Creative Australia's Knowledge Series: “Pick Up the Phone!” Why (& How) Fundraisers (& Artists!) Should Be Making Mid-Level Fundraising Asks | Kel Haney

Knowledge Series | Mastering arts fundraising is our master course in arts fundraising. Presented by leading Australian and international experts, the webinars cover essential fundraising topics contextualised and relevant to the Australian cultural landscape. 

“Pick Up the Phone!”: Why (& How) Fundraisers (& Artists!) Should Be Making Mid-Level Fundraising Asks | Presented by Kel Haney

Synopsis:
Are you stumped about how to build and maintain mid-level donor relationships? Do you have a specific passion project for which you need to raise money, and you don’t know where to start? Is your community responding less to emails & letter appeals? Do you have some new donor levels or events you’d like to “beta test”? Do you want to say “thank you” for recent gifts, and also open the door for community members to make their next donations?

All of this is possible with…phone calls! (Yes, in 2025!)

In this session, you’ll learn how to immediately improve your mid-level fundraising cadence through specific, targeted phone conversations. You’ll also have an introduction to Kel’s signature, 5-Minute Fundraising Ask training in which you’ll learn to engage in short, genuine conversations with mid-level donors (& also make an Ask!). Whether you’re an artist who’s new to fundraising or a seasoned fundraiser, making outbound phone calls to specific mid-level donors will strengthen your relationship to your community, while also surpassing your fundraising goals (for Giving Day and beyond!).

About Kel:

Kel Haney, the founder & president of Kel Haney Consulting, is a New York City & Maine-based fundraising trainer, coach, consultant, and speaker. She guides nonprofits in growing their mid-level donor relationships through quick, authentic, & successful phone conversations. Kel has trained & coached non-profit organizations to raise over $20M, primarily in donations under $10,000. She’s also personally made over 20,000 fundraising phone calls (which inspired her 5-Minute Fundraising Ask framework). 

Kel’s all about “Taking the Ick Out of the Ask”: Kel is passionate about shifting fundraising conversations away from transactional encounters and toward relationship-building opportunities.

She spent 20 years as a theater director, and Kel’s fundraising methodology is based on how she led a rehearsal room: focusing on what makes each of us unique and engaging. She empowers non-profit staff, leadership, board members, & freelance artists with the knowledge that they already possess the most critical tools.

Links:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kel-haney/

Website: https://www.kelhaney.com/