As part of the Charity Charge Nonprofit Spotlight Series, we had the privilege of speaking with Arundati Dandapani, Founder and CEO of Generation1.ca. Arundati's path into the nonprofit world is rooted in a lifelong passion for storytelling and empathy — from publishing her first short story at eight years old, to teaching writing workshops inside prisons, to leading initiatives that bridge data, creativity, and social impact.

Her organization, Generation1.ca, has grown into a thriving professional community that equips immigrants with the tools, networks, and opportunities they need to succeed in a new country.

With more than 2,000 members and a mission grounded in education, inclusion, and collaboration, Generation1.ca is helping transform the newcomer experience in North America.

In our conversation, Arundati shares how her personal journey shaped her leadership, why storytelling remains at the heart of her work, and how her team is building a future where immigrant voices are not only heard but celebrated.

On this episode of the Charity Charge Show, we sat down with Valieria Koss, Executive Director of The RennerVation Foundation, to talk about their mission to create joy, growth, and belonging for foster and at-risk youth in Nevada and beyond.

From transformative summer camps to innovative new housing programs, Valieria and her team are helping young people not just survive, but thrive as they transition into adulthood.

About The RennerVation Foundation

Founded by actor Jeremy Renner alongside his sister Kim Renner (a child welfare professional) and a team of dedicated leaders, The RennerVation Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing safe spaces, life skills, and supportive programs for foster and at-risk youth.

Their values—integrity, accountability, empowerment, compassion, inclusivity, respect, collaboration, innovation, and excellence—are the foundation for everything they do.

Whether it’s through summer camps, Christmas celebrations, or ongoing wraparound services, their programs are built to meet children and young adults where they are and help them discover their purpose and joy.

About Charity Charge:

Charity Charge is a financial technology company serving the nonprofit sector. From the Charity Charge Nonprofit Credit Card to bookkeeping, gift card disbursements, and state compliance, we help mission-driven organizations streamline operations and stay financially strong. Learn more at charitycharge.com.

In this episode of The Charity Charge Show, hosts Matt and Grayson sit down with Alexx Goeller, CEO of Wasteless Solutions, a nonprofit making a significant reduction in food waste in Utah. Alex shares her journey into the nonprofit sector, driven by a passion for community service and sustainability. She discusses how Wasteless focuses on diverting edible food from landfills to combat food waste and food insecurity.

More Than a Rescue Mission

Wasteless's approach goes beyond simply collecting and distributing food. They've developed a multi-faceted strategy to maximize their impact.

• Food Rescue: This is the heart of their operation. They divert surplus food from retailers, restaurants, and other sources, ensuring that perfectly good food doesn't end up in a landfill.
• Neighborhood Nourishment: Wasteless transforms rescued food into nutritious meals and distributes them through mobile markets. This innovative model brings healthy food directly to communities that have limited access to it.
• Education: They also host classes and provide practical tips to help individuals reduce their own food waste at home. This educational component empowers people to be part of the solution, creating a ripple effect of positive change.

About Charity Charge:

Charity Charge is a financial technology company serving the nonprofit sector. From the Charity Charge Nonprofit Credit Card to bookkeeping, gift card disbursements, and state compliance, we help mission-driven organizations streamline operations and stay financially strong. Learn more at charitycharge.com.

In the latest episode of The Charity Charge Show, hosts Matt and Grayson sit down with Dana Yaari, Emergency Response Team Lead for the monday.com Foundation. Dana shares her unconventional journey from investment banking to humanitarian work and how she now helps frontline aid organizations operate faster, smarter, and more collaboratively during times of crisis.

At the heart of monday.com’s humanitarian efforts is a simple but powerful mission: helping aid organizations respond faster and more effectively.

The Emergency Response Team (ERT) provides pro bono support to nonprofits and humanitarian agencies, creating custom workflows and digital tools that streamline everything from:

• Needs assessments in the field, with real-time dashboards for decision-making
• Aid distribution systems to track inventory and deliveries
• Volunteer coordination tools to safely onboard, assign, and manage large numbers of community helpers

By transforming processes that once relied on spreadsheets, emails, or WhatsApp, monday.com enables frontline responders to operate with clarity and efficiency, even amid chaos.

About Charity Charge:

Charity Charge is a financial technology company serving the nonprofit sector. From the Charity Charge Nonprofit Credit Card to bookkeeping, gift card disbursements, and state compliance, we help mission-driven organizations streamline operations and stay financially strong. Learn more at charitycharge.com.

In this episode of The Charity Charge Show, Stephen Garten and co-host Grayson Harris talk with Krista Lamp, Senior Director of Nonprofit Communications at GoFundMe, about how technology, storytelling, and strategic engagement can help nonprofits raise more funds and connect with supporters.

Krista shares how the transition of Classy into GoFundMe Pro combines the best of both platforms—offering robust fundraising tools with the global reach of GoFundMe’s donor network. The discussion covers recurring giving, community engagement, and how nonprofits can claim their free GoFundMe pages to boost visibility.

What is GoFundMe Pro?

GoFundMe Pro is a complete fundraising platform designed to help nonprofits grow their support base and achieve their fundraising goals. From customizable campaigns to peer-to-peer events and corporate giving integrations, the platform enables organizations to meet supporters where they are and inspire more contributions.

Key Platform Features:

• Recurring Giving: Encourage consistent monthly support.
• Branded Donation Forms: Keep your campaigns visually consistent and mobile-friendly.
• Peer-to-Peer Fundraising: Empower supporters to fundraise on your behalf.
• Comprehensive Dashboard: View giving history, track campaign progress, and analyze trends.

 About Charity Charge:

Charity Charge is a financial technology company serving the nonprofit sector. From the Charity Charge Nonprofit Credit Card to bookkeeping, gift card disbursements, and state compliance, we help mission-driven organizations streamline operations and stay financially strong. Learn more at charitycharge.com.

In a recent episode of The Charity Charge Show, guest host Grayson Harris sat down with Angela Blake, Senior Product Manager at GiveWP, to explore the future of nonprofit fundraising tools. With a background in WordPress product development and a passion for empowering mission-driven organizations, Angela shared how GiveWP is shaping the way nonprofits build communities, manage donors, and scale their impact—all from within their WordPress website.

Whether you're a local food pantry or a national nonprofit network, this episode is packed with actionable insights on leveraging technology to fundraise smarter, build recurring revenue, and deepen donor relationships.

Takeaways

• Angela transitioned from GoDaddy to GiveWP to support nonprofits.
• GiveWP offers a comprehensive suite of fundraising tools for nonprofits.
• Customization options in GiveWP enhance donor engagement.
• Nonprofits are increasingly relying on community support for funding.
• GiveWP integrates with various external systems for donor management.
• The onboarding process for nonprofits is user-friendly and supportive.
• Large organizations need interconnected systems for data management.
• GiveWP supports multiple languages and currencies for global reach.
• Recurring donations are vital for nonprofit financial health.
• Effective communication is key to building community support.

About Charity Charge:

Charity Charge is a financial technology company serving the nonprofit sector. From the Charity Charge Nonprofit Credit Card to bookkeeping, gift card disbursements, and state compliance, we help mission-driven organizations streamline operations and stay financially strong. Learn more at charitycharge.com.

In this episode of the Charity Charge Show, Stephen Garten interviews Shilpa Alva, founder and executive director of Surge for Water. Shilpa shares her journey of founding the nonprofit, inspired by her childhood experiences in India. Surge for Water focuses on providing comprehensive water solutions, emphasizing community ownership and women's leadership.

Shilpa discusses the organization's impact, growth strategies, and the importance of diversifying revenue sources. She also reflects on her transition from the corporate world to running Surge full-time, highlighting the challenges and rewards of nonprofit leadership.

Takeaways

• Surge for Water focuses on Water Plus: water, sanitation, hygiene, and menstrual health.
• Shilpa's childhood experiences in India inspired her to address water inequity.
• Community ownership is essential for sustainable solutions.
• Women's leadership is prioritized in Surge's approach.
• The organization has impacted nearly 800,000 people through various projects.
• Surge is moving towards a model of enterprise to sustain its initiatives.
• Diversifying revenue sources is crucial for nonprofit growth.
• Building a strong team and board is vital for organizational success.
• Shilpa emphasizes the importance of planning before transitioning to full-time nonprofit work.
• The fear of leaving a stable job can be overcome with careful planning and passion.

About Charity Charge:

Charity Charge is a financial technology company serving the nonprofit sector. From the Charity Charge Nonprofit Credit Card to bookkeeping, gift card disbursements, and state compliance, we help mission-driven organizations streamline operations and stay financially strong. Learn more at charitycharge.com.

In a recent episode of The Charity Charge Show, host Stephen Garten sat down with Joe Scarano, the founder of Araize and creator of FastFund, a cloud-based nonprofit financial software platform. With over three decades of experience in the nonprofit tech space, Joe brings deep insight into what makes nonprofit financial operations distinct—and how purpose-built tools can make all the difference.

Joe and Stephen also explored the incredible diversity within the nonprofit world—from small community organizations to large institutions with complex financial structures. Despite their differences, they all share the need for better back-office systems that are affordable, intuitive, and mission-aligned.

Key Takeaways from the Episode:

✅ Araize’s FastFund software is built specifically for nonprofit accounting, payroll, and fundraising.
✅ It enables organizations to produce FASB-compliant financial reports and segregate funds properly.
✅ SaaS offers reliability, security, and access flexibility for nonprofit teams.
✅ Araize provides free onboarding and live support from experts in nonprofit finance.
✅ Effective financial systems help nonprofits build donor trust and long-term sustainability.

About Charity Charge:

Charity Charge is a financial technology company serving the nonprofit sector. From the Charity Charge Nonprofit Credit Card to bookkeeping, gift card disbursements, and state compliance, we help mission-driven organizations streamline operations and stay financially strong. Learn more at charitycharge.com.

In this conversation, Stephen Garten and Abby James discuss the importance of Google Ad Grants for nonprofits, how Nonprofit Megaphone helps organizations leverage this program, and the impact of AI on nonprofit marketing. They explore various strategies for maximizing the $10,000 monthly grant, share success stories from different nonprofits, and emphasize the need for effective content and user journeys to convert leads into supporters. Abby also explains the business model of Nonprofit Megaphone and the importance of maintaining eligibility for the Google Ad Grant.

Takeaways

Nonprofits can access $10,000 monthly in Google Ads for free.
Google Ad Grants help nonprofits increase visibility and donor acquisition.
Content on the nonprofit's website is crucial for ad performance.
AI is changing the landscape of digital marketing for nonprofits.
Successful nonprofits often require multiple engagements before donations.
Nonprofit Megaphone manages Google Ad Grants for various organizations.
Effective marketing strategies include understanding audience needs.
Tracking conversions is essential for measuring success.
Nonprofits should focus on user journeys to convert visitors.
Maintaining eligibility for the Google Ad Grant requires adherence to performance standards.

About Charity Charge:

Charity Charge is a financial technology company serving the nonprofit sector. From the Charity Charge Nonprofit Credit Card to bookkeeping, gift card disbursements, and state compliance, we help mission-driven organizations streamline operations and stay financially strong. Learn more at charitycharge.com.

In this episode of the Charity Charge Show we chat with Jared Walker, the founder of Dollar For, to discuss the organization's mission to alleviate medical debt through a comprehensive database of hospital charity care policies.

He explains how Dollar Four automates the application process for patients, the challenges of funding through philanthropy, and the importance of partnerships in expanding their reach. The conversation also touches on the legal aspects of medical debt, the potential for new revenue models, and the future vision for the organization.

Takeaways

• Dollar Four created a database of every hospital in the country.
• The organization eliminated $6.9 million in medical debt in April.
• Funding is fully through philanthropy, with no earned revenue model.
• The impact of Dollar Four is measurable and clear to donors.
• Hospitals are motivated to avoid bad press regarding charity care.
• Partnerships with other organizations can enhance outreach.
• There is a significant amount of medical debt within communities.
• The organization aims to enforce policies that hospitals are required to have.
• Focus on providing value to the community to attract donors.
• Future growth plans include raising $20 million over the next four years.

About Dollar For

Dollar For is a national non-profit organization dedicated to tackling the widespread issue of medical debt in the United States. Recognizing that medical debt is a leading cause of financial hardship and even bankruptcy for millions, they focus on a solution that often goes unnoticed and underutilized: hospital charity care.

Their core mission is to make charity care – which nonprofit hospitals are mandated by the Affordable Care Act to provide to lower-income patients – known, easy to access, and fairly applied. Dollar For acts as an advocate for patients, empowering them to navigate the often complex process of applying for financial assistance.

They achieve this through a multi-pronged approach:

• Direct Patient Service: Utilizing technology, Dollar For has developed a system that includes a custom database of hospital policies, a simple eligibility screener, automated application completion, and patient advocates who guide individuals through the process. This direct support has resulted in significant medical debt relief for thousands of patients.
• Systemic Change Advocacy: Beyond individual cases, Dollar For actively works to hold hospitals accountable and push for broader policy changes. They leverage media attention and their unique understanding of both the written policies and their real-world application to inform policy and advocate for improvements in charity care access. Their efforts have already influenced regulations and hospital practices across several states.

In essence, Dollar For bridges the gap between patients struggling with medical bills and the often-obscure avenue of charity care. By simplifying the application process and advocating for systemic improvements, they strive to alleviate the financial burden of medical crises and ensure that a health emergency doesn't lead to financial ruin. Their work has demonstrably reduced stress, improved health outcomes, and enhanced financial stability for the patients they serve.