Million Dollar Nonprofit

Tom Kelly
  • 5.0 (2)
  • NON-PROFIT
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Welcome to The Million Dollar Nonprofit — the daily podcast for small-but-mighty teams ready to scale their impact without burning out. Hosted by nonprofit growth strategist Tom Kelly, each episode delivers no-fluff strategies to raise more, automate smarter, and finally understand what’s working (and what’s not). Learn how to use AI tools, sharp messaging, and efficient systems to turn clicks into donations, casual supporters into loyal advocates, and your scrappy org into a million-dollar nonprofit. Whether you're solo or leading a small team, this is your playbook for sustainable, scalable fundraising that actually works.

  1. Episode 269: The Board Reset: From Frustration to Function

    16H AGO

    Episode 269: The Board Reset: From Frustration to Function

    Most nonprofit leaders don’t have a board problem. They have a clarity problem. In this episode of the Million Dollar Nonprofit Podcast, Tom sits down with nonprofit founder-turned-consultant David Rhode, author of Passion Isn’t Enough, to unpack what’s really going wrong when boards feel disengaged, unhelpful, or frustrating. David has been on both sides — as an executive director building a board from scratch and now as an advisor helping leaders course-correct when things go sideways. Together, they dive into: Why unmet (and unspoken) expectations are at the root of most board tensionThe two biggest areas where board members misunderstand their role: time and moneyThe difference between a working board and a capacity-building board — and why you must choose intentionallyHow to transition from a “friends and family” board to a more strategic one (without blowing up relationships)Practical ways to hold volunteer board members accountable — without shame or blameWhy passion alone won’t build a sustainable nonprofit If you’re leading an organization under $1M and quietly thinking, “My board is a mess… where do I even start?” — this episode gives you a clear first step you can take this week. Find David on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-rhode-1129183/ and head to his website to learn more https://dotdotorg.com/

    22 min
  2. Episode 268: Turn One-Night Events Into Year-Round Revenue Without Burning Out Your Team

    1D AGO

    Episode 268: Turn One-Night Events Into Year-Round Revenue Without Burning Out Your Team

    Most nonprofits treat their big events like fireworks: one loud night, then silence. In this episode of The Million Dollar Nonprofit, Tom Kelly explains how the real value of events begins after the lights go out. You’ll learn why events are not fundraisers — they’re information generators — and how to turn attendee engagement into ongoing relationships, recurring donations, and year-round revenue. Using real examples, actionable steps, and AI-assisted strategies, this episode shows how to design follow-up journeys that continue the emotional momentum, convert your most engaged attendees into loyal donors, and build systems that grow your mission without burning out your team. If you want your event to do more than celebrate one night, this episode is a must-listen.

    4 min
  3. Episode 267: The 80/20 Rule That Explains Why You’re Burned Out in Fundraising

    4D AGO

    Episode 267: The 80/20 Rule That Explains Why You’re Burned Out in Fundraising

    Most nonprofit burnout isn’t a motivation problem — it’s a focus problem. In this episode of The Million Dollar Nonprofit, hosted by Tom Kelly, we break down how the 80/20 rule applies directly to fundraising growth, donor retention, and nonprofit strategy. You’ll discover why a small percentage of donors drive most of your revenue, why a handful of messages create most of your engagement, and why focusing on high-impact activities leads to sustainable growth without exhausting your team. If you’re overwhelmed, juggling campaigns, events, emails, and still feeling stuck, this episode will help you simplify, prioritize, and scale smarter. Because fundraising success isn’t about doing more — it’s about protecting the 20% that actually moves the mission forward.

    3 min
  4. Episode 266: Is Your Big Annual Fundraiser Quietly Holding Your Nonprofit Back?

    5D AGO

    Episode 266: Is Your Big Annual Fundraiser Quietly Holding Your Nonprofit Back?

    Most nonprofits are proud of their big annual fundraiser. The gala. The walk. The tournament. The auction night. It feels productive. It brings in revenue. It’s tradition. But what if that once-a-year event is quietly limiting your growth? In this episode of The Million Dollar Nonprofit, Tom Kelly breaks down why depending on one major fundraiser creates compressed revenue, shallow donor relationships, and team burnout. Big events often create the illusion of progress without building long-term momentum. You’ll learn: • Why events concentrate risk instead of building stability • How feast-or-famine fundraising keeps nonprofits stuck • The difference between event donors and mission donors • How to turn your event into a long-term relationship engine • Three simple actions to make your next fundraiser smarter, not bigger Events aren’t the problem. The way you use them is. If you want predictable revenue, stronger donor retention, and less burnout, this episode will shift how you think about fundraising strategy.

    5 min
  5. Episode 265: Reframing Fundraising as Connection & Impact with Esther Saehyun Lee

    FEB 10

    Episode 265: Reframing Fundraising as Connection & Impact with Esther Saehyun Lee

    Are you tired of hearing, “I’m not a fundraiser”? In this episode, Tom Kelly sits down with nonprofit strategist Esther Saehyun Lee to reframe what fundraising really means. Esther helps executive directors, board members, and staff see that fundraising isn’t just about the ask—it’s about connection, trust, and sharing your mission in meaningful ways. They dive into: Why so many nonprofit leaders feel like fundraising isn’t their jobThe lightbulb moment when people realize they already are fundraisersHow small and medium nonprofits can engage their teams and boards to share the fundraising loadSimple, high-impact donor stewardship practices you can implement todayThe power of authentic storytelling and avoiding extractive narratives Free Gifts for Listeners Sweet Treat Quiz for Nonprofit Leaders – Take a fun, silly quiz to find out what sweet treat you need and what it says about your leadership archetype. Take the quiz here https://opinionstage.com/page/d95ef3db-f580-4a72-9b57-265e34ad6cc5Limited Troubleshooting Calls – Esther is offering 4 private 30-minute troubleshooting calls to help you tackle your nonprofit’s fundraising challenges. To secure one of the 4 spots, email her directly at esther@elevatephilanthropyconsulting.com If you want to reimagine fundraising, engage your team, and strengthen your nonprofit’s impact, this episode is packed with actionable insights and encouragement to get started. Want to chat with Esther directly? Find her on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/esther-saehyun-lee/ For more info on Esther, visit her website: https://www.elevatephilanthropyconsulting.com/ and for more additional resources from her here: https://candid.org/blogs/hidden-labor-behind-nonprofits-authentic-storytelling/

    23 min
  6. Episode 264: The Quiet Pattern Behind High-Retention Campaigns

    FEB 9

    Episode 264: The Quiet Pattern Behind High-Retention Campaigns

    Most nonprofit campaigns fail to retain donors not because of lack of offers, timing, or frequency — but because the relationship feels disconnected. In this episode of The Million Dollar Nonprofit, Tom Kelly breaks down the quiet pattern behind campaigns that actually keep donors coming back: Recognition, Reinforcement, Re-entry. You’ll learn: Why high-retention campaigns feel like relationships, not transactionsHow to make donors feel seen before you ever askWhy reinforcement builds pride and loyaltyHow re-entry invites without pressure or guiltHow AI helps maintain continuity and scale donor engagement Hear a real example of a nonprofit stuck at 41% retention. They rebuilt their campaigns around this simple pattern — same donors, same budget — and retention jumped to 62% in a year. This episode shows how high-retention campaigns continue a donor’s story instead of restarting it with every email. Calm, confident, human, and repeatable — that’s the pattern.

    5 min
  7. Episode 263: How to Win Back Lapsed Donors With a Single Story

    FEB 6

    Episode 263: How to Win Back Lapsed Donors With a Single Story

    Most lapsed donors don’t need another campaign, another offer, or more urgency. They don’t need to be convinced. They need to feel something again. In this episode of The Million Dollar Nonprofit, Tom Kelly explains why donors lapse in the first place — not because they stopped caring, but because the emotional connection faded — and how one carefully written story can reopen that connection without guilt, pressure, or pretending nothing happened. Tom introduces a simple reactivation framework — Memory, Meaning, Momentum — that helps nonprofits reconnect lapsed donors by reminding them why they first cared, showing how their past support mattered, and offering a warm, pressure-free invitation back into the story. You’ll learn: Why “we miss you” emails quietly failHow guilt shuts donors down instead of bringing them backWhy stories outperform urgency for donor reactivationThe 3-part structure behind effective lapsed donor emailsHow AI helps nonprofits personalize reconnection at scale You’ll also hear a real example of a nonprofit that sent one story-based email to lapsed donors — no donate button, no countdown — and saw replies, reconnections, and reactivated giving simply because donors felt remembered, not chased.

    6 min
  8. Episode 262: You Don’t Need More Donors — You Need Better Conversations

    FEB 5

    Episode 262: You Don’t Need More Donors — You Need Better Conversations

    Most nonprofits believe their biggest growth problem is a lack of donors. More names. More leads. Bigger lists. But here’s the uncomfortable truth: most nonprofits don’t have a donor problem — they have a conversation problem. In this episode of The Million Dollar Nonprofit, Tom Kelly flips the traditional growth mindset on its head and shows why the fastest way to raise more money isn’t finding new donors, but having better conversations with the ones you already have. Tom breaks down why donors actually leave, how broadcast-style fundraising quietly destroys relationships, and why asking better questions does more for retention than any campaign ever will. You’ll learn: Why donors don’t leave because you ask too much — they leave because you talk too little The difference between broadcasting and real donor conversations How listening, reflecting, and guiding replace persuasion and pressure A simple four-email conversation sequence that outperforms most campaigns How AI helps nonprofits scale real conversations without losing the human touch You’ll also hear a real example of a nonprofit that stopped chasing list growth and sent one simple email asking donors why they originally connected. The result? More replies, deeper relationships, and a dramatic increase in repeat giving — without adding new donors.

    6 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Welcome to The Million Dollar Nonprofit — the daily podcast for small-but-mighty teams ready to scale their impact without burning out. Hosted by nonprofit growth strategist Tom Kelly, each episode delivers no-fluff strategies to raise more, automate smarter, and finally understand what’s working (and what’s not). Learn how to use AI tools, sharp messaging, and efficient systems to turn clicks into donations, casual supporters into loyal advocates, and your scrappy org into a million-dollar nonprofit. Whether you're solo or leading a small team, this is your playbook for sustainable, scalable fundraising that actually works.

Information

  • Creator
    Tom Kelly
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    270
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Tom Kelly
  • Show Website
    Million Dollar Nonprofit