Jeremy Reis

Nonprofit Answers: Nonprofit Fundraising, Marketing, Monthly Giving

Business EN ↓ 92 episodes

Nonprofit Answers Podcast helps you raise more money to help more people by answering your nonprofit leadership, marketing, and fundraising questions. Learn how to reach more donors with answers to your philanthropy and advancement questions. For Development Directors, Chief Development Officers, CEOs, Nonprofit Leaders, Fundraisers, Marketing Managers, Major Donor Reps, and Nonprofit Board Members. Learn about monthly, annual fund, major, midlevel, grants, planned giving, direct mail, email fundraising, leadership, and more.

Author

Jeremy Reis

Episodes

[AI for Nonprofits] Episode 7: The Efficiency Trap ... When Automation Creates Absence 11.06.2026 15:48

Here's a scenario that plays out more often than anyone talks about. You automate several things, gain back real time, produce more content, hit your deadlines, and by every measurable metric you're more efficient. And then something shifts. You're busier than ever but feel less connected. Your communications are more frequent but your relationships feel thinner. You have more capacity and somehow...

[AI for Nonprofits] Episode 6: Content, Communications & Grant Writing 04.06.2026 15:57

The blank page is one of the most expensive problems in a nonprofit communications shop. Every appeal that goes out late, every grant narrative written in a panic the night before it's due, every newsletter that gets skipped because nobody had time — that's mission capacity sitting on the floor. AI doesn't solve the blank page problem by replacing the writer. It solves it by giving you a starting...

[AI for Nonprofits] Episode 5: Where AI Actually Helps 02.06.2026 18:46

Your donors are already using AI. Seventy-six percent of them, according to a March 2026 study from BBS & Associates. They know what AI-generated content feels like. Which means the question of whether to use AI in your fundraising isn't really about hiding anything — it's about knowing where it helps and where it quietly erodes the thing donors are actually giving to. In this episode, Jeremy...

[AI for Nonprofits] Episode 4: Automating the Obstacles, Not the Ministry 27.05.2026 19:28

You're busy. The question isn't whether AI can help with that ... it can. The question is which parts of your work should stay yours, and which parts are just getting in the way. In this episode, Jeremy Reis introduces the obstacle versus connection test: a simple, practical framework for deciding what to hand off to AI and what to protect. Some tasks are pure overhead, like formatting, reformatti...

[AI for Nonprofits] Episode 3: When AI Does Your Thinking 27.05.2026 19:31

There's a risk of AI adoption that doesn't make headlines. It's not a data breach or a generated image with extra fingers. You'll find this risk quieter than that, and by the time most leaders notice it clearly, it's been building for a long time. When you consistently hand your hardest cognitive work to a tool, something starts to slip. Your output quality hopefully doesn't change. What slips is...

[AI for Nonprofits] Episode 2: Technology as Stewardship, Not Just a Tool 27.05.2026 21:15

Most leaders ask the wrong question about AI. "Can I use this?" has a very short conversation these days ... the answer to almost everything is yes. The steward asks a different question: "Should I, and how?" That shift changes everything about how you approach technology decisions. In this episode, Jeremy introduces the steward's mindset for AI adoption, the framework that separates organizations...

[AI for Nonprofits] Episode 1: Getting Honest About Where You Are with AI 27.05.2026 18:00

Most nonprofit leaders are already using AI ... often quietly, without a shared plan, and without a framework for deciding what's okay and what isn't. A 2026 study found that 92% of nonprofits are using AI, but 65% describe their use as reactive and individual, and 47% have no governance policy at all. If that sounds familiar, this episode is your starting point. Virtuous Study: https://virtuous.o...

[Donor Retention] [START HERE] Episode 1: Why is Donor Retention So Important? 22.08.2025 8:27

Welcome to the Donor Retention: Secrets to Keeping Your Donors Engaged, for Nonprofit Fundraisers, Development Directors, and Nonprofit Leaders course! This special 20-episode course will teach you everything you need to know about donor retention, ensuring your donors keep giving and you're able to retain more monthly donors! 👉 Please download the free Donor Retention workbook at https://nonprof...

[Donor Retention] Episode 2: Quick Tips to Showing Donor Gratitude 22.08.2025 9:35

Welcome to the Donor Retention: Secrets to Keeping Your Donors Engaged, for Nonprofit Fundraisers, Development Directors, and Nonprofit Leaders course! This special 20-episode course will teach you everything you need to know about donor retention, ensuring your donors keep giving and you're able to retain more monthly donors! If you're discovering this episode first, please start with episode 1,...

[Donor Retention] Episode 3: Crafting the Perfect Thank-You: Best Practices for Acknowledging Donors 22.08.2025 9:20

Welcome to the Donor Retention: Secrets to Keeping Your Donors Engaged, for Nonprofit Fundraisers, Development Directors, and Nonprofit Leaders course! This special 20-episode course will teach you everything you need to know about donor retention, ensuring your donors keep giving and you're able to retain more monthly donors! If you're discovering this episode first, please start with episode 1,...

[Donor Retention] Episode 4: The Power of First Impressions: Crafting an Effective Email Welcome Series 22.08.2025 10:35

Welcome to the Donor Retention: Secrets to Keeping Your Donors Engaged, for Nonprofit Fundraisers, Development Directors, and Nonprofit Leaders course! This special 20-episode course will teach you everything you need to know about donor retention, ensuring your donors keep giving and you're able to retain more monthly donors! If you're discovering this episode first, please start with episode 1,...

[Donor Retention] Episode 5: Segmenting Donors & Creating a Warm Welcome 22.08.2025 8:21

Welcome to the Donor Retention: Secrets to Keeping Your Donors Engaged, for Nonprofit Fundraisers, Development Directors, and Nonprofit Leaders course! This special 20-episode course will teach you everything you need to know about donor retention, ensuring your donors keep giving and you're able to retain more monthly donors! If you're discovering this episode first, please start with episode 1,...

[Donor Retention] Episode 6: Crafting Your Fundraising Ask for the Welcome Series 22.08.2025 8:30

Welcome to the Donor Retention: Secrets to Keeping Your Donors Engaged, for Nonprofit Fundraisers, Development Directors, and Nonprofit Leaders course! This special 20-episode course will teach you everything you need to know about donor retention, ensuring your donors keep giving and you're able to retain more monthly donors! If you're discovering this episode first, please start with episode 1,...

[Donor Retention] Episode 7: Storytelling for Donor Retention: Engaging Donors Through Compelling Narratives 22.08.2025 10:36

Welcome to the Donor Retention: Secrets to Keeping Your Donors Engaged, for Nonprofit Fundraisers, Development Directors, and Nonprofit Leaders course! This special 20-episode course will teach you everything you need to know about donor retention, ensuring your donors keep giving and you're able to retain more monthly donors! If you're discovering this episode first, please start with episode 1,...

[Donor Retention] Episode 8: The Impact Report: Turning Stories into Tangible Donor Engagement 22.08.2025 10:12

Welcome to the Donor Retention: Secrets to Keeping Your Donors Engaged, for Nonprofit Fundraisers, Development Directors, and Nonprofit Leaders course! This special 20-episode course will teach you everything you need to know about donor retention, ensuring your donors keep giving and you're able to retain more monthly donors! If you're discovering this episode first, please start with episode 1,...

[Donor Retention] Episode 9: Creating ‘Wow’ Moments in the Donor Journey: Surprising and Delighting Your Supporters 22.08.2025 8:16

Welcome to the Donor Retention: Secrets to Keeping Your Donors Engaged, for Nonprofit Fundraisers, Development Directors, and Nonprofit Leaders course! This special 20-episode course will teach you everything you need to know about donor retention, ensuring your donors keep giving and you're able to retain more monthly donors! If you're discovering this episode first, please start with episode 1,...

[Donor Retention] Episode 10: The Power of Monthly Giving Programs: Building Steady Support and Lasting Relationships 22.08.2025 10:20

Welcome to the Donor Retention: Secrets to Keeping Your Donors Engaged, for Nonprofit Fundraisers, Development Directors, and Nonprofit Leaders course! This special 20-episode course will teach you everything you need to know about donor retention, ensuring your donors keep giving and you're able to retain more monthly donors! If you're discovering this episode first, please start with episode 1,...

[Donor Retention] Episode 11: Leveraging Data to Improve Retention: Using Donor Data to Personalize Communications, Predict Churn, and Refine Your Retention Strategies 22.08.2025 14:36

Welcome to the Donor Retention: Secrets to Keeping Your Donors Engaged, for Nonprofit Fundraisers, Development Directors, and Nonprofit Leaders course! This special 20-episode course will teach you everything you need to know about donor retention, ensuring your donors keep giving and you're able to retain more monthly donors! If you're discovering this episode first, please start with episode 1,...

[Donor Retention] Episode 12: Engaging General Donors: Strategies for Keeping Annual Fund Supporters Committed 22.08.2025 8:25

Welcome to the Donor Retention: Secrets to Keeping Your Donors Engaged, for Nonprofit Fundraisers, Development Directors, and Nonprofit Leaders course! This special 20-episode course will teach you everything you need to know about donor retention, ensuring your donors keep giving and you're able to retain more monthly donors! If you're discovering this episode first, please start with episode 1,...

[Donor Retention] Episode 13: The Psychology of Giving: Understanding What Drives Donor Loyalty 22.08.2025 10:36

Welcome to the Donor Retention: Secrets to Keeping Your Donors Engaged, for Nonprofit Fundraisers, Development Directors, and Nonprofit Leaders course! This special 20-episode course will teach you everything you need to know about donor retention, ensuring your donors keep giving and you're able to retain more monthly donors! If you're discovering this episode first, please start with episode 1,...

[Donor Retention] Episode 14: How to Ask for Feedback and Act on It: The Importance of Donor Feedback and How to Use It to Improve Retention Strategies 22.08.2025 11:32

Welcome to the Donor Retention: Secrets to Keeping Your Donors Engaged, for Nonprofit Fundraisers, Development Directors, and Nonprofit Leaders course! This special 20-episode course will teach you everything you need to know about donor retention, ensuring your donors keep giving and you're able to retain more monthly donors! If you're discovering this episode first, please start with episode 1,...

[Donor Retention] Episode 15: How to Keep Mid-Level & Major Donors Engaged: Strategies for Nurturing Your Most Impactful Supporters 22.08.2025 9:39

Welcome to the Donor Retention: Secrets to Keeping Your Donors Engaged, for Nonprofit Fundraisers, Development Directors, and Nonprofit Leaders course! This special 20-episode course will teach you everything you need to know about donor retention, ensuring your donors keep giving and you're able to retain more monthly donors! If you're discovering this episode first, please start with episode 1,...

[Donor Retention] Episode 16: Donor Retention for Small Nonprofits: Practical Advice for Retaining Donors with Limited Resources 22.08.2025 10:05

Welcome to the Donor Retention: Secrets to Keeping Your Donors Engaged, for Nonprofit Fundraisers, Development Directors, and Nonprofit Leaders course! This special 20-episode course will teach you everything you need to know about donor retention, ensuring your donors keep giving and you're able to retain more monthly donors! If you're discovering this episode first, please start with episode 1,...

[Donor Retention] Episode 17: The Impact of Donor Recognition Programs: Exploring Strategies and Their Effect on Retention Rates 22.08.2025 12:37

Welcome to the Donor Retention: Secrets to Keeping Your Donors Engaged, for Nonprofit Fundraisers, Development Directors, and Nonprofit Leaders course! This special 20-episode course will teach you everything you need to know about donor retention, ensuring your donors keep giving and you're able to retain more monthly donors! If you're discovering this episode first, please start with episode 1,...

[Donor Retention] Episode 18: Legacy Giving and Long-Term Retention: Encouraging Donors to Consider Planned Giving Options 22.08.2025 11:20

Welcome to the Donor Retention: Secrets to Keeping Your Donors Engaged, for Nonprofit Fundraisers, Development Directors, and Nonprofit Leaders course! This special 20-episode course will teach you everything you need to know about donor retention, ensuring your donors keep giving and you're able to retain more monthly donors! If you're discovering this episode first, please start with episode 1 l...