Season 4 Episode 4: Activating The Content Creator Community Through P2P with The Immune Deficiency Foundation’s Aimee Yrlas-Simpson & Angela Ridenour

The Immune Deficiency Foundation’s Aimee Yrlas-Simpson & Angela Ridenour share their secrets to building organic & sustainable partnerships with content creators.

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, 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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Podcast Guests

Aimee brings over 25 years of expertise in the non-profit sector, with a background in individual giving, corporate partnerships, peer-to-peer fundraising, board development, strategic planning, operations, and marketing.

Currently, she is the Chief Development Officer at the Immune Deficiency Foundation (IDF), where she collaborates with leadership and the governing board to implement both short and long-term strategic plans. Aimee oversees the operations development function and manages the advancement staff’s development activities. Her leadership is instrumental in driving a diversified revenue strategy to support and advance the organization’s mission.

Previously, Aimee held leadership roles at the American Diabetes Association, Business Executives for National Security, and the Woodruff Arts Center.

Aimee is deeply committed to servant leadership and volunteerism. She volunteers with her local Girl Scouts troop, is an alumnus of the Leadership Georgia Class of 2012, serves on the board of the Lake Oconee Academy Foundation, and has been a commissioner on the Georgia Commission for Service and Volunteerism since her appointment by Georgia Governor Brian Kemp in 2016.

Aimee is a women’s college graduate with a B.A. in Sociology/Women’s Studies from Trinity College, Washington D.C. She, her husband Marsay, and daughter Idalia call both Atlanta and Washington D.C. home.

Angela Ridenour has worked in fundraising for nonprofits since 2014. She joined IDF in 2019 as a development coordinator, was promoted to development manager, and now serves as the volunteer manager. As the development manager, she enjoys connecting to the PI community and IDF volunteers by managing the Walks for PI and the Do-It-Yourself fundraising program. Now as the volunteer manager, she builds relationships with volunteers and helps them find opportunities to make a difference in the PI community.

Angela holds two bachelor’s degrees, one in biology and one in psychology, from Hood College. She holds a master’s degree in health administration from Walden University, and is earning a doctoral degree in public health with a focus in epidemiology from Walden University.

Podcast Host

Marcie Maxwell is the Managing Director of the Peer-to-Peer Professional Forum. Marcie joined the P2PPF team in 2021 after 15+ years as a front-line fundraiser, national events & campaign director and fundraising consultant. In her role, Marcie serves as a primary thought leader and community builder for the peer-to-peer fundraising industry. She started her career in fundraising with 10+ years at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, where she ran local fundraising events, managed national volunteer partnerships and launched their national walk program. She then spent 5+ years as the Director of Chapter Fundraising Events with Make-A-Wish America, where she provided strategy, support & training to 60 chapters on the full event portfolio – walks, school fundraising, an endurance hiking program and galas & social events. In her most recent role at Charity Dynamics, she partnered with clients to provide strategic guidance and analysis to help them optimize and grow their peer-to-peer fundraising events & campaigns. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication from Louisiana State University and a master’s degree in Ethical Leadership from Christian Brothers University. She resides in Memphis, TN.