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Only 26% of nonprofits tell donors when AI helped write to them. 76% of donors say they should be told.

That's not small! It's a fifty-point trust gap that grows every time an organization reaches for a new tool without a plan for it.

This week, Jena Lynchdigs into what's actually pulling nonprofits toward AI right now(hint: it's burnout, not hype), why donors can tell when a human checked out of the process, and the socioeconomic costs that rarely make it into the fundraising conversation. She shares four practical moves any organization can put in place this week, no tech background required.

What you'll learn:

Why AI-governed organizations are pulling ahead while everyone else is improvising
The three numbers behind nonprofit AI's donor trust problem, and why donors notice even when they can't name what feels off
The real cost behind the tools that never shows up in a donor letter
Four moves to close the trust gap, starting with a policy you can write today

Resources for you from this episode:

Free nonprofit AI policy template download to get you started here
An easy-read blog with a full breakdown on how to use AI responsibly as a nonprofit, here.

Donorboxis a trusted fundraising platform serving more than 100,000 organizations worldwide, helping them raise over $4 billion and counting. 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.

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Most nonprofit strategic planning mistakes don't show up until year-end, right when your fundraising push exposes exactly what's missing.

Being busy isn't the same as having direction. In this Summer Rewind,Cara Augspurger, CFRE, breaks down the five steps that took her organization from constant firefighting to a plan that actually holds up, in six months.

What you'll learn

How to tell real growth from just being busy, before it costs you at year-end
The one question your strategic plan has to answer first
How to run a funding reality check that shows exactly where the gaps are
How to set numbers-based targets for a "good year", no gut feel required

About Cara Augspurger, CFRE

Cara is the Executive Director of Grace Care Center Foundation and host of The Nonprofit Podcast.

About Donorbox

Donorboxis a trusted fundraising platform used by more than 100,000 organizations worldwide, helping raise over $4 billion for causes that matter. 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 episode is for educational purposes only and isn't legal or financial advice. Please consult a professional advisor for guidance specific to your organization.

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Great performers don't always make great leaders. That gap is costing nonprofits people they can't afford to lose.

As nonprofits head into the busiest stretch of the year, Britt Stockert revisits a listener favorite with Chris Wong, founder of Leadership Potential and a licensed therapist who builds leadership programs inside nonprofits. They talk about accidental leadership: the quiet gap between being a great performer and being ready to lead a team, and why closing it matters most right before things get loud.

Spotting potential is easy. Developing it is non-negotiable.

What You'll Learn

What accidental leadership is and why it happens even in the best-run nonprofits
Why promotion skills and leadership skills aren't the same thing
How one avoided conversation can quietly cost you your best people
What leaders can do right now to close the gap

More About Our Guest

Chris Wongis the founder ofLeadership Potential, a licensed therapist who builds leadership development programs inside nonprofits from the ground up.

Resources and Links

Get Chris's free Difficult Conversations Playbook for Leaders here

Connect with Chris on LinkedIn

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.

donorbox.org

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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Summer time and the living...could be easier!

Nonprofit teams are gearing up for the second half of the year, and this Summer Rewind brings back one of the show's most practical conversations for that exact moment.

Jena Lynch talks withChad Barger, founder of Productive Fundraising, about slow fundraising: an approach built ondoing fewer things, doing them consistently, and letting data guide the decisions. It's a mindset shift for nonprofit teams who are busy but not seeing the growth to match.

What You'll Learn

Why doing less, done well, beats doing more
How simple data tracking reveals what's actually working
How to build a fundraising rhythm that avoids burnout
Why donor retention deserves more attention than new donor acquisition

More About Our Guest

Chad Barger is the founder of Productive Fundraising, helping nonprofits simplify their strategy and focus on what drives real results, known for a practical, data-informed style built around sustainable, burnout-proof fundraising.

Resources and Links

Chad Barger on LinkedIn
Productive Fundraising
Productive Fundraising's Resource Library

About Donorbox

Donorboxis 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.

donorbox.org

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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Summer is a good time to slow down and check the quiet gaps in your fundraising…before Giving Season prep picks up speed.

This episode is a fan favorite, back for our July summer rewind series.

Donors haven't stopped giving. They've just gotten more careful, and that means small friction points matter more than they used to. Jena Lynch and Britt Stockert talk through three quiet "leak points", a slow checkout, under-positioned recurring giving, and fading event momentum… and how to fix them without a bigger campaign or a strategy overhaul.

What You'll Learn

Why small friction costs more when donors are being cautious
How to make recurring giving visible and easy to choose
Why in-person energy needs an instant way to give
A simple way to check your own donation experience

About the Hosts

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.

Resources and Links

OmniGive™ donation forms

Recurring Giving Features

Donorbox Live™ Kiosk

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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Giving hit a record high in 2025. What's underneath that number will shape your fundraising strategy for the next decade.

Americans gave $617 billion to charity in 2025, a record, and real growth even after inflation. Five of nine nonprofit categories hit all-time highs. The sector showed up!!

But the Giving USA 2026 report tells a more layered story. Jena Lynch and Britt Stockert dig into what's really shifting, and what it means for how nonprofits build donor relationships, plan for foundation funding, and think about legacy giving.

What You'll Learn

Why $617 billion is a record, even adjusted for inflation
How mega gifts are shaping the individual giving numbers
What a 16% drop in foundation inflows signals for 2026 and 2027
Why bequest giving jumped 19.7%, and what it means for the Great Wealth Transfer
Why your most loyal donors are your best legacy giving prospects
What younger donors expect from the giving experience

Chapters

00:00: Introduction

01:44: Giving USA 2026 - The Headline Number

02:15: Real Growth, Not Just Inflation

04:41: The Mega Gifts Effect

07:51: The Foundation Grant Cliff

09:48: Individual Giving Hits a 40-Year Low

12:49: The Great Wealth Transfer Arrives

15:46: What Younger Donors Expect

18:03: Key Takeaways for Nonprofits

Resources and Links

Giving USA 2026 Report
Ep 117 |The Great Wealth Transfer: The Big Nonprofit Advantage
Ep 209| The Real Reason Donors Stop Giving - With Rob Harter
Darrin Cook| Staying Close to Your Donors: A Practical Guide to Retention
Donorbox OmniGive™Donation Forms

About the Hosts

Jena Lynch - Head of Community Engagement, Donorbox

Jena 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 anchor of The Nonprofit Podcast, she keeps strategy clear, steady, and actionable.

Connect with Jena on LinkedIn

Britt Stockert - Fundraiser Coach, Donorbox

With more than 20 years in the public sector, Britt helps nonprofits build fundraising strategies that match real capacity. She guides teams in strengthening donor relationships, refining systems, and simplifying operations. She also serves on the board of an immigrant- and refugee-led nonprofit and stays closely connected to on-the-ground realities.

Connect with Britt on LinkedIn

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. donorbox.org

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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Nearly seven in ten nonprofit employees are actively looking for new jobs…and it's not always about the paycheck.

Britt Stockert and Cara Augspurger talk through five low-cost ways to help your team feel appreciated and connected to the mission. Cara draws on real examples from her work at Grace Care Center Foundation, where a culture of recognition has helped keep people engaged without a big perks budget.

If you've ever wondered whether you're showing your staff the same care you show your donors, this one's for you.

What You'll Learn

Why recognition, not just compensation, drives nonprofit retention
How a restructured annual calendar gave staff real rest without disrupting mission delivery
What local business partnerships can look like beyond fundraising
Why handwritten notes work just as well for team members as for donors
How schedule flexibility can fill the gap when budget can't

Chapters

00:00 Celebrating Team Efforts

02:55 Understanding Nonprofit Turnover

05:55 Creating a Supportive Culture

08:50 The Power of Handwritten Notes

11:50 Flexibility as a Perk

14:52 Recognizing Employee Contributions

Resources and Links

Grace Care Center Foundation
Donorbox — fundraising tools for nonprofits

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.donorbox.org

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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Every nonprofit team has one…the decision that keeps getting pushed to next week.

The platform that's been under evaluation for three months. The recurring giving program that still doesn't have a name. The donor email that's been rewritten twelve times and still hasn't been sent.

In this episode, Jena Lynch and Britt Stockert get into why fundraising decisions stall and what to do about it. They share a four-filter framework for cutting through the noise, talk through the real reasons teams delay, and leave you with one practical thing to try this week.

No jargon, no fluff, just two fundraising professionals being honest about something every nonprofit leader will recognise.

What You'll Learn

Why fundraising decisions feel riskier right now
How to define the actual problem before picking a solution
The difference between reversible and hard-to-reverse decisions
How 30-day tests replace all-or-nothing pressure
What to do when your team or board can't land on a direction
A 30-minute decision reset to try this week

Resources and Links

Donorbox| Fundraising tools built for nonprofits

Chapters

00:00 Fundraising Decision Paralysis

03:18 Define the Real Problem

09:19 Reversible vs Permanent Decisions

12:06 Progress vs Complexity

14:20 The 30-Day Testing Mindset

16:30 Common Decision-Making Traps

20:28 The 30-Minute Decision Reset

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. donorbox.org

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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**The fundraising capacity gap is the distance between what a nonprofit needs to raise money sustainably and what it's actually resourced to do.

And, right now?... That gap is widening.**

In this episode, Britt Stockert, Fundraiser Coach at Donorbox, unpacks what it is, where it shows up in daily development work, and why it keeps getting misdiagnosed as a performance problem when it's actually a structural one.

The numbers are stark. The Nonprofit Finance Fund found that 85% of nonprofits expect service demand to keep rising, while 36% ended last year at a deficit, the highest in a decade. First-year donor retention sits around 20%. Sector technology budgets allocate 54% to hardware and 1% to training. And nearly a quarter of nonprofit workers can't afford basic living expenses.

Britt makes the case that donor attrition, burnout, and fundraiser turnover are not separate problems. They share the same root cause, and it belongs in the budget conversation, not the performance review.

What You'll Learn

What the nonprofit fundraising capacity gap actually is
Where it shows up in real development work, and what it costs
Why burnout and donor loss are structural problems, not individual ones
What the nonprofit starvation cycle is and why it matters
What fundraisers, EDs, and board members can each do differently to break the cycle

The Core Insight

The gap is almost always invisible, which is exactly what makes it so hard to fix. When a major gifts portfolio goes cold, it gets labeled a performance issue. When a fundraiser burns out and leaves, leadership calls it a pipeline problem. The structural cause stays hidden, and hidden problems don't get fixed.

The first move is naming it honestly, in budget conversations, in board meetings, before you pick up a new framework or invest in a new tool. What is it actually costing you to leave it the way it is?

Chapters

00:00 The Fundraising Capacity Gap

01:34 Why Retention Is Slipping

03:06 Capacity Problems Disguised as Performance Problems

06:03 The Nonprofit Starvation Cycle

09:34 How to Break the Cycle

Resources and Links

Book a free one-hour strategy session with Britt here

Nonprofit Finance Fund Survey Data
Fundraising Effectiveness Project
Bridgespan Group Research
Urban Institute Nonprofit Research
Stanford Social Innovation Review: The Nonprofit Starvation Cycle

About the Host

Britt Stockertis a Fundraiser Coach at Donorbox with more than 20 years in the public sector. She helps nonprofits build fundraising strategies that match real capacity, working with teams to strengthen donor relationships, refine systems, and simplify operations. Britt also serves on the board of an immigrant- and refugee-led nonprofit and stays closely connected to on-the-ground realities.

About Donorbox

Donorbox is a globally 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 3 billion dollars 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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“Doubt kills donations.”

Before a donor ever gives, they’ve already formed an opinion of your organization. It takes a minute. Sometimes less. And most nonprofits have no idea what’s coming up about their mission.

What they find in those moments either builds confidence or raises doubt.

In this episode, Jena Lynch sits down with Tori Burrello, Marketing Manager at Candid, to talk about what nonprofit transparency really looks like in practice - and what it costs when it’s missing.

Tori shares what’s changed in how donors and funders evaluate organizations, how Candid profiles and Seals of Transparency work as real credibility signals, and why small teams can take meaningful action without a big time commitment.

If you’re navigating fundraising, donor relationships, or communications, this one’s worth your time.

What You’ll Learn

Where donors and funders are really forming first impressions, and how fast it happens
Why incomplete or inconsistent nonprofit data quietly costs organizations donations and funding
What Candid profiles and Seals of Transparency signal to funders, and why it matters
How organizations with a Platinum Seal have seen measurable funding growth
Why a completed Candid profile plugs your organization into a much wider funding ecosystem
Practical first steps small teams can take this week without being overwhelmed

More About Our Guest

Tori Burrello is the Marketing Manager at Candid, the sector’s leading nonprofit information resource. She works on the Seals of Transparency program and helps nonprofits understand how their public data shapes donor and funder trust. Candid holds data on 1.9 million US nonprofits and feeds into a wide ecosystem of fundraising and giving platforms.

Resources and Links

Tori: linkedin.com/in/victoria-burrello
Candid/GuideStar Profiles: app.candid.org
Candid Seals of Transparency: candid.org
Donorbox Guide to Nonprofit Transparency: donorbox.org/nonprofit-blog/nonprofit-transparency

About Donorbox

Donorboxis 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 3 billion dollars 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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Nonprofit boards are doing more with less. And when governance isn't working, it's the executive director who absorbs it quietly, consistently, at real cost to the organization.

Britt Stockert sits down with David Rhode, nonprofit executive coach and author of Passion Isn't Enough, to talk about the board self-assessment - what it is, why so many boards skip it, and what a well-run board evaluation process actually looks like in practice.

A practical, grounded conversation for nonprofit leaders who want their board working with them, not around them.

What You'll Learn

What a board self-assessment covers and how to structure one
Why skipping board evaluations costs more than most leaders realize
How to introduce the process without it feeling like a crisis
How to act on what you learn without overwhelming your team

More About Our Guest

David Rhode coaches nonprofit executives, consults on board development and fundraising strategy, and teaches at the University of Pennsylvania. His book, Passion Isn't Enough, is a practical guide for nonprofit leaders who want to build organizations that last.

Learn more at dotdotorg.com or connect on LinkedIn.

Resources and Links

Passion Isn't Enough
David Rhode & Dot Dot Org
donorbox.org

About Donorbox

Donorboxis 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 3 billion dollars in donations worldwide.

Enjoying the show? Subscribe, like, and follow 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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Fundraising is getting harder. But generosity hasn't disappeared.

So what's actually changing?

Jena Lynch sits down with nonprofit coach, consultant, and host of The Nonprofit Leadership Podcast, Rob Harter, to interrogate the real pressures nonprofit leaders are facing right now, donor retention, staffing burnout, supporter engagement, and fundraising performance.

They dig into why relationship-based fundraising matters more than ever, why donor trust drives long-term giving, and why simply doing more outreach may no longer be enough.

In this episode:

Why donor participation is declining even as giving dollars grow
How staffing turnover quietly erodes donor trust
Why retention beats urgency every time
How small teams can strengthen relationships with limited capacity
Practical ways AI can help reclaim time and reduce burnout
Why some traditional fundraising events may need a rethink
How trust directly influences long-term generosity

Chapters:00:00 – Why Nonprofit Fundraising Feels Harder

01:31 – Nonprofit Leadership & Donor Trust

05:09 – Why Donor Relationships Matter More

09:51 – Donor Retention vs Constant Outreach

14:16 – AI Tools for Nonprofit Fundraising

23:13 – Rethinking Nonprofit Fundraising Events

About Rob Harter

Rob Harter is a nonprofit coach, consultant, and leadership strategist with more than 30 years of experience in the social impact sector. He works with nonprofit leaders on fundraising, organizational growth, leadership, and navigating change, and is the host of The Nonprofit Leadership Podcast.

Learn more at RobHarter.com or connect with him on LinkedIn.

Resources mentioned:

Rob Harter Coaching & Consulting
The Nonprofit Leadership Podcast

About Donorbox

Donorboxis 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 3 billion dollars 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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Promoting from within is one of the best things a nonprofit can do.

Until it isn't.

Not because the person wasn't ready. But because nobody built the bridge between outstanding performer and effective leader, and that gap quietly costs nonprofits some of their best people.

Britt Stockert sits down with Chris Wong, founder of Leadership Potential, licensed therapist, and someone who has spent his career building leadership development programs inside nonprofits from the ground up.

They talk about accidental leadership. What it actually is. Why it happens in even the most mission-driven organisations. And what nonprofit leaders can do right now to close the gap before it becomes a crisis.

Because spotting potential is easy. Developing it is not.

What You'll Learn

What accidental leadership actually is and why it happens in even the best-run nonprofits
Why the skills that earn a promotion are rarely the skills needed to lead a team
What happens to the team when a new manager is left to figure it out alone
How one avoided conversation can quietly cost you your best people
What leaders can do right now to close the gap before it becomes a crisis

Key Takeaway

Spotting potential is easy. Developing it is not. The good news? It's never too late to build the bridge.

Resources & Easy Links

Get Chris's free Difficult Conversations Playbook for Leaders here
Learn more about Chris and Leadership Potential here
Connect with Chris on LinkedIn here
Find out what Donorbox can do for you!

Chapters

00:00 Introduction - When Promotions Quietly Go Wrong

03:33 What Accidental Leadership Looks Like in Nonprofits

05:28 Why New Leaders Feel Unprepared and Overwhelmed

07:30 Tackling Assertiveness, Mindset, and Difficult Conversations

10:44 The Promotion Gap and Why Teams Disengage

14:11 How Leadership Struggles Affect Team Culture and Retention

16:28 Simple Leadership Changes That Reduce Burnout and Improve Teams

About Our Guest

Chris Wong is the founder of Leadership Potential and a licensed therapist who has spent his career building leadership development programs inside nonprofits from the ground up. He works with small human services organisations to develop managers from the inside out, reducing turnover, freeing up Executive Directors to lead, and building teams that actually function. He also co-hosts The Art and Science of Difficult Conversations podcast.

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 3 billion dollars in donations worldwide.

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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The plan is just paper. The value is in using it.

When your nonprofit is growing but still feels directionless, that's not a passion problem…it's a planning problem.

Strategic planning isn't about doing more, it's about finally knowing what matters. When you're clear on who you serve, honest about what it costs, and aware of how it's funded, everything else - including your fundraising - gets easier from there. Cara Augspurger, CFRE, spent six months working through exactly that, and in this episode, she shares five practical steps to move your stratgic plan from constant reaction to clear, sustainable direction.

What you'll learn:

Why growth and busyness can mask a real lack of direction, and how to tell the difference
The single clarity question every nonprofit needs to answer before anything else
Why "what are we not going to do this year?" might be the most strategic question you ask
How to do an honest funding reality check, and what to do when the numbers don't line up
What a "good year" actually looks like in concrete, actionable numbers, not just a gut feel
Why stability - not scale - is often the most important milestone for early-stage nonprofits

About Cara Augspurger

Cara Augspurger, CFRE, is the Executive Director of Grace Care Center Foundation and co-host of The Nonprofit Podcast. With deep experience in nonprofit leadership and fundraising, Cara brings a practical, grounded perspective to the challenges facing small and growing organizations, from strategic planning and resource development to building sustainable, community-centered missions.

Chapters:

00:00 - Why Nonprofits Need Strategic Planning

02:14 - Step 1 - Get Clear on Your Mission

04:33 - Step 2 - Define Vision and Messaging

05:44 - Step 3 - Do Less With Purpose

07:39 - Step 4 - Funding Reality Check

09:18 - Step 5 - Set Clear Goals and Targets

11:37 - Build Stability and Long-Term Growth

If this episode helped you think more clearly about where your organization is headed, share it with a colleague who's feeling the pull in too many directions.

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 $ 3 billion in donations worldwide.

Find out what Donorbox can do for you!

Disclaimer: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.

Subscribe to The Nonprofit Podcast for weekly conversations on fundraising, leadership, and strategy for people doing meaningful work

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Most nonprofit teams don't have a workload problem. They have a systems problem. And spring is the perfect time to fix it.

Your tools aren't broken. They're just not talking to each other. Donor data lives in one place, your emails in another, and somewhere in between, things fall through the cracks. The simple stuff starts to drag. Your team picks up the slack. And nobody has time to stop and fix it.

That's exactly what this episode is about.

What You'll Learn

What it actually means when your tools don't talk to each other
Where your data breaks down between your fundraising platform, email, and CRM
What “empathetic systems” look like in practice
A simple way to spot where your systems are falling short in under an hour
What to fix first, without adding more tools

Key Takeaway

You don't need more tools. You need the ones you have to work together effectively.

If this sounds familiar, this episode is your starting point. Subscribe for weekly fundraising strategies to help you simplify and grow.

About Our Guest

Darrin Cookis the founder ofMy 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 the Host

Jena Lynchis 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.

Chapters:

00:00 – The Hidden Problem with Nonprofit Systems

01:42 – What “Messy Systems” Actually Look Like

05:35 – The 4-Step System Reset Framework

10:23 – Common Mistakes Nonprofits Make

12:35 – How Poor Systems Affect Donors

16:12 – Quick 1-Hour Fix to Improve Your Systems

Resources & Links

Learn more about My Mogul Media hereand get to know Darrin betterhere

Find out what Donorbox can do for you!

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 3 billion dollars in donations worldwide.

Disclaimer:
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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Most fundraising copy is built on urgency and guilt. It gets the gift. But does it keep the donor?

Jena and Maria Bryan make the case that ethical persuasion isn't a softer ask - it's a sharper one. And they get specific about what that looks like in practice.

From donation page mistakes that quietly erode trust, to the language of agency, to Maria's Four Cs framework for trauma-informed fundraising copy, this is all about practical, no-fluff conversation for anyone who touches donor communications.

Plus: a 10-minute audit you can run on your next campaign today.

What you'll learn in this episode:

Why guilt-based messaging can win the gift and lose the donor
What "agency" really means in the context of a donation ask
How your donation page could be quietly undoing the trust you built
The Four Cs framework for trauma-informed fundraising copy
A 10-minute audit you can do today to improve your next campaign

The core insight:

Ethical persuasion isn't about a ‘soft’ ask, it's about asking in a way that leaves donors feeling confident, connected, and glad they gave.
When donors feel a sense of agency in the process, they don't just give once. They come back.

If this episode resonated, share it with someone in your organisation who touches donor communications, from email to donation forms, it applies everywhere.

Subscribe to The Nonprofit Podcast for honest, practical conversations to help you raise more and reach further.

Chapters

00:00 Fundraising That Feels Good

02:00 What Is Ethical Persuasion

04:50 Ethical vs Effective Fundraising

05:10 Why Ethical Fundraising Matters Long Term

06:40 Examples of Guilt-Based Messaging

07:15 Better Language for Donor Communication

09:35 Creating Donor Agency and Choice

10:00 Donation Page Experience Explained

12:20 Common Donation Form Mistakes

13:30 Balancing Conversion and Trust

15:10 The Four Cs Framework Overview

18:50 Rethinking Urgency in Fundraising

19:45 Quick Audit Tip for Fundraisers

21:10 Ethical and Effective Can Coexist

Resources Mentioned:

Learn more about Maria Bryan's work at When Bearing Witness: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariabryancrtv/

Explore DonorBox's recurring giving tools: https://donorbox.org

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 3 billion dollars in donations worldwide.

Find out what Donorbox can do for you!

Disclaimer: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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Your board wants to help with fundraising. But nothing’s moving.

Without clear roles and next steps, board fundraising stalls…and the work falls back on you.

Cara sits down with Adam Morgan, founder of MVP Advisors, to unpack why boards struggle with fundraising and what nonprofits can do to fix it fast.

Cutting through assumptions and getting practical, they dig into how to align board members to the right roles, set clear expectations, and build simple systems that actually get participation without adding more work to your team.

In this episode, you'll learn:

Why board fundraising underperformance is rarely a motivation problem, and what's actually driving it
A practical framework for matching every board member to a fundraising role that suits their strengths
Concrete systems your team can implement without additional staff or budget
How to set realistic, structured expectations for newer board members from day one
Where boards are commonly misdeployed in fundraising, and how to course-correct
The highest-leverage action any board member can take, regardless of their network or experience level

Whether you lead a tiny team or a growing organization, this conversation will give you a framework to bring to your next board meeting.

Chapters:00:00 Your Board Wants to Help… So Why Isn’t It Working?

02:16 The Real Problem - It’s Not Motivation, It’s Clarity

05:25 Stop Chasing Big Ideas - Do These Simple Things Instead

10:05 The Simple Systems That Make Boards Actually Show Up

14:00 The 4 Roles That Turn Passive Boards into Fundraising Machines

18:45 One Simple Action That Drives Big Impact

Guest Spotlight:Adam Morgan is the founder of MVP Advisors, where he helps nonprofits strengthen board engagement and build practical, sustainable fundraising strategies. He works with organizations to align leadership, clarify expectations, and unlock the full potential of board-driven fundraising.

If this sounds familiar, share it with your board chair or leadership team. This is one conversation that can change how your board shows up.

Subscribe to The Nonprofit Podcast for weekly conversations on fundraising, strategy, and the ideas shaping the future of the social sector.

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 3 billion dollars in donations worldwide.

Find out what Donorbox can do for you!

Disclaimer: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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The reality of sustainable fundraising nobody tells you? It starts with you.

Not your strategy. Not your donor pipeline. Not your appeal calendar. You.

Most fundraising conversations right now are about doing more with less. This one is different. Because the best fundraisers know the work starts with knowing themselves, what they bring, and how to protect it.

In this episode, Britt Stockert gets honest about what this work actually costs - and what it takes to stay effective, stay present, and stay in fundraising for the long haul.

What you'll learn in this episode:

Why the pressure feels different right now (and why that's not in your head!)
What happens when you're depleted and don't know it yet
How running on empty shows up in your donor relationships
Why presence is your most powerful fundraising asset
What staying in this work for the long game actually looks like

The core insight:

Sustainable fundraising doesn't start with better systems or smarter tools; it starts with a fundraiser who knows themselves well enough to last.
When you're grounded and present, you don't need a pitch. Donors feel the difference.

If this episode connects with where you are right now, share it with someone in the sector who needs to hear it.

Chapters

00:00 – When Was the Last Time Someone Saw You?

01:05 – Leading Through Crisis and Feeling Alone

02:22 – The Impossible Expectations of Fundraisers Today

03:45 – Burnout Is Real (And Getting Worse)

04:44 – Alexithymia: Why You Don’t Know You’re Burned Out

06:20 – AI Can’t Replace Real Human Connection

07:45 – What Actually Works: Honest, Present Fundraising

09:25 – One Simple Reset You Can Try This Week

If you are interested in working with Britt, or simply asking her for advice, you can reach her here

What makes Donorbox the Best Nonprofit Fundraising Platform to Achieve Your Strategic Goals?Easy to customize, available in multiple languages and currencies, and supported by leading payment processors (Stripe and PayPal), Donorbox’s nonprofit fundraising solution is used by 80,000+ global organizations and individuals. From animal rescue to schools, places of worship, and research groups, nonprofits use Donorbox to raise more funds, manage donors efficiently, and make a bigger impact.

Discover how Donorbox can help you help others!

The Nonprofit Podcast, along with a wealth of nonprofit leadership tutorials, expert advice, tips, and tactics, is available on the Donorbox YouTube channel. Subscribe today and never miss an episode.

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Slow Fundraising: How to Do Less and Raise More with Chad Barger

Fundraising feels busy. Packed calendars, constant campaigns, endless asks. But results are not keeping pace. Many teams are working harder than ever and still missing growth targets.

Jena Lynch sits down withChad Barger, founder ofProductive Fundraising, to unpack his approach to slow fundraising. His work with nonprofits focuses on cutting through noise, using data to guide decisions, and building systems that actually deliver results.

Slow fundraising is not about doing less for its own sake. It is about doing the right work, consistently. This conversation breaks down how to focus your time, strengthen donor relationships, and build a fundraising approach that supports long-term growth without burnout.

What You’ll Learn

Why many nonprofit teams are stuck doing too much and how slow fundraising helps identify the few activities that actually drive results
How to use simple data tracking to understand what is working, what is not, and where time is being lost
What it takes to build a sustainable fundraising rhythm that avoids burnout and supports long-term growth
Why donor retention and stewardship matter more than constant acquisition, and how small improvements can increase revenue
A practical approach to donor engagement that strengthens relationships without adding more to your workload

More About Our Guest:

Chad Barger is the founder of Productive Fundraising, where he helps nonprofits simplify their fundraising strategies and focus on what drives real results. He is a trainer, speaker, and coach known for his practical, data-informed approach to building sustainable fundraising programs, including his work around slow fundraising. Head over to Productive Fundraising's well-stocked library of fundraising resources here.

Chapters

00:00 – The Fundraising Hamster Wheel
01:26 – What is Slow Fundraising?
03:00 – The 3 Principles That Change Everything
05:32 – Do Fewer Things (80/20 Rule for Fundraising)
07:38 – Fix Your Data First
09:06 – The Relief of Doing Less With a Plan
10:34 – Stop Burnout: Find a Sustainable Rhythm
11:54 – Time Blocking and Deep Work for Fundraisers
14:47 – Donor Retention and Stewardship
18:20 – Simple, High-Impact Donor Engagement Ideas

What makes Donorbox the Best Nonprofit Fundraising Platform to Achieve Your Strategic Goals?Easy to customize, available in multiple languages and currencies, and supported by leading payment processors (Stripe and PayPal), Donorbox’s nonprofit fundraising solution is used by 80,000+ global organizations and individuals. From animal rescue to schools, places of worship, and research groups, nonprofits use Donorbox to raise more funds, manage donors efficiently, and make a bigger impact.

Discover how Donorbox can help you help others!

The Nonprofit Podcast, along with a wealth of nonprofit leadership tutorials, expert advice, tips, and tactics, is available on the Donorbox YouTube channel. Subscribe today and never miss an episode.

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You’ve done the hard part. People are giving. They care. They’re showing up. So what’s next?

Most nonprofits get to this point… and stop. Supporters stay consistent. But the relationship doesn’t go any further.

This episode is about that gap, and how membership programs are designed to close it.

There’s a clear progression in fundraising.

From first gift…to consistent support…to something deeper.

But that last step doesn’t happen on its own.

In this episode, Britt Stockert breaks down what nonprofit membership programs actually are, how they work in practice, and why they’re becoming a key part of long-term fundraising strategy.

You’ll also hear where organizations get it wrong, how to assess if your organization is ready, and what it takes to build a program your team can realistically sustain.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

Where donor relationships typically stall after consistent giving
What a membership program actually is (and what it isn’t)
The signals that tell you your organization is ready
How supporters naturally progress toward deeper engagement
Why most membership programs fail before they start
What makes a membership model actually work over time

The core insight:

Strong fundraising doesn’t stop at getting the donor or even keeping them; it grows by giving supporters a clear next step.
Membership programs create that step, moving people from giving to belonging, and from support to participation in your mission.

If this episode connects with where your organization is right now, share it with someone thinking about what comes next in their donor journey.

Subscribe to The Nonprofit Podcast for practical, real-world strategies that support long-term fundraising growth.

Chapters

00:00Transforming Donors into Supporters

03:07Understanding Membership Programs

06:00Building a Sustainable Membership Program

08:52Engaging Founding Members

12:04Creating Lasting Relationships

Resources Mentioned:

Donorbox.org - https://donorbox.org/memberships

What makes Donorbox the Best Nonprofit Fundraising Platform to Achieve Your Strategic Goals?Easy to customize, available in multiple languages and currencies, and supported by leading payment processors (Stripe and PayPal), Donorbox’s nonprofit fundraising solution is used by 80,000+ global organizations and individuals. From animal rescue to schools, places of worship, and research groups, nonprofits use Donorbox to raise more funds, manage donors efficiently, and make a bigger impact. Discover how Donorbox can help you help others!

The Nonprofit Podcast, along with a wealth of nonprofit leadership tutorials, expert advice, tips, and tactics, is available on theDonorbox YouTube channel. Subscribe today and never miss an episode.

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Are you missing one of the biggest growth opportunities in your donor base?

Most nonprofit fundraising focuses on two things: bringing in new donors and managing major gifts. Both matter.

But there’s a group in the middle that often gets missed. These are supporters who already give, already care, and keep coming back. They respond when you reach out. They stay connected to your work.

And yet, they’re often treated the same as someone who gave once and moved on.

This episode looks at the gap that exists in many fundraising programs, the space between broad campaigns and major gift strategies, and why that gap is becoming more important as donor behavior shifts.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

Why revenue is increasingly concentrating among repeat supporters
What the latest data reveals about donor retention and giving patterns
Where most fundraising programs fall short when it comes to donor experience
Why this overlooked segment represents one of the strongest paths to future growth
How small, practical changes can strengthen relationships and improve retention

The core insight:

Growth isn’t disappearing - it’s concentrating. And the donors most likely to drive that growth are often already in your system, waiting for a more intentional experience.

Resources mentioned:

Fundraising Effectiveness Project (FEP) Q3 2025 Quarterly Benchmark Report - search "FEP Q3 2025" to find it.

If this conversation resonates with your experience in the sector, share it with a colleague who cares deeply about the communities they serve.

Subscribe to The Nonprofit Podcast for weekly conversations on fundraising, leadership, and the ideas shaping the future of the social sector.

Chapters

00:00Understanding the Donor Landscape

02:47Identifying the Mid-Level Donor Gap

06:07The Importance of Mid-Level Donors

09:01Strategies for Engaging Mid-Level Donors

11:55Closing the Gap: Practical Steps

15:09The Path Forward for Nonprofits

What makes Donorbox the Best Nonprofit Fundraising Platform to Achieve Your Strategic Goals?Easy to customize, available in multiple languages and currencies, and supported by leading payment processors (Stripe and PayPal), Donorbox’s nonprofit fundraising solution is used by 80,000+ global organizations and individuals. From animal rescue to schools, places of worship, and research groups, nonprofits use Donorbox to raise more funds, manage donors efficiently, and make a bigger impact. Discover how Donorbox can help you help others!

The Nonprofit Podcast, along with a wealth of nonprofit leadership tutorials, expert advice, tips, and tactics, is available on the Donorbox YouTube channel. Subscribe today and never miss an episode.

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Most nonprofits track gift size. The best fundraisers track lifetime value.

Join Cara as she unpacks the lifetime value mindset and why recurring donors often become some of the most valuable supporters a nonprofit has. While major gifts create big moments, monthly donors quietly build the steady support that sustains a mission over time.

What you'll learn in this episode:

Why your quietest donors may be your most valuable
How a lifetime value mindset changes how fundraisers evaluate donor impact
Effective but simple ways to engage and retain recurring donors
How simple prompts can turn one-time gifts into monthly support

**Why this matters:
When fundraisers shift from tracking gift size to understanding lifetime value, monthly donors often emerge as some of the most important supporters in their community.

About Cara:Cara Augspurger is the Executive Director of Grace Care Center Foundation and an on-the-ground correspondent for The Nonprofit Podcast, sharing practical insights from real nonprofit leadership and fundraising experience.

What makes Donorbox the Best Nonprofit Fundraising Platform to Achieve Your Strategic Goals?Easy to customize, available in multiple languages and currencies, and supported by leading payment processors (Stripe and PayPal), Donorbox’s nonprofit fundraising solution is used by 80,000+ global organizations and individuals. From animal rescue to schools, places of worship, and research groups, nonprofits use Donorbox to raise more funds, manage donors efficiently, and make a bigger impact. Discover how Donorbox can help you help others!

The Nonprofit Podcast, along with a wealth of nonprofit leadership tutorials, expert advice, tips, and tactics, is available on the Donorbox YouTube channel. Subscribe today and never miss an episode.

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Are we overlooking one of the most powerful forces behind nonprofit work?

For many nonprofit professionals, care for community doesn’t switch off at the end of the workday. Long after the job is done, we’re still showing up, supporting causes, helping neighbors...living the values that drew us to this work to begin with.

In this episode, Britt sits down withEsther Saehyun Lee, founder of Elevate Philanthropy Consulting and a leading voice in Community-Centric Fundraising, to explore the deeper motivations that shape nonprofit work - and the often unseen ways those values continue to strengthen communities beyond the 9-to-5.

What you'll learn in this episode:

Why the values that draw people into nonprofit work often show up far beyond the workplace
How everyday acts of community care reflect the principles of community-centric philanthropy
Why this “invisible work” carries real value for the communities nonprofits serve
How recognizing these motivations can reshape the way organizations think about fundraising and leadership
What nonprofit leaders can learn from the care and commitment their teams bring into community life

The core insight: The work nonprofit professionals do outside formal roles often reflects the same values that power the sector itself - care, community, and commitment to something larger than the job. When we recognize that connection, we gain a clearer understanding of what truly drives nonprofit work.

About Esther Saehyun LeeEsther Saehyun Lee is the founder of Elevate Philanthropy Consulting, where she works with nonprofit organizations to build fundraising practices rooted in equity, community trust, and the principles of Community-Centric Fundraising. Her work focuses on helping organizations align fundraising with the values of the communities they serve.

Chapters
00:00 Work vs Community: The Two Ways We Show Up

02:28 The Invisible Care That Happens Outside the Job

07:21 Formal vs Informal Community Spaces

12:19 Relationships, Conflict, and Peer-Led Community Care

16:30 Fatigue, Burnout, and Why Community Matters

22:12 Supporting the People Who Do the Caring

What makes Donorbox the Best Nonprofit Fundraising Platform to Achieve Your Strategic Goals?Easy to customize, available in multiple languages and currencies, and supported by leading payment processors (Stripe and PayPal), Donorbox’s nonprofit fundraising solution is used by 80,000+ global organizations and individuals. From animal rescue to schools, places of worship, and research groups, nonprofits use Donorbox to raise more funds, manage donors efficiently, and make a bigger impact. Discover how Donorbox can help you help others!

The Nonprofit Podcast, along with a wealth of nonprofit leadership tutorials, expert advice, tips, and tactics, is available on the Donorbox YouTube channel. Subscribe today and never miss an episode.

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Is your nonprofit overlooking the quiet infrastructure gaps costing you donations?

When fundraising feels tighter, it’s rarely because generosity disappeared. Donors are still giving. They’re just more careful. And that means small friction carries more weight than it used to.

A slow checkout.
Recurring giving that’s technically available but not clearly positioned.
Event energy that fades before someone can act.

None of it feels dramatic. But over time, it adds up.

In this episode, Jena Lynch and Britt Stockert break down three quiet fundraising “leak points” and talk through how to protect revenue without launching another campaign or rewriting your strategy.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

Why friction at checkout costs more in cautious giving climates
How clearly positioned recurring support stabilizes revenue
Why in-person inspiration needs instant ways to give
How stronger systems lower stress for your team
A simple way to evaluate your current donation experience

The core insight:

When fundraising feels harder, the instinct is to get louder.

But louder isn’t the fix.

Stronger infrastructure is.

Protect the moment someone says yes.
Build steadiness over time.
Capture live momentum while it’s still warm.

Tools mentioned in this episode:

OmniGive™ - A mobile-first donation form built for speed, flexibility, and 22+ payment methods

Recurring Giving Features - Tools that make monthly support visible and intentional, including recurring upsells

Donorbox Live™ Kiosk - A tap-to-pay device built for in-person events and live giving moments

Chapters

00:00 Introduction: The Current Fundraising Climate

00:28 Donors Are More Cautious, Not Less Generous

00:54 The Importance of a Frictionless Donation Experience

02:10 Testing Your Donation Page on Mobile

03:27 Modern Donation Forms and Their Impact

05:05 Recurring Giving: Stability and Growth

07:38 In-Person Giving and Instant Donations

10:23 Building Reliable Infrastructure for Long-Term Success

11:12 Focus on Fixing the Biggest Leaks First

12:10 Final Tips and Encouragement for Nonprofits

If this conversation resonated with you, share it with someone on your team. And if revenue feels tighter than it used to, this is a grounded place to start.

What makes Donorbox the Best Nonprofit Fundraising Platform to Achieve Your Strategic Goals?Easy to customize, available in multiple languages and currencies, and supported by leading payment processors (Stripe and PayPal), Donorbox’s nonprofit fundraising solution is used by 80,000+ global organizations and individuals. From animal rescue to schools, places of worship, and research groups, nonprofits use Donorbox to raise more funds, manage donors efficiently, and make a bigger impact. Discover how Donorbox can help you help others!

The Nonprofit Podcast is available every Thursday on all popular podcast platforms.
🎙️ Apple Podcasts: The Nonprofit Podcast🎙️ Spotify: The Nonprofit Podcast🖥️The Nonprofit Podcast 🎙️🎙️ - YouTube

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Uncertainty doesn’t just expose cracks in the system.

It exposes who actually holds value.

When uncertainty hits the sector, partnership conversations often shift. Resources tighten. Expectations change. Risk tolerance narrows.

In this conversation with Britt, impact advisorBruce Arbit challenges the assumption that nonprofits enter these conversations from a position of need.

They don’t.

They bring impact. They bring access. They bring credibility earned through proximity to the problem. That carries value in any room, including cross-sector partnerships.

Bruce unpacks what he calls “the business of impact” and why many organizations may be underestimating their leverage in collaborative work.

In this discussion:

Why traditional fundraising models feel strained
How power dynamics shape partnership negotiations
The strategic advantage of community trust and lived expertise
What disciplined experimentation actually looks like
Practical steps you can implement immediately

Nonprofits do not show up empty-handed. They bring assets that cannot be easily replicated.

The question may not be whether this is instability…but whether it is a moment to reassess positioning.

Head over and dig deeper with Bruce on our Nonprofit Blog:How to Unlock New Paths to Fundraising Success and Mission Impact in 2026| Bruce ArbitConnect with Bruce ArbitLearn more about Bruce’s work or reach out directly onLinkedIn.

What makes Donorbox the Best Nonprofit Fundraising Platform to Achieve Your Strategic Goals?Easy to customize, available in multiple languages and currencies, and supported by leading payment processors (Stripe and PayPal), Donorbox’s nonprofit fundraising solution is used by 80,000+ global organizations and individuals. From animal rescue to schools, places of worship, and research groups, nonprofits use Donorbox to raise more funds, manage donors efficiently, and make a bigger impact. Discover how Donorbox can help you help others!

The Nonprofit Podcast, along with a wealth of nonprofit leadership tutorials, expert advice, tips, and tactics, is available on the Donorbox YouTube channel. Subscribe today and never miss an episode.

The Nonprofit Podcast is available every Thursday on all popular podcast platforms.
🎙️ Apple Podcasts: The Nonprofit Podcast🎙️ Spotify: The Nonprofit Podcast🖥️The Nonprofit Podcast 🎙️🎙️ - YouTube

Chapters

00:00. Navigating Uncertainty in Nonprofits

03:00. The Business of Impact

05:47. Power Dynamics in Partnerships

08:46. Shifting Mindsets and Strategies

11:47. Embracing Experimentation

14:51. Real-World Examples of Impact

18:11 Taking Action: Practical Steps

20:59. Conclusion: The Path Forward

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Email is where most supporters experience your organization over time – not just during campaigns, but in the quieter moments in between.

Jena Lynch sits down with our on-the-ground fundraising expert, Cara Augspurger, CFRE, to talk about what’s really happening in those in-between spaces. Because the emails you send every day? They’re shaping donor relationships long before the next ask ever lands.

They dig into what happens when email becomes something you send just to tick the box, how reactive communication slowly becomes the relationship, and why clarity matters more than volume in overflowing inboxes.

This isn’t about crafting perfect emails or sending more messages. It’s aboutcreating a rhythm supporters can follow, and putting a few simple structures in place so consistency feels doable, even when capacity is stretched.

When email drifts, you don’t always see it right away. But you feel it later, in trust, in engagement, and in how people respond when you do reach out.

Discover:

Why email is often the relationship, whether you intend it to be or not
How clarity and repetition work together (without becoming noise)
What changes when communication is supported by systems, not willpower

Don’t forget to download our useful blog to keep you 'systems' focused:

Email Marketing Tips for Nonprofits

What makes Donorbox the Best Nonprofit Fundraising Platform to Achieve Your Strategic Goals?Easy to customize, available in multiple languages and currencies, and supported by leading payment processors (Stripe and PayPal), Donorbox’s nonprofit fundraising solution is used by 80,000+ global organizations and individuals. From animal rescue to schools, places of worship, and research groups, nonprofits use Donorbox to raise more funds, manage donors efficiently, and make a bigger impact. Discover how Donorbox can help you help others!

The Nonprofit Podcast, along with a wealth of nonprofit leadership tutorials, expert advice, tips, and tactics, is available on the Donorbox YouTube channel. Subscribe today and never miss an episode.

The Nonprofit Podcast is available every Thursday on all popular podcast platforms.
🎙️ Apple Podcasts: The Nonprofit Podcast🎙️ Spotify: The Nonprofit Podcast🖥️The Nonprofit Podcast 🎙️🎙️ - YouTube

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Where do donor relationships go after the gift?

Donor retention is shaped by what carries the relationship forward over time.
When that continuity isn’t intentionally supported, donors don’t disengage all at once...they slowly lose their sense of connection.

In this episode,Jena Lynch unpacks how simple, repeatable structures, not more asks, help relationships hold between campaigns, especially for small teams.

Join Jena to discover:

What fills the space between gifts and campaigns
Why donor relationships drift without clear structure
How consistency supports retention without adding more work
Where intentional engagement replaces reactive communication

And don't forget to download our handy, free resource here:

Sample Stewardship Plan: Plan Out Your Stewardship Activities for Maximum Donor Engagement
📑 https://library.donorbox.org/sample-stewardship-plan/

A practical starting point for mapping follow-up and stewardship so supporter relationships don’t fade over time.

What makes Donorbox the Best Nonprofit Fundraising Platform to Achieve Your Strategic Goals?

Easy to customize, available in multiple languages and currencies, and supported by leading payment processors (Stripe and PayPal), Donorbox’s nonprofit fundraising solution is used by 80,000+ global organizations and individuals. From animal rescue to schools, places of worship, and research groups, nonprofits use Donorbox to raise more funds, manage donors efficiently, and make a bigger impact.

Discover how Donorbox can help you help others!

The Nonprofit Podcast, along with a wealth of nonprofit leadership tutorials, expert advice, tips, and tactics, is available on theDonorbox YouTube channel. Subscribe today and never miss an episode: The Nonprofit Podcast is available every Thursday on all popular podcast platforms.
🎙️ Apple Podcasts: The Nonprofit Podcast
🎙️ Spotify: The Nonprofit Podcast
🖥️The Nonprofit Podcast 🎙️🎙️ - YouTube

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Most teams learn pretty quickly what happens when they give feedback and adjust accordingly. When people feel safer being honest anywhere except work, trust isn’t the issue...safety is.

Britt Stockert chats with Tasha Van Vlack, founder of The Nonprofit Hive,about psychological safety in nonprofit teams...and why silence often shows up long before burnout or turnover.

Together, they unpack what psychological safety really looks like in day-to-day nonprofit work: the ability to speak up, ask for help, name concerns, and make mistakes without fear of backlash.

We explore:

Why nonprofit staff often feel safer processing challenges outside their own organizations
How well-intended leadership behaviors can unintentionally shut people down
The difference between performative care and real psychological safety
What silence is actually signaling inside teams
What helps rebuild trust after it’s been broken

Rather than offering quick fixes, this episode invites nonprofit leaders and teams to look honestly at how trust is built - or eroded - through everyday actions, follow-through, and response.

Where do honest conversations actually happen on your team, and what has speaking up led to in your organization? Share your experience with us, and join the broader conversation:

Connect with Tasha Van Vlack on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/tasha-van-vlack/
Learn more about The Nonprofit Hive:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-nonprofit-hive/
Contact Tasha:tasha@thenonprofithive.com

What makes Donorbox the Best Nonprofit Fundraising Platform to Achieve Your Strategic Goals?
Easy to customize, available in multiple languages and currencies, and supported by leading payment processors (Stripe and PayPal), Donorbox’s nonprofit fundraising solution is used by 80,000+ global organizations and individuals. From animal rescue to schools, places of worship, and research groups, nonprofits use Donorbox to raise more funds, manage donors efficiently, and make a bigger impact.
Discover how Donorbox can help you help others!

The Nonprofit Podcast, along with a wealth of nonprofit leadership tutorials, expert advice, tips, and tactics, is available on theDonorbox YouTube channel. Subscribe today and never miss an episode:
The Nonprofit Podcast is available every Thursday on all popular podcast platforms.
🎙️ Apple Podcasts: The Nonprofit Podcast🎙️ Spotify: The Nonprofit Podcast
🖥️The Nonprofit Podcast 🎙️🎙️ - YouTube

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DAFs don’t delay generosity - they reveal giving friction.

Donor-advised funds are shaping how people give, but many nonprofits aren’t quite ready for it.

In this episode, Cara Augspurger shares what she’s seeing firsthand as a frontline fundraiser, including why DAF donors are often some of the most prepared, responsive, and relationship-driven supporters - when nonprofits make it easy to say yes.

You’ll hear:

What fundraisers often misunderstand about DAF donors
Why DAF giving doesn’t slow generosity - friction does
Simple ways to be clearer, more visible, and more DAF-ready

If donor-advised funds feel confusing or intimidating, this episode brings clarity without the noise.

Listen now and share with someone navigating donor shifts or planning for more sustainable fundraising.

Helpful DAF Resources:
We have an in-depth blog to bring you up to speed:

Donor-Advised Funds: What Do They Mean for Nonprofits and Donors?

And, quick links to providers mentioned in the episode:

Fidelity Charitable – Official Site (DAF info)
Schwab Charitable / DAFgiving360 Donor-Advised Fund Page
Vanguard Charitable – Donor-Advised Funds
Daffy – The Donor‑Advised Fund for You™ (Official)

What makes Donorbox the Best Nonprofit Fundraising Platform to Achieve Your Strategic Goals?
Easy to customize, available in multiple languages and currencies, and supported by leading payment processors (Stripe and PayPal), Donorbox’s nonprofit fundraising solution is used by 80,000+ global organizations and individuals. From animal rescue to schools, places of worship, and research groups, nonprofits use Donorbox to raise more funds, manage donors efficiently, and make a bigger impact.

Discover how Donorbox can help you help others!
The Nonprofit Podcast, along with a wealth of nonprofit leadership tutorials, expert advice, tips, and tactics, is available on theDonorbox YouTube channel. Subscribe today and never miss an episode:
The Nonprofit Podcast is available every Thursday on all popular podcast platforms.
🎙️ Apple Podcasts: The Nonprofit Podcast🎙️ Spotify: The Nonprofit Podcast
🖥️The Nonprofit Podcast 🎙️🎙️ - YouTube

Chapters:00:00 - Intro: Donor-Advised Funds Are Everywhere

01:20 - What Are Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs)?

02:15 - Real Example: Fund Holder Reaches Out

03:50 - DAF Growth: A Million in 2 Years

04:39 - How DAFs Impact Nonprofits

06:27 - 3 Common Myths About DAFs

08:42 - Why Visibility + Clarity Matter for DAF Giving

11:09 - 3 Things to Do This Week (Practical Tips)

13:09 - Bonus Tip: Open Your Own DAF

15:28 - Final Thoughts: Removing Friction for Donors

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January is framed as a reset in many fields. Nonprofits know it isn’t.

Budgets are set, programs are already moving, and fundraising goals don’t wait for the calendar. Strategy doesn’t usually break in the planning – it frays later, in the small decisions that stretch capacity and make sustainability harder.

In this energy-sustaining focused episode, fundraiser coach Britt Stockert shares one grounding question fundraisers can use as a gut-check for strategy, capacity, and energy – especially when everything feels urgent.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

Why a grounding question works better than a resolution
How it supports more sustainable fundraising decisions
Where leaders quietly leak capacity during the year
Plus, three practical moments to use the question to stay on track, especially when you’re tempted to add just “one more thing”!

If you’ve ever wondered what actually deserves your “yes” in fundraising, or how to keep your strategy sustainable when the year gets messy, this one’s for you.

What makes Donorbox the Best Nonprofit Fundraising Platform to Achieve Your Strategic Goals?

Easy to customize, available in multiple languages and currencies, and supported by leading payment processors (Stripe and PayPal), Donorbox’s nonprofit fundraising solution is used by 80,000+ global organizations and individuals. From animal rescue to schools, places of worship, and research groups, nonprofits use Donorbox to raise more funds, manage donors efficiently, and make a bigger impact.

Discover how Donorbox can help you help others!

The Nonprofit Podcast, along with a wealth of nonprofit leadership tutorials, expert advice, tips, and tactics, is available on theDonorbox YouTube channel. Subscribe today and never miss an episode:

The Nonprofit Podcast is available every Thursday on all popular podcast platforms.
🎙️ Apple Podcasts: The Nonprofit Podcast🎙️ Spotify: The Nonprofit Podcast

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Happy New Year!

We’re kicking off 2026 with a conversation many nonprofit leaders are already having behind the scenes: What’s actually changing in fundraising…and what’s just noise?

Every year, nonprofits get told to prepare for the next big trend. But the shifts shaping 2026 aren’t about shiny tools or louder campaigns. They’re quieter…and far more structural. Leaders are rethinking how fundraising holds up over time, not just how it performs in the next campaign.

Join us as Jena Lynch and Britt Stockert walk through five fundraising trends they’re seeing take hold across organizations…not as predictions, but as patterns emerging from real decision-making.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

Why predictable revenue is becoming the anchor, not a side goal
How first-year donor retention is moving from “processing” to intentional onboarding
Why reducing friction often outperforms better messaging
How transparency is shifting from polished reports to ongoing communication
Why technology is increasingly chosen to protect capacity, not chase innovation

A question for you:What’s one part of your fundraising system that feels fragile right now - and what would it look like to strengthen it instead of pushing harder somewhere else?

Listen in, reflect, and start the year with a steadier foundation for the work ahead.

What makes Donorbox the Best Nonprofit Fundraising Platform to Achieve Your Strategic Goals?

Easy to customize, available in multiple languages and currencies, and supported by leading payment processors (Stripe and PayPal), Donorbox’s nonprofit fundraising solution is used by 80,000+ global organizations and individuals. From animal rescue to schools, places of worship, and research groups, nonprofits use Donorbox to raise more funds, manage donors efficiently, and make a bigger impact.

Discover how Donorbox can help you help others!

The Nonprofit Podcast, along with a wealth of nonprofit leadership tutorials, expert advice, tips, and tactics, is available on theDonorbox YouTube channel. Subscribe today and never miss an episode:

The Nonprofit Podcast is available every Thursday on all popular podcast platforms.
🎙️ Apple Podcasts: The Nonprofit Podcast🎙️ Spotify: The Nonprofit Podcast

🖥️The Nonprofit Podcast 🎙️🎙️ - YouTube

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Final Episode of 2025!

Jena sits down withJessica LaMesa, Co-CEO of The Life You Can Save, for a powerful,action-oriented conversation on how strategic, evidence-based giving translates into life-saving impact.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

The Power of Rapid Response: How The Life You Can Save mobilized over $13 million in just six months, funding critical healthcare and nutrition across Sub-Saharan Africa and saving over 4,000 lives, amid U.S. foreign aid cuts.
Behind-the-Scenes Strategy: Get an exclusive look at the partnerships, data, and trust that enabled lightning-fast action without sacrificing rigor.
Lessons for Leaders: Essential takeaways for nonprofit leaders on navigating uncertainty, maximizing impact with lean teams, and building a foundation of donor trust.

Before you go! The Nonprofit Podcast returns on Thursday, January 8, 2026, with new episodes and a deep dive into 2026 trend insights you won't want to miss!

The full video episode is available on the Donorbox YouTube channel.

Resource Links:

Free Download: The Better Giving Guide 2025 — Get the free, practical, evidence-informed resource to support smarter, higher-impact giving from The Life You Can Save. Download here
Learn More: Explore the work of The Life You Can Save here.

What makes Donorbox the Best Nonprofit Fundraising Platform to Achieve Your Strategic Goals?

Easy to customize, available in multiple languages and currencies, and supported by leading payment processors (Stripe and PayPal), Donorbox’s nonprofit fundraising solution is used by 80,000+ global organizations and individuals. From animal rescue to schools, places of worship, and research groups, nonprofits use Donorbox to raise more funds, manage donors efficiently, and make a bigger impact.

Discover how Donorbox can help you help others!

The Nonprofit Podcast, along with a wealth of nonprofit leadership tutorials, expert advice, tips, and tactics, is available on theDonorbox YouTube channel. Subscribe today and never miss an episode:
🖥️The Nonprofit Podcast 🎙️🎙️ - YouTube

The Nonprofit Podcast is available every Thursday on all popular podcast platforms. 🎙️ Apple Podcasts: The Nonprofit Podcast🎙️ Spotify: The Nonprofit Podcast

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Giving Tuesday felt quieter than you hoped? Take a breath. Your December is still wide open.

In this episode, Jena and Britt break down what a slow Giving Tuesday really means, and what to do next without panic, pressure, or a full campaign rewrite.

You’ll learn how to:

Read the data signals behind a “quiet” Giving Tuesday
Reconnect donors without selling harder
Make small, smart shifts that unlock stronger December giving
Turn this moment into momentum – fast!

If your confidence took a hit after Giving Tuesday, this conversation is your reset button. Calm, clear, and built for real-world fundraising.

Listen now and get your December back on track.

Helpful Resource Links:

If you are a Donorbox client, try Recurring Upsell for free:
- This Giving Season, we're gifting you free access to a feature designed to grow your recurring donor base.
From November 6, 2025, to January 15, 2026, your organization can receive free access to our Recurring Upsell feature, normally available only to Premium users or as a paid add-on.
Our Donorbox Recurring Upsell feature seamlessly converts one-time donors into monthly supporters with a gentle ask. Donors who upgrade to a monthly gift stick around, with 96% of upgraded donors surpassing their original one-time gift amount.
Explore Donorbox's monthly giving tools and what they can do for your organization here.

Don’t forget your free featured resource from our sponsor, AppealMaker, The 2025 State of Direct Mail Survey, packed with fresh insights into donor behavior and communication trends.

Download it here, and take a moment to explore how AppealMaker can strengthen your direct mail outreach.

Chapters:00:00 Understanding Giving Tuesday's Impact

02:58 Reframing Expectations and Emotions

05:40 Strategies for Effective Engagement

08:43 Making Meaningful Adjustments

11:24 Emotional Resilience in Fundraising

What makes Donorbox the Best Nonprofit Fundraising Platform to Achieve Your Strategic Goals?

Easy to customize, available in multiple languages and currencies, and supported by leading payment processors (Stripe and PayPal), Donorbox’s nonprofit fundraising solution is used by 80,000+ global organizations and individuals. From animal rescue to schools, places of worship, and research groups, nonprofits use Donorbox to raise more funds, manage donors efficiently, and make a bigger impact.

Discover how Donorbox can help you help others!

The Nonprofit Podcast, along with a wealth of nonprofit leadership tutorials, expert advice, tips, and tactics, is available every Thursday on theDonorbox YouTube channel. Subscribe today and never miss an episode:
🖥️The Nonprofit Podcast 🎙️🎙️ - YouTube

🎙️ Apple Podcasts: The Nonprofit Podcast🎙️ Spotify: The Nonprofit Podcast

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December is where your year-end campaign is won or lost - and today, we’re making sure you stay steady, strategic, and connected all the way through December 31.

Jena and Cara Augspurger walk through the two actions that shape your final numbers: follow-through and follow-up.

Get ready for pro-tips covering:

Stay consistent with your December communication rhythm
Why tight messaging keeps donors engaged (especially this month)
How to steward donors well with thoughtful, timely follow-up
Why a January touchpoint strengthens trust and sets up the new year
How recurring giving fits naturally into this moment

Whether you're running your first year-end campaign or your fifteenth, this episode gives you the rails to stay steady, show donors their impact, and finish the year with clarity, care, and momentum.

Helpful Resource Links

Learn more atDonorbox.org
Try Recurring Upsell:
Donorbox Recurring Upsell feature seamlessly converts one-time donors into monthly supporters with a gentle ask. Donors who upgrade to a monthly gift stick around, with 96% of upgraded donors surpassing their original one-time gift amount.
Explore Donorbox's monthly giving tools and what they can do for your organization here.

What makes Donorbox the Best Nonprofit Fundraising Platform to Achieve Your Strategic Goals?

Easy to customize, available in multiple languages and currencies, and supported by leading payment processors (Stripe and PayPal), Donorbox’s nonprofit fundraising solution is used by 80,000+ global organizations and individuals. From animal rescue to schools, places of worship, and research groups, nonprofits use Donorbox to raise more funds, manage donors efficiently, and make a bigger impact.

Discover how Donorbox can help you help others!

The Nonprofit Podcast, along with a wealth of nonprofit leadership tutorials, expert advice, tips, and tactics, is available on theDonorbox YouTube channel. Subscribe today and never miss an episode:
🖥️The Nonprofit Podcast 🎙️🎙️ - YouTube

The Nonprofit Podcast is available every Thursday on all popular podcast platforms.
🎙️ Apple Podcasts: The Nonprofit Podcast🎙️ Spotify: The Nonprofit Podcast

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Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at The Nonprofit Podcast. 🦃

Today’s episode is simply a pause - a moment to acknowledge the people who keep showing up, even in a year that’s felt heavier than most.

If you’re writing the extra email, answering the late call, carrying more need than resources, or holding hope for someone else when your own feels thin… this is for you.

Your work is noticed. Your impact is real. And we’re grateful for the way you keep moving your mission forward.

Next week, we’ll be back with post–Giving Tuesday stewardship insights and focused fundraising strategies for the remainder of the year-end.

What makes Donorbox the Best Nonprofit Fundraising Platform to Achieve Your Strategic Goals?

Easy to customize, available in multiple languages and currencies, and supported by leading payment processors (Stripe and PayPal), Donorbox’s nonprofit fundraising solution is used by 80,000+ global organizations and individuals. From animal rescue to schools, places of worship, and research groups, nonprofits use Donorbox to raise more funds, manage donors efficiently, and make a bigger impact.

Discover how Donorbox can help you help others!

The Nonprofit Podcast, along with a wealth of nonprofit leadership tutorials, expert advice, tips, and tactics, is available on the Donorbox YouTube channel. Subscribe today and never miss an episode:
🖥️The Nonprofit Podcast 🎙️🎙️ - YouTube

The Nonprofit Podcast is available every Thursday on all popular podcast platforms. 🎙️ Apple Podcasts: The Nonprofit Podcast🎙️ Spotify: The Nonprofit Podcast

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Giving Tuesday Is Days Away - Here’s Your Game Plan

Giving Tuesday is almost here…and yes, you still have time to show up with clarity, confidence, and zero panic.

In this episode, Cara Augspurger walks you through the final steps that make the biggest difference – the practical moves, the strategic choices, and the calm mindset that help your nonprofit show up and shine in one of the biggest giving moments of the year.

You’ll discover:

Why Giving Tuesday is absolutely worth showing up for
What to focus on when time is short
How to show up authentically without getting lost in the noise
Smart steps from the Donorbox year-end checklist
How to use Giving Tuesday to set up December success
The monthly giving move most orgs forget
The three things you must do on the day itself

Plus: Cara’s favorite low-lift ideas for creating real momentum – without a big team, big budget, or big stress.

Create your comprehensive last-minute checklist with this great blog: Your 2025 Giving Tuesday Checklist to Raise More

You’ve got this – and we’re here to help every step of the way.

Sponsor thanks: This episode is sponsored by AppealMaker - an easy, simple, and stress-free way to send direct mail campaigns that feel personal and powerful. Set up your free account (no credit card needed!) at AppealMaker.com today.

What makes Donorbox the Best Nonprofit Fundraising Platform to Achieve Your Strategic Goals?

Easy to customize, available in multiple languages and currencies, and supported by leading payment processors (Stripe and PayPal), Donorbox’s nonprofit fundraising solution is used by 80,000+ global organizations and individuals. From animal rescue to schools, places of worship, and research groups, nonprofits use Donorbox to raise more funds, manage donors efficiently, and make a bigger impact.

Discover how Donorbox can help you help others!

The Nonprofit Podcast, along with a wealth of nonprofit leadership tutorials, expert advice, tips, and tactics, isavailable on theDonorbox YouTubechannel. Subscribe today and never miss an episode:
🖥️The Nonprofit Podcast 🎙️🎙️ - YouTube

The Nonprofit Podcast is available every Thursday on all popular podcast platforms. 🎙️ Apple Podcasts: The Nonprofit Podcast🎙️ Spotify: The Nonprofit Podcast

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Writer’s block for Christmas? You’re not alone.
Try these Giving Season AI writing prompts that actually work

In this short, informative easy listen, Britt Stockert shares how AI can be the creative writing partner you didn’t know you needed this Giving Season.
She walks through how to use AI prompts to beat the blank page, keep your tone real, and save time on those endless donor messages.

What’s inside:

Why, and how, AI can be your creative sidekick for campaign writing
3 prompts to get unblocked fast
How to keep your messages sounding real, not robotic
The ethical line you should never cross

This episode’s a little lighter and perfect for when your Giving Season coffee has gone cold and your cursor’s been blinking too long.

And, to take your full fundraising strategy to the next level, check out JayAI here, or head to our blog for a breakdown ofAI for Nonprofits: How to Use Artificial Intelligence for Good to round out your AI knowledge base.

Listen now and make writing the easiest part of your Giving Season.

What makes Donorbox the Best Nonprofit Fundraising Platform to Achieve Your Strategic Goals?

Easy to customize, available in multiple languages and currencies, and supported by leading payment processors (Stripe and PayPal), Donorbox’s nonprofit fundraising solution is used by 80,000+ global organizations and individuals. From animal rescue to schools, places of worship, and research groups, nonprofits use Donorbox to raise more funds, manage donors efficiently, and make a bigger impact.

Discover how Donorbox can help you help others!

The Nonprofit Podcast, along with a wealth of nonprofit leadership tutorials, expert advice, tips, and tactics, is available on the Donorbox YouTube channel. Subscribe today and never miss an episode:
🖥️The Nonprofit Podcast 🎙️🎙️ - YouTube

The Nonprofit Podcast is available every Thursday on all popular podcast platforms.
🎙️ Apple Podcasts: The Nonprofit Podcast🎙️ Spotify: The Nonprofit Podcast

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November is Giving Season Go Time

It’s here - now is the time to transition your year-end campaigns from planning to performance. Your message is live, donors are active, and every touchpoint counts.

In this episode, Jena and Cara break down how to confidently lead your campaign, stay engaged, and keep supporters connected through every moment of Giving Season.

What you’ll learn

A simple 3-step rhythm to lead your campaign with clarity
The mistake that quietly stalls year-end fundraising
How often to check campaign performance (and what to look for)
Smart mid-month touchpoints that keep donors engaged

Perfect for nonprofit leaders, fundraisers, campaign managers, and anyone running year-end appeals.

Don’t forget your free featured resource from our sponsor, AppealMaker, The 2025 State of Direct Mail Survey, packed with fresh insights into donor behavior and communication trends.

Download it here, and take a moment to explore how AppealMaker can strengthen your direct mail outreach.

What makes Donorbox the Best Nonprofit Fundraising Platform to Achieve Your Strategic Goals?

Easy to customize, available in multiple languages and currencies, and supported by leading payment processors (Stripe and PayPal), Donorbox’s nonprofit fundraising solution is used by 80,000+ global organizations and individuals. From animal rescue to schools, places of worship, and research groups, nonprofits use Donorbox to raise more funds, manage donors efficiently, and make a bigger impact.

Discover how Donorbox can help you help others!

The Nonprofit Podcast, along with a wealth of nonprofit leadership tutorials, expert advice, tips, and tactics, is available on theDonorbox YouTubechannel. Subscribe today and never miss an episode: 🖥️The Nonprofit Podcast 🎙️🎙️ - YouTube

The Nonprofit Podcast is available every Thursday on all popular podcast platforms.
🎙️ Apple Podcasts: The Nonprofit Podcast
🎙️ Spotify: The Nonprofit Podcast

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Recent events reminded nonprofits everywhere: if you don’t shape your online presence, someone else might.

In this episode, Jena Lynch digs into how transparency, nonprofit visibility, and AI discoverability shape donor trust and organizational credibility. She walks through practical stepsto review your digital footprint, ensure accurate results across search and AI tools, to keep your story consistent before year-end.

Your story deserves to be told - accurately, clearly, and by you.

Download the free AI Visibility Checklist for Nonprofits:
Watch next: Episode 165 – Why AI Visibility Matters for Nonprofits with Raj Hegde

Because accuracy builds trust - in SEO search, in AI, and with your donors.

What makes Donorbox the Best Nonprofit Fundraising Platform to Achieve Your Strategic Goals?

Easy to customize, available in multiple languages and currencies, and supported by leading payment processors (Stripe and PayPal), Donorbox’s nonprofit fundraising solution is used by 80,000+ global organizations and individuals. From animal rescue to schools, places of worship, and research groups, nonprofits use Donorbox to raise more funds, manage donors efficiently, and make a bigger impact.

Discover how Donorbox can help you help others!

The Nonprofit Podcast, along with a wealth of nonprofit leadership tutorials, expert advice, tips, and tactics, is available on the Donorbox YouTube channel. Subscribe today and never miss an episode:
🖥️The Nonprofit Podcast 🎙️🎙️ - YouTube

The Nonprofit Podcast is available every Thursday on all popular podcast platforms.
🎙️ Apple Podcasts: The Nonprofit Podcast
🎙️ Spotify: The Nonprofit Podcast

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Freezing Before Donor Meetings? Let’s Fix That.

Why do donor meetings feel so stressful - especially at year-end? Brittan breaks down the real reason so many fundraisers dread sitting down with donors, and why it's not about your fundraising skills.

You’ll learn how cultural money stories shape your confidence, how to reframe the fear, and how to lead donor meetings that are grounded in curiosity, connection, and trust - not pressure or perfection.

Takeaways include:

Why fundraising isn’t about “the ask”
How to prepare for meetings with confidence
A simple 5-step framework for better donor conversations
What to do when the fear still creeps in

📬 This episode is proudly sponsored by AppealMaker - an easy, simple, and stress-free way to send direct mail campaigns that feel personal and powerful.

Set up your free account (no credit card needed!) at AppealMaker.com today.

📅 Want coaching support for your year-end strategy? Book a 30-minute discovery call with Brittan here.

What makes Donorbox the Best Nonprofit Fundraising Platform to Achieve Your Strategic Goals?Easy to customize, available in multiple languages and currencies, and supported by leading payment processors (Stripe and PayPal), Donorbox’s nonprofit fundraising solution is used by 80,000+ global organizations and individuals. From animal rescue to schools, places of worship, and research groups, nonprofits use Donorbox to raise more funds, manage donors efficiently, and make a bigger impact.

Discover how Donorbox can help you help others!

The Nonprofit Podcast, along with a wealth of nonprofit leadership tutorials, expert advice, tips, and tactics, is available on theDonorbox YouTube channel. Subscribe today and never miss an episode: 🖥️The Nonprofit Podcast 🎙️🎙️ - YouTube

The Nonprofit Podcast is available every Thursday on all popular podcast platforms.
🎙️ Apple Podcasts: The Nonprofit Podcast
🎙️ Spotify: The Nonprofit Podcast

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Some tools evolve. Others endure. Direct mail does both.

Cara Augspurger sits down withJoe Leach, CEO of AppealMaker, to unpack how technology isreshaping one of fundraising’s most trusted tools - direct mail.

They dig deep into how automation, follow-up strategies, and smart timing can turn traditional mail into a high-performing element of your year-end fundraising strategy.

Plus, Joe shares how smaller nonprofits can use agility to their advantage, and why the simplest changes often deliver the biggest results.

Discover:

How automation streamlines direct mail fundraising
Why follow-up letters can double response rates
How small teams can move faster…and smarter
Where direct mail fits in your multi-channel strategy

Resources Mentioned:

AppealMaker - Your all-in-one, 24/7 direct mail platform made for nonprofits. Get started today, no credit card needed.
2025 State of Direct Mail Report

This episode is proudly sponsored by AppealMaker - smarter direct mail for stronger donor connections.

What makes Donorbox the Best Nonprofit Fundraising Platform to Achieve Your Strategic Goals?Easy to customize, available in multiple languages and currencies, and supported by leading payment processors (Stripe and PayPal), Donorbox’s nonprofit fundraising solution is used by 80,000+ global organizations and individuals. From animal rescue to schools, places of worship, and research groups, nonprofits use Donorbox to raise more funds, manage donors efficiently, and make a bigger impact.

Discover how Donorbox can help you help others!

The Nonprofit Podcast, along with a wealth of nonprofit leadership tutorials, expert advice, tips, and tactics, is available on theDonorbox YouTube channel. Subscribe today and never miss an episode:
🖥️The Nonprofit Podcast 🎙️🎙️ - YouTube

The Nonprofit Podcast is available every Thursday on all popular podcast platforms.
🎙️ Apple Podcasts: The Nonprofit Podcast🎙️ Spotify: The Nonprofit Podcast

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Year-end appeals are your nonprofit’s biggest fundraising moment - and you only get one shot.

Fundraising coach Britt Stockert shares 4 smart ways to help your appeal break through the noise and connect where it counts.

Discover:

A better way to segment your donors
The story shift that grabs attention fast
What donors actually want to hear
How to make your ask land with confidence

Listen in - build an appeal that works and write your strongest year-end message yet.

🗓 Want Britt to review your appeal? Book your free session here.

What makes Donorbox the Best Nonprofit Fundraising Platform to Achieve Your Strategic Goals?Easy to customize, available in multiple languages and currencies, and supported by leading payment processors (Stripe and PayPal), Donorbox’s nonprofit fundraising solution is used by 80,000+ global organizations and individuals. From animal rescue to schools, places of worship, and research groups, nonprofits use Donorbox to raise more funds, manage donors efficiently, and make a bigger impact.

Discover how Donorbox can help you help others!

The Nonprofit Podcast, along with a wealth of nonprofit leadership tutorials, expert advice, tips, and tactics, is available on the Donorbox YouTube channel. Subscribe today and never miss an episode:
🖥️The Nonprofit Podcast 🎙️🎙️ - YouTube

The Nonprofit Podcast is available every Thursday on all popular podcast platforms. Be sure to subscribe, rate, and download, and never miss an episode.
🎙️ Apple Podcasts: The Nonprofit Podcast🎙️ Spotify: The Nonprofit Podcast

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Skip the scramble. These 3 October fundraising don’ts turn stress into strategy.

October is where the pressure builds, and where many nonprofits either set themselves up for success or stumble into a December scramble.

In this episode of The Nonprofit Podcast, host Jena Lynch and co-host Cara Augspurgerwalk through practical planning tips to stop you from tripping over the 3 Don’ts of October Fundraising:

Don’t keep it all in your head
Don’t surprise your donors
Don’t assume it’s obvious

Simple shifts, big impact. This is your October roadmap to a calmer, more confident Giving Season.

Your future self and your donors will thank you.

If this episode helps you, don’t forget to subscribe, share, and leave a review - it helps us reach even more changemakers like you. And, to make sure you’ve got your Giving Season ducks in a row, head back to our year-end roadmap guides to get your planning up to speed:Ep 172| The 4 Month Roadmap to Year-End Fundraising

Ep 174| September Reset: Simplify Giving Season

What makes Donorbox the Best Nonprofit Fundraising Platform to Achieve Your Strategic Goals?Easy to customize, available in multiple languages and currencies, and supported by leading payment processors (Stripe and PayPal), Donorbox’s nonprofit fundraising solution is used by 80,000+ global organizations and individuals. From animal rescue to schools, places of worship, and research groups, nonprofits use Donorbox to raise more funds, manage donors efficiently, and make a bigger impact.

Discover how Donorbox can help you help others!

The Nonprofit Podcast, along with a wealth of nonprofit leadership tutorials, expert advice, tips, and tactics, is available on the Donorbox YouTube channel. Subscribe today and never miss an episode:
🖥️The Nonprofit Podcast 🎙️🎙️ - YouTube

The Nonprofit Podcast is available every Thursday on all popular podcast platforms. Be sure to subscribe, rate, and download, and never miss an episode.
🎙️ Apple Podcasts: The Nonprofit Podcast🎙️ Spotify: The Nonprofit Podcast

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Ready to go from year-end gifts to year-round growth?

Year-end giving may steal the spotlight, but what happens after December is what determines lasting success. The nonprofits that thrive aren’t just chasing one-time gifts - they’re building relationships that carry impact well into the new year.

Today, Jena revisits a standout 2024 conversation with Chris Barlow of Beeline Marketing, layered with fresh insights for Giving Season 2025. Together, they explore how nonprofits can transform seasonal generosity into sustainable recurring giving programs rooted in trust, timing, and clear messaging.

Here’s what you’ll take away:

Why year-end giving should be the start of your retention strategy.
How recurring revenue secures long-term donor value.
Strategic shifts that strengthen year-round fundraising.

Listen in, take notes, and step into 2026 with a plan built for more than just December.

Find the full conversation with Chris Barlow here
Discover how the Donorbox Recurring Upsell feature can help youhere

And, to round out your strategy:

Jump into a variety of Year-End Fundraising Guides on the Donorbox Blog

What makes Donorbox the Best Nonprofit Fundraising Platform to Achieve Your Strategic Goals?
Easy to customize, available in multiple languages and currencies, and supported by leading payment processors (Stripe and PayPal), Donorbox’s nonprofit fundraising solution is used by 80,000+ global organizations and individuals. From animal rescue to schools, places of worship, and research groups, nonprofits use Donorbox to raise more funds, manage donors efficiently, and make a bigger impact.
The Nonprofit Podcast, along with a wealth of nonprofit leadership tutorials, expert advice, tips, and tactics, is available on the Donorbox YouTube channel.
The Nonprofit Podcast is available every Thursday on all popular podcast platforms. Be sure to subscribe, rate, and download, and never miss an episode.
🎙️ Apple Podcasts: The Nonprofit Podcast
🎙️ Spotify: The Nonprofit Podcast

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What if your nonprofit event did more than raise money for a night?
What if it sparked long-term donor loyalty?

This week, Jena Lynch sits down with master fundraising strategist Chad Bargerto rethink how we measure event success.

Forget vanity metrics. We're talking about the event ROI that actually counts, and how your fall events should be the start of something bigger than a single gift.

Ready to flip the script on your next Year-end event? Tune in to learn:

What you're not measuring (but should be)
How donor journeys really start at events
And the critical follow-up moves most nonprofits skip

Prefer to watch? Catch Jena and Chad in action on The Nonprofit Podcast 🎙️🎙️ - YouTube - and don’t forget to subscribe, like, and share so more nonprofits can find us.

Discover how Donorbox can help you help others! This Giving Season, power up your nonprofit event with Donorbox’s Dynamic Duo:

Donorbox Events: Sell tickets, collect donations, and boost turnout with ease
Donorbox Live™ Kiosk: Let guests give on the spot, right at check-in, the bar, or your auction

What makes Donorbox the Best Nonprofit Fundraising Platform to Achieve Your Strategic Goals?
Easy to customize, available in multiple languages and currencies, and supported by leading payment processors (Stripe and PayPal), Donorbox’s nonprofit fundraising solution is used by 80,000+ global organizations and individuals. From animal rescue to schools, places of worship, and research groups, nonprofits use Donorbox to raise more funds, manage donors efficiently, and make a bigger impact.

The Nonprofit Podcast, along with a wealth of nonprofit leadership tutorials, expert advice, tips, and tactics, is available on the Donorbox YouTube channel.

The Nonprofit Podcast is available every Thursday on all popular podcast platforms. Be sure to subscribe, rate, and download, and never miss an episode.
🎙️ Apple Podcasts: The Nonprofit Podcast
🎙️ Spotify: The Nonprofit Podcast

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Tiny Touches, Big Impact: Micro-Moments That Drive Donor Loyalty

This week, Donorbox Fundraising Coach Britt Stockert shares why “be the most human voice in the inbox” should be your year-end fundraising motto.

Britt unpacks the power of micro-touches - short, emotionally resonant messages that build donor trust and keep your cause top-of-mind. Learn how to craft audio check-ins, handwritten notes, and story-driven updates that spark engagement and deepen relationships.

“Fundraising isn’t about being louder. It’s about being more human.”

You’ll also discover:

How to turn short interactions into long-term support
A proven micro-journey framework for donor engagement
Data-backed reasons to prioritize storytelling and co-creation

BONUS: Enter to win a Donorbox Live Kiosk (valued at $1,000) to make year-end giving easier than ever.

Our tap-to-donate kiosks help nonprofits raise 35% more on average, with nearly **$2.5M raised in person already.

🔗 Click the link to enter https://uplup.com/f/donorbox-livekiosk-giveaway**

Or visit our LinkedIn page for details and enter before the closing date on September 18, 2025.

The competition runs from September 5 to 18, 2025. Don’t miss this opportunity to expand your giving options this year-end.

If this episode helps you, don’t forget to subscribe, share, and leave a review - it helps us reach even more changemakers like you.

What makes Donorbox the Best Nonprofit Fundraising Platform to Achieve Your Strategic Goals?
Easy to customize, available in multiple languages and currencies, and supported by leading payment processors (Stripe and PayPal), Donorbox’s nonprofit fundraising solution is used by 80,000+ global organizations and individuals. From animal rescue to schools, places of worship, and research groups, nonprofits use Donorbox to raise more funds, manage donors efficiently, and make a bigger impact.
Discover how Donorbox can help you help others!

The Nonprofit Podcast, along with a wealth of nonprofit leadership tutorials, expert advice, tips, and tactics, is available on the Donorbox YouTube channel. Subscribe today and never miss an episode:
🖥️The Nonprofit Podcast 🎙️🎙️ - YouTube

The Nonprofit Podcast is available every Thursday on all popular podcast platforms. Be sure to subscribe, rate, and download, and never miss an episode.
🎙️ Apple Podcasts: The Nonprofit Podcast
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September Reset: How to Re-Engage Donors Before Year-End

Your donors don’t remember every word from last year, but they do remember how you made them feel.

Today, Jena and Cara break down three simple but powerful moves you can make this September to reconnect with donors, refresh your strategy, and set yourself up for year-end success.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

How to reconnect with donors after the summer slump
Simple, low-effort ways to refresh your strategy
Smart upgrades that set you up for Giving Season success

👉 Plus, don’t miss our Donorbox Live Kiosk Giveaway!

Help a cause you care about raise more money and make a bigger impact! One deserving U.S. nonprofit will win a $1,000 package:

Live Kiosk + tablet and stand
One-year subscription covered (valued at $50/mo)
Personal onboarding call