The Cause+Effect Podcast

In this episode of the Cause+Effect Podcast, Trent Dunham, CEO+ President of Dunham+Co, is joined by Brian Mountjoy, Chief Culture Officer at Dunham+Co, for a conversation on what it really takes to build and sustain a healthy organizational culture. Through stories ranging from chicken coops and workplace brackets to unforgettable moments of caring for people well, Trent and Brian unpack why cult...

In this episode of the Cause+Effect Podcast, Trent Dunham, President+CEO of Dunham+Co, sits down with Josh Crowther, VP of Dunham+Co, to unpack the real reasons donors lapse. Some reasons are outside an organization’s control, like personal financial pressure, economic uncertainty, or shifting cultural attitudes toward generosity. But many causes are self-inflicted — including silence, poor commun...

In this episode of the Cause+Effect Podcast, Trent Dunham, President and CEO of Dunham+Co, is joined again by Eric Gomez, COO of Dunham+Co, for part two of their conversation around Trent’s Top 10 for 2026 . Picking up with the second half of the list, Trent and Eric discuss how nonprofit leaders can use data visualization to make better decisions, why every communication channel matters, and how...

In this episode of the Cause+Effect Podcast, Trent Dunham, President and CEO of Dunham+Co, is joined by Eric Gomez, COO of Dunham+Co, for a practical conversation on key trends and opportunities facing churches and nonprofit organizations in 2026. Drawing from Trent’s annual “Top 10” insights shared at the Dunham+Co client summit, Trent and Eric unpack five major areas leaders should be paying att...

Does giving really go down in the summer—or have nonprofits simply come to expect it? In this episode of the Cause+Effect Podcast, Trent Dunham, President+CEO of Dunham+Co, is joined by Joshua Crowther, VP of Dunham+Co, to unpack the myths and realities of summer giving. Together, they discuss how disrupted rhythms, vacations, fiscal year timing, and donor communication all shape giving behavior d...

Is a spiritual resurgence really happening or are we just seeing isolated moments? In this episode of the Cause+Effect Podcast, Trent Dunham sits down with David Kinnaman, CEO of Barna Group, to talk about what Barna’s latest research is revealing about faith, church attendance, and spiritual openness in America. David shares why younger generations, especially Gen Z, may be showing more openness...

In this episode of Cause+Effect , Trent Dunham is joined by Matthew Luhn — writer, animator, director, author, and longtime Pixar story leader. Drawing from his work on Toy Story , Monsters, Inc. , Finding Nemo , Up , and more, Matthew shares what makes a story memorable and why great storytelling is essential for leaders, ministries, and nonprofits trying to inspire action. Together, Trent and Ma...

In this episode of Cause+Effect, Trent Dunham sits down with James “JP” Poulter, Head of Innovation at Dunham+Company and author of AI at Work  (coming August 2026), for a timely conversation on what AI means for ministry leaders right now. JP breaks down the fast shift from conversational AI to agentic AI, explains why leaders should stop treating AI like just an answer engine, and offers practic...

In this episode of The Cause+Effect Podcast, Trent Dunham is joined by Rick Dunham, Founder and Chairman of Dunham+Company, and Josh Crowther, Vice President of Dunham+Company, to unpack key findings from the latest Donor Confidence Report. Together, they explore what the research reveals about donor behavior heading into 2026: why more donors say they may give less, how economic fear is shaping g...

In this episode of The Cause+Effect Podcast, Trent Dunham sits down with Matt Potter, co-founder of PRAY.COM, for a candid conversation on how mission-driven leaders can build, test, and scale with both conviction and clarity. Matt shares his providential story—from adoption and early exposure to tech, to stepping into a calling that led to PRAY.COM’s launch in 2016—and the leadership mindset that...

Recorded live at the Dunham+Company Summit, Trent Dunham sits down with Pastor Adam Mesa of Patria Church for a grounded conversation about keeping ministry and mission-driven work personal. Adam shares lessons from a healthy leadership transition, how Patria's content strategy is designed to be a “front door” for people exploring faith, how Psalm 23 reframes leadership as shepherding, and how God...

What makes a team want to show up—and what causes even mission-driven organizations to quietly drift into burnout, confusion, or disengagement? Trent Dunham sits down with Jenni Catron, Founder & CEO of The 4Sight Group and author of Culture Matters , for a practical conversation about building environments where people thrive. Jenni shares why culture can’t be left to chance, how “environment...

In this episode, host Trent Dunham, President and CEO of Dunham+Company, is joined by Josh Crowther, VP at Dunham+Company, to discuss how ministries and organizations can start 2026 strong. Together, they explore key strategies for effective communication, donor engagement, and vision casting to set the tone for a successful year.   From debunking the myth of "donor fatigue" to practical tips on l...

In this episode of the  Cause+Effect Podcast , host Trent Dunham is joined by Rick Dunham, founder and chairman of Dunham+Company, to discuss how leaders can navigate turbulent times in fundraising. With 2025 coming to a close and 2026 on the horizon, they explore practical strategies for staying grounded, retaining donors, and maintaining a donor-centric approach during challenging seasons.   Fro...

In this episode of the Cause+Effect Podcast , host Trent Dunham sits down with Dan Sumpter, Chief Product Officer and creative leader at Dunham+Company, to explore the fascinating world of creativity with a purpose. Together, they dive into the challenges and opportunities of leading creative teams, dispelling myths about creativity, and offering practical insights for those who work with or manag...

In this reflective episode of the  Cause+Effect Podcast , host Trent Dunham, President and CEO of Dunham+Company, takes a deep dive into one of the most critical traits of effective leadership: humility. Drawing from decades of experience and personal growth, Trent explores how humility shapes strong leadership, fosters wisdom, and empowers teams to thrive.   Whether you're leading an organization...

In this episode of the Cause+Effect Podcast , host Trent Dunham is joined by Matt Ferguson and Peter McGowan, two creative leaders with a passion for storytelling, marketing, and architecture. Together, they explore the power of storytelling in shaping organizations, creating meaningful spaces, and connecting with audiences in impactful ways. From their work with Disney and Universal Studios to th...

In this thought-provoking episode of the Cause+Effect Podcast , host Trent Dunham dives into the fascinating and complex world of artificial intelligence with guest Drew Dickens. With over 25 years of ministry experience and a deep focus on the intersection of AI and spirituality, Drew brings a unique perspective on how AI is shaping our lives, our faith, and our organizations.   Together, they ex...

In this episode of the  Cause+Effect Podcast , host Trent Dunham welcomes back Rick Dunham, founder and chairman of Dunham+Company, for an insightful conversation on the latest giving trends and their implications for nonprofits.   Together, they unpack the Mid-Year Giving Update , exploring key data points from 2024 and early 2025, including donor participation trends, the impact of tax policy ch...

 In this insightful episode of the Cause+Effect Podcast , host Trent Dunham is joined by Joshua Crowther to explore the critical role of measurement in organizational growth and effectiveness. With over 17 years of experience, including a decade leading Dunham+Company’s Australian office, Josh brings a wealth of expertise to the conversation.   Together, they dive into why measuring outcomes matte...

Welcome to this episode of the  Cause+Effect Podcast , where we explore the fascinating dynamics of generational engagement in charitable giving. Host Trent Dunham is joined by two returning guests: Rick Dunham, founder and chairman of Dunham+Company, and Josh Crowther, Vice President of Dunham+Company. Together, they unpack the findings of a groundbreaking longitudinal study commissioned by Dunha...

On this episode, we’re bringing together a dynamic conversation at the crossroads of ministry, architecture, and strategy. Hosted by Trent Dunham, this episode features three incredible guests who offer unique perspectives on designing and funding spaces to better serve communities and ministries. Erik Rogers, Chief Strategist for Donor Advancement at Dunham+Company, kicks off with insight into ho...

Understanding the ebb and flow of charitable giving is crucial for nonprofits and ministries to thrive in a challenging economic landscape. Trent Dunham is joined by Rick Dunham to tackle a pivotal question many organizations grapple with: What do you do when giving isn’t awesome?     From the boom of 2021’s record-breaking donations to the flatlined trends of 2023 and 2024, this episode dives int...

We’re excited to have Brian Mountjoy, Chief Culture Officer at Dunham+Company, joining us today. With over a decade of experience shaping organizational culture, Brian brings valuable insights into what makes teams truly unified.   We explore the practical side of fostering a healthy workplace culture, where unity doesn’t mean the absence of challenges but rather handling those challenges in a con...

Dive into the latest episode of the Cause+Effect Podcast , where Trent Dunham sits down with industry experts Nils Smith, Madison DeLage, and Haley Johnson to discuss the cutting-edge tools and trends shaping the future of digital marketing and fundraising.   In this engaging conversation, the team tackles how AI is revolutionizing audience engagement, from predictive analytics to personalized con...