Dynamic Nonprofits

Reading the mail is one of the best ways to get an idea what techniques are working and gain inspiration for your next campaign test. Who's Mailing What! has been helping commercial and nonprofit mailers keep track of what's in the mail since 1984. Direct Mail Evangelist and content creator Paul Bobnak joins the show for a deep dive into the Who's Mailing What! database and to share some trends th...

Since 1979, C-SPAN has been providing unfiltered access into the inner workings of American democracy. Until recently though, the network was funded entirely by the cable industry and had never attempted to fundraise from private donors. However, the disruption produced by cord cutting necessitated innovation and late last year C-SPAN launched a development program to generate support from the cha...

Fundraising thought leader Dave Raley drops by the show for a casual chat about innovation...more specifically what's holding innovation back in the nonprofit sector. Much deeper than a philosophical discussion, Dave and Dan dig into innovation tactics and shifts which can benefit nonprofits of all sizes (some of which require little to no overhead to implement). Dave also touches on the role...

These days it seems like there are more answers than questions for the nonprofit sector. There are tactics, solutions, and strategies for just about every challenge that nonprofit organizations face. There are so many answers that it can be overwhelming and lead to decision paralysis. Enter Jon DeLange and his essay series "12 Rules For Fundraisers". With over a decade of relationship ba...

We cover a lot of ground on the Dynamic Nonprofits Podcast, but some of our favorite discussions are when we deep dive into tactics and practical tips that can help transform your fundraising program. If you're an email fundraiser, or just a fundraiser who shares our passion for A/B testing, you'll love Dan's conversation with email GURU Jay Schwedelson. Jay's combination of passio...

There are a lot of books about fundraising, but one in particular has driven conversation within the nonprofit sector this year - The Generosity Crisis. Co-Author Nathan Chappell joins Dan to look back on a year of The Generosity Crisis and what he's learned from '10,000 conversations' since the book's release. They discuss what's driving the crisis and focus on solutions for s...

Renown speaker and non-profit champion Tim Sarrantonio joins the show for a high energy conversation about the state of philanthropy and actionable steps small to mid-sized non-profits can take to rise above the economic headwinds. Dan's interview with Tim is a fast paced, information packed chat that will leave you feeling equally informed and inspired to take on the challenges fundraisers ar...

Dan shares his thoughts from last week's Multi-Channel Mini-Con and discusses the ongoing renaissance in nonprofit / fundraising education.

There's a trust crisis in America. According to Gallup, trust is down in institutions ranging from government, to the media, schools, and just about everything in between. Unfortunately, non-profit organizations aren't immune from this decline in trust. In fact, the Edelman Trust Barometer shows that non-profits are now trusted less than businesses for the first time in 40 years. The trust...

Back from a summer hiatus, Dan talks about why fundraisers benefit from cross-channel education and shares an example of a tip he picked up at a digital show that he was able to apply to direct mail. He also discusses his recent trip to the NIO Summit in Dallas and the upcoming Multi-Channel Mini-Con.

In this special edition of the Direct Mail Review, Dan breaks down a political fundraising email which may be the best he's ever seen. It was enough to break through the noise and earn the "Direct Mail Review" treatment. Have a listen and continue the conversation on LinkedIn... https://www.linkedin.com/in/dansonners/

Dan discusses the current state of fundraising and explores whether the sector is in the midst of an upswing.

"If you constantly have a mindset about helping to improve the lives of others, your life will be improved in the process"  Kevin Gentry has been a staple in the fundraising community for nearly four decades and his Fundraising Tips newsletter is a weekly must read for many in the sector. Kevin joined the show to discuss getting back to basics and how classic direct marketing techniques hold...

Dan shares and breaks down (from a Fundraiser's Perspective) his 5 favorite ads from Super Bowl 57. Show Notes: 5. T-Mobile / John Travolta  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSO-Whn2sCQ 4. Amazon / Saving Sauer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bueUljGJ2M 3. Bud Light / Hold https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azCNwGnxq0s 2. Dunkin / Ben Affleck  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBIX9FG6kZ0&feature=youtu...

Why do Americans give?  It's the question which drives our fundraising strategies and holds the keys to improving our relationships with donors.  Classy's Michelle Boggs joins the show to answer that foundational question and much more as Michelle and Dan deep dive into Classy's annual "Why America Gives" report. You'll want to have a notepad ready (and perhaps listen through a second time) as the...

Over his 25 years in the non-profit sector, Andrew Olsen has helped raise over half a billion dollars while helping to build multiple successful agencies in the process. He has also established himself as a thought leader for the industry as the host of The Rainmaker Fundraising Podcast and with two best selling titles to his name (Rainmaker: The Fundraiser's Guide to Landing Big Gifts & 101 B...

Dan discusses Damar Hamlin, why his incident resonated with so many people, and what the collective response says about generosity and why we give. Give To Damar Hamlin's "Chasing M Foundation": https://www.gofundme.com/f/mxksc-the-chasing-ms-foundation-community-toy-drive

How much is the right amount to ask donors for?  Michael Gorriarán, President @ Arjuna Solutions, joins the show to answer this fundamental question. Dan and Michael discuss how Arjuna applies behavioral economics to determine the optimal ask amount for creating long-term relationships with donors which maximizes their lifetime value potential.  Topics Discussed Also Include:  - How...

Dan breaks down Mastercard's new regulations for recurring giving and discusses why the new rules could be an opportunity to innovate how nonprofits communicate with their monthly donors. Show Notes:   Read along with the Non-Profit Pro article Dan discusses on the show https://www.nonprofitpro.com/article/mastercard-extends-deadline-how-to-comply-to-new-recurring-giving-regulations/ Listen b...

Fundraising through gaming and livestreaming has become a multi-billion dollar revenue channel by marrying tried and true peer to peer fundraising psychology with modern technology, but it remains a mystery to many experienced fundraisers and a medium which is labeled with misconceptions by those who don't game themselves. Think your donors don't game? Think again, studies show that there are over...

When it comes to caging donor data, time and accuracy are money and delays and poor data hygiene can cost non-profits a lot in revenue and delayed decision making.  The importance of lockbox and caging services have come to the forefront for many organizations since the start of the pandemic, but the mechanics of these vital services remain a blind spot for many seasoned fundraisers.  Si...

John Lepp, Founder of Agents of Good, returns to the program to talk about his exciting new book "Creative Deviations" and the 12 deviations which hold the keys to unleashing the non-profit sector's full potential.  Topics Discussed Include:   - The inspiration behind "Creative Deviations" and what John hopes the industry takes away from the book - Why non-profit "branding" is a myth - W...

Mike Duerksen, Founder of the BuildGood Agency and Host of the Build Good Fundraising Podcast, returns to the show to discuss his advice for fundraising when the world is a mess.  With a backdrop of war, record inflation, division, and a possible looming recession it's a question on the mind of most fundraisers.  It's a conversation which will help you plan with certainty for the uncerta...

Dan reviews a mail piece from American Battlefield Trust which does an excellent job of weaving an urgent concept in with a multi-layered institutional message.  https://www.battlefields.org/

Label and paper availability have been among the biggest headwinds facing fundraisers in 2022. We wanted to know where things stood and where they were going so we decided to go straight to the source. Alan Rich has been President of Nova Label Company for close to 4 decades and knows the ins and outs of labels as well as anyone in the business.  Alan was super generous with his time and shar...