Nonprofit Nation with Julia Campbell

Julia Campbell
  • 4.9 (69)
  • Non-Profit
  • Weekly

Ready for some real talk about nonprofits? Julia Campbell sits down with industry experts and practitioners to get advice on the best ways to build a thriving movement and a vibrant, passionate community around a cause. Topics include fundraising, storytelling, and marketing of course - but it also dives into mental health issues, leadership strategy, digital wellness, and much more. Julia's guests share practical wisdom, entertaining stories, and real-world tips that will help you strategize, plan, and grow your nonprofit. You never know exactly what you’re going to learn when you tune into Nonprofit Nation, but you can be assured that it will be worth your valuable time and attention.  Nonprofit Nation is hosted by Julia Campbell, digital marketing and fundraising expert, nonprofit consultant, and author of Storytelling in the Digital Age: A Guide for Nonprofits and How to Build and Mobilize a Social Media Community for Your Nonprofit in 90 Days. Julia helps nonprofits build movements, and in her work she teaches nonprofits how to build community, audience and raise influence on social media channels. Be sure to click the subscribe button on Apple podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. 

  1. 3d ago

    Nonprofits, AI, and the Fear of Getting It Wrong with Elizabeth “Lizzy” Neufeld

    Nonprofits have never had the luxury of certainty. So why should navigating new technology be any different? In this episode of Nonprofit Nation, Julia sits down with Elizabeth “Lizzy” Neufeld, Founder and CEO of Strat Labs, to explore how nonprofit leaders can approach artificial intelligence (AI) with both thoughtful caution and a willingness to experiment. AI brings legitimate concerns around privacy, bias, misinformation, environmental impact, inequitable access, and the potential loss of human connection. For mission-driven organizations whose work centers on protecting and serving people, these concerns deserve serious consideration. But could an overwhelming focus on avoiding harm also keep nonprofits from exploring opportunities that could strengthen their work? Lizzy challenges nonprofit leaders to look beyond the question of whether AI is simply good or bad. Instead, she invites us to consider how organizations can approach uncertainty with agency rather than fear, ask better questions, and make thoughtful decisions about when and how to use emerging technology. Together, Julia and Lizzy explore a particularly important question: Could there be an ethical cost to not using AI? If technology can reduce administrative burdens, give nonprofit professionals valuable time back, and expand access to expertise that smaller organizations might otherwise struggle to afford, what opportunities might organizations miss by choosing not to engage? This conversation isn't about adopting AI blindly or abandoning the values that make nonprofit work meaningful. It's about finding the balance between innovation and responsibility, creating room for experimentation while maintaining meaningful safeguards, and preparing nonprofit leaders to navigate whatever disruption comes next. Because the future of social impact won't just depend on the technology organizations use. It will depend on the courage, curiosity, and judgment of the people leading them. In This Episode, You'll Learn: Why AI is as much a leadership challenge as it is a technology challengeThe ethical and practical risks nonprofit leaders should consider before adopting AIHow responsible caution can sometimes become a barrier to experimentation and progressThe difference between approaching uncertainty from fear and approaching it from agencyWhat the history of nonprofit movements can teach us about disruption, resilience, and calculated riskWhy choosing not to use AI may also carry ethical implicationsHow AI could help nonprofits reduce administrative work and expand access to expertiseWhy efficiency alone doesn't guarantee greater impact—and how organizations can make the most of the time AI gives backHow to create a culture that encourages experimentation while protecting privacy, accuracy, equity, and human judgmentWhat the next generation of nonprofit leaders needs to understand about technology, uncertainty, and courageAbout Elizabeth “Lizzy” Neufeld Elizabeth “Lizzy” Neufeld is the Founder and CEO of Strat Labs, an award-winning, woman-owned social impact agency that helps mission-driven organizations strengthen their fundraising, marketing, communications, strategy, operations, and organizational capacity. Established in 2017, Strat Labs brings together marketing, communications, and philanthropy to help purpose-driven organizations build cohesive strategies and amplify their impact. Lizzy has supported hundreds of nonprofits and is a trusted advisor to organizations navigating technology, AI, and the everyday challenges of limited time and resources. Her approach to AI is grounded in a practical question: How can nonprofits thoughtfully use technology to increase their capacity without losing the human relationships, judgment, and trust that make their work possible? Connect with Lizzy Website: https://stratlabs.us/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabethneufeld/If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a nonprofit leader or fundraiser who could benefit from this conversation! Take my free masterclass: 3 Must-Have Elements of Social Media Content that Converts

  2. Nov 6

    Turning Lived Experience Into Leadership with Desange Kuenihira

    What happens when your personal story becomes the foundation of the mission you lead? In this episode of Nonprofit Nation, Julia sits down with Desange Kuenihira, Founder and CEO of Speak unDEfeated, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering vulnerable youth and women through education, mentorship, entrepreneurship, and leadership development. Originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Desange spent twelve years as a refugee in Uganda before eventually moving to the United States. Her lived experiences helped shape her commitment to creating opportunities for young people, women, and single mothers facing significant barriers. Desange shares what it takes to turn personal experience into meaningful action—and, just as importantly, how to build an organization that can sustain that mission beyond its founder. Together, they explore the balance between leading with lived experience and listening to the communities being served, the challenges of building impact across borders, and why sustainable nonprofit work requires more than passion. They also tackle the complicated role of storytelling in fundraising. How can nonprofit leaders share powerful personal stories that inspire support without reducing people to their hardships? And how can organizations honor the dignity, agency, and expertise of the communities at the heart of their work? Desange's journey offers a meaningful reminder that lived experience is a valuable form of expertise. Creating lasting change means combining that experience with community partnership, thoughtful leadership, strong systems, and a commitment to building something bigger than yourself. In This Episode, You'll Learn: How lived experience can shape a nonprofit leader's purpose, perspective, and approach to leadershipThe difference between building programs for a community and building alongside oneHow nonprofit founders can turn passion into sustainable organizations with the right systems and structuresThe opportunities and challenges of leading programs across bordersWhy education and economic empowerment go hand in hand in creating lasting changeHow to tell compelling fundraising stories while protecting the dignity and agency of the people representedWhat aspiring nonprofit founders should consider before turning a personal cause into an organizationWhy funders, boards, and nonprofit leaders should recognize lived experience as a valuable form of expertiseAbout Desange Kuenihira Desange Kuenihira is the Founder and CEO of Speak unDEfeated, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that supports vulnerable youth, women, and communities through education, mentorship, entrepreneurship, and leadership development. Originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Desange spent twelve years as a refugee in Uganda before moving to the United States and becoming a U.S. citizen. Her experiences inspired her commitment to expanding educational and economic opportunities for children and women facing significant barriers. She holds bachelor's degrees in criminology and health, society, and policy from the University of Utah, with a minor in entrepreneurship and pre-business. She is also an advocate, inspirational speaker, model, and author of unDEfeated Woman. Through Speak unDEfeated, Desange helps young people access educational opportunities while supporting women and single mothers in developing entrepreneurial skills that can lead to greater economic independence for themselves and their families. Connect with Desange Website: https://www.speakundefeated.org/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/desange-kuenihira-undefeated/If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a nonprofit leader or fundraiser who could benefit from this conversation! Take my free masterclass: 3 Must-Have Elements of Social Media Content that Converts

  3. Nov 2

    What’s Actually Working on Social Media – and What’s Next

    There is always another social media tactic to try. Another platform update. Another content format. Another person telling you to post more. But with year-end approaching, the question I keep coming back to is: What deserves your time—and how does it help people connect with your mission? Last week I went live on LinkedIn with my Nonprofit Social Media Summit partner, Tim Sarrantonio, to talk about exactly that. We shared what we think nonprofit communicators should prioritize, explore how content can build relationships and inspire action, and answer your questions. We also introduced some of the speakers and sessions coming to the Nonprofit Social Media Summit, November 17–18, through the real challenges they’ll help you tackle. If you’re planning your year-end communications—or wondering whether the Summit belongs on your calendar—listen in! You can watch the LinkedIn live video here.  Take my free masterclass: 3 Must-Have Elements of Social Media Content that Converts

  4. Oct 28

    Dear Nonprofiteer: Why Do We Stay? with Evan Wildstein

    What keeps nonprofit professionals in this work, and what does it cost them to stay? Nonprofit professionals dedicate their careers to making the world a better place, but who takes care of the people doing the work? In this episode of Nonprofit Nation, Julia Campbell sits down with Evan Wildstein, longtime nonprofit practitioner, fundraiser, author, and self-described “nonprofiteer,” to explore the realities of working in the social impact sector and his latest project, Dear Nonprofiteer, a collaborative, print-only zine created with and for nonprofit professionals. Drawing on nearly 25 years of experience in the sector, Evan reflects on why people choose to stay in nonprofit work, what that commitment can cost them, and why burnout and self-sacrifice have become so normalized. Together, Julia and Evan explore the tension between caring deeply about a mission and feeling exhausted by the organizations carrying it out. They also discuss the importance of staff well-being, the stories the nonprofit sector tells about passion and productivity, and what leaders often misunderstand about staff retention. Through humor, poetry, storytelling, research, and community, Dear Nonprofiteer creates space for nonprofit professionals to feel seen and heard, not simply encouraged to do more. Because sustainable organizations depend on sustainable people, and caring for the people behind the mission should never be an afterthought. In this episode, we discuss: Why Evan created Dear Nonprofiteer and why this project matters nowWhy nonprofit professionals stay in the sector—and what staying can costThe difference between mission-driven commitment and unhealthy self-sacrificeWhy organizational sustainability must include staff well-beingThe nonprofit narratives we need to challenge, including “do more with less”What nonprofit leaders often misunderstand about staff retentionHow humor, poetry, storytelling, and community help us talk honestly about nonprofit workWhy Evan chose a collaborative, print-only zine in an increasingly digital worldWhat research and lived experiences reveal about why people stay or leaveWhat continues to give Evan hope after nearly 25 years in the sectorAbout Evan Wildstein Evan Wildstein is a nonprofit practitioner, fundraiser, author, musician, and advocate for the people who power social impact organizations. With nearly 25 years of experience in the nonprofit sector, he has held fundraising and senior staff roles focused on systems, programs, and people at institutions including The Juilliard School, Rice University, and Asia Society. His work has helped raise more than $30 million. Evan is the author of The Nonprofiteer's Fundraising Field Guide and has contributed to research on nonprofit staff retention. He is also a co-lead of the Social Impact Staff Retention Project and the creator of Dear Nonprofiteer, a collaborative zine exploring why nonprofit professionals stay, what it costs them, and why the work can still be worth it. Resources & Links Evan Wildstein's website: https://www.thenonprofiteers.com/Connect with Evan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/evan-a-wildstein/Social Impact Staff Retention Project: https://www.thenonprofiteers.com/sisr Let's Keep the Conversation Going! What keeps you in nonprofit work, and what do you wish the sector would do differently to take better care of the people doing it? Share your thoughts, and if you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to Nonprofit Nation, leave a review, and share it with a nonprofit leader, fundraiser, or colleague who could use this conversation. Because the people behind the mission matter, too. Take my free masterclass: 3 Must-Have Elements of Social Media Content that Converts

  5. Oct 23

    Defiant Hope: How to Tell Nonprofit Stories with Dignity, Trust, and Impact with Yuriy Boyechko

    Stories are among the most powerful tools nonprofits have. They can build understanding, inspire generosity, and connect people across communities. But how can nonprofits tell compelling stories without compromising the dignity of the people behind them? In this episode of Nonprofit Nation, I sit down with Yuriy Boyechko, founder and CEO of Hope For Ukraine, to explore the responsibility that comes with telling stories of hardship, resilience, and hope. Through nearly a decade of humanitarian work in Ukraine, Yuriy has seen firsthand how storytelling can mobilize support for families, refugees, and communities affected by war. He shares why ethical storytelling begins with listening, meaningful consent, and recognizing that the stories nonprofits tell ultimately belong to the people who lived them. We also discuss how nonprofits can build donor trust through authentic storytelling, communicate urgency without contributing to compassion fatigue, and show the impact of their work without positioning themselves as the heroes of someone else's story. Yuriy is also the co-author of the forthcoming book Defiant Hope: Ordinary Lives, Extraordinary Courage, and the Fight for Ukraine, which highlights the courage, resilience, and humanity of ordinary Ukrainians navigating extraordinary circumstances. If you're a nonprofit leader, fundraiser, or communicator, this conversation offers a meaningful reminder that storytelling isn't just about raising awareness or generating donations. It's about honoring people's experiences, building trust, and creating genuine connections that inspire action. In this episode, we discuss: Why the stories nonprofits tell ultimately belong to the people who lived themWhat ethical storytelling looks like in practiceHow to preserve dignity when sharing stories involving hardship, trauma, and crisisThe importance of meaningful consent when telling someone's storyHow to create emotional connections without exploiting someone's painWhy nonprofits shouldn't always position themselves as the heroes of the storyBuilding donor trust through transparency and authentic storytellingCombining personal stories with data and evidence of impactCommunicating urgency and hope without contributing to compassion fatigueHow to keep nonprofit communications authentic as an organization growsWhat nearly a decade of humanitarian work has taught Yuriy about leadership and resilienceThe meaning of Defiant Hope and what ordinary people can teach us about courage and communityAbout Yuriy Boyechko Yuriy Boyechko is the founder and CEO of Hope For Ukraine, a humanitarian organization established in 2016. Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, he has helped lead efforts to deliver essential humanitarian aid, including food, medical supplies, shelter, clean water, and solar power solutions to communities in crisis. Born and raised in Ukraine, Yuriy brings a deeply personal connection to his humanitarian work. He is also a member of the Forbes Nonprofit Council and co-author of the forthcoming book Defiant Hope: Ordinary Lives, Extraordinary Courage, and the Fight for Ukraine. Learn more about Yuriy and Hope For Ukraine: Website: https://hfu.org/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yuriy-boyechkoFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/hope4ukraine/Coming February 16, 2027: Defiant Hope: Ordinary Lives, Extraordinary Courage, and the Fight for Ukraine. Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to Nonprofit Nation, leave a review, and share this episode with a nonprofit leader, fundraiser, or communicator who wants to tell stories that inspire action while honoring the dignity of the people behind them. Because the goal isn't simply to tell a more compelling story. It's to become a better steward of the stories people trust us to tell. Take my free masterclass: 3 Must-Have Elements of Social Media Content that Converts

  6. Oct 14

    How to Savor the Work (Especially When It’s Hard) with Lisa Bennett

    Nonprofit leaders are carrying a lot right now. Between funding uncertainty, team burnout, political instability, and growing community needs, it can feel like there’s always another challenge to tackle. And through it all, leaders are expected to inspire their teams, communicate hope, and keep their missions moving forward. But what happens when the people doing the work are running out of energy themselves? In this episode of Nonprofit Nation, Julia Campbell sits down with Lisa Bennett, author, facilitator, advisor, and award-winning journalist, to explore how purpose-driven people can continue making a difference without becoming depleted by the work they care so deeply about. Lisa, author of the forthcoming book Savor the World: How to Draw Strength From What You Love and Keep Showing Up for It, challenges us to rethink what it means to be committed to a cause. She shares why constant urgency can undermine our clarity, creativity, and decision-making, and why sustaining ourselves is not separate from sustaining our missions. Together, Julia and Lisa explore the idea of savoring, not as another self-care task to add to an already overwhelming to-do list, but as a way to reconnect with what gives our work meaning. They also discuss how storytelling can help nonprofit leaders and teams remember why their work matters, especially when progress feels difficult to see. If you’re a nonprofit leader, fundraiser, or mission-driven professional who wants to stay engaged without sacrificing your well-being, this conversation offers a refreshing perspective on burnout, leadership, and finding the strength to keep showing up for the causes that matter. In This Episode, You’ll Learn: Why nonprofit leaders and purpose-driven professionals may be especially vulnerable to burnout and depletion.How constant urgency affects clarity, creativity, and decision-making.How to lead with honesty and hope when the future feels uncertain.Why burnout is not simply an individual self-care problem, but can also reflect organizational culture.What it means to savor the world and how it differs from traditional approaches to self-care.How storytelling can help nonprofit teams reconnect with their purpose and find meaning in difficult work.How to build an organizational culture where commitment is not measured by exhaustion.Practical ways to make room for joy, beauty, humor, and connection while continuing to address urgent challenges. About Lisa Bennett Lisa Bennett is an author, facilitator, advisor, and award-winning journalist whose work explores how purpose-driven people can tackle difficult problems without being depleted by them. She is the author of the forthcoming book Savor the World: How to Draw Strength From What You Love and Keep Showing Up for It and co-author of Ecoliterate with emotional intelligence pioneer Daniel Goleman. Throughout her career in journalism, education, communications, facilitation, and organizational leadership, Lisa has worked with people tackling consequential challenges across sectors and communities. Today, she helps purpose-led organizations reconnect mission, people, and resources, supporting leaders and teams in finding clarity, staying grounded through setbacks, and recognizing where their efforts can make a difference. Resources & Connect with Lisa Website: https://lisabennettwrites.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisabennettwriter/Book: Savor the World: How to Draw Strength From What You Love and Keep Showing Up for It (forthcoming)If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to Nonprofit Nation, leave a review, and share it with a nonprofit leader or fundraiser who could benefit from this conversation. Take my free masterclass: 3 Must-Have Elements of Social Media Content that Converts

  7. Oct 7

    When Grief Becomes Service: Building Community After Unimaginable Loss with Joe Samaha

    What happens when unimaginable loss becomes a catalyst for service, advocacy, and community? In this deeply moving episode of Nonprofit Nation, Julia Campbell sits down with Joseph Samaha, Director of Victim Advocacy and Outreach for VTVCare, an organization rooted in the community of families and survivors brought together following the 2007 Virginia Tech shooting. Joe’s daughter, Reema, was killed in the tragedy. In the aftermath, Joe and other families found themselves navigating profound grief while also discovering the power of community, people coming together, sharing what they were learning, supporting one another, and creating a path forward when there was no roadmap. Over time, that community became something much larger. Joe shares what it means to lead a mission-driven organization when the mission is deeply connected to your own lived experience. He talks about the long-term needs of survivors and families after the public attention surrounding a tragedy fades, the role of community in recovery and resilience, and the challenges of turning individual support into systemic change. We also explore what nonprofit leadership looks like when the work is deeply personal, how to think about impact when outcomes involve grief, healing, and human connection, and how VTVCare is working to create more sustainable resources for people affected by mass violence. Nonprofit Nation Podcast Prep -… In this episode, we discuss: Starting a nonprofit while navigating profound personal griefHow the Virginia Tech community came together after tragedyThe role of community in long-term recovery and resilienceWhat survivors need long after the initial attention disappearsHow lived experience shapes nonprofit leadership and decision-makingCreating boundaries and sustainability when the mission is deeply personalMeasuring impact when the work centers on grief, healing, and human connectionMoving from supporting individual families to advocating for systemic changeCreating sustainable, long-term resources for people affected by mass violenceCarrying Reema’s memory forward through service Nonprofit Nation Podcast Prep -… About Joseph Samaha Joseph Samaha is the Director of Victim Advocacy and Outreach at VTVCare and a lifelong resident of Northern Virginia. Following the Virginia Tech tragedy, Joe and his wife, Mona, established scholarships and funds in memory of their daughter, Reema, and Joe became a tireless advocate for Virginia Tech families and other survivors. He has served as the first president of VTVFOF and works as a consultant and speaker with the Office for Victims of Crime Training and Technical Assistance Center. He also consults with the Medical University of South Carolina’s National Mass Violence and Victim Resource Center. Joe has helped advise states and institutions on VTVCare’s investment model for sustaining the cost of assisting victims of mass violence. His advocacy contributed to Virginia and Maine becoming the first states in the nation to establish non-reverting Mass Violence Care Funds for citizens impacted by mass violence. Learn More Learn more about VTVCare at vtvcare.org. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a nonprofit leader or fundraiser who could benefit from this conversation. Take my free masterclass: 3 Must-Have Elements of Social Media Content that Converts

  8. Oct 6

    When Facebook Changes the Rules: Protecting Your Year-End Fundraising

    If your nonprofit is preparing for year-end fundraising, there’s a Facebook development I want you to know about. Facebook expert Mari Smith is reporting that some Facebook Pages and professional-mode profiles are encountering a limit of two organic external-link posts per month. Under the restrictions she describes, putting a link in the comments can count, too. Two links per month. If you’re promoting a fundraising campaign, a volunteer opportunity, and an event, you can see how quickly that becomes a problem. Availability varies, so check your own Page for notices before assuming you’re affected. I’ll link to Mari’s article in the show notes. But this development raises a question every nonprofit should consider: How much of our fundraising depends on Facebook allowing supporters to reach our website? Today, we’re going to look at what the data tells us, what paying for more link sharing actually gets you, and three practical steps you can take before year-end. Mari Smith article Jon Loomer podcast Meta's Widely Viewed Content Report: What People See on Facebook  This episode of Nonprofit Nation is brought to you by Porkbun. Nonprofit friends, your domain name is part of your brand - and a .ORG immediately tells people there’s a mission behind your work. Porkbun makes it easy to get a .ORG domain with transparent pricing, no aggressive upsells, and free features like SSL certificates, URL forwarding, and email forwarding. Plus, if you need help, you can actually reach a real human 24/7. Get your .ORG domain from Porkbun at porkbun.com/NonprofitNation26. And thank you to Porkbun for supporting Nonprofit Nation and the Nonprofit Social Media Summit!  Take my free masterclass: 3 Must-Have Elements of Social Media Content that Converts

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About

Ready for some real talk about nonprofits? Julia Campbell sits down with industry experts and practitioners to get advice on the best ways to build a thriving movement and a vibrant, passionate community around a cause. Topics include fundraising, storytelling, and marketing of course - but it also dives into mental health issues, leadership strategy, digital wellness, and much more. Julia's guests share practical wisdom, entertaining stories, and real-world tips that will help you strategize, plan, and grow your nonprofit. You never know exactly what you’re going to learn when you tune into Nonprofit Nation, but you can be assured that it will be worth your valuable time and attention.  Nonprofit Nation is hosted by Julia Campbell, digital marketing and fundraising expert, nonprofit consultant, and author of Storytelling in the Digital Age: A Guide for Nonprofits and How to Build and Mobilize a Social Media Community for Your Nonprofit in 90 Days. Julia helps nonprofits build movements, and in her work she teaches nonprofits how to build community, audience and raise influence on social media channels. Be sure to click the subscribe button on Apple podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. 

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