Season 5 Episode 1: Setting Your Teams Up For Success with Dolphins Cancer Challenge's Javier Sanchez

In our Season 5 premiere, Javier Sanchez of the Dolphins Cancer Challenge discusses how understanding both your internal team's and your fundraiser’s motivations drives mission success.

Leading a P2P campaign means managing multiple moving pieces—fundraisers with different experience levels, corporate partners with varying expectations and internal staff with diverse skill sets. But the most successful leaders know that underneath all this complexity lies a simple truth: understanding what drives each person is the key to keeping everyone aligned.

In this episode, Marcie Maxwell talks with Javier Sanchez, Executive Director of the Dolphins Cancer Challenge. With over 20 years of experience spanning mass-participation sports, philanthropy, and entertainment, Sanchez has mastered the art of identifying different personas within his ecosystem and tailoring his approach to meet each group’s specific needs.

From uncovering hidden motivations in fundraisers to adapting leadership styles for different team members, Sanchez shares practical strategies for building stronger connections that translate into better outcomes. Whether you’re supporting a cancer survivor taking on their first fundraising challenge or coaching your staff to have deeper conversations with participants, this conversation offers actionable insights for anyone leading mission-driven teams.

Together, we’ll explore:

– How to identify and support different personas across your fundraiser base, staff, and partner network
– Proven techniques for uncovering what truly motivates people—and coaching your team to do the same
– Practical strategies for adapting your leadership style to drive alignment across complex stakeholder groups

Mentioned Links

Dolphinscancerchallenge.com
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Podcast Guest

Javier Sanchez is the Executive Director of the Miami Dolphins’ philanthropic initiative, Dolphins Cancer Challenge. Sanchez has worked with the Miami Dolphins, Miami Open, and F1 Miami Grand Prix teams at Hard Rock Stadium in support of its community supporting initiatives to promote a healthier, more educated, and united South Florida.

With over 20 years of experience in mass-participation sports, philanthropy, and entertainment, Sanchez has held roles at the Miami Marathon, Lifetime Fitness, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and the Orange Bowl.

A double graduate of the University of Miami, Sanchez has served as an adjunct professor and is a member of the University of Miami Citizens Board, a group of business, professional, and civic leaders dedicated to supporting philanthropic efforts.

Podcast Host

Marcie Maxwell is the CEO 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.