The Nonprofit Podcast

Jena Lynch, Brittan Stockert & Cara Augspurger
  • 4.7 (29)
  • Society & Culture
  • Updated Weekly

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. 3d ago

    Summer Rewind| 5 Steps to Building a Nonprofit Strategy That Actually Works

    Send us Fan Mail Most nonprofit strategic planning mistakes don't show up until year-end, right when your fundraising push exposes exactly what's missing. Being busy isn't the same as having direction. In this Summer Rewind, Cara Augspurger, CFRE, breaks down the five steps that took her organization from constant firefighting to a plan that actually holds up, in six months. What you'll learn How to tell real growth from just being busy, before it costs you at year-endThe one question your strategic plan has to answer firstHow to run a funding reality check that shows exactly where the gaps areHow to set numbers-based targets for a "good year", no gut feel requiredAbout Cara Augspurger, CFRE Cara is the Executive Director of Grace Care Center Foundation and host of The Nonprofit Podcast. About Donorbox Donorbox is a trusted fundraising platform used by more than 100,000 organizations worldwide, helping raise over $4 billion for causes that matter. Learn more at donorbox.org. Enjoying the show? Subscribe for more practical fundraising strategies, leadership insights, and tools to help your nonprofit grow sustainably. This episode is for educational purposes only and isn't legal or financial advice. Please consult a professional advisor for guidance specific to your organization. Support the show

    Summer Rewind| 5 Steps to Building a Nonprofit Strategy That Actually Works

  2. Jul 23

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

    Send us Fan Mail Great performers don't always make great leaders. That gap is costing nonprofits people they can't afford to lose. As nonprofits head into the busiest stretch of the year, Britt Stockert revisits a listener favorite with Chris Wong, founder of Leadership Potential and a licensed therapist who builds leadership programs inside nonprofits. They talk about accidental leadership: the quiet gap between being a great performer and being ready to lead a team, and why closing it matters most right before things get loud. Spotting potential is easy. Developing it is non-negotiable. What You'll Learn What accidental leadership is and why it happens even in the best-run nonprofitsWhy promotion skills and leadership skills aren't the same thingHow one avoided conversation can quietly cost you your best peopleWhat leaders can do right now to close the gapMore About Our Guest Chris Wong is the founder of Leadership Potential, a licensed therapist who builds leadership development programs inside nonprofits from the ground up. Resources and Links Get Chris's free Difficult Conversations Playbook for Leaders here Connect with Chris on LinkedIn 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 $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

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

  3. Jul 17

    Summer Rewind| Slow Fundraising: How to Do Less and Raise More with Chad Barger

    Send us Fan Mail Summer time and the living...could be easier! Nonprofit teams are gearing up for the second half of the year, and this Summer Rewind brings back one of the show's most practical conversations for that exact moment. Jena Lynch talks with Chad Barger, founder of Productive Fundraising, about slow fundraising: an approach built on doing fewer things, doing them consistently, and letting data guide the decisions. It's a mindset shift for nonprofit teams who are busy but not seeing the growth to match. What You'll Learn Why doing less, done well, beats doing moreHow simple data tracking reveals what's actually workingHow to build a fundraising rhythm that avoids burnoutWhy donor retention deserves more attention than new donor acquisitionMore About Our Guest Chad Barger is the founder of Productive Fundraising, helping nonprofits simplify their strategy and focus on what drives real results, known for a practical, data-informed style built around sustainable, burnout-proof fundraising. Resources and Links Chad Barger on LinkedInProductive FundraisingProductive Fundraising's Resource Library 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 $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

    Summer Rewind| Slow Fundraising: How to Do Less and Raise More with Chad Barger

  4. Jul 9

    Summer Rewind| 3 Reasons Nonprofits are Missing out on Donations in 2026

    Send us Fan Mail Summer is a good time to slow down and check the quiet gaps in your fundraising…before Giving Season prep picks up speed. This episode is a fan favorite, back for our July summer rewind series. Donors haven't stopped giving. They've just gotten more careful, and that means small friction points matter more than they used to. Jena Lynch and Britt Stockert talk through three quiet "leak points", a slow checkout, under-positioned recurring giving, and fading event momentum… and how to fix them without a bigger campaign or a strategy overhaul. What You'll Learn Why small friction costs more when donors are being cautiousHow to make recurring giving visible and easy to chooseWhy in-person energy needs an instant way to giveA simple way to check your own donation experienceAbout the Hosts Jena Lynch, Head of Community Engagement at Donorbox, and Britt Stockert, Fundraiser Coach at Donorbox, co-host this episode. Together, they bring hands-on experience helping nonprofits strengthen donor relationships and build fundraising systems that hold up under pressure. Resources and Links OmniGive™ donation forms Recurring Giving Features Donorbox Live™ Kiosk 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 $4 billion 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

    Summer Rewind| 3 Reasons Nonprofits are Missing out on Donations in 2026

  5. Jul 2

    Ep 215| Giving USA 2026 - The Fundraiser's Breakdown

    Send us Fan Mail Giving hit a record high in 2025. What's underneath that number will shape your fundraising strategy for the next decade. Americans gave $617 billion to charity in 2025, a record, and real growth even after inflation. Five of nine nonprofit categories hit all-time highs. The sector showed up!! But the Giving USA 2026 report tells a more layered story. Jena Lynch and Britt Stockert dig into what's really shifting, and what it means for how nonprofits build donor relationships, plan for foundation funding, and think about legacy giving. What You'll Learn Why $617 billion is a record, even adjusted for inflationHow mega gifts are shaping the individual giving numbersWhat a 16% drop in foundation inflows signals for 2026 and 2027Why bequest giving jumped 19.7%, and what it means for the Great Wealth TransferWhy your most loyal donors are your best legacy giving prospectsWhat younger donors expect from the giving experienceChapters 00:00:  Introduction 01:44:   Giving USA 2026 - The Headline Number 02:15:    Real Growth, Not Just Inflation 04:41:   The Mega Gifts Effect 07:51:    The Foundation Grant Cliff 09:48:   Individual Giving Hits a 40-Year Low 12:49:    The Great Wealth Transfer Arrives 15:46:    What Younger Donors Expect 18:03:    Key Takeaways for Nonprofits Resources and Links Giving USA 2026 Report  Ep 117 |The Great Wealth Transfer: The Big Nonprofit AdvantageEp 209| The Real Reason Donors Stop Giving - With Rob Harter Darrin Cook| Staying Close to Your Donors: A Practical Guide to Retention Donorbox OmniGive™Donation Forms About the Hosts Jena Lynch - Head of Community Engagement, Donorbox Jena specialises in donor stewardship, retention, and peer-to-peer fundraising. She works closely with nonprofit teams to strengthen donor relationships and build practical systems that support long-term growth. As anchor of The Nonprofit Podcast, she keeps strategy clear, steady, and actionable. Connect with Jena on LinkedIn Britt Stockert - Fundraiser Coach, Donorbox With more than 20 years in the public sector, Britt helps nonprofits build fundraising strategies that match real capacity. She guides teams in strengthening donor relationships, refining systems, and simplifying operations. She also serves on the board of an immigrant- and refugee-led nonprofit and stays closely connected to on-the-ground realities. Connect with Britt on LinkedIn 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

    Ep 215| Giving USA 2026 - The Fundraiser's Breakdown

  6. Jun 25

    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

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

  7. 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

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

  8. 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

    Ep 212| The Nonprofit Starvation Cycle: Why Good Fundraisers Burn Out
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4.7
out of 5
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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
    232
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Nonprofit Podcast
  • Show Website
    The Nonprofit Podcast

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