DNP Deep Dive: Gaming Fundraisers w/ April Stallings

Dynamic Nonprofits

Fundraising through gaming and livestreaming has become a multi-billion dollar revenue channel by marrying tried and true peer to peer fundraising psychology with modern technology, but it remains a mystery to many experienced fundraisers and a medium which is labeled with misconceptions by those who don't game themselves.

Think your donors don't game? Think again, studies show that there are over 200 million gamers in the U.S. alone many of whom are in their prime earning and giving years (those millennials who grew up playing Tetris on NES now own homes and have families of their own - And many still game in their free time).

Gaming and Livestream fundraisers present non-profits with a unique opportunity to engage valuable donors who may not be reachable through traditional direct response channels, but knowing where to begin can seem daunting.

That's why I was thrilled to invite April Stallings onto the show. April is Gaming and Influencer Community Manager for Make-A-Wish International. A lifelong gamer herself, April helps to cultivate a community of gamers, content creators, and influencers who are eager to raise funds from their followers and get more wishes granted for children.

In this eye-opening discussion, April covers:

- Who games and why it's a valuable channel for non-profits of all types to explore (April helps bust some serious gaming myths)

- How to recruit content creators and influencers who are willing and able to raise money for your cause

- The importance of cultivating relationships with those creators and not looking for one-offs

- Her methods for vetting potential creators and why influencers with smaller followings can be the most effective fundraisers

- Some tips for non-profits with files built from traditional direct response channels to find and engage gamers who are already donors

- Why gaming is just part of streaming and the growth of chat streams

Plus, much more...

Our conversation with April will be a fun listen for gamers and a valuable one for fundraisers who want to know first steps for starting a program of their own. However, it will be equally valuable for traditional direct response fundraisers who are seeking to broaden their knowledge about one of the fastest growing channels in the industry.

If you do get value out of our interview with April, please pay it forward by rating and reviewing the Dynamic Non-Profits Podcast and subscribing to the show. It really does help boost our rankings and helps us connect with more dynamic fundraisers like April, Dynamic Non-Profits is available on Apple, Spotify, and wherever great podcasts are heard.

Thanks as always for listening and for supporting the Dynamic Non-Profits' mission to advocate for an unsiloed approach to fundraising, enjoy the show!

Show Notes:

Listen to our interview with Tiltify's Michael Wasserman for more about gaming and livestream fundraisers!

https://open.spotify.com/episode/6LGXzEOuBRVOp2k6etev7L

https://www.axios.com/2022/06/07/video-game-players-america-222

https://www.linkedin.com/in/april-stallings-%E2%9E%A1%EF%B8%8F-twitchcon-%E2%9E%A1%EF%B8%8F-brasil-game-show-%F0%9F%87%A7%F0%9F%87%B7-65141113a/

https://grantstation.com/gs-insights/Fundraising-Through-Charitable-Gaming