This episode was originally featured on The NonProfit Voice Tech Series hosted by Mark Becker editorial advisory board member for NonProfit PRO.

Spreadsheets can quickly become overwhelming for nonprofit marketers — and even if you think they’re working for your organization, you might be surprised by how much more organized and streamlined your efforts could be. That’s where marketing automation comes into play to remove administrative duties from your fundraisers’ day-to-day activities.

“When we take away the 32 Excel spreadsheets, the manual reporting, the manual memorization of what emails need to go out — all of that — we free up those fundraisers to be out in the community, really doing the job that we want them to do with the most effectiveness,” Abigayle Tobia, vice president of philanthropy at Verland, said.

In this episode, Abigayle shares how marketing automation can simplify tasks, such as pulling reports, reconciling donations, emailing a donor welcome series, bettering donor acknowledgment, making donor communications documentation accessible to all team members, and more.

For Tobia, it’s saved her so much time, that she’s more able to pick up the phone now to call donors — as well as determine which donors warrant that additional point of contact — thanks to marketing automation.

Dave Raley talks to us about how donor data, donor signals and an innovative philosophy help nonprofits grow exponentially through connection with the modern donor. 

 

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Learn more about the tools Virtuous provides leading nonprofits to grow giving at: https://www.virtuouscrm.com/. 

Get an in-depth guide to responsive fundraising to help your organization grow generosity from the modern donor at: https://www.virtuouscrm.com/responsive/.

In this episode, we connect with Miriam Dicks, founder and CEO of 180 Management Group, to uncover strategies that help organizations streamline operations and enhance donor engagement. With over 20 years of experience, Miriam shares her expertise in transforming business processes in nonprofits and embracing change to foster long-term success. Topics we dive into: - How to identify and address the root causes of silos within your organization. - Improving team collaboration and creating a consistent donor experience. - Translating high-level strategic goals into actionable steps. - Encouraging accountability and action by developing a clear plan for leveraging data insights. Miriam provides actionable steps that fundraisers can apply immediately, emphasizing the importance of creating personal connections, enhancing communication, and using effective strategies to improve overall organizational efficiency. Learn more about 180 Management Group and their approach to organizational transformation here: https://www.180managementgroup.com Explore how Virtuous can aid your nonprofit growth: https://vrtuo.us/4hsSN6g The Responsive Lab is brought to you by Virtuous. Virtuous is a software company committed to helping nonprofits grow generosity. Virtuous believes that generosity has the power to create profound change in the world and in the heart of the giver. With that in mind, it’s their mission to move the needle on global generosity by helping nonprofits better connect with and inspire their givers. Learn more about Virtuous at virtuous.org/learnmore and download your free Nonprofit CRM Checklist at virtuous.org/crmchecklist. Special thanks to editor and sound engineer Barry R. Hill and producer Abigail Morse.

MaryEllen Dickey, CFRE, joins the Responsive Fundraising Podcast to share what she's learned by leading donor development teams for the last two decades across social service, education, and healthcare nonprofits.

We also discuss the balance between donor retention and acquisition, the importance of channel-donor fit and multi-channel fundraising, and how to lead a donor development team well to prevent burnout.

MaryEllen, is Senior Vice President of Advancement for Diakon Lutheran Social Ministries. As such, she oversees a range of giving programs, including grants, major gifts, planned giving, corporate giving, endowments, and special capital projects, to support Diakon’s mission to serve those in need.

Before joining Diakon the beginning of 2007, MaryEllen was Vice President for Development at Good Shepherd Hospital and Rehabilitation Network, Allentown. In addition to completing a successful $40 million capital campaign that resulted in $52 million in giving, her department focused on creating its first chair, expanding numerous program endowments, and supporting the development of a health and technology center. She also has held planned giving and executive director positions with Lafayette College, Easton, and Lehigh University, Bethlehem.

This week Jeff Conn, Co-CEO of NPact, and Gabe Cooper, CEO of Virtuous, join the conversation to discuss the evolving landscape of community-based giving, particularly focusing on the rise and significance of Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs) and the role of community foundations. Historically, community foundations have played a key role in philanthropy but are now facing challenges and competition from commercial DAF providers. What can we learn from the rise of donor-advised funds to create more hyper-personal donor experiences and draw people into a bigger story about their impact?

In the discussion, we explored:

• The challenges currently facing community foundations
• The rise of the donor-advised fund
• How technology can enhance donor experiences
• Strategies to meet the expectations of the modern donor

In this episode of The Responsive Lab, your Virtuous co-hosts, Carly Berna and Stephen Boudreau, are joined by Microsoft’s Chief Product Officer and Tech for Social Impact Leadership Team member, Erin McHugh Saif. Erin begins by sharing her background, which includes experience working for big tech companies such as Blackbaud, Salesforce, and TIBCO. Next, Erin explains the nonprofit side of Microsoft and how philanthropy has helped to shape Microsoft over the years when it comes to connecting with its users, as well as the community at large. Also along the way, Erin shares: - How AI and technology have helped shape the nonprofit world, and what they have the power to achieve moving forward - The distinction between how nonprofits and for-profits use Microsoft as a service - For-profit trends that can be applied to nonprofits - Microsoft services that are currently being delivered to for-profits that present the biggest opportunities for nonprofits Discover more opportunities at Microsoft.com such as discounted offers for nonprofits, Microsoft Philanthropies, the AI governance tool kit, as well as Free AI skilling resources. Season One of The Responsive Lab is brought to you by Virtuous. Virtuous is a software company committed to helping nonprofits grow generosity. Virtuous believes that generosity has the power to create profound change in the world and in the heart of the giver. With that in mind, it’s their mission to move the needle on global generosity by helping nonprofits better connect with and inspire their givers. Learn more about Virtuous at virtuous.org/learnmore and download your free Nonprofit CRM Checklist at virtuous.org/crmchecklist. Special thanks to editor and sound engineer Barry R. Hill and producer Abigail Morse.

Barbara O’Reilly, CFRE joins us to talk about the challenges facing nonprofit leaders today and what we should be focused on, how we must balance empathy and urgency in our messaging, and her approach to navigating through each stage of a crisis: the response (our current phase), recovery, and resilience building.

Barbara brings to her clients more than twenty-five years of annual fund, major gifts, and campaign fundraising experience at major non-profit organizations including Harvard University, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Oxford University in England, and the American Red Cross.   

Whether it was leading record-setting reunion classes, securing tens of millions of dollars from global corporations following some of the most devastating natural disasters around the world, or overseeing a team that grew donor engagement of major individual donors committed to historic preservation, Barbara understands that fundraising is much more than just raising money.  It’s about enabling donors to realize their philanthropic dreams for issues that are most important to them and to be part of the change they want to see in the world. 

She serves as president of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Washington DC Metro Chapter and as a former member of the Advisory Panel for Rogare, The Fundraising Think Tank in the U.K. 

Her firm, Windmill Hill Consulting, helps non-profit organizations of all sizes cut through the noise and develop a profitable fundraising strategy that focuses on the resources, skills and tactics they need to build more effective donor relationships and catapult their revenue.

https://www.whillconsulting.com/bio

https://www.linkedin.com/in/boreillywhc

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Learn more about the tools Virtuous provides leading nonprofits to grow giving at: https://www.virtuouscrm.com/. 

Get an in-depth guide to responsive fundraising to help your organization grow generosity from the modern donor at: https://www.virtuouscrm.com/responsive/.

In this episode, Matthew and Noah discussed:

• Changing traditional models of fundraising to engage modern donors
• Generational shifts in expectations and wealth
• Monthly and recurring donations
• Shifting from traditional events to meaningful experiences
• Creating partnerships with donors
• Measuring ROI

Gabe Cooper, Virtuous' CEO and founder joins The Responsive Fundraising Podcast to discuss what we can glean from the events of 2020 and how fundraisers should pivot to maximize the potential of 2021. 2020 has been a year of massive change for nonprofits. Everything has changed from entire teams going remote overnight to a chaotic election season, to a civil rights movement driving systemic change, to the devastating impact of COVID-19. During the discussion Gabe shares six fundraising strategies nonprofit teams can carry forward into 2021.

6 Fundraising Strategies To Help You Grow

1) You must know your donors. And in order to know them, you must listen.

2) Generosity begets generosity.

3) Let 2021 be the year you get educated on donor advised funds and planned giving.

4) Don’t let the crisis go wasted.

5) Double down on your efforts to generate sustainable revenue.

6) Plan out your strategy, but do it with a pencil, not a pen.

https://www.virtuous.org/blog/2021-fundraising-strategies/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabecooper/ 

 

Ariel Glassman, purpose-driven fundraising consultant, joins Noah Barnett to talk about pivoting between traditional strategies to responsive fundraising, trends in events, and donor cultivation.

Ariel's expertise includes customizing fundraising strategy, tactical development planning, building systematic and intentional donor engagement programs, defining staffing needs and structuring development teams, building and refining infrastructure and tools, donor data analytics and donor surveys, and donor communications. She helps organizations build connective tissue between their fundraising strategy, technology and operations, staff capacity, and donor relationships.

Francis Tao stops by to talk all things fundraising with Gabe Cooper of Virtuous. 

 

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Learn more about the tools Virtuous provides leading nonprofits to grow giving at: https://www.virtuouscrm.com/. 

Get an in-depth guide to responsive fundraising to help your organization grow generosity from the modern donor at: https://www.virtuouscrm.com/responsive/.

Dawn Crawford joins us to share her insights on how nonprofits can craft communications that bridge the gap between donors and the cause, leading to increased connection and engagement.

Dawn is the engine behind BC/DC Ideas, Dawn has dedicated her career to good. Before launching BC/DC Ideas in 2010, she earned her chops in 10+ years of communications leadership roles for public health, healthcare and youth-focused nonprofits. Working for nonprofits is Dawn’s dream job, and she loves that her 40+ hours a week make the world a better place.

These days Dawn brings her considerable experience and expertise to helping elevate the nonprofit sector. Our team’s lead strategist, Dawn is often seen leading our IdeaStorms, penning communications plans, or checking in with clients.

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Learn more about the tools Virtuous provides leading nonprofits to grow giving at: https://www.virtuouscrm.com/. 

Get an in-depth guide to responsive fundraising to help your organization grow generosity from the modern donor at: https://www.virtuouscrm.com/responsive/.

In this episode of The Responsive Lab podcast, Carly Berna and Stephen Boudreau are joined by executive coach, fundraising consultant, and host of the podcast What the Fundraising, Mallory Erickson, for an exciting conversation about the evolution of fundraising – plus, a sneak peak of Mallory’s new book, What The Fundraising? Mallory begins by discussing the common obstacles faced by fundraisers today, and how to overcome them using strategies that Mallory explains in detail in her book. Later, they’ll talk about the importance of mindset in fundraising and how adopting a positive and resilient mindset can lead to ultimate success – both professionally and personally. Also along the way, Carly, Stephen and Mallory will talk about: - Adopting the “courage over confidence” mindset - Building aligned donor relationships - Innovative fundraising techniques and how to implement them - The importance of self-care and mental health for fundraisers Lastly, Mallory is offering one lucky winner a FREE copy of What the Fundraising. Here’s the link for more information and to add your name for a chance to win! http://virtuous.org/malloryerickson. Learn more about Mallory at MalloryErickson.com. Discover more about The Responsive Lab at: virtuous.org/podcast Season One of The Responsive Lab is brought to you by: VIRTUOUS Virtuous is a software company committed to helping nonprofits grow generosity. Virtuous believes that generosity has the power to create profound change in the world and in the heart of the giver. With that in mind, it’s their mission to move the needle on global generosity by helping nonprofits better connect with and inspire their givers. Learn more about Virtuous at virtuous.org/learnmore and download your free Nonprofit CRM Checklist at virtuous.org/crmchecklist. Special thanks to editor and sound engineer Barry R. Hill and producer Abigail Morse.

In this special podcast episode, we introduce "Ask a Responsive Fundraiser," where we take your questions to fundraising experts so you can grow generosity. In this episode, we connect with Josh Burns, CEO of Spark Collective, to explore digital marketing strategies that equip nonprofits to grow generosity and enhance donor engagement. Josh taps into his 15 years of experience to answer pressing questions fundraisers face, offering practical insights and actionable strategies. Topics we dive into: • How to strategically improve email marketing to convert subscribers into donors. • Problem-solving donation page conversion issues to encourage increased online giving. • Prioritizing digital marketing efforts effectively when resources are limited. Josh shares actionable steps fundraisers can immediately implement. Gain insights on fostering genuine connections, amplifying your resources, and using technology to drive meaningful donor experiences. Learn more about Spark Collective: https://www.sparkcollective.net/ Explore how Virtuous can aid your nonprofit growth: https://vrtuo.us/4hsSN6g

What is your year-round brand message for your nonprofit? Most nonprofit marketing is about the offer - what we are asking a person to give. Yet the commercial space spends consistent time and resources on brand marketing. What does your organization believe in or stand for, what do you do, and what are the stories that showcase the world you are working to build? 

Responsive nonprofits are adopting marketing automation strategies and tools to maintain relevance and deepen relationships and engagement with donors. Mark Neigh, VP of Digital at Masterworks, suggests an “always on” approach to build awareness and affinity for nonprofits.

Tune into this week’s episode to learn about the marketing automation strategies and the “always on” framework to stay top of mind for donors and supporters all year long. 

Bonus: this episode was recorded the week of Giving Tuesday. Mark and Bryan spend the first 15 minutes discussing the top lessons learned from Giving Tuesday, and how those lessons inform fundraising next year.

In this episode of The Responsive Lab, Stephen Boudreau and Carly Berna are joined by industry leader, Trent Dunham, for an exciting conversation about the world of modern fundraising and how to become effective leaders in an ever-changing nonprofit landscape. Trent begins by dissecting some of the large-scale (or macro) trends in fundraising today, and lists some of the struggles that nonprofits may be facing in our current economic climate, highlighting some tools that they can utilize to overcome these challenges – such as AI technology and automation. Trent goes on to talk about what it means to properly define ‘success’ and how to prioritize your organization’s goals in order to achieve that success, emphasizing how leadership plays an important role in both prioritization and execution in an organization. Later, Trent talks about what it means to ‘Lead Up’ as a means of furthering your organization’s growth ability to push through obstacles. Other Topics Include: – How communicating priorities effectively provides clarity for accountability – How to strategically execute a plan that has been prioritized effectively – How to use technology in order to scale your organization – How providing solutions to problems rather than listing the problems themselves can help steer your organization in the right direction – A mystery question at the end! Learn more about Trent Dunham by visiting https://www.dunhamandcompany.com/. Discover more about The Responsive Lab at virtuous.org/podcast. Season One of The Responsive Lab is brought to you by VIRTUOUS. Virtuous is a software company committed to helping nonprofits grow generosity. Virtuous believes that generosity has the power to create profound change in the world and in the heart of the giver. With that in mind, it’s their mission to move the needle on global generosity by helping nonprofits better connect with and inspire their givers. Learn more about Virtuous at virtuous.org/learnmore and download your free Nonprofit CRM Checklist at virtuous.org/crmchecklist. Special thanks to editor and sound engineer Barry R. Hill and producer Abigail Morse.

Catherine Moore joins the Responsive Fundraising Podcast to talk about change management and its importance as nonprofits navigate constant change. During the conversation we discuss the balance between people, processes, and platforms during systems change and the value of personal resilience that's required for successful change leadership.

Catherine has served the nonprofit sector for over 20 years, defining and guiding the strategic pathway for technology, marketing, and fundraising at the Canadian Cancer Society and others. She is skilled at understanding and addressing the human concerns that arise during a project as well as the technical challenges that any system transition will bring. Outside of her professional life, Catherine is passionate about STEM education for children and enjoys the privilege of mentoring other women and young professionals.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/catherineemoore/

https://teamheller.com 

In this episode, Bryan and Rob sit down with Tania Bhattacharyya of Lumos Marketing to talk about how empathy can unlock generosity, the power of vulnerability in your storytelling, how to leverage multi-channel communications to build your brand and trust with donors, and how to authentically build a movement in this modern age of giving.

In this episode, Bill and Sarah TeDesco of DonorSearch join Rob to talk about what nonprofit leaders need to know about deep tech as it pertains to the fundraising market. They double-click on the topic of AI (Artificial Intelligence) and ML (Machine Learning) and how any size nonprofit can utilize these technologies to enrich their supporter data and prompt actionable next steps.

Are you enjoying the Responsive Nonprofit Podcast and want to dive deeper into the framework and methodology growing nonprofits use to build deeper relationships with all donors to unlock mission transformation? I'd love to send you a free copy of our book, Responsive Fundraising, so you can get started today!

Bridget Jones and Kelly Hayman join The Responsive Fundraising Podcast to share how they help transform the Boys & Girls Club of the Tennessee Valley fundraising programs in light of tremendous challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. During the conversation we take a step back to March 2020 to recall how Bridget, Kelly, and their team's decision making process amidst the chaos and upending that COVID-19 had on their fundraising channels which was in contrast to the rapid growth in demand for their programs.

Bridget Jones started as a part time Youth Development Worker with Boys & Girls Clubs in her hometown of Greeneville, TN.

With a degree in education from Carson Newman College, a passion for young people and a love of gathering people together, she was able to use her skillset as the Director of Development & Corporate Events to raise funds to support the mission and vision of Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee. 

Her heart truly desires to serve young people who need us most and provide them with life-changing opportunities each time they enter the BGS doors.

Kelly Hayman came to Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley in 2006 as an Education Director in one of the school based sites.  Over the next fourteen years, Kelly progressed into leadership positions such as Technology Director, Club Director and Executive Director.  He was moved into the role of Annual Gifts Officer in 2019.

In his current role, Kelly is responsible is responsible for developing and stewarding both annual and recurring gifts.  His role allows for him to work with both small and mid-level donors. 

Kelly began his Boys & Girls Club career in 1995 when he was hired to work as a summer staff member for the Boys & Girls Club of Valdosta, GA.  Becoming the Club Director in 2003, he led the Lake Laurie facility from serving 75 members to more than 140 members in 2005. 

https://bgctnv.org/leadership/

Jake Smith, the Executive Director of Blood:Water, joins the Responsive Fundraising Podcast to discuss his path to leading his organization through uncertain times, the importance of history and rediscovering old truths with new value, and how a focus on people and execution has paved a path to help them grow 25% YOY despite the challenges of 2020.

Blood:Water is an equipping agency that partners with African grassroots organizations to address the water and HIV/AIDS crises. We do this by identifying Africa’s hidden heroes and coming alongside their vision for change. We provide technical, financial, and organizational support so that African civil society organizations have expanded reach and effectiveness in the communities they serve.

www.linkedin.com/in/igobyjake/
www.bloodwater.org

We talk to Brady Josephson of Next After about his experience helping nonprofits grow and improve donor relationships. 

 

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Learn more about the tools Virtuous provides leading nonprofits to grow giving at: https://www.virtuouscrm.com/. 

Get an in-depth guide to responsive fundraising to help your organization grow generosity from the modern donor at: https://www.virtuouscrm.com/responsive/.

Vance Roush joins the Responsive Fundraising Podcast to share how our relationship with money impacts the way we fundraise, the importance of taking a holistic approach to donor development, and how you build a community of generosity through your communications.

Vance is an ex-Googler, engineer, pastor, and now the founder of Overflow.co, a technology company committed to building the infrastructure to ensure generosity is frictionless.

https://www.overflow.co
https://www.linkedin.com/in/vanceroush/ 

Kelsie Ruff Smith joins The Responsive Fundraising Podcast to share the inside view on the opportunities nonprofits have access to through collaboration with community foundations, corporations, other nonprofits, and local community philanthropists. We discuss what modern philanthropists are looking for in nonprofits they partner with, how to avoid duplication, and how you can build a culture of philanthropy within your donors and the broader community you engage.

Kelsie is the Director of Programs at the Community Foundation for Ocala Marion County, which connects the charitable interest of the donor to build a strong community, and the Executive Director of Blissful Life Corporation, a nonprofit 501(c)3 donation-based yoga studio

https://www.ocalafoundation.org/

https://www.virtuouscrm.com/

The newest episode of The Modern Nonprofit Fundraiser Podcast features Ryan Corry, Director of Development at St. Vincent de Paul. Ryan offers personal stories and specific examples of what inspires generosity in all donors: your own generosity. He talks about building authentic donor relations and how to create a vision for the future of your nonprofit.

Find out more about Ryan and St. Vincent de Paul on their website.

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Learn more about the tools Virtuous provides leading nonprofits to grow giving at: https://www.virtuouscrm.com/. 

Get an in-depth guide to responsive fundraising to help your organization grow generosity from the modern donor at: https://www.virtuouscrm.com/responsive/.

In this episode of The Responsive Lab, Stephen and Carly are joined by Virtuous’ very own CEO, Gabe Cooper, for a talk about Virtuous’ first-ever Benchmark Report! Gabe begins by diving into not only the what, but the why behind benchmark reports, revealing how valuable they are in understanding your nonprofit organization, as well as your donor relationships. Gabe discusses the 7 crucial KPI’s (Key Performance Indicators) included in Virtuous’ benchmark report – Gross Donor Retention, Average and Median Gift Amount, Donor Expansion, Recurring Giving, Portfolio Balance, Donor Lifetime Value, and New Donor Acquisition – and highlights why each of these factors represent important key growth factors for nonprofits. In addition to dissecting each of these individual reports, Gabe, Carly, and Stephen touch on some key tactics and takeaways that you can implement in your nonprofit to drive your donor giving – because the Virtuous Benchmark Report isn’t just a series of stats. It’s a helpful tool that can be shared with and implemented by your nonprofit for a better, more healthy donor file. Other topics include: - The rise of subscription giving - The pre- and post-Covid donor landscape - Building relationships with first-time givers - The importance of creating multi-channel new donor welcome series - Constructing dynamic ask arrays - Using median gifts as an insight to upgrading donors Get more details about this year’s benchmark report by downloading it for FREE. Simply visit: https://virtuous.org/benchmarkreport/ Season One of The Responsive Lab is brought to you by Virtuous. Virtuous is a software company committed to helping nonprofits grow generosity. Virtuous believes that generosity has the power to create profound change in the world and in the heart of the giver. With that in mind, it’s their mission to move the needle on global generosity by helping nonprofits better connect with and inspire their givers. Learn more about Virtuous and download your free Nonprofit CRM Checklist at virtuous.org/crmchecklist. Special thanks to editor and sound engineer Barry R. Hill and producer Abigail Morse.

Our guest is John Lyon, the President and CEO of World Hope International (WHI). World hope is a Christian relief and development organization that works with vulnerable and exploited communities to alleviate poverty, suffering and worldwide injustices.

John has worked with the organization for more than 18 years and is considered an expert in global development. He has more than 12 years of experience in international law and shared some of his best insights on planning for the unexpected, leveraging technology to connect with your donors and how to find balance in the midst of all the chaos.

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Learn more about the tools Virtuous provides leading nonprofits to grow giving at: https://www.virtuouscrm.com/. 

Get an in-depth guide to responsive fundraising to help your organization grow generosity from the modern donor at: https://www.virtuouscrm.com/responsive/.

Josh Tijerina provides important strategies for leading nonprofits to leverage digital marketing to grow giving. 

 

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Learn more about the tools Virtuous provides leading nonprofits to grow giving at: https://www.virtuouscrm.com/. 

Get an in-depth guide to responsive fundraising to help your organization grow generosity from the modern donor at: https://www.virtuouscrm.com/responsive/.

Nate Hughes talks to Gabe Cooper about responding to donors' needs to grow 1MISSION. 

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Learn more about the tools Virtuous provides leading nonprofits to grow giving at: https://www.virtuouscrm.com/. 

Get an in-depth guide to responsive fundraising to help your organization grow generosity from the modern donor at: https://www.virtuouscrm.com/responsive/.

Jon Burgess talks effective fundraising strategies for nonprofits today. 

 

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Learn more about the tools Virtuous provides leading nonprofits to grow giving at: https://www.virtuouscrm.com/. 

Get an in-depth guide to responsive fundraising to help your organization grow generosity from the modern donor at: https://www.virtuouscrm.com/responsive/.

Donor retention is broken. This is no surprise to anyone who has worked in the nonprofit industry for any length of time. Despite all the best practices tactics about sending thank you cards, making phone calls, investing in new technology, etc. – the average donor retention rate seems to be stuck around 45%. I

n a brand-new research endeavor analyzing both the donor retention performance and the donor experience of 212 nonprofit organizations, the team at NextAfter has begun to uncover what may be the most important ingredient to keep donors around for the long term.

The best part? This magical ingredient has nothing to do with your technology, your reach, or your budget. Instead, it has everything to do with why your donors give.

Tune into the latest episode with Nathan Hill, VP of NextAfter Institute, to learn about their research-based strategies to increase donor retention.

Nonprofit executive coach and fundraising consultant Mallory Erickson joins Noah Barnett to talk about being a more effective fundraiser, changing your mindset, and unlocking new potential to fuel your mission.

Since 2018, Mallory has successfully coached over 50 fundraisers and organizations to increase their fundraising capacity by powerfully combining her tactical fundraising expertise with the best executive coaching tools out there. This combination allow her clients to identify both internal and external barriers to success and overcome them. She is the creator of the Power Partners Formula

In this episode, Michelle Boggs from Classy joins Bryan and Rob to share about the recent findings from their 2022 Why America Gives Report and what this means for nonprofits to grow giving and generosity in 2023.

To dive deeper into the insights discussed in this episode, download the 2022 Why America Gives Report today.

In this episode of The Responsive Lab, Carly and Scott sit down with Chris Barlow, Customer Happiness Director at Beeline Marketing, to explore how nonprofits can break through digital noise and connect with the right audience. Chris shares insights on active listening, data-driven marketing, and how nonprofits can future-proof their fundraising strategies. Also in this episode, Chris shares: - His journey and his work at Beeline Marketing - How active listening helps nonprofits engage the right audience - The most important data signals nonprofits should track - Choosing the right marketing channels for better donor engagement - How nonprofits can build a sustainable marketing strategy for the future Watch or listen now for actionable insights on how nonprofits can refine their marketing approach and drive meaningful engagement: virtuous.org/podcast. The Responsive Lab is brought to you by Virtuous. Virtuous is a software company committed to helping nonprofits grow generosity. Virtuous believes that generosity has the power to create profound change in the world and in the heart of the giver. With that in mind, it’s their mission to move the needle on global generosity by helping nonprofits better connect with and inspire their givers. Learn more about Virtuous at virtuous.org/learnmore and download your free Nonprofit CRM Checklist at virtuous.org/crmchecklist. Special thanks to editor and sound engineer Barry R. Hill and producer Abigail Morse.

Dan Reed, the CEO and Founder of Seed Fundraisers join us to talk about growing generosity and vocational conviction. He also shares what he believes the true purpose of a fundraising professional is, and a few tips on how to evolve your posture toward your nonprofit's donors.

Seed Fundraisers is a training and coaching organization focused on fundraising and program design. Furthermore: Seed is an ambitious group of problem solvers, institution-builders, and activators, more interested in the rigorous pursuit of generosity-fueled impact than the comforts of self-serving work.

Dan Reed is a philanthropy executive with over 15 years of frontline and leadership experience in philanthropic fundraising. He has helped raise over $50 million dollars in private philanthropy, led teams of up to 15 fundraisers, and supported leaders through significant organizational change.

Dan served the Denver Public Schools Foundation for three years during a time of major transition, and then joined Morris Animal Foundation as the Director of Corporate Sponsorships. Dan was promoted to Chief Development Officer and served in this role until 2016 when his passion to coach fundraisers led him to launch Seed Fundraisers, a training and coaching organization focused on fundraising and program design. Since its founding, Seed has partnered with over 45 organizations, bringing clarity and strategy to their greatest challenges.

Dan’s passion for philanthropy has guided his conviction for the occupation of fundraisers and the belief that fundraisers serve the world as intentional catalysts of generosity.

Dan has recently returned to his hometown of Beaver, PA where he now lives with his wife and two children. Together with his wife, he is building new relationships with old neighbors and raising his children to love curiosity, poetry, and someday, whiskey.

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Learn more about the tools Virtuous provides leading nonprofits to grow giving at: https://www.virtuouscrm.com/. 

Get an in-depth guide to responsive fundraising to help your organization grow generosity from the modern donor at: https://www.virtuouscrm.com/responsive/.

Jake Smith, the Executive Director of Blood:Water, joins the Responsive Fundraising Podcast to discuss his path to leading his organization through uncertain times, the importance of history and rediscovering old truths with new value, and how a focus on people and execution has paved a path to help them grow 25% YOY despite the challenges of 2020.

Blood:Water is an equipping agency that partners with African grassroots organizations to address the water and HIV/AIDS crises. We do this by identifying Africa’s hidden heroes and coming alongside their vision for change. We provide technical, financial, and organizational support so that African civil society organizations have expanded reach and effectiveness in the communities they serve.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/igobyjake/
https://www.bloodwater.org 

In this episode, Tony Martignetti joins us in a lively conversation around planned giving to your nonprofit. Tony's lifetime of experience helps to demystify planned giving and encourages us to spend just one hour a week to unlock countless people and monetary funds to propel our mission forward. You don't want to miss Tony. Trust us.

Dan Reed, the CEO and Founder of Seed Fundraisers join us again to talk about growing generosity at scale across various fundraising channels. He also shares practical tips on how you can activate and inspire generosity within annual giving campaigns, major gifts, and event fundraising.

Seed Fundraisers is a training and coaching organization focused on fundraising and program design. Furthermore: Seed is an ambitious group of problem solvers, institution-builders, and activators, more interested in the rigorous pursuit of generosity-fueled impact than the comforts of self-serving work.

Dan Reed is a philanthropy executive with over 15 years of frontline and leadership experience in philanthropic fundraising. He has helped raise over $50 million dollars in private philanthropy, led teams of up to 15 fundraisers, and supported leaders through significant organizational change.

Dan served the Denver Public Schools Foundation for three years during a time of major transition, and then joined Morris Animal Foundation as the Director of Corporate Sponsorships. Dan was promoted to Chief Development Officer and served in this role until 2016 when his passion to coach fundraisers led him to launch Seed Fundraisers, a training and coaching organization focused on fundraising and program design. Since its founding, Seed has partnered with over 45 organizations, bringing clarity and strategy to their greatest challenges.

Dan’s passion for philanthropy has guided his conviction for the occupation of fundraisers and the belief that fundraisers serve the world as intentional catalysts of generosity.

Dan has recently returned to his hometown of Beaver, PA where he now lives with his wife and two children. Together with his wife, he is building new relationships with old neighbors and raising his children to love curiosity, poetry, and someday, whiskey.

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Learn more about the tools Virtuous provides leading nonprofits to grow giving at: https://www.virtuouscrm.com/. 

Get an in-depth guide to responsive fundraising to help your organization grow generosity from the modern donor at: https://www.virtuouscrm.com/responsive/.

Stacy LeBaron joins The Responsive Fundraising Podcast to talk about delivering animal welfare services during times of crisis and the power of pivoting.

Stacy has been involved in animal welfare for over 20 years. She is the host and founder of Community Cats Podcast, a 5 day a week podcast show where she interviews nationally and internationally renowned experts helping with the problem of cat overpopulation and cat welfare. In addition to the podcast, Stacy is committed to the model of virtual education by holding weekend conferences and day long educational sessions. Prior to the podcast,  Stacy served for 16 years as president of the Merrimack River Feline Rescue Society, and then directed the Mentoring Program at that organization.

 

Gordon Pont, the Partner and Strategy Director at Collab Agency in Australia, joins the Responsive Fundraising Podcast to talk about brand and marketing strategy, and the necessity to stand for something to ensure you stand out from the crowd.

During our conversation we pull on Gordon's experience in consumer marketing and nonprofit advocacy and uncover essential traits nonprofit brands need to be remarkable and attract support.

Gordon is a strategically led commercial marketer and business owner. With 20+ years of building brands, across B2C and B2B markets he promises to effectively collaborate so that your business grows. His experience includes senior Marketing, Sales, Category Management, Innovation and Directorship roles. Having also worked across most communication channels in traditional and digital media. He's passionate about working together with teams looking to grow and brings a breadth of capability, leadership and insight.

https://www.collabagency.com.au 
https://opportunity.org

Steve Cook talks to Gabe Cooper about the ways he's been able to leverage volunteers to run a leading nonprofit. 

 

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Learn more about the tools Virtuous provides leading nonprofits to grow giving at: https://www.virtuouscrm.com/. 

Get an in-depth guide to responsive fundraising to help your organization grow generosity from the modern donor at: https://www.virtuouscrm.com/responsive/.

Carly Berna talks to us about the ways her team was able to grow Jewish Voice through dedicated relationships with donors. 

 

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Learn more about the tools Virtuous provides leading nonprofits to grow giving at: https://www.virtuouscrm.com/. 

Get an in-depth guide to responsive fundraising to help your organization grow generosity from the modern donor at: https://www.virtuouscrm.com/responsive/.

Brian Numainville, consultant, speaker, and author joins the Responsive Fundraising podcast to discuss his observations from 2020, where nonprofits might be missing opportunities, and his future outlook. Nonprofit Surveys: Your Nonprofit Needs to Ask Questions An accomplished consultant and the president of NUMINSIGHTS LLC, as well as a principal with Retail Feedback Group, Brian partners with organizations throughout the United States to design and execute a wide range of research and feedback programs, as well as advises on public relations and communications efforts. Brian is also the co-author of Feedback Rules!

In this episode of The Responsive Lab, Stephen Boudreau and Carly Berna are joined by Executive Vice President at DickersonBakker, Andrew Olsen, for a discussion about nonprofit fundraising and how to give donors a better giving experience. They dive into the current climate of fundraising and discuss what it means to create a major-donor like strategy. They take an in-depth look at the ‘responsive’ part of Responsive Fundraising and talk about what it really means to be personal with your donors when communicating with them. Andrew goes on to address the question of whether every donor should be treated as a major donor, or if they should be treated the way they prefer to be treated, as well as what it takes to embrace effective change for long-term success. Other Topics Include: - The changing demographics in the fundraising landscape - Why donors have started to lose trust in nonprofits, and how to overcome it. - Using data and technology to connect with your donors - The dilemma surrounding ‘mass customization’ - How leadership can either make or break a nonprofits ability to embrace change Discover more at virtuous.org/podcast. Season One of The Responsive Lab is brought to you by: VIRTUOUS Virtuous is a software company committed to helping nonprofits grow generosity. Virtuous believes that generosity has the power to create profound change in the world and in the heart of the giver. With that in mind, it’s their mission to move the needle on global generosity by helping nonprofits better connect with and inspire their givers. Learn more about Virtuous at virtuous.org/learnmore and download your free Nonprofit CRM Checklist at virtuous.org/crmchecklist. Special thanks to editor and sound engineer Barry R. Hill and producer Abigail Morse.

In this episode of The Responsive Lab, your co-host, Carly Berna, is joined by fellow Virtuous colleague, Scott Holthaus, for a special audio-only edition featuring Virtuous partner, OneCause. Included in the conversation are OneCause’s CMO, Karrie Wozniak, and Director of Corporate Communications, Sarah Sebastian. Together, Karrie and Sarah share details from the 5th edition of OneCause’s Giving Experience Research Study—a report that highlights the latest social giving trends in the nonprofit sector. This crucial report offers actionable insights to help organizations build deeper, lasting connections with their donors. Offering key finding from this report, Karrie and Sarah will also share: - The meaning of ‘social donor’ and ‘social giving’ - How nonprofits can use technology to build trust, ease, and connection with their donors - Effective strategies on how organizations can attract younger, more diverse donors - How nonprofits can best use the data from the report to make an impact on their organization Download the Giving Experience Research Study now at: https://www.onecause.com/ebook/giving-experience-study-fifth-edition/ Season One of The Responsive Lab is brought to you by: VIRTUOUS Virtuous is a software company committed to helping nonprofits grow generosity. Virtuous believes that generosity has the power to create profound change in the world and in the heart of the giver. With that in mind, it’s their mission to move the needle on global generosity by helping nonprofits better connect with and inspire their givers. Learn more about Virtuous at virtuous.org/learnmore and download your free Nonprofit CRM Checklist at virtuous.org/crmchecklist. Special thanks to editor and sound engineer Barry R. Hill and producer Abigail Morse.

Dana Snyder of Positive Equation joins the Responsive Fundraising Podcast to discuss social media and digital strategy for nonprofits. During our conversation we covered the dance marathons that first sparked her interest in college, how to make your mission stand out in the busy online landscape, and how to connect more deeply with your supporters.

Dana Snyder is the founder and CEO of Positive Equation, a digital consultancy focused on helping nonprofits cultivate a passionate online following of donors, volunteers, and advocates.

Cameron Ripley joins the Responsive Fundraising podcast to discuss the latest trends in nonprofit marketing. During our conversation we discuss the lessons learned from hundreds of nonprofit marketing campaigns in 2020, the essentials of successful, digital-first fundraising plans, and what organizations must double down on as they plan their go-forward digital strategies.

Cameron is the CEO and Founder of Community Boost Consulting, a digital marketing agency that exists to empower social ventures changing the world. Trusted by the Statue of Liberty-Ellis Foundation, the Trevor Project, United Ways, Humane Societies and hundreds of other great causes from around the world, Community Boost has been committed to helping nonprofits drive more meaningful conversions online since 2012.

Additional resources:

• Nonprofit Marketing Summit
• Nonprofit marketing resources

Welcome to Episode 1 of “The Responsive Lab,” the podcast where innovation and impact converge to transform the nonprofit world! In this episode, your co-hosts, Carly Berna and Stephen Boudreau, are joined by nonprofit fundraising expert Dana Snyder to talk about the dos and don'ts of achieving a healthy monthly donor program. Dana Snyder is the Host of Missions to Movements and Creator of the Monthly Giving Mastermind. She’s also the author of the upcoming book Monthly Giving Mastermind: How to build, grow, and sustain subscriptions for good. Dana dives into a discussion about her upcoming book and shares her 5 steps to successful monthly giving. Stay tuned at the end of the episode for a special giveaway offer! Visit virtuous.org/danasnyder to learn more! Other topics in this episode include: - The benefits of creating impactful landing pages - The use of technology and AI tools for fundraising - ‘Thank You’ pages as the underutilized tools in the nonprofit’s toolbox - Should you send receipts following monthly subscription sign ups? The realities behind the ‘abandoned cart’ dilemma Season One of The Responsive Lab is brought to you by Virtuous. Virtuous is a software company committed to helping nonprofits grow generosity. Virtuous believes that generosity has the power to create profound change in the world and in the heart of the giver. With that in mind, it’s their mission to move the needle on global generosity by helping nonprofits better connect with and inspire their givers. Learn more about Virtuous and download your free Nonprofit CRM Checklist at virtuous.org/crmchecklist. Special thanks to editor and sound engineer Barry R. Hill and producer Abigail Morse.

Shannon McCracken joins us to talk about the current fundraising landscape, why trust and relevancy our essential now more than ever, and her take on what nonprofit leaders should focus on amidst times of crisis and uncertainty.

Shannon has a unique vantage point, as she's the CEO of The Nonprofit Alliance, leading the association through rapid growth since its launch in 2018. Previously she spent two years as Charity Navigator’s Chief Development Officer, facilitating communication with nonprofit organizations and dramatically increasing resources to support successful implementation of a new strategic plan. She now serves on their board of directors. She spent 17 years with Special Olympics International, most recently as Vice President of Donor Development, building and managing a multichannel individual fundraising program.

Shannon has been an engaged member of the DMA Nonprofit Federation, with past roles as Chairperson of the Advisory Council and Chair of the Ethics Committee.

https://tnpa.org/membership/telluswhatyoulove/

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Learn more about the tools Virtuous provides leading nonprofits to grow giving at: https://www.virtuouscrm.com/. 

Get an in-depth guide to responsive fundraising to help your organization grow generosity from the modern donor at: https://www.virtuouscrm.com/responsive/.

Sarah Olivieri joins us to share lessons learned from over 15 years of nonprofit leadership, how vulnerability and respite help nonprofits thrive, and a simple, yet effective framework that prioritizes process and two-week sprint cycles to laborious strategic planning as fuel for improvement and growth.

Sarah Olivieri is a nonprofit business strategist, #1 International Best Selling author, and former Executive Director. She has been featured on over 30 podcasts and is the creator of the Impact Method™ - a framework that helps nonprofits simplify their operations, build aligned teams, and make a bigger impact without getting overwhelmed or burning out.

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Learn more about the tools Virtuous provides leading nonprofits to grow giving at: https://www.virtuouscrm.com/. 

Get an in-depth guide to responsive fundraising to help your organization grow generosity from the modern donor at: https://www.virtuouscrm.com/responsive/.

David J. O'Brien and Matthew D. Craig join The Responsive Fundraising Podcast to discuss the insights from their new book Building Smart Nonprofits. During the conversation we dig into  alternative funding models, how to move beyond golf tournaments, galas, and grants, and ask the question whether there are too many nonprofits. Many contrarian notes, but insightful.

Building Smart Nonprofits: A Roadmap for Mission Success is a handbook of best practices nonprofits can use to improve sustainability - a book of knowledge and know-how distilled from interviews with over 60 industry leaders who are in the nonprofit trenches every day—as executives, leaders, board members, funders, publishers, and service providers.

David J. O’Brien and Matthew D. Craig provide real-life examples of nonprofits deploying best practices and emerging industry trends – such as the rise of socially conscious investing – to position their organizations for the long term. Topics include, among others, funding models, impact investing, compensation, strategic restructuring, leadership, full-cost grantmaking, program evaluation, storytelling, and financing. Readers learn how to best position their non-profit organization for a sustainable and long-term future.

https://requiemforthegala.org/our-book/

Chad Williams joins us to talk about the five mindsets of a modern fundraising strategy, how infusing personalization into your messaging drives up results, and a simple framework for donor engagement in 2020 and beyond.

Chad is the CEO of Five Q and has been involved with the Internet since 1995. His company provides a full suite of software development and interactive marketing solutions, including ground-breaking personalization platform, Journity. Chad and Five Q serves dozens of non-profit organizations, including homeless shelters, national faith-based nonprofits, city and county governments and many others.

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Learn more about the tools Virtuous provides leading nonprofits to grow giving at: https://www.virtuouscrm.com/. 

Get an in-depth guide to responsive fundraising to help your organization grow generosity from the modern donor at: https://www.virtuouscrm.com/responsive/.

Javan Van Gronigen joins Gabe Cooper to talk about the power of story to bridge the gap between givers and the good you're making in our world, the importance of pivoting to think of donor cultivation less like a funnel and more like a network, and more.

Javan is the Founder and Creative Director at Fifty & Fifty. When not directing the path of his creative team, he's driving strategy to roll out new solutions for the nonprofit world through web design. With previous professional experience as the Art Director for companies like Digitaria and Invisible Children, he founded Fifty & Fifty in 2009 to put nonprofit web design and branding on the same playing field as Fortune 500 brands.

Javan and his wife Candice have sons named Sebastian and Graeme along with a brindle Boxer named Brutus...who is inadvertently (or advertently) the office mascot. 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/javanvangronigen/

https://fiftyandfifty.org/about/

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Learn more about the tools Virtuous provides leading nonprofits to grow giving at: https://www.virtuouscrm.com/. 

Get an in-depth guide to responsive fundraising to help your organization grow generosity from the modern donor at: https://www.virtuouscrm.com/responsive/.

On the newest episode of The Modern Nonprofit Fundraiser Podcast, we feature Taylor Shanklin, the V.P. of Marketing at Pursuant. Taylor offers practical advice for nonprofits who want to use the same growth hacking strategies that make startups successful. She provides tips for successful growth, how to grow a stronger team at your nonprofit and more. Listen to the whole episode here. 

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Learn more about the tools Virtuous provides leading nonprofits to grow giving at: https://www.virtuouscrm.com/. 

Get an in-depth guide to responsive fundraising to help your organization grow generosity from the modern donor at: https://www.virtuouscrm.com/responsive/.

Global philanthropy consultant Kris Putnam-Walkerly has advised top philanthropists for over 20 years, transforming their giving and catapulting their impact. As a sought after philanthropy advisor, expert and award-winning author, she's helped hundreds of wealthy families, foundations, Fortune 500 companies, Giving Pledge signatories, and wealth advisors strategically influence and allocate over half a billion dollars in grants and gifts. She is the author of Delusional Altruism, Confident Giving, and The ImpactAssets Handbook for Investors.

Beth Fisher joins us to discuss lessons nonprofits can glean from how for-profit businesses approach growth, the importance and primary characteristics of good leaders, and how vulnerability at work can help unlock your team's full potential.

Beth is currently the VP of Advancement & Communications at Meltrotter Ministries and is a sought-after speaker and life coach who knows how to get through life’s decisions & challenges, as she herself has persisted and persevered amidst a sea of uncertainty and life changing seasonal transitions.

She has spent the past two decades coaching, teaching, and motivating thousands of people working within some of the largest Fortune 500 companies to help them “re-engineer” their business processes. All along the way, what she was truly helping them do was make decisions – showing them how to take action in the now to get to the big picture later – in an effort to be better, both personally and professionally.

https://bethfisher.com/meet-beth/

https://www.meltrotter.org/

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Learn more about the tools Virtuous provides leading nonprofits to grow giving at: https://www.virtuouscrm.com/. 

Get an in-depth guide to responsive fundraising to help your organization grow generosity from the modern donor at: https://www.virtuouscrm.com/responsive/.

What’s the easiest way to grow as a fundraiser this year—without leaving your desk? In this special episode of The Responsive Lab, co-hosts Carly Berna and Scott Holthaus unpack exactly that. Drawing from their own time in the fundraising trenches, they explore how nonprofit professionals can grow right where they are—by staying curious, leaning into community, and choosing growth even in the busyness. And there’s no better way to do that than the Responsive Nonprofit Summit, happening June 4-5, 2025! It’s free, fully virtual, and designed to help nonprofit professionals grow their impact—without leaving their desk. Key takeaways from the episode include: - Why fundraisers struggle to make space for innovation - Where to find real-time inspiration in your work - How to grow in your role without burning out - What to expect from the Responsive Nonprofit Summit Reserve your free spot at the Summit: https://vrtuo.us/3RnQbMl Meanwhile, check out more episode of The Responsive Lab at: virtuous.org/podcast The Responsive Lab is brought to you by: VIRTUOUS Virtuous is a software company committed to helping nonprofits grow generosity. Virtuous believes that generosity has the power to create profound change in the world and in the heart of the giver. With that in mind, it’s their mission to move the needle on global generosity by helping nonprofits better connect with and inspire their givers. Learn more about Virtuous at virtuous.org/learnmore and download your free Nonprofit CRM Checklist at virtuous.org/crmchecklist. Special thanks to editor and sound engineer Barry R. Hill and producer Abigail Morse.

In this episode, Heather Hiscox of Pause for Change, joins Rob and tackles what it means to dismantle the status quo to make true change in your organization. Using her PAUSE framework, she has helped countless social impact organizations address challenges in less time, using fewer resources, to achieve greater impact. Heather's insight is a must listen for any nonprofit leader.

Kendra Jeffreys is the Sr. Director of US Operations at Mission to the World. This week, Kendra joined the podcast to discuss innovation, change management, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement at nonprofits.

I always say this to my team: ‘Start at the end first. I want know your desired future state. Where do you want to be?’ And then we’re going to figure out how to get there.

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Learn more about the tools Virtuous provides leading nonprofits to grow giving at: https://www.virtuouscrm.com/. 

Get an in-depth guide to responsive fundraising to help your organization grow generosity from the modern donor at: https://www.virtuouscrm.com/responsive/.

Carter Crockett joins us to talk about the teachings of ancient philosophers and how they can help today's entrepreneurs and nonprofit leaders.

Learn the difference between winning and flourishing, plus how creating a culture of excellence can help drive your nonprofit forward.

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Learn more about the tools Virtuous provides leading nonprofits to grow giving at: https://www.virtuouscrm.com/. 

Get an in-depth guide to responsive fundraising to help your organization grow generosity from the modern donor at: https://www.virtuouscrm.com/responsive/.

Larry Johnson offers important fundraising philosophies for modern nonprofits. 

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Learn more about the tools Virtuous provides leading nonprofits to grow giving at: https://www.virtuouscrm.com/. 

Get an in-depth guide to responsive fundraising to help your organization grow generosity from the modern donor at: https://www.virtuouscrm.com/responsive/.

Emily Lesko stops by to discuss how technology can help support leading nonprofits grow predictable revenue from modern donors. 

 

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Learn more about the tools Virtuous provides leading nonprofits to grow giving at: https://www.virtuouscrm.com/. 

Get an in-depth guide to responsive fundraising to help your organization grow generosity from the modern donor at: https://www.virtuouscrm.com/responsive/.

Sophie W. Penney, Ph.D. joins us to talk about the challenges facing nonprofit leaders today, why fundraisers should adopt a teacher's mindset, and a framework to identify and isolate challenges to ensure you navigate them well.

Sophie is the Director of Foundation Relations for Penn State University and the founder and President of i5 Fundraising and a dynamic development leader with extensive expertise in building strategic fundraising initiatives within higher education and non-profit sectors. Sophie is also the author or co-author of numerous books, articles, and reports including: Dollars for Dreams: Student Affairs Staff as Fundraisers (NASPA 2001) and Student Affairs Fundraising: Raising Funds to Raise the Bar (NASPA, 2019). 

She is a sought after facilitator, teacher, and coach for aspiring and current fundraising professionals. In 2019 Sophie was recognized by the Allegheny Mountains Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals as the Fundraiser of the Year.

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Learn more about the tools Virtuous provides leading nonprofits to grow giving at: https://www.virtuouscrm.com/. 

Get an in-depth guide to responsive fundraising to help your organization grow generosity from the modern donor at: https://www.virtuouscrm.com/responsive/.

In this special episode of The Responsive Lab, we conducted a webinar with experts from Allegiance Group Pursuant, Dunham and Company, RKD Group, and 5by5 Agency to explore how nonprofit fundraising has evolved in the five years since COVID-19. The pandemic accelerated the shift to digital-first engagement, forcing organizations to rethink donor relationships, embrace AI-driven fundraising, and adopt data-driven strategies. We discussed key trends shaping the sector, including: - The rise of online giving and automated fundraising strategies - How donor expectations have changed, emphasizing personalization and transparency - The power of data analytics and predictive modeling in improving donor retention As technology continues to evolve, nonprofits must stay ahead of the curve by investing in innovation, AI, and strategic donor engagement. For a deeper dive into these insights, download our report: 5 Years Since COVID: How Fundraising Has Changed: https://virtuous.org/resource/5-years-since-covid/?utm_campaign=10001227-%5B2025%5D%205%20Years%20Since%20COVID&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9XVOzJ_vdU2zi7j6gHNNXWA8vpC8l4tcM9pNB-tRft7rlWCCC8N0SlIQEu5Yi-EbAo7rgw Discover more at: https://virtuous.org/blog/5-years-since-covid-the-future-of-fundraising-in-a-digital-first-world/ Meanwhile, check out more episodes of The Responsive Lab at virtuous.org/podcast. Season One of The Responsive Lab is brought to you by: VIRTUOUS Virtuous is a software company committed to helping nonprofits grow generosity. Virtuous believes that generosity has the power to create profound change in the world and in the heart of the giver. With that in mind, it’s their mission to move the needle on global generosity by helping nonprofits better connect with and inspire their givers. Learn more about Virtuous at virtuous.org/learnmore and download your free Nonprofit CRM Checklist at virtuous.org/crmchecklist. Special thanks to editor and sound engineer Barry R. Hill and producer Abigail Morse.

Two experienced development leaders from Catholic Extension join The Responsive Fundraising Podcast to share strategies to deepen donor relationships and unpack the needed partnership required between annual fund and major gift development teams. 

Tony Smercina, the AVP of Development, and Travis DeRamcy, the Sr. Director of Development, both have an array of experience managing and growing development programs. During the conversation, we discuss the difference yet synergy between annual fund and major donor development programs, the 12 step program they use to steward donors, and how they've continue to deepen donor connection in spite of the distance COVID-19 has forced.

Catholic Extension is a fundraising organization that helps ensure that all American Catholics can practice their faith within vibrant faith communities. Together with their donors, they connect poor and remote Catholic communities with essential financial support, educational partnerships, and infrastructure.

https://www.catholicextension.org/
https://www.virtuouscrm.com/modern-nonprofit-fundraiser-podcast/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/tonysmercina/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/travisderamcy/

Welcome to "The Responsive Lab," your new favorite podcast where innovation and impact come together to transform the nonprofit world. Brought to you by Virtuous, this podcast explores how nonprofits can harness technology to supercharge donor engagement and make a lasting impact. In this introductory episode, your hosts—Carly Berna, Director of Product Marketing, and Stephen Boudreau, Vice President of Brand—introduce themselves and share what inspired the creation of this podcast. They explore how nonprofits can stay ahead of the curve and maximize their impact in an ever-evolving landscape. Whether you're a nonprofit leader, tech enthusiast, or someone who loves a good story, we invite you to step into our lab and join us on this journey of discovery. So grab your lab coat and your headphones, and let's get started! Season One of The Responsive Lab is brought to you by Virtuous. Virtuous is a software company committed to helping nonprofits grow generosity. Virtuous believes that generosity has the power to create profound change in the world and in the heart of the giver. With that in mind, it’s their mission to move the needle on global generosity by helping nonprofits better connect with and inspire their givers. Learn more about Virtuous and download your free Nonprofit CRM Checklist at virtuous.org/crmchecklist.

Most nonprofit organizations understand that a website is a key communication tool that helps them state their mission, share their successes, and keep their donors up to date. A nonprofit website is also a central tool for growing the donor base. That’s why it’s not enough to just check the box: “Yeah, we have a website.” To be the most successful in the digital age, nonprofits need to strive to develop a great website.

In this episode of our podcast, we connected with Adam Walker. He’s co-owner at Sideways8, a web design company that helps nonprofits develop websites to reach the right people, increase donations and membership, and ultimately make a bigger impact on the world.

When it comes to designing websites for nonprofit organizations, Adam is the one to talk to. So we did.

You can follow Adam on Twitter at @AJWalker and read his personal blog at AdamJWalker.com. Want to see something really cool? Check out 48 in 48, in which Adam and his team host events to build 48 nonprofit websites in 48 hours—for free.

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Learn more about the tools Virtuous provides leading nonprofits to grow giving at: https://www.virtuouscrm.com/. 

Get an in-depth guide to responsive fundraising to help your organization grow generosity from the modern donor at: https://www.virtuouscrm.com/responsive/.

Andrew Olsen joins us to talk about the decreasing trust that Americans have in NGOs to "do what is right", what nonprofits should do to proactive build donor trust, and his suggestions on how a nonprofit's posture toward donors directly impacts their ability to deliver on the mission.

Andrew is a #1 Best Selling author, speaker, and nonprofit marketer. He’s helped raise more than $250 million for nonprofits. With more than 20 years of leadership experience, he currently advises nonprofit leaders, boards, and development teams through strategic consultation, coaching, and classroom instruction. Andrew is a Senior Vice President at Newport ONE and a frequent speaker at nonprofit industry events.

https://andrewolsen.net/

https://andrewolsen.net/no-thank-you/

https://www.newportone.com/

https://andrewolsen.net/rainmaker-podcast/

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Learn more about the tools Virtuous provides leading nonprofits to grow giving at: https://www.virtuouscrm.com/. 

Get an in-depth guide to responsive fundraising to help your organization grow generosity from the modern donor at: https://www.virtuouscrm.com/responsive/.

Justin Narducci talks to Gabe Cooper about the ways to connect with your donors at the right time to maximize generosity. 

 

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Learn more about the tools Virtuous provides leading nonprofits to grow giving at: https://www.virtuouscrm.com/. 

Get an in-depth guide to responsive fundraising to help your organization grow generosity from the modern donor at: https://www.virtuouscrm.com/responsive/.

In this episode of The Responsive Lab, your Virtuous co-hosts, Carly Berna and Scott Holthaus, welcome Imago Consulting founder, Purpose and Profit Podcast co-host, popular speaker, and best-selling author, Dave Raley! Dave begins the conversation by introducing his new book, The Rise of Sustainable Giving: How the Subscription Economy is Transforming Recurring Giving and What Nonprofits Can Do to Benefit, which recently became Amazon’s #1 new release for Nonprofit Organizations and Charities ahead of its official launch date. He explains how the subscription economy has changed everything for nonprofits, and how it will continue to transform how people look at giving moving forward. Sharing key insights from his book, Dave offers nonprofit leaders the tools they need to adopt this new approach to giving. Key takeaways from this episode include: - Why sustainable giving matters - Lessons in subscription philanthropy - How to design and manage a thriving sustainer program - The future of sustainable giving Enter to win a copy of Dave’s Book, The Rise of Sustainable Giving, by visiting: https://virtuous.org/daveraley/ Meanwhile, discover more about The Responsive Lab at: virtuous.org/podcast. Season One of The Responsive Nonprofit is brought to you by Virtuous. Virtuous is a software company committed to helping nonprofits grow generosity. Virtuous believes that generosity has the power to create profound change in the world and in the heart of the giver. With that in mind, it’s their mission to move the needle on global generosity by helping nonprofits better connect with and inspire their givers. Learn more about Virtuous at virtuous.org/learnmore and download your free Nonprofit CRM Checklist at virtuous.org/crmchecklist. Special thanks to editor and sound engineer Barry R. Hill and producer Abigail Morse.

In this special episode of The Responsive Lab, we’re excited to welcome Scott Holthaus as your new co-host alongside Carly Berna! Scott’s the Partner Marketing Manager here at Virtuous, where he helps nonprofits grow generosity and implement responsive fundraising. Before joining Virtuous, Scott spent 15+ years working in nonprofits and ministries in a variety of roles, including marketing and communications. He lives in the Chicago area with his wife and three kids. Discover more about The Responsive Lab at virtuous.org/podcast. Season One of The Responsive Lab is brought to you by Virtuous. Virtuous is a software company committed to helping nonprofits grow generosity. Virtuous believes that generosity has the power to create profound change in the world and in the heart of the giver. With that in mind, it’s their mission to move the needle on global generosity by helping nonprofits better connect with and inspire their givers. Learn more about Virtuous at virtuous.org/learnmore and download your free Nonprofit CRM Checklist at virtuous.org/crmchecklist. Special thanks to editor and sound engineer Barry R. Hill and producer Abigail Morse.

Nonprofit technology veteran Kent Woodyard joins Noah Barnett to discuss nonprofit technology, what nonprofits can learn from Amazon, and how organizations can adopt a "Day One" mindset.

Casey Davis, the Executive Director at the Diabetes Research Connection, joins the Responsive Fundraising Podcast to discuss her experience leading a growing nonprofit through transition and trials. During our conversation we discuss Casey’s “partner with” fundraising approach, the importance of having a holistic fundraising strategy, and why Casey is optimistic about the industry’s future.

Diabetes Research Connection empowers people affected by type 1 diabetes and supports highly innovative research, for which seed funding is notoriously hard to obtain. This unique, disease-specific crowdfunding platform was established by leading diabetes scientists and advocates. This one-of-a-kind community is uniquely focused on funding innovative, discovery research and supporting early career scientists in type 1 diabetes research.

Christ Horst joins us to discuss the strategies his team used to scale fundraising for HOPE International. 

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Learn more about the tools Virtuous provides leading nonprofits to grow giving at: https://www.virtuouscrm.com/. 

Get an in-depth guide to responsive fundraising to help your organization grow generosity from the modern donor at: https://www.virtuouscrm.com/responsive/.

In a world that is constantly changing, our generosity must also evolve. If we want to have a positive, long-lasting impact on local communities, we must rethink the ways we’ve traditionally addressed their needs. Dr. Bertrhude Albert will challenge you to dig deep and reimagine the ways we give and engage with those in need. She will share her personal story of how she found herself hurting those she intended to help in Haiti and how she uses that vivid experience to bring radical transformation to her homeland. Dr. Albert firmly believes that generosity has the power to change the world—if we allow it to change us first.

Missy Gale and Jill Bruner join the Responsive Fundraising Podcast to discuss the unique challenges nonprofit teams must overcome in 2020, the importance of listening to fuel fundraising activities, and how organizations must pivot plans and shift strategies to increase impact.

M. Gale & Associates is a fundraising consulting firm with more than a decade of experience collaborating with mission-driven nonprofit organizations in North Texas and the Southwest. They help them reach their full potential by delivering strategic philanthropic solutions that are insightful, implementable, and successful.

In this episode of The Responsive Lab, your Virtuous co-hosts, Carly Berna and Stephen Boudreau, bring in DonorSearch’s head of AI, Nathan Chappell, for an exciting conversation about AI and how it can fuel generosity in your organization. Nathan begins by diving into his experience, which includes founding the Fundraising.AI collaborative, a 10,000+ member global think-tank responsible for publishing the world’s first Framework for Responsible and Beneficial AI for Fundraising; as well as co-authoring The Generosity Crisis: The Case for Radical Connection to Solve Humanity’s Greatest Challenges. As he comes from an extensive AI background, Nathan shares varying ways that nonprofits can benefit (and have already benefited) from using AI, offering practical tips that nonprofits can implement from day one. Next, he explains the process of creating a culture of curiosity and how adaptability in any organization is key. Also along the way, Nathan shares: - How to use AI while still building personal connections with your donors - How technology can help build curiosity when looking to move the needle forward - How using AI actually gives you more time to be human - How AI can be used as a tool to scale generosity - How donors can use AI when selecting where to give and how it relates to fundraisers - And so much more + a mystery question at the end! Virtuous is a software company committed to helping nonprofits grow generosity. Virtuous believes that generosity has the power to create profound change in the world and in the heart of the giver. With that in mind, it’s their mission to move the needle on global generosity by helping nonprofits better connect with and inspire their givers. Learn more about Virtuous at virtuous.org/learnmore and download your free Nonprofit CRM Checklist at virtuous.org/crmchecklist. Special thanks to editor and sound engineer Barry R. Hill and producer Abigail Morse.

Sarah Landman joins the Responsive Fundraising podcast to discuss personalized donor stewardship. During our conversation we discuss the tie between theatre and fundraising, key donor signals nonprofits must tune in on, and how you turn signals into more personalized cultivation plans, especially in 2021.

Sarah is the Sr. VP of Philanthropy Services at NewsBank / Insightful, a web-based platform to help nonprofits know more about their donors that lead to deeper relationships.

Sarah is an experienced fundraising and business executive with a 15 year history and successful results working in the fundraising industry. Skilled in major gift fundraising, business development, marketing, capital campaign consulting, women's philanthropy and legacy planning. M.A. in Philanthropy and Development from Saint Mary's University of Minnesota.

https://www.insightfulphilanthropy.com/home
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahjanelandman/ 

 

On this episode, we're joined by T. Clay Buck, a recovering actor and reluctant data geek, and we discuss what fundraising leaders should be focused on as we wade into 2020 and beyond. He is the Founder and Principal of Tactical Fundraising Solutions, a fundraising consultancy that helps fundraisers and nonprofits raise money more effectively through a systems-thinking approach to fundraising.

Clay has thirty years of experience in fundraising from individual donors and particular expertise in annual giving, database management, prospect research and development operations. He was the Vice President of Client Services for the highly respected consulting firm, IDC and has held the CFRE certification since 2010. He was a co-author of the Rogare Critical Fundraising Report for the United States, teaches fundraising and storytelling at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and was recently named one of the top 20 Charity Influencers online.

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Learn more about the tools Virtuous provides leading nonprofits to grow giving at: https://www.virtuouscrm.com/. 

Get an in-depth guide to responsive fundraising to help your organization grow generosity from the modern donor at: https://www.virtuouscrm.com/responsive/.

We’re changing things. We’re creating a space where ideas and people focused on fundraising for our world’s most important causes can collide. Why?

The world your nonprofit is fundraising in has changed. This has shifted what today’s donor expects and they’re voting with their giving (engagement and dollars).

Yet, nonprofits are handcuffed to models that were designed for donors that no longer exist. You need a new approach. And, Gabe Cooper, the founder and CEO of Virtuous, talks about how that new approach should be responsive fundraising.

Responsive fundraising puts the donor at the center of fundraising activities, personalizes engagement, and treats ALL donors like major donors.

We know a world where nonprofits are more responsive is one that is better for the entire generosity ecosystem and will grow giving and social impact. So, we’re curating conversations with nonprofit leaders and top fundraising thinkers to illuminate responsive fundraising strategies and highlight how modern nonprofits are becoming responsive 

In this episode, Katrina VanHuss (Founder and CEO) and Otis Fulton (VP for Psychological Strategy) of Turnkey join Rob for an enlightening deep dive on peer-to-peer social fundraising. Not only do they have vast experience working with the largest nonprofits in the US, but they also apply psychology to fundraising and donor behavior resulting in significant thought leadership in this space. Katrina and Otis discuss best practices of fundraising with social media, the "Trifecta of Satisfaction," why you are most likely rewarding your volunteers wrong, and how to maximize peer-to-peer giving for any organization.

Are you enjoying the Responsive Nonprofit Podcast and want to dive deeper into the framework and methodology growing nonprofits use to build deeper relationships with all donors to unlock mission transformation? I'd love to send you a free copy of our book, Responsive Fundraising, so you can get started today!

In this episode of The Responsive Lab, your Virtuous co-hosts, Stephen Boudreau and Carly Berna, are joined by Jon McCoy and Becky Endicott from the podcast, We Are For Good. They begin by talking about how to measure success, giving examples such as tracking the various forms of engagement in one’s organization. Next, they discuss the topic of activation. How do donors, listeners and supporters respond to calls to action, and what kind of pushback is there from nonprofits in this area? Later, they dive into the process of syndicating content, meaning spreading a message or an idea to multiple channels for different audiences. Sharing examples and tips from their success, Jon & Becky offer invaluable insights on how organizations can connect with their supporters through activation and harness the power of generosity in the current giving climate that we live in. More topics include: - The pitfalls of only measuring giving against other metrics in an organization’s growth plan - How to engage dimensionally with your organization’s supporters - How the Barbie Movie is a good example of what not to do in terms of activation - And so much more! Season One of The Responsive Nonprofit is brought to you by: VIRTUOUS Virtuous is a software company committed to helping nonprofits grow generosity. Virtuous believes that generosity has the power to create profound change in the world and in the heart of the giver. With that in mind, it’s their mission to move the needle on global generosity by helping nonprofits better connect with and inspire their givers. Learn more about Virtuous at virtuous.org/learnmore and download your free Nonprofit CRM Checklist at virtuous.org/crmchecklist. Special thanks to editor and sound engineer Barry R. Hill and producer Abigail Morse.

Justin Ellis joins The Responsive Fundraising Podcast and takes us into the trenches and see how a successful VP of Development approaches their work amidst uncertain times.

We discuss the importance of development staff being data-driven decision makers, the difference between transactional and transformational, and how to transform asks into investment invitations.

Justin, the VP of Development at Thompson, oversees fundraising and relationship development of all the many individuals and organizations that support the mission and vision of Thompson.

He leads a team that is engaging in vision building initiatives, and works to enlarge the footprint and deepen the impact from those that stand in the gap with us in our communities. He received a Bachelor of Missions and Ministry from Gordon College. He brings over 10 years of experience in Non-profits and fundraising work.

Trent Dunham gives practical strategies for nonprofit leaders to grow giving and bring their donors closer to the cause. 

 

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Learn more about the tools Virtuous provides leading nonprofits to grow giving at: https://www.virtuouscrm.com/. 

Get an in-depth guide to responsive fundraising to help your organization grow generosity from the modern donor at: https://www.virtuouscrm.com/responsive/.

The Virtuous team was onsite with the team at Mel Trotter Ministries, witnessing their work at the forefront of battling homelessness through community partnerships and innovative solutions. The organization adopted Virtuous CRM and Responsive Fundraising as both a technology solution and a strategic mindset shift to how they operate as a team and deliver their programs. And the results they’ve seen are transformational - including a 31% increase in overall individual giving. They’ve evolved the way they treat their program beneficiaries by embarking on a major innovation of their homeless shelter into a hotel that brings dignity to the experience of transitioning out of homelessness and welcoming their beneficiaries as guests. Beth Fisher, Chief Advancement Officer, calls this “the downstream impact of changing technology”.

Brad Davies talks to us about the strategies and tactics he used to get closer to the modern donor and grow giving. 

 

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Learn more about the tools Virtuous provides leading nonprofits to grow giving at: https://www.virtuouscrm.com/. 

Get an in-depth guide to responsive fundraising to help your organization grow generosity from the modern donor at: https://www.virtuouscrm.com/responsive/.

In this episode, Gabe Cooper talks to Heather Hiscox - Co-founder and Co-director at Moves the Needle - about innovation and challenging how nonprofits think about growth, risk and continuous improvement.

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Learn more about the tools Virtuous provides leading nonprofits to grow giving at: https://www.virtuouscrm.com/. 

Get an in-depth guide to responsive fundraising to help your organization grow generosity from the modern donor at: https://www.virtuouscrm.com/responsive/.

Rubin Singh, the CEO & Founder of OneTenth Consulting, joins us to discuss the obstacles nonprofit leaders need to navigate as they adopt new technology, common mistakes that drive many CRM implementations to fall flat, and the needs related to people and process that must be central to your platform adoption plan.

Rubin is a seasoned professional with over twenty years of experience in the CRM (constituent relationship management) space, and over ten years in the nonprofit sector.  Throughout his career, Rubin has pursued his passion for social impact through empowering and enabling nonprofits through a variety of roles in technology, strategy and organizational management.  

As a Senior Solution Manager at Merkle, Rubin managed the database needs for large direct mail programs with Susan G. Komen and the AARP Foundation.

https://onetenth.consulting/about

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Learn more about the tools Virtuous provides leading nonprofits to grow giving at: https://www.virtuouscrm.com/. 

Get an in-depth guide to responsive fundraising to help your organization grow generosity from the modern donor at: https://www.virtuouscrm.com/responsive/.

In this episode of The Responsive Lab, Carly and Scott are joined by VP of Ministry Digital Growth at Salem Web Network, Brad Davies! This conversation unpacks what donor acquisition looks like in a digital-first world and how nonprofits can embrace digital media to fuel acquisition. Also in this conversation, they discuss: - Current trends Brad’s seeing in fundraising acquisition that fundraisers should be paying attention to. - Some of the biggest mistakes nonprofits are making today in digital and how to fix them. - Best practices that bring the greatest success in digital acquisition. - How to measure donor acquisition and ROI in paid media. - What the future of digital media acquisition looks like. To learn more about Brad Davies, visit: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daviesbrad/. Meanwhile, discover more insights in the Virtuous Nonprofit Benchmark Report: https://virtuous.org/benchmarkreport/.

On this episode, we're joined by Gabe Cooper and Mckenna Bailey to discuss their new book Responsive Fundraising: The Donor-Centric Framework Helping Today’s Leading Nonprofits Grow Giving

Gabe Cooper is the Founder and CEO of Virtuous, a software platform helping nonprofits grow giving. Gabe has a true passion for creating market-defining software and helping charities reimagine generosity.

Throughout Responsive Fundraising, readers will learn what the data tells us about the modern donor and their generosity habits. They will receive step-by-step responsive fundraising plays they can implement right away to improve their current fundraising tactics. Plus, they’ll get a look into how responsive nonprofits are shifting their internal teams to create a more collaborative, successful organization.

Get a free copy of the book here ~ https://www.virtuouscrm.com/responsivebook/

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Learn more about the tools Virtuous provides leading nonprofits to grow giving at: https://www.virtuouscrm.com/. 

Get an in-depth guide to responsive fundraising to help your organization grow generosity from the modern donor at: https://www.virtuouscrm.com/responsive/.

Mark Santiago joins us to talk about the where, what and how of harnessing the power of social media for your nonprofit.

Hear from an expert about how your organization can utilize digital marketing tools to achieve your goals, grow your donor base & increase the good you do in the world.

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Learn more about the tools Virtuous provides leading nonprofits to grow giving at: https://www.virtuouscrm.com/. 

Get an in-depth guide to responsive fundraising to help your organization grow generosity from the modern donor at: https://www.virtuouscrm.com/responsive/.

This week, Toby Weiss - Founder & CEO of Rooted Software - joins Rob on the podcast to talk about all things tech. Toby has extensive expertise as a global nonprofit technologist and walks us through the steps of how to think well about the role of technology to scale impact for our missions. We operate in a digitally platform dependent space, and there are key decisions that must be made to strategically make progress for the good of all involved.

Are you enjoying the Responsive Nonprofit Podcast and want to dive deeper into the framework and methodology growing nonprofits use to build deeper relationships with all donors to unlock mission transformation? I'd love to send you a free copy of our book, Responsive Fundraising, so you can get started today!

Brian Sooy, the president of AESPIRE, joins us to talk about uncovering and clarifying your nonprofit's story, the art of focus, and why supporter-centered storytelling is a must.

Brian is the author of “Raise Your Voice: A Cause Manifesto,” the top-rated book that helps mission-driven leaders create thriving organizations. As a StoryBrand Certified Guide, Brian knows that when leaders find the clarity, they multiply their impact and their business thrives.

Here are a few additional resources that complement our conversation:

• Raise Your Voice: A Cause Manifesto —Amazon’s top-rated guide to help mission-driven organizations nurture a culture of generosity that engages supporters and builds a mission-driven brand
• Download the Brand Clarity Credo, inspired by Raise Your Voice: A Cause Manifesto — and receive 12 months of free insights from Aespire to help you achieve clarity and build a powerful relationship brand.
• Download a free guide to help you Master the Art of Donor Storytelling

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Learn more about the tools Virtuous provides leading nonprofits to grow giving at: https://www.virtuouscrm.com/. 

Get an in-depth guide to responsive fundraising to help your organization grow generosity from the modern donor at: https://www.virtuouscrm.com/responsive/.

Dan Reed joins the Responsive Fundraising Podcast to share his first-hand experience scaling digital fundraising campaigns. During the conversation we discuss why digital fundraising is the future of fundraising, what makes monthly giving programs scale, and the power of blending community with giving.

Dan started his digital fundraising career at Us TOO International Prostate Cancer Education and Support Network, developing peer-to-peer activities for two annual Greater Chicago Prostate Cancer Run Walk & Rolls. From there, Dan spent seven years at the Smithsonian Institution, managing the digital components of the Friends of the Smithsonian direct response program, mid-level donor program and working across the different Smithsonian units, supporting their digital fundraising efforts. While at the Smithsonian, Dan earned his Masters Degree in Strategic Fundraising and Philanthropy. Next, Dan moved to World Food Program USA, building out their digital fundraising program from the ground up and developing an award winning monthly donor program over the course of three years.

Dan sees working at Media Cause as an opportunity to work with a wide variety of nonprofits that are working to make the world a better place. He knows he'll be inspired on a daily basis helping passionate clients achieve their fundraising goals.

https://mediacause.org/about-us/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-reed-5a336b104/
https://www.virtuous.org/modern-nonprofit-fundraiser-podcast/ 

In this episode, Ben Johnson, Founder and Chief Strategist of Frontier Marketing joins us to talk about how to achieve transformational growth at your nonprofit. It's been thirteen years since he founded Frontier, and Ben has a wealth of knowledge that helps inform the necessary pivots that must be made in order to choose growth and organizational impact.

Are you enjoying the Responsive Nonprofit Podcast and want to dive deeper into the framework and methodology growing nonprofits use to build deeper relationships with all donors to unlock mission transformation? I'd love to send you a free copy of our book, Responsive Fundraising, so you can get started today!

Steven Aguiar joins The Responsive Fundraising podcast to discuss how nonprofits can grow their donor base through digital acquisition and paid campaigns. During the conversation we discuss essential elements of digital marketing campaigns and why a growth blueprint should replace your traditional fundraising plan.

Steven is the founder of Good Goes Further, a company that helps nonprofits create and execute a plan for digital growth. He is a full-stack digital marketer with experience running all aspects of a company's digital marketing and is now using his experience for good by focusing completely on growing nonprofits. Over the past four years, Steven has helped dozens of businesses scale and activate digital audiences and with Good Goes Further, he hopes to bring all of those growth marketing capabilities directly to nonprofits.

https://goodgoesfurther.com

Ryan Brown, stock broker turned nonprofit development professional, joins The Responsive Fundraising Podcast to share how Food for the Hungry cultivates lasting donor relationships. We discuss the power of "full heart" donor development, the need to continually pivot to stay relevant, and why waiting for "normal" will lead you to focus on the wrong tactics.

Ryan is the acting CDO at Food for the Hungry (FH) and serves out of its corporate headquarters in Phoenix, Arizona.

Prior to joining FH, Ryan spent time as a stockbroker, singer/songwriter, concert promoter, and for a short time, ran a small Christian music record label.

Ryan earned two bachelor’s degrees in English and Business from Arizona State University. He currently lives in Gilbert, Arizona, with his wife Suzan and their three children.

Julia Campbell, author, speaker, and digital strategist to mission-driven organizations, joins us to talk about the current state of social media, how nonprofits should be maximizing social channels, and the dos and don'ts on how to use social engagement for fundraising.

Julia wrote her book Storytelling in the Digital Age: A Guide for Nonprofits as a roadmap for social change agents who want to build movements using engaging digital storytelling techniques. Her second book, How to Build and Mobilize a Social Media Community for Your Nonprofit, was published this year.  

Julia launched Social Media for Social Good Academy, the first online training course for nonprofit social media managers. She also founded and organizes the annual Nonprofit Social Media Summit, a live event for nonprofits.

www.jcsocialmarketing.com/firstdibs

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Learn more about the tools Virtuous provides leading nonprofits to grow giving at: https://www.virtuouscrm.com/. 

Get an in-depth guide to responsive fundraising to help your organization grow generosity from the modern donor at: https://www.virtuouscrm.com/responsive/.

Greg Warner, the CEO of MarketSmart, to talk about his personal experience as a disgruntled donor, what today's donor really wants from nonprofits, and engagement strategies he's seen nonprofits tap to build authentic relationships with their donors.

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Learn more about the tools Virtuous provides leading nonprofits to grow giving at: https://www.virtuouscrm.com/. 

Get an in-depth guide to responsive fundraising to help your organization grow generosity from the modern donor at: https://www.virtuouscrm.com/responsive/.