In this episode of Giving Growth, we sit down with Richard Kostro, Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer at Share Our Strength (the organization behind No Kid Hungry), to unpack how fixing a decade of donor data unlocked new growth and collaboration across fundraising, finance, and IT.

Richard shares how a cross-department effort re-coded 10 years of donor data in just 90 days — transforming how Share Our Strength tracks restricted giving and opening new corporate funding opportunities. He explains why true data transformation isn’t just about clean systems, but about trust, teamwork, and a willingness to “get dirty” together to solve the right problems.

Richard discusses:

• Turning bad data into a growth opportunity
• Collaboration between IT, fundraising, and finance matters more than ever
• The business impact of clean, integrated donor data
• How Share Our Strength rebuilt 10 years of data in 90 days
• Leadership lessons from the Army that can strengthen nonprofit culture

In this episode of the Giving Growth Podcast, Greg Sobiech sits down with Lacey Stone, Chief Development Officer at USA for UNHCR, and Nathan Chappell, Chief AI Officer at Virtuous and co-founder of Fundraising.AI, to explore how non-profits can move beyond segmentation and embrace an AI-first approach to donor engagement.

Lacey shares how USA for UNHCR responded to the Ukraine crisis by welcoming 100,000 new donors and rethinking donor journeys — treating even small-dollar donors with the same care as major givers. She explains how listening, trust, and authentic stewardship are at the heart of retention and long-term loyalty.

Nathan brings his expertise in AI for social good, unpacking how predictive modeling and personalization can help charities build deeper donor relationships. He emphasizes why listening at scale, starting small, and creating a culture of curiosity are essential for successful AI adoption.

Together, they explore:

• What it really means to go “beyond segmentation” in fundraising
• How USA for UNHCR transformed an influx of emergency donors into long-term supporters
• Why listening to donors is often more powerful than traditional segmentation
• How nonprofits can use AI to prioritize limited staff time and deepen relationships
• Why 70% of AI initiatives fail and the cultural shifts needed to prevent it
• The small, consistent steps nonprofits can take today to move toward true personalization

In this episode of the Giving Growth Podcast, Greg Sobiech sits down with Chris Pritcher, General Manager at Data Axle and former CEO of RKD Group, to explore why non-profits are struggling to keep pace with today’s donors — and what they can learn from the for-profit world.

Chris explains why declining donor numbers aren’t just about economics or generational change, but about charities being outcompeted by consumer brands that connect more deeply and make giving easier. Drawing on his leadership experience across agencies serving hundreds of nonprofits, he shares how organisations can cut through jargon, focus on human connection, and make smarter use of data without overcomplicating things.

Chris shares insights on:

• Why charities are being outcompeted by consumer brands that connect more deeply with people
• How to move from channel-first thinking to a truly human-centric approach
• The danger of overinvesting in technology instead of focusing on simple, practical improvements
• Leadership lessons on shifting from managing processes to unlocking team potential
• Why leaders should question “good” results as much as they question “bad” ones

Drawing on decades as both a fundraiser and technologist, Nathan discusses why the nonprofit sector is at a tipping point: donor participation is shrinking, transactional fundraising is breaking trust, and traditional methods are no longer enough. 

As a solution, Nathan explains how AI can be used responsibly and ethically to reignite generosity, build stronger donor relationships, and free up time for more human connection.

Nathan shares insights on:

• Why AI may be the only scalable solution to today’s generosity crisis.
• How leaders can build a culture of curiosity that makes AI adoption work.
• What it means for a nonprofit to become “AI First”.
• Balancing efficiency with authenticity when using AI.
• Using precision philanthropy to deliver true personalization for donors.
• How to avoid making giving more transactional and instead build deeper trust.

With decades of experience as a fundraiser, author, and educator, Lisa explains the key differences between charity and philanthropy, why entrepreneurs are often overlooked as major donors, and what nonprofits can do to address the cracks appearing in the giving pyramid. 

She also shares her views on professionalising the nonprofit sector, rethinking overhead and salaries, and embracing tools like AI to better connect with supporters in an age of message overload.

Lisa provides us insights on:

• The key difference between charity and philanthropy — and why it matters for nonprofits.
• Why entrepreneurs are one of the most overlooked donor groups.
• How to avoid missing “diamonds in the rough” in your donor base.
• The impact of GoFundMe and peer-to-peer giving on traditional charities.
• What professionalisation means for nonprofits, from salaries to overhead.
• How digital tools and AI can help charities cut through the noise and engage supporters

In this episode of the Giving Growth Podcast, Greg sits down with Roger Hiyama, Community Leader at Delve Deeper and former Executive Vice President of Solutions and Innovation at Wiland, to confront a challenge every nonprofit leader needs to pay attention to: the collapse of the traditional donor pyramid.

Summary

In this conversation, Kate Hollandsworth, SVP of Strategy at Acquire, discusses the critical importance of data hygiene in nonprofit organizations and how it directly impacts donor retention. She shares her journey into the nonprofit sector, the common challenges organizations face, and the necessity of tough conversations for growth. The discussion also highlights the role of investment planning and finance partnerships in achieving long-term success, as well as the need for nonprofits to adapt to changing donor demographics and societal conditions. Ultimately, the conversation emphasizes the importance of transparency, data-driven decision-making, and a focus on retaining donors as key strategies for nonprofit growth.

Chapters

00:00 The Importance of Data Hygiene in Nonprofits

02:44 Kate Hollandsworth's Journey and the Role of Acquire

05:44 Common Challenges in Donor Retention

08:54 The Need for Tough Conversations in Nonprofit Management

11:34 Understanding Data Hygiene and Its Impact

14:51 Investment Planning and Its Challenges

17:33 The Role of Finance in Nonprofit Growth

20:42 Navigating the Giving Pyramid and Donor Demographics

23:33 Strategies for Retaining Donors

26:35 The Future of Nonprofit Fundraising

29:32 Brutal Honesty in Nonprofit Management

Follow Kate here:

Main site: www.akwiregroup.com

AKwire on LinkedIn = https://www.linkedin.com/company/akwiregroup/

Linkedin Personal Profile = http://linkedin.com/in/kate-phillips-hollandsworth-0174ba7b

In this episode of Giving Growth, Greg Sobiech sits down with Chris Hoffman from Compassion International to discuss how nonprofits can think more like subscription businesses. Chris shares how the AARRR framework Acquisition, Activation, Retention, Referral, Revenue adapted from B2C SaaS, applies directly to donor lifecycle strategy.

Using real world examples from Compassion’s experiential marketing programs, Chris explains how deeply understanding donor needs and journey mapping can unlock new growth. From improving time to first-touch metrics to leveraging peer referrals and AI-driven donor summaries, this episode is a masterclass in growth thinking for nonprofits.

What You'll Learn:

• Why revenue is a lagging indicator and what to focus on instead
• How the AARRR framework translates to donor lifecycle strategy
• The role of experiential marketing in donor acquisition
• How to shorten time-to-impact for new donors
• The power of donor letters in driving retention
• Examples of leading KPIs that nonprofits can track
• How to operationalize moves management from mass to major gifts
• Why AI and summarization tools are critical to better donor engagement

Guest Bio: Chris Hoffman is Staff Product and Product Marketing Manager at Compassion International. With a background in B2C growth marketing and product development, Chris brings a unique perspective to the nonprofit sector, helping Compassion grow its recurring revenue through donor centric, data-driven strategies.

Listen if you work in:

• Nonprofit leadership
• Development & fundraising
• Donor engagement
• Marketing or product in charitable organizations
• Data and digital transformation in the social impact space

In this episode of Giving Growth, Greg Sobiech sits down with Crashonda Andrew, Senior Vice President of Global Philanthropy at United Way Worldwide, to unpack the evolving role of philanthropy in a post-COVID, equity-driven world.

Crashonda shares what it takes to build sustainable donor relationships, how large institutions are reimagining global impact, and why equity must be a strategic driver—not just a buzzword.

They discuss:

• Why trust-based philanthropy is more than a trend
• The role of data in building smarter donor strategies
• Lessons from managing relationships across 1,100+ United Way chapters
• How to future-proof your fundraising efforts
• What corporate partners are really looking for today

Whether you're a nonprofit leader, institutional donor, or B2B brand in the impact space, this episode will leave you thinking differently about growth, partnership, and purpose.

Summary

The conversation explores the transformative journey of USA for UNHCR in adapting their donor engagement strategies following a significant influx of new donors due to the Ukraine crisis. The discussion highlights the importance of understanding donor retention challenges, building a stewardship team, and focusing on non-financial engagement to foster long-term relationships.

Additionally, the conversation delves into the significance of strategic planning, organizational culture, and accountability in achieving ambitious goals. In this conversation, the speakers discuss the iterative nature of strategic planning within organizations, emphasizing the importance of empowering leadership and fostering cross-departmental collaboration.

They highlight the need for trust-building within teams to ensure accountability and effective implementation of goals. The conversation also delves into the significance of donor engagement and retention strategies, particularly in the context of increasing humanitarian needs and decreasing public sector funding. Finally, they address the risks associated with funding in the humanitarian sector and the potential for breakthroughs amidst challenges.

Takeaways

1. USA for UNHCR gained 100,000 new donors due to the Ukraine crisis.
2. Initial focus on donor retention was not effective.
3. Segmentation of donors is crucial for tailored engagement.
4. Non-financial engagement can build stronger donor relationships.

Chapters

00:00 Transforming Donor Engagement

03:13 Strategic Planning and Organizational Change

05:56 Understanding Donor Retention Challenges

08:55 Building a Stewardship Team

12:05 The Importance of Process and Infrastructure

15:08 Segmenting Donors for Better Engagement

17:58 Non-Financial Engagement Strategies

20:59 Building Trust in Leadership

23:45 Accountability and Organizational Culture

29:02 Iterative Strategic Planning

31:02 Empowering Leadership and Cross-Departmental Collaboration

34:41 Building Trust and Accountability in Teams

40:59 The Importance of Donor Engagement and Retention

49:48 Navigating Risks in Humanitarian Funding