How do you take a nonprofit that relies entirely on donations and turn it into a thriving community hub for wildlife, education, and conservation?
Lisa Franco, Director of Development at Woodford Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge in New Jersey, joins the Be a Marketer podcast to share how she combines a marketing background with a passion for wildlife to grow support, increase donations, and strengthen community ties.
In this episode, you’ll hear how Lisa balances fundraising with education, why storytelling is her most powerful tool for driving engagement, and how Cedar Run uses creative approaches like “Weddings in the Wild” to reach new generations of supporters. Lisa also explains how Constant Contact helps them segment audiences, simplify giving, and keep donors connected to the impact of their contributions.
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Meet Today’s Guest: Lisa Franco of Woodford Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge
👤 What she does: Director of Development at Woodford Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge, the oldest and busiest wildlife hospital in New Jersey, which also serves as a sanctuary and education center. Lisa oversees fundraising, donor stewardship, communications, and special events.
💡 Key quote: “The best marketing is just being genuine. For us, it’s easy because our mission is a good cause. There’s nothing bad about saving animals and protecting the environment.”
👋 Where to find her: LinkedIn
👋 Where to find Cedar Run: Website | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | TikTok