Nonprofit Pulse

Gregg Hunter says a membership nonprofit proves its worth by knowing its members' greatest threats and greatest needs, and then addressing them. Gregg is the President and CEO of Christian Camp and Conference Association, which serves more than 800 camps and conference centers. He has led CCCA since 2009. Membership organizations live or die on perceived value. Too often, members keep paying d...

Bill Crouch says deeper donor connections are not a fancier way to say thank you. Bill is the CEO of BrightDot Fundraising Advisors, and for 40 years he has helped nonprofits reimagine fundraising. His idea of mattership starts with one question every donor is asking: does my life matter? Many nonprofits connect with supporters mostly around gifts, events, and appeals. That keeps the calendar full...

Amberlee Burrows says a nonprofit data strategy starts with the information behind every gift, donor record, and interaction. The Development and Salesforce Director at Bearing Tree explains that gift processing is not just administrative work. It creates donor intelligence that helps fundraisers improve communication and build stronger long-term relationships. Missing contact details, duplicate r...

Michael Medoro says nonprofit coalition building works when partners stay grounded in a shared mission, bring their own strengths to the work, and remain clear about what they can and cannot do. The Chief Operating Officer and Chief of Staff at Childhelp explains that bold advocacy is not about being the loudest voice in the room. It is about being clear, disciplined, and focused on outcomes for t...

Lindsay Whorton says nonprofit-public partnerships work best when nonprofits support a public system’s goals rather than trying to shape its decisions. As president of The Holdsworth Center, she explains that lasting partnerships require real alignment from the start, respect for the public leader’s chain of accountability, and the willingness to say no when the fit is not right. Public systems of...

Erica Cox has spent more than 30 years in technology consulting, and she says nonprofit AI adoption is the polar opposite of a large, singular transformation. The Chief Innovation Officer at Provisio Partners recommends small, controlled use cases that let a team fail fast or win fast while building the guardrails it needs. The usual instruction is to clean all of your data first, then modernize s...

Krissie Kelleher brings more than 25 years of strategic fundraising experience to Team IMPACT, and she says an annual fundraising plan is not a document. It is a decision about what you will do and what you will not do. The answer is not a 40-page plan no one reads. Krissie starts with the few revenue drivers that matter, maps the work across the year, and turns ambitious goals into math the team...

Scaling a nonprofit sounds straightforward until you try to do it across hundreds of chapters powered almost entirely by volunteers. What starts as a simple, effective model can quickly become harder to manage. Growth introduces complexity, consistency gets harder to maintain, and the systems that once worked begin to strain under the weight of scale. But when it works, that same growth can turn a...

Recurring giving should be one of the most reliable and scalable revenue streams a nonprofit has. But for many organizations, it plateaus. Growth slows, donor retention becomes a challenge, and what once felt like momentum turns into maintenance. So why do so many recurring giving programs stall out? What separates the ones that keep growing year after year? And how can nonprofits design a recurri...

Impact measurement is supposed to help nonprofits do better work, but for many teams, it ends up feeling like a reporting burden. Something done for funders, not for the people actually running programs. What would it look like if your data actually worked for you? If it helped your team make clear decisions, stay aligned, and tell a more compelling story about your impact? And how can nonprofits...

Crisis doesn’t create strong communities. It reveals them. When disaster strikes, some nonprofits are able to mobilize instantly. Partners show up, resources flow, and systems hold. Others are left scrambling, trying to build relationships in the middle of chaos. The difference usually comes down to one thing: what was built before the crisis ever began. So how do you create that kind of readiness...

On paper, ambassador programs seem like a no brainer. Empower your supporters, expand your reach, and build a stronger community around your mission. But in practice, many ambassador programs lose momentum, become transactional, or quietly fade out before they ever reach their potential. So what does it take to design an ambassador program that actually works? What separates a well structured prog...

For many nonprofit leaders, the idea of merging with another organization can feel uncomfortable. Nonprofits are often deeply tied to their identity, legacy, and mission. But in today's changing landscape, more leaders are beginning to ask whether the right merger could actually expand their impact, rather than diminish it. So why are nonprofit mergers becoming more common today? How can leade...

For many nonprofits, fundraising feels cyclical. One big event drives revenue, then momentum fades, and the planning starts all over again. So what would it look like to build a true fundraising engine instead of relying on one-time events? How can nonprofits design repeatable campaigns that carry momentum forward instead of resetting every season? And what needs to change to create results that c...

Nonprofit leaders are known for their resilience, sacrifice, and deep commitment to their mission. But behind the impact and long hours, many leaders are quietly carrying stress, burnout, and challenges to their mental wellness. So why does mental well-being still feel like such a hard conversation in the nonprofit space? What warning signs do leaders often overlook in themselves and others? And h...

Nonprofit events can inspire action, strengthen communities, and bring your mission to life like nothing else. When planned with purpose, every decision, from setting objectives to creating engaging experiences, can energize supporters and turn attendees into long-term advocates. But how can nonprofits design events that truly engage and empower supporters? What strategies make experiences both me...

Nonprofit leaders make countless decisions every day, but too often those choices are guided by guesswork. The result? Missed opportunities, wasted resources, and weaker impact. So, how can leaders break free from instinct alone? What would it take to base every decision on real insights? And where should nonprofits begin this transformation? Discover how nonprofit leadership can move from gut ins...

When storytelling becomes part of your culture, everything changes. It helps your staff feel connected to the mission, empowers your volunteers to share impact, and invites donors into a more meaningful relationship with your work. So, how do you build that kind of culture from the inside out? What first steps or daily practices can you take to grow in confidence as a storyteller? And how can you...

You might not see it happening, but a tangled, unclear brand could be quietly holding your nonprofit back. Supporters don’t connect. Volunteers lose steam. Fundraising feels harder than it should. So what role should leadership play in bringing clarity back to your message? What conversations need to happen to bring leadership and teams together? And how does strong leadership translate into a bra...

Recurring donors are the backbone of sustainable fundraising, but keeping them isn’t always easy. From inconsistent communication to a lack of personal connection, there are small missteps that can lead to big losses over time. So, why do recurring donors stop giving? How can you create an experience that keeps supporters engaged? And what practical steps can you take today to build lasting loyalt...

Every nonprofit has powerful stories to tell, stories that invite people in, build empathy, and fuel generosity. Video storytelling unlocks a uniquely human way to bring those stories to life and deepen connections with supporters. But doing it well, especially with limited resources, can feel overwhelming. So, how can your organization create authentic, compelling videos that move people to act w...

In today's nonprofit landscape, success goes beyond merely passion. It requires strategic planning, solid financial management, and a mindset that treats the organization like a thriving business. Nonprofits need to view themselves as more than just mission-driven. They must adopt corporate best practices to grow, sustain, and scale their impact. But how can nonprofit leaders shift their think...

Building a diverse, high-impact board isn’t just the right thing to do. It’s one of the most strategic moves a nonprofit can make. When your board reflects a range of perspectives, skills, and lived experiences, your organization is better equipped to lead with purpose and connect with the communities you serve. But how do you find the right people, create a welcoming culture, and ensure your boar...

What if the funding your nonprofit relies on suddenly disappears? Too many organizations face this risk by depending on a single revenue source. Diversifying revenue streams not only safeguards financial stability but also opens the door to growth and innovation. So, what are the best ways to expand and balance revenue streams while staying mission-focused? And how can nonprofits successfully expa...

In today’s nonprofit world, building a meaningful connection with supporters requires more than just good intentions. It takes a brand that tells a compelling story. A nonprofit’s brand isn’t just a logo, but a representation of its mission, vision, and the change it’s working to achieve. But how can organizations ensure their brand cuts through the noise and remains true to their cause? How do st...