The Nonprofit Podcast

The Nonprofit Podcast

By Jena Lynch, Brittan Stockert & Cara AugspurgerSociety & CultureBusinessArts
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The Nonprofit Podcast episodes

  • Ep 226| The Science of Giving: Donor Confidence, Decoded

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    Why - and when - do donors actually trust your organization?

    Every gift is a decision, and every decision has mechanics. Donorbox has mapped them in a new field guide, 10 Principles of Donor Conversion and Retention: The Science of Giving. It draws on published research into why donors give and why they stop.

    In the first of two episodes that break down the mechanics of the giving decision, Jena Lynch and Britt Stockert talk us through the six principles that build donor confidence: transparency, credibility, congruence, security, impactful messaging, and reciprocation. Along the way, they unpack the changes the guide recommends nonprofits make before Giving Season.

    About half of first-time donors never make a second gift. The research suggests that’s rarely a marketing problem. It’s a design problem, and it’s fixable.

    The guide is built to be used, not just read. It closes with a ten-principle self-audit: one yes-or-no test per principle, to score before any campaign goes live. Every “no” marks a specific, fixable conversion loss. Each principle also comes with practical steps a fundraiser can complete without a developer.

    Each principle is grounded in behavioral science, from the goal gradient effect to the reciprocity norm, and brought to life with examples from Britt’s coaching. It’s practical listening for any fundraiser focused on donor conversion and retention heading into year-end.

    Download your FREE copy of Donorbox’s 10 Principles of Donor Conversion and Retention: The Science of Giving today, and run the self-audit before your campaign goes live. It’s a practical first step toward turning this Giving Season’s first-time donors into next year’s repeat supporters.

    So, what are we talking about?

    Donors rarely evaluate an organization consciously. Nobody sits on a donation page weighing credibility. But donors notice when something feels off, and they leave without explaining why.

    That makes donor confidence hard to measure and easy to lose. Each of the six confidence principles maps to a question donors are quietly asking, from “Where does my money actually go?” to “Did anyone notice that I gave?”

    Building donor confidence doesn’t require a complete overhaul. It starts with spotting the small things that make someone hesitate, and addressing them before Giving Season traffic arrives.

    Chapters

    00:00 - Why First-Time Donors Don’t Return

    01:54 - Defining Confidence vs. Friction

    04:09 - Principle 1: Transparency (Where the Money Goes)

    06:54 - The Goal Gradient Effect & Visible Progress

    07:56 - Principle 2: Credibility & Social Proof

    11:31 - Principle 3: Congruence & Consistent Branding

    16:01 - DonorBox Field Guide Overview

    16:25 - Principle 4: Payment Security & Loss Aversion

    19:10 - Principle 5: Impactful Messaging (Stories vs. Numbers)

    22:22 - The Identifiable Victim Effect

    23:37 - Principle 6: Reciprocation & Meaningful Thank-Yous

    26:58 - The Reciprocity Norm & Retention Impact

    29:01 - Key Takeaways & Next Steps for Giving Season

    About the Hosts

    Jena Lynch is Head of Community Engagement at Donorbox and anchor of The Nonprofit Podcast, a 2025 Silver Anthem Award winner. She speaks regularly to nonprofit audiences on donor stewardship and retention.

    Britt Stockert is a Fundraiser Coach at Donorbox with more than 20 years of public-sector experience. She coaches nonprofit teams one-on-one and serves on the board of an immigrant- and refugee-led nonprofit.

    About Donorbox

    Donorbox is a trusted online and on-location fundraising platform that helps nonprofits raise more. With easy-to-use donation forms, powerful donor management tools, and features designed to grow recurring giving, we have helped 100,000-plus organizations process over $4 billion in donations worldwide.

    Enjoying the show? Subscribe for more practical fundraising strategies, leadership insights, and tools to help your nonprofit grow sustainably.

    The information provided in this series is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Please consult with a professional advisor for specific guidance.


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    31 min
  • Ep 225| DAF Donors Have Already Said Yes

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    Happy DAF Day.
    Here's something to think about. Nearly one in four dollars of individual giving in the US now moves through donor advised funds, and DAF giving is growing 8X faster than everything else.

    Jena Lynch and Cara Augspurger get into who DAF donors really are (**Spoiler** not all are billionaires - most give under $1,000), why they tend to stay longer and give more, and where in the past these gifts have run into friction for donors and nonprofits alike.

    Then Jena shares what Donorbox launched today: DAFPay, powered by Chariot and built right into your Donorbox OmniGive donation form. It's available on the Pro and Premium tiers for US-registered 501(c)(3) organizations.

    See how Donorbox DAFPay works here

    New to DAFs? Download Episode 192, Cara’s DAF 101.

    In this episode:

    • What a donor-advised fund is, in plain terms, and why the decision to give has already been made
    • Who DAF donors really are, and why the “wealthy donors only” picture is wrong
    • Where DAF gifts can get stuck, for donors and for nonprofits
    • The receipting mistake that can turn into an IRS headache
    • How Donorbox DAFPay brings DAF giving onto your OmniGive donation form

    And if you’re ready for a deeper dive, here are links to the research reports and resources mentioned in the show:

    • Donorbox Pro and Premium plans
    • Episode 192: Cara’s DAF fundamentals episode
    • Chariot 2026 DAF Fundraising Report 
    • Donor Advised Fund Research Collaborative 
    • Donorbox 

    Chapters:

    00:00 Introduction to DAF Day and the Growth of DAFs

    00:29 The Rise of Donor-Advised Funds in Giving

    01:20 Cara’s Perspective on DAF Trends

    02:28 Understanding What a DAF Is and How It Works

    03:20 Who Are DAF Donors and Why They Give

    05:03 Common Misconceptions About DAF Donors

    08:09 The Rapid Growth and Scale of DAFs

    09:37 How DAFs Distribute Funds Faster 

    10:16 Donor Demographics and Giving Patterns

    12:14 Impact of DAFs on Donor Support and Giving Behavior

    13:59 The Challenges of Managing DAF Gifts for Nonprofits

    19:19 Making DAF Giving Easier: Chariot DAFPay on Donorbox

    22:37 Practical Steps for Nonprofits to Engage DAF Donors

    About Donorbox

    Donorbox is a trusted online and on-location fundraising platform that helps nonprofits raise more. With easy-to-use donation forms, powerful donor management tools, and features designed to grow recurring giving, we have helped 100,000-plus organizations process over $4 billion in donations worldwide.

    Learn more at donorbox.org. 

    Jena Lynch is Head of Community Engagement at Donorbox and host of The Nonprofit Podcast. She speaks widely on donor relationships and fundraising at conferences, webinars, and on other shows. 

    Cara Augspurger is a frontline fundraiser and co-host of The Nonprofit Podcast. She brings what she sees on the ground at her own organization to every conversation, and hosted Episode 192, our DAF 101, for first-timers. 

    Enjoying the show?

    Subscribe for more practical fundraising strategies, leadership insights, and tools to help your nonprofit grow sustainably.

    This episode is for educational purposes only and is not legal or financial advice. Please consult a professional advisor for guidance specific to your organization.


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    26 min
  • Ep 224| Last Year's Donors Are This Year's Opportunity

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    You pulled the report. 1,800 people who gave last year haven't given a cent this year. And it's October.

    Cue Giving Season panic.

    Jena Lynch and Britt Stockert see it differently. Most of those lapsed donors didn't leave. They drifted.

    This episode is all about winning back LYBUNT donors (Last Year But Unfortunately Not This) before December 3 - no guilt trips. No "we miss you" emails.

    These donors already said yes once. That counts for a lot. Donors with a giving history come back 66% of the time. New donors come back just 24% of the time.

    And there's still time. Last year, December brought in 37% of nonprofits' online revenue.

    Britt shares the exact voicemail she'd leave a lapsed donor, and makes the case for skipping the ask in the first message (yes, even in October). Jena brings the gym membership comparison nobody wanted, but everybody needed.

    Got 30 minutes this week? Britt's action plan at the end is built for exactly that.

    What You'll Learn

    • Why and how "hasn't given yet" and "gone for good" are two very different lists
    • The unglamorous check that saves a lot of awkward emails
    • How to pick 30 personal calls from a list of 1,800 (hint: not by gift size)
    • Who in the organization should really be making those calls
    • What to do when a donor leaves you on read
    • How to ask in December without sounding like a final notice
    • The one thing every fundraiser should do on their phone today

    A LYBUNT report shows who hasn't given. It can't show why. Before assuming the worst, check the data. Then start a conversation. As Jena puts it, "You are a nonprofit fundraiser, you are not a debt collector."

    Chapters:

    00:00 That report you've been avoiding

    01:00 LYBUNT: the acronym Britt loves

    03:25 The 24% vs 66% gap

    04:09 Check before you reach out

    06:02 Bounced emails and the Promotions tab myth

    07:13 1,800 names, 30 phone calls

    08:01 The biggest gift isn't always the best relationship

    10:05 First touch: skip the ask

    10:47 The voicemail you should leave

    13:02 Ask a question, not for money

    16:04 When donors leave you on read

    17:03 Adjusting expectations

    18:08 The December ask that actually lands

    18:50 A nonprofit, not a debt collector

    21:02 Your 30-minute action plan

    Jena Lynch, Head of Community Engagement at Donorbox, and Britt Stockert, Fundraiser Coach at Donorbox, co-host this episode. Together, they bring hands-on experience helping nonprofits strengthen donor relationships and build fundraising systems that hold up under pressure...especially in Giving Season!

    Links Mentioned

    • M+R Benchmarks study
    • Ep 192| Donor-Advised Funds: What Fundraisers Need to Know Now with Cara Augspurger 
    • Donorbox: donorbox.org 

    About Donorbox
    Donorbox is a global fundraising platform trusted by 100,000+ nonprofits, with $4B+ raised worldwide.  

    This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not legal or financial advice. Consult a professional advisor.





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    24 min
  • Ep 223| Supporters to Fundraisers: Crowdfunding and Peer-to-Peer

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    How far can one campaign travel this Giving Season? 

    Further than your email list, if you set it up right.

    Today, Jena Lynch, Head of Community Engagement at Donorbox, shares how a crowdfunding campaign gives supporters a clear, specific goal to rally around, and how peer-to-peer fundraising turns that campaign into something supporters carry into their own networks…reaching people a nonprofit hasn't earned trust with yet.

    In this episode, Jena digs into:

    • What makes a crowdfunding campaign worth sharing, not just donating to
    • What a campaign page needs so a stranger understands it in seconds
    • Why a supporter's personal ask lands differently than a simple share
    • How to choose the first few supporters to invite as fundraisers
    • What to do with the year-end plan next week

    Start your Giving Season campaign
    Donorbox Crowdfunding gives supporters a page worth sharing, a goal meter, a live donor wall, and one-click sharing built in. Turn on Donorbox Peer-to-Peer and empower supporters to build their own pages, with every dollar automatically feeding the main goal. Launch in as little as 15 minutes: donorbox.org 

    Get your downloadable guides now, packed with tips and strategy support, from the Donorbox library:
    Donation Page Design Guide - image sizes, logo dimensions, and copy tips
    Peer-to-Peer Fundraising 101 - campaign types, a launch plan, and event ideas 


    Chapters 

    00:00 Welcome 

    00:23 Why one campaign should outgrow the email list

    02:57 What makes a crowdfunding campaign worth sharing

    05:11 Building the crowdfunding page as home base

    07:25 From sharing to peer-to-peer fundraising

    08:23 Borrowed trust: Leveraging personal networks for outreach

    10:05 Choosing the first supporters to invite

    11:49 Setting up supporter pages on Donorbox

    12:30 Next week's to-do for Giving Season campaigns

    13:15 Resources and close

    Host
    Jena Lynch is Head of Community Engagement at Donorbox and anchor host of The Nonprofit Podcast.

    About Donorbox
    Donorbox is a global fundraising platform trusted by 100,000+ nonprofits, with $4B+ raised worldwide.

    This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not legal or financial advice. Consult a professional advisor.


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    15 min
  • Episode 222| The Fundraising Moments Most Nonprofit Events Miss

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    Most nonprofit events open exactly one path to giving: the ticket. 

    Jena Lynch and Britt Stockert map the fundraising moments most events miss, before doors open, during the event, after everyone goes home, and unpack how nonprofits can open more paths to giving - without extra work for their team.

    What You'll Learn

    • Why the ticket purchase is one of the best, and most frequently ignored, fundraising opportunities of the event life-cycle
    • What good ticket data actually looks like (knowing who to expect before your guests even walk in)
    • Where the most donation opportunities quietly slip away once the event is underway
    • Why one unified donor record beats three spreadsheets and a manual mail merge
    • The one friction point Britt says to fix first, before your very next event

    If you're deep into your year-end event planning, this one is for you!

    Engage attendees. Simplify giving. Grow your impact.
    Find out more about maximizing your events with the double-down power of Donorbox Dynamic Duo  - from ticketing to post-event stewardship.
    You can:

    • Streamline ticket sales and collect donations from ticket buyers
    • Manage your event in one easy-to-track place
    • Check guests in with ease
    • Collect in-person, cashless donations with just a tap, dip, or swipe

    Chapters

    00:00 The Mindset Shift in Event Fundraising

    00:56 Welcome to The Nonprofit Podcast

    02:28 Capturing Generosity at Ticket Checkout

    04:08 Streamlining Table Registration & Payments

    06:00 Common In-Event Pitfalls to Avoid

    07:16 Eliminating Friction for Event Attendees

    08:52 Using Donorbox Live Kiosk & Offline Auto-Sync

    11:00 Post-Event Data Integration & Donor Segmentation

    12:55 Timely Stewardship and Follow-Up Emails

    13:44 Practical Action Step for Your Next Event

    14:51 Closing Remarks & Resources


    Host Bios

    Jena Lynch, Head of Community Engagement at Donorbox, anchors The Nonprofit Podcast.

    Brittan Stockert, Fundraiser Coach at Donorbox, co-hosts The Nonprofit Podcast.

    Donorbox is a trusted fundraising platform used by more than 100,000 organizations worldwide, raising over $4 billion for nonprofit causes. Learn more at donorbox.org.

    Enjoying the show? Subscribe for more practical fundraising strategies, leadership insights, and tools to help your nonprofit grow sustainably.

    Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only and shouldn't be considered legal or financial advice. Please consult a professional advisor for guidance specific to your organization.


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    16 min
  • Ep 221| How to Turn Your Ask Into a Connection

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    Heart does that panicked double-thump. Stomach drops. Ohh - there goes gravity! 

    Sound familiar? 

    That's what happens right before most fundraisers call a donor to ask for money…and Britt Stockert, Fundraiser Coach at Donorbox, says that feeling is telling you the opposite of what you think.

    In this quick, coffee-break episode, Britt shares the four words she scribbled on a sticky note for a burned-out nonprofit leader who needed something simpler than a script. It changed how that leader's whole team makes the ask.

    This is perfect for fundraisers who want a low-pressure way to build donor trust, especially heading into year-end. 

    Discover:

    • Why the discomfort of asking for a gift is a sign of a healthy donor relationship, not a warning sign
    • A four-word framework simple enough to fit on a sticky note
    • How to open a donor call without mentioning money at all
    • What to say when a donor pushes back on overhead or transparency
    • Why silence after an ask is doing more work than most fundraisers realize
    • How to measure success in donor outreach beyond whether a gift landed that day

    If you’re ready to refine your ‘Ask’ approach and get on track for Giving Season, schedule time with Britt here.

    That nervous feeling before asking for a gift isn't proof something's wrong. It's proof the moment matters. Britt's fix isn't more confidence - it's structure: four words on a sticky note that turn a high-pressure ask into a real conversation between two people who both care about the same thing.

    Chapters:

    • 00:00 - Why Asking for Support Feels Uncomfortable
    • 02:10 - The Trust Gap & the Power of Personal Connection
    • 03:40 - A 4-Beat Framework for Donor Conversations
    • 06:55 - Timing the Ask & Permission-Based Giving
    • 08:15 - Redefining Success Through Small Wins
    • 09:15 - Overcoming Rejection & Closing Thoughts

    Donorbox is a trusted fundraising platform used by 100,000-plus organizations worldwide, helping them raise over $4 billion collectively. Learn more at donorbox.org.

    Enjoying the show? Subscribe for more practical fundraising strategies, leadership insights, and tools to help your nonprofit grow sustainably.

    Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not intended as legal or financial advice. Please consult a professional advisor for guidance specific to your organization.


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    11 min
  • Ep 220| Navigating AI search & Google Ad Grants for nonprofits with Jessica King

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    ChatGPT. Claude. Gemini. Or Google...Search visibility has changed.

    AI search is changing how donors and volunteers find nonprofits, and most teams are still figuring out what to do about it. 

    This week, host Jena Lynch talks with Jessica King, Director at Getting Attention, about what's actually working in search right now...from why ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini are showing up as real traffic sources, to why relying on one platform is risky, plus how to make full use of the $120,000-a-year Google Ad Grant. 

    Jessica's take: you don't need a new playbook for AI, just a stronger version of the marketing fundamentals you already know. 

    What You'll Learn

    • Why ChatGPT and Claude are already shortlisting nonprofits before donors ever reach your site, and what that means for your funnel.
    • Why AI search doesn't call for a new strategy, just sharper execution of the SEO fundamentals you already have in place.
    • How to build a channel mix that holds up when a single algorithm or platform shifts.
    • How to extend the reach of your $120,000-a-year Google Ad Grant as search behavior changes.
    • Why page-level content depth outweighs metadata for both AI and traditional search, and what that means for your content priorities.

    If your team has just a few hours a month for online visibility this Giving Season, this episode tells you where to spend them.

    About Our Guest

    Jessica King is Director at Getting Attention, where she helps nonprofits get more from Google Ad Grants, paid Google Ads, and search-focused content strategy. Before Getting Attention, Jessica worked in communications and digital marketing across higher education and the nonprofit sector, with a focus on SEO for mission-driven organizations. She holds a Master's degree in Communication from Virginia Tech.

    Links Mentioned

    • Getting Attention: gettingattention.org - free guides, templates, and Google Ad Grant audits
    • Getting Attention on YouTube: weekly tutorials and marketing advice
    • Book recommendation: Steal Like an Artist by Austin Kleon
    • Donorbox: donorbox.org  - fundraising tools for nonprofits

    Host

    Jena Lynch is Head of Community Engagement at Donorbox. Each week on The Nonprofit Podcast, she brings nonprofit leaders practical strategies and clear insight to help them raise more and reach further.

    Chapters:

    0:00 Intro & Welcome

    1:43 Meet Jessica King from Getting Attention

    2:24 AI as a Traffic Source and the Shifting Search Landscape

    6:38 Donor Trust, AEO/AIO Buzz, and Not Losing Sight of the Fundamentals

    8:34 Why Foundational SEO Is the Basis for AEO

    10:50 Building a Marketing Mix With No Single Point of Failure

    13:26 Making the Most of the Google Ad Grant

    19:05 Why Traditional Website SEO Isn't Dead

    21:24 How AI Levels the Playing Field for Smaller Nonprofits

    24:11 Non-Negotiables for Giving Season

    27:53 Connect With Jessica and Getting Attention

    28:35 Wrap-Up

    Donorbox is a trusted online and on-location fundraising platform that helps nonprofits raise more. With easy-to-use donation forms, powerful donor management tools, and features designed to grow recurring giving, we have helped 100,000-plus organizations process more than $4 billion in donations worldwide.

    Enjoying the show? Subscribe for more practical fundraising strategies, leadership insights, and tools to help your nonprofit grow sustainably.

    The information provided in this series is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Please consult with a professional advisor for specific guidance.


    Support the show

    31 min
  • Ep 219| Stop guessing: What donors REALLY want before year-end

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    A simple donor survey is the closest thing you will get to reading your supporters' minds, yet the answers you get are rarely what you expect

    Donors are sitting on insights most nonprofits never think to look for. Cara Augspurger, our field correspondent and CEO of Grace Care Center Foundation, joins Jena Lynch to share what happened when her team surveyed hundreds of donors ahead of Giving Season, and what the answers revealed about messaging, trust, and the surprising link between volunteering and giving.

    And brace yourself - your best donors may not understand your organization as well as you think.

    What You'll Learn

    • How to build and segment a short, anonymous donor survey
    • Why loyal donors can still misunderstand your programs
    • How the volunteer experience shapes donor trust
    • Four steps to launch a donor survey before year-end

    Resources and Links

    Consolidate today’s framework with a helpful in-depth Donorbox blog: 

    Surveying Your Donors, How to Do It Right - you can find it here

    About the Hosts

    Cara Augspurger has been a nonprofit leader and fundraiser since 1996. As President and CEO of Grace Care Center Foundation and a founding board member, she brings decades of hands-on experience to conversations spanning annual fundraising, capital campaigns, donor stewardship, and relationship building. A Certified Fund-Raising Executive (CFRE) and University of Illinois graduate, Cara previously served as a fundraising coach at Donorbox, where she helped nonprofits connect the dots between strategy and results.

    Jena Lynch, Head of Community Engagement at Donorbox, specialises in donor stewardship, retention, and peer-to-peer fundraising. She works closely with nonprofit teams to strengthen donor relationships and build practical systems that support long-term growth. As the anchor of The Nonprofit Podcast, she keeps strategy clear, steady, and actionable.

    Chapters

    00:00 – Introduction: Why Donor Surveys Matter

    01:15 – Timing Your Survey Before the Fall Push

    03:08 – Survey Mechanics: Length, Platforms, and Subject Lines

    06:27 – Key Questions to Include in Your Survey

    08:23 – How Well Do Donors Know Your Programs?

    12:27 – Where Volunteering Meets Giving

    16:35 – The Power of One Open Question

    19:59 – 4 Action Steps to Launch Your Donor Survey

    22:42 – Wrap-Up & Final Thoughts

    About Donorbox

    Donorbox is a trusted online and on-location fundraising platform that helps nonprofits raise more. With easy-to-use donation forms, powerful donor management tools, and features designed to grow recurring giving, we have helped 100,000-plus organizations process more than $4 billion in donations worldwide.

    Enjoying the show? Subscribe for more practical fundraising strategies, leadership insights, and tools to help your nonprofit grow sustainably.

    The information provided in this series is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Please consult with a professional advisor for specific guidance.


    Support the show

    24 min
  • Ep 218| End-of-Year Fundraising: A Giving Season Roadmap for Nonprofits

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    You can't repair the runway while the plane is taking off. 🛫

    That's Darrin Cook's blunt take on why Giving Season prep has to start in August, not November. 

    Darrin joins Jena Lynch to break down how early infrastructure work, not last-minute campaign scrambling, drives real Giving Season results. He shares a framework for auditing donor data and donation flows now, building stronger donor segments, and knowing where automation earns its keep without losing the human side of donor stewardship. Plus, why protecting your fundraising team from burnout is part of the strategy, not separate from it.

    Head straight to the Donorbox Blog to dive deeper into Giving Season prep with a 3-phase roadmap to keep you on track from now until January, here.

    Chapters 

    00:00 Why Giving Season Prep Starts in August 

    01:47   Meet Darren Cook (MyMogul Media) 

    02:45  Don't Repair the Runway Mid-Flight: Giving Season Timeline 

    05:07  Systems Audit: Tech, Websites, and Mobile Optimization

    08:31  Nurturing Donors: Relationship Messages Before the Big Ask 

    11:14    Simple Donor Segmentation: 6 Key Groups to Target 

    14:55  Humanizing Automation: What to Automate vs. What to Keep Personal 

    18:10  Preventing Team Burnout During the Year-End Rush 

    19:51  The January Debrief: Turning Campaign Data into Next Year's Strategy 

    22:58  Where to Find Giving Season Resources

    About Our Guest 

    Darrin Cook is the founder of My Mogul Media. Since 2009, he's helped nonprofits across the US build cleaner, more connected digital systems, so teams can stop grinding and start growing.

    About Our Host 

    Jena Lynch is Head of Community Engagement at Donorbox and host of The Nonprofit Podcast, bringing practical strategies every week for nonprofits that want to raise more and do more.

    Resources and Links:

    • My Mogul Media
    • Darrin Cook on LinkedIn
    • Donorbox Blog: Giving Season Fundraising, Your 3-Phase Roadmap

    Donorbox is a trusted fundraising platform used by more than 100,000 organizations worldwide, helping raise more than $4 billion for causes globally. Learn more at donorbox.org.

    Enjoying the show? Subscribe for more practical fundraising strategies, leadership insights, and tools to help your nonprofit grow sustainably.

    This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not intended as legal or financial advice. Please consult a professional advisor for guidance specific to your organization.


    Support the show

    26 min
  • Ep 217| Strategic Planning Isn't an Implementation Problem - with Dr. Renee Rubin Ross

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    A plan built by a few people at the top and handed down is just paperwork. 

    Dr. Renee Rubin Ross argues real ownership comes from who's in the room while the goals get decided, not just who signs off on them.

    Dr. Ross is the founder of The Ross Collective and author of Inclusive Strategic Planning for Nonprofits. In this episode, she and Britt break down her five-step spiral planning process, including step zero: how to know your organization is actually ready to plan. They also talk about what happens when planning uncovers real dysfunction, and how to tell whether it's a planning problem or a leadership one.

    Grab Renee's free Strategic Planning Template, the Five-Step Spiral breakdown, and sample strategic plans in the links below.

    • Inclusive Strategic Planning for Nonprofits (book) can be purchased here 
    • The Five-Step Spiral, explained here 
    • Get Your Free Strategic Planning Template here 
    • And, Sample nonprofit strategic plans here 

    Chapters:

    00:00 - Why Traditional Strategic Planning Fails

    02:10 - Why Write Another Book on Strategic Planning?

    04:47 - The 5-Step Spiral Planning Framework

    07:26 - Balancing Visioning with Concrete Execution

    09:29 - Why 3-Year Strategic Plans Work Best

    10:50 - Step 0: Assessing Organizational Readiness

    12:51 - Navigating Internal Tension & Staff Culture

    15:45 - The 3 Circles of Participation (Deciders, Builders, Sharers)

    18:46 - Translating Your Plan into Action (Using RACI)

    22:13 - What You Lose by Excluding Frontline Staff

    23:35 - Where to Find Dr. Ross 

    About Donorbox: Donorbox is a trusted fundraising platform used by more than 100,000 organizations to raise over $4 billion worldwide. Learn more at donorbox.org.

    Enjoying the show? Subscribe for more practical fundraising strategies, leadership insights, and tools to help your nonprofit grow sustainably.

    This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not legal or financial advice. Please consult a professional advisor for guidance specific to your organization.


    Support the show

    26 min

About The Nonprofit Podcast

From the publisher's feed

The Nonprofit Podcast is your weekly dose of real-talk fundraising, designed for the doers, dreamers, and difference-makers powering today’s nonprofit world.

Hosted by Jena Lynch, Donorbox’s…

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