The Nonprofit Podcast
The Nonprofit Podcast is a weekly show offering real-talk fundraising insights for nonprofit professionals. Hosted by Jena Lynch and Britt Stockert, it delivers practical, actionable advice without fluff. The podcast also features field updates from Cara Augspurger. Each episode aims to inspire and equip listeners to fundraise smarter and lead with confidence.
Episodes
Ep 226| The Science of Giving: Donor Confidence, Decoded
Send us Fan MailWhy - and when - do donors actually trust your organization?Every gift is a decision, and every decision has mechanics. Donorbox has mapped them in a new field guide, 10 Principles of Donor Conversion and Retention: The Science of Giving. It draws on published research into why donors give and why they stop.In the first of two episodes that break down the mechanics of the giving de
Ep 225| DAF Donors Have Already Said Yes
Send us Fan MailHappy DAF Day. Here's something to think about. Nearly one in four dollars of individual giving in the US now moves through donor advised funds, and DAF giving is growing 8X faster than everything else.Jena Lynch and Cara Augspurger get into who DAF donors really are (**Spoiler** not all are billionaires - most give under $1,000), why they tend to stay longer and give more, an
Ep 224| Last Year's Donors Are This Year's Opportunity
Send us Fan MailYou pulled the report. 1,800 people who gave last year haven't given a cent this year. And it's October.Cue Giving Season panic.Jena Lynch and Britt Stockert see it differently. Most of those lapsed donors didn't leave. They drifted.This episode is all about winning back LYBUNT donors (Last Year But Unfortunately Not This) before December 3 - no guilt trips. No "
Ep 223| Supporters to Fundraisers: Crowdfunding and Peer-to-Peer
Send us Fan MailHow far can one campaign travel this Giving Season? Further than your email list, if you set it up right.Today, Jena Lynch, Head of Community Engagement at Donorbox, shares how a crowdfunding campaign gives supporters a clear, specific goal to rally around, and how peer-to-peer fundraising turns that campaign into something supporters carry into their own networks…reaching people a
Episode 222| The Fundraising Moments Most Nonprofit Events Miss
Send us Fan MailMost nonprofit events open exactly one path to giving: the ticket. Jena Lynch and Britt Stockert map the fundraising moments most events miss, before doors open, during the event, after everyone goes home, and unpack how nonprofits can open more paths to giving - without extra work for their team.What You'll LearnWhy the ticket purchase is one of the best, and most frequently
Ep 221| How to Turn Your Ask Into a Connection
Send us Fan MailHeart does that panicked double-thump. Stomach drops. Ohh - there goes gravity! Sound familiar? That's what happens right before most fundraisers call a donor to ask for money…and Britt Stockert, Fundraiser Coach at Donorbox, says that feeling is telling you the opposite of what you think.In this quick, coffee-break episode, Britt shares the four words she scribbled on a stick
Ep 220| Navigating AI search & Google Ad Grants for nonprofits with Jessica King
Send us Fan MailChatGPT. Claude. Gemini. Or Google...Search visibility has changed.AI search is changing how donors and volunteers find nonprofits, and most teams are still figuring out what to do about it. This week, host Jena Lynch talks with Jessica King, Director at Getting Attention, about what's actually working in search right now...from why ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini are showing up a
Ep 219| Stop guessing: What donors REALLY want before year-end
Send us Fan MailA simple donor survey is the closest thing you will get to reading your supporters' minds, yet the answers you get are rarely what you expectDonors are sitting on insights most nonprofits never think to look for. Cara Augspurger, our field correspondent and CEO of Grace Care Center Foundation, joins Jena Lynch to share what happened when her team surveyed hundreds of donors ah
Ep 218| End-of-Year Fundraising: A Giving Season Roadmap for Nonprofits
Send us Fan MailYou can't repair the runway while the plane is taking off. 🛫That's Darrin Cook's blunt take on why Giving Season prep has to start in August, not November. Darrin joins Jena Lynch to break down how early infrastructure work, not last-minute campaign scrambling, drives real Giving Season results. He shares a framework for auditing donor data and donation flows now, bu
Ep 217| Strategic Planning Isn't an Implementation Problem - with Dr. Renee Rubin Ross
Send us Fan MailA plan built by a few people at the top and handed down is just paperwork. Dr. Renee Rubin Ross argues real ownership comes from who's in the room while the goals get decided, not just who signs off on them.Dr. Ross is the founder of The Ross Collective and author of Inclusive Strategic Planning for Nonprofits. In this episode, she and Britt break down her five-step spiral pla
Ep 216| How to Write a Nonprofit AI Policy & Close the Donor Trust Gap
Send us Fan MailOnly 26% of nonprofits tell donors when AI helped write to them. 76% of donors say they should be told. That's not small! It's a fifty-point trust gap that grows every time an organization reaches for a new tool without a plan for it.This week, Jena Lynch digs into what's actually pulling nonprofits toward AI right now (hint: it's burnout, not hype), why donors
Summer Rewind| 5 Steps to Building a Nonprofit Strategy That Actually Works
Send us Fan MailMost nonprofit strategic planning mistakes don't show up until year-end, right when your fundraising push exposes exactly what's missing.Being busy isn't the same as having direction. In this Summer Rewind, Cara Augspurger, CFRE, breaks down the five steps that took her organization from constant firefighting to a plan that actually holds up, in six months.What you&a
Summer Rewind| Why Your Nonprofit's Next Leader Needs More Than Potential - With Chris Wong
Send us Fan MailGreat performers don't always make great leaders. That gap is costing nonprofits people they can't afford to lose.As nonprofits head into the busiest stretch of the year, Britt Stockert revisits a listener favorite with Chris Wong, founder of Leadership Potential and a licensed therapist who builds leadership programs inside nonprofits. They talk about accidental leadersh
Summer Rewind| Slow Fundraising: How to Do Less and Raise More with Chad Barger
Send us Fan MailSummer time and the living...could be easier!Nonprofit teams are gearing up for the second half of the year, and this Summer Rewind brings back one of the show's most practical conversations for that exact moment.Jena Lynch talks with Chad Barger, founder of Productive Fundraising, about slow fundraising: an approach built on doing fewer things, doing them consistently, and le
Summer Rewind| 3 Reasons Nonprofits are Missing out on Donations in 2026
Send us Fan MailSummer is a good time to slow down and check the quiet gaps in your fundraising…before Giving Season prep picks up speed.This episode is a fan favorite, back for our July summer rewind series.Donors haven't stopped giving. They've just gotten more careful, and that means small friction points matter more than they used to. Jena Lynch and Britt Stockert talk through three
Ep 215| Giving USA 2026 - The Fundraiser's Breakdown
Send us Fan MailGiving hit a record high in 2025. What's underneath that number will shape your fundraising strategy for the next decade.Americans gave $617 billion to charity in 2025, a record, and real growth even after inflation. Five of nine nonprofit categories hit all-time highs. The sector showed up!!But the Giving USA 2026 report tells a more layered story. Jena Lynch and Britt Stocke
Ep 214| Retain Your Top Fundraisers: 5 Simple Strategies That Cost Nothing
Send us Fan MailNearly seven in ten nonprofit employees are actively looking for new jobs…and it's not always about the paycheck.Britt Stockert and Cara Augspurger talk through five low-cost ways to help your team feel appreciated and connected to the mission. Cara draws on real examples from her work at Grace Care Center Foundation, where a culture of recognition has helped keep people engag
Ep 213| 4 Filters Every Nonprofit Leader Needs for Smarter Fundraising Decisions
Send us Fan MailEvery nonprofit team has one…the decision that keeps getting pushed to next week. The platform that's been under evaluation for three months. The recurring giving program that still doesn't have a name. The donor email that's been rewritten twelve times and still hasn't been sent.In this episode, Jena Lynch and Britt Stockert get into why fundraising decisions s
Ep 212| The Nonprofit Starvation Cycle: Why Good Fundraisers Burn Out
Send us Fan MailThe fundraising capacity gap is the distance between what a nonprofit needs to raise money sustainably and what it's actually resourced to do. And, right now?... That gap is widening.In this episode, Britt Stockert, Fundraiser Coach at Donorbox, unpacks what it is, where it shows up in daily development work, and why it keeps getting misdiagnosed as a performance problem when
Ep 211| The Nonprofit Visibility Gap - and the Funding It's Costing You!
Send us Fan Mail“Doubt kills donations.”Before a donor ever gives, they’ve already formed an opinion of your organization. It takes a minute. Sometimes less. And most nonprofits have no idea what’s coming up about their mission.What they find in those moments either builds confidence or raises doubt.In this episode, Jena Lynch sits down with Tori Burrello, Marketing Manager at Candid, to talk abou
Ep 210| The Board Blind Spot: Assessment Is the Key to Better Governance - with David Rhode
Send us Fan MailNonprofit boards are doing more with less. And when governance isn't working, it's the executive director who absorbs it quietly, consistently, at real cost to the organization.Britt Stockert sits down with David Rhode, nonprofit executive coach and author of Passion Isn't Enough, to talk about the board self-assessment - what it is, why so many boards skip it, and w
Ep 209| The Real Reason Donors Stop Giving - With Rob Harter
Send us Fan MailFundraising is getting harder. But generosity hasn't disappeared.So what's actually changing?Jena Lynch sits down with nonprofit coach, consultant, and host of The Nonprofit Leadership Podcast, Rob Harter, to interrogate the real pressures nonprofit leaders are facing right now, donor retention, staffing burnout, supporter engagement, and fundraising performance.They dig
Ep 208| Why Your Nonprofit's Next Leader Needs More Than Potential - With Chris Wong
Send us Fan MailPromoting from within is one of the best things a nonprofit can do.Until it isn't.Not because the person wasn't ready. But because nobody built the bridge between outstanding performer and effective leader, and that gap quietly costs nonprofits some of their best people.Britt Stockert sits down with Chris Wong, founder of Leadership Potential, licensed therapist, and some
Ep 207| 5 Steps to building a nonprofit strategy that actually works
Send us Fan MailThe plan is just paper. The value is in using it.When your nonprofit is growing but still feels directionless, that's not a passion problem…it's a planning problem. Strategic planning isn't about doing more, it's about finally knowing what matters. When you're clear on who you serve, honest about what it costs, and aware of how it's funded, everything
Ep 206| The Hidden Bottleneck Draining Nonprofit Momentum
Send us Fan MailMost nonprofit teams don't have a workload problem. They have a systems problem. And spring is the perfect time to fix it.Your tools aren't broken. They're just not talking to each other. Donor data lives in one place, your emails in another, and somewhere in between, things fall through the cracks. The simple stuff starts to drag. Your team picks up the slack. And n
Ep 205| Ethical Persuasion in Fundraising: Inspire Without Pressure
Send us Fan MailMost fundraising copy is built on urgency and guilt. It gets the gift. But does it keep the donor?Jena and Maria Bryan make the case that ethical persuasion isn't a softer ask - it's a sharper one. And they get specific about what that looks like in practice.From donation page mistakes that quietly erode trust, to the language of agency, to Maria's Four Cs framework
Ep 204| The real reason boards struggle with fundraising - Adam Morgan
Send us Fan MailYour board wants to help with fundraising. But nothing’s moving.Without clear roles and next steps, board fundraising stalls…and the work falls back on you.Cara sits down with Adam Morgan, founder of MVP Advisors, to unpack why boards struggle with fundraising and what nonprofits can do to fix it fast.Cutting through assumptions and getting practical, they dig into how to align boa
Ep 203| The Uncomfortable Reality of Sustainable Fundraising Nobody Mentions
Send us Fan MailThe reality of sustainable fundraising nobody tells you? It starts with you.Not your strategy. Not your donor pipeline. Not your appeal calendar. You.Most fundraising conversations right now are about doing more with less. This one is different. Because the best fundraisers know the work starts with knowing themselves, what they bring, and how to protect it.In this episode, Britt S
Ep 202| Slow Fundraising: How to Do Less and Raise More with Chad Barger
Send us Fan MailSlow Fundraising: How to Do Less and Raise More with Chad BargerFundraising feels busy. Packed calendars, constant campaigns, endless asks. But results are not keeping pace. Many teams are working harder than ever and still missing growth targets.Jena Lynch sits down with Chad Barger, founder of Productive Fundraising, to unpack his approach to slow fundraising. His work with nonpr
Ep 201| Membership vs. Monthly Giving: Which Actually Builds Loyalty?
Send us Fan MailYou’ve done the hard part. People are giving. They care. They’re showing up. So what’s next?Most nonprofits get to this point… and stop. Supporters stay consistent. But the relationship doesn’t go any further.This episode is about that gap, and how membership programs are designed to close it.There’s a clear progression in fundraising.From first gift…to consistent support…to someth
Ep 200| Who are the Most Overlooked Nonprofit Donors?
Send us Fan MailAre you missing one of the biggest growth opportunities in your donor base?Most nonprofit fundraising focuses on two things: bringing in new donors and managing major gifts. Both matter.But there’s a group in the middle that often gets missed. These are supporters who already give, already care, and keep coming back. They respond when you reach out. They stay connected to your work
Ep199| The Lifetime Value Mindset for Fundraisers
Send us Fan MailMost nonprofits track gift size. The best fundraisers track lifetime value.Join Cara as she unpacks the lifetime value mindset and why recurring donors often become some of the most valuable supporters a nonprofit has. While major gifts create big moments, monthly donors quietly build the steady support that sustains a mission over time.What you'll learn in this episode:Why y
Ep 198| Community Care Beyond the 9 to 5 - Lessons for Nonprofits
Send us Fan MailAre we overlooking one of the most powerful forces behind nonprofit work?For many nonprofit professionals, care for community doesn’t switch off at the end of the workday. Long after the job is done, we’re still showing up, supporting causes, helping neighbors...living the values that drew us to this work to begin with.In this episode, Britt sits down with Esther Saehyun Lee, found
Ep 197| 3 Reasons Nonprofits are Missing out on Donations in 2026
Send us Fan MailIs your nonprofit overlooking the quiet infrastructure gaps costing you donations?When fundraising feels tighter, it’s rarely because generosity disappeared. Donors are still giving. They’re just more careful. And that means small friction carries more weight than it used to.A slow checkout.Recurring giving that’s technically available but not clearly positioned.Event energy that f
Ep 196 | Rethinking Fundraising Success & Mission Impact in 2026 - Bruce Arbit
Send us Fan MailUncertainty doesn’t just expose cracks in the system.It exposes who actually holds value.When uncertainty hits the sector, partnership conversations often shift. Resources tighten. Expectations change. Risk tolerance narrows.In this conversation with Britt, impact advisor Bruce Arbit challenges the assumption that nonprofits enter these conversations from a position of need.They d
Ep 195| How to Build Donor Retention Between Campaigns
Send us Fan MailEmail is where most supporters experience your organization over time – not just during campaigns, but in the quieter moments in between.Jena Lynch sits down with our on-the-ground fundraising expert, Cara Augspurger, CFRE, to talk about what’s really happening in those in-between spaces. Because the emails you send every day? They’re shaping donor relationships long before the nex
Ep 194| Why Donor Retention Starts After - Not During - the Ask
Send us Fan MailWhere do donor relationships go after the gift?Donor retention is shaped by what carries the relationship forward over time. When that continuity isn’t intentionally supported, donors don’t disengage all at once...they slowly lose their sense of connection. In this episode, Jena Lynch unpacks how simple, repeatable structures, not more asks, help relationships hold between campaign
Ep 193| The Hidden Cost of Silence: Psychological Safety in Nonprofits
Send us Fan MailMost teams learn pretty quickly what happens when they give feedback and adjust accordingly. When people feel safer being honest anywhere except work, trust isn’t the issue...safety is.Britt Stockert chats with Tasha Van Vlack, founder of The Nonprofit Hive, about psychological safety in nonprofit teams...and why silence often shows up long before burnout or turnover.Together, th
Ep 192| Donor-Advised Funds: What Fundraisers Need to Know Now
Send us Fan MailDAFs don’t delay generosity - they reveal giving friction.Donor-advised funds are shaping how people give, but many nonprofits aren’t quite ready for it.In this episode, Cara Augspurger shares what she’s seeing firsthand as a frontline fundraiser, including why DAF donors are often some of the most prepared, responsive, and relationship-driven supporters - when nonprofits make it e
Ep 191| The One Question That Keeps Fundraising Strategic in 2026
Send us Fan MailJanuary is framed as a reset in many fields. Nonprofits know it isn’t. Budgets are set, programs are already moving, and fundraising goals don’t wait for the calendar. Strategy doesn’t usually break in the planning – it frays later, in the small decisions that stretch capacity and make sustainability harder.In this energy-sustaining focused episode, fundraiser coach Britt Stockert
Ep 190| 2026 Fundraising Trends: What Leaders Are Quietly Changing to Build Stability
Send us Fan MailHappy New Year! We’re kicking off 2026 with a conversation many nonprofit leaders are already having behind the scenes: What’s actually changing in fundraising…and what’s just noise?Every year, nonprofits get told to prepare for the next big trend. But the shifts shaping 2026 aren’t about shiny tools or louder campaigns. They’re quieter…and far more structural. Leaders are rethinki
Ep 189| How Evidence-Based Giving Changed Thousands of Lives - with Jessica LaMesa
Send us Fan MailFinal Episode of 2025! Jena sits down with Jessica LaMesa, Co-CEO of The Life You Can Save, for a powerful, action-oriented conversation on how strategic, evidence-based giving translates into life-saving impact.In this episode, you’ll discover:The Power of Rapid Response: How The Life You Can Save mobilized over $13 million in just six months, funding critical healthcare and nutri
Ep 188| Boost December Donations After Giving Tuesday (5 Smart Tips)
Send us Fan MailGiving Tuesday felt quieter than you hoped? Take a breath. Your December is still wide open.In this episode, Jena and Britt break down what a slow Giving Tuesday really means, and what to do next without panic, pressure, or a full campaign rewrite.You’ll learn how to:Read the data signals behind a “quiet” Giving TuesdayReconnect donors without selling harderMake small, smart shifts
Ep 187| December Fundraising Essentials You NEED For Year-End Success
Send us Fan MailDecember is where your year-end campaign is won or lost - and today, we’re making sure you stay steady, strategic, and connected all the way through December 31.Jena and Cara Augspurger walk through the two actions that shape your final numbers: follow-through and follow-up.Get ready for pro-tips covering:Stay consistent with your December communication rhythmWhy tight messaging ke
Ep 186| Gratitude for the Good You Grow
Send us Fan MailHappy Thanksgiving from all of us at The Nonprofit Podcast. 🦃Today’s episode is simply a pause - a moment to acknowledge the people who keep showing up, even in a year that’s felt heavier than most.If you’re writing the extra email, answering the late call, carrying more need than resources, or holding hope for someone else when your own feels thin… this is for you.Your work is not
Ep 185 | Last-Minute Giving Tuesday Success Tips
Send us Fan MailGiving Tuesday Is Days Away - Here’s Your Game PlanGiving Tuesday is almost here…and yes, you still have time to show up with clarity, confidence, and zero panic.In this episode, Cara Augspurger walks you through the final steps that make the biggest difference – the practical moves, the strategic choices, and the calm mindset that help your nonprofit show up and shine in one of th
Ep 184| Elevate Your Fundraising Success with These 3 AI Prompts!
Send us Fan MailWriter’s block for Christmas? You’re not alone. Try these Giving Season AI writing prompts that actually workIn this short, informative easy listen, Britt Stockert shares how AI can be the creative writing partner you didn’t know you needed this Giving Season.She walks through how to use AI prompts to beat the blank page, keep your tone real, and save time on those endless donor me
Ep 183| 3 November Fundraising Strategies To Maximize Year-End Results
Send us Fan MailNovember is Giving Season Go TimeIt’s here - now is the time to transition your year-end campaigns from planning to performance. Your message is live, donors are active, and every touchpoint counts.In this episode, Jena and Cara break down how to confidently lead your campaign, stay engaged, and keep supporters connected through every moment of Giving Season.What you’ll learnA simp
Ep 182| The truth about nonprofit online presence nobody tells you!
Send us Fan MailRecent events reminded nonprofits everywhere: if you don’t shape your online presence, someone else might.In this episode, Jena Lynch digs into how transparency, nonprofit visibility, and AI discoverability shape donor trust and organizational credibility. She walks through practical steps to review your digital footprint, ensure accurate results across search and AI tools, to keep
Ep 181| 5 Simple Steps to Ease Donor Meeting Stress
Send us Fan MailFreezing Before Donor Meetings? Let’s Fix That.Why do donor meetings feel so stressful - especially at year-end? Brittan breaks down the real reason so many fundraisers dread sitting down with donors, and why it's not about your fundraising skills.You’ll learn how cultural money stories shape your confidence, how to reframe the fear, and how to lead donor meetings that are gr
Ep 180| Your Year-End Edge: Direct Mail Fundraising That Delivers
Send us Fan MailSome tools evolve. Others endure. Direct mail does both.Cara Augspurger sits down with Joe Leach, CEO of AppealMaker, to unpack how technology is reshaping one of fundraising’s most trusted tools - direct mail.They dig deep into how automation, follow-up strategies, and smart timing can turn traditional mail into a high-performing element of your year-end fundraising strategy. Plus
Ep 179| 4 Must-Know Tips for Stronger Year-End Appeals
Send us Fan MailYear-end appeals are your nonprofit’s biggest fundraising moment - and you only get one shot.Fundraising coach Britt Stockert shares 4 smart ways to help your appeal break through the noise and connect where it counts.Discover:A better way to segment your donorsThe story shift that grabs attention fastWhat donors actually want to hearHow to make your ask land with confidenceListen
Ep 178| The 3 Don’ts of October Fundraising (Year-End Roadmap)
Send us Fan MailSkip the scramble. These 3 October fundraising don’ts turn stress into strategy.October is where the pressure builds, and where many nonprofits either set themselves up for success or stumble into a December scramble.In this episode of The Nonprofit Podcast, host Jena Lynch and co-host Cara Augspurger walk through practical planning tips to stop you from tripping over the 3 Don’ts
Ep 177|From Year-End to Year-Round: 5 Top Recurring Giving Tips
Send us Fan MailReady to go from year-end gifts to year-round growth?Year-end giving may steal the spotlight, but what happens after December is what determines lasting success. The nonprofits that thrive aren’t just chasing one-time gifts - they’re building relationships that carry impact well into the new year.Today, Jena revisits a standout 2024 conversation with Chris Barlow of Beeline Marketi
Ep 176| From Guest to Donor: Your Nonprofit Event Game Plan with Chad Barger
Send us Fan MailWhat if your nonprofit event did more than raise money for a night?What if it sparked long-term donor loyalty?This week, Jena Lynch sits down with master fundraising strategist Chad Barger to rethink how we measure event success.Forget vanity metrics. We're talking about the event ROI that actually counts, and how your fall events should be the start of something bigger than a
Ep 175| 3 Simple Strategies to Grow Donor Relationships
Send us Fan MailTiny Touches, Big Impact: Micro-Moments That Drive Donor LoyaltyThis week, Donorbox Fundraising Coach Britt Stockert shares why “be the most human voice in the inbox” should be your year-end fundraising motto.Britt unpacks the power of micro-touches - short, emotionally resonant messages that build donor trust and keep your cause top-of-mind. Learn how to craft audio check-ins, han
Ep 174| September Reset: Simplify Giving Season
Send us Fan MailSeptember Reset: How to Re-Engage Donors Before Year-EndYour donors don’t remember every word from last year, but they do remember how you made them feel. Today, Jena and Cara break down three simple but powerful moves you can make this September to reconnect with donors, refresh your strategy, and set yourself up for year-end success.What you’ll learn in this episode:How to reconn
Ep 173| 3 Donation Form Hacks To Get More Donations
Send us Fan MailTurn your donation form into a silent fundraising powerhouse this Giving Season.This Giving Season, lighten your load and let your donation form work harder for you. Britt Stockert, Fundraising Coach at Donorbox, shares insights from her monthly coaching recap on how small changes can significantly impact donor relationships and year-end fundraising success.Discover:The biggest mis
Ep 172| The 4 Month Roadmap to Year-End Fundraising
Send us Fan MailPlan Your Giving Season: Four Months of Donor Engagement Strategies. In this episode, Jena walks us through a month-by-month roadmap for year-end fundraising, from September prep to December follow-through. Learn how to maximize donor engagement, plan strategically, and hit your fundraising goals with confidence.Discover strategies to:Strategically re-engage lapsed or quiet donors
Ep 171| The Big Beautiful Bill: Key Tax Changes for Nonprofits
Send us Fan Mail🚨 New tax rules are reshaping charitable giving - here’s what your nonprofit needs to know.The “One Big Beautiful Bill” is now law, changing the tax implications for donors giving to your cause.In this episode, Britt Stockert and Lindsey Bower break down the key changes and what nonprofits need to know. We cover the new standard and itemized deductions, corporate giving floors, and
Ep 170| When Giving Slows: 4 Leadership Strategies for Nonprofits
Send us Fan MailWhat do you do when the numbers don't look good?In this episode, Cara Augspurger shares her experience leading through fundraising slowdowns. She opens up about how to handle those tough moments when donations dip and the pressure rises. Cara offers strategies to recognize the early signs of a slowdown, stay calm, and focus on what really matters. Discover how to:Recognize f
Ep 169| Practical strategies for one-person nonprofit leadership
Send us Fan MailLeading a nonprofit alone can feel impossible, but with the right mindset, systems, and support, you can move the needle on your mission.In this episode of The Nonprofit Podcast, Jena Lynch talks with returning host Cara Augspurger about what it really takes to thrive as a solo Executive Director while wearing all the hats.Cara shares candid lessons on protecting your time, leading
Ep 168| 3 Questions every nonprofit leader must ask
Send us Fan MailBusy doesn't always mean progress - here's how to tell the difference.In this episode of The Nonprofit Podcast, we explore the tension between busy work and true progress. Jena Lynch walks you through 3 key questions to help your nonprofit break free from busywork and align more powerfully with your mission. You’ll discover:What might be silently draining your nonprofit’s
Ep 167| 3 No-ask donor tactics to fuel Fall fundraising
Send us Fan Mail Unlock ‘no-ask’ fall fundraising ideas that get your donors excited long before the leaves change. In this episode of The Nonprofit Podcast, fundraising coach Britt Stockert shows you why July is your secret window for building “quiet momentum” and shares three no-ask tactics to deepen relationships, spark engagement, and position your organization for a powerhouse fall season.Y
Ep 166| 4 Power Moves to Safeguard Your Nonprofit’s Funding
Send us Fan Mail4 Power Moves to Navigate Funding Cuts & Build Nonprofit ResilienceFeeling the squeeze of budget cuts and extra funding scrutiny? We've got you! In today's episode, Jena Lynch and Britton Stockert unlock four underused power moves to help you:Reframe your story for maximum impactUnlock fresh revenue streamsAdvocate strategically with a nonpartisan focusCement complian
Ep 165| Why AI Visibility Matters for Nonprofits - with Raj Hegde
Send us Fan MailAI isn’t coming - it’s already deciding who gets funded.This episode is your wake-up call.Donors are turning to ChatGPT, Gemini, and other AI tools to find and evaluate nonprofits they can trust with their support. If your organization isn’t showing up, or showing up accurately, you may already be missing out.In our Season 6 premiere, Jena sits down with Raj Hegde, SVP of Growth &a
Grow Your Grant Potential with Gauri Manglik (Summer Repeat)
Send us Fan MailNonprofit grant applications can be time-consuming, complex, and discouraging, but they don’t have to be. That’s exactly what inspired Gauri Manglik to co-found Instrumentl, an all-in-one platform that simplifies grant discovery, tracking, and strategy.In this Season 2 encore episode of The Nonprofit Podcast, Cara sits down with Gauri to talk grant application techniques that save
Stable nonprofit funding: The smart approach in 2025 (Summer Repeat)
Send us Fan MailIn this summer throwback, we’re revisiting one of your favorites: Stabilizing Your Fundraising. Ready to reset and recharge your fundraising strategy for the rest of 2025? Take just 15 minutes to gain fresh clarity and confidence, press play, and let’s hit the ground running!2025 has already thrown nonprofits a curveball. So what now?This week, we’re taking a moment to breathe and
Storytelling in tough times - The trust factor with Maria Bryan (Summer Repeat)
Send us Fan MailThe Nonprofit Podcast is taking a breather before Season 6 kicks off on June 26, but we’re not leaving you hanging! We’re rewinding to one of our most-loved episodes with Maria Bryan, packed with powerful insights for challenging times.Building donor trust is essential for nonprofit engagement, especially in times of crisis. Join Jena and a favorite guest, Maria Bryan, an ethical a
Beyond Donations: Why strategic fundraising plans matter (Summer Repeat)
Send us Fan MailStrategic fundraising that anchors usFundraising looks different in 2025, but smart strategy remains essential. This insightful (and practical) replay from June 2024 delivers evergreen tips and tools to help your nonprofit stay focused and thrive in a shifting landscape.Unlock the power of strategic fundraising to transform your nonprofit’s mission! Say goodbye to guesswork and hel
Nonprofit Resilience: A Conversation (Summer Repeat)
Send us Fan MailWe’re on summer hiatus, but we're bringing back one of our most popular episodes, 'Nonprofit Resilience: A Conversation.' Originally released after the federal funding cuts were first announced in February, this episode digs into the challenges nonprofits are facing and offers strategies to navigate them.Listen in to explore the potential impacts, possible responses,
Ep 164| From summer slump to donor retention win!
Send us Fan MailMake summer your donor loyalty season, and set the stage for a better-funded fall.The summer slowdown doesn’t have to mean lost momentum. It’s the perfect time to deepen donor relationships and build long-term support.Join Jena as she lays out a practical, month-by-month plan to strengthen donor retention through the summer stretch. With donor attention divided and inboxes quiet, s
Ep 163| The timing tightrope: Donor messaging in uncertain times
Send us Fan MailIs starting ‘the funding uncertainty’ conversation early, “crying wolf,” or leading with honesty and foresight?Nonprofit leaders are walking a tightrope between transparency and alarm. In this episode, Jena unpacks how smart donor communications and strong donor relationships can build donor trust, even in the face of uncertain nonprofit funding. Join us for a deep dive into the di
Ep 162| Unlocking the power of nonprofit phone engagement - Bart Lillie
Send us Fan MailAre your nonprofit emails and social posts falling flat? It’s time to pick up the phone!Jena chats with Bart Lillie from Synergy Direct Marketing Solutions about how texting and strategic phone outreach can overcome donor fatigue. Learn why personalized text messaging can significantly enhance your nonprofit’s engagement, acquisition, retention, and drive fundraising results.Quick
Ep 161| Activate your board for fundraising success
Send us Fan MailActivate Your Nonprofit Board for Fundraising SuccessIf you've ever wanted your nonprofit board to take a more active role in fundraising, this episode is for you. Britt speaks with Sabrina Walker Hernandez, CEO of Building Better Boards, about how to unlock your board’s full fundraising potential. From dispelling common board fundraising myths to introducing Sabrina’s field-t
Ep 160| How Email Automation Drives Giving - Chris Barlow
Send us Fan MailIs your email strategy helping you raise funds, or just filling inboxes?Jena sits down with Chris Barlow of Beeline Marketing to unpack how email automation can transform how nonprofits engage supporters.We’re talking: ✔ How to set up effective welcome sequences✔ Using segmentation to send the right message at the right time✔ Cleaning your list without losing future donors✔ Why aut
Ep 159| Stable nonprofit funding: The smart approach in 2025
Send us Fan Mail2025 has already thrown nonprofits a curveball. So what now?That’s why this week, we’re taking a moment to breathe and break down the tools, tactics, and mindset shifts that are actually helping nonprofits right now.Think recurring giving strategies that stick, smoother donor journeys, and collaboration that cuts costs and builds resilience. Whether you’re adjusting to shifting pri
Ep 158| Boost your nonprofit's impact with smart time management - Kelly McLaughlin
Send us Fan MailEver finish your day feeling exhausted but unproductive? You're not alone! Join Jena and Kelly McLaughlin, founder of From Scratch Fundraising, as they get real about nonprofit productivity tactics that make a meaningful difference in combating overwhelm. Learn how to prioritize effectively, manage your energy instead of your time, and harness powerful tools like CRMs and proj
Ep 157| Nonprofit interdependence: Smarter strategy for sustainability?
Send us Fan MailWhat if the future of nonprofit success isn’t about doing more alone, but about doing better together?Britt sits down with Michelle F. Vryn, CFRE, to explore how nonprofits can move beyond traditional collaboration and toward something deeper: interdependence. Listen now as we unpack Michelle’s powerful “network of mutuality” framework, originally shared in her standout LinkedIn th
Ep 156| 5 Strategies to strengthen donor stewardship with Mike Esposito
Send us Fan MailStewardship Isn’t a One-and-Done—It’s a RelationshipIt takes care, consistency, and a team. Here’s how to make it doable!Join fundraising expert Mike Esposito CFRE and Britt to break down simple, practical ways to make stewardship feel manageable, increase donor retention, and create a culture of real, heartfelt connection across your whole team.What you’ll learn (and actually use)
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