Samantha Swaim

Samantha’s love affair with live events began long before she knew fundraising existed. With a background steeped in theatre and television production, she understood something fundamental: the magic happens when you can feel the energy shift in a room, when an audience moves from passive observers to active participants in something bigger than themselves.

That understanding became her superpower in the nonprofit world. After founding Swaim Strategies in 2004, Samantha spent the next two decades working internationally with organizations to transform their gatherings from routine fundraisers into movement-building experiences. Her secret weapon? An almost uncanny ability to take a paddle raise from, “Okay, I guess we’ll participate” to “How high can we go?” turning those pivotal moments into catalysts for extraordinary generosity.

Samantha’s theatre roots show up everywhere in her work: in how she helps organizations craft compelling narratives, stage unforgettable moments, and understand that every great event is really a live performance where the audience becomes part of the story. Her television production background taught her that whether you’re broadcasting to millions or speaking to hundreds in a ballroom, authentic connection transcends the medium.

Today, as co-author of “Planning a Successful Major Donor Event,” founder of the annual Elevate Conference, and co-host of The Fundraising Elevator podcast, Samantha is on a mission to elevate the entire sector—one story, one room, one perfectly orchestrated paddle raise at a time. Because she knows that when nonprofits get their events right, they don’t just raise money, they build the communities that change the world.

When not working on events you can find Sam traveling or in the garden.