Celebrity gossip magazines love to remind us: "Stars — they’re just like us!" And while the world of digital creators and streamers can feel like a distant universe, the truth is that these online personalities aren’t so different from the rest of us.

As P2P fundraising increasingly intersects with the creator community, it’s easy to view streamers and influencers as fundamentally different from traditional participants. But while they may bring unique visions, massive reach, and unfamiliar platforms to the table, their core needs remain the same: support, motivation, impact, and authentic relationships.

In this episode, P2PPF’s Marcie Maxwell chats with two nonprofit pros who’ve successfully navigated this space — Aimee Yrlas-Simpson, Chief Development Officer, and Angela Ridenour, Development Manager at the Immune Deficiency Foundation. IDF’s journey into the creator world began when they connected with global streamer Ironmouse, who also happens to be a member of the primary immunodeficiency community.

Together, we’ll explore:

• The key differences and surprising similarities between content creators and traditional P2P fundraisers
• Strategies for cultivating relationships in a digital-first landscape
• How to build mutually beneficial, mission-aligned partnerships with content creators

Mentioned Links

Primaryimmune.org

https://primaryimmune.org/get-involved/raise-awareness-and-funds-idf/diy-gaming

Plasmahero.org

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• (00:00) - Welcome to The P2P Soap Box
• (05:59) - Launching Into Streaming

In the early days of peer-to-peer fundraising events, one of the fastest ways to grow a program was to launch events in new markets. But many organizations scaled back over time, whether due to strategic shifts or limited resources. So what happens when it’s time to grow again? How do you evaluate new opportunities and ensure long-term success?

Expanding into a new market involves much more than adding a city to your event series. It requires significant lead time to build local relationships, experienced mentorship, and the right team in place with boots on the ground.

In this episode, P2PPF’s Marcie Maxwell speaks with Cliff Whitlock, National Director of Ride to Defeat ALS at the ALS Association. Cliff shares how his team is expanding their growing ride series into new markets, the criteria they use to assess potential locations, and what it takes to launch successfully, from staff training to local engagement.

You’ll also learn:

• Why local volunteer leadership is essential
• Strategies for building credibility in new communities
• Key lessons learned from first-year hurdles and how to overcome them

Mentioned Links

als.org

als.org/ridetodefeatals

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Connect with Cliff

Connect with Marcie

Connect with the Peer-to-Peer Professional Forum

• (00:00) - Welcome to The P2P Soap Box
• (01:20) - Introducing Cliff Whitlock
• (04:30) - The Rides to Defeat ALS
• (10:45) - The Power of the Assessment
• (13:26) - Motivation
• (16:06) - Building Community in a New Location
• (30:00) - Learn More at ALS.org

In the P2P fundraising world, we often look to the spark of organic, supporter-led moments like the Ice Bucket Challenge as examples of what’s possible when passion meets purpose. But when lightning strikes, are you ready to catch it?

This episode dives into one such moment: when four friends, Pat Morissey, Brendan Cusick, Peter Durso, and Scott Forman, decided to row 2,800 miles across the Pacific Ocean to raise funds for The Michael J. Fox Foundation For Parkinson’s Research. With the right support, strategic partnership and a community rallying behind them, their effort transformed into a powerful campaign that inspired the Parkinson’s community worldwide.

Pat Morrissey, the first person with Parkinson’s to complete this journey, and Liz Deemer, Vice President of Community Fundraising at MJFF, join P2PPF’s Marcie Maxwell to share the behind-the-scenes story of Team Human Powered Potential—recipients of the 2025 Cash, Sweat & Tears Award—and the incredible impact of this campaign.

In this episode, we’ll also explore:

• How to recognize and respond to bold, supporter-led fundraising opportunities
• What makes staff–fundraiser relationships thrive under high-stakes pressure
• Practical takeaways for activating your community in powerful and unexpected ways

Mentioned Links

www.michaeljfox.org

www.teamfox.org

www.humanpoweredpotential.org

On Instagram: @humanpoweredpotential

Stay Connected on LinkedIn

Connect with Liz

Connect with Marcie

Connect with the Peer-to-Peer Professional Forum

• (00:00) - Welcome to The P2P Soap Box
• (02:22) - Introducingt the Team
• (03:42) - Pat's Journey
• (10:53) - Liz's Journey
• (15:46) - The Story of the Numbers
• (28:30) - On the Water
• (33:57) - Organizational Challenges
• (37:28) - Advice for Professionals
• (42:14) - Learn More about MJFF