The Cause+Effect Podcast

Innovation doesn’t happen by accident. The organizations that continue to adapt, grow, and discover new opportunities create environments where new ideas can actually take shape. In this episode of the Cause+Effect Podcast, Trent Dunham is joined by James “JP” Poulter, Head of Innovation at Dunham+Co, to explore what separates truly innovative organizations from those that simply talk about innova...

AI is already changing the way organizations work, but successful adoption requires much more than choosing the right tool. In this episode of the Cause+Effect Podcast, Trent Dunham is joined by James “JP” Poulter, Head of Innovation at Dunham+Co and author of the new book AI at Work: How to Build a Full Stack Organization. Together, they explore what leaders need to consider as AI becomes a more...

A strong brand is about much more than a logo, color palette, or tagline. It begins with clarity about who your organization is, what makes it distinct, and the consistent promise it makes to the people it serves.   In this episode of the Cause+Effect Podcast, Trent Dunham is joined by Dan Sumpter, Chief Product Officer at Dunham+Co, to explore what brand strategy really means and why it matters f...

Text messaging gives nonprofits and ministries a personal way to connect with the people who support their work. But building a meaningful relationship starts with what you give, long before you ask. In this episode of the Cause+Effect Podcast, Trent Dunham is joined by Aaron Dolton, Chief Revenue Officer of Powered By Text, to explore how organizations can use text messaging to serve their suppor...

Capital campaigns can create incredible opportunities for growth and impact, but even a compelling vision can fall short without the right preparation. In this episode of the Cause+Effect Podcast, Trent Dunham is joined by Erik Rogers, Chief Strategist for Donor Advancement at Dunham+Co, to unpack five common mistakes that can derail a capital campaign. From passive leadership and overloaded sched...

Great culture isn’t built through one big initiative. It’s shaped in the small, everyday moments that show people they are seen, valued, and cared for.   In this episode of the Cause+Effect Podcast, Trent Dunham is joined by Brian Mountjoy, Chief Culture Officer at Dunham+Co, for a conversation about the experiences and choices that shape the culture around us. Through stories from sports, leaders...

AI is no longer a future consideration for nonprofit and ministry leaders. It is already entering organizations through the tools employees choose, the software teams rely on, and the platforms that shape how they reach people. In this episode of Cause+Effect, we explore why organizations are moving beyond the question of whether to use AI and beginning to wrestle with implementation, budgeting, g...

In this episode of the Cause+Effect Podcast, Trent Dunham, President and CEO of Dunham+Co, is joined by Rick Dunham, Founder and Chairman, and Josh Crowther, VP of Dunham+Co, for a practical conversation about the new Giving USA 2026 report and what it means for churches, ministries, and nonprofit organizations. Charitable giving reached $617.2 billion in 2025 and grew even after adjusting for inf...

In this episode of the Cause+Effect Podcast, Trent Dunham, CEO+ President of Dunham+Co, is joined by Brian Mountjoy, Chief Culture Officer at Dunham+Co, for a conversation on what it really takes to build and sustain a healthy organizational culture. Through stories ranging from chicken coops and workplace brackets to unforgettable moments of caring for people well, Trent and Brian unpack why cult...

In this episode of the Cause+Effect Podcast, Trent Dunham, President+CEO of Dunham+Co, sits down with Josh Crowther, VP of Dunham+Co, to unpack the real reasons donors lapse. Some reasons are outside an organization’s control, like personal financial pressure, economic uncertainty, or shifting cultural attitudes toward generosity. But many causes are self-inflicted — including silence, poor commun...

In this episode of the Cause+Effect Podcast, Trent Dunham, President and CEO of Dunham+Co, is joined again by Eric Gomez, COO of Dunham+Co, for part two of their conversation around Trent’s Top 10 for 2026 . Picking up with the second half of the list, Trent and Eric discuss how nonprofit leaders can use data visualization to make better decisions, why every communication channel matters, and how...

In this episode of the Cause+Effect Podcast, Trent Dunham, President and CEO of Dunham+Co, is joined by Eric Gomez, COO of Dunham+Co, for a practical conversation on key trends and opportunities facing churches and nonprofit organizations in 2026. Drawing from Trent’s annual “Top 10” insights shared at the Dunham+Co client summit, Trent and Eric unpack five major areas leaders should be paying att...

Does giving really go down in the summer—or have nonprofits simply come to expect it? In this episode of the Cause+Effect Podcast, Trent Dunham, President+CEO of Dunham+Co, is joined by Joshua Crowther, VP of Dunham+Co, to unpack the myths and realities of summer giving. Together, they discuss how disrupted rhythms, vacations, fiscal year timing, and donor communication all shape giving behavior d...

Is a spiritual resurgence really happening or are we just seeing isolated moments? In this episode of the Cause+Effect Podcast, Trent Dunham sits down with David Kinnaman, CEO of Barna Group, to talk about what Barna’s latest research is revealing about faith, church attendance, and spiritual openness in America. David shares why younger generations, especially Gen Z, may be showing more openness...

In this episode of Cause+Effect , Trent Dunham is joined by Matthew Luhn — writer, animator, director, author, and longtime Pixar story leader. Drawing from his work on Toy Story , Monsters, Inc. , Finding Nemo , Up , and more, Matthew shares what makes a story memorable and why great storytelling is essential for leaders, ministries, and nonprofits trying to inspire action. Together, Trent and Ma...

In this episode of Cause+Effect, Trent Dunham sits down with James “JP” Poulter, Head of Innovation at Dunham+Company and author of AI at Work  (coming August 2026), for a timely conversation on what AI means for ministry leaders right now. JP breaks down the fast shift from conversational AI to agentic AI, explains why leaders should stop treating AI like just an answer engine, and offers practic...

In this episode of The Cause+Effect Podcast, Trent Dunham is joined by Rick Dunham, Founder and Chairman of Dunham+Company, and Josh Crowther, Vice President of Dunham+Company, to unpack key findings from the latest Donor Confidence Report. Together, they explore what the research reveals about donor behavior heading into 2026: why more donors say they may give less, how economic fear is shaping g...

In this episode of The Cause+Effect Podcast, Trent Dunham sits down with Matt Potter, co-founder of PRAY.COM, for a candid conversation on how mission-driven leaders can build, test, and scale with both conviction and clarity. Matt shares his providential story—from adoption and early exposure to tech, to stepping into a calling that led to PRAY.COM’s launch in 2016—and the leadership mindset that...

Recorded live at the Dunham+Company Summit, Trent Dunham sits down with Pastor Adam Mesa of Patria Church for a grounded conversation about keeping ministry and mission-driven work personal. Adam shares lessons from a healthy leadership transition, how Patria's content strategy is designed to be a “front door” for people exploring faith, how Psalm 23 reframes leadership as shepherding, and how God...

What makes a team want to show up—and what causes even mission-driven organizations to quietly drift into burnout, confusion, or disengagement? Trent Dunham sits down with Jenni Catron, Founder & CEO of The 4Sight Group and author of Culture Matters , for a practical conversation about building environments where people thrive. Jenni shares why culture can’t be left to chance, how “environment...

In this episode, host Trent Dunham, President and CEO of Dunham+Company, is joined by Josh Crowther, VP at Dunham+Company, to discuss how ministries and organizations can start 2026 strong. Together, they explore key strategies for effective communication, donor engagement, and vision casting to set the tone for a successful year.   From debunking the myth of "donor fatigue" to practical tips on l...

In this episode of the  Cause+Effect Podcast , host Trent Dunham is joined by Rick Dunham, founder and chairman of Dunham+Company, to discuss how leaders can navigate turbulent times in fundraising. With 2025 coming to a close and 2026 on the horizon, they explore practical strategies for staying grounded, retaining donors, and maintaining a donor-centric approach during challenging seasons.   Fro...

In this episode of the Cause+Effect Podcast , host Trent Dunham sits down with Dan Sumpter, Chief Product Officer and creative leader at Dunham+Company, to explore the fascinating world of creativity with a purpose. Together, they dive into the challenges and opportunities of leading creative teams, dispelling myths about creativity, and offering practical insights for those who work with or manag...

In this reflective episode of the  Cause+Effect Podcast , host Trent Dunham, President and CEO of Dunham+Company, takes a deep dive into one of the most critical traits of effective leadership: humility. Drawing from decades of experience and personal growth, Trent explores how humility shapes strong leadership, fosters wisdom, and empowers teams to thrive.   Whether you're leading an organization...

In this episode of the Cause+Effect Podcast , host Trent Dunham is joined by Matt Ferguson and Peter McGowan, two creative leaders with a passion for storytelling, marketing, and architecture. Together, they explore the power of storytelling in shaping organizations, creating meaningful spaces, and connecting with audiences in impactful ways. From their work with Disney and Universal Studios to th...