The Nonprofit Lab

Philanthropic expert Claire Axelrad, founder of Clairification, joins to explore the true meaning of philanthropy—love of humankind. We dive into strategic and tactical ways nonprofits can move beyond transactions to build trust, deepen donor relationships, and lead with humanity at the heart of every ask.

Lori Zoss Kraska, CEO of Growth Owl and author of The Boardroom Playbook, shares practical strategies for transforming nonprofit boards from passive participants into purpose-driven partners. Learn how to align motivations, build trust, and activate real boardroom engagement.

Unmesh Sheth, founder of SoPact, shares his approach to impact measurement focused on listening to stakeholders, not just donors. He explains how nonprofits can move beyond activity counts to track real change using practical tools, theory of change, and continuous feedback—making data a driver of strategy, not just reporting.

What if one five-minute phone call could deepen a donor relationship, spark generosity, and build lasting trust?In this episode, Kel Haney shares a powerful framework for mid-level donor engagement, rooted in empathy, authenticity, and action. Whether you're a seasoned fundraiser or just picking up the phone for the first time, this conversation will shift how you think about donor relationships, one call at a time.

When Hannah Lowe's son was diagnosed with a rare disease, she turned fear into fuel and founded the L-CMD Research Foundation and led a successful $2M peer-to-peer fundraising campaign from scratch. In this episode, she shares her journey, the unique challenges of leading rare disease research, and how personal storytelling and community-driven fundraising can accelerate impact against all odds.

Laura Andes, Chief Program Officer at ⁠Charity Navigator⁠, joins us to explore how their new Beacon rating system is lighting the way for a more holistic, trust-centered evaluation of nonprofits. We dive into the evolution from focusing solely on financial metrics to a full 360-degree view through four key Beacons: Accountability & Finance, Leadership & Adaptability, Culture & Community, and Impact & Results. Laura also shares trends in donor behavior and how Charity Navigator is standing up for the sector during a pivotal moment with their ⁠Giving is American⁠ campaign—reminding us that generosity is woven into the fabric of our nation. This episode is a must-listen for nonprofits and donors alike as we work together to build trust and create greater impact across the U.S. and beyond.

 Cloud, data, CRMs — we cut through the noise to bring strategic clarity to nonprofit technology.Kelley Hecht (

Philip Deng, co-founder and CEO of Grantable, shares how AI is transforming the way nonprofits approach grant writing. We dive into the role of critical thinking and judgment with AI, systemic inefficiencies of grant funding, the trust barriers nonprofits face, and the power dynamics shaping philanthropy today—especially amidst the federal funding freeze and USAID shutdown.

Omondi Peter returns to share the incredible growth of Global Youth Forum from expanding football tournaments to launching an innovative archery program that blends sports with social impact. He reflects on the power of persistence, the lessons learned in scaling a nonprofit, and how embracing new challenges—like building a sustainable business model—has fueled his mission. This conversation dives into leadership, resilience, and the importance of stepping into opportunities before you're fully ready. Tune in for an inspiring look at grassroots change, sports for social good, and the mindset needed to turn vision into reality.

Griff Bohm, co-founder of Give Momentum, dives into the intersection of behavioral psychology, AI, and philanthropy to explore how nonprofits can raise more with less stress. We discuss the science behind giving, the power of making the right ask, and how AI can enhance—rather than replace—human connection in fundraising. Griff shares insights on donor engagement, the role of trust, and how nonprofits can leverage technology to create seamless, meaningful donor experiences.

Ryan Ruud, founder and CEO of Lake One, joins the conversation to explore how nonprofits can harness digital transformation to scale their impact. From his personal journey overcoming childhood cancer to his work helping organizations modernize their technology and marketing strategies, Ryan shares invaluable insights on breaking free from outdated systems, optimizing donor engagement, and leveraging AI-powered solutions—all while maintaining the heart of nonprofit work. If you're ready to rethink how your organization approaches technology, this episode is a must-listen.

In this milestone Episode 50 collaboration, Marssie Versola from Impact Table takes us through her journey from early community service to becoming a transformative leader for women in the nonprofit sector. She shares candid insights on overcoming challenges, addressing burnout, and building genuine connections that empower mission-driven leaders to create lasting social impact. Tune in to be inspired and see how Marssie is working day in and day out to challenge the status quo and elevate women in impact.

Helena Wasserman—an experienced climate investor—shares how early-stage ventures can secure the resources, coaching, and connections they need to make a powerful impact on environmental challenges. She underscores the importance of private capital in the climate tech space and highlights how nonprofit leaders and social entrepreneurs alike can adopt a startup mindset to drive innovation, efficiency, and measurable outcomes. By revealing strategies for effective fundraising, building resilience, and establishing trust with stakeholders, Helena provides clear, actionable guidance for anyone looking to scale meaningful change and navigate uncertain policy landscapes. You will walk away with fresh ideas on leveraging collaboration, transparency, and business fundamentals to amplify their mission and effect real-world solutions for our planet.

If you're someone who wants to start a nonprofit and maximize impact without the hurdles of forming a 501(c)(3), or simply learn about the power of fiscal sponsorship, then this episode is for you! Learn all about what fiscal sponsorships are, how they work, and why they might be a fit for you with Tivoni Devor, fiscal sponsor expert and author of Skip the c3: The Grassroots Guide to Fiscal Sponsorship.

Discover how intentional HR practices can transform the nonprofit sector into a space where mission-driven teams thrive. Dr. Tiffany Slater at HR TailorMade Services shares her empathetic approach to building trust, creating supportive cultures, and aligning HR policies with organizational values. From practical onboarding strategies to fostering wellness, this episode offers actionable insights for leaders looking to inspire and retain their teams.

Sheryl Cababa, Chief Strategy Officer at Optimistic Design, shares her expertise in equity-centered and human-centered design, focusing on transforming educational systems and elevating marginalized communities. Drawing from her experience with organizations like the Gates Foundation and Khan Academy, she discusses how design can address systemic inequities by involving those most affected in the problem-solving process. Sheryl highlights the importance of iterative collaboration, co-design, and prioritizing lived experience in creating impactful solutions. Through compelling examples, she emphasizes the role of design in redistributing power, breaking down silos, and fostering innovation to address complex challenges in education and beyond.

This week on The Nonprofit Lab, we're taking a break from our usual episodes to share a heartfelt message of gratitude. Join host Pooya as he reflects on the power of community, thanking our incredible listeners, inspiring guests, and the dedicated team behind MatchNice. From nonprofit leaders to lifelong learners, this special message celebrates everyone who's part of the journey to create a kinder, fairer, and more just world. Plus, hear a sneak peek about the upcoming beta launch of MatchNice, our donation matching platform designed to inspire more giving. Wishing you a happy Thanksgiving filled with love, laughter, and impact!

In this episode, Pat Taggart, founder and chief creator at The SkyBlue Creative, discusses the transformative power of unscripted and authentic storytelling through video in the nonprofit sector. He shares his passion for creating genuine content that deeply resonates with audiences, offering valuable insights on how nonprofits can leverage video production to amplify their missions and engage supporters. Emphasizing that perfection isn't necessary for effectiveness, the conversation highlights the importance of embracing authenticity in video storytelling to drive real impact and foster meaningful engagement.

We sit down with Jeremy Meyer, co-founder of Podcastathon, a global initiative uniting podcasters to raise awareness for nonprofits and charities. Jeremy shares his journey from digital entrepreneurship to social impact, where he now dedicates his time to empowering charitable organizations through podcasting. The conversation delves into the power of collaboration, the unique ability of podcasts to build deeper connections with audiences, and the potential to elevate nonprofit missions. Tune in to discover how Podcastathon is amplifying voices for a greater cause worldwide.

Join us for a deep dive into Café Momentum's mission to transform the lives of at-risk youth through culinary training, mentorship, and community support. Discover how this groundbreaking nonprofit is creating lasting change, one meal at a time.

James shares how Vehicle for Good is transforming nonprofit fundraising through vehicle sweepstakes, providing a unique and engaging way to raise funds for smaller organizations. The conversation delves into leadership, transparency, and how building trust and creativity can redefine donor relationships in the nonprofit sector.

Adam Martel, CEO of Givzey, delves into how AI is revolutionizing nonprofit fundraising with the world's first fully autonomous fundraisers. Through Givzey's Version2 platform, nonprofits can now enhance donor engagement, streamline processes, and scale their impact using cutting-edge AI technology. This conversation explores how AI is enabling nonprofits to do more with fewer resources while fostering meaningful donor relationships in this new era of philanthropy. Discover how nonprofits can leverage these tools to thrive in the future of fundraising.

Are your nonprofit financials in order? Jason Kruger, the founder and president of Signature Analytics, shares his extensive experience in financial management, particularly in the nonprofit sector. Jason discusses the critical importance of having robust financial processes and controls in place to ensure organizational sustainability and success. He emphasizes how nonprofits can benefit from fractional financial services to improve their financial health, reduce the risk of fraud, and prepare for audits effectively. Through real-life examples, Jason illustrates how proper financial management can empower nonprofits to achieve their missions while maintaining accountability and trust with donors.

How can nonprofits effectively engage and inspire the next generation of donors, particularly Gen Z and Millennials, who are redefining the philanthropic landscape with their values and digital-first approach? In this episode, we explore the strategies nonprofits can use to connect with these younger generations, from embracing recurring giving programs to leveraging personalized communication. Joining us is Lisa Greer, a renowned fundraising coach, major donor, and author of Philanthropy Revolution and The Essential Fundraiser's Handbook, who shares her insights on building authentic relationships and challenging the status quo in nonprofit fundraising.

Reflect on the forward-looking vision and potential impact of BeGiving on the philanthropy landscape. Tune in for an inside look of a John Del Bello's vision for the future of community-driven philanthropy and social impact.

In this episode we dive into the pressing issue of the nonprofit talent development crisis and the various paths nonprofit professionals can transition into the world of nonprofit consulting. Our guest is Julia Devine, co-founder of Relatable Nonprofit, an organization dedicated to empowering nonprofit professionals to transition into those successful consulting roles.

Listen in and learn from Randy Long, CEO at ThePixSquad, as he shares his unique perspective on what makes and breaks nonprofit fundraising events given his experience as a leading photographer supporting hundreds of nonprofit fundraising events and galas.

John Bromley is the founder and CEO of Charitable Giving, one of the world's largest democratized online Donor Advised Fund (DAF) platforms that has returned over $1B to nonprofits globally. Listen to learn about generational giving and how nonprofit leaders can best engage all generations of donors.

Shannon McCracken is the CEO and founder of The Nonprofit Alliance, a leading organization dedicated to advancing the nonprofit sector. With Shannon at the helm, the Nonprofit Alliance has become a driving force in shaping the discourse around nonprofit sustainability and effectiveness. Her extensive background in nonprofit management, fundraising, and donor relations has positioned her as a trailblazer in the industry.

We interview Jenny Mitchell, CEO - an executive coach and fundraising professional who helps nonprofits leaders change the world, one mission at a time; and author of Embracing Ambition: Empowering Women to Step Out, Be Seen, & Lead. Following suit, this episode is being hosted by none other than Madeline Hendry, MatchNice Co-founder and COO.

Howard Pearl is the innovative CEO of Charitable Adult Rides & Services (CARS), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that has been transforming the philanthropic landscape in the U.S. and Canada since 2003. They may just be the biggest nonprofit that you've never heard of. They run the largest vehicle and real estate donation program in North America. They process over 100K vehicles a year and have raised over $500M for more than 3,500 nonprofits. Listen to learn more about their value proposition to donors, nonprofits, and partners.

Learn how Rebecca went from being a community champion, to founding her nonprofit Stable Moments, to replicating and scaling her organization across more than 40 locations across the United States.

What if you could raise money for a nonprofit by listening to Spotify, going for a walk, or even playing Fortnite? In today's episode, we delve into some really cutting-edge technology in the world of social impact with our guests Mario and Maurizio Hernandez, brothers and founders of Knobl.

On this episode we interview Carol Hamilton, Principal, Grace Social Sector Consulting, LLC. Carol helps nonprofits become more strategic and innovative for greater mission impact. She provides organization effectiveness consulting, meeting design and facilitation, and training to organizations. A strategic thinker, Carol works with teams and organizations to envision and frame their future strategic direction. As you'll hear she's very practical in her approach in the way she helps organizations think through who is key to creating their future, how to gather insights from these stakeholders, consider the big picture, imagine new possibilities, come to agreement on their future goals and create an initial action plan to get started. Carol has more than 25 years of experience in the association and nonprofit sectors. Carol speaks and trains frequently on leadership, strategy and innovation topics. She graduated from Swarthmore College and has her Masters in Organization Development from American University.

It's great to be back! Our latest episode is out now and features Mark Miller, who has helped over 100 nonprofits rebrand their organization from the inside out. Mark is a brand strategist, Co-Founder and President of Historic, producer of Future Nonprofit Podcast, and author of Culture Built My Brand. People create work culture, culture defines brands, and Mark helps redefine brands. Listen to learn more about the strategic aspects of building a brand and how nonprofits can think about how they might align their culture and organizational culture to built the future that should be.

Quick update, where we've been, where we are, and where we're going with the podcast. Thanks for your listenership, we're looking forward to sharing more impactful content with you all soon!

In this interview we get to know and discuss how Trevor and Erin approach nonprofit consulting and the ways in which they meet their clients where they are to take them where they want to go. Listen for an:

In this episode we interview Pamela Davis, CEO of Nonprofits Insurance Alliance and we discuss the technicalities of insurance while spending time discussing the heart of socially conscious leadership. Listen for: 1) A brief history of insurance in the nonprofit sector 2) Recent shifts in coverage availability for nonprofits 3) Policies that all grassroots nonprofits should consider 4) The importance of challenging status quo systems 5) Conscious leadership in a capitalist market economy ABOUT OUR GUEST Pamela Davis, CEO of a group of cooperative nonprofit insurers known as the Nonprofits Insurance Alliance (NIA). Pamela was featured in a PBS documentary and sequel, part of the Visionaries series, she received the first ever Award for Policy Innovation from The Goldman School of Public Policy, UC Berkeley. She was named one of the nation's 15 BEST BOSSES by Fortune Small Business and Winning Workplaces, named by Business Insurance as one of the 80 “Women to Watch” and an “Elite Women” by Insurance Business America, and was twice listed as a Nonprofit Times Power & Influence Top 50. She holds a BA with highest honors in Economics from the University of California, Santa Cruz and a Master's in Public Policy from the University of California, Berkeley.  Link to Nonprofits Insurance Alliance website: https://insurancefornonprofits.org/

On today's episode we have the privilege of interviewing Nisha Anand, an Indian-American activist, mom of two teenagers, and a boundary-busting national leader for social and racial justice. Once a grassroots activist arrested in Burma for pro-democracy demonstrations, Nisha is known today as a leader in cultivating unlikely and unconventional partnerships to create change. As Dream.Org's CEO, Nisha guides a team of storytellers, organizers, and policy experts working on some of society's toughest problems to create a better future for all. In this episode we discuss: ✊

Our episode today is all about values and my guest is Brenda Boyle.Brenda is all about helping leaders and teams translate their values into specific, simple actions! She spent years in the non-profit and social impact sector. We discuss: 1) Why values are important for organizational culture 2) How to define simple, powerful, actionable values 3) What it means to truly live out values inside and out 4) When clear values can protect your team's health 5) The ROI of defining values and the cost of not Link to Fireaheart Coaching: https://www.fireheartcoaching.com/

We cover a wide variety of topics in this episode, but there's one recurring theme: generosity is not a commodity. Tim Sarrantonio, a generosity experience designer and Director of Corporate Brand at NeonOne, a nonprofit CRM solution. Listen to this episode as we discuss:

What makes people give? It's a question that my next guest has obsessed over for more than a decade. Tim Kachuriak is the founder and Chief Innovation and Optimization Officer for NextAfter, a fundraising research lab consultancy and training institute that works with charities, nonprofits and NGOs to help them grow their resource capacity. Tim and his team at NextAfter and have conducted 5,000+ experiments spanning 600+ million donor interactions and first-hand research analyzing 1,000+ nonprofits across 12 countries to understand why people give. In this episode we discuss:

In this episode we speak with Omondi Peter and cover a broad spectrum of lessons that nonprofits leaders and aspiring change makers can learn from based on stories for how anyone can:

In this episode we speak with Stephen Kump, CEO of Charityvest about how they're democratizing Donor Advised Funds (DAFs) and cover:

In this episode we speak with Lori Kross Zaska, Founder and Chief Principal of Growth Owl, LLC to understand: ♟️ The playbook to win more corporate sponsorships

Did you know volunteers are 2x likely to donate to your nonprofit? Listen to Episode 18 of The Nonprofit Lab where I speak with Geng Wang, CEO and Cofounder at Civic Champs to understand:

TLDR What, how, and why impact impact measurement is important to improve outcomes for nonprofits, donors, staff, and the communities we serve. GUEST My guest today is Sheri Chaney Jones, co-founder, President and CEO of SureImpact, a case management and impact measurement software company. For more than 20 years, Sheri has applied performance management, evaluation, and organization behavior best practices to non-profit organizations and government agencies to improve outcomes and efficiencies. An author, professor, and internationally recognized expert, Sheri believes in data, metrics, and accountability. Her foray into entrepreneurship began with Measurement Resources Company in 2010 which is now a national firm that increases the capacity of non-profit and government sector organizations through high-performance practices and data-driven insights. In 2018, Sheri launched SureImpact to automate and simplify the process of collecting and sharing outcomes and impact data. Sheri is a thought leader on public sector evaluation and applied organizational research. She is the author of Impact & Excellence: Data-Driven Strategies for Aligning Mission, Culture, and Performance in Nonprofit and Government Organizations. OVERVIEW In this episode we go deep into what impact measurement in the nonprofit sector means, how and what to measure, why it's important for program evaluation and fundraising and the common challenges with getting measurement started. We'll talk about the importance of qualitative storytelling that gets to our hearts, and the facts and figures of quantitative measurement and how when paired together, both can can make donors want to give more and understand the impact of their donations, and your nonprofit staff better see and understand the impact of their work. We'll go into how all of this impact data can help nonprofits be best positioned to win more grant opportunities, become better stewards for donors, focus on the why with staff, and ultimately increase the impact on the causes that nonprofits are tirelessly working towards.

My guest today is Lucia Kanter St. Amour is the VP for UN Women USA, attorney of 25 years, international negotiation superhero, and bestselling author of For the Forces of Good: The Superpower of Everyday Negotiation. As a special needs parent, executive director of a grassroots nonprofit organization, law professor, and recovering CEO, she has traveled broad and deep territories on behalf of people who have been left out of discourse, decision and design. In this episode we go to a lot of places. We'll learn about Lucia's journey into the nonprofit sector as a founder, explore the inspiration and lessons learned in her grassroots nonprofit, successes and challenges of building impactful programming as a small nonprofit, similarities, differences, and connections in her leadership role and work as VP of UN Women in San Francisco, and discuss the skills and power of negotiation for women and how men can be better allies. Listen for lessons from grassroots to global nonprofit leadership: 1. Ways to engage donors to support specific program needs 2. The importance of nonprofit board governance and diversity 3. Negotiation skills for women by women and how men can be allies 4. How nonprofit leaders can leverage negotiation skills in fundraising You can learn more about Lucia and her work at: https://www.pactumfactum.com/

Allison Cousins is an educator and entrepreneur living in St. Louis, Missouri. She grew up in Huntsville, Alabama where she attended the University of Alabama competing in volleyball throughout her college career. Passionate about sports and education, she launched her early career into education and coaching. In 2018, through her work as a Physical Education Teacher and Athletic Director at Lafayette Preparatory Academy (educating youth Kindergarden through 8th Grade) Recognizing a gap in the availability and access to sports and extracurriculars in her school, Allison dedicated to take action and launched St. Louis City League, a nonprofit on a mission to develop the next generation of youth through engagement in school sports. Founded in 2021, City League partners with middle schools in St. Louis City to reduce the barriers for schools to sustainably develop and implement school sport programs like basketball, volleyball, soccer, cross country. Schools are facing teacher shortages and funding cuts, while consistently being called upon to meet the increasing social, emotional and learning needs of students. City League seeks to reduce the barriers for schools to provide high quality school sports and extracurricular activities for St. Louis' 9,000 middle school students. Allison is also the CEO of a St. Louis Tech Startup, Approach Dating; a new kind of dating app to find your person, in person. In this episode we cover a lot of awesome topics from the perspective of a leading edge grassroots nonprofit leader: including: 1. The power of building traction and measuring impact to build trust with your community 2. How to communicate impact and vision in a case statement 3. The importance of networking with values and mission-aligned community members as a founder 4. Creating clarity on your target donors and segmenting based on passion and interest 5. Setting up a new donor management system 6. How to connect with your audiences effectively through you website 7. Lessons learned in board management as a new nonprofit 8. Social media strategies, how to start, be consistent, and build a following 9. Building a roadmap to sustainable funding and development 10. And the overlaps between startup tech and nonprofit from a founder who lives in both worlds. Consider donating to the cause at www.stlcityleague.com

This episode provides a first-person roadmap through the seat of Aliza to the creation of a new nonprofit mission, a go-to-market strategy for nonprofits, sustainable fundraising approaches, and the approaches to overcoming challenges as a leader who's “first to market” on an issue. Aliza Shatzman is the President and Co-Founder of The Legal Accountability Project, a nonprofit aimed at ensuring that law clerks have positive clerkship experiences, while extending support and resources to those who do not. Aliza earned her BA from Williams College and her JD from Washington University School of Law. After law school, Aliza clerked in D.C. Superior Court during the 2019-2020 term. In March 2022, Aliza submitted written testimony for a House Judiciary Subcommittee hearing about the lack of workplace protections in the federal judiciary, detailing her personal experience with gender discrimination, harassment, and retaliation by a former D.C. judge, order to advocate for the Judiciary Accountability Act, legislation that would extend Title VII protections to judiciary employees. Aliza now writes and speaks regularly about judicial accountability. She has been published in numerous forums, including the Harvard Journal on Legislation, UCLA Journal of Gender & Law, Yale Law &; Policy Review, NYU Journal of Legislation &; Public Policy, Administrative; Law Review, Above the Law, Law360, Slate, Ms. Magazine, and more. Check out this link to Aliza's House Judiciary Committee written testimony.

Today's guest is making a reappearance on The Nonprofit Lab! Laura Otten, Ph.D., is the founder and Director of La Salle University's Master of Science in Nonprofit Leadership and a tenured member of La Salle's faculty. She was the Executive Director of La Salle's Nonprofit Center from 2001 through May 2021, and brings over 50 years of experience in the nonprofit sector. As you'll hear at the end, we actually weren't planning for our conversation to be an episode for The Nonprofit Lab. Laura is one of our key advisors for MatchNice, and I was recording this call to share with my co-founders, but as you'll hear at the end of the episode I thought her feedback was too good not to share. In this episode I run through a variety of status quo practices in the nonprofit sector we've uncovered in our journey of discovery so far and get Laura's feedback on each; as we came to find, every single one of these status quo practices boils down to the categories of having a scarcity mindset vs abundance mindset across things like: fundraising, partnerships, mission delivery, technology adoption, and so much more.