The Build Good Fundraising Podcast

BuildGood.com
  • 4.6 (15)
  • NON-PROFIT
  • UPDATED MONTHLY

Fundraising isn't easy, but it should be simple. We take the mystery out of fundraising with practical tips and strategies to help nonprofit leaders grow their revenue and impact so they can do more good in the world. 

  1. 10/29/2025

    #114: Is this the end of the donor pyramid? Personalization, AI, and listening to donors at scale, with Anton Lipkanou

    Send us a text The donor pyramid is collapsing. Individual giving is shrinking. And yet, total philanthropic revenue is still growing—just from fewer and fewer people. In this episode, we sit down with Anton Lipkanou, President of Delve Deeper, to unpack what’s really happening beneath the surface of donor data, and how fundraisers can respond. Together we explore: Why donor files are aging faster than time itselfHow the “Eiffel Tower” of giving reveals a dangerous imbalanceWhat “Jobs to Be Done” means for understanding donor motivationHow to listen to donors through data, not just surveysThe new role of AI in personalizing donor journeys at scaleYou’ll leave this episode with practical ideas to start listening like a major gifts officer — even when you’re talking to tens of thousands of donors. Quotes: “Donors are hiring your organization to do a job for them. It’s not about you — it’s what they can do through you.” — Anton Lipkanou “If giving is a story of self, then our job as fundraisers is to listen for the story donors are trying to tell.” — Mike Duerksen — ⛰️ Don’t miss out on the next BuildGood Summit! Sign up to be the first to know about the dates, location and super early bird discounted tickets at www.buildgoodsummit.com   🤔 What else would you like to know about improving your fundraising and becoming an effective nonprofit marketer? Connect with Mike Duerksen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikeduerksen/  🔔 Follow the Build Good Fundraising Podcast on your favourite podcast app—and never miss a new episode: https://buildgood.com/category/podcast/  ❤️ And if you haven't yet, subscribe to our Youtube channel for more fundraising videos and actionable strategies that will help you grow your revenue and impact: https://www.youtube.com/@buildgood?sub_confirmation=1  Thanks for listening!  ----  #Fundraising #Nonprofit #Philanthropy #Marketing  Interested in  working with a fundraising agency to grow your nonprofit? BuildGood is a fundraising agency that helps nonprofits raise more money from individual donors. Let our team of experts create your fundraising appeals, emails and newsletters for you, and reclaim the time to do the thing only YOU can do: build genuine, human, personal relationships with your donors.  You’ll add proven expertise to your team. You’ll benefit from tested and proven strategies that will make you more money. And you’ll have peace of mind that you’re putting your best foot forward with your fundraising.  ➡️For more information, go here: www.buildgood.com

    42 min

  2. 09/24/2025

    #113: How Make-A-Wish Canada Built A Winning Giving Tuesday Flywheel, with Rapinder Dhinsa

    Send us a text Giving Tuesday isn’t just one day on the calendar— it’s a chance to build a core pillar of a larger year-end campaign.   In this episode, we sit down with Rapinder Dhinsa from Make-A-Wish Canada to learn how she turned Giving Tuesday into a powerful, multi-year growth engine. Rapinder shares how her team built a campaign that got stronger every year — layering in new channels, integrating matched gifts, and weaving Giving Tuesday into the broader year-end strategy to maximize results.  You’ll hear how they aligned email, social, direct mail, and paid ads to create a unified donor experience, plus the lessons they learned about timing, storytelling, and making every donor feel like an important part of the team. If you want to make your Giving Tuesday campaign more than a one-day event — and turn it into a launchpad for your whole year-end fundraising — you won’t want to miss this conversation. — ⛰️ Don’t miss out on the next BuildGood Summit! Sign up to be the first to know about the dates, location and super early bird discounted tickets at www.buildgoodsummit.com   🤔 What else would you like to know about improving your fundraising and becoming an effective nonprofit marketer? Connect with Mike Duerksen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikeduerksen/  🔔 Follow the Build Good Fundraising Podcast on your favourite podcast app—and never miss a new episode: https://buildgood.com/category/podcast/  ❤️ And if you haven't yet, subscribe to our Youtube channel for more fundraising videos and actionable strategies that will help you grow your revenue and impact: https://www.youtube.com/@buildgood?sub_confirmation=1  Thanks for listening!  ----  #Fundraising #Nonprofit #Philanthropy #Marketing  Interested in  working with a fundraising agency to grow your nonprofit? BuildGood is a fundraising agency that helps nonprofits raise more money from individual donors. Let our team of experts create your fundraising appeals, emails and newsletters for you, and reclaim the time to do the thing only YOU can do: build genuine, human, personal relationships with your donors.  You’ll add proven expertise to your team. You’ll benefit from tested and proven strategies that will make you more money. And you’ll have peace of mind that you’re putting your best foot forward with your fundraising.  ➡️For more information, go here: www.buildgood.com

    43 min

  3. 09/10/2025

    #112: How to evolve your fundraising offer and positioning as your organization scales, with Phil Calvert

    Send us a text Imagine building a huge organization on the back of “$5.38 buys a meal for a neighbour experiencing homelessness”, when a meal is just the doorway, not the destination. It’s a situation many nonprofits find themselves in. Their programming has changed and evolved, but their core value proposition and fundraising offers haven’t—because they are tried, trued, tested and proven. In today’s episode, The Mustard Seed’s Philip Calvert sits down with Mike to pull back the curtain on what happens when an inner city ministry grows into a multi-city, $73m engine for life change—housing, mental health supports, job training and more—while many donors still picture soup lines at Christmas.  With 38,000 active donors and a strong brand, Phil and his team are facing a choice: keep raising money on meals… or reframe the offer around real outcomes. Last year alone, 1,300 people graduated from their shelter to affordable housing—effectively exiting homelessness. That’s the story. Now how do you scale it? In this episode you’ll learn: Why meal-based offers work—and when they start to trap your brand. How to test new impact messages (like shelter-to-housing “graduations”) without tanking revenue. Ways to align fundraising, programs, and ops so donors fund what actually drives change. A simple 3-step path to review metrics, pilot new offers, and roll out a refreshed public story.— ⛰️ Don’t miss out on the next BuildGood Summit! Sign up to be the first to know about the dates, location and super early bird discounted tickets at www.buildgoodsummit.com   🤔 What else would you like to know about improving your fundraising and becoming an effective nonprofit marketer? Connect with Mike Duerksen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikeduerksen/  🔔 Follow the Build Good Fundraising Podcast on your favourite podcast app—and never miss a new episode: https://buildgood.com/category/podcast/  ❤️ And if you haven't yet, subscribe to our Youtube channel for more fundraising videos and actionable strategies that will help you grow your revenue and impact: https://www.youtube.com/@buildgood?sub_confirmation=1  Thanks for listening!  ----  #Fundraising #Nonprofit #Philanthropy #Marketing  Interested in  working with a fundraising agency to grow your nonprofit? BuildGood is a fundraising agency that helps nonprofits raise more money from individual donors. Let our team of experts create your fundraising appeals, emails and newsletters for you, and reclaim the time to do the thing only YOU can do: build genuine, human, personal relationships with your donors.  You’ll add proven expertise to your team. You’ll benefit from tested and proven strategies that will make you more money. And you’ll have peace of mind that you’re putting your best foot forward with your fundraising.  ➡️For more information, go here: www.buildgood.com

    47 min

  4. 08/27/2025

    #111: Live from Summit: Asking without fear: how to stop worrying and learn to love the ask, with Michael Mitchell

    Send us a text Think asking for money is scary? Michael Mitchell has been there, done that, and sweated through enough awkward asks to keep the deodorant industry in business for a lifetime.  After two decades of nervously asking for everything from $90 to $9 million, he's discovered something unexpected: asking can actually be kind of amazing. Yes, asking someone for money feels about as natural as dancing at a board meeting. Even seasoned fundraising professionals get tongue-tied. But what if you could learn to ask with confidence, courage, and conviction? In this highly practical session recorded live at the Build Good Summit, Michael (who still gets a little nervous every time he asks) will share a proven, permission-based framework to help you overcome the mental and emotional barriers that make asking so intimidating. From how to craft the perfect ask to navigating moments of uncertainty, you'll discover how to approach giving conversations as authentic invitations to create real change. Perfect for leaders who understand that great fundraising doesn't require being fearless -- just the courage to ask anyway. Don't let fear keep you from fueling your mission. Discover the joy of asking without fear as you learn to invite generosity in ways that feel natural and authentic. — ⛰️ Don’t miss out on the next BuildGood Summit! Sign up to be the first to know about the dates, location and super early bird discounted tickets at www.buildgoodsummit.com   🤔 What else would you like to know about improving your fundraising and becoming an effective nonprofit marketer? Connect with Mike Duerksen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikeduerksen/  🔔 Follow the Build Good Fundraising Podcast on your favourite podcast app—and never miss a new episode: https://buildgood.com/category/podcast/  ❤️ And if you haven't yet, subscribe to our Youtube channel for more fundraising videos and actionable strategies that will help you grow your revenue and impact: https://www.youtube.com/@buildgood?sub_confirmation=1  Thanks for listening!  ----  #Fundraising #Nonprofit #Philanthropy #Marketing  Interested in  working with a fundraising agency to grow your nonprofit? BuildGood is a fundraising agency that helps nonprofits raise more money from individual donors. Let our team of experts create your fundraising appeals, emails and newsletters for you, and reclaim the time to do the thing only YOU can do: build genuine, human, personal relationships with your donors.  You’ll add proven expertise to your team. You’ll benefit from tested and proven strategies that will make you more money. And you’ll have peace of mind that you’re putting your best foot forward with your fundraising.  ➡️For more information, go here: www.buildgood.com

    28 min

  5. 08/20/2025

    #110: Live from Summit: Fundraising appeals that work with, not against, human nature, with Kevin Schulman and Stefano Di Domenico

    Send us a text Fundraising appeals are packed with bad habits that refuse to die—bolded words, underlined sentences, multiple hard asks, and financial symbols littered throughout. The data is clear: none of this is actually helping. So what does? This practical, no-fluff session recorded live at the Build Good Summit will strip away ineffective tactics and replace them with a proven, behavioral science-backed approach to crafting appeals that work.  This session isn’t theory—it’s specific, actionable, and counterintuitive. You’ll walk away with clear do’s and don’ts for writing stronger, more effective appeals—without gimmicks, without pressure, and without the bad habits fundraisers keep passing down. – ⛰️ Don’t miss out on the next BuildGood Summit! Sign up to be the first to know about the dates, location and super early bird discounted tickets at www.buildgoodsummit.com   🤔 What else would you like to know about improving your fundraising and becoming an effective nonprofit marketer? Connect with Mike Duerksen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikeduerksen/  🔔 Follow the Build Good Fundraising Podcast on your favourite podcast app—and never miss a new episode: https://buildgood.com/category/podcast/  ❤️ And if you haven't yet, subscribe to our Youtube channel for more fundraising videos and actionable strategies that will help you grow your revenue and impact: https://www.youtube.com/@buildgood?sub_confirmation=1  Thanks for listening!  ----  #Fundraising #Nonprofit #Philanthropy #Marketing  Interested in  working with a fundraising agency to grow your nonprofit? BuildGood is a fundraising agency that helps nonprofits raise more money from individual donors. Let our team of experts create your fundraising appeals, emails and newsletters for you, and reclaim the time to do the thing only YOU can do: build genuine, human, personal relationships with your donors.  You’ll add proven expertise to your team. You’ll benefit from tested and proven strategies that will make you more money. And you’ll have peace of mind that you’re putting your best foot forward with your fundraising.  ➡️For more information, go here: www.buildgood.com

    1h 33m

  6. 08/13/2025

    #109: Live from Summit: How to acquire more recurring donors: a tested & proven approach to growing recurring revenue, with Nathan Hill

    Send us a text Monthly giving has been the buzzword of the nonprofit industry for the past few years. But most conversations about recurring giving lack substantial data and evidence about what really works to increase recurring revenue.  While it can be inspiring to see examples from complex organizations that are seemingly "doing it right", growing your recurring giving program often isn’t as complicated as some would have you think. In this workshop session, you’ll take a hands-on look at your current fundraising efforts to identify tested, proven, and practical opportunities to grow your recurring revenue by acquiring more monthly donors. Throughout the session, we’ll cover tactics and strategies that have been proven to increase results through real-world a/b testing covering key areas including:  Converting recurring donors within the one-time donation processUpgrading one-time donors after they’ve made their first giftLaunching a dedicated recurring giving acquisition campaign using a proven frameworkWhether you have a monthly giving program up and running today, or you’re looking to launch one in the future—this session will equip you with proven insights that you can apply to your program right away to start growing your recurring revenue. –– ⛰️ Don’t miss out on the next BuildGood Summit! Sign up to be the first to know about the dates, location and super early bird discounted tickets at www.buildgoodsummit.com   🤔 What else would you like to know about improving your fundraising and becoming an effective nonprofit marketer? Connect with Mike Duerksen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikeduerksen/  🔔 Follow the Build Good Fundraising Podcast on your favourite podcast app—and never miss a new episode: https://buildgood.com/category/podcast/  ❤️ And if you haven't yet, subscribe to our Youtube channel for more fundraising videos and actionable strategies that will help you grow your revenue and impact: https://www.youtube.com/@buildgood?sub_confirmation=1  Thanks for listening! –– #Fundraising #Nonprofit #Philanthropy #Marketing  Interested in  working with a fundraising agency to grow your nonprofit? BuildGood is a fundraising agency that helps nonprofits raise more money from individual donors. Let our team of experts create your fundraising appeals, emails and newsletters for you, and reclaim the time to do the thing only YOU can do: build genuine, human, personal relationships with your donors.  You’ll add proven expertise to your team. You’ll benefit from tested and proven strategies that will make you more money. And you’ll have peace of mind that you’re putting your best foot forward with your fundraising.  ➡️For more information, go here: www.buildgood.com

    1h 14m

  7. 08/06/2025

    #108: Live from Summit: The stories we tell, the supporters we keep—lessons in new donor acquisition & retention from UNHCR Canada, with Shairoze Walji

    Send us a text When emergencies happen, donors respond. But too often, that generosity fades just as quickly as it arrives.  While acquiring new donors is important, how can we better cultivate and steward those who have already given?  How do we bridge the gap between crisis-driven giving and long-term donor commitment?  And how do we engage supporters in a way that reflects the evolving expectations of Canadian donors? This session recorded live at the Build Good Summit explores what’s changing in fundraising today – how donors are engaging across multiple channels, why traditional storytelling approaches no longer resonate, and what organizations need to do to build deeper, lasting relationships.  Shairoze Walji shares her full-circle story about how her family arrived in Canada as refugees and how, years later, she now works to support displaced people through UNHCR. Our personal connections to our work matter, and when we tap into those connections in the right way, we build trust, community and donor relationships that extend far beyond a single moment of crisis. — ⛰️ Don’t miss out on the next BuildGood Summit! Sign up to be the first to know about the dates, location and super early bird discounted tickets at www.buildgoodsummit.com   🤔 What else would you like to know about improving your fundraising and becoming an effective nonprofit marketer? Connect with Mike Duerksen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikeduerksen/  🔔 Follow the Build Good Fundraising Podcast on your favourite podcast app—and never miss a new episode: https://buildgood.com/category/podcast/  ❤️ And if you haven't yet, subscribe to our Youtube channel for more fundraising videos and actionable strategies that will help you grow your revenue and impact: https://www.youtube.com/@buildgood?sub_confirmation=1  Thanks for listening!  –– #Fundraising #Nonprofit #Philanthropy #Marketing  Interested in  working with a fundraising agency to grow your nonprofit? BuildGood is a fundraising agency that helps nonprofits raise more money from individual donors. Let our team of experts create your fundraising appeals, emails and newsletters for you, and reclaim the time to do the thing only YOU can do: build genuine, human, personal relationships with your donors.  You’ll add proven expertise to your team. You’ll benefit from tested and proven strategies that will make you more money. And you’ll have peace of mind that you’re putting your best foot forward with your fundraising.  ➡️For more information, go here: www.buildgood.com

    25 min

  8. 07/30/2025

    #107: Live from Summit: How UNICEF Canada built, launched and scaled Postcards From Paddington—a flagship branded monthly giving program, with Victoria Mix Higginson

    Send us a text Imagine the impact you could make if your organization had predictable, repeatable, and scalable revenue?  In this session recorded live at the Build Good Summit, UNICEF Canada will share how they created and scaled Paddington’s Postcards, an innovative monthly giving subscription that sends postcards from all around the world to Canadian families making a monthly gift, while teaching children about philanthropy at the same time. This session is perfect for anyone (beginners and advanced fundraisers!) looking for inspiration on a unique way to connect with new audiences through your monthly giving program.  We’ll discuss actionable insights on channel diversification, key performance metrics to measure success and how we leveraged seasonal moments to drive conversions.  — ⛰️ Don’t miss out on the next BuildGood Summit! Sign up to be the first to know about the dates, location and super early bird discounted tickets at www.buildgoodsummit.com   🤔 What else would you like to know about improving your fundraising and becoming an effective nonprofit marketer? Connect with Mike Duerksen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikeduerksen/  🔔 Follow the Build Good Fundraising Podcast on your favourite podcast app—and never miss a new episode: https://buildgood.com/category/podcast/  ❤️ And if you haven't yet, subscribe to our Youtube channel for more fundraising videos and actionable strategies that will help you grow your revenue and impact: https://www.youtube.com/@buildgood?sub_confirmation=1  Thanks for listening! ----  #Fundraising #Nonprofit #Philanthropy #Marketing  Interested in  working with a fundraising agency to grow your nonprofit? BuildGood is a fundraising agency that helps nonprofits raise more money from individual donors. Let our team of experts create your fundraising appeals, emails and newsletters for you, and reclaim the time to do the thing only YOU can do: build genuine, human, personal relationships with your donors.  You’ll add proven expertise to your team. You’ll benefit from tested and proven strategies that will make you more money. And you’ll have peace of mind that you’re putting your best foot forward with your fundraising.  ➡️For more information, go here: www.buildgood.com

    34 min
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4.6
out of 5
15 Ratings

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Fundraising isn't easy, but it should be simple. We take the mystery out of fundraising with practical tips and strategies to help nonprofit leaders grow their revenue and impact so they can do more good in the world. 

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