Rainmaker Fundraising Podcast

Every fundraiser on the planet has, at some point, wished they could have a prep conversation with a donor before they actually sit in front of them to make an ask of any kind.  But that’s silly. That’s not possible. Instead, most of us settled for half-baked role playing with a colleague from time-to-time.  And that was helpful. Sort of. But it was never exactly what we needed. It was never diale...

“How are you?” Simple question, right?  If you lead a nonprofit organization, a ministry, or work inside one, this probably feels like a loaded question. A trap, if you will.  What we all know, but what so few are willing to admit, is that burnout is at an all-time high in our sector. As Nathan LaGrange, Executive Director at Oasis Rest International says, leaders don’t set out in their careers to...

With access to clean water remaining a pressing issue in our world, charity: water stands out as a beacon of innovation and change. Brady Josephson, VP of Marketing and Growth (and a semi-regular guest on The Rainmaker show), shares insights into how the organization is transforming the way it engages with the world, driven by a relentless mission to provide clean water to every person on the plan...

Should you invest in branding, OR, should you invest in fundraising?  What creates greater impact for your cause?  The answer often depends on who you ask. There are plenty of fundraising consultants who will tell you that investing in brand is a useless exercise, and all you need to do to be successful is invest in fundraising. Buy more direct mail. Spend more on paid ad programs. Hire more consu...

Do you know the 7 key donor performance metrics that drive organizational fundraising success in your nonprofit?  My friends Gabe Cooper and Carly Berna from Virtuous help us dig into those KPI trends in this conversation about the Virtuous 2025 Nonprofit Benchmarking Report. Some of the insights we cover in this conversation include: The importance of donor retention, and the key difference betwe...

Do you know what sets the most generous fundraisers apart from the rest? In this episode of the Rainmaker Fundraising Podcast, Andrew Olson sits down with David Duxbury, Major Gift Officer at Hammer Residences, to explore the transformative power of generosity. David shares his personal journey from growing up in poverty to becoming a passionate advocate for donor impact. Together, they discuss th...

What does it really take to become a great fundraising organization? In this powerful episode of the Rainmaker Fundraising Podcast, Andrew Olson is joined by Alan Clayton, author of Great Fundraising Organizations and founder of Revolutionise. Together, they explore what separates thriving nonprofits from those that struggle, why fundraising success starts with leadership, and how to run two disti...

Is your nonprofit leaving long-term donor value on the table? In this episode of the Rainmaker Fundraising Podcast, Andrew Olson talks with Dave Raley, founder of Imago Consulting and author of The Rise of Sustainable Giving. Dave explains how the subscription economy is reshaping recurring giving and why many organizations fail to treat sustainers as the long-term partners they are. They explore...

Are you telling stories that truly inspire donor action? In this episode of the Rainmaker Fundraising Podcast, Andrew Olson talks with Tayloe Clements, Director of Digital Marketing at Barna Group and host of the Mission Money podcast. Tayloe shares her journey from filmmaker to nonprofit strategist and breaks down five key elements of compelling storytelling. She explains why conflict and transfo...

Could treating fundraising like a skilled trade transform your results? In this episode of the Rainmaker Fundraising Podcast, Andrew Olson sits down with Jason Zwang, founder of The Giving Group and longtime major gifts leader. Jason shares why major gift fundraising should be approached not just as a career, but as a craft that requires apprenticeship, trust-building, and continual learning. They...

How can failure become a catalyst for growth in nonprofit leadership? In this honest and empowering episode of the Rainmaker Fundraising Podcast, Andrew Olson is joined by Beth Fisher, CEO of Fisher Strategic. They explore how failure—especially public failure—can be one of the most powerful teachers for nonprofit leaders. Beth shares how to recover from setbacks, how to create psychologically saf...

Are your fundraising and PR efforts working in harmony—or getting in each other’s way? In this episode of the Rainmaker Fundraising Podcast, Andrew Olson sits down with Jessi Marsh, Senior Director of Creative Strategy at DickersonBakker, to explore how public relations and fundraising can support each other for greater impact. Jessi shares practical strategies for building media relationships, po...

Is your organization suffering from quiet decline—and would you even know it if it was? In this episode of the Rainmaker Fundraising Podcast, Andrew Olson talks with Jim Langley, founder of Langley Innovations and former advancement leader at Georgetown, Georgia Tech, and UC San Diego. Together they explore the concept of institutional rot in the nonprofit sector, unpack why courage and curiosity...

Tracy Thomas is a rabblerouser. A change leader. A force.  She’s also a loving mom, a caring wife, and a committed believer.  Tracy and I sat down to have a frank and honest conversation about what it’s like to be a woman in executive leadership in the nonprofit sector.  As Senior Vice President of Advancement […]