Great Stories Are Hard to Come By—The Power of Peer-to-Peer

By Otis Fulton, Ph.D and Katrina VanHuss

Great stories are hard to come by. Here are a few you can hear Nov. 12 and 13 at the P2P 201: Redefining Peer-to-Peer Conference.

Steve Nardizzi, former CEO of the Wounded Warrior Project, will recount the rapid rise of Wounded Warrior, what makes the organization so special, the public relations kerfuffle (to the legal limit allowed) and how his experiences have shaped his future.
Courtney Bugler, director Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, will describe the monumental task of changing the program from a highly transactional model to a fundraising model. She will share some good news that we’ve all waited a long time for with regards to Race For The Cure’s performance and the strategies she used to accomplish the turning of the corner.
Lissa Greenlee, senior national director of Leukemia & Lymphoma Team in Training, will describe the rapid rise of Team in Training, the devastating decline and key actions that help the program… well, I’m going to let her share the good news. Trust me, it will be a harbinger of joy for peer-to-peer peeps across the country, all-rooting for Team in Training.
Tina Zeff, National ALS EVP of development, will describe how she uses data to target, for example, the optimal time value to move a peer-to-peer fundraiser into other revenue channels in order to maximize lifetime value. The ALS Association’s sophisticated use of data and the organizational changes imposed by the Ice Bucket Challenge make for fascinating listening.
John Vranas, chief marketing and development officer at the Humane Society of the U.S., along with Barry Patterson, senior product manager Blackbaud Labs, will expose their inner gamers as they discuss the future of online gaming and peer to peer fundraising. John, or JV, has had tours of duty with Make-A-Wish USA and International, JDRF, St. Jude, Cystic Fibrosis, March of Dimes and MDA. Barry is a deeply experience senior product manager with Blackbaud. Listening to the two of them talk is like listening to two teenagers huddled over joy sticks, plotting to cure the world of all its evil, sipping Monsters and throwing back Cheetos.
Michael Kinney, digital fundraising managing director for the Children’s Miracle Network Extra Life extends the online fundraising/gaming fun with his story of the rise of Extra Life. Also loves Monsters and Cheetos.
Brian Gawor of Ruffalo Noel Levitz, and David Jakielo, assistant director annual giving at Duquesne University, will tell the story of how they combined peer-to-peer fundraising with Giving Day to create a huge success.
Chris Rae, strategic partnership leader at UNICEF New Zealand, will describe in our closing session how he collaborated with a willing partner, Tim Burgess, head of communications and special projects at Les Mills International, to execute a peer-to-peer fundraising program inside gyms across Europe, using content like Body Pump to get trainers and exercisers stoked to fundraise in their Workout For Water program.
Vickie LoBello will talk about the rise of the American Cancer Society Relay For Life, as seen from her chair in the California Division which went from $0 to $33 million under her direction. You’ll hear about source of the Relay magic that transformed peer to peer fundraising in America.

These are just a few of the stories you’ll hear from the lectern. You’ll hear more in direct interface with other attendees. The structure of the conference is built on storytelling, and not just from the stage. You’ll be in facilitated conversations with your peers where you’ll tell your own stories and hear about experiences others have had which can help you.

Turnkey was recruited to curate content for this conference due our 29 years serving the peer-to-peer industry and our experience at facilitating peer experience sharing gatherings. I believe the exact words were, “You know where all the bodies are buried, and you’re good at getting people to talk to each other.” Thus, the partnership was born. In reality, simply from being part of these programs over many years, we know a lot about what was successful and what wasn’t, about the drama of growing programs and the trauma of watching them decline. We’ve used those connections and that knowledge to help build the best story time ever. We hope you’ll join us and share your own.

Katrina VanHuss and Otis Fulton have written a book, Dollar Dash, on the psychology of peer-to-peer fundraising. Click here to download the first chapter, courtesy of NonProfit PRO!

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Otis Fulton, Ph.D Author's page

Otis spent most of his career in the education industry, working at the psychometric research and development firm MetaMetrics Inc., Pearson Education and others. Since 2013, he has focused on the nonprofit sector, applying psychology to fundraising and donor behavior at Turnkey. He is the co-author of the 2017 book, ”Dollar Dash: The Behavioral Economics of Peer-to-Peer Fundraising” and is a frequent speaker at national nonprofit conferences. With Katrina VanHuss, he co-authors a blog at NonProfit PRO, “Peeling the Onion,” on the intersection of psychology and philanthropy.

Otis is a much-sought-after copywriter for nonprofit fundraising messages. He has written campaigns for UNICEF, St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, March of Dimes, Susan G. Komen, the USO and dozens of other organizations. He has a Ph.D. in social psychology from Virginia Commonwealth University and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Virginia, where he also played on UVA’s first ACC champion basketball team.

Katrina VanHuss Author's page

Katrina VanHuss has helped national nonprofits raise funds and friends since 1989 when she founded Turnkey. Her client’s successes and her dedication to research have made her a sought-after speaker, presenting at national conferences for Blackbaud, Peer to Peer Professional Forum, Nonprofit PRO, The Need Help Foundation and her clients’ national meetings. The firm’s work is underpinned by the study and application of behavioral economics and social psychology. Turnkey provides project engagements, coaching, counsel and staffing to nonprofits seeking to improve revenue or create new revenue. Her work extends into organizational alignment efforts and executive coaching.

Katrina also regularly shares her wit and business experiences on her and Otis Fulton's NonProfit PRO blog “Peeling the Onion.” When not writing or researching, Katrina likes to make things — furniture from reclaimed wood, new gardens, food with no recipe. Katrina’s favorite Saturday is spent cleaning out the garage, mowing the grass, making something new, all while listening to loud music by now-deceased black women, throwing in a few sets on the weight bench off and on, then collapsing on the couch with her husband Otis to gang-watch new Netflix series whilst drinking sauvignon blanc.

Katrina grew up on a Virginia beef cattle and tobacco farm with her three brothers. She is accordingly skilled in hand to hand combat and witty repartee — skills gained at the expense of her brothers. Katrina’s claim to fame is having made it to the “American Gladiator” Richmond competition as a finalist in her late 20s, progressing in the competition until a strangely large blonde woman knocked her off a pedestal with an oversized pain-inducing Q-tip. Katrina’s mantra for life is “Be nice. Do good. Embrace embarrassment.” Clearly she’s got No. 3 down.