Purpose & Profit Club® – The Nonprofit Fundraising & Marketing Podcast

Purpose & Profit Club® – The Nonprofit Fundraising & Marketing Podcast

By Christina Tzavaras EdwardsBusinessNon-Profit
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Purpose & Profit Club® – The Nonprofit Fundraising & Marketing Podcast episodes

  • 191: From $3K to $12K: The SPRINT Campaign That Changed Everything

    What does it look like when a solo nonprofit founder stops playing small and finally breaks through her fundraising ceiling? 

    In this episode, I’m joined by Mary Muroski, founder and Executive Director of the Children's Legacy Partnership Foundation. After 20 years of teaching middle school and nearly a decade building her Uganda-based foundation (largely alone), Mary hit a wall. She was doing everything, raising from the same small circle of friends and family, and couldn't figure out what came next. Then she discovered The SPRINT Method™. Mary shares how she went from a $3,000 year-end campaign to hitting a $12,000 goal, achieving her first five-figure revenue month, and building the systems, confidence, and board accountability that will carry the organization forward. This is a must-listen for any small nonprofit founder who feels like they've taken their organization as far as they can go alone.


    Topics:

    • Building a nonprofit solo while working full-time, and knowing when to go all in
    • How weekly emails became the foundation for consistent donor engagement and campaign conversions
    • Running a focused SPRINT Method™ campaign that raised $12K to fully fund a girls' vocational center in Uganda
    • Why monthly donors are your biggest evangelists (not a group to protect from your asks)
    • The difference between therapy and coaching, and how accountability drives fundraising results
    • Board building done right: applications, term limits, and having the hard conversations


    For a full list of links and resources mentioned in this episode, click here.

    It's not too early to start developing a strategy for the end of 2026! Snag Bloomerang's 12 Year-End Fundraising Checklists here. 

    Got a fundraising question you want Christina to answer?

    Send the campaign problem, donor situation, email question, board issue, or fundraising advice you want a straight answer on. Christina is answering listener questions on upcoming episodes of The Purpose & Profit Club® Podcast.

    Submit yours at splendidatl.com/ask

    Resources:

    • Easy Emails For Impact™: The $5K+ Fundraising Campaign System
    • Purpose & Profit Club® Fundraising + Marketing Accelerator   
    • The SPRINT Method™: Your shortcut to 10K fundraisers 
    • Instagram, LinkedIn, website , weekly newsletter  
    • [FREE] The Brave Fundraiser’s Guide: Stop getting ignored. Start raising more.

      May contain affiliate links
    48 min
  • 190: The $20K Pivot: Canceling a Gala and Raising More with Sharing Hope Africa

    Sometimes the most powerful shifts in fundraising start with a simple decision: we’re not doing it the old way anymore.

    That’s exactly what happened for Sophia Caputo and Jami Porzl, co-founders of Sharing Hope Africa. Balancing full-time careers, they were preparing for a large gala when they decided to pause and rethink their approach. What followed was a completely different fundraising path, one built on clarity, community, and focused campaigns using The SPRINT Method™.

    In this conversation, we discuss what shifted when they stopped guessing and started fundraising with intention: activating their board, building donor momentum, growing their confidence in making asks, and planning for long-term sustainability, including a community chicken coop designed to eventually fund the preschool permanently.

    This episode is a powerful look at what happens when strategy replaces burnout, and when small nonprofits step into bold leadership.

    Topics:

    • Building a nonprofit while working full-time jobs
    • Pivoting from a high-cost gala to a lower-lift fundraising event
    • Using a focused SPRINT™ strategy to raise $20K in months
    • Moving from friends-and-family donors to a real donor pipeline
    • Activating board members as fundraisers
    • The impact of funding on a preschool in Mozambique
    • Long-term sustainability through community-led solutions
    • The moment they hit their fundraising goal in the first 10 minutes of an event


    For a full list of links and resources mentioned in this episode, click here.

    It's not too early to start developing a strategy for the end of 2026! Snag Bloomerang's 12 Year-End Fundraising Checklists here. 

    Got a fundraising question you want Christina to answer?

    Send the campaign problem, donor situation, email question, board issue, or fundraising advice you want a straight answer on. Christina is answering listener questions on upcoming episodes of The Purpose & Profit Club® Podcast.

    Submit yours at splendidatl.com/ask

    Resources:

    • Easy Emails For Impact™: The $5K+ Fundraising Campaign System
    • Purpose & Profit Club® Fundraising + Marketing Accelerator   
    • The SPRINT Method™: Your shortcut to 10K fundraisers 
    • Instagram, LinkedIn, website , weekly newsletter  
    • [FREE] The Brave Fundraiser’s Guide: Stop getting ignored. Start raising more.

      May contain affiliate links
    39 min
  • 189: The Habit That Grows Your Nonprofit’s Funding (But Almost No Leaders Practice It)

    If your nonprofit feels stuck at the same funding level year after year, the problem might not actually be your donors. It might be your calendar.

    In this episode, I’m introducing a leadership habit I call CEO Time. It’s the protected time where nonprofit leaders step out of the constant reaction cycle and focus on the work that actually generates revenue.

    Too often, nonprofit leaders spend their weeks managing operations, responding to emails, preparing board materials, and solving daily problems. All of that work matters, but none of it directly builds the funding pipeline that allows an organization to grow. CEO Time is different. It’s where leaders focus on donor conversations, relationship-building, partnerships, campaign strategy, and the work that drives real fundraising momentum.

    I’m sharing why so many nonprofits plateau financially, even when their missions are powerful, how leadership time gets misallocated, and what happens when leaders begin to protect even a few hours each week for revenue-generating work. If you’ve ever ended the day exhausted but unsure whether you actually moved your organization forward, this episode will help you rethink how leadership time shapes your nonprofit’s future funding.


    Topics:

    • Why many nonprofits plateau financially despite strong missions
    • The concept of CEO Time and why it matters for nonprofit growth
    • How operational overload prevents leaders from focusing on revenue
    • The difference between busy work and revenue-generating leadership work
    • The burnout cycle caused by constant reaction and operational pressure
    • Strategic activities that actually build funding pipelines
    • Donor conversations and relationship-building as revenue drivers
    • Why courage and boundaries are essential leadership skills
    • How protecting strategic time can rebuild fundraising momentum
    • How the SPRINT Method™ supports focused fundraising campaigns


    For a full list of links and resources mentioned in this episode, click here.

    It's not too early to start developing a strategy for the end of 2026! Snag Bloomerang's 12 Year-End Fundraising Checklists here. 

    Resources:

    • Easy Emails For Impact™: The $5K+ Fundraising Campaign System
    • Purpose & Profit Club® Fundraising + Marketing Accelerator   
    • The SPRINT Method™: Your shortcut to 10K fundraisers 
    • Instagram, LinkedIn, website , weekly newsletter  
    • [FREE] The Brave Fundraiser’s Guide: Stop getting ignored. Start raising more.

      May contain affiliate links
    18 min
  • 188: Monthly Giving Isn’t the Strategy. It’s the Result.

    What does the Winter Olympics have to do with monthly giving? More than you think. Watching Alysa Liu’s gold medal performance, I couldn’t stop thinking about magnetism, how some athletes make you want to cheer for them, root for them, watch them again and again. That’s the energy monthly giving requires.

    In this episode, I explain why simply adding a “give monthly” checkbox to your donation form isn’t a strategy. Recurring revenue isn’t built through automation; it’s built through retention, campaign energy, and relational depth. Monthly giving is the result of belonging, not billing. If your recurring program has stalled or never quite taken off, this episode will help you see what needs to happen first, and how to build a system that compounds instead of resets. Monthly giving isn’t the engine; it’s what happens when the engine is working.

    Topics:

    • Why monthly giving is the result, not the strategy
    • The difference between a payment feature and a real program
    • Retention before recurring revenue
    • Why trust-building must happen before asking for commitment
    • The role of campaign energy in monthly giving growth
    • Belonging vs. billing: creating identity for donors
    • How to know if your nonprofit is ready to launch
    • Why donors are absolutely “monthly people”
    • Subscription economy and donor behavior
    • How to integrate monthly giving into your full fundraising ecosystem


    For a full list of links and resources mentioned in this episode, click here.

    It's not too early to start developing a strategy for the end of 2026! Snag Bloomerang's 12 Year-End Fundraising Checklists here. 

    Got a fundraising question you want Christina to answer?

    Send the campaign problem, donor situation, email question, board issue, or fundraising advice you want a straight answer on. Christina is answering listener questions on upcoming episodes of The Purpose & Profit Club® Podcast.

    Submit yours at splendidatl.com/ask

    Resources:

    • Easy Emails For Impact™: The $5K+ Fundraising Campaign System
    • Purpose & Profit Club® Fundraising + Marketing Accelerator   
    • The SPRINT Method™: Your shortcut to 10K fundraisers 
    • Instagram, LinkedIn, website , weekly newsletter  
    • [FREE] The Brave Fundraiser’s Guide: Stop getting ignored. Start raising more.

      May contain affiliate links
    27 min
  • 187: Influencer Partnerships for Nonprofits (And Why This Isn’t a Social Media Strategy)

    Most nonprofits think influencer partnerships mean celebrity shoutouts, paid posts, or “social media strategy.” That’s not what this is.

    In this episode, I break down why influencer partnerships are actually about borrowed trust, not follower count. I explain why 99% of nonprofits are missing this opportunity, how to build true ambassador relationships instead of transactional posts, and why this works even if you don’t have a big budget. I talk about the Social Street Team® Method, why influence is a free visibility superhighway, and how to use it to warm donors before you ever ask. If your organization feels like the best-kept secret in town, this episode is your blueprint to change that.

    Topics:

    • Why influencer partnerships are not social media tactics
    • The difference between creators and influencers
    • Borrowed trust vs. follower count
    • Why transactional posts don’t work
    • The Social Street Team® Method explained
    • How influence builds donor momentum and retention
    • Common mistakes nonprofits make with influencer campaigns
    • Why campaigns must convert before influencers amplify
    • Real-world example: Jones Road Beauty’s growth strategy
    • How to build long-term ambassador relationships


    For a full list of links and resources mentioned in this episode, click here.

    It's not too early to start developing a strategy for the end of 2026! Snag Bloomerang's 12 Year-End Fundraising Checklists here. 

    Got a fundraising question you want Christina to answer?

    Send the campaign problem, donor situation, email question, board issue, or fundraising advice you want a straight answer on. Christina is answering listener questions on upcoming episodes of The Purpose & Profit Club® Podcast.

    Submit yours at splendidatl.com/ask

    Resources:

    • Easy Emails For Impact™: The $5K+ Fundraising Campaign System
    • Purpose & Profit Club® Fundraising + Marketing Accelerator   
    • The SPRINT Method™: Your shortcut to 10K fundraisers 
    • Instagram, LinkedIn, website , weekly newsletter  
    • [FREE] The Brave Fundraiser’s Guide: Stop getting ignored. Start raising more.

      May contain affiliate links
    30 min
  • 186: 6 Indicators Your Fundraising Strategy Needs to Change

    What if your fundraising challenges aren’t about effort, but about design?

    In this episode, I break down six indicators that your fundraising strategy may be quietly underperforming. If your team feels tired, campaigns feel heavier every time, or growth has plateaued despite working harder, this conversation will give you clarity. I unpack the hidden signs I see in nonprofit teams: overreliance on a few people, waiting instead of inviting, campaign cold starts, stalled monthly giving, and measuring success by campaign rather than by donor. This episode is about momentum, alignment, and designing a fundraising engine that compounds instead of resets. If you’ve ever said “we’ve tried everything,” this one is for you.

    Topics:

    • Why “we’ve tried everything” is often a strategy design issue
    • The difference between momentum problems and donor problems
    • Working harder vs. working with leverage
    • The danger of relying on the same few people
    • Why waiting instead of inviting stalls growth
    • Cold-start campaigns and donor churn
    • Why monthly giving fails without priming
    • Measuring success per donor vs. per campaign
    • Strategy hopping vs. shared operating systems
    • Designing fundraising systems that compound over time


    For a full list of links and resources mentioned in this episode, click here.

    It's not too early to start developing a strategy for the end of 2026! Snag Bloomerang's 12 Year-End Fundraising Checklists here. 

    Got a fundraising question you want Christina to answer?

    Send the campaign problem, donor situation, email question, board issue, or fundraising advice you want a straight answer on. Christina is answering listener questions on upcoming episodes of The Purpose & Profit Club® Podcast.

    Submit yours at splendidatl.com/ask

    Resources:

    • Easy Emails For Impact™: The $5K+ Fundraising Campaign System
    • Purpose & Profit Club® Fundraising + Marketing Accelerator   
    • The SPRINT Method™: Your shortcut to 10K fundraisers 
    • Instagram, LinkedIn, website , weekly newsletter  
    • [FREE] The Brave Fundraiser’s Guide: Stop getting ignored. Start raising more.

      May contain affiliate links
    27 min
  • 185: Strategic Networking That Actually Grows Revenue (Without Being Cringey)

    If you want bigger gifts, stronger partnerships, and more sustainable revenue, you can’t grow in isolation.

    In this episode, I’m breaking down what strategic networking actually looks like for nonprofit leaders, and why staying hidden in your inbox is one of the fastest ways to stall growth. This isn’t about awkward mixers, cheesy pitches, or forcing yourself to be someone you’re not. It’s about intentionally placing yourself in rooms where influence, generosity, and decision-making already exist, and learning how to show up with confidence, clarity, and alignment. I talk about why familiar routines keep organizations stuck at the same revenue ceilings, how one conversation can collapse years of cultivation, and the exact types of rooms nonprofit leaders should prioritize if they want to raise more without burning out. If you’re ready to stop doing great work quietly and start building real momentum, this episode will shift how you think about networking forever.

    Topics:

    • Why nonprofit growth requires proximity, not more hustle
    • The difference between old-school networking and strategic networking
    • How one conversation can bypass years of donor cultivation
    • Why staying “in your lane” keeps revenue capped
    • The four types of rooms nonprofit leaders must prioritize
    • How to network without feeling salesy or awkward
    • Why asking great questions makes you more memorable
    • How visibility leads to funding opportunities
    • Building a consistent networking habit without burnout
    • Turning conversations into warm introductions and partnerships


    For a full list of links and resources mentioned in this episode, click here.

    It's not too early to start developing a strategy for the end of 2026! Snag Bloomerang's 12 Year-End Fundraising Checklists here. 

    Resources:

    • Easy Emails For Impact™: The $5K+ Fundraising Campaign System
    • Purpose & Profit Club® Fundraising + Marketing Accelerator   
    • The SPRINT Method™: Your shortcut to 10K fundraisers 
    • Instagram, LinkedIn, website , weekly newsletter  
    • [FREE] The Brave Fundraiser’s Guide: Stop getting ignored. Start raising more.

      May contain affiliate links
    24 min
  • 184: The Familiarity Trap: Why “Good Enough” Is Slowing Your Fundraising

    I see this pattern constantly with nonprofit leaders: staying busy, staying loyal to systems and strategies that feel familiar, and wondering why results have plateaued. Today, I break down what I call the familiarity trap,  the tendency to cling to fundraising tactics, tools, and routines not because they’re effective, but because they’re comfortable. I talk about how burnout often shows up as indecision, avoidance, and endless tinkering instead of forward momentum. I unpack why familiarity feels safe to the brain, how it keeps leaders stuck in low-impact work, and why decisiveness (not perfection) is the fastest way out. If you’re circling the same decisions, rewriting the same content, avoiding donor outreach, or telling yourself you’ll “deal with it later,” this episode will help you recognize what’s actually happening and show you how to interrupt the cycle with clarity and courage.

    Topics:

    • What the familiarity trap is and why it’s so common in nonprofits
    • How burnout shows up as indecision and avoidance
    • Why “thinking about thinking” keeps leaders stuck
    • The neuroscience behind comfort, fear, and decision-making
    • Why decisiveness beats perfection every time
    • How familiar tasks drain energy without moving revenue
    • The cost of delaying donor outreach and key decisions
    • How to choose one path and commit long enough to see results
    • The difference between being careful and being stalled


    For a full list of links and resources mentioned in this episode, click here.

    It's not too early to start developing a strategy for the end of 2026! Snag Bloomerang's 12 Year-End Fundraising Checklists here. 

    Got a fundraising question you want Christina to answer?

    Send the campaign problem, donor situation, email question, board issue, or fundraising advice you want a straight answer on. Christina is answering listener questions on upcoming episodes of The Purpose & Profit Club® Podcast.

    Submit yours at splendidatl.com/ask

    Resources:

    • Easy Emails For Impact™: The $5K+ Fundraising Campaign System
    • Purpose & Profit Club® Fundraising + Marketing Accelerator   
    • The SPRINT Method™: Your shortcut to 10K fundraisers 
    • Instagram, LinkedIn, website , weekly newsletter  
    • [FREE] The Brave Fundraiser’s Guide: Stop getting ignored. Start raising more.

      May contain affiliate links
    26 min
  • 183: The Real Reason Fundraising Burnout Keeps Coming Back

    If you’ve found yourself feeling exhausted, overwhelmed, or wondering how you’re supposed to do another year of fundraising like this, this episode is for you.

    In this episode, I’m breaking down what fundraising burnout actually is and why it keeps showing up for capable, committed nonprofit leaders. This isn’t about working harder, pushing through, or needing more discipline. Most burnout isn’t solved by rest alone. It comes from carrying too many open decisions, too many mental tabs, and too much responsibility without enough structure or support. I talk about how stress cycles stay open in fundraising, how avoidance and indecision quietly drain your energy, and why clarity and decisiveness often bring more relief than another day off. I also share practical ways to close loops, reduce overwhelm, and rebuild momentum without burning yourself out again. If fundraising has started to feel heavy or unsustainable, this episode will help you understand what’s happening beneath the surface and give you a clearer, more supportive path forward.

    Topics:

    • What is fundraising burnout, and what it isn’t
    • Why burnout is often a stress cycle, not just exhaustion
    • Decision fatigue and its impact on fundraising momentum
    • How avoidance and “tinkering” worsen burnout
    • Why rest alone doesn’t close open mental loops
    • The power of decisiveness as a leadership tool
    • How to break big, overwhelming tasks into bite-sized actions
    • Using movement to complete the stress cycle
    • Identifying what’s urgent vs. what just feels urgent
    • Building systems that reduce burnout long-term



    For a full list of links and resources mentioned in this episode, click here.

    It's not too early to start developing a strategy for the end of 2026! Snag Bloomerang's 12 Year-End Fundraising Checklists here. 

    Got a fundraising question you want Christina to answer?

    Send the campaign problem, donor situation, email question, board issue, or fundraising advice you want a straight answer on. Christina is answering listener questions on upcoming episodes of The Purpose & Profit Club® Podcast.

    Submit yours at splendidatl.com/ask

    Resources:

    • Easy Emails For Impact™: The $5K+ Fundraising Campaign System
    • Purpose & Profit Club® Fundraising + Marketing Accelerator   
    • The SPRINT Method™: Your shortcut to 10K fundraisers 
    • Instagram, LinkedIn, website , weekly newsletter  
    • [FREE] The Brave Fundraiser’s Guide: Stop getting ignored. Start raising more.

      May contain affiliate links
    29 min
  • 182: From Overwhelmed to Organized — Your 2026 Fundraising Reset

    If you’re exhausted, overwhelmed, and still staring at the same fundraising numbers, this episode is your reset.

    In this episode, I’m breaking down why most nonprofit leaders don’t actually need more ideas, tactics, or tools; they need better systems, clearer priorities, and fewer distractions. I walk through the hidden reasons fundraising can feel chaotic, how “busy” can disguise stagnation, and what it actually looks like to move from reactive mode to focused, revenue-driving leadership. I talk about simplifying your calendar, choosing fewer strategies that actually convert, and building a fundraising rhythm that supports growth without burnout. This episode is for nonprofit leaders who are done carrying everything alone and ready to organize their fundraising to create momentum, confidence, and results in 2026.

    Topics:

    • Why overwhelm is a systems problem, not a motivation problem
    • How “busy work” keeps revenue flat
    • The cost of running too many fundraising strategies at once
    • What it really means to get organized for growth
    • Why clarity beats hustle in modern fundraising
    • How to simplify your calendar without slowing momentum
    • The difference between activity and progress
    • Building a repeatable fundraising rhythm for 2026
    • Leading with confidence instead of reaction
    • Creating space for sustainable fundraising success


    For a full list of links and resources mentioned in this episode, click here.

    It's not too early to start developing a strategy for the end of 2026! Snag Bloomerang's 12 Year-End Fundraising Checklists here. 

    Got a fundraising question you want Christina to answer?

    Send the campaign problem, donor situation, email question, board issue, or fundraising advice you want a straight answer on. Christina is answering listener questions on upcoming episodes of The Purpose & Profit Club® Podcast.

    Submit yours at splendidatl.com/ask

    Resources:

    • Easy Emails For Impact™: The $5K+ Fundraising Campaign System
    • Purpose & Profit Club® Fundraising + Marketing Accelerator   
    • The SPRINT Method™: Your shortcut to 10K fundraisers 
    • Instagram, LinkedIn, website , weekly newsletter  
    • [FREE] The Brave Fundraiser’s Guide: Stop getting ignored. Start raising more.

      May contain affiliate links
    35 min

About Purpose & Profit Club® – The Nonprofit Fundraising & Marketing Podcast

From the publisher's feed

Ready to stop fundraising the old way and start doubling results? Join nonprofit strategist Christina Tzavaras Edwards for bold, fast-action tactics that help you 2X your next fundraiser and…

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