Responsive Lab Podcast

Global philanthropy consultant Kris Putnam-Walkerly has advised top philanthropists for over 20 years, transforming their giving and catapulting their impact. As a sought after philanthropy advisor, expert and award-winning author, she's helped hundreds of wealthy families, foundations, Fortune 500 companies, Giving Pledge signatories, and wealth advisors strategically influence and allocate over...

Casey Davis , the Executive Director at the Diabetes Research Connection , joins the Responsive Fundraising Podcast to discuss her experience leading a growing nonprofit through transition and trials. During our conversation we discuss Casey’s “partner with” fundraising approach, the importance of having a holistic fundraising strategy, and why Casey is optimistic about the industry’s future. Diab...

Gabe Cooper, Virtuous' CEO and founder joins The Responsive Fundraising Podcast to discuss what we can glean from the events of 2020 and how fundraisers should pivot to maximize the potential of 2021. 2020 has been a year of massive change for nonprofits. Everything has changed from entire teams going remote overnight to a chaotic election season, to a civil rights movement driving systemic change...

Chris Hammond and Jen Linck of CGC joined The Responsive Fundraising Podcast to get deep into the practical details, steps, and strategies of crafting an effective nonprofit marketing plan. Chris Hammond founded CGC in order to simplify the giving process between nonprofits and corporations. He developed this unique concept as a result of his experience in working in fundraising and nonprofit cons...

JB Stark (they/them) joins The Responsive Fundraising Podcast to talk about leading their team to resiliency and growth during COVID-19 and beyond. JB  is the Director of Individual Giving at The Trevor Project and is honored to work with Trevor’s family of donors who support the organization’s operations and growth. Prior to this, JB worked at the NYU Stern School of Business on the Development a...

Sarah Landman joins the Responsive Fundraising podcast to discuss personalized donor stewardship. During our conversation we discuss the tie between theatre and fundraising, key donor signals nonprofits must tune in on, and how you turn signals into more personalized cultivation plans, especially in 2021. Sarah is the Sr. VP of Philanthropy Services at NewsBank / Insightful, a web-based platform t...

Steven Aguiar joins The Responsive Fundraising podcast to discuss how nonprofits can grow their donor base through digital acquisition and paid campaigns. During the conversation we discuss essential elements of digital marketing campaigns and why a growth blueprint should replace your traditional fundraising plan. Steven is the founder of  Good Goes Further , a company that helps nonprofits creat...

Lindsay Voltz, the Sr. Director of Major Gifts at the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation (DRIF), joins The Responsive Fundraising Podcast to discuss donor stewardship strategies and what today's donor is looking for from fundraisers. During the discussion we unpack what's top of mind for today's philanthropist, how you navigate the balance between what a donor desires to do with your nonprofit...

David J. O'Brien and Matthew D. Craig join The Responsive Fundraising Podcast to discuss the insights from their new book  Building Smart Nonprofits . During the conversation we dig into  alternative funding models, how to move beyond golf tournaments, galas, and grants, and ask the question whether there are too many nonprofits. Many contrarian notes, but insightful. Building Smart Nonprofits: A...

Bridget Jones and Kelly Hayman join The Responsive Fundraising Podcast to share how they help transform the Boys & Girls Club of the Tennessee Valley fundraising programs in light of tremendous challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. During the conversation we take a step back to March 2020 to recall how Bridget, Kelly, and their team's decision making process amidst the chaos and upen...

Gordon Pont , the Partner and Strategy Director at Collab Agency in Australia, joins the Responsive Fundraising Podcast to talk about brand and marketing strategy, and the necessity to stand for something to ensure you stand out from the crowd. During our conversation we pull on Gordon's experience in consumer marketing and nonprofit advocacy and uncover essential traits nonprofit brands need to b...

Dan Reed joins the Responsive Fundraising Podcast to share his first-hand experience scaling digital fundraising campaigns. During the conversation we discuss why digital fundraising is the future of fundraising, what makes monthly giving programs scale, and the power of blending community with giving. Dan started his digital fundraising career at Us TOO International Prostate Cancer Education and...

Jake Smith , the Executive Director of Blood:Water, joins the Responsive Fundraising Podcast to discuss his path to leading his organization through uncertain times, the importance of history and rediscovering old truths with new value, and how a focus on people and execution has paved a path to help them grow 25% YOY despite the challenges of 2020. Blood:Water is an equipping agency that partners...

Catherine Moore joins the Responsive Fundraising Podcast to talk about change management and its importance as nonprofits navigate constant change. During the conversation we discuss the balance between people, processes, and platforms during systems change and the value of personal resilience that's required for successful change leadership. Catherine has served the nonprofit sector for over 20 y...

Vance Roush joins the Responsive Fundraising Podcast to share how our relationship with money impacts the way we fundraise, the importance of taking a holistic approach to donor development, and how you build a community of generosity through your communications. Vance is an ex-Googler, engineer, pastor, and now the founder of Overflow.co, a technology company committed to building the infrastruct...

Sherry Quam Taylor joins the Responsive Fundraising Podcast to share her philosophy for helping nonprofits get fully funded. Sherry teaches nonprofit leaders how to pivot from a heavy dependence on program, government, and event gifts and into securing large, investment-level donations from individuals so they can finally fund their missions. The leaders Sherry works with are experts in their fiel...

Jake Smith , the Executive Director of Blood:Water, joins the Responsive Fundraising Podcast to discuss his path to leading his organization through uncertain times, the importance of history and rediscovering old truths with new value, and how a focus on people and execution has paved a path to help them grow 25% YOY despite the challenges of 2020. Blood:Water is an equipping agency that partners...

MaryEllen Dickey , CFRE, joins the Responsive Fundraising Podcast to share what she's learned by leading donor development teams for the last two decades across social service, education, and healthcare nonprofits. We also discuss the balance between donor retention and acquisition, the importance of channel-donor fit and multi-channel fundraising, and how to lead a donor development team well to...

Missy Gale and Jill Bruner join the Responsive Fundraising Podcast to discuss the unique challenges nonprofit teams must overcome in 2020, the importance of listening to fuel fundraising activities, and how organizations must pivot plans and shift strategies to increase impact. M. Gale & Associates is a fundraising consulting firm with more than a decade of experience collaborating with missio...

Two experienced development leaders from Catholic Extension join The Responsive Fundraising Podcast to share strategies to deepen donor relationships and unpack the needed partnership required between annual fund and major gift development teams.  Tony Smercina , the AVP of Development, and Travis DeRamcy, the Sr. Director of Development, both have an array of experience managing and growing devel...

Kelsie Ruff Smith joins The Responsive Fundraising Podcast to share the inside view on the opportunities nonprofits have access to through collaboration with community foundations, corporations, other nonprofits, and local community philanthropists. We discuss what modern philanthropists are looking for in nonprofits they partner with, how to avoid duplication, and how you can build a culture of p...

Ryan Brown , stock broker turned nonprofit development professional, joins The Responsive Fundraising Podcast to share how Food for the Hungry cultivates lasting donor relationships. We discuss the power of "full heart" donor development, the need to continually pivot to stay relevant, and why waiting for "normal" will lead you to focus on the wrong tactics. Ryan is the acting CDO at Food for the...

Justin Ellis joins The Responsive Fundraising Podcast and takes us into the trenches and see how a successful VP of Development approaches their work amidst uncertain times. We discuss the importance of development staff being data-driven decision makers, the difference between transactional and transformational, and how to transform asks into investment invitations. Justin, the VP of Development...

Beth Fisher joins us to discuss lessons nonprofits can glean from how for-profit businesses approach growth, the importance and primary characteristics of good leaders, and how vulnerability at work can help unlock your team's full potential. Beth is currently the VP of Advancement & Communications at Meltrotter Ministries and is a sought-after speaker and life coach who knows how to get throu...

Matt Mundt joins The Responsive Fundraising Podcast to share how CURE bridges the giver and good gap by integrating story into every donor touchpoint. We discuss the balance of empathy and explanation during the current crisis moment, how donor experience is the key differentiator in today's connected economy, and how CURE uses multiple medias to connect people with their purpose. Matt serves as t...