The Nonprofit Show

American Nonprofit Academy

The Nonprofit Show is the nation’s daily broadcast for the business side of nonprofits — bringing you practical insights, expert interviews, and real-world strategies to help your organization run smarter, lead stronger, and fund better. Each weekday, our co-hosts and guests break down the most current topics in fundraising, board governance, leadership, staffing, technology, communications, and financial strategy — giving nonprofit professionals the tools they need to build sustainable, high-performing organizations. With more than 1,400 episodes and growing, our on-demand library is a trusted resource for executive directors, team members, fundraisers, board members, and sector leaders who are ready to move beyond inspiration and into implementation. 🎥 Watch the daily show on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3A0Dqlw

  1. The New Rules of Nonprofit Donor Engagement Are Here

    1d ago

    The New Rules of Nonprofit Donor Engagement Are Here

    Send us Fan Mail Nonprofit donor engagement strategies for 2026 are changing rapidly as donor expectations, technology, and economic realities reshape fundraising. Kimberly O'Donnell, Chief Fundraising Officer at Bonterra, shares fresh research and practical insights from Bonterra's 2026 Impact Report to help nonprofit leaders build stronger donor relationships and sustainable revenue growth. For decades, charitable giving and volunteerism have remained largely stagnant at approximately 2.5% of GDP. Bonterra's ambitious "3% by 2033" initiative aims to change that by helping organizations increase annual giving through smarter engagement, recurring donor programs, volunteer activation, and responsible use of artificial intelligence. Kimberly explains why recurring giving may be one of the most important opportunities available to nonprofits today. Rather than continuously replacing one-time donors, organizations can build predictable revenue streams by encouraging monthly and annual commitments from supporters who already care deeply about the mission. The conversation also explores a growing challenge facing the sector: donor dollars are increasing while donor participation continues to decline. According to Bonterra's research, 43% of respondents reported they cannot afford to give more in today's economic environment. That reality requires nonprofits to create new pathways for engagement through volunteerism, advocacy, micro-volunteering opportunities, and personalized communication. "We have what we call dollars up, donors down." Kimberly also discusses how AI is moving beyond simple content creation and becoming a strategic tool for donor segmentation, campaign planning, data analysis, and supporter engagement. One organization highlighted in the report increased annual appeal revenue by 41% after integrating AI into its fundraising campaign strategy. "When we treat them as individuals and not as segments, donors feel it." Whether you're a nonprofit executive, fundraiser, board member, or development professional, this episode offers valuable perspective on where fundraising is heading and how organizations can prepare for the next era of donor engagement.  00:00:00 Introduction: New Rules of Donor Engagement  00:02:24 Inside Bonterra's 2026 Impact Report  00:05:32 Why Giving Has Stalled at 2.5% of GDP  00:08:21 The Power of Recurring Donor Programs  00:12:53 Donors Are Down While Dollars Rise  00:14:13 Personalization and Rebuilding Donor Trust  00:16:04 Why AI Will Change How Donors Give  00:18:22 Using AI to Improve Fundraising Results  00:19:58 Volunteerism as a Growth Strategy  00:23:35 Building an Innovation Mindset in Nonprofits  00:25:09 How AI Increased Fundraising Revenue by 41%  00:28:34 Human-Centered AI for Nonprofit Growth  #TheNonprofitShow #NonprofitFundraising #DonorEngagement Find us Live daily on YouTube! Find us  Live daily on LinkedIn! Find us Live daily on X: @Nonprofit_Show Our national co-hosts and amazing guests discuss management, money and missions of nonprofits!  12:30pm ET   11:30am CT  10:30am MT  9:30am PT Send us your ideas for Show Guests or Topics: HelpDesk@AmericanNonprofitAcademy.com Visit us on the web:The Nonprofit Show

    32 min
  2. Build Powerful Coalitions: Scarcity May Be Your Nonprofit's Greatest Advantage!

    2d ago

    Build Powerful Coalitions: Scarcity May Be Your Nonprofit's Greatest Advantage!

    Send us Fan Mail When resources are limited, nonprofits often assume they need more funding. But what if scarcity is actually the catalyst for stronger partnerships? In this episode, Van Ton-Quinlivan, Founder and CEO of Futuro Health, shares how nonprofits, employers, educators, and community organizations can align around common goals to solve workforce challenges and create lasting social impact. If you're searching for nonprofit partnership strategies that create measurable impact, this conversation delivers a powerful framework for building coalitions, aligning stakeholders, and solving complex workforce challenges. Organizations can achieve more by working together rather than operating in isolation. As healthcare systems across the country face critical workforce shortages, Futuro Health has built a nationally recognized model that brings employers, educational institutions, and community organizations together to develop credentialed healthcare workers at scale. Throughout the discussion, Van explains why "workforce development is a team sport, not an individual sport" and how successful collaborations depend on every partner contributing what they do best. Rather than attempting to solve every problem internally, organizations can "braid" resources, expertise, funding, and relationships to create outcomes that no single organization could achieve alone. The conversation explores the demographic realities driving workforce shortages, including Van's memorable "12-7-4" framework that illustrates the shrinking ratio of working-age adults supporting an aging population. For nonprofit leaders, this serves as a powerful example of how to communicate complex challenges in a way that inspires action. Viewers will also learn how leaders can create urgency, build coalition support, establish common ground among diverse stakeholders, and guide organizations through change. Van shares lessons from leading major workforce initiatives, growing public investment, and helping Futuro Health achieve nearly 90% program completion rates while serving adult learners across multiple states. One of the most compelling insights comes when Van explains: "The role of a leader is really to figure out where the common grounds are when you're building cross-sector collaboration." Whether you're building community partnerships, launching workforce programs, leading organizational change, or seeking innovative ways to expand impact despite limited resources, this episode offers valuable leadership lessons for the business of nonprofits.   00:00:00 Introduction to Futuro Health  00:01:41 Solving the Healthcare Workforce Crisis  00:06:37 The 12-7-4 Demographic Reality  00:09:27 Why Scarcity Creates Better Partnerships  00:10:31 The Three-Legged Stool of Workforce Development  00:12:30 Braiding Resources Instead of Working Alone  00:15:25 Building Cross-Sector Collaboration  00:16:42 Creating Context for Organizational Change  00:18:59 Why Coalitions Accelerate Progress  00:20:24 Turning Long-Term Funding Into Innovation  00:23:56 What a Win-Win-Win Partnership Looks Like  00:26:27 Finding Common Ground to Solve Big Problems  #TheNonprofitShow #NonprofitPartnerships #PartnershipStrategy Find us Live daily on YouTube! Find us  Live daily on LinkedIn! Find us Live daily on X: @Nonprofit_Show Our national co-hosts and amazing guests discuss management, money and missions of nonprofits!  12:30pm ET   11:30am CT  10:30am MT  9:30am PT Send us your ideas for Show Guests or Topics: HelpDesk@AmericanNonprofitAcademy.com Visit us on the web:The Nonprofit Show

    30 min
  3. The 2-Second Marketing Rule

    4d ago

    The 2-Second Marketing Rule

    Send us Fan Mail Nonprofit marketing strategy using neuroscience can help organizations create messages that earn attention, build trust, and move donors toward engagement. Sally Mildren, CEO and Chief Strategist of CommonWell Marketing, shares why effective nonprofit marketing starts with how the human brain filters, feels, trusts, and decides. For nonprofit leaders working with limited time, staff, and budgets, this conversation offers a sharper way to think about marketing performance. Sally explains that the brain is processing millions of bits of information every second, which means nonprofits have only a brief window to become relevant. As she puts it, “You have two to 8 seconds to make yourself relevant before the brain decides this isn’t for me.” That reality changes how organizations should approach email subject lines, social posts, fundraising appeals, web copy, and donor communications. Instead of starting with the organization’s name, logo, or internal priorities, Sally encourages nonprofits to lead with the audience’s need, emotion, and sense of recognition. The episode also challenges the common habit of trying to reach everyone with the same message. Sally makes the business case for segmentation, saying, “One-size-fits-all messaging cannot work in today’s attention economy.” For nonprofits, that means stronger donor engagement often comes from being brave enough to focus on the right audience, not the largest audience. Sally also digs into trust, consistency, recognition versus representation, and the danger of message overload. Nonprofits often try to say everything at once — every program, every giving option, every reason to care. But the brain can only absorb so much. A simpler message, repeated consistently across channels, can build familiarity, safety, and confidence. This is a master class for nonprofit executives, fundraisers, marketers, board members, and communicators who want their messaging to work harder without shouting louder. The lesson is clear: marketing is not just about visibility. It is about relevance, trust, clarity, and alignment with mission.  00:00:00 Welcome: The Neuroscience of Donor Giving and Marketing  00:01:39 Meet Sally Mildren of CommonWell Marketing  00:03:01 The 2-to-8 Second Rule for Nonprofit Messaging  00:05:28 Why Email Subject Lines Still Matter  00:06:37 Emotion Comes Before Logic in Donor Decisions  00:08:47 Why One-Size-Fits-All Messaging Fails  00:11:12 The Courage to Stop Marketing to Everyone  00:12:32 Trust, Safety, and the Donor Brain  00:16:56 Recognition vs. Representation in Marketing  00:19:27 Finding the Right Audience Instead of Chasing Everyone  00:21:44 Start With Mission Before Choosing the Message  00:25:49 Why Simpler Messages Drive Better Decisions  #TheNonprofitShow #NonprofitMarketing #DonorEngagement Find us Live daily on YouTube! Find us  Live daily on LinkedIn! Find us Live daily on X: @Nonprofit_Show Our national co-hosts and amazing guests discuss management, money and missions of nonprofits!  12:30pm ET   11:30am CT  10:30am MT  9:30am PT Send us your ideas for Show Guests or Topics: HelpDesk@AmericanNonprofitAcademy.com Visit us on the web:The Nonprofit Show

    31 min
  4. Don’t Hook Donors on Emergencies

    May 29

    Don’t Hook Donors on Emergencies

    Send us Fan Mail Nonprofit crisis fundraising strategy is not about making every donor message sound urgent—it is about knowing when urgency is real, how to communicate it honestly, and how to keep donor trust intact. In this Fundraisers Friday episode, Julia C. Patrick and Tony Beall take on one of the most familiar fundraising habits in the sector: the constant use of emergency-driven appeals. From “now more than ever” messaging to year-end giving campaigns, this conversation challenges nonprofit leaders to think carefully about the business impact of their fundraising language. Tony explains why repeated crisis appeals can create donor fatigue, especially when supporters receive multiple fear-based messages from several organizations at once. At some point, donors may begin to wonder whether they are investing in impact—or being asked to rescue an unstable organization. Tony offers a clear reminder for fundraising teams: “If everything is urgent, eventually really nothing feels urgent.” That idea becomes the core of this episode. Nonprofits must distinguish between a true community crisis, a temporary emergency program need, a fiscal funding gap, and a normal fundraising cycle. Each situation calls for different communication, different transparency, and a different donor invitation. The duo also explore the difference between disaster-related appeals, funding cuts, year-end campaigns, and mission-based messaging. For some organizations, fear-based messaging may be appropriate when it is grounded in fact and tied directly to the mission. For others, hope and impact may be the stronger path. Tony’s advice is direct: “When I was confused about my messaging or what direction I should be going… I always go back to the mission.” The goal is not to avoid urgency. The goal is to use it wisely, honestly, and in service of sustainable mission investment.   00:00:00 Don’t Hook Donors on Emergencies  00:02:17 Why Constant Crisis Messaging Creates Donor Fatigue  00:03:22 When Appeals Start Sounding Like a Cry for Help  00:05:26 Disaster Relief vs. Everyday Nonprofit Messaging  00:06:32 How to Define a True Fundraising Crisis  00:10:04 Fiscal Crisis, Funding Cuts, and Donor Transparency  00:13:17 Year-End Appeals Without Panic Messaging  00:16:16 Direct Mail, Donor Lists, and Realistic ROI  00:17:59 Fear, Hope, Impact, and Mission Alignment  00:22:16 Donor Perception and Message Segmentation  00:25:01 Mission Investment vs. Rescue Giving  00:26:48 If Everything Is Urgent, Nothing Feels Urgent  #TheNonprofitShow #NonprofitFundraising #DonorEngagement Find us Live daily on YouTube! Find us  Live daily on LinkedIn! Find us Live daily on X: @Nonprofit_Show Our national co-hosts and amazing guests discuss management, money and missions of nonprofits!  12:30pm ET   11:30am CT  10:30am MT  9:30am PT Send us your ideas for Show Guests or Topics: HelpDesk@AmericanNonprofitAcademy.com Visit us on the web:The Nonprofit Show

    29 min
  5. Community Wealth Building Through Art, Space, and Story

    May 28

    Community Wealth Building Through Art, Space, and Story

    Send us Fan Mail Community wealth building for nonprofits takes center stage in this lively discussion, as Lauren Turner Hines of the André Cailloux Center shares how art, history, ownership, and earned revenue can become a powerful operating model. This is a deeply strategic conversation for nonprofit leaders thinking about sustainability, capital campaigns, cultural infrastructure, and the future of community-centered growth. Lauren Turner Hines, Founding ‘Envisionist’ and Executive Lead of the André Cailloux Center in New Orleans, takes us inside a 114-year-old former church on historic Bayou Road, the oldest thoroughfare in the city and a corridor with deep roots in Black commerce, freedom, and cultural leadership. Named for Captain André Cailloux, one of the first Black officers in the United States military, the Center is using storytelling as both mission and business strategy. The conversation moves quickly from history into operating reality. Lauren explains how the Center provides affordable space for Black-led performing arts organizations, hosts performances, convenings, workshops, and community events, and builds earned revenue through tours and programming. At the center of the model is a clear business question: how can a nonprofit’s physical space create direct value for the community around it? Lauren offers a sharp answer through the Cailloux Community Equity Fund, a developing model that would allow nearby residents to hold community shares in the building and benefit from quarterly revenue share. As she puts it, “Relationships are the asset.” She also shares her five-year vision: “I hope for a direct community wealth transfer in the multimillions and for art and culture to be the catalyst for that.” This conversation also explores nonprofit capital campaign strategy, founder succession, board leadership, technology systems, and how organizations can avoid letting knowledge, donor relationships, and institutional context live with one person. For nonprofit executives, fundraisers, board members, arts leaders, and community builders, this is a fresh look at sustainability that moves beyond survival and toward shared economic power!  00:00:00 Welcome to The Nonprofit Show  00:02:52 The History Behind the Andre Caillou Center  00:07:04 Using Story as a Nonprofit Mission Strategy  00:10:32 Creating Access for Black-Led Arts Organizations  00:12:49 Turning Space Into Earned Revenue  00:14:37 Navigating Today’s Funding Reality  00:16:27 Why Relationships Are the Asset  00:18:17 Community Wealth Building as a Nonprofit Model  00:20:14 The Caillou Community Equity Fund  00:22:03 A Five-Year Vision for Shared Ownership  00:24:29 Founder Syndrome and Succession Planning  00:28:37 Leadership, Legacy, and Long-Term Community Power  #TheNonprofitShow #NonprofitFunding #CommunityWealthBuilding Find us Live daily on YouTube! Find us  Live daily on LinkedIn! Find us Live daily on X: @Nonprofit_Show Our national co-hosts and amazing guests discuss management, money and missions of nonprofits!  12:30pm ET   11:30am CT  10:30am MT  9:30am PT Send us your ideas for Show Guests or Topics: HelpDesk@AmericanNonprofitAcademy.com Visit us on the web:The Nonprofit Show

    31 min
  6. The Future of International Aid May Not Be Aid at All

    May 27

    The Future of International Aid May Not Be Aid at All

    Send us Fan Mail This episode is for nonprofits searching for alternatives to traditional aid models and dependency-driven philanthropy. The conversation blends international development, nonprofit operations, sustainability, and social enterprise into a highly searchable leadership discussion. Sustainable nonprofit development in Africa requires more than donations—it requires long-term economic thinking, local leadership, and community ownership. In this Global Edition of The Nonprofit Show, Paul Smith, UK Director of MUSANA, shares how the organization is transforming rural communities in Uganda through healthcare, education, hospitality businesses, and locally driven enterprise systems designed to become financially sustainable. Rather than creating dependency on Western aid, MUSANA uses philanthropy as catalytic investment. Their model builds hospitals, schools, hotels, restaurants, and jobs that eventually generate enough local revenue to sustain operations and fund scholarships and outreach programs internally. Paul explains how MUSANA’s district-based strategy has already created nearly 900 full-time jobs while building systems that communities themselves support, value, and grow. The conversation also takes an honest look at the ethical challenges facing international nonprofits, including poverty marketing, child sponsorship culture, and “white savior” dynamics that can unintentionally reinforce harmful power structures. One of the most compelling moments comes when Paul says: “No global economy has ever been built off charity. It’s always enterprise, it’s always industry that builds an economy.” The episode also introduces a powerful nonprofit leadership concept: “Every single charity should have an out vision.” If your nonprofit works internationally—or simply wants to build stronger, more sustainable systems locally—this conversation offers fresh thinking on what long-term impact can truly look like.   00:00:00 Introduction To MUSANA’s Mission  00:02:32 Breaking Cycles Of Aid Dependency  00:05:17 Building Schools, Hospitals & Enterprises  00:07:19 How Local Revenue Funds Community Growth  00:10:30 Why Free Aid Can Create Dependency  00:11:49 Local Leadership Versus Western Control  00:14:20 The Ethics Of Poverty Tourism  00:17:48 Why MUSANA Rejects Child Sponsorship  00:19:49 When Western-Led Models Fail  00:22:20 Ego, Power & Nonprofit Leadership  00:25:23 Access, Opportunity & Economic Growth  00:27:03 Why Every Charity Needs An “Out Vision”  #TheNonprofitShow #InternationalDevelopment #Uganda Find us Live daily on YouTube! Find us  Live daily on LinkedIn! Find us Live daily on X: @Nonprofit_Show Our national co-hosts and amazing guests discuss management, money and missions of nonprofits!  12:30pm ET   11:30am CT  10:30am MT  9:30am PT Send us your ideas for Show Guests or Topics: HelpDesk@AmericanNonprofitAcademy.com Visit us on the web:The Nonprofit Show

    30 min
  7. Why More Money Won’t Fix Your Nonprofit

    May 26

    Why More Money Won’t Fix Your Nonprofit

    Send us Fan Mail Nonprofit infrastructure planning is often overlooked until growth creates operational stress, staff burnout, and organizational confusion. In this energizing discussion, Sharmon Lebby, founder and CEO of Blessed Designs Consulting, explains why nonprofit leaders must build systems, strategy, and internal alignment before major funding arrives. Many nonprofit organizations operate in survival mode—focused on securing the next grant, donation, or hire—without fully preparing for what sustainable growth actually requires. Sharmon challenges leaders to rethink budgeting, board development, volunteer management, and organizational planning from a long-term operational perspective. “You’re not planning for success,” Sharmon explains during the conversation, encouraging nonprofits to think beyond immediate fundraising goals and define what meaningful impact truly looks like. The discussion explores how operational breakdowns often begin internally through unclear systems, rushed onboarding, weak infrastructure, and reactive leadership. Sharmon introduces three core areas nonprofits should continuously strengthen: strategy, systems, and storytelling—including internal storytelling that shapes organizational culture and alignment. The episode also dives into: Why budgeting should function as a strategic compass Creating “dream budgets” before funding exists Building board alignment around values and skill gaps Planning founder transitions and organizational succession Shifting from scarcity thinking to intentional impact planning Collaborating with peer nonprofits instead of competing for every dollar One of the most powerful moments comes when Sharmon reframes the nonprofit relationship with money itself: “Money’s not really what you want.”   00:00:00 Why More Money Can Create New Problems  00:02:22 The “Collapsing Table” Infrastructure Analogy  00:04:15 Burnout and Operational Cracks During Growth  00:06:00 Why Nonprofits Don’t Plan for Success  00:07:34 Building Systems Before Funding Arrives  00:09:31 Strategy, Systems, and Storytelling Framework  00:11:08 Budgeting as a Strategic Growth Tool  00:13:18 Building Boards Around Values and Skills  00:16:27 Why Nonprofits Are Built in Survival Mode  00:19:14 Redefining the Nonprofit Relationship With Money  00:21:29 Planning From the End Goal Backward  00:22:50 Collaboration Instead of Competition  #TheNonprofitShow #NonprofitOperations #NonprofitManagement Find us Live daily on YouTube! Find us  Live daily on LinkedIn! Find us Live daily on X: @Nonprofit_Show Our national co-hosts and amazing guests discuss management, money and missions of nonprofits!  12:30pm ET   11:30am CT  10:30am MT  9:30am PT Send us your ideas for Show Guests or Topics: HelpDesk@AmericanNonprofitAcademy.com Visit us on the web:The Nonprofit Show

    31 min
  8. Difficult Donors: When to Walk Away

    May 22

    Difficult Donors: When to Walk Away

    Send us Fan Mail Managing difficult donors in nonprofits requires more than patience—it requires boundaries, documentation, leadership support, and a clear understanding of donor behavior. In this Fundraisers Friday episode, Julia C. Patrick and Tony Beall explore how nonprofit teams can identify challenging donor patterns before they disrupt the mission, staff, or fundraising strategy. Not every difficult donor is difficult in the same way. Some want control. Some want recognition. Some have disengaged because of a past disappointment. Others cross lines that should never be ignored. This conversation gives nonprofit professionals a thoughtful framework for recognizing those patterns and responding with confidence. Julia and Tony begin with “the controller”—the donor who wants influence over programs, decisions, or organizational direction. Often, this person has business experience, strong opinions, and a genuine desire to help, but their advice can quickly turn into pressure. Tony reminds nonprofit leaders that clear communication about capacity, barriers, and mission alignment is essential. They also discuss the high-maintenance donor, or the “diva/devo” personality, who expects frequent attention, personal recognition, and ongoing reassurance. Tony offers a helpful perspective: these donors may be easier to satisfy when nonprofits understand what they are really seeking—visibility, appreciation, and personal connection. Next comes the transactionalist, often connected to corporate giving, sponsorships, or community relations. This donor wants to know what they receive in return: logo placement, event perks, social media visibility, impressions, access, and recognition. For nonprofits, the lesson is simple: expectations must be set before the gift is made. The conversation then turns to lapsed and angry donors—supporters who have pulled away because something changed, something offended them, or something was never resolved. These situations require careful listening, CRM documentation, and a willingness to reengage with transparency. Finally, Julia and Tony address the line-crosser, the donor whose behavior becomes inappropriate, disrespectful, or harmful. This is where gift policies, conduct language, leadership reporting, and staff protection become non-negotiable. Tony captures the complexity perfectly: “There is no one-size-fits-all answer.” But he also offers the hard truth many fundraisers need to hear: “There’s power in goodbye.” This episode is a business-minded guide to protecting donor relationships without sacrificing mission, staff dignity, or organizational integrity.   00:00:00 Difficult Donors and the Summer Fundraising Season  00:02:08 Why Donor Personas Help Nonprofits Prepare  00:04:02 The Controller: When Donors Want Influence  00:07:48 The High-Maintenance Donor and Recognition Needs  00:10:50 Transactional Donors, Perks, and Visibility  00:13:49 Lapsed and Angry Donors: What Changed?  00:17:16 Politics, Civil Discourse, and Donor Disengagement  00:20:42 The Line-Crosser and Inappropriate Behavior  00:24:22 Policies, Documentation, and Leadership Reporting  00:26:29 When to Walk Away From a Donor  00:28:27 Bless and Release Without Damaging Philanthropy  #TheNonprofitShow #NonprofitFundraising #DonorManagement Find us Live daily on YouTube! Find us  Live daily on LinkedIn! Find us Live daily on X: @Nonprofit_Show Our national co-hosts and amazing guests discuss management, money and missions of nonprofits!  12:30pm ET   11:30am CT  10:30am MT  9:30am PT Send us your ideas for Show Guests or Topics: HelpDesk@AmericanNonprofitAcademy.com Visit us on the web:The Nonprofit Show

    31 min

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
5 Ratings

About

The Nonprofit Show is the nation’s daily broadcast for the business side of nonprofits — bringing you practical insights, expert interviews, and real-world strategies to help your organization run smarter, lead stronger, and fund better. Each weekday, our co-hosts and guests break down the most current topics in fundraising, board governance, leadership, staffing, technology, communications, and financial strategy — giving nonprofit professionals the tools they need to build sustainable, high-performing organizations. With more than 1,400 episodes and growing, our on-demand library is a trusted resource for executive directors, team members, fundraisers, board members, and sector leaders who are ready to move beyond inspiration and into implementation. 🎥 Watch the daily show on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3A0Dqlw

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