Nonstop Nonprofit

Today, we’re catching up with Francesco Ambrogetti, Principal Adviser of Innovative and Alternative Finance for Children at UNICEF. A champion of innovation in funding and paradigm-shifting change, Francesco has pioneered new funding architectures like bank bonds to support fundraising, parametric insurance to cover children, the first outcome finance structure for polio, and socially-conscious ETFs. The last time we talked to Francesco, we barely scratched the surface of the type of alternative funding that makes enormous change possible, fast. This time, though… get ready to get innovative. Tune in to hear how social proof can affect fundraising, the effect of a mindset shift that takes donations from an afterthought to the forefront, and practical advice for championing alternative funding in an industry that’s slow to adopt innovation.

After an enlightening interview with Olga M. Woltman of LemonSkies (queue it up next!) left us pondering the role of storytelling in the nonprofit world, we realized that our focus on advanced fundraising practices parallels the aspirations of ethical storytellers. Namely, ethical storytelling is the future of the nonprofit story (and the heart and soul of nonprofit fundraising). But to fundraisers searching for the perfect nonprofit campaign, ethical storytelling can feel elusive and fuzzy. Like, what exactly is it and how exactly do you do it? Today’s guest, Philippe Lazaro, is here to bring clarity and direction to anyone struggling with making space for ethical storytelling. Philippe, Creative Director of Plant with Purpose, TEDx speaker, and illustrator, has spent his career centering conversations around communities both global and local. And his advice is exactly what nonprofits need to take their storytelling efforts to higher heights.

Coming from a cathedral of redwoods, from shared moments between a collective of concerned colleagues, this episode of the Nonstop Nonprofit podcast brings together visionary nonprofit leaders Justin Wheeler and Brett Hagler. Justin is the CEO of Funraise and sometimes-host of the Nonstop Nonprofit podcast, and Brett is CEO of New Story, a nonprofit pioneering solutions to end homelessness. Together, they sat down at Camp Redwood, a creative gathering for social entrepreneurs, to talk about the state of the nonprofit industry—now and long-term. As he and Justin discussed leaning into opportunities, Brett said, "The harder, more courageous decision will likely come with short-term pain, but ...the big idea that we have is going to be so much more growth that it's worth it." Knowing how and when to take that step is the crux of his conversation with Justin. Tune in to hear nonprofit leaders just like yourself discuss stretch goal strategies, the crossroads of opportunity and obligation, and the value of using software as a strategy. For full video interview --> https://www.youtube.com/@Funraiseplatform

The winds of change are blowing, and nonprofits, ahem, the for-good sector, isn’t immune. Today we’re talking to a seasoned nonprofiteer who has experienced his share of change and made it his mission to shepherd for-good organizations through transformational moments. In this conversation with Todd Hiestand, Co-owner of Liminal, a creative branding agency for nonprofits, we touch on the effects that change has on the for-good sector, how to foster these shifts, and the value of leaning into the liminal spaces where change happens. One change that host David Schwab would like to see could be viewed as semantical—and it’s one that Todd and David air their views on in this episode: the movement from “nonprofit” language to “for-good”. It’s also one that he’d love to hear your views on, so please let him know your thoughts! Join us now for a discussion on the merits of “for-good” language, the ways change and innovation intersect, and how none of us are alone on the road to better. Be sure to pick up a copy of the latest ebook from Liminal, Effective Nonprofit Branding, available on their website now.

Today, we’re talking about a serious subject that has inspired a seriously enlightened discussion: Retention in the for-good sector. If you’ve been working in this sector for any length of time, you’re probably aware that keeping mission-oriented staff is harder than ever. But why? If you’re a nonprofit leader seeing your staff burn out and move away from causes that they’re passionate about, what can you do? Today’s guest, Amber Christoferson, is here to help you answer that question. With a career path that’s taken her from United Way to the Fortune 500 and back to the for-good sector as VP of DickersonBakker’s Executive Search Group, Amber is leading the conversation around this crucial issue. Starting with understanding your organization’s identity and needs, focusing on setting your staff up for success, and building a culture of retention, Amber leans on the DickersonBakker 2023 Nonprofit Leadership and Fundraising study that reveals significant disconnects between the folks working the for-good frontlines and their leadership. Among all the questions is one sure thing: the best way to solve this problem is to bridge the communication gap, so join the conversation!

Let's start with a phrase that we don’t say often enough: “Get that money, honey!” Today’s guest, nonprofit leadership coach and major gifts consultant, Rhea Wong, comes to the charitable sector with experience as a recipient of nonprofit services, a green-but-hustling ED, a self-taught fundraising expert, and a charitable board whisperer. And as we’ve established, the title of Rhea’s book Get That Money, Honey! The No-Bullsh*t Guide to Raising More Money for Your Nonprofit isn’t just fun to say, it’s full of actionable strategies and learn-from-my-mistakes moments—and Rhea is here to dig through it with us. Prepare to be entertained and educated in this episode! Rhea and David discuss mindset versus skillset, untelling unhelpful stories, turning the ask into the win, and manifesting Big Donor Energy.

It’s that time of year—the time that we’re all focused on new beginnings and upcoming trends, brimming with hope that there’s some groundbreaking tactic, tool, or trick on the horizon. (Unless you’re listening to this in August, of course.) Nicole Nidea, Program Director at SODA, has lots to say about a trend that’s been sweeping 2023 and is poised to change the face of fundraising in 2024: What Nicole calls “findability”. We’re talking AI-assisted search experiences, long-game scaling strategies, social mixing tactics that target specific audiences, and more. For example, using specialized SEO has made Nicole a champion of integrating awareness as a goal into every aspect of fundraising—and increasing that awareness, or “findability” allows SODA staff to focus their energy on the things that matter. While Nicole brings to life a wonderland of awareness, that’s not all she shines a light on—listen in to hear all about SODA’s scale and scope, partnerships and peer-to-peer, and findability as a fundraising need.

When Jon DeLange agreed to come on the Nonstop Nonprofit podcast, we planned a conversational angle to keep the discussion from spinning out—if you know podcasters, you know staying on topic can be tough! Jon’s topic was "12 Rules for Fundraising: an antidote to tactical overwhelm during the EOY fundraising season”. As a longtime fundraising consultant and Summit Ministries’ Direct Mail and Digital Fundraising Manager (not to mention one of 2023’s top 25 Fundraising Experts in America), Jon relies on these rules to help fundraisers stay the course when it all gets to be Too Much. So is it “12 Rules” or “One Weird Secret”? As we dug into Jon’s guidelines, we discovered that everything he shared with us pointed back to an illuminating, universal truth. And that’s as close as we get to clickbait, friends. Listen in to discover what Jon and I uncovered.

It’s a safe bet that when nonprofiteers talk about their work, the word “passion” will come up pretty quickly. But does passion alone drive impact? Julie Ordoñez says character matters more than passion when it comes to fundraising. From directing philanthropy and being a Major Gift Officer at organizations like New Story, Lift, and United Way of Greater Los Angeles to coaching leaders in raising game-changing gifts, Julie has a unique perspective for growing any organization’s impact—and that perspective hinges on courage. Julie even leads an intimate program called Courage Lab designed to help fundraisers make bold asks of individual donors. So get ready, because listeners, today you’re going to get the best of the best advice on how to infuse your asks with character and courage for results that go far beyond the ordinary.

It’s a universal truth that people love to feel special. We all want to feel like we’re an indispensable part of something. It’s also true that each and every one of us has limitations on our time, money, and attention. So with these realities coexisting, how can nonprofits interact with supporters on a personal level while not draining them of resources? Katelyn Baughan, nonprofit email marketing expert and consultant to Trevor Project, UNHCR, and Amnesty International, has more than a few tactics to share with Nonstop Nonprofit listeners. As nonprofit fundraisers, you and I are used to feeling pressure to perform. It’s not uncommon for us to be told that without donations—literally our job, btw—our world will be a darker, sharper place. Katelyn’s antidote emphasizes speaking up during quieter moments, making magic happen in the harsh light of a screen, and elevating everyone’s experience through innovation. So whether you’re in the thick of your busiest time of year or you’re a year-in-advance planner, Katelyn’s advice in this episode will help you use email to scale impact, retain donors, and align your communications—all while reminding you that you, too, are essential to our brighter tomorrow.

Talk about a jam-packed podcast episode—this conversation with Cameron Bartlett has it all: anecdotes, examples, trends, cautionary tales, solutions, trends, strategies… and did we mention cutting-edge trends from the trenches? That’s right; as we talked, Cameron had a story and a trend that related to each and every topic we brought up. And it’s no surprise… Cameron’s a fast-moving, trend-setting, high-growth fundraising consultant who’s worked with nonprofits like New Story, IJM, Compassion, Cure, and World Vision—and is now Stop Soldier Suicide's Vice President of Performance Marketing—reaching hundreds of millions of people and drive important global initiatives. As a veteran fundraising consultant himself, Nonstop Nonprofit podcast host David Schwab was excited to talk with a realistic optimist who sees the same extraordinary potential in nonprofits that he does. So, if you’re looking for a dense discussion that will stimulate your strategies and transfer trends for fruitful fundraising, or you like alliteration, listen in to this episode of Nonstop Nonprofit!

Let us ask you a question, fundraiser: When it comes to crunch time for your fundraising campaigns, do you feel intense pressure to find a poster child for your nonprofit, capture their iconic story, and optimize it to deliver maximum donations? Look into our eyes, listener, and hear us when we say that’s a daunting task for anyone. It’s no wonder storytelling stresses nonprofits out! But there is a way, and you’re about to hear the secret directly from one of the storytelling greats. Olga M. Woltman has the key to discovering, creating, and distributing stories that will compel connections and keep donors coming back time after time. Spoiler alert: it doesn’t involve parading a poster child around, invading your clients’ privacy, or making something up. Today, Olga and David Schwab, Funraise's Director of Growth Marketing have the scoop for you on how to ethically and empathetically uncover the captivating stories just beneath the surface, weave relevant impact stats and authentic conversations throughout, and choose the perfect moment to release them for incredible impact.

Today’s guest doesn’t just skim us across the surface of AI in the nonprofit sector; he’s taking us to the forefront of the future of fundraising. David Norris is a leader at three organizations that are making big things for nonprofits so they can make big things happen: Bold Crow, Proofpact, and The Nonprofit Hive all use trending technology to benefit the nonprofitsphere. As soon as we said “trending technology”, you knew AI was joining the chat, didn’t you? You were right; we can’t talk about cutting-edge tech today without it. …But what’s there to talk about that you haven’t heard? We all know there are AI tools for almost everything—if you know where to look and how to integrate them. And that’s where David Norris comes in. David builds custom AI agents and applications that address nonprofits’ specific needs. Stuff like automations that reduce weeks of work to 10 minutes and conversational AI guides that accompany you through the digital universe. David’s also sharing info you need around AI’s ethical considerations, explaining autonomous AGI agents, and predicting which roles will be most affected by artificial intelligence. This conversation is a must-listen if you’re looking for a deep dive into the potential that AI will bring to the nonprofit sector, who artificial intelligence is affecting the most, and technology trends to keep your eyes on.

Hi, there Nonstop Nonprofit listeners! Today’s interview offers insight into an unlikely pairing of nonprofit passion and for-profit practice. It’s a method of leading and growing nonprofits that’s largely unused in the nonprofit sector: EOS. Amy Acton, CEO at Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors, implemented this aggressive growth system to expand PBS’ community and visibility to more than one million burn survivors, and it’s been a game-changer for them. EOS, or Entrepreneurial Operating System, is more often used by for-profit startups because of its dynamic strategy, but when combined with the passion and dedication that nonprofit people possess, it has the potential to propel exponential growth. Over her decades with PBS, Amy has been a part of an unstoppable team with a mission to unite the voices of the global burn community—and they make it happen through some of the most innovative swing-for-the-fences concepts and experimentation that we’ve ever seen. If you’re looking for an explosive episode to break your nonprofit from its self-imposed bonds, this is a must-listen. And lucky you, you’ll have the whole summer to work on your exciting plans because Nonstop Nonprofit is on hiatus until September! Thank you, listener, for your continued support—we can’t wait to bring you new and exciting leaders in Season 4 of the Nonstop Nonprofit podcast.

Is your nonprofit uncomfortable with growth? I mean huge, mission-busting, stuff-of-dreams type growth, otherwise known as exponential growth? Because if your comfy idea of growth is increasing donations and programming and impact by a solid 5% each year, that’s fine. It’s just that… well, with 10-15% inflation hitting everyone, that 5% growth isn’t quite the flex you think it is. (In fact, it may not even cover your end-of-year pizza party.) Now that we’ve scared you—and sorry about that, by the way—we’ve got a special guest to get you psyched for growth like you’ve never experienced. Matt Scott is the author of The High-Growth Nonprofit, CEO and Co-founder of CauseMic, and a longtime friend of Funraise. As the title of his book suggests, Matt is here today discussing proven steps to quickly double your nonprofit’s revenue and drive impact, and he’s backing up these actionable insights with stories, examples, and analogies galore. Seriously, there’s something for everyone. So settle in for a conversation centered in thinking big and changing big for breathtakingly big growth.

"Keep it simple." Could it be that simple? Could changing the world be as simple as… keeping it simple? When Bill Lutz says it, it seems obvious. Bill is the ED of New Path and Coach and President of Pinnacle Strategies—and he’s got an amazingly focused view when it comes to nonprofit leadership and fundraising. But his advice to “keep it simple” isn’t as simple as it sounds. Bill recognizes that a great nonprofit leader does the work of building the structure and instilling discipline while passing along the simplified system to an empowered team. An illusion, that’s what “keeping it simple” is. And even when they simplify, those same great nonprofit leaders continue learning. Speaking of learning, listen in as Bill explains how nonprofit leadership is like both baseball and poker, illustrates the value of preparing for future donors, and delivers the most valuable—and simple—advice of all.

Many nonprofits struggle to deliver meaningful content in a way that engages their donor base. It tracks; you can have the coolest impact story, but if it’s just sitting on your website waiting for donors to come to it, it’s not truly making the impact it was designed for. If that sounds like something your nonprofit struggles with, this episode is for you! Today, Funraise's Director of Growth Marketing, David Schwab, is talking to David Bowden, spoken word poet and Co-Founder & Executive Director of Spoken Gospel, a nonprofit that has a mind-boggling 50 million-plus engagements of their video, devotional, reading plan, and podcast-based content. They’ve got 151,000 subscribers to their YouTube channel! We think “holy moly” is an appropriate response. Plot twist: Spoken Gospel’s entire content creation model relies on lots of listening, not talking. David focuses on building individual relationships based on each member’s unique interests—and it’s paid off in a strong recurring program that responds to Spoken Gospel’s needs and asks alike. Sure, David’s got the greatest story ever told to guide Spoken Gospel’s nonprofit story, but making the content itself approachable and relevant is key to attracting the type of donor that sticks around for the mission long term. So listen in!

Nonprofits have to answer so many questions these days: What’s the best way to invest in my nonprofit’s impact? How do I lead my team through today’s societal changes? How do I increase donor retention rates and hit fundraising goals and avoid burnout and stay on mission and still make a grocery run before dinnertime? We’ve got a guest here who’s going to help us answer a few of these and hopefully change the way we approach relationships for the benefit of the whole changemaking sector. Andrew Olsen is Senior VP of Fundraising Solutions at Dickerson Bakker and a close friend of Funraise… and he’s going to blow your mind, listeners. As a nonprofit consultant himself, David can relate to a lot of what Andrew is sharing, and in fact has explored that intersection of leadership, nonprofits, changemaking, and culture on his podcast. But this conversation was different. Andrew dropped a bomb on us right at the end—a mindset shift that just turned everything upside down. We encourage you to listen as Andrew intentionally leads us down a path of long-term donor-organization relationship evolution and then changes the game with one sentence. When you’re done, listen again with that one key takeaway and prepare to unlock answers like never before.

Wow! Today’s episode is so jam-packed, it’s practically bursting. Chive Charities has only been around about a decade, but they’ve got donor retention down like no other organization we’ve seen. We know you’re sitting there thinking, “How great can their retention rate be? 50%? 60?” Well prepare yourself, listener: Chive Charities has a 98% donor retention rate. And today, you get to hear from longtime Chive Charities employee, supporter, and board member, Erika Carley, as she breaks down their retention tactics. We were prepared to hear Erika talk about Chive’s super successful monthly giving program, but what we didn’t expect was Chive’s excitement to try their hand at peer-to-peer fundraising. Why seek out new strategies when you’re already winning so hard?” From the concrete to the philosophical, the creative to the predictable, and the consistent to the untested, Chive’s retention magic comes from within their essential culture of impact—and Erika is here to let you in on what it takes to do it yourself.

Everyone in the nonprofit space has a moment where it all just clicks; in fact, you’ve probably had one or two. Today’s guest had one such moment that changed his perspective on nonprofit technology forever. Tim’s Jerry Maguire moment came when he saw a statistic at an event that said, “90% of nonprofits collect data. Only 5% of nonprofits use that data to make decisions.” In that moment, Tim knew he had to rewrite the tech stack playbook to teach nonprofits how to get the most from their tech investment. Join me as Tim and I discuss the importance of being a good data steward, highlight critical elements of a starter tech stack, and explain how implementing technology is like learning to drive.