Nonprofit Nerd®: Impact Unleashed

As we close out Season 10 of Nonprofit Nerd®: Impact Unleashed, we're also celebrating a major milestone — our 100th episode. 🥳 In this special season finale, I reflect on the incredible guests, meaningful conversations, and powerful lessons shared throughout the season. From leadership and fundraising to governance, innovation, and sustainability, this season highlighted the passion and res...

In this episode of Nonprofit Nerd®: Impact Unleashed, Jarrett Ransom sits down with Melaina Chromy, Senior Brand Marketing Manager at Boomerang, to unpack key findings from Boomerang’s latest Giving Signals Report. Together, they explore what today’s donors are telling nonprofits about trust, transparency, and generosity, including why millennials are emerging as one of the most engaged giving gen...

In this thought-provoking episode of Nonprofit Nerd®: Impact Unleashed, Jarrett Ransom sits down with Scott Stanley, director of the North American Association of Visionary Churches (NAAVC) and Arizona Assembly, to explore the intersection of nonprofit leadership, advocacy, religious freedom, and emerging psychedelic policy. Scott shares insights from a six-year legal battle with the DEA, the chal...

In this episode of Nonprofit Nerd®: Impact Unleashed, Jarrett Ransom sits down with fundraising expert and Executive Director of The Funding Studio, Melissa Erickson, CFRE, to unpack the growing role of fiscal sponsorship in the nonprofit sector. Melissa shares how artists, filmmakers, innovators, and emerging mission-driven organizations can access philanthropic funding without immediately launch...

In this episode of Nonprofit Nerd®: Impact Unleashed, Jarrett Ransom sits down with business coach and podcast host Natalie Eckdahl to talk about the realities of nonprofit consulting, burnout, and business growth. Natalie shares why consultants should specialize instead of staying generalists, the biggest mistakes consultants make when scaling, and how nonprofit leaders can build sustainable, pro...

In this episode of Nonprofit Nerd®: Impact Unleashed, Jarrett Ransom sits down with fundraising leader and CFRE educator Jack Alotto for a candid conversation about professional growth, fundraising excellence, and the evolving nonprofit sector. Together, they explore the value of CFRE certification, overcoming imposter syndrome, effective study strategies, and why investing in fundraiser developme...

In this episode of Nonprofit Nerd®: Impact Unleashed, host Jarrett Ransom sits down with AI expert Nathan Chappell to unpack what’s really happening with AI adoption in the nonprofit sector. From governance and ethical considerations to the shift from “responsible” to “beneficial” AI, Nathan challenges leaders to think more intentionally about how technology aligns with their mission and values. T...

In this episode of Nonprofit Nerd®: Impact Unleashed, host Jarrett Ransom sits down with communications expert Keith Yaskin of The Flip Side Communications to explore how nonprofits can harness the power of storytelling to drive engagement and action. Keith shares practical strategies for uncovering meaningful stories within your organization, building a consistent message across platforms, and pr...

In this timely episode, host Jarrett Ransom sits down with Kimberly O’Donnell, Chief Fundraising Officer at Bonterra, to unpack the rapidly evolving landscape of corporate social responsibility (CSR). As nonprofits face funding instability, policy shifts, and rising demands, Kimberly shares how organizations can move beyond resilience to become truly “antifragile”—growing stronger through change....

Season 10 of Nonprofit Nerd®: Impact Unleashed begins with a heartfelt reflection on the journey so far and an exciting look ahead. Host Jarrett Ransom shares gratitude for past guests, introduces the themes shaping this season, and reaffirms the podcast’s mission to create honest, human-centered conversations for nonprofit leaders. With a focus on connection, curiosity, and real-world insight, th...

As Season 9 of Nonprofit Nerd®: Impact Unleashed comes to a close, host Jarrett Ransom reflects on the powerful conversations, insights, and generosity shared by this season’s guests. From leadership and finance to fundraising, strategy, and sustainability, each episode explored the real challenges and opportunities nonprofit professionals face every day. In this heartfelt wrap-up, Jarrett express...

Artificial intelligence is everywhere, but what does it actually look like to use AI well in the nonprofit sector? In this episode of Nonprofit Nerd®: Impact Unleashed, host Jarrett Ransom is joined by Katie Gaston of Boomerang for a grounded, practical conversation about AI in fundraising. Together, they cut through the noise to explore how AI can support fundraisers as a strategic partner, witho...

Conflict is unavoidable in mission-driven work, but avoiding it can quietly erode trust, morale, and effectiveness. In this episode of Nonprofit Nerd®: Impact Unleashed, host Jarrett Ransom sits down with conflict resolution expert and nonprofit leader Dr. Irvine Nugent to unpack why conflict is a normal part of human interaction and how emotional intelligence transforms the way leaders navigate d...

Strong missions need strong financial foundations. In this episode of Nonprofit Nerd®: Impact Unleashed, host Jarrett Ransom sits down with nonprofit CPA and advisor Lisa Stevenson for a candid, practical conversation about the financial realities nonprofit leaders face every day. Together, they unpack common financial pitfalls, why nonprofit-specific accounting expertise truly matters, and how cl...

Visibility is not about self-promotion, it’s about mission advancement.  In this episode of Nonprofit Nerd®: Impact Unleashed, host Jarrett Ransom sits down with Visibility Strategist and Strategic Impact Partners Founder Karianne Munstedt to unpack what visibility really means for nonprofit leaders. Together, they explore why visibility is a leadership responsibility, how it differs from traditio...

In this episode of Nonprofit Nerd®: Impact Unleashed, host Jarrett Ransom sits down with Ashley Bailey, Senior Major Gift Officer at Wayne State University, to explore what it truly means to fundraise with intention. Ashley shares her journey from social work to higher education development, how professional development reshaped her approach to donor relationships, and why understanding donor moti...

In this episode of Nonprofit Nerd®: Impact Unleashed, Jarrett Ransom sits down with Dr. Jen Fry to explore how curiosity, learning, and evidence-based thinking can transform nonprofit leadership. Together, they discuss the importance of asking better questions, designing organizations that learn and adapt, and balancing data with the human side of impact. This conversation offers practical insight...

In this episode of Nonprofit Nerd®: Impact Unleashed, Jarrett Ransom is joined by Mitchell Jeffery, founder of Ember Collective, to explore “the forgotten middle”. The dependable team members who consistently deliver but rarely demand attention. Together, they challenge common assumptions about performance, burnout, and support, urging nonprofit leaders to look beyond crisis management and high-pe...

Nonprofit leadership is evolving fast, and hiring the right senior talent has never been more critical. Jarrett Ransom sits down with Barrett Krise, partner at Bell Oaks Executive Search, for a candid conversation about what boards are prioritizing in turbulent times: innovative thinking, authentic people leadership, and cross-sector experience that strengthens mission impact. They unpack shifting...

Season 9 of Nonprofit Nerd®: Impact Unleashed is officially here. In this kickoff episode, host Jarrett Ransom welcomes nonprofit leaders into a new year of reflection, momentum, and possibility. Celebrating past milestones while looking ahead to 2026, Jarrett sets the stage for a season filled with honest conversations, practical insights, and inspiring voices from across the sector. From fundrai...

As the year comes to a close, host Jarrett Ransom pauses to reflect on another milestone for Nonprofit Nerd Impact Unleashed; 80 episodes and a season filled with insight, resilience, and heart.  In this special post-holiday episode, Jarrett acknowledges the exhaustion, complexity, and emotional weight many nonprofit leaders carry at year’s end, while offering encouragement, gratitude, and perspec...

In this episode of Nonprofit Nerd®: Impact Unleashed, host Jarrett Ransom sits down with Deb Nelson, Tax Partner at Eide Bailly, to unpack the financial fundamentals every nonprofit leader needs to understand. With more than 20 years of experience serving the nonprofit sector, Deb shares practical insights on managing cash flow, building collaborative and realistic budgets, avoiding common financi...

In this episode of Nonprofit Nerd®: Impact Unleashed, host Jarrett Ransom sits down with Jaclyn Pederson, CEO of Feeding Matters, to explore what values-centered leadership looks like in practice. Jaclyn shares her journey from volunteer coordinator to CEO, reflecting on stepping into executive leadership at a young age, leading through the uncertainty of the pandemic, and building an organization...

In this powerful conversation, Nonprofit Nerd®: Impact Unleashed host Jarrett Ransom sits down with Dr. Melanie Gray, leader, professor, and lifelong nonprofit advocate, to explore how trauma-informed leadership can transform today’s nonprofit workplaces.  Drawing from over 20 years of experience, Dr. Gray explains the realities of compassion fatigue, the growing pressures on nonprofit teams, and...

In this thought-provoking episode of Nonprofit Nerd®: Impact Unleashed, host Jarrett Ransom sits down with Christine Thompson for a candid conversation about the evolving dynamics between funders and nonprofits. Together, they unpack what it really means to share power, promote transparency, and move toward more trust-based and equitable funding models. Christine also shares insights from the CEO...