaign, if you will.

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Yes.

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But I would say, you know, pick a

lane, back to the boil the ocean.

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Yes.

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Don't boil the ocean.

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You know, pick.

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Share your story on your webpage,

your North Texas Giving Day webpage.

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Is there a need you're trying to

meet within your organization?

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What's the focus of your campaign?

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Yes.

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Lots of great stories have come out.

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One of my favorites is an

organization sports oriented, and

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they needed a golf cart and a golf

cart company came through for them.

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So they were able to, I mean, get a

need met and keep raising money to apply

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that, those dollars somewhere else.

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Mm-hmm.

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Which was super exciting.

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So it's kind of that, like we've talked

about awareness, the light bulb goes off.

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People don't know until you tell 'em.

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Wendy Kidd: Absolutely.

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Absolutely.

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So tell us, when are the dates for

North Texas Giving Day this year?

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Heather Lothes: Love this.

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Okay, so early giving

opens on August 28th.

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That just means that maybe you

are a planner and you have already

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vetted and looked at the website.

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You've filtered down, you

know your favorite nonprofit

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organizations, you've made your list.

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You can deploy those gifts, or

you can deploy a gift every day.

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We'll, you know, there's,

this is creative.

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You do what you want.

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Sure.

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The actual giving day is

Thursday, September 18th, or as

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I like to kind of play around

with it and call it Super Bowl.

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It's Super Bowl Day.

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It's Super

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Bowl day.

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Yes.

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So

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fun.

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But I'd like to tell you about a couple

giving day events We are happening.

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Wendy Kidd: Yes, please.

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Heather Lothes: So first one.

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Is our fifth annual Scheel's event,

and it is on September 13th from five

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to nine inflatables come out, get,

bring the family, help your kids get

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to understand what a nonprofit is.

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Yes.

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There will be multiple, I

think over 20 nonprofits there.

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And that gets your kids involved and

helping them understand how nonprofits

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lift or provide community service

not only like volunteer hours, but

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what do they, how do they supply

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Help in direct services, but what

else are they doing for the community?

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Your kids will.

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Be educated, which is amazing.

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Mm-hmm.

349

But also they get to meet the organiz,

the people behind the organizations.

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Right.

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Also Emerald City is playing.

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Oh, nice.

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So five to nine Scheel's on the

lawn right behind @Scheel's.

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Wendy Kidd: Just so my listeners

understand, Emerald City Band is one

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of the most popular band bands in DFW.

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They only play at events.

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They are amazing.

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They are

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incredible.

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Heather Lothes: Yes.

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The Downtown Dallas Day of Giving

on September 15th, and it's an

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opportunity to give where you live.

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So again, kind of similar to Scheel's,

there will be the Scheel's event.

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There will be several nonprofits out,

and then I, you know, little teaser

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are along as we open up that early

giving day on August 28th, there

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will be surprises along the way.

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Oh, interesting.

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I'm excited.

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So, so stay tuned.

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Yeah.

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Always a fun time.

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Yeah.

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Yeah, this will be goal, I would

say an early giving and on day

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of, and maybe perhaps another

one on this on September 15th.

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Wendy Kidd: Okay.

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I am so excited about this.

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Yeah.

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So we should just follow social

media for North Texas Giving Day.

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Yes.

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Yes.

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So we can learn about these surprises.

382

Yes, please.

383

Okay.

384

All right.

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Absolutely.

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I, I'm down to do that.

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I'm absolutely gonna be an avid

fan of the social media feed.

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So, something that I have kind

of talked about with nonprofits

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is I feel like there's more than

just money, that is their benefit.

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So from your perspective at CFT, what

makes North Texas Giving Day so impactful

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for local nonprofits and the community?

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Heather Lothes: Yeah, great question.

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So, you know, it said to me a long

time ago what is a philanthropist?

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And it's not just dollars,

it's time advocacy and support.

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And yes.

396

At times there are, you know,

that financial support given.

397

Mm-hmm.

398

So, how does North Texas giving

Day partner in that space?

399

Well, one, back to that awareness,

but also you as an individual or

400

your organization or your family

businesses come together and also

401

you can be able to raise awareness

for your now your favorite nonprofit.

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You can partner in sharing

those s ocial media shares.

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Yes.

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You can help your network

understand that this organization

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is near and dear to my heart.

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Here's why.

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Would love to share it with you.

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But also, like you said, it's

not just dollars, it's time.

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You will learn about the nonprofit

itself and they'll also share

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like what their needs are.

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Maybe they need more volunteers mm-hmm.

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Or help running a supply drive.

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Mm-hmm.

414

And so that's one of my very

favorite things of just getting

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to marry those two worlds.

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Wendy Kidd: Absolutely.

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That's what I always tell the

nonprofits about North Texas Giving

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Day, is that you guys are creating

this big wave of momentum with it.

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Yeah.

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And they just need to ride that wave.

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Yeah.

422

Because they're not only gonna

get donations out of this, right.

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They're gonna get new eyes on their

organization because the major

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marketing that you do for this event.

425

Yeah.

426

They need to capture those eyes

and they need to turn those into

427

donors, but also volunteers.

428

Absolutely.

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They need to turn them into

the talent that they need.

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So maybe they need board members.

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Correct.

432

Maybe they need a lawyer on their board.

433

Exactly.

434

Or an event planner or whatever.

435

Right.

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Once they get more eyes on

their nonprofit, they can.

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Find those other resources in the

community that the community members

438

would've never found them otherwise.

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A hundred percent right, because

maybe that is such a small nonprofit,

440

they don't have a marketing budget.

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That's right.

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All they got is they're in a

Instagram channel and thats it.

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Exactly.

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So if they are tagging you guys,

if they're tagging North Texas

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giving day in their posts, they're

getting caught up in that momentum.

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Absolutely.

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So they're getting more eyes.

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And of course I'm a systems

girl, so I'm teaching them Yes.

449

Here's, here's how to capture that.

450

Yes.

451

Here's how to make sure that you're

maximizing that and you're building

452

relationship with these new eyes.

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Yeah.

454

So that these new eyes can

decide, do I want to be involved

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with this organization and how

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Yes, absolutely.

457

Right.

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So what advice do you have for

nonprofits looking to maximize

459

their success on this giving day?

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Heather Lothes: Yeah, absolutely.

461

So first off, I want to say utilize

your donor list to get the word out.

462

Mm-hmm.

463

Make sure, obviously make sure

you've registered, but make

464

sure your webpage is fresh.

465

Mm-hmm.

466

If you serve more than one

area, be sure to list that yes.

467

Some people kind of focus, maybe they

focus on where their headquartered

468

because of that filterable search.

469

Mm-hmm.

470

You can, you can kind of miss some things.

471

Additionally, read our website.

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We provide all these toolkits.

473

We provide support.

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The, my favorite thing about why

we do North Texas Giving Day is

475

it's a, it should be a low lift.

476

Mm-hmm.

477

But you get to make it yours.

478

Yes.

479

It's a, it's a campaign with just a, like

I said, there's a, a, an entry fee, but.

480

We provide you all the tools,

you just have to pick them up.

481

Wendy Kidd: And we're talking

about a small fee, correct?

482

Correct.

483

'cause you base it based on their

operational budget, correct?

484

Right.

485

Yes.

486

And like the minimum fee is $50.

487

That's

488

Heather Lothes: right.

489

Wendy Kidd: $50.

490

50.

491

That's not much guys.

492

And I, I actually had a nonprofit

ask me how do I even get the $50?

493

'cause I don't have it.

494

I said, call your friends.

495

Yeah.

496

Post on social media that this could be

such a game changer for your organization.

497

Get a donor,

498

Heather Lothes: get it

499

Wendy Kidd: a match to pay, pay $50.

500

Yes.

501

It's, it's not ask, it's not a big ask.

502

No.

503

It's not a big ask to ask for $50.

504

And you may feel like you have used all

your friends, but if you are willing

505

to reach out to your network Yeah.

506

Give somebody that opportunity to say yes.

507

Yeah,

508

Heather Lothes: absolutely.

509

You know, I would say ask for a match too.

510

Mm-hmm.

511

Additionally, I say, I try to

empower, I say leverage your board.

512

Leverage the folks who are very passionate

about your organization as well.

513

Mm-hmm.

514

That can be your ambassadors.

515

If you create a post, just ask them

to share it with their network.

516

Absolutely.

517

Signs are also powerful.

518

We have a new sign this

year that it's eco-friendly.

519

I saw the sign.

520

It's so pretty.

521

Yeah.

522

Evergreen.

523

And on the top there, you, there's

a space where you can put a QR

524

code or your company, or excuse

me, your organization's logo.

525

Wendy Kidd: Mm-hmm.

526

Heather Lothes: Why is that important?

527

Well, if I'm a board member of

said organization, my neighbor may

528

not have known that I was a, I'm

a board member and that I truly am

529

passionate about this organization.

530

Guess what?

531

We just found another, another

supporter because yes, a lot of

532

times people give because you give.

533

Exactly.

534

Wendy Kidd: Yeah.

535

If you believe in the cause, the

people who believe in you will

536

Heather Lothes: also believe

537

Wendy Kidd: in your cause.

538

Absolutely.

539

It's connect or trust you all.

540

So

541

Heather Lothes: whatever you say.

542

Absolutely.

543

Also the power of text.

544

If you draft a text and say, can

you just send this to 10 friends?

545

Whether it's just, I want

you to know about mm-hmm.

546

Said organization or could you

potentially, you know, partner with me

547

in, in supporting this organization?

548

Yeah.

549

The power of suggestion,

550

Wendy Kidd: I'm gonna make this

551

really simple guys.

552

I want you to go to ChatGPT and I want you

to say, Hey, how do I say to my friends,

553

if you are aware, North Texas Giving Day

is happening and I want you to know about

554

a nonprofit that I'm choosing to support.

555

Yes.

556

Just wanted you to know about 'em.

557

Absolutely.

558

Here's the link.

559

Let them decide if they're

gonna Absolutely contribute

560

cash or talent or time to this.

561

Yeah.

562

But just making people aware of

the organization is part of this.

563

Absolutely.

564

So, and, and I'm gonna add to

add on to what you just said.

565

Yeah.

566

Something that I think nonprofits

sometimes forget to do is

567

follow up after the event.

568

Heather Lothes: Absolutely.

569

And I think

570

Wendy Kidd: that's , the thing that

if they were to just take the time,

571

and I'm gonna tell you nonprofits

as you're listening to me right

572

now, please go onto your calendar

and block off September 19th.

573

Yes.

574

Because I want you to, you

know, get a little rest.

575

Yes.

576

And then I want you to also block off

September 20th because I want you to spend

577

September 20th sending a text message or

a handwritten note and saying thank you.

578

Absolutely.

579

Because the minute you do,

you have built a relationship.

580

Absolutely.

581

Heather Lothes: And, and share.

582

Share.

583

Yes.

584

Share information about your organization.

585

Perhaps you might find

your lead volunteer.

586

Wendy Kidd: Well share what

587

happened.

588

Yeah.

589

Share and say, Hey, we met our goal.

590

Thank you.

591

You were part of this.

592

Hundred percent.

593

Make them feel a part

of your organization.

594

Yes.

595

'cause that's what they want.

596

Yes.

597

That's why they're giving them money.

598

They want to feel part of what's going on.

599

And if you drop the ball and don't talk

to these people again, that's on you.

600

Yeah.

601

Right.

602

Because they wanted to talk to you.

603

That's why they gave money.

604

Heather Lothes: And it's, it

also, it's a wonderful way.

605

As a community to come

alongside one another.

606

Yes, absolutely.

607

In our various lanes, it's, you

know, an opportunity to kind of just

608

lift up philanthropy in general.

609

Mm-hmm.

610

You know, we, we have so

many, we're just all so busy.

611

Right?

612

It's a great way to just take

a breath and think about these

613

organizations who are helping others.

614

So yes,

615

Wendy Kidd: absolutely.

616

We just love that.

617

Absolutely.

618

So, okay, so we've talked

about North Texas Giving Day.

619

Is there anything else you want to

talk about North Texas Giving Day?

620

Before I move on to what CFT does,

621

Heather Lothes: I want to just say,

come out, come to these events.

622

Yes.

623

The, you know, if you have, if

you'll just, I want to challenge

624

everyone, actually pick 10 people.

625

10 people and either tell them

about North Texas Giving Day, which

626

is happening on September 18th.

627

Mm-hmm.

628

Or text 10 people and tell them what

your favorite organization is and why.

629

Yes.

630

And just simply give them

the power of that suggestion.

631

I'm not saying you have to

tell 'em to give, but just

632

tell them just a little bit.

633

Like, sometimes we just

forget it's happening.

634

We're all busy.

635

Life happens, but guess what?

636

You just, you just helped that

organization more than you'll ever know.

637

Wendy Kidd: That's the number one

problem for all nonprofits is awareness.

638

Yep.

639

Heather Lothes: Absolutely.

640

Wendy Kidd: And people not only to

know about the, the nonprofit so that

641

they can give to it, but to know about

the nonprofit in case somebody they

642

know needs that nonprofit's services.

643

Absolutely.

644

Right.

645

Heather Lothes: Yes.

646

Wendy Kidd: And that's the other

big impact I think that North Texas

647

Giving Day has is it helps people

know what services are out there.

648

Heather Lothes: Exactly.

649

And so many are in our backyard.

650

Yes.

651

So many are in a five mile radius in.

652

Oh, I love the point you just made.

653

'cause you never know.

654

You never know.

655

You don't what kind of hard

time you may fall on or your

656

neighbor would fall on as service.

657

Yeah.

658

And you are just being that helper.

659

Mm-hmm.

660

You're being a helper.

661

Yes.

662

And we all want to be helpers.

663

Absolutely.

664

Like Mr.

665

Rogers says, I prefer to

666

Wendy Kidd: think that we

all look for the helpers.

667

Yes.

668

Yes.

669

Absolutely.

670

So, okay.

671

Beyond North Texas Giving Day,

what does CFT do to continue to

672

support philanthropy and community,

community impact throughout the year?

673

Like what else do y'all

do during the year?

674

Because I know this is

675

not the only thing.

676

Heather Lothes: Yes.

677

So, at the foundation, a lot

of us say we're multifaceted.

678

There's so many things we do.

679

One of our major focuses is that

680

And the funds are

different in, in styling.

681

Our bread and butter is really a

donor advised fund, which is like

682

a charitable savings account.

683

Mm-hmm.

684

We also do grant cycles.

685

We focus on we have a discretionary

fund where we have a focus area

686

or a cause area, if you will.

687

Mm-hmm.

688

Maybe it's animals or women's health

and organizations can apply into that.

689

And then additionally, we, I personally

work with individuals, families, and

690

organizations in their charitable impact.

691

And that looks different for everyone.

692

Yes.

693

Some people are, a lot of it is education.

694

Some people know I've loved X,

Y, Z organization my whole life

695

and, and here's why and here's how

I want to directly impact them.

696

And some, like I said, they don't know.

697

Mm-hmm.

698

And so it's, it's getting to share.

699

What's important to them and how

they can be a help to a, a nonprofit.

700

With a donor advised fund, you

can only give it to a 5 0 1 C3.

701

Wendy Kidd: Mm-hmm.

702

Heather Lothes: And so

that's kind of special.

703

'cause like I said, it's a

charitable savings account.

704

You pick, you pick the

organization, you give it to.

705

And then you can also

designate where it goes.

706

So it can be general use or

it can be for said campaign.

707

Mm-hmm.

708

You can also do it in honor or

memorial of someone you see a lot

709

of times in lieu of flowers and X,

Y, Z organization a, a donation.

710

Wendy Kidd: Mm-hmm.

711

Heather Lothes: And then additionally

it's, we have a philanthropy team

712

that is incredible and they work with

nonprofits, they get to know them.

713

We provide philanthropic, advising

where we will share those organizations.

714

So, Wendy, if you loved, you know,

equine therapy in Collin County mm-hmm.

715

We will come together and provide

that list of organizations.

716

And then if you want to go visit it, we

will, we'll walk out there with you and we

717

will, the, the organization will tell you

what they need, which is really special.

718

Wendy Kidd: Yeah.

719

Heather Lothes: And then we also

are a mouthpiece and a partner in.

720

And making good happen

is what I like to say.

721

Yeah.

722

Wendy Kidd: Yeah.

723

I love that.

724

Thank you.

725

And that's why I like CFT.

726

Heather Lothes: Oh, thank you.

727

We

728

love

729

you.

730

We're so just a good organization.

731

Thank you.

732

Thank you.

733

Wendy Kidd: Love fest here on the podcast.

734

Well, what else should we know about CFT?

735

Is there anything that we haven't talked

about that you want to talk about?

736

Heather Lothes: Yeah, so we

do have many cause campaigns

737

going on throughout the year.

738

Mm-hmm.

739

Which is, again, everything we do is a, is

a light shining on our nonprofit partners.

740

And then additionally day of

We of North Texas Giving Day.

741

Look for the media.

742

I mean, you're gonna see, not

us, but you're gonna see some

743

really special nonprofits.

744

Mm-hmm.

745

And again, also, we are

boots on the ground.

746

So we are here thinking and working

with leaders and partners to

747

address pressing community needs.

748

We are here to think and,

and come alongside in it.

749

Yeah.

750

Wendy Kidd: I know that you guys

were a big help when the shooting

751

happened in Allen, so I, I think that.

752

People need to understand that y'all

really are boots on the ground because

753

when stuff happens, you're here.

754

Correct?

755

Yes.

756

And you're here when there's

not stuff that happens.

757

Yes.

758

But you're also have very key

resources in those disasters.

759

Heather Lothes: Correct.

760

So, yeah.

761

We'll,

762

we'll be steady, but we'll also activate.

763

As As needed.

764

Mm-hmm.

765

To come alongside and and support

our community in those times.

766

Yeah.

767

Yeah.

768

Absolutely.

769

Wendy Kidd: Well, thank you so much

for coming on the show today, Heather.

770

Of course.

771

I really appreciate you coming in.

772

Well, thank you.

773

And helping people understand more about

CFT, what it does, and also about North

774

Texas Giving Day and how it benefits

nonprofits and community members.

775

Heather Lothes: Well, thank you and

thank you for being a partner with us.

776

Of course.

777

And also just.

778

This time and this

opportunity to share more.

779

Absolutely.

780

I appreciate that so much.

781

A partnership of, of like hearted.

782

Folks in our community.

783

Wendy Kidd: Absolutely.

784

Yeah.

785

All right.

786

Well thanks guys.

787

We will see you next time and

give on North Texas Giving Day.

788

Thanks for listening

to The NonProfit Nook.

789

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790

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791

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792

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793

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794

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795

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796

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797

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