Nonprofit Hub Radio

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A nonprofit story can open hearts, change policy, and fund lifesaving work—but it can also leave people dysregulated, ashamed, or shut down if told the way the sector traditionally has. In this episode, Maria Bryan, Partnership Marketing Manager at Donorbox and creator of When Bearing Witness, steps into a crucial conversation on trauma-informed storytelling and why standard “ethical storytelling” isn't enough when narratives land in real bodies with real lived experience.

We get specific about what trauma actually is—a nervous system response to perceived unsafety—and how it surfaces across the entire storytelling ecosystem: for the story owner, the audience, and the nonprofit marketer. Maria breaks down why high-impact formats like emotionally intense gala videos or hospital scenes can trigger viewers and create negative associations. The goal isn't watered-down narratives, but telling the truth safely through renewed consent, content warnings, and donor autonomy. Hit play to learn how humane storytelling practices protect dignity and build lasting donor trust!

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How do you tell deeply human stories without reducing the people you serve to a tragic footnote? In this episode, Matt Kamin (founder of Envision Consulting and host of Nonprofit Happy Hour) joins us to tear down the outdated playbooks of nonprofit marketing and fundraising. We get vulnerable about what true consent-based storytelling looks like, why every client story needs an expiration date, and how staying visible in an AI-driven world requires transparent, outcome-focused truth over polished spin. 

Beyond communications, we tackle the tough leadership decisions that make or break organizational survival. We challenge the martyr mindset in the sector and get real about why tax status should never dictate business efficiency. Together, we explore how to structure boards that actually work, why endowments aren't emergency safety nets for poor planning, and how letting go of executive ego can open up transformative mergers and partnerships. Grab your favorite beverage, hit play, and jump into the conversation with us! 

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Most capital campaigns don’t struggle because the mission is weak—they struggle because the board is working from myths. In this episode of Nonprofit Hub Radio, Amy Eisenstein and Sarah Plimpton from Capital Campaign Pro join us to unpack what really drives successful major gift fundraising and what board members need to understand before voting to "just go for it."

From demystifying feasibility studies and navigating the crucial quiet phase to right-sizing trustee roles beyond just asking for money, this conversation offers a practical roadmap to keep your fundraising on track. Whether you are preparing to launch a new campaign or trying to re-energize one that has stalled, tune in to discover how disciplined planning and strategic donor engagement can turn boardroom assumptions into transformative results.

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Get free nonprofit professional development resources, connections to cause work peers, and more at https://nonprofithub.org

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Search traffic to nonprofit websites is down roughly 35%, which means the way donors discover causes is actively changing. If someone wants to include a nonprofit in their will, hunting for basic details like an EIN or address can cause that moment to pass. Lindsay Newman and Brantley Boyett from Giving Docs sit down to discuss how to make legacy giving simple, accessible, and deeply engaging for supporters.

We clear the air on some common misconceptions around planned giving—moving beyond basic bequests to cover beneficiary designations, donor-advised funds, and practical estate planning tools. Lindsay and Brantley explore how to talk about legacy gifts without leading with awkward mortality messaging, why clear gift acceptance policies protect organizations long term, and how making a legacy commitment actually increases a donor's annual giving by 70% for the rest of their life.

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If "capital campaign" brings to mind massive building projects or an overwhelming all-or-nothing effort, this conversation offers a fresh perspective. Daniel Hussey, head coach and lead campaign strategist at HPC, breaks down what capital campaigns actually mean for modern nonprofits and why small to medium-sized organizations are fully capable of executing them.

Rather than an intimidating climb straight to the summit, Daniel outlines a clear six-phase roadmap that breaks the effort into manageable base camps—from internal strategy and feasibility studies to quiet phases and long-term donor stewardship. The conversation explores how grounding campaigns in strategic planning reduces board anxiety and how using an AND-gift approach protects your regular annual giving while securing transformational major gifts.

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We sit down with Derric Bakker, founder and CEO of Dickerson Bakker and author of A Better Way to Fundraise: Treat Every Donor Like a Major Donor, to discuss why modern fundraising feels increasingly transactional, exhausting, and disconnected from its true purpose.

Derric shares the airport story that inspired his philosophy and outlines why every supporter—regardless of gift size—deserves to feel seen, valued, stewarded, and invited into meaningful partnership. The conversation breaks down the seven behaviors of relationship-based fundraising, explains how AI can be leveraged to listen to donors at scale without losing authentic human-to-human connection, and offers a compelling path forward to cure fundraiser burnout.

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Dr. Derria Ford of Seed Fundraisers shares a practical, repeatable framework for collecting and sharing nonprofit stories while keeping dignity, agency, and consent at the center.

Here we explore what ethical storytelling looks like in practice—moving away from single-checkbox release forms, writing alongside clients rather than over them, and avoiding the trap of exploiting hard moments for fundraising gain. We discuss practical consent strategies, navigating modern pressure points like AI-generated imagery, and proving that hope-filled, data-backed narratives can inspire donors just as effectively as traditional appeals.

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If your calendar is packed with galas, auctions, golf outings, and “one more event” that still doesn’t fix your budget, this conversation is for you. We sit down with Sherry Quam Taylor, CEO of Quam Taylor, to talk about the simplest and hardest shift in nonprofit fundraising: getting out from behind the tactics and back into real human donor relationships.

We dig into why so many mid-level and major donors are not giving their best gift each year and how well-meaning fundraising events can quietly cap generosity. Sherry shares a clear principle we can use right away: our job is to lead every donor to their best gift, not just the easiest gift. From there, we unpack how to move from “fun project” storytelling to confident, business-minded conversations about strategic plans, growth, and the true need for general operating support so you can fund salaries, benefits, and infrastructure without feeling awkward.

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In this episode of Nonprofit Hub Radio, leadership coach and author Nick Reich explores why systems and software cannot solve foundational leadership challenges. The discussion delves into the "full circle leader" framework, the critical difference between vision and direction, and how balancing high expectations with deep care—defined as "love with standards"—helps nonprofit teams shift out of burnout and into a sustainable growth zone. 

Nick Reich is the CEO of Abundant Empowerment and the author of Every Player Is Bigger Than The Program. With over 25 years of experience spanning school social work, poverty alleviation, global health, and executive coaching, Nick supports nonprofit and corporate leaders in building high-performing teams and human-centered organizational cultures.

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You can run an inspiring nonprofit and still feel lost the moment a P&L hits your inbox. In this episode, Michael Baldree, founder of Crosswind CFO Advisory, breaks down how executive directors who came up through the program side can build a true partnership with finance. We unpack what a healthy relationship with your CFO or finance lead actually looks like: one where finance understands the heart of your mission, respects your vision, and works alongside you to turn ambitious goals into fundable, step-by-step realities without being the "wet blanket."

We also dig into practical strategies for long-term sustainability, clearing up common myths around revenue diversification and earned income. Michael breaks down what nonprofit tax status actually allows, how to choose earned revenue streams that match your core strengths, and the simple monthly report checks and internal controls that protect small teams from fraud. Whether you're looking to transition from backward-looking financial reports to forward-looking cash flow planning or wondering if fractional CFO services fit your budget, this conversation delivers actionable tools to move your mission forward.

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Get free nonprofit professional development resources, connections to cause work peers, and more at https://nonprofithub.org