Podcasts about Fundraising

Send us Fan MailCancer at 24 will either harden you or wake you up. When Mike Ferriter gets the call that he has testicular cancer, the “healthy young athlete” story disappears overnight, and gratitude stops being a nice idea and becomes a survival skill. We talk through what that season teaches him about time, empathy, and the quiet truth that everyone around you is fighting something, whether you can see it or not. We also get into the foundations that shape Mike's approach to fatherhood: growing up in Montana in a big, close family, learning discipline without fear, and hearing two words as a sixth grader that still hold up today: integrity and adversity. We connect those values to real parenting, like how we talk to our kids about failure, how we build resilience without coddling, and why being present sometimes looks like getting on the floor and playing even when you are tired. Then we pivot to work and identity. Mike shares the fog of coaching life, the crossroads moment after a successful season, and why he chooses a new path at Central Washington University as Associate Director of Development supporting scholarships and student-athletes through fundraising. If you are a dad questioning your career, your availability at home, or what you want your legacy to be, this conversation offers a grounded way to think about it. If you enjoy thoughtful fatherhood stories and practical leadership at home, subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review so more dads can find the show.Support the showPlease don't forget to leave us a review wherever you consume your podcasts!  Please help us get more dads to listen weekly and become the ultimate leader of their homes! 

Two genuinely ridiculous things crossed Hawk's desk today, and they rhyme. First, The Atlantic reports that with his approval parked in the low thirties, the president sat his advisors down to figure out how to spend a roughly $400 million super PAC war chest, and the master plan they landed on is more of himself. The diagnosis from his own team is that voters just haven't been properly introduced to his accomplishments yet, which is a bold thing to say about the most photographed man alive. The cure is ads. About him. Problem solved. Then there's the convention. Parties hold conventions in presidential years. Everybody knows this except, apparently, the people planning a two night Trump convention in Dallas on September 9th and 10th, keynote speaker both nights, him. It lands on NFL opening night, which is a fight with the NFL that the NFL does not know it is in and will win anyway. And the cover charge is the punchline: House candidates reportedly pay their own super PAC to walk in, tiered all the way up to a six figure package Hawk reads out with the delight it deserves. His take, more or less: if you were trying to lose on purpose, it would look a lot like this. SUPPORT & CONNECT WITH HAWK- Support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mdg650hawk - Hawk's Merch Store: https://hawkmerchstore.com - Connect on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mdg650hawk7thacct - Connect on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hawkeyewhackamole - Connect on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/mdg650hawk.bsky.social - Connect on Substack: https://mdg650hawk.substack.com - Connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hawkpodcasts - Connect on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mdg650hawk - Connect on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/mdg650hawk ALL HAWK PODCASTS INFO- Additional Content Available Here: https://www.hawkpodcasts.comhttps://www.youtube.com/@hawkpodcasts- Listen to Hawk Podcasts On Your Favorite Platform:Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3RWeJfyApple Podcasts: https://apple.co/422GDuLYouTube: https://youtube.com/@hawkpodcastsiHeartRadio: https://ihr.fm/47vVBdPPandora: https://bit.ly/48COaTB

Global Catalyst is on a mission to mentor girls around the world to become powerful advocates and confident leaders. They went from just 7 monthly donors in July 2025, to growing their Girls First community by 500% to 35 monthly donors.As a girl mom, this episode with Courtney Stricklin Burgan hits deep to my heart. In her role as VP of Engagement and Communications, Courtney leads a passionate team of fundraising and storytelling professionals, and we're going to get into every single detail of how she did it.You'll discover why donors started choosing $20, $25, and even $33 a month, how they steward their community with birthday cards, anniversary emails, sticker packs, and personal outreach, and why Courtney sees monthly giving as “major giving in a different way.”Resources & LinksLearn more about Global Catalyst, follow them on Instagram, and connect with Courtney at c.strickland@globalgirlsglow.org. Check out Courtney's book recs, Dungeon Crawler Carl and I Am A Girl From Africa.This episode is presented by The Monthly Giving Builder. If you are leaving real impact dollars on the table, sign up by August 12th for just $49.99/month and get FREE access to 3 LIVE sessions on August 17, 20, and 27 to help you stand up your monthly giving program.With the Monthly Giving Builder, you can generate your comprehensive monthly giving plan and build your program step by step - with a guided companion working alongside you from start to finish. Supercharge your monthly giving program and apply for my Monthly Giving VIP Intensive session. Only 2 spots are available this fall!Let's Connect!Send a DM on Instagram or LinkedIn and let us know what you think of the show!My book, The Monthly Giving Mastermind, is here! Grab a copy here and learn my framework to build, grow, and sustain subscriptions for good.Want to book Dana as a speaker for your event? Click here!

In this episode of What the Fundraising Podcast, What if music could do more than entertain people? For Mike, concerts have become a way to bring people together and raise money for an important cause: finding better treatments for epilepsy. Mike Gomoll founded Joey's Song, a 100% volunteer organization, following the loss of his son. Based in Madison, Wisconsin, the organization is dedicated to funding research grants aimed at minimizing and ultimately eliminating seizures. Rather than spreading its efforts across awareness campaigns and patient services, Mike has kept the mission deliberately focused on research, making it easier for sponsors, artists, and supporters to understand and champion the cause. Mike explains how Joey's Song uses unique music concerts to raise funds. Well-known artists, including The Bangles, Goo Goo Dolls, and Tears for Fears, come together to perform covers and create a special experience for both musicians and audiences. Moreover, he talks about why artists return every year and shares lessons from ideas that did not work as expected. The conversation also covers taking smart risks, protecting donor money, and being willing to change plans. Mike believes organizations should keep their main purpose clear while listening to their teams, learning from experience, and following new opportunities. In this episode, you will be able to:  - Understand how a clear mission can guide an organization. - Explain how music events can support fundraising. - Identify ways to engage and retain artists. - Understand the value of community building. - Recognize the importance of taking smart risks. - Learn from unsuccessful ideas and mistakes. - Understand how to balance risk and responsibility. - Recognize when an organization needs to adapt. Get all the resources from today's episode here.  Support for this show is brought to you by Donor Perfect. Our friends at Donor Perfect really understand fundraising on so many levels. Stay aligned while working online with a seamless and secure payments experience for your donors and your team. Empower donors to give where they are, whenever they like, automate data entry, and process online, monthly, and mobile payments, and accept payments over the phone. Connect with me:  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_malloryerickson/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whatthefundraising YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@malloryerickson7946 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/mallory-erickson-bressler/ Website: malloryerickson.com/podcast Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/what-the-fundraising/id1575421652 If you haven't already, please visit our new What the Fundraising community forum. Check it out and join the conversation at this link. If you're looking to raise more from the right funders, then you'll want to check out my Power Partners Formula, a step-by-step approach to identifying the optimal partners for your organization. This free masterclass offers a great starting point.

On this episode of the Charity Charge Show, host Grayson Harris sits down with Erika Swilley, Executive Director of the NBPA Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the National Basketball Players Association. Swilley explains how the foundation turns NBA player fines into matching grants. Her core message applies to any nonprofit leader: intent is not enough, and lasting impact comes from focus, not volume.About the guest. Erika Swilley has spent more than two decades in sports philanthropy, including senior community and social responsibility roles with the Detroit Pistons, Golden State Warriors, and Chicago Sky. She now leads the NBPA Foundation, where she created the Fined and Philanthropic campaign and advises active and retired players on building genuine, durable community impact.Quick SummaryThe NBPA Foundation funds much of its work through pooled player fines, then matches player donations up to $25,000 a year for active players and $15,000 for many retired players.The Fined and Philanthropic campaign educates players, agents, and families on where fine money goes and how to tap the match.Swilley pushes players away from one-off events like turkey drives and toward year-round, focused giving that builds a legacy.Most young players are steered away from starting their own foundation and toward donor-advised funds, fiscal sponsors, or established nonprofits.Nonprofits can connect with the foundation through its website or LinkedIn to be considered for player partnerships.Inside the NBPA Foundation: how player fines fund community workThe NBPA Foundation is a nonprofit that channels NBA player fine money into community programming led by the players themselves. When players receive technical fouls or ejections, those fines are pooled and, at the end of the season, split between NBA Cares and the foundation.The foundation then reinvests those dollars through a matching grant program that has existed since 2015. Engagement has climbed sharply under Swilley, who describes the model as non-traditional because so much of the funding starts as penalties. In the 2025 offseason, the NBPA reported distributing roughly $1.6 million in matching grants from fine money.Player statusAnnual matching grant capActive players | Up to $25,000 per yearEligible retired players | Up to $15,000 per yearFined and Philanthropic: turning penalties into purposeFined and Philanthropic is the campaign Swilley created to show players exactly where their fine money goes and how to put it to work. Many players assumed their fines vanished into a black hole with no idea the money funded community programs they could tap.The campaign uses simple, memorable touches, including hats that tell players where their fine dollars land. The goal is awareness across the full circle around a player, meaning agents, family members, and team staff. Swilley spent 19 years on the team side without knowing these resources existed, so she built the campaign to close that exact gap.

Most nonprofit founders and leaders think DIYing their fundraising is the responsible choice. It feels like smart budgeting and being resourceful, but it quietly costs the organization more than any support ever would.In this episode, I share why free fundraising advice, AI-generated campaigns, and trial-and-error in front of donors aren't savings; they're expenses that never appear on a budget line. I walk through what DIY fundraising actually costs in time, momentum, donor relationships, and delayed campaigns, and share stories from clients like Mary who went from raising just $3,000 in her year-end to multi-five-figures with one change. You'll hear about Sophia and Jamie who canceled a gala and raised $20,000 in one simple online campaign, and why investing in a proven system is the fastest path to your first $250K, $500K, and beyond in unrestricted individual donations.Topics:Why DIY fundraising costs more than it saves: in time, donor relationships, and revenue never raisedThe "we can't afford support" loop and why it keeps organizations stuck at the same funding level year after yearWhy AI is making it easier to produce more mediocre fundraising, not better fundraisingMary's story: from a $3K year-end campaign to $12K after joining The SPRINT Method™Why my clients canceled a gala, raised $20K in weeks, with less work, less overhead, and a lot more funWhat investing in a fundraising system actually gives you: accountability, community, expert feedback, and a repeatable processFor a full list of links and resources mentioned in this episode, click here.Bloomerang is the complete donor, volunteer, and fundraising management solution that helps thousands of nonprofits like yours. Book your demo here. Read The 2026 Giving Signals Report here.  Enrollment is open now, and you can save $500 during this launch, get the Year-End Bonus Bundle, and ticket to our live fall planning workshop. Go to splendidcourses.com/sprint and join us.Resources:Easy Emails For Impact™: The $5K+ Fundraising Campaign SystemPurpose & Profit Club® Fundraising + Marketing Accelerator   The SPRINT Method™: Your shortcut to 10K fundraisers Instagram, LinkedIn, website , weekly newsletter  [FREE] The Brave Fundraiser's Guide: Stop getting ignored. Start raising more. May contain affiliate links

Find out the latest political news from Blois Olson and Adam Carter on WCCO's Morning News

Tasha Kheiriddin, a writer and commentator for the National Post, GZero Media, and Substack

Find out the latest political news from Blois Olson and Adam Carter on WCCO's Morning News

Political commentator James Mennie is a reporter, columnist and editor at the Montreal Gazette. He can be heard weekdays at 4:05 p.m. on Montreal Now with Aaron Rand.

Dr. Chris Labos, cardiologist with a degree in epidemiology and a regular contributor on CJAD 800 - you can catch him every Sunday on Weekends with Joanne Vrakas at 7:20AM

Barry Appleton, international trade lawyer and co-director of the Center for International Law at New York Law School, and an Adjunct Professor at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo Image: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

Charles Milliard, leader of the Quebec Liberal Party Image: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christinne Muschi

Paul Chablo, Chairman of Police Technology at CEGEP - John Abbott College and member of the board of directors of the International members of police academies and college training organization

Cambridge Tech Week's pitch competition is back, and this year's shortlist might be the strongest yet. James and Faye sit down with four of the five finalists ahead of their head-to-head on the main stage of the Cambridge Corn Exchange on 16 September 2026. It's a special, quick episode, a reunion of sorts: four of the five companies have featured on the podcast before, many as #21toWatch winners. The fifth - an Edinburgh-based AI company - proves that Cambridge Tech Week's reach now stretches well beyond the city.This episode introduces the finalists:Phil Spence, HotHouse Therapeutics (Norwich) - engineering plants to produce entirely new-to-nature vaccine adjuvants. Their target? Replacing QS-21 - with a scalable, less toxic, bioengineered alternative of similar efficacy.Dr Monica Saavedra's, Lambda agri (Cambridge) - an additive embedded into greenhouse paint and polytunnel sheeting that converts damaging UV light into red light, boosting photosynthesis and delivering up to 20% more yield per crop.Sam Kamali, Myonerv (Cambridge) not present on recording - a wearable medical device, to monitor and treat stroke induced paralysis, allowing stroke patients suffering from upper limb paralysis, to regain real-time control of their hand.Ruben Ruiz-Mateos Serrano, Polytecks (Cambridge) - a novel conducting polymer woven into e-textile electrode arrays that map the body's electrical activity in high-density detail - their first product, stages the most common cardiac disease in dogs.George Arden, Xplore Intelligence (Edinburgh) - simulates real operational environments to train and benchmark entire AI agent systems - catching hallucinations and errors before they reach users in regulated sectors like MedTech and logistics.Why Are They Competing?The answer is consistent across all finalists: it's not just about the prize money.Fundraising momentum - multiple founders are mid-round and treating the stage as a high-quality investor touchpointEcosystem reach - Cambridge Tech Week draws a global audience; and creates a deliberate bridge across the UK deep tech communityThe live final is sponsored by Mills & Reeve, and joined by PwC, and Julius & Clark. Judging on the day: Zickie Lim (Partner & Head of VC & Investments, Mills & Reeve), Marilena Ioannidou (British Business Bank), Richard Lewis (Foresight Group), and Emmi Nicholl (Cambridge Angels).Two prizes are up for grabs: Judges' Award and People's Choice Award.Be there in person: Wednesday 16 September, Cambridge Corn Exchange. Tickets at cambridgetechweek.co.uk Subscribe on all major podcast platforms or visit cambridgetechpodcast.com.Headline sponsor Holden PolestarProduced by Cambridge TV#CamTechPod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Listen and subscribe to Money Making Conversations on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, www.moneymakingconversations.com/subscribe/ or wherever you listen to podcasts. New Money Making Conversations episodes drop daily. I want to alert you, so you don’t miss out on expert analysis and insider perspectives from my guests who provide tips that can help you uplift the community, improve your financial planning, motivation, or advice on how to be a successful entrepreneur. Keep winning! Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Ryan Richmond.

Why does Old Dominion continue to win at such a high level in college tennis?ODU Women's Tennis Head Coach Dom Manilla and ODU Men's Tennis Head Coach Dominik Mueller join Aaron and Mike for a wide-ranging conversation about the championship culture both programs have built — and what it takes to sustain that success as college athletics changes around them.The two Doms take us inside their different approaches to recruiting, roster construction, NIL and the transfer portal, including why Mueller believes the portal has actually opened doors for ODU to land better freshmen.They also tackle a much bigger issue facing college athletics: tennis programs around the country being eliminated as athletic departments face increasing financial pressure. Manilla explains why winning, fundraising, community support and running a first-class program have never been more important.Plus:

Fundraising efforts go a long way to introducing hockey to new generations of fans. Find out more with Vineeta and Mike Snee.

Political commentator James Mennie is a reporter, columnist and editor at the Montreal Gazette. He can be heard weekdays at 4:05 p.m. on Montreal Now with Aaron Rand.

Political analyst David Heurtel is an attorney. He is a former Québec liberal cabinet minister and CEO of Montreal’s Olympic Park. He can be heard regularly on Montreal Now with Aaron Rand.

Éric Sansoucy, spokesperson for CORPIQ, the largest organization of rental property owners and managers in Quebec

Dida Berku, Former Côte-St-Luc city councillor

André Bernier, president of the association representing principals, assistant principals and administrative managers in schools

The fair is in full swing, Bishop of Gibraltar, Monsignor Charles Azzopardi has his usual food stall set up, providing tasty food while also raising money for the soup kitchenFr Charlie joins us in the studio to talk about how it's going this year.El Martillo ltd has announced it will open 150 new vacancies in various sectors across Gibraltar, having acquired dozens of companies on the Rock in the last few years.Senior broadcast journalist, Ros Astengo brought us the details.We catch up on all the weekend sport with Robin Sheppard-Capurro.Prior Park School announced 100% pass rates for GCSEs and A Levels this year. Fresh from exams and having received their results over the last couple of weeks, we speak to GCSE and A Level students about their exam experience, and ask them what comes next.That's on Gibraltar Today, between 1 and 2, with me, Claire Hernandez Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fundraising efforts go a long way to introducing hockey to new generations of fans. Find out more with Vineeta and Mike Snee.

A Corporate Time with Tom and Dan — Episode Notes Episode: "Best Of the Week — August 17–21" Hosts: Tom and Dan | Guest: Ross McCoy, John Graham, Billy (Claremont Knights), Marlon Wayans (via Zoom) Sponsors / Ad Reads Central Homes Roofing — Family-owned Orlando roofer of 30+ years, voted #1 roofer three years running by Orlando Weekly. Free inspections/estimates, hurricane warranties, in-house (non-1099) crews, will handle small repairs other roofers skip, 4.8-star Google rating, same-day estimates, and $500 off a re-roof for Tom and Dan listeners (centralhomesroofing.com). Core Flooring — Sponsor of the Weird Job Wednesday segment; contact Corey at Core Flooring in Winter Park for flooring work. Segment Rundown Cold open: Snack Scout naming bit — Tom and Dan welcome in-studio comedian Ross McCoy and John Graham (thatguyontv.com) for the monthly food segment, riffing on rebranding John's recurring "garbage food" bit (Snack Scout, Commissioner of Junk Food, Garbage Man) before diving into product tastings. 7 Up's secret reformulation — John reveals 7 Up is quietly changing its formula (not just adding a flavor) and flipping "lemon lime" to "lime lemon" on cans, sparking nostalgia about the "7 Up Yours" campaign, the Spot mascot's Sega Genesis game, and childhood freebies like McDonald's records and Domino's Noid toys. Protein Pop-Tarts and cup noodle taste test — Dan trashes protein Pop-Tarts his wife bought; the group samples Texas Barbecue and Kansas City Barbecue cup noodles, arguing Texas vs. Carolina-style barbecue, sodium/fat content, and confusing FDA daily-value percentage labeling. Pork brains and gas station oddities — Tangent on canned pork brains in milk gravy sold at Kentucky/Indiana convenience stores, its sky-high cholesterol content, and old 7-Eleven chili-cheese cup-noodle toppings. Tombstone gluten-free potato-crust pizza — The crew tries a Tombstone loaded bacon cheddar pizza with a potato-starch gluten-free crust, spinning into a debate about how many people falsely claim gluten intolerance versus real conditions like Crohn's, plus stories of self-diagnosed sensitivities that turned out to be lifestyle-related (alcohol, shellfish). Papa John's "garlic flavored sauce" gotcha — Ross spots the fine print on a grocery-store Papa John's garlic dipping sauce revealing it's "garlic flavored," not real garlic, printed nearly invisibly on the label; leads into margarine vs. butter and the "ultra-processed food" trend, including Dan's story of overdoing it on Slim Jims as a kid. Coors Light Cheez-Its taste test — A Target-exclusive Coors Light beer-cheese Cheez-It is sampled; talk turns to favorite Cheez-It varieties (white cheddar, with burned/"extra toasty" as the house favorite) versus Goldfish, and kids outgrowing "baby food" snacks like Goldfish and Uncrustables. Homemade Caesar salad lunches — Ross describes his daughter's daily self-made Cardini's Caesar salad lunch ritual and her brand loyalty, which detours into a chat about Worcestershire sauce containing anchovies. Chips Ahoy mystery-flavor contest — The group tastes a soft-baked "mystery flavor" Chips Ahoy tied to a $25,000 guessing contest, guessing vanilla/maple/birthday cake, and debates soft-baked vs. crispy cookies and whether the campaign will flop. Peach Moon Pies and "location foods" — Peach mini Moon Pies are taste-tested, leading to a debate about foods that only belong in specific settings (s'mores only while camping, hot dogs only at cookouts, peanuts/sunflower seeds only at ballgames or while driving). Ultra-processed rebranding and vegan pranks — Talk of brands (Kellogg's dropping dyes, Utz's "three ingredients" marketing) trying to seem less processed, plus a story about a vegan family member's protein powder that turns out to just be ground peanuts. Tootsie Pop flavor-swap taste test — The crew tries new fruit-filled Tootsie Pops (blue raspberry/cherry, strawberry/lemon, green apple/watermelon), jokes about why they weren't renamed "Gordon Pops" after the family that owns them (versus the Reese family drama), and a tangent on the trucking-industry origin of the word "Gaylord" for pallet boxes. Hard candy nostalgia — Discussion of why older generations favor hard candy (fading taste buds craving sweet/salty extremes), fond memories of the "crunchy center" moment on Tootsie Pops and Blow Pops, and whether candy left out ever truly spoils. Segment wrap and plugs — John plugs thatguyontv.com and workshops a new nickname (Snack Hunter); a riff on graham crackers' inventor Sylvester Graham believing they cured alcoholism and "chronic masturbation"; plug for the Moe Comedy Jam at Orlando Funny Bone. Weird Job Wednesday: meet Billy — Segment sponsored by Core Flooring; Tom and Dan welcome Billy, a former Marine and commissioner/coach for the Claremont Knights Youth Football League, discussing his crushing handshake and his family's move from Staten Island to Clermont, Florida. Coaching rules then vs. now — Billy explains Pop Warner's shift from weight classes to an age cutoff (July 15), banned drills like the "nutcracker" and Oklahoma drill, and new safety gear like guardian caps, contrasted with the no-water, no-sympathy coaching Tom and Ross remember from their own 1980s youth football days. Finding the "dog" in young players — Billy discusses helping kids get past the fear of contact, spotting natural talent early (including a 12-year-old opponent who stood 6'8"), and the competitive instinct every kid has but must learn to control. Work ethic and parent commitment — Talk of the grueling practice schedule (up to five days a week), year-round training across football, baseball, and conditioning, Billy's daily 100-pushup rule for his son, and how he handles parent complaints about playing time (tabling them until "Monday," never game day). Fundraising for stadium lights — Billy details the Claremont Knights' $120,000 campaign to install lights at Eastridge Middle School so teams can practice later into the fall, plus the league's quiet scholarship program for kids who can't afford to play, directing listeners to claremontknights.com to donate. Refs, replay, and closing thoughts — Discussion of how paid, tested Pop Warner referees are held to a higher standard than assumed, Billy's own concussion-era playing memories versus modern protocols, and a closing reflection on coaching as a volunteer's "return on investment" through watching his kids succeed. Marlon Wayans on Scary Movie's return — Marlon Wayans joins via Zoom to discuss the new Scary Movie's $230+ million global box office and its September 5 Paramount+ streaming release, explaining why he and his siblings sat out installments 3–5 before reclaiming the franchise. Football training for the role — Marlon describes training for football scenes opposite Tyreek Hill, getting pulled off actual throwing duties by the director in favor of a body double, and getting private quarterback coaching from "Jordan Palmer's brother." Funny Bone marathon and work philosophy — Talk of Marlon's seven-show Funny Bone run (two Friday, three Saturday, two Sunday), his philosophy of constant stagecraft and studying audience reactions, and his upcoming stand-up special and touring set. Liga Tridente cigars — Marlon discusses his Honduran-made cigar brand, expanding from five to roughly 100 (soon possibly 1,000) retail locations, and how he got into the business through his ex-girlfriend's now-business-partner Victor. Family life and the Wayans clan — Marlon talks about his three-and-a-half-year-old daughter, turning 54, hosting family gatherings at his house, and why the family has always turned down reality-show offers. Post-interview reflections on hustle — After the call, Tom and Dan compare Marlon's estimated net worth to his other ventures (likening him to Shaquille O'Neal's diversified business empire), debate what "trying your hardest" really means, and recall the "collard greens" bit with their producer Butler that cemented their relationship with Marlon. Key Dates / Plugs Mentioned This Friday — A BDM member is visiting the show/community from England. This weekend (Fri–Sun) — Marlon Wayans' Orlando Funny Bone run: two shows Friday, three Saturday, two Sunday. September 5 — The new Scary Movie begins streaming on Paramount+. Tickets on sale in September; event October 17 — The Moe Comedy Jam at the Orlando Funny Bone. Ongoing — Sign up for BDM membership at tomanddan.com registration for extra shows, private events, and the Facebook group. Ongoing — Donate to the Claremont Knights' stadium-lights fundraiser at claremontknights.com. Notable Guests/Callers Ross McCoy — In-studio comedian, part of the food segment and Weird Job Wednesday discussions. John Graham (thatguyontv.com) — Monthly food-segment guest bringing in unusual snack products. Billy — Weird Job Wednesday guest; commissioner and coach for the Claremont Knights Youth Football League, former U.S. Marine. Marlon Wayans — Actor/comedian, joined via Zoom to discuss Scary Movie and his Orlando Funny Bone stand-up run. ### Website: https://tomanddan.com/ App: https://tomanddan.com/app Become a BDM: https://tomanddan.com/registration Merch: https://tomanddan.myshopify.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TomandDanLive Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/tomanddanlive Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AMediocreTime Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tomanddanlive/ X: https://x.com/TomAndDanLive TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@tomanddanshow Reddit: https://reddit.com/r/tomanddan ACT RSS: https://feeds.libsyn.com/61976/rss AMT RSS: https://feeds.libsyn.com/18904/rss

Listen in to the closing session of Petrus's Virtual Summit on AI in Fundraising as Andrew Robison, Sarah Rose, Matt Bond, and Rhen Hoehn answer live questions from attendees, including:→ How do you respond to employees who refuse to use AI?→ Are data centers and AI harmful to the environment?→ Will offloading tedious tasks to AI cause burnout by leaving staff only with emotionally taxing work?→ Is there a way to encourage AI adoption without undermining the dignity of workers doing replaceable tasks?

As AI changes the way nonprofits connect with donors, the big question is: can technology make fundraising more personal, not less?  Derric Bakker, CEO at DickersonBakker, explores how fundraising has moved from personal, relationship-based work to more transactional communication. He shares how AI can help nonprofits bring personalized donor experiences to more people, not just major donors.  The discussion covers key ideas such as listening to donors, personalizing messages, showing genuine thanks, building trust, respecting donor timing, and focusing on long-term relationships.   Derric also highlights the importance of using AI responsibly. Nonprofits should be honest when AI is involved and should never use technology to trick or pressure donors. Trust is at the heart of successful fundraising, and once it is lost, it can be difficult to rebuild.   The conversation also looks at how nonprofits can use AI to scale personal communication while keeping the human side of fundraising strong.   Overall, the message is simple: use AI to strengthen relationships, not replace them. The future of fundraising should combine smart technology with genuine human connection.  HIGHLIGHST   [02:00] Derric's Professional Journey   [06:07] The Shift Toward Transactional Fundraising  [10:37] Genesis of A Better Way to Fundraise   [16:46] Core Principles of Relationship Fundraising  [21:17] AI Ethics and Maintaining Donor Trust   [35:19] The Future Outlook for Fundraising  Resources:  Connect with Derric:  LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/derricbakker/  Website: betterwaychampions.org/  Website: dickersonbakker.com/  Mentioned in the episode:  A Better Way to Fundraise - Treat Every Donor Like a Major Donor: How AI is Enabling Major Giving at Scale - And Reshaping the Future of Philanthropy: amazon.com/Better-Way-Fundraise-Reshaping-Philanthropy    Better Way Champions — Resources and a growing community of nonprofit leaders working to rethink the future of fundraising: BetterWayChampions.org    Better Way Champions on Substack — Derric's latest writing on fundraising, philanthropy, AI, and the changes reshaping our sector: https://betterwaychampions.substack.com/subscribe 

Planned giving does not have to be complicated OR expensive, and you don't need an estate attorney to get started. What if your nonprofit already has planned giving prospects sitting inside your donor database, but you just haven't asked them yet?Tony Martignetti worked with a historical society who mailed just 250 people about planned giving. SIX donors responded that they had already included the organization in their wills!We talk about how Tony built St. John's University's planned giving program to $20 million, why your best prospects are often your most loyal long-term donors, and why he recommends starting with donors around age 55-60+ and older. And yes, monthly donors absolutely belong in this conversation. Someone who has supported your organization month after month for years can make an incredible planned giving prospect.Resources & LinksConnect with Tony on LinkedIn, tune in to his podcast Nonprofit Radio, and learn more Planned Giving Accelerated.This episode is presented by The Monthly Giving Builder. If you are leaving real impact dollars on the table, sign up by August 12th for just $49.99/month and get FREE access to 3 LIVE sessions on August 17, 20, and 27 to help you stand up your monthly giving program.With the Monthly Giving Builder, you can generate your comprehensive monthly giving plan and build your program step by step - with a guided companion working alongside you from start to finish. Supercharge your monthly giving program and apply for my Monthly Giving VIP Intensive session. Only 2 spots are available this fall!Let's Connect!Send a DM on Instagram or LinkedIn and let us know what you think of the show!My book, The Monthly Giving Mastermind, is here! Grab a copy here and learn my framework to build, grow, and sustain subscriptions for good.Want to book Dana as a speaker for your event? Click here!

Listen and subscribe to Money Making Conversations on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, www.moneymakingconversations.com/subscribe/ or wherever you listen to podcasts. New Money Making Conversations episodes drop daily. I want to alert you, so you don’t miss out on expert analysis and insider perspectives from my guests who provide tips that can help you uplift the community, improve your financial planning, motivation, or advice on how to be a successful entrepreneur. Keep winning! Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Ryan Richmond.

Listen and subscribe to Money Making Conversations on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, www.moneymakingconversations.com/subscribe/ or wherever you listen to podcasts. New Money Making Conversations episodes drop daily. I want to alert you, so you don’t miss out on expert analysis and insider perspectives from my guests who provide tips that can help you uplift the community, improve your financial planning, motivation, or advice on how to be a successful entrepreneur. Keep winning! Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Ryan Richmond.

Listen and subscribe to Money Making Conversations on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, www.moneymakingconversations.com/subscribe/ or wherever you listen to podcasts. New Money Making Conversations episodes drop daily. I want to alert you, so you don’t miss out on expert analysis and insider perspectives from my guests who provide tips that can help you uplift the community, improve your financial planning, motivation, or advice on how to be a successful entrepreneur. Keep winning! Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Ryan Richmond.

What if becoming a better leader starts with letting go of who you think you should be? Meet Rebecca Blume, the Vice Chancellor for Advancement at the University of Washington Bothell. She has 22 years of fundraising experience and has worked with organizations including Fair Start and the YWCA in downtown Seattle.  To start the conversation, Rebecca shares how her experiences helped her become more confident and comfortable with her leadership style. She discusses viewing life as seasons rather than chasing perfect balance, using a pendulum to shift attention toward what matters most.  Moreover, Rebecca shares a powerful exercise for challenging limiting beliefs and explains how letting go of the need for total control can strengthen trust within a team. The discussion also touches on people-pleasing, healthy boundaries, holding space for difficult emotions, and responding rather than reacting. Finally, Rebecca encourages leaders to intentionally shape workplace culture and make small, daily shifts toward authenticity, connection, and trust. In this episode, you will be able to:  Lead more authentically by being comfortable with who you are. Manage different life priorities by thinking in seasons. Identify limiting beliefs that may affect your leadership. Let go of unnecessary control and build trust within your team. Set healthy boundaries without feeling guilty. Handle difficult emotions without reacting defensively. Communicate clearly during challenging situations. Create a positive workplace culture that reflects your values. Reduce people-pleasing habits and focus on what truly matters. Make small daily changes to become a more confident and authentic leader. Get all the resources from today's episode here.  Support for this show is brought to you by Donor Perfect. Our friends at Donor Perfect really understand fundraising on so many levels. Stay aligned while working online with a seamless and secure payments experience for your donors and your team. Empower donors to give where they are, whenever they like, automate data entry, and process online, monthly, and mobile payments, and accept payments over the phone. Connect with me:  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_malloryerickson/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whatthefundraising YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@malloryerickson7946 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/mallory-erickson-bressler/ Website: malloryerickson.com/podcast Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/what-the-fundraising/id1575421652 If you haven't already, please visit our new What the Fundraising community forum. Check it out and join the conversation at this link. If you're looking to raise more from the right funders, then you'll want to check out my Power Partners Formula, a step-by-step approach to identifying the optimal partners for your organization. This free masterclass offers a great starting point

Send us Fan MailConnor Burbridge discusses his campaign for U.S. Senate against incumbent Jack Reed, focusing on issues, grassroots strategy, and vision for Rhode Island's future**This episode dives into Connor Burbridge's grassroots campaign, emphasizing bold ideas to challenge the status quo and invigorate Rhode Island politics. If you're interested in innovative policies, campaign strategies, and how a small state can punch above its weight, this is a must-listen.Key Topics:The current state of Burbridge's campaign, including poll numbers, fundraising, and ground game strategiesThe importance of debates and candidate transparency, and Burbridge's efforts to challenge Reed for an open discussionPolicy contrasts: healthcare, elder care, energy crisis, public education, and economic developmentCritique of Reed's fundraising reliance on corporate and defense sector money vs. Burbridge's grassroots approachThe future of Rhode Island's defense sector: defense contracts, offshore wind, and transitioning to green manufacturingThe shift in public sentiment toward government and private sector, and how to rebuild trust through effective public investmentThe importance of early groundwork and relationship-building with industry while in oppositionTimestamps:00:00 - Introduction to Connor Burbridge's campaign against Jack Reed00:25 - Campaign momentum and voter support in Rhode Island00:51 - Fundraising challenges and grassroots strategy01:36 - Ground game significance and voter engagement03:07 - Reactions from Reed's campaign and debate attempts04:20 - Why debate transparency matters for voters05:01 - Polling insights: internal vs. validated polls06:37 - Campaign growth and policy focus areas07:32 - Key policies: elder care, energy affordability, and education09:00 - The role of big money vs. grassroots in campaigns10:12 - Voter responses to national issues like energy nationalization11:14 - The public's desire for ambitious, big-picture proposals12:20 - Shift in public trust from private to public sectors13:00 - Challenges of government efficiency and rebuilding trust14:07 - The importance of vision in rebuilding government capacity16:00 - What the primary shape of the Democratic Party looks like16:48 - Defense sector economic impact and future growth opportunities20:09 - Transitioning from defense dependence to green energy and offshore wind21:26 - The influence of political change on policy priorities22:11 - Building relationships with industry during opposition23:15 - Supporting grassroots candidates and re-engaging voters Support the showFollow Bill on Instagram and YouTube

Dina Besic started Maxwell's Toy Box because her two-year-old son Max wanted a train table in his oncology playroom. Three years later, while working a demanding full-time corporate job, raising two kids, and navigating Max's cancer treatment, she built an organization that has supported over 5,000 children, donated $9,100 directly to families, delivered 8,500 toys, and created 4,064 joy packages for children receiving chemotherapy… and she doubled her fundraising year over year with the support of The SPRINT Method™.In this episode, Dina shares how she got out of her own way, moved from begging friends and family to running peer-to-peer campaigns and securing corporate sponsorships, and shifted her donors from giving physical toys to unrestricted cash donations. We also talk about the identity shift that changed everything, and what she would tell the version of herself who was terrified to ask.Topics:How 108 donated toys grew into an organization serving thousands of children and families Moving supporters from donating physical toys to giving dollars the organization can put to work How peer-to-peer fundraising opened the door to corporate sponsorships and new donor acquisitionGetting out of draft mode when you're the founder, fundraiser, marketer, and decision-makerWhat doubling fundraising looks like when you have a full-time job, two kids, and a nonprofit to runFor a full list of links and resources mentioned in this episode, click here.Bloomerang is the complete donor, volunteer, and fundraising management solution that helps thousands of nonprofits like yours. Book your demo here. Read The 2026 Giving Signals Report here.   $10K in 10 Days:  The Campaign Plan You Can Run From Your Laptop  Powered By The SPRINT™ Method  - CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP Thursday, August 20th at 12 PM ETResources:Easy Emails For Impact™: The $5K+ Fundraising Campaign SystemPurpose & Profit Club® Fundraising + Marketing Accelerator   The SPRINT Method™: Your shortcut to 10K fundraisers Instagram, LinkedIn, website , weekly newsletter  [FREE] The Brave Fundraiser's Guide: Stop getting ignored. Start raising more. May contain affiliate links

Why AI Cannot Replace Fundraising StrategyI use Claude every day, he's literally my side piece. And I'm telling you to stop buying AI tools.Here's what I'm seeing across nonprofit shops right now: everyone's buying wealth screening software, AI donor tools, personalization platforms. They think the tool will fix it. It won't. AI amplifies what you already have. If your strategy is broken, AI just accelerates the crash.The real problem isn't AI. It's that most nonprofits don't have a strategy. They don't have criteria for what qualifies a major donor. They don't have a framework for moving donors through a process. So they purchase expensive tools and create content slop, technically personalized, completely forgettable.Here's the Ferrari metaphor: You need three things to actually get somewhere. One, the car (your AI tools). Two, to know how to drive (a clear strategy like EFOS). Three, to know where you're going (the skills to execute). Most nonprofits have one. Maybe two. Then they crash and blame the car.In this episode, I'm breaking down the five components of real qualification, timing, capacity, reason, engagement, permission and why wealth screening covers maybe one of them. Then I'm showing you what changes when you nail down EFOS first, then layer AI on top: suddenly AI becomes a qualification accelerator instead of just a donor organizer.What You'll Learn:Why wealth screening is not qualification (and what actually is)The five components of real donor qualificationHow AI synthesizes your data when you have a clear strategyThe Ferrari framework: why most nonprofits crashHow to stop chasing donors and start attracting themWhy your donor communication tools are creating slop (and how to fix it)Important Links:My Big Ask Gifts ProgramMy Book, Get That Money HoneyMy NewsletterJoin the Free Webinar

Plus: DeepSeek's flagship models will soon cost users four times as much to run. And Reddit is set to join the S&P 500. Danny Lewis hosts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Reflections from host Sarah Olivieri ... Is Your Budget Killing Your Major Gifts Program? Many nonprofit leaders I talk to about major gifts describe some version of the same wall. They know the money is out there. They have heard the statistics about wealth transfer and donor-advised funds. They have sat through the trainings. And still, nothing moves. So they go looking for the missing skill. Better scripts. A new CRM. A workshop on how to ask. Here's what I often find when I see an organization trying to do major gifts but struggling. They're actually operating with systems and processes that work against major gifts. Systems like: annual fundraising strategies a schedule of campaigns an annual budget that rewards short-term gifting, which often comes at the expense of building the proper long-term relationship that leads to true, significant, sustainable funding from major donors Relationships operate on systems as well, but these are not the systems that relationships run on. When the wrong systems are in place, people rarely call out the system. They compensate with effort instead. In fundraising, that effort goes into activity that can be measured this quarter. Events. Appeals. Data entry. All of it visible, all of it defensible, and very little of it building the thing that tends to produce seven-figure gifts. A version of this came up on almost every strategy call I had this spring, which is why I was glad to sit down with Bill Crouch and talk it through. Bill has spent more than forty years inside this work, first as a college president raising private money in the shadow of a state flagship, now advising nonprofits nationally. He has lived this work and he has taught it, which is a rarer combination than it sounds. What the conversation gave me was not a new idea. It was a sharper explanation of why the patient approach holds up and why so few organizations are structured to survive the wait. The Annual Budget Is the Clock Everything Else Runs On Start with the operating budget, because everything downstream inherits its timeline. A relationship with a high capacity donor takes eighteen months. Sometimes three years. Bill spent eighteen months getting the first million dollar commitment for a giving group at his own college. Six weeks after that, he had five more, because the first person made calls to friends. Eighteen months of nothing, then five gifts in six weeks. Now put that curve inside an organization that closes its books every twelve months and asks the development office what it brought in. The gap is rarely a matter of discipline. The organization has committed to a reporting cycle that cannot see the work until it is already finished. So the work does not get funded, does not get protected on anyone's calendar, and does not survive the first cash flow scare in month seven. I write and talk a lot about how the layout of your budget shapes the decisions you make, and this is the most expensive version of that. A twelve-month frame makes long horizon relationship work look like underperformance. Then leaders respond to the number in front of them, which is the only responsible thing to do with the information the system gives them. The Desk Always Wins Bill described development work as needing two different capabilities. The technical side, sitting in the office getting things done. And the relational side, out in the world with people. Two skill sets, often two different humans. In a small shop, one person holds both. Ask that person what they did last week and you will hear about the database, the appeal, the grant report, the reconciliation. Not the coffee that took ninety minutes and produced no measurable outcome. The desk wins because the desk has deadlines. The relationship has none. This is a design flaw with a simple mechanism. Every task in the office has a due date attached to it and a visible consequence for missing it. Relationship building has neither. Give one person both jobs and the work with a deadline tends to consume the work without one, week after week, however much that person believes in the relational side. Which means the fix is structural. Protect the time in a way the person cannot trade away, or separate the roles. Telling someone to prioritize relationships more is asking them to out-discipline their own job description. The Mechanism, Named One line from that conversation has stayed with me: "That forces nonprofits to make short-term decisions that hurt long-term strategies." What I appreciate about this framing is that it locates the problem in the design rather than in the people executing it. The short-term decision is the rational one given the reporting cycle. Change the cycle, or build a revenue floor that takes the pressure off it, and the same team will often behave differently. Not much had to change in anyone's character. The structure stopped charging them for patience. Turnover Is What the Design Produces Forty years ago, the number one problem in nonprofit fundraising was development staff turnover. It is still the number one problem. Bill named four causes, and the timeline inside them is the part worth sitting with. It takes about sixteen months for the wrong hire to realize they do not want this job. It takes the supervisor about sixteen months to accept the same thing. So roughly a year and a half of relationship equity walks out the door, and the next person starts from zero with donors who have now been handed off twice. Run that loop three times and you have a decade of fundraising with no compounding whatsoever. The organization has been paying for major gifts capacity the entire time and never accumulating any. And the third cause Bill listed is the one nonprofits could fix tomorrow. The only way to get a meaningful raise in this field is to leave. We hand out cost of living adjustments and call it compensation strategy. Then we act surprised when the person holding four years of donor history takes a call from a recruiter. The turnover looks to me like an output. The design tends to produce it, and hiring better rarely changes what the design produces. If you want to see the same mechanism from another angle, emotional intelligence functions as retention infrastructure inside these teams, not as a soft add-on. Relationship Building Is a Practice You Can Teach Here is the part that gets skipped. The long horizon only pays off if something real happens inside it, and most organizations treat what happens in the room as a matter of charm. Some people have it. Some people do not. Hire for it and hope. Bill asks every high capacity person he meets about their favorite childhood toy. That is the whole thing. A simple question about a toy, and within a couple of minutes he is hearing what someone actually cares about, in their own words, before any case statement enters the conversation. I have been collecting strategic questions for years, and I recently started a separate collection just for get to know you questions. His goes at the top of that list. I asked my next podcast guest the same thing, and it changed the shape of the whole interview. Which tells you something about the mechanism. A good question is repeatable. It can be written down, taught, practiced, and handed to a nervous program director who has never asked anyone for money. Charm cannot. So when an organization decides that relationship building is a talent rather than a practice, it has quietly made that work impossible to train, impossible to delegate, and impossible to sustain past the tenure of whoever happened to be good at it. Bill also brings brain science into how he approaches this, and that tracks. Relationship building, brain science, and psychology go hand in hand. People give when they feel seen, heard, and valued, and there is a physiological story underneath that, not just a sentimental one. Which means the patient work is doing something specific in those eighteen months. Those months are where the ask becomes possible. Skip them and you are asking a stranger. Titles Are Structure Bill told a story about interviewing a researcher at a large university. She had put the institution in her will. She had been there sixteen years. She had identified and researched a donor who eventually gave a million dollars. No major gift officer had ever walked into her office to thank her. Nobody, in sixteen years. She stayed because her children had a tuition waiver. His response to this pattern is to give every person in the development operation the same title: "Every person in the development shop should have the same title. Director of Major Gifts." This makes sense given the setup. A title describes what the organization believes a role is for. When the researcher's title says researcher and the gift officer's title says major gifts, the org chart has already suggested who is doing the real fundraising and who is doing support work. Most people read that correctly and behave accordingly. I coach clients on titles constantly, usually while helping them build a first development department, and my rule is that people should have whatever title helps them do their job best. Bill's version goes further, and I think he is right about it. It does two things at once. Inside the organization, it tells the researcher and the data entry person that they matter, which is the same thing every donor is trying to find out about themselves. Outside the organization, it gives every one of those people a title they can carry into a room and use to build a real relationship. Give everyone the title that names the actual goal, and you have used structure to say something that a values statement on the wall never manages to say. The Board Question That Is Easy to Sequence Wrong Then there is the board, where two incompatible jobs get stuffed into one body. Bill's framing came from a retired chamber of commerce CEO. Most nonprofit boards are made up of sparrows. Sparrows come to the quarterly meeting, sit through staff reports, argue about whether to spend two hundred dollars on a computer, write a thousand dollar check, and buy a seat at the gala. Most nonprofits could not operate without them. Plenty of boards also want an eagle. Someone who can write a seven-figure check. Eagles tend to hate meetings, do not care about the computer, and rarely sit through reports. Put one on your board and within a year they will often either turn into a sparrow or quit. So Bill builds his clients a separate group. Five or six people, all high capacity, meeting twice a year in each other's homes rather than at your facility, with a single agenda item. Which of our friends can we ask. I give the same advice and I get there differently. I do not want money, power, and decision-making consolidated into the same group of people. Your governing board should be the people who want to do the careful, unglamorous work of oversight, checking that nothing is going off the rails. Not the people with the biggest checkbooks, who are usually the furthest from the weeds and the least accountable for the outcome. So give the givers their own structure where giving is the actual job. Two groups, two purposes, no competition between them. This is also why the board chair and executive director relationship works better when the governance lane is clearly drawn. What a Built System Looks Like Build the plumbing first. Here that means a small number of specific things in place before anyone worries about scripts. The CEO carries a real portfolio, ten people or fewer, and treats it as a standing commitment rather than a fourth quarter push. The relational time is protected structurally, not aspirationally. Compensation is designed so that staying is financially rational. There is a revenue floor that does not depend on this year's major gift closing, which is what makes waiting affordable. And there is a group whose entire purpose is giving and opening doors, separate from the group that governs. Fully built or partially built matters enormously here. A partially built major gifts function has all the cost and none of the compounding. You are paying for the staff, the software, and the events, and you are still starting over every eighteen months. Diversifying and de-risking your revenue base is part of the same picture, which is why revenue design deserves attention before the ask does. What This Makes Possible When leaders see this clearly, the fear around major gifts usually drops several notches. The conversation stops being about whether anyone on the team is brave enough to ask a person for a million dollars and starts being about whether the organization can hold a relationship for three years without flinching. That is a design question, and design questions have answers. What can stop being so heavy is the self-blame. Chances are nobody failed at fundraising here. The organization was built with a twelve-month clock and then asked to do multi-year work, and it did roughly what that setup tends to produce. You are where you are, it is what it is. Once the structure changes, the same people, the same mission, and the same donor list start producing something entirely different, because the effort finally accumulates instead of resetting. Doing Work That Compounds This is not about asking bigger. It is about building an organization that can hold a relationship long enough for the ask to make sense. Nonprofits can raise transformational money.They can pay their fundraisers well enough to keep them.They can stop rebuilding donor relationships from scratch every eighteen months. Not by pushing harder, by building systems that hold. About the Guest Bill Crouch is the CEO of BrightDot Fundraising Advisors and has spent more than 40 years helping nonprofits transform fundraising into meaningful, lasting relationships with donors. A former college president, fundraising expert, author, and Honorary Fellow at Oxford University, Bill is the author of Mattership™: Making Donors Feel They Matter, where he shares practical strategies for building trust and inspiring generosity. Connect with Bill: Website: http://thebrightdot.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/brightdot LinkedIn personal: Bill Crouch LinkedIn Be sure to subscribe to Inspired Nonprofit Leadership so that you don't miss a single episode, and while you're at it, won't you take a moment to write a short review and rate our show? It would be greatly appreciated! Let us know the topics or questions you would like to hear about in a future episode. You can do that and follow us on LinkedIn.

Once again, this week's episode is a recording of Petrus Development's recent Virtual Summit on AI In Fundraising.  This live discussion with our fundraising experts demonstrates practical uses of AI tools for common fundraising tasks.Specific examples of AI in fundraising include the following:Annual Fund demonstrations included efforts like planning a communications calendar, searching through testimonials, drafting a newsletter article, and repurposing newsletter content for social media channels.Major Gifts demonstrations included developing a meeting prep brief for a donor visit, determining an ask amount for a donor, and organization donor notes after a visit.Project management demonstrations included developing a gala plan, drafting event communications, and creating committee agendas.

These robots could cut delivery costs by 80% | Next Unicorns This Week In Startups is made possible by: Squarespace https://squarespace.com/twist Northwest Registered Agent https://northwestregisteredagent.com/twist Agree https://agree.com     Today's show: *Cytronic built a robotics-first fulfillment network, packing and shipping orders for cents instead of dollars, from small, city-adjacent micro-warehouses. Alex chats with CEO and co-founder Kevin Gibbon about how he can build a fulfillment warehouse for $1.2 million, and why it costs Amazon 50M-100M. PLUS Eyebot delivers low-cost doctor-reviewed eyeglass prescriptions following 90-second vision tests, conducted in everyday kiosks. We asked CEO and co-founder Matthias Hofmann how he's trying to simplify vision care and caught up with his Walmart and Sam's Club pilot programs. Guests Kevin Gibbon on X: https://x.com/kevingibbon Cytronic: https://cytronic.ai/ Matthias Hofmann on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mchofmann/ Eyebot: https://www.eyebot.co/ Relevant Links Axios: Cytronic seed round: ****https://www.axios.com/pro/supply-chain-deals/2026/07/15/robotic-fulfillment-cytronic-13m Airhouse acquired by Syncware: https://www.airhouse.io/ Amazon News: 10 Years of Robotics: https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/operations/10-years-of-amazon-robotics-how-robots-help-sort-packages-move-product-and-improve-safety Serve Robotics: https://www.serverobotics.com/ Zipline: https://www.flyzipline.com TechCrunch: Manna plots major US expansion: https://techcrunch.com/2026/07/08/autonomous-drone-delivery-startup-manna-plots-major-u-s-expansion/ TechCrunch: Eyebot Series A round: https://techcrunch.com/2025/08/26/eyebot-gets-20m-series-a-to-boost-to-expand-eye-care-access/ CNET Eyebot coverage: https://www.cnet.com/health/medical/i-took-a-vision-test-in-90-seconds-with-a-robot-and-saw-the-future-of-vision-care/ Walmart & Sam's Club announcement: https://www.eyebot.co/resources/walmart-and-sams-club-pilot-fast-affordable-eyeglass-prescriptions-using-eyebots-technology/ Formlabs: https://formlabs.com/ Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses: https://www.meta.com/ai-glasses/ Google Android XR AI announcement: https://blog.google/products-and-platforms/platforms/android/android-xr-gemini-glasses-headsets/ World Health Organization: Blindness and vision impairment fact sheet: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/blindness-and-visual-impairment Timestamps: 0:00 Kevin Gibbons of Cytronic joins the show 5:29 How small is a micro fulfillment center? 9:59 Squarespace - Turn your idea into a beautiful website! Go to https://www.squarespace.com/twist for a free trial. When you're ready to launch, use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain. 11:33 Understanding the unit economics 20:24 Northwest Registered Agent - Get more when you start your business with Northwest. In 10 clicks and 10 minutes, you can form your company and walk away with a real business identity — Learn more at https://northwestregisteredagent.com/twist 22:29 Why fulfillment costs rise as you scale 29:46 Automatons Roll Out 30:12 Matthias Hofmann of Eyebot joins the show 30:31 Agree.com - Stop chasing invoices and automate your entire contract-to-cash stack. Go to https://agree.com and tell them Jason sent you to get 50% off for life! 31:29 Vision tests vs. eye exams 42:28 The terrifying doctor shortage 47:22 Fundraising and partnerships 57:07 Will we always need human doctors in the loop?   Subscribe to the TWiST500 newsletter: https://ticker.thisweekinstartups.com Check out the TWIST500: https://www.twist500.com Subscribe to This Week in Startups on Apple: https://rb.gy/v19fcp   Follow Alex: X: https//x.com/alex   Follow Lon: X: https://x.com/lons   Follow Jason: X: https://twitter.com/Jason LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis     Check out all our partner offers: https://partners.launch.co/   Great TWIST interviews: Will Guidara, Eoghan McCabe, Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Bob Moesta, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland   Check out Jason's suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanis   Follow TWiST: Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thisweekinstartups TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thisweekinstartups Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com

If you've ever wondered what's possible with zero full-time paid staff and zero development budget, this episode is for you. Magical Creatures Sanctuary is a 100% volunteer-run farmed animal rescue on Hawaii Island that cares for more than 100 rescued animals, and today, 48% of their individual donor revenue comes from recurring gifts, with an 83% donor retention rate.Executive Director Jill Vanderhoef joins me to break down their Adopt a Magical Creature sponsorship program and how even a $5 monthly gift can create meaningful stability.Plus, Jill shares EXACTLY what's working for them on Instagram and TikTok and why emotional connection, before-and-after storytelling, and paying attention to the questions your audience is already asking can help create content that brings supporters closer to your mission.Resources & LinksLearn more about Magical Creatures Sanctuary and follow them on Instagram and TikTok. This episode is presented by The Monthly Giving Builder. If you are leaving real impact dollars on the table, sign up by August 12th for just $49.99/month and get FREE access to 3 LIVE sessions on August 17, 20, and 27 to help you stand up your monthly giving program.With the Monthly Giving Builder, you can generate your comprehensive monthly giving plan and build your program step by step - with a guided companion working alongside you from start to finish. Supercharge your monthly giving program and apply for my Monthly Giving VIP Intensive session. Only 2 spots are available this fall!Let's Connect!Send a DM on Instagram or LinkedIn and let us know what you think of the show!My book, The Monthly Giving Mastermind, is here! Grab a copy here and learn my framework to build, grow, and sustain subscriptions for good.Want to book Dana as a speaker for your event? Click here!

What does it really take to grow a nonprofit without exhausting your team, overwhelming your board, or burning yourself out along the way?On this week's episode of Nonprofit Nation, Julia Campbell sits down with nonprofit consultant, fundraising strategist, and leadership expert Sarah Andrews for a conversation about sustainable growth, strong leadership, and building the capacity nonprofits need to thrive.With more than 20 years of experience in nonprofit management and fundraising, Sarah has helped organizations navigate strategic growth, fundraising campaigns, organizational capacity building, major gifts, grants, sponsorships, and donor engagement. Together, Julia and Sarah explore what separates nonprofits that continue to grow from those that feel stuck, and why building the right foundation before pursuing bigger fundraising goals is so important. They also dig into some of the fundraising and leadership misconceptions that can hold organizations back, how to know when an organization is truly ready for a major campaign, and practical ways to help nonprofit boards become more confident ambassadors and fundraisers. And in a conversation that goes beyond traditional nonprofit strategy, Sarah shares how her work as a yoga instructor has shaped her approach to leadership, resilience, mindfulness, and balance, lessons that can be especially valuable for nonprofit professionals navigating today's pressures. About Sarah AndrewsSarah Andrews is a nonprofit consultant, fundraising strategist, and leadership expert with more than 20 years of experience in nonprofit management and fundraising. As the Founder & Lead Consultant, she works with organizations on strategic growth planning, organizational capacity building, annual and capital campaigns, engagement and stewardship programs, sponsorships and promotions, grant writing, and major giving programs. Sarah is passionate about those “aha moments” when things click and turn into action. A native of Manchester, New Hampshire, she enjoys strong coffee, 90s throwbacks, and spending time outdoors with her family and friends. She is a proud mom of two daughters and is married to her husband, Justin. Sarah is also a yoga instructor at Humble Warrior Power Yoga. Learn more about Sarah and her work at sarahjandrews.com. In this episode, we discuss:✔ What sustainable nonprofit growth really looks like ✔ Common leadership mistakes that can limit organizational impact ✔ How to build organizational capacity before pursuing major growth or fundraising initiatives ✔ Fundraising misconceptions that may be holding nonprofits back ✔ How to determine whether your organization is ready for a capital campaign ✔ Warning signs that it may be time to pause before launching a major campaign ✔ Strategies for engaging boards in fundraising and philanthropy ✔ How nonprofits can balance annual giving, major gifts, grants, events, and corporate partnerships ✔ Emerging fundraising trends and where nonprofit leaders should focus their attention ✔ What nonprofit leaders can learn from yoga about resilience, mindfulness, and balance ✔ Practical ways to pursue ambitious goals without burning out your team—or yourself Don't forget!If you enjoyed this episode of Nonprofit Nation, subscribe to the podcast, leave a review, and share this conversation with a nonprofit leader, fundraiser, or board member who could use a little inspiration around sustainable growth and leadership.Because growing your nonprofit shouldn't mean burning out the people who make the mission possible.Take my free masterclass: 3 Must-Have Elements of Social Media Content that Converts

Today, let's explore how good data, clear goals, and trust are the real keys to getting value from AI.  Meet Daniel Basco, Senior Director, iWave & Data Intelligence at Kindsight.  Starting the conversation, Daniel shares his career journey from public policy and economics to data science and fundraising. He talks about his work with governments, nonprofits, and now Kindsight, where he leads data science and AI product development.   The conversation explores how AI and machine learning have improved over the years, making it easier to test ideas and work faster. Daniel explains why organizations need clean, reliable data and why it is important to understand how AI reaches its conclusions. He also discusses the need to reduce bias and use AI ethically.   Furthermore, Daniel talks about the benefits of combining different data sources to improve results and how AI can help nonprofits make better decisions and improve daily work. He discusses the importance of teamwork, experimenting with new ideas, and continuing to learn as AI evolves. He also shares how he uses Claude to communicate ideas more clearly, brainstorm faster, and save time in his daily work.   HIGHLIGHTS [01:47] Daniel's Career Journey   [07:12] Challenges and Evolution in AI and Machine Learning   [11:26] Data Utilization and Predictive AI in Nonprofit Sector  [18:17] Transparency and Trust in Nonprofit AI Models  [29:01] Future of AI in Nonprofit Sector   [35:23] Personal Reflections and Favorite AI Tools Resources:  2025 Donor Perceptions of AI Report: kindsight.io/resources/ebooks/2025-donor-perceptions-of-ai-report  Connect with Daniel:  LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/daniel-basco  Website: kindsight.io/ 

In this episode of What the Fundraising Podcast, Capital campaigns don't succeed by luck; they succeed through preparation, education, and strong leadership. Today, let's discover why empowering board members with the right knowledge can transform uncertainty into confidence and lay the foundation for a successful fundraising campaign. Meet Amy Eisenstein, CEO and Co-Founder of Capital Campaign Pro, who brings over 30 years of nonprofit experience, including two decades as a fundraising consultant. She is joined by Sarah Plimpton, Vice President and Chief Happiness Officer at Capital Campaign Pro, whose extensive background spans fundraising, campaign leadership, consulting, and nonprofit advisory work. Together, they share practical insights from their experience helping organizations raise transformational gifts and explain the inspiration behind their book, A Board Member's Guide to Capital Campaign Fundraising. Today's discussion explores why board education is essential, when organizations should begin preparing for a campaign, and how the book can be used as an ongoing resource throughout the fundraising journey. Amy and Sarah explain how stronger partnerships between staff and board members lead to better campaign outcomes, why challenges should be viewed as opportunities for growth, and how redefining feasibility studies as "campaign readiness studies" creates a more strategic, relationship-driven approach. They also share actionable recommendations on strategic planning, organizational readiness, and building the confidence needed to execute successful capital campaigns.  In this episode, you will be able to:  Understand the role of board education in campaigns. Learn when to start campaign preparation. Build board confidence and fundraising knowledge. Address common campaign fears and myths. Strengthen staff-board collaboration. Align campaigns with strategic goals. Small changes can lead to significant cultural shifts over time. Agency in giving is crucial for fostering genuine generosity. Get all the resources from today's episode here.  Support for this show is brought to you by Donor Perfect. Our friends at Donor Perfect really understand fundraising on so many levels. Stay aligned while working online with a seamless and secure payments experience for your donors and your team. Empower donors to give where they are, whenever they like, automate data entry, and process online, monthly, and mobile payments, and accept payments over the phone. Connect with me:  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_malloryerickson/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whatthefundraising YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@malloryerickson7946 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/mallory-erickson-bressler/ Website: malloryerickson.com/podcast Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/what-the-fundraising/id1575421652 If you haven't already, please visit our new What the Fundraising community forum. Check it out and join the conversation at this link. If you're looking to raise more from the right funders, then you'll want to check out my Power Partners Formula, a step-by-step approach to identifying the optimal partners for your organization. This free masterclass offers a great starting point.

Nearly seven in ten nonprofit employees say they plan to look for a new job this year, according to the Social Impact Staff Retention Project's most recent survey, and turnover across our sector already sits at nineteen percent, compared to twelve percent almost everywhere else. Here's what most leaders miss. That search does not usually start in the spring. It starts after the hardest quarter of the year has already worn your team down. If you are heading into fall wondering how to keep your best people through your busiest season, today I want to walk you through the strategies that have kept my team steady, quarter after quarter, for fifteen years.

Meghan's guest this week is Evan Barker, a former progressive operative, fundraising strategist, and author of Nothing Left: Confessions of a Democratic Operative. Meghan was eager to sit down with Evan after following her journey from a working-class Midwestern Obama campaign volunteer to a high-powered consultant who ultimately grew disillusioned with the modern Democratic machine. Together, they pull back the curtain on what actually goes on inside campaign "call time," how wealthy donor advisors hijacked progressive priorities, and why the party's relentless focus on identity politics alienated the very working-class voters it claims to represent.   In this conversation, they dive into: The Brutal Reality of Political "Call Time": What it's like to sit beside candidates for eight hours a day begging billionaires for cash, using psychological tricks, and maneuvering past corporate gatekeepers. How Identity Politics Captured the Donor Base: How wealthy donors, young staffers, and ideological consultants created race-based funding mandates and cultural litmus tests that backfired across the country. Behind the Scenes at the DNC Spectacle: Evan's bizarre encounters chaperoning TikTok influencers, dodging Chicago vasectomy vans, and realizing the party's messaging was completely detached from everyday economic strain. Marrying MAGA Populism with Bernie Sanders Economics: Why a working-class party offering real health reform alongside common-sense border control could dominate American politics—if the two-party monopoly ever allows it.   Grab Evan's book Nothing Left: Confessions of a Democratic Operative and check out her work:

This Week:  Grants Fundraising Before You Start Writing  Byron Coke says there are four things that decide whether you should spend your limited time applying for a foundation grant: mission alignment; geographic eligibility; funding stage; and, award fit. If any … Continue reading →

After a week of executive coaching tools, reflections, and strategies, Mallory closes out this series with one of the most important foundations of sustainable growth: consciousness. In this episode of What The Fundraising, Mallory explores how increasing awareness of our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors can help fundraisers move from stress-based reactions into more intentional, empowered action. Many fundraisers spend their days in response mode—reacting to challenges, uncertainty, donor behavior, and endless priorities. Mallory shares how executive coaching helps create more space between what happens and how we respond, allowing us to make decisions from a place of clarity instead of fear, stress, or automatic patterns. Listeners will learn how to build daily and weekly consciousness practices, give themselves grace while changing old habits, and embrace growth without perfectionism. This episode is a reminder that transformation does not require a complete overhaul—it happens one degree at a time. In this episode, you will be able to: Understand the role consciousness plays in fundraising success. Recognize when you are operating from stress responses. Create habits that increase awareness and intentionality. Shift from reactive fundraising to proactive decision-making. Practice self-compassion while building new skills. Move away from perfectionism in your growth journey. Use curiosity instead of criticism when reflecting on your actions. Embrace small, consistent changes that create lasting transformation. Get all the resources from today's episode here.  Support for this show is brought to you by Donor Perfect. Our friends at Donor Perfect really understand fundraising on so many levels. Stay aligned while working online with a seamless and secure payments experience for your donors and your team. Empower donors to give where they are, whenever they like, automate data entry, and process online, monthly, and mobile payments, and accept payments over the phone. Connect with me:  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_malloryerickson/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whatthefundraising YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@malloryerickson7946 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/mallory-erickson-bressler/ Website: malloryerickson.com/podcast Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/what-the-fundraising/id1575421652 If you haven't already, please visit our new What the Fundraising community forum. Check it out and join the conversation at this link. If you're looking to raise more from the right funders, then you'll want to check out my Power Partners Formula, a step-by-step approach to identifying the optimal partners for your organization. This free masterclass offers a great starting point.

Almost every night in the White House, President Donald Trump calls his fundraiser, Meredith O'Rourke, for an update. Together, they have raised more than $800 million since Trump's second inauguration. WSJ's Josh Dawsey and Dana Mattioli unspool their investigation into the president's unprecedented fundraising and the political operative behind it. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening: - The Crypto President: Part 1 - The Crypto President: Part 2 Sign up for WSJ's free What's News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fundraising is deeply human work. It requires vulnerability, connection, courage, and the ability to hold the hopes and dreams of an entire community. But in a profession that often carries immense pressure, it can be easy for fundraisers to forget something essential: they are already enough. In this special executive coaching episode of What The Fundraising, Mallory Erickson offers a heartfelt reminder to fundraisers everywhere. She shares why self-love, self-compassion, and recognizing your own worth are not barriers to growth—they are the foundation for sustainable impact and meaningful change. Mallory invites listeners to pause, reflect, and reconnect with themselves beyond their fundraising goals, job titles, and accomplishments. This episode is a reminder that the people moving resources toward what matters most deserve the same compassion and care they extend to others. In this episode, you will be able to: Recognize the true impact and importance of fundraising work. Understand why fundraising is the work—not just what supports the work. Practice self-compassion as a foundation for growth. Release the belief that achievement determines your worth. Reflect on the pressure fundraisers carry every day. Build a healthier relationship with yourself. Replace self-criticism with encouragement and care. Celebrate the meaningful work you are already doin Get all the resources from today's episode here.  Support for this show is brought to you by Donor Perfect. Our friends at Donor Perfect really understand fundraising on so many levels. Stay aligned while working online with a seamless and secure payments experience for your donors and your team. Empower donors to give where they are, whenever they like, automate data entry, and process online, monthly, and mobile payments, and accept payments over the phone. Connect with me:  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_malloryerickson/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whatthefundraising YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@malloryerickson7946 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/mallory-erickson-bressler/ Website: malloryerickson.com/podcast Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/what-the-fundraising/id1575421652 If you haven't already, please visit our new What the Fundraising community forum. Check it out and join the conversation at this link. If you're looking to raise more from the right funders, then you'll want to check out my Power Partners Formula, a step-by-step approach to identifying the optimal partners for your organization. This free masterclass offers a great starting point.