Missions to Movements

Dave Nugent has known me for over a decade. A tech executive and serial entrepreneur, Dave jam-packs this episode with so many gems on leadership, from leadership styles and the dynamics of team building, to fostering a motivated workplace through honesty, transparency, and genuine care for team members. When it comes to hiring, we discuss the boldness and initiative that distinguishes standout ca...

Lisa Bechtold, Executive Director of Take Stock in Children , was my first boss, and today, she’s here to share her transformative 24+ year journey in the nonprofit sector. I’ll walk you through the serendipitous story of how I met Lisa, and why she took a chance on me at age 22, which completely jumpstarted my career. We also discuss how Take Stock in Children increased its reach from supporting...

Get ready to discover how to be a strong nonprofit leader with Dr. Kevin Sansberry, an esteemed organizational consultant and behavior scientist. We’re hanging out in a park in Cincinnati recording this episode – and talking all about why you can’t actually move the needle with your messaging, strategy, and personal branding without effective leadership at the helm. Hear about psychological safety...

How does culture play into the spirit of giving? And how should we think about calling in our believers and finding our super fans? This is a special episode of a previously recorded keynote session from this year's Monthly Giving Summit. None other than Dr. Marcus Collins is sharing his incredible expertise on the transformative role of cultural identity in marketing, revealing how small gro...

What if the strategies that win elections could also supercharge nonprofit fundraising? DJ Koessler is a trailblazer in political marketing who has shaped campaigns for Barack Obama and Kamala Harris. Together, we’re unlocking the secrets of political messaging and exploring how these techniques can be adapted to energize nonprofit supporters, especially during Giving Tuesday. How can we call in p...

AI is already revolutionizing the way nonprofits operate and engage with donors. And Diana Atero is at the forefront, having spent over nine years as a Senior Product Marketing Manager at Bloomerang, a hub of nonprofit tech innovation! Together, we explore how AI is transforming wealth screening and donor segmentation to delivering personalized interactions that strengthen supporter connections. W...

Do you know about Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs)? This 3-letter word has been on a LOT of people’s minds, which is why I’m joined by Mitch Stein, Head of Strategy at Chariot , to learn how these tax-advantaged accounts are reshaping charitable giving. Mitch introduces us to the revolutionary DAF Pay, an innovation that simplifies the donation process to feel just like using a credit card, making it ea...

As Hurricane Milton threatened Florida, I found myself grappling with anxiety and worry for my hometown of Sarasota. Traveling to Cincinnati for a keynote on the power of personal stories, I couldn't escape the shared trepidation at the airport, as travelers exchanged tales of loved ones caught in the storm's path. This collective concern spurred me into action, reaching out to Florida-b...

Three of the most famous movements in history were built on marketing, storytelling, subcultures, and creating influence. Today, we’re going to explore how leaning into subcultures (rather than mass marketing), can be REALLY powerful and create sustainable impact for your nonprofit. We’ll start by unraveling lessons from the Civil Rights Movement and Women's Suffrage. These movements thrived...

Mallory Erickson’s new book “What The Fundraising” is out TODAY, and I can’t wait to share her wisdom around “alignment fundraising” – specifically why prioritizing alignment over your monetary goals is transformative. Mallory has done extensive research into the psychological and physiological responses of fundraisers, and you’re going to walk away with so many actionable steps for a holistic str...

Why do some fundraising appeals succeed while others fall flat? It all comes down to the power of language. Dr. Emilie Socash, the visionary founder and CEO of the Nonprofit Help Center , is here to share groundbreaking findings from her research, including why donors are MORE generous when messaging emphasizes preventing negative outcomes. We break down the psychological contrasts between promoti...

What if you could transform your entire donor engagement strategy from the ground up, 2x your fundraising goals, AND achieve a 64% open rate? I’m excited to feature a conversation previously on The Purpose & Profit Club podcast featuring Wendy Faust, the trailblazing Executive Director of the Live Like Lou Foundation , and host Christina Edwards from Splendid Consulting . Wendy takes us on an...

What if the key to turning your mission into a movement lies in the power of video? Shannon Fitzgerald from The Hooligans Agency is here to reveal how creative video content can revolutionize advocacy and nonprofit work. And you DON’T need a massive budget to make a significant impact. You’ll hear the incredible story behind two “fake” horror movie trailers designed with a scrappy budget in less t...

The Monthly Giving Summit is here! In less than 24 hours, over 1,500 nonprofits from all over the world are coming to the first online virtual event completely dedicated to monthly giving. So what can you expect? Day 1 is focused on keynotes and panels, sharing stories about growth, retention, and fostering values-aligned partnerships. You’ll hear from the Head of LinkedIn for Nonprofits, Ariana Y...

Get ready to unlock the secrets of nonprofit email marketing with Katelyn Baughan, a seasoned email expert who has worked with National Geographic and the Trevor Project. Katelyn and I are diving into the nuances of nurturing new email leads with a well-crafted welcome series, (which is underutilized and CRUCIAL during the early stages of supporter engagement!) We break down an optimal sequence of...

What can we learn from the merger of two impactful nonprofits, and how can it reshape our approach to mission-driven work? Join me as we welcome back Blythe Hill, the visionary founder of Dressember , who shares the inspiring journey of her organization’s partnership with the International Justice Mission (IJM). With limited resources and a challenging post-COVID fundraising environment, this stra...

This week, there's another podcast I want to share with you: What the Fundraising . Mallory Erickson is talking to Caitlin Wion, a data manager at Alzheimer's San Diego . And Caitlin is revealing ALL of her automation secrets to enhance donor engagement and make recurring giving work – with limited capacity and time. Hear how a simple donation tracker in an email campaign led to an unexp...

Could leveraging Facebook Messenger transform your nonprofit's fundraising strategy? In this episode, we sit down with Becca Lockhart and Ty Hyacinth from the Michael J. Fox Foundation to uncover the digital strategies that have catapulted their annual giving. Discover how their innovative use of Facebook Messenger campaigns, combined with integrated donor engagement tactics, has revolutioniz...

Books can spark a movement. And while I am in the midst of writing my first book (coming out in September!), I immediately knew we had to do a podcast episode about this entire process. Allison Trowbridge is the founder and CEO of Copper Books , who are revolutionizing the hybrid publishing model while focusing on mission-driven authors. Get ready to be guided through the complexities of the publi...

Is your nonprofit making the most out of email marketing in 2024? Open rates are no longer the gold standard for measuring engagement! Today we’re uncovering the secrets to successful email strategies with Scott Cohen, VP of Strategy and Marketing for InboxArmy . Scott shares his expert insights on the shift towards first-party data and his favorite tactics for re-engaging and retaining subscriber...

Today’s case study explores how an International Women’s Day fundraising campaign empowered local communities and drove meaningful impact across 140 stores. I’m thrilled to have Amanda Young, the Marketing and Philanthropic Manager at Kendra Scott, here to spill her secrets behind successful nonprofit partnerships. We cover everything from setting up pop-up shops, creating custom gifts, and levera...

Leveraging influential content creators, celebrities, and internet personalities, AND your board members can SIGNIFICANTLY boost awareness and fundraising for your organization. So how did the American Lung Association do it back in 2021? You’re about to find out. Nick Lynch, co-founder and CEO of Collidescope, and Maxine Tatlonghari, Development Director for the American Lung Association, are her...

What if you could turn every event you host into an unforgettable experience that leaves attendees feeling inspired and connected? I’m hanging out with Joey Goon today, President of Utopia Experience , and we’re  uncovering ALL the secrets to creating impact and genuine connections at events. Joey takes us behind the scenes of a high-profile mastermind event in San Diego with celebrities and influ...

Monthly giving is not just about a donation. It is about giving people a way to channel their purpose consistently. And in today's episode, we’re unveiling the secrets behind making compelling asks – and the most powerful strategies for recurring donation requests, so you can leverage initial contributions for maximum impact. For example, 29% of first time donors who became recurring donors,...

How do you magnetically attract your monthly donors? In this episode, I am diving into step three of my Monthly Giving Framework, which is all about calling in your believers. If you missed steps 1 and 2, go back and listen to Episode 131 . We'll discuss the essence of crafting a giving program with inclusive and accessible copy, how to find aligned partners that will spread the word, and the...