The Cause+Effect Podcast

By Dunham+CoBusiness Non-Profit

The Cause+Effect Podcast episodes

October 15 AI at Work: How to Build a Full Stack Organization | James "JP" Poulter
AI is already changing the way organizations work, but successful adoption requires much more than choosing the right tool.
In this episode of the Cause+Effect Podcast, Trent Dunham is joined by James “JP” Poulter, Head of Innovation at Dunham+Co and author of the new book AI at Work: How to Build a Full Stack Organization. Together, they explore what leaders need to consider as AI becomes a more significant part of everyday work.
From organizing the information that fuels AI and understanding how work actually gets done to establishing ethical guardrails and equipping teams to use these tools effectively, Trent and JP discuss why meaningful AI adoption starts with people, process, and intentional leadership.
They also examine what AI could mean for the future of work, why its greatest opportunity may be reducing the work that drains people rather than simply reducing headcount, and the risks organizations face when they allow AI adoption to happen without a clear strategy.
For leaders wondering how to move beyond experimentation and develop a thoughtful approach to AI, this conversation offers a practical framework for preparing your organization for what comes next.

Connect with us: https://dunhamancompany.com
Get a copy of JP’s Book: https://a.co/d/0dRtZt0t

CHAPTERS
00:00 – Introduction
02:25 – AI at Work: Building a Full Stack Organization
05:24 – Entering the “Wrestling Period” of AI
07:04 – Is AI Actually Replacing People?
10:23 – Why AI Adoption Starts with Process, Not Tools
15:50 – Organizing Your Information and Building a Shared AI Brain
21:51 – Creating Ethical Guardrails for AI
28:38 – How AI Can Change the Way We Work
34:26 – The Risk of Ignoring AI
40 min
October 01 Is Your Brand as Effective as It Could Be? | Dan Sumpter
A strong brand is about much more than a logo, color palette, or tagline. It begins with clarity about who your organization is, what makes it distinct, and the consistent promise it makes to the people it serves.

In this episode of the Cause+Effect Podcast, Trent Dunham is joined by Dan Sumpter, Chief Product Officer at Dunham+Co, to explore what brand strategy really means and why it matters for nonprofits, churches, and ministries. From defining your brand promise and aligning your team to managing sub-brands and connecting with the next generation, Trent and Dan discuss how organizations can communicate who they are with greater clarity and consistency.

They also unpack how a strong brand strategy can influence fundraising, marketing, the donor journey, product development, and even organizational structure. Whether your organization has grown more complex, experienced a leadership transition, or is struggling to stand out, this conversation offers practical questions to help you evaluate whether your brand is as effective as it could be.

Connect with us: https://dunhamancompany.com

CHAPTERS
00:00 – Introduction
02:20 – Defining Brand Strategy and the Brand Promise
03:46 – Complexity and Internal Misalignment
06:54 – When a Brand Loses Relevance
08:50 – Understanding Sub-Brands and Separate Brands
09:56 – Standing Out in a Crowded Market
13:29 – The Discipline of Simplicity
14:29 – What a Clear Brand Strategy Unlocks
17:49 – Relevance and Authenticity in 2026
21:46 – When Your Brand Doesn’t Match Your Mission
23:53 – How Brand Awareness Strengthens the Donor Journey
27:35 – Is Your Brand as Effective as It Could Be?
30 min
September 17 Building Stronger Donor Relationships Through Text | Aaron Dolton
Text messaging gives nonprofits and ministries a personal way to connect with the people who support their work. But building a meaningful relationship starts with what you give, long before you ask.
In this episode of the Cause+Effect Podcast, Trent Dunham is joined by Aaron Dolton, Chief Revenue Officer of Powered By Text, to explore how organizations can use text messaging to serve their supporters and deepen engagement. From welcoming new subscribers and sharing helpful resources to showing donors the impact of their generosity, Trent and Aaron discuss what it takes to build a text strategy that puts relationships first.
They also unpack why immediate donations don’t tell the whole story when measuring results, how churches can extend connection beyond Sunday, and what new messaging capabilities could mean for reaching more people. Whether your organization is just getting started or looking to strengthen its approach, this conversation offers practical ways to make texting a meaningful part of your mission.

Connect with us: https://dunhamancompany.com

CHAPTERS
00:00 – Introduction
01:44 – From Sales and Marketing to Nonprofit Impact
06:22 – Why Organizations Hesitate to Start Texting
09:32 – Building the Relationship Before Making the Ask
12:22 – Measuring the Value Beyond Immediate Donations
15:43 – Creating Content That Serves Your Supporters
19:48 – What Happens When Ministry Comes First
23:23 – Helping Churches Stay Connected Throughout the Week
27:36 – The Future of Text Messaging and Global Reach
30:18 – Making Texting Part of Your Communication Strategy
35 min
September 03 5 Mistakes That Can Derail Your Capital Campaign | Erik Rogers
Capital campaigns can create incredible opportunities for growth and impact, but even a compelling vision can fall short without the right preparation.
In this episode of the Cause+Effect Podcast, Trent Dunham is joined by Erik Rogers, Chief Strategist for Donor Advancement at Dunham+Co, to unpack five common mistakes that can derail a capital campaign. From passive leadership and overloaded schedules to under-resourcing the campaign, rushing into the public phase, and overlooking the value of one-on-one conversations, Trent and Erik explore what leaders should be thinking about before making the ask.
They also discuss why the quiet phase matters, how donor conversations can sharpen your vision, and why successful fundraising is ultimately about inviting people into the mission rather than pressuring them to give.

Connect with us:
https://dunhamandcompany.com

Chapters:
00:00 – Intro
00:46 – What Is a Capital Campaign?
06:00 – 5 Mistakes That Can Derail a Capital Campaign
07:15 – Mistake #1: Lack of Active Leadership
10:26 – Mistake #2: Planning Around Busy Schedules
14:02 – Mistake #3: Not Allocating Enough Resources
18:18 – Mistake #4: Rushing to the Public Phase
27:28 – Mistake #5: Devaluing One-on-One Conversations
36 min
August 20 How Little Things Shape Your Culture | Brian Mountjoy
Great culture isn’t built through one big initiative. It’s shaped in the small, everyday moments that show people they are seen, valued, and cared for.

In this episode of the Cause+Effect Podcast, Trent Dunham is joined by Brian Mountjoy, Chief Culture Officer at Dunham+Co, for a conversation about the experiences and choices that shape the culture around us. Through stories from sports, leadership, the workplace, and life, they explore why being fully present matters, how simple acts of care can have a lasting impact, and why authenticity and accountability are essential to healthy culture.

No matter your role, you have an opportunity to influence the environment around you. Sometimes, making a meaningful difference starts with the little things.

CONNECT WITH US
https://dunhamandcompany.com

CHAPTERS
00:00 – Introduction
01:15 – Two Teams, Two Very Different Cultures
07:34 – You Can Influence Culture from Any Role
08:43 – How Our Experiences Shape the Way We Treat People
12:33 – The Power of Being Fully Present
15:23 – Small Actions That Help People Feel Seen
21:31 – Accountability, Authenticity, and Healthy Leadership
24:45 – Letting People in and Leading with Authenticity
30 min
August 06 Your Team is Using AI: Do You Have a Plan? | James “JP” Poulter
AI is no longer a future consideration for nonprofit and ministry leaders. It is already entering organizations through the tools employees choose, the software teams rely on, and the platforms that shape how they reach people.

In this episode of Cause+Effect, we explore why organizations are moving beyond the question of whether to use AI and beginning to wrestle with implementation, budgeting, governance, and culture. The conversation covers the rise of “shadow AI,” the limitations of one-size-fits-all solutions, and why successful adoption begins with educating leaders, creating permission to experiment, and understanding the human processes behind the technology.

The episode also examines a reported incident in which advanced AI models escaped a testing environment and accessed Hugging Face’s production systems. What does that event reveal about the growing capabilities of AI and the responsibility leaders, governments, and Christians have to advocate for thoughtful guardrails? AI cannot simply be ignored. The challenge is to develop a clear vision for using it in ways that strengthen organizations, protect people, and advance the mission. This is an episode you don’t want to miss.

Chapters
00:00 – Introduction
00:52 – AI Adoption Reaches a Turning Point
02:02 – Why Organizations Are Rethinking Their First AI Strategy
04:05 – Shadow AI and the Front, Side, and Back Doors
08:00 – What Nonprofits Can Learn from Corporate AI Spending
10:16 – Where AI Belongs in the Budget and Organization
11:38 – Education, Permission, and People-Centered Implementation
17:08 – When an AI Model Escapes Its Testing Environment
20:52 – A Warning Shot for AI Safety and Governance
23:23 – Why Christian Leaders Need to Engage
26 min
July 23 Giving USA 2026: What You Need to know | Rick Dunham & Joshua Crowther
In this episode of the Cause+Effect Podcast, Trent Dunham, President and CEO of Dunham+Co, is joined by Rick Dunham, Founder and Chairman, and Josh Crowther, VP of Dunham+Co, for a practical conversation about the new Giving USA 2026 report and what it means for churches, ministries, and nonprofit organizations.

Charitable giving reached $617.2 billion in 2025 and grew even after adjusting for inflation. But behind that healthy top-line number are important shifts in how and where people give. Rick and Josh unpack the surge in bequests, the growing influence of donor-advised funds, declining donor participation, and the challenges facing giving to religious organizations.

From beginning a planned giving conversation to preparing for transformational gifts and building a broader community of support, this episode turns the data into practical next steps. Trent, Rick, and Josh also explore what Gen Z’s generosity could mean for the future and why consistent, story-driven communication is essential for moving donor relationships beyond the transactional. This is an episode you don’t want to miss.

Chapters:

00:00 — Introduction
01:04 — What Giving USA Tells Us About 2025
06:10 — What Drove the Growth in Giving
07:02 — The Rise of Bequests and Planned Giving
12:09 — Where Donors Are Directing Their Gifts
19:21 — Donor Participation and Building from the Bottom Up
24:40 — Rebuilding Community Around Your Mission
27:09 — What Gen Z Signals About the Future of Giving
31:39 — Telling Stories That Connect Donors to Impact
35 min
July 09 Creating a Culture That Actually Cares | Brian Mountjoy
In this episode of the Cause+Effect Podcast, Trent Dunham, CEO+ President of Dunham+Co, is joined by Brian Mountjoy, Chief Culture Officer at Dunham+Co, for a conversation on what it really takes to build and sustain a healthy organizational culture.

Through stories ranging from chicken coops and workplace brackets to unforgettable moments of caring for people well, Trent and Brian unpack why culture is not created by slogans, parties, or values on a wall. It is shaped every day by intentional leaders who love their people, model their values, and create an environment where others feel seen, known, and cared for.

Whether you lead a nonprofit, church, ministry, or business, this episode will challenge you to ask a simple but important question: what is one practical thing you can do today to strengthen the culture of your organization?

Chapters

00:00 – Introduction
01:40 – Why Culture Requires Proactive Investment
04:02 – Culture Is Not a One-Time Event
05:39 – What Chickens Can Teach Us About Leadership
11:46 – Loving People in the Way They Need to Be Loved
19:12 – Simple Ways to Make Culture Real
30:18 – Challenge to Leaders
33 min
June 11 Why Donors Stop Giving and How to Win Them Back | Joshua Crowther
In this episode of the Cause+Effect Podcast, Trent Dunham, President+CEO of Dunham+Co, sits down with Josh Crowther, VP of Dunham+Co, to unpack the real reasons donors lapse. Some reasons are outside an organization’s control, like personal financial pressure, economic uncertainty, or shifting cultural attitudes toward generosity. But many causes are self-inflicted — including silence, poor communication, overused urgency, and fundraising tactics that prioritize immediate ROI over long-term relationship.

Trent and Josh discuss how organizations can identify lapsed donors, avoid common retention mistakes, and build stronger communication strategies that re-engage supporters. They also explore why lapsed donors often still see themselves as connected to your mission — and why that should change the way nonprofits communicate with them.

For nonprofit leaders, fundraisers, and ministry teams, this conversation offers practical insight into donor retention, reactivation, and building lasting relationships with the people who make your mission possible.

CHAPTERS
00:00 – Introduction
01:12 – Why donors stop giving
02:00 – Economic uncertainty and donor confidence
04:38 – The decline in charitable giving
07:05 – Why silence causes donors to lapse
10:36 – The problem with constant urgency
13:18 – Treating donors like wallets
15:28 – How to re-engage lapsed donors
24 min
May 28 Trent’s Top 10 For 2026 (Pt. 2) | Eric Gomez
In this episode of the Cause+Effect Podcast, Trent Dunham, President and CEO of Dunham+Co, is joined again by Eric Gomez, COO of Dunham+Co, for part two of their conversation around Trent’s Top 10 for 2026.

Picking up with the second half of the list, Trent and Eric discuss how nonprofit leaders can use data visualization to make better decisions, why every communication channel matters, and how organizations should approach AI with more than reactionary experimentation. They also explore the importance of leadership modeling healthy work, the danger of blind spots, and what Dunham+Co’s 25th anniversary represents beyond celebration.

For nonprofit executives, ministry leaders, and fundraising teams preparing for 2026, this conversation offers practical guidance on strategy, culture, communication, and leadership for the road ahead.

Chapters:

00:00 — Welcome to Cause+Effect
01:16 — Data Visualization That Drives Strategy
07:11 — The Metrics Nonprofit CEOs Should Watch
08:55 — Why Every Communication Channel Matters
13:16 — Building a Documented AI Strategy
22:19 — Leadership Modeling Healthy Work
30:09 — 25-Years of Dunham+Co and What’s Ahead
36 min

About The Cause+Effect Podcast

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Tired of doing things the same way every year? The Cause+Effect Podcast, brought to you by the Dunham Podcast Network, is a fresh voice that breaks down the latest fundraising trends, leadership…