RKD Group: Thinkers

RKD Group

4.8 (15)
NON-PROFIT
UPDATED BIWEEKLY

RKD Group: Thinkers, the nonprofit marketer's podcast, is a must-listen experience of thought-provoking content that inspires strategic decisions and insight on the industry. Group: Thinkers brings together innovators and curators in nonprofit marketing, branding and direct response to tackle the major issues facing nonprofits today.

2D AGO

What nonprofit leaders learned in 2025

In this special edition of the RKD Group: Thinkers podcast, Justin McCord and Ronnie Richard take a step back to reflect on another year of conversations, insights and moments that shaped the podcast, and the nonprofit sector, throughout 2025. Inspired by high-impact conversations, Justin and Ronnie examine what those conversations revealed about the evolving landscape of nonprofit marketing, fundraising, leadership and purpose. Over the course of the episode, four defining themes emerge: the maturation of AI in the sector, the enduring importance of human-centered fundraising, the power of purpose-driven career shifts and the resilience required to navigate constant change. In this conversation, Justin and Ronnie reflect on the year behind them, the lessons surfaced through their guests and even a spilled Topo Chico.

35 min
12/18/2025

Why the nonprofit sector’s future depends on leaders learning together

Abby Graf, vice president of programs at the Nonprofit Alliance (TNPA), is one of the most thoughtful leadership facilitators in the sector. On this episode of the RKD Group: Thinkers podcast, Abby shares how a lifelong pattern of bringing people together, from organizing Earth Day as a teenager to guiding leadership labs for nonprofit executives, has shaped her approach to helping leaders navigate change with clarity, courage and community. Abby’s path to “dream job” status didn’t come from chasing a job title. It came from noticing what makes groups work, asking better questions and creating the conditions where leaders can learn from one another. In her world, leadership isn’t a solo act. It’s a shared practice that happens at the me, we and community level. Today, Abby leads TNPA’s program work focused on developing nonprofit leaders across the sector, supporting individuals, teams and organizations as they build practical skills, strengthen decision-making and respond to the realities of a shifting landscape. Whether the topic is budgets, AI, risk aversion or big-picture threats to the sector, Abby’s goal is consistent: help leaders step back from the urgent and make space for what matters most. What stands out about Abby is her ability to pair strategic thinking with real humanity, encouraging leaders to experiment responsibly, stay grounded in mission and keep moving even when the path forward feels uncertain. In this conversation, Abby reflects on the experiences that shaped her leadership lens, how creativity strengthens leaders, why nonprofits struggle with risk and what she’s hearing from leaders as 2025 wraps up.

35 min
12/04/2025

The college challenge that created a nonprofit changemaker

In this episode of “RKD Group: Thinkers,” we sit down with Mike Esposito—fundraiser, consultant, coach, CFRE and deeply engaged advocate for nonprofit professionals. Mike shares how a mix of chance encounters, community involvement, thoughtful mentors and one pivotal leap of faith shaped both his career and his philosophy of service. Mike’s journey into the sector didn’t begin with a master plan. It began with a spontaneous fundraising challenge in college that sparked something deeper: a curiosity for the science behind human generosity and the systems that drive people to give. Over the next decade, that curiosity evolved into a career rooted in relationships, leadership and empowerment. Today, he's the founder and lead fundraising strategist of Mike Esposito Fundraising, a consultancy that helps social service and community-focused nonprofits grow individual giving and build sustainable donor revenue. A CFRE-certified strategist and coach, Mike partners with executive directors and fundraising leads to strengthen stewardship, clarify donor strategy, and create systems that make donor engagement consistent and manageable. His work includes individual giving strategy, donor communications, stewardship, portfolio development, and board coaching, helping nonprofits build practical fundraising programs that last. He also gives back to the sector through AFP New York, Nonprofit Hive and his mentorship of emerging leaders. What stands out most about Mike is his willingness to map his course, surround himself with community, trust his instincts and push others to grow. In this conversation, Mike reflects on how early experiences shaped him, why he took the leap into consulting and how he thinks fundraisers can navigate the uncertainty of the philanthropic landscape ahead.

35 min
11/13/2025

Feeling wheels and growth mindset: Lessons from 17 years at Wisconsin Humane Society

We’re excited to relaunch our podcast "RKD Group: Chat" now hosted by Nipa Eason, Creative Director at RKD Group. "RKD Group: Chat" brings you behind the scenes of nonprofit life, shedding light on the compassion and purpose that drive the individuals solving the world’s most challenging problems. In this episode, we chatted with Sarah Trudeau from the Wisconsin Humane Society. She started as an adoption counselor, and 17 years later, she’s now the Director of Data & Annual Fund.

37 min
11/06/2025

Living on purpose: How Floyd Jones builds community and raised $2M for Black-led nonprofits

As the child of immigrants from West Africa, Floyd Jones recalls going back home to visit and seeing people lined up outside his family’s house, knowing his parents were always there to offer resources and work. So helping others has always been “part of my DNA,” Jones says. Fast forward to today, Jones is a speaker, a coach and a community builder. The founder of BackBlack, he’s raised over $2 million for black-led nonprofits. He is a catalyst for change, and energizes everyone in his vicinity. In this episode of “RKD Group: Thinkers,” Floyd chats about how music and movement-building shaped his approach to fundraising and why he treats AI as an amplifier, not a replacement, for human connection.

37 min
10/13/2025

Finding purpose and passion in the nonprofit tech space with Mark Cross

In this episode of “RKD Group: Thinkers,” we talk with Mark Cross, the current Head of Sales at Hatch, who shares how a winding career journey, personal purpose and the rise of AI intersect in service of social impact.

40 min
09/25/2025

Balancing data and creativity: Lori Collins on finding the “why” behind the numbers

In this episode of “RKD Group: Thinkers,” Lori Collins shares how her left-brain passion for research blends seamlessly with her right-brain love of yoga and aerial arts. From her early days in pay-per-view television to more than 15 years in nonprofit fundraising, Lori has built a career on applied math, curiosity and a desire to “use your powers for good.”

32 min
08/20/2025

From food banks to PBS: Jen Newmeyer’s journey alongside digital fundraising

With nearly 20 years of experience, Jen Newmeyer has witnessed the dawn of digital fundraising, navigated leadership roadblocks and championed collaboration in legacy organizations. She speaks candidly about the challenges facing nonprofits today, the lessons from her career pivots and why the future of digital fundraising may rest on embracing innovation.

34 min

4.8

out of 5

15 Ratings

RKD Group: Thinkers, the nonprofit marketer's podcast, is a must-listen experience of thought-provoking content that inspires strategic decisions and insight on the industry. Group: Thinkers brings together innovators and curators in nonprofit marketing, branding and direct response to tackle the major issues facing nonprofits today.

Creator

RKD Group
Years Active

2018 - 2026
Episodes

140
Rating

Clean
Copyright

© All rights reserved
Show Website

RKD Group: Thinkers