Purpose & Profit Club® – The Nonprofit Fundraising & Marketing Podcast

Joey Goone is back, and I couldn’t be more excited to have him return to the podcast. If you’ve ever felt like your fundraising events are starting to blend together, or you’re craving something more intentional, joyful, and authentic, this conversation is your permission slip to shake things up. Joey is the President of Utopia Experience, and honestly, he brings so much heart to the events space....

I’m back from a month in Greece, sun-soaked, inspired, and wildly energized, and there’s one theme that keeps showing up in every single conversation I’ve had since: 10 minutes can change everything. In this episode, I’m sharing the power of micro-bravery. Not hypotheticals, but real stories. A client who made one 10-minute thank-you call and created a deeper connection than she imagined. Another...

Most nonprofits wait for permission: a grant panel, a sponsor, an award to tell them they’re the best. This episode flips that script. Today, I share why it’s time to claim your brilliance, boldly articulate what makes you exceptional, and anchor your authority before anyone else does. From a five-star Airbnb in Greece to awkward sponsor meetings where leaders freeze, this conversation unpacks the...

Everyone’s chasing the wrong spotlight—and in this episode, I explain why. You think you need a Grammy winner to post your fundraiser, but what you actually need is a solid campaign and a Social Street Team® to spread it. I share real stories of big-name flops, what gets campaigns to convert (hint: it’s not fame), and how to build a movement of aligned, trusted messengers who drive results. If you...

What if your birthday could change lives? In this episode, I sit down with Kayla Houchin, founder of Sonder Bakehouse, a passionate fundraiser, and a longtime advocate for Charity: Water . Kayla shares how a book and a single birthday campaign turned into over $100,000 raised (and counting!) to bring clean water to communities worldwide. We talk about the power of starting small, how joy and creat...

What if your next major hire isn’t a person, but a system? In this episode, I pull back the curtain on the “NextGen Fundraising Engine”, a proven campaign system that replaces the need for a marketing coordinator, development associate, and monthly giving manager. If you’re stuck in a cycle of burnout, chasing one-off donations, or hiring your way out of a revenue gap, this episode is your permiss...

Feeling stuck at $200K? Plateaued at $500K? Are you wondering why you can’t push past $1M even when your mission is solid and your team is working nonstop? In this episode, I explain why nonprofit revenue stalls — and more importantly, how to move beyond it. From outdated donor funnels to board bottlenecks, this episode offers a smarter system for sustained growth. I walk you through real revenue...

If your fundraising strategy still runs on 2010 logic, this is your wake-up call. In this episode, I break down the concept of NextGen Fundraising—not just for Gen Z, but for every generation of donor who now expects fast, friction-free, modern giving experiences. I share why traditional tactics are burning you out, why your board doesn’t need another gala, and how to cut the clutter and focus on...

Donors don’t act like traditional donors anymore—they act like digital shoppers. And in this episode, Salvatore Salpietro, Chief Community Officer at Fundraise Up, joins me to break down exactly what that means for your nonprofit. This isn’t about throwing shade. It’s about meeting donors where they are—on their phones, on the go, and expecting the same seamless experience they get from Amazon, Ub...

You keep hoping your board will step up and help fundraise. They say they will. But when campaign crunch time hits, you get silence. Crickets. And you're stuck doing it all. In this episode, I walk you through the real reasons your board isn't fundraising — and it’s not just because they’re busy. From fear of rejection to outdated event mindsets, I unpack the top 10 blockers (with real-w...

Ever pour your heart into a campaign, emails sent, donors hyped, and an event planned, only to hit a wall? Donations stall, goals aren’t met, and suddenly, it feels like you failed. This episode is your permission slip to pause, reflect, and bounce back stronger. In part two of the mindset series, I’m sharing a concept I coach clients on weekly: The 7-Minute Rule . It's the strategy that help...

You know that moment when someone doesn’t reply to your email, or a donor backs out, or you get an unsubscribe notification—and suddenly, your stomach drops? Rejection stings—it hits hard and can hijack your momentum fast. In this episode, I’m sharing something I’ve been coaching on behind the scenes: The 7-Second Rule . It’s a mindset tool to help you handle rejection—ghosting, “no thank yous,” r...

Your campaign launched strong—emails out, ambassadors ready, social posts scheduled. And then the momentum vanished. You’re not alone. I’m sharing what no one prepares you for: the messy middle of your fundraising campaign. That moment when things slow down, energy dips, and you start asking, “Where is everybody?” If it feels harder to move donors right now, you’re right. The game has changed. Cam...

If you're still fundraising alone, this episode will change everything. Whether you're a solo shop executive director, a part-time founder, or running a million-dollar organisation, one thing is clear: you're not meant to do this work alone. In this episode, I’m walking you through exactly how to grow faster using digital ambassadors—aka your passionate, everyday supporters who alre...

If you’ve ever felt like your board is holding you back—or worse, like you’re stuck asking for permission to lead the organization you’re working so hard to grow, you’re not alone. In this episode, I'm joined by Sabrina Walker Hernandez , founder of Building Better Boards, to dig into why so many nonprofit CEOs get stuck parenting their boards — and how to break free from the cycle. Sabrina’s...

Ever feel like your nonprofit is saying all the “right” things but still not growing the way you want? In this episode of The Purpose & Profit Club®, we’re flipping the script on what you think is the problem. It’s not visibility or the economy—you’re blending in. You’ll leave this episode with the motivation—and permission—to say what only you can say. To show up with boldness. To be impossib...

Are you waiting for motivation to strike before you write that email, make that donor call, or launch that campaign? In this episode of the Purpose & Profit Club® Podcast, I break down the sneaky trap nonprofit leaders fall into when we rely too much on either motivation (which feels good but disappears fast) or commitment (which can quickly turn into burnout if we’re not careful). I share rea...

This episode is one of those had-to-record-it-right-away moments. I’m sharing a mindset shift that will completely change how you approach donor outreach, fundraising campaigns, partnerships, and even your emails. It’s called the 100% YES Method —and once you understand it, you’ll never pitch or plan the same way again. Inspired by a little league coaching moment with my son (stay with me, sports...

What happens when you mix a powerhouse ALS advocate, a faith-driven advancement leader, and a whole lot of heart? You get this conversation. Recorded live at GiveCon, presented by Bloomerang and QGiv, I sat down with Wendy Faust, Executive Director of Live Like Lou Foundation, and Jen Waning from the Sisters of St. Francis, and let me tell you—it was one of the most real, heartfelt, and surprising...

What makes a retirement community more than just a place to live? How do you build a culture so strong that residents, their families, and even local businesses want to give back?  This week, we’re live at GiveCon, presented by Bloomerang and QGiv, with the Bridgewater Retirement Community team—and trust me, their fundraising approach is something special. They raised $5 million in just 18 months,...

The nonprofit world is shifting fast, and if you want to stay ahead in 2025, you can’t rely on last year’s strategies. After attending and speaking at GiveCon, I took a step back to really absorb what’s working—and what’s not. From AI-powered donor outreach to bold fundraising asks that work, I’m breaking down the 10 biggest nonprofit marketing and fundraising trends that will shape how you raise...

Nonprofit fundraising doesn’t have to be a guessing game or a long, drawn-out, exhausting process. Yet, so many nonprofit leaders struggle to hit that $10k+ mark every time they run a fundraiser. If you’ve ever felt like fundraising is an uphill battle, you’re not alone—but it doesn’t have to be this way. In this episode, I’m breaking down the two essential skills that will help you raise five fig...

You’ve poured your heart into your nonprofit, spending nights and weekends building programs, rallying volunteers, and making an impact—yet, there’s still not enough funding to quit your day job and go all in. Sound familiar? So many nonprofit founders get stuck in this exact cycle—working tirelessly but never quite breaking through to a fully-funded organization. And here’s the hard truth: The wa...

If you’re not hitting your fundraising goals, it’s easy to think the problem is your CRM, website, or donation platform. But switching tools won’t fix a broken strategy. I see so many nonprofits stuck in a cycle of blaming their tech instead of addressing the real issue— how they’re engaging donors and running campaigns . In this episode, I’m breaking down three major reasons organizations miss th...

Grants disappearing overnight? Funding feeling more uncertain than ever? If the recent federal grant freeze had you panicked, you're not alone. Traditional nonprofit funding strategies aren’t as secure as they once were, and it’s time to rethink how your organization brings in revenue. I’m breaking down the biggest funding red flags I’m seeing right now, why social media without conversions i...