The Nonprofit Podcast

Jena Lynch, Brittan Stockert & Cara Augspurger

The Nonprofit Podcast is your weekly dose of real-talk fundraising, designed for the doers, dreamers, and difference-makers powering today’s nonprofit world.Hosted by Jena Lynch, Donorbox’s Education & Community Engagement Manager, and fundraising strategist Britt Stockert, CFRE, each episode delivers clear, practical insights you can act on right away, no fluff, no filler.You’ll also hear from Cara Augspurger, Ed.M., CFRE, ED of Grace Care Center Foundation, sharing field updates and frontline perspectives.Whether you’re building something new or leveling up your impact, we bring you bold ideas, honest conversations, and tools to help you fundraise smarter and lead with confidence.Information. Inspiration. Implementation. Impact.That’s the energy we bring…every week.Let’s get to work.

  1. Ep 214| Retain Your Top Fundraisers: 5 Simple Strategies That Cost Nothing

    2d ago

    Ep 214| Retain Your Top Fundraisers: 5 Simple Strategies That Cost Nothing

    Send us Fan Mail Nearly seven in ten nonprofit employees are actively looking for new jobs…and it's not always about the paycheck. Britt Stockert and Cara Augspurger talk through five low-cost ways to help your team feel appreciated and connected to the mission. Cara draws on real examples from her work at Grace Care Center Foundation, where a culture of recognition has helped keep people engaged without a big perks budget. If you've ever wondered whether you're showing your staff the same care you show your donors, this one's for you. What You'll Learn Why recognition, not just compensation, drives nonprofit retentionHow a restructured annual calendar gave staff real rest without disrupting mission deliveryWhat local business partnerships can look like beyond fundraisingWhy handwritten notes work just as well for team members as for donorsHow schedule flexibility can fill the gap when budget can'tChapters  00:00  Celebrating Team Efforts 02:55   Understanding Nonprofit Turnover 05:55   Creating a Supportive Culture 08:50   The Power of Handwritten Notes 11:50     Flexibility as a Perk 14:52     Recognizing Employee Contributions Resources and Links Grace Care Center Foundation Donorbox — fundraising tools for nonprofitsAbout Donorbox Donorbox is a trusted online and on-location fundraising platform that helps nonprofits raise more. With easy-to-use donation forms, powerful donor management tools, and features designed to grow recurring giving, we have helped 100,000-plus organizations process more than $4 billion in donations worldwide.  donorbox.org Enjoying the show? Subscribe for more practical fundraising strategies, leadership insights, and tools to help your nonprofit grow sustainably. The information provided in this series is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Please consult with a professional advisor for specific guidance. Support the show

    15 min
  2. Ep 213| 4 Filters Every Nonprofit Leader Needs for Smarter Fundraising Decisions

    Jun 18

    Ep 213| 4 Filters Every Nonprofit Leader Needs for Smarter Fundraising Decisions

    Send us Fan Mail Every nonprofit team has one…the decision that keeps getting pushed to next week.  The platform that's been under evaluation for three months. The recurring giving program that still doesn't have a name. The donor email that's been rewritten twelve times and still hasn't been sent. In this episode, Jena Lynch and Britt Stockert get into why fundraising decisions stall and what to do about it. They share a four-filter framework for cutting through the noise, talk through the real reasons teams delay, and leave you with one practical thing to try this week. No jargon, no fluff, just two fundraising professionals being honest about something every nonprofit leader will recognise. What You'll Learn Why fundraising decisions feel riskier right nowHow to define the actual problem before picking a solutionThe difference between reversible and hard-to-reverse decisionsHow 30-day tests replace all-or-nothing pressureWhat to do when your team or board can't land on a directionA 30-minute decision reset to try this weekResources and Links Donorbox| Fundraising tools built for nonprofits Chapters 00:00 Fundraising Decision Paralysis 03:18 Define the Real Problem 09:19 Reversible vs Permanent Decisions 12:06 Progress vs Complexity 14:20 The 30-Day Testing Mindset 16:30 Common Decision-Making Traps 20:28 The 30-Minute Decision Reset About Donorbox Donorbox is a trusted online and on-location fundraising platform that helps nonprofits raise more. With easy-to-use donation forms, powerful donor management tools, and features designed to grow recurring giving, we have helped 100,000-plus organizations process more than $4 billion in donations worldwide.  donorbox.org Enjoying the show? Subscribe for more practical fundraising strategies, leadership insights, and tools to help your nonprofit grow sustainably. The information provided in this series is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Please consult with a professional advisor for specific guidance. Support the show

    23 min
  3. Ep 212| The Nonprofit Starvation Cycle: Why Good Fundraisers Burn Out

    Jun 11

    Ep 212| The Nonprofit Starvation Cycle: Why Good Fundraisers Burn Out

    Send us Fan Mail The fundraising capacity gap is the distance between what a nonprofit needs to raise money sustainably and what it's actually resourced to do.  And, right now?... That gap is widening. In this episode, Britt Stockert, Fundraiser Coach at Donorbox, unpacks what it is, where it shows up in daily development work, and why it keeps getting misdiagnosed as a performance problem when it's actually a structural one. The numbers are stark. The Nonprofit Finance Fund found that 85% of nonprofits expect service demand to keep rising, while 36% ended last year at a deficit, the highest in a decade. First-year donor retention sits around 20%. Sector technology budgets allocate 54% to hardware and 1% to training. And nearly a quarter of nonprofit workers can't afford basic living expenses. Britt makes the case that donor attrition, burnout, and fundraiser turnover are not separate problems. They share the same root cause, and it belongs in the budget conversation, not the performance review. What You'll Learn What the nonprofit fundraising capacity gap actually isWhere it shows up in real development work, and what it costsWhy burnout and donor loss are structural problems, not individual onesWhat the nonprofit starvation cycle is and why it mattersWhat fundraisers, EDs, and board members can each do differently to break the cycleThe Core Insight The gap is almost always invisible, which is exactly what makes it so hard to fix. When a major gifts portfolio goes cold, it gets labeled a performance issue. When a fundraiser burns out and leaves, leadership calls it a pipeline problem. The structural cause stays hidden, and hidden problems don't get fixed. The first move is naming it honestly, in budget conversations, in board meetings, before you pick up a new framework or invest in a new tool. What is it actually costing you to leave it the way it is? Chapters 00:00 The Fundraising Capacity Gap 01:34 Why Retention Is Slipping 03:06 Capacity Problems Disguised as Performance Problems 06:03 The Nonprofit Starvation Cycle 09:34 How to Break the Cycle Resources and Links Book a free one-hour strategy session with Britt here Nonprofit Finance Fund Survey DataFundraising Effectiveness ProjectBridgespan Group ResearchUrban Institute Nonprofit ResearchStanford Social Innovation Review: The Nonprofit Starvation CycleAbout the Host Britt Stockert is a Fundraiser Coach at Donorbox with more than 20 years in the public sector. She helps nonprofits build fundraising strategies that match real capacity, working with teams to strengthen donor relationships, refine systems, and simplify operations. Britt also serves on the board of an immigrant- and refugee-led nonprofit and stays closely connected to on-the-ground realities. About Donorbox Donorbox is a globally trusted online and on-location fundraising platform that helps nonprofits raise more. With easy-to-use donation forms, powerful donor management tools, and features designed to grow recurring giving, we have helped 100,000-plus organizations process over 3 billion dollars in donations worldwide. Enjoying the show? Subscribe for more practical fundraising strategies, leadership insights, and tools to help your nonprofit grow sustainably. The information provided in this series is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Please consult with a professional advisor for specific guidance. Support the show

    13 min
  4. Ep 211| The Nonprofit Visibility Gap - and the Funding It's Costing You!

    Jun 4

    Ep 211| The Nonprofit Visibility Gap - and the Funding It's Costing You!

    Send us Fan Mail “Doubt kills donations.” Before a donor ever gives, they’ve already formed an opinion of your organization. It takes a minute. Sometimes less. And most nonprofits have no idea what’s coming up about their mission. What they find in those moments either builds confidence or raises doubt. In this episode, Jena Lynch sits down with Tori Burrello, Marketing Manager at Candid, to talk about what nonprofit transparency really looks like in practice - and what it costs when it’s missing. Tori shares what’s changed in how donors and funders evaluate organizations, how Candid profiles and Seals of Transparency work as real credibility signals, and why small teams can take meaningful action without a big time commitment. If you’re navigating fundraising, donor relationships, or communications, this one’s worth your time. What You’ll Learn Where donors and funders are really forming first impressions, and how fast it happensWhy incomplete or inconsistent nonprofit data quietly costs organizations donations and fundingWhat Candid profiles and Seals of Transparency signal to funders, and why it mattersHow organizations with a Platinum Seal have seen measurable funding growthWhy a completed Candid profile plugs your organization into a much wider funding ecosystemPractical first steps small teams can take this week without being overwhelmedMore About Our Guest Tori Burrello is the Marketing Manager at Candid, the sector’s leading nonprofit information resource. She works on the Seals of Transparency program and helps nonprofits understand how their public data shapes donor and funder trust. Candid holds data on 1.9 million US nonprofits and feeds into a wide ecosystem of fundraising and giving platforms. Resources and Links Tori:  linkedin.com/in/victoria-burrelloCandid/GuideStar Profiles:  app.candid.orgCandid Seals of Transparency:  candid.orgDonorbox Guide to Nonprofit Transparency:  donorbox.org/nonprofit-blog/nonprofit-transparencyAbout Donorbox Donorbox is a trusted online and on-location fundraising platform that helps nonprofits raise more. With easy-to-use donation forms, powerful donor management tools, and features designed to grow recurring giving, we have helped 100,000-plus organizations process over 3 billion dollars in donations worldwide. Enjoying the show? Subscribe for more practical fundraising strategies, leadership insights, and tools to help your nonprofit grow sustainably. The information provided in this series is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Please consult with a professional advisor for specific guidance. Support the show

    29 min
  5. Ep 210| The Board Blind Spot: Assessment Is the Key to Better Governance - with David Rhode

    May 28

    Ep 210| The Board Blind Spot: Assessment Is the Key to Better Governance - with David Rhode

    Send us Fan Mail Nonprofit boards are doing more with less. And when governance isn't working, it's the executive director who absorbs it quietly, consistently, at real cost to the organization. Britt Stockert sits down with David Rhode, nonprofit executive coach and author of Passion Isn't Enough, to talk about the board self-assessment - what it is, why so many boards skip it, and what a well-run board evaluation process actually looks like in practice. A practical, grounded conversation for nonprofit leaders who want their board working with them, not around them. What You'll Learn What a board self-assessment covers and how to structure oneWhy skipping board evaluations costs more than most leaders realizeHow to introduce the process without it feeling like a crisisHow to act on what you learn without overwhelming your teamMore About Our Guest David Rhode coaches nonprofit executives, consults on board development and fundraising strategy, and teaches at the University of Pennsylvania. His book, Passion Isn't Enough, is a practical guide for nonprofit leaders who want to build organizations that last. Learn more at dotdotorg.com or connect on LinkedIn. Resources and Links Passion Isn't Enough David Rhode & Dot Dot Org donorbox.orgAbout Donorbox Donorbox is a trusted online and on-location fundraising platform that helps nonprofits raise more. With easy-to-use donation forms, powerful donor management tools, and features designed to grow recurring giving, we have helped 100,000-plus organizations process over 3 billion dollars in donations worldwide. Enjoying the show? Subscribe, like, and follow for more practical fundraising strategies, leadership insights, and tools to help your nonprofit grow sustainably. The information provided in this series is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Please consult with a professional advisor for specific guidance. Support the show

    22 min
  6. Ep 209| The Real Reason Donors Stop Giving - With Rob Harter

    May 21

    Ep 209| The Real Reason Donors Stop Giving - With Rob Harter

    Send us Fan Mail Fundraising is getting harder. But generosity hasn't disappeared. So what's actually changing? Jena Lynch sits down with nonprofit coach, consultant, and host of The Nonprofit Leadership Podcast, Rob Harter, to interrogate the real pressures nonprofit leaders are facing right now, donor retention, staffing burnout, supporter engagement, and fundraising performance. They dig into why relationship-based fundraising matters more than ever, why donor trust drives long-term giving, and why simply doing more outreach may no longer be enough. In this episode: Why donor participation is declining even as giving dollars growHow staffing turnover quietly erodes donor trustWhy retention beats urgency every timeHow small teams can strengthen relationships with limited capacityPractical ways AI can help reclaim time and reduce burnoutWhy some traditional fundraising events may need a rethinkHow trust directly influences long-term generosityChapters: 00:00 – Why Nonprofit Fundraising Feels Harder 01:31 – Nonprofit Leadership & Donor Trust 05:09 – Why Donor Relationships Matter More 09:51 – Donor Retention vs Constant Outreach 14:16 – AI Tools for Nonprofit Fundraising 23:13 – Rethinking Nonprofit Fundraising Events About Rob Harter Rob Harter is a nonprofit coach, consultant, and leadership strategist with more than 30 years of experience in the social impact sector. He works with nonprofit leaders on fundraising, organizational growth, leadership, and navigating change, and is the host of The Nonprofit Leadership Podcast. Learn more at RobHarter.com or connect with him on LinkedIn. Resources mentioned: Rob Harter Coaching & ConsultingThe Nonprofit Leadership PodcastAbout Donorbox Donorbox is a trusted online and on-location fundraising platform that helps nonprofits raise more. With easy-to-use donation forms, powerful donor management tools, and features designed to grow recurring giving, we have helped 100,000-plus organizations process over 3 billion dollars in donations worldwide. Enjoying the show? Subscribe for more practical fundraising strategies, leadership insights, and tools to help your nonprofit grow sustainably. The information provided in this series is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Please consult with a professional advisor for specific guidance. Support the show

    30 min
  7. Ep 208| Why Your Nonprofit's Next Leader Needs More Than Potential - With Chris Wong

    May 14

    Ep 208| Why Your Nonprofit's Next Leader Needs More Than Potential - With Chris Wong

    Send us Fan Mail Promoting from within is one of the best things a nonprofit can do. Until it isn't. Not because the person wasn't ready. But because nobody built the bridge between outstanding performer and effective leader, and that gap quietly costs nonprofits some of their best people. Britt Stockert sits down with Chris Wong, founder of Leadership Potential, licensed therapist, and someone who has spent his career building leadership development programs inside nonprofits from the ground up. They talk about accidental leadership. What it actually is. Why it happens in even the most mission-driven organisations. And what nonprofit leaders can do right now to close the gap before it becomes a crisis. Because spotting potential is easy. Developing it is not. What You'll Learn What accidental leadership actually is and why it happens in even the best-run nonprofitsWhy the skills that earn a promotion are rarely the skills needed to lead a teamWhat happens to the team when a new manager is left to figure it out aloneHow one avoided conversation can quietly cost you your best peopleWhat leaders can do right now to close the gap before it becomes a crisisKey Takeaway Spotting potential is easy. Developing it is not. The good news? It's never too late to build the bridge. Resources & Easy Links Get Chris's free Difficult Conversations Playbook for Leaders here Learn more about Chris and Leadership Potential here Connect with Chris on LinkedIn here Find out what Donorbox can do for you!Chapters 00:00 Introduction - When Promotions Quietly Go Wrong 03:33 What Accidental Leadership Looks Like in Nonprofits 05:28 Why New Leaders Feel Unprepared and Overwhelmed 07:30 Tackling Assertiveness, Mindset, and Difficult Conversations 10:44 The Promotion Gap and Why Teams Disengage 14:11 How Leadership Struggles Affect Team Culture and Retention 16:28 Simple Leadership Changes That Reduce Burnout and Improve Teams About Our Guest Chris Wong is the founder of Leadership Potential and a licensed therapist who has spent his career building leadership development programs inside nonprofits from the ground up. He works with small human services organisations to develop managers from the inside out, reducing turnover, freeing up Executive Directors to lead, and building teams that actually function. He also co-hosts The Art and Science of Difficult Conversations podcast. About Donorbox Donorbox is a trusted online and on-location fundraising platform that helps nonprofits raise more. With easy-to-use donation forms, powerful donor management tools, and features designed to grow recurring giving, we have helped 100,000-plus organizations process over 3 billion dollars in donations worldwide. The information provided in this series is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Please consult with a professional advisor for specific guidance. Support the show

    24 min
  8. Ep 207| 5 Steps to building a nonprofit strategy that actually works

    May 7

    Ep 207| 5 Steps to building a nonprofit strategy that actually works

    Send us Fan Mail The plan is just paper. The value is in using it. When your nonprofit is growing but still feels directionless, that's not a passion problem…it's a planning problem.  Strategic planning isn't about doing more, it's about finally knowing what matters. When you're clear on who you serve, honest about what it costs, and aware of how it's funded, everything else - including your fundraising - gets easier from there. Cara Augspurger, CFRE, spent six months working through exactly that, and in this episode, she shares five practical steps to move your stratgic plan from constant reaction to clear, sustainable direction. What you'll learn: Why growth and busyness can mask a real lack of direction, and how to tell the differenceThe single clarity question every nonprofit needs to answer before anything elseWhy "what are we not going to do this year?" might be the most strategic question you askHow to do an honest funding reality check, and what to do when the numbers don't line upWhat a "good year" actually looks like in concrete, actionable numbers, not just a gut feelWhy stability - not scale - is often the most important milestone for early-stage nonprofitsAbout Cara Augspurger Cara Augspurger, CFRE, is the Executive Director of Grace Care Center Foundation and co-host of The Nonprofit Podcast. With deep experience in nonprofit leadership and fundraising, Cara brings a practical, grounded perspective to the challenges facing small and growing organizations, from strategic planning and resource development to building sustainable, community-centered missions. Chapters: 00:00 - Why Nonprofits Need Strategic Planning 02:14 - Step 1 - Get Clear on Your Mission 04:33 - Step 2 - Define Vision and Messaging 05:44 - Step 3 - Do Less With Purpose 07:39 - Step 4 - Funding Reality Check 09:18 - Step 5 - Set Clear Goals and Targets 11:37 - Build Stability and Long-Term Growth If this episode helped you think more clearly about where your organization is headed, share it with a colleague who's feeling the pull in too many directions. About Donorbox: Donorbox is a trusted online and on-location fundraising platform that helps nonprofits raise more. With easy-to-use donation forms, powerful donor management tools, and features designed to grow recurring giving, we have helped 100,000-plus organizations process more than $ 3 billion in donations worldwide. Find out what Donorbox can do for you! Disclaimer: The information provided in this series is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Please consult with a professional advisor for specific guidance. Subscribe to The Nonprofit Podcast for weekly conversations on fundraising, leadership, and strategy for people doing meaningful work Support the show

    14 min
See All (227)

4.7
out of 5
29 Ratings

About

The Nonprofit Podcast is your weekly dose of real-talk fundraising, designed for the doers, dreamers, and difference-makers powering today’s nonprofit world.Hosted by Jena Lynch, Donorbox’s Education & Community Engagement Manager, and fundraising strategist Britt Stockert, CFRE, each episode delivers clear, practical insights you can act on right away, no fluff, no filler.You’ll also hear from Cara Augspurger, Ed.M., CFRE, ED of Grace Care Center Foundation, sharing field updates and frontline perspectives.Whether you’re building something new or leveling up your impact, we bring you bold ideas, honest conversations, and tools to help you fundraise smarter and lead with confidence.Information. Inspiration. Implementation. Impact.That’s the energy we bring…every week.Let’s get to work.

Information

  • Creator
    Jena Lynch, Brittan Stockert & Cara Augspurger
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    227
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Nonprofit Podcast
  • Show Website
    The Nonprofit Podcast

You Might Also Like