OM DENNE EPISODE
Mastering Fundraising Episode: Co-Creating Impact With Donors featuring Anna Lee
In this episode, Chris Looney sits down with Anna Lee, Executive Director of the AIP Foundation, to explore one of the most important and evolving topics in fundraising today: co-creating impact with donors and funders.
Anna brings more than two decades of experience across corporate relations, foundation partnerships, and major gift fundraising. Now leading the philanthropic arm of the American Institute of Physics, she works at the intersection of science, philanthropy, and social impact, helping supporters invest in discovery and the people who make it possible.
Together we explore
• What co-creation really means in a nonprofit context
• How to identify early signals that a donor is ready for partnership thinking
• How fundraisers can do the internal homework that paves the way for shared design
• The differences and similarities across individuals, foundations, and corporate funders
• Real examples of co-creation, from the first spark of an idea all the way to execution
• How to translate technical or scientific work into clear and inspiring language
• Why transparency and trust are essential for long term partnerships
• The role of storytelling in helping donors feel ownership of the impact they help create
Anna also shares practical advice for fundraisers who feel hesitant to invite donors into early stage conversations, and offers a simple but powerful reminder. The strongest partnerships start with active listening.
If you are a nonprofit leader, fundraiser, or anyone who wants to deepen donor relationships and design programs with greater clarity and alignment, this episode will give you tools you can use right away.
Tune in and learn how to move from transactions to true collaboration.
