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Nonprofit hiring is not matching the national headlines, says Katie Warnock, founder and president of Staffing Boutique. While recent reports suggest softer job numbers and higher unemployment, she’s seeing the opposite on the ground: “We had a really slow two quarters, and we’ve been so busy basically since after July 4th weekend.” Executive searches are surging, selective contract roles are back, and LinkedIn is “popping” with real openings—especially across development and campaign management.
The cost of churn remains steep. Katie points to a national onboarding average around $4,100—often higher in New York—once you factor technology, training, time from other staff, and HR overhead. Healthcare pressure is reshaping behavior, too: some nonprofits keep long-term temps on agency payroll to avoid absorbing benefits costs. That creates short-term budget relief but risks long-term stability.
Compensation is a persistent constraint. Corporate teams can flex salaries across a department; nonprofits live inside board-approved budgets for one to three fiscal years. As a result, Katie urges leaders to compete with something other than base pay: flexible work design, professional development, wellness perks, and individualized schedules. “You do not have a recruitment plan unless you have a retention plan,” she says. That retention plan should be tailored—“a buffet” of options aligned to what your own people actually want.
Flexibility is the top request. Remote or hybrid schedules remain a decisive factor for candidates (Katie notes that roughly a third of responses to a 1,000-person outreach said “I want a remote job”). Some organizations are testing a 9/80-style calendar to give every other Friday off. Others fund upskilling, reimburse gym memberships, expand fertility benefits, or simply allow staggered start/stop times to match how people work best.
Still, leaders should balance flexibility with culture. Katie acknowledges that fully remote teams can lose the informal learning and creative lift that happens before and after in-person meetings. Board members are noticing the productivity difference. Her view: know your workforce, listen through regular check-ins (not just exit interviews), and publish options everyone can access—then let staff choose what fits their season of life.
Finally, plan for burnout—especially in the C-suite where many leaders delayed retirement through COVID and are now exhausted. Encourage time off, normalize boundaries, and recognize that Q4’s fundraising sprint amplifies strain. The bottom line: retention is strategy. Build it intentionally, budget for reality, and give your people modern ways to do their best work.
AI isn’t a magic wand—but it can absolutely help nonprofits do more with less when you understand what it is, where it fits, and how to use it wisely. In this energizing conversation, technology associate and CPA Christine Chacko from Your Part-Time Controller (YPTC) explains the practical difference between automation and AI, when to use each, and how to keep data safe while you experiment and learn. As Christine puts it, “AI is actually a form of automation,” but it handles open-ended, judgment-heavy tasks while traditional automation follows clear, narrow rules. Think rules for categorizing expenses (automation) versus analyzing trends, benchmarking, and surfacing insights across donor segments (AI).
Christine offers real nonprofit examples: blend automation to roll up donor data by type, then ask AI to interpret changes year over year, spot seasonality, or flag post-pandemic shifts. She shows how AI shines as a writing helper—drafting grant narratives tailored to funders’ preferences or condensing verbose copy into crisp executive summaries—while reminding us to review outputs for voice, accuracy, and appropriateness. “We really like to think of it as a thought partner,” she says, perfect for bouncing ideas, testing messages, and clarifying complex financial stories for boards.
Security matters, too. Christine’s guidance is simple and strong: read the fine print, know what you opt into, and understand the difference between models embedded in trusted systems and those that reach out to other tools. She introduces agentic AI—systems that can act on your behalf (e.g., access Outlook, browse the web, schedule emails)—and explains why permissions, policies, and internal controls must come first. Hallucinations are less frequent in newer reasoning models, but review remains essential—especially for grants and external communications where stakes are high.
Finally, Christine maps the near-term horizon: expect broader, more accessible agentic AI inside finance, IT, customer support, and daily workflows. Success won’t come from tools alone; it comes from culture—clear use cases, communication, training, and solid processes. Used well, AI reduces drudgery (transcripts, notes, routine emails) so nonprofit teams can focus on judgment, relationships, and mission results.
Nonprofits lean on outside platforms to save time and stretch budgets—but those relationships can quietly expose sensitive donor, client, and payment data. In this episode, Senior Cybersecurity Advisor Parker Brissette of Richey May explains how to recognize and manage third-party software risk before it becomes tomorrow’s headline. He starts with a simple lens: follow the data. Where is it stored? Who can touch it—directly or indirectly? Many teams only think about contracted vendors, but Parker widens the aperture to “shadow IT” and consumer tools staff use without formal approval. As he puts it, “Third parties is really anybody that can touch the data at any point in your business, whether you have an agreement with them or maybe not.”
From privacy regulations (GDPR, CCPA) to sector-specific rules (HIPAA, PCI), nonprofits carry legal and reputational exposure the moment personal information enters their systems. Parker offers practical steps: inventory paid tools via your accounting system; ask, “If this vendor vanished tomorrow, what would break?”; and press vendors for proof—SOC 2 reports, ISO 27001, or completed security questionnaires. For organizations without a CIO, he recommends clear contracts and one non-negotiable safeguard: “The biggest thing that I recommend in any third-party engagement is setting an expectation of having cyber insurance, because that’s a big protection for you financially.”
AI enters the picture with both promise and peril. Consumer AI tools can learn from and retain your uploads, potentially exposing proprietary or personal information. Enterprise agreements (e.g., Microsoft Copilot) can offer stronger data protections, but only if configured and used correctly. Parker’s guidance is pragmatic: don’t ban AI; set guardrails, choose vetted tools, and train teams.
Finally, he urges preparation and transparency. Incidents can happen—even with good controls. Donors and corporate funders expect frank communication about what protections exist and what happens if data is exposed. Build trust now by documenting safeguards, validating vendors, and rehearsing your response.
You don’t have to be a security expert to make smart choices—but you do need a map: know your systems, test your assumptions, ask vendors for evidence, and write risk into your contracts and budgets. That approach turns anxiety into action—and preserves the trust your mission depends on.
Giving Tuesday can feel like a moving target—but after this discussion with guest Jared Throneberry of Bloomerang, you’ll have a clear, energizing plan. Jared blends tech savvy with a lived heart for service—Big Brothers Big Sisters, foster parenting since 2011, and community leadership—so his guidance lands with real-world credibility. His first message: you don’t have to participate just because everyone else is. If the timing crowds your year-end efforts, your team is stretched thin, or the format doesn’t fit your culture, sit it out without guilt. But if you choose to participate, choose to excel.
Success begins with a specific purpose. “You want to have a specific campaign for this. You want to have a purpose,” Jared tells us. He urges organizations to set a reasonable, public goal and show visible progress with a giving thermometer. Momentum matters; keep supporters informed throughout the day and celebrate milestones. Matching gifts can amplify urgency—secure a partner that doubles donations during the 24-hour window.
Communication is the engine. Schedule emails and posts before, during, and after the day. If social media is your lane, lean in. If your audience responds better to email or text, use those channels with clarity and brevity. Bloomerang’s Giving Tuesday templates can help you prepare messages in advance, so your team is executing—not scrambling—on the day.
Think beyond dollars. Jared proposes creative non-financial asks: diapers for a pregnancy center, items from an Amazon wish list, or a “share this post” action to expand reach. He even flips the script: host a donor appreciation touchpoint—coffee, breakfast, or a thank-you event—to strengthen relationships and set the tone for year-end. It’s generous, memorable, and aligned with the spirit of the day.
Competition can be fun, but mission comes first. Craft your campaign around a tangible need—a piece of equipment, a program milestone, or a defined impact story—so supporters feel the “why” in every update. As Jared reminds us, “Don’t just give to us because it’s Giving Tuesday. Give to us to this cause for this reason.” Choose intentionally, plan early, communicate often, and finish with gratitude. Do that, and #GivingTuesday becomes more than a date—it becomes a launchpad for deeper engagement.
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Social media strategist, author, and TEDx speaker, Robin Nathaniel, unpacks the connection between human relationships and digital platforms. With fresh ideas and candid energy, Robin introduces his SYNC Method—a framework designed to help nonprofits create authentic, meaningful engagement online.
Robin explains, “S is for simple. Messages you can say in four words—don’t say in twenty. Don’t overcomplicate your story.” He challenges organizations to focus less on technical jargon and more on clarity. The “Y” stands for Yield—yielding to intention. Instead of just pushing events, campaigns, or donation requests, he urges nonprofits to ask themselves what feelings and actions they want their audiences to experience before hitting “post.”
“N” is for Natural. Too often, Robin points out, organizations spend hours in the “makeup room,” worrying about lighting, graphics, and backgrounds. Instead, he recommends the “best friend test”: write and speak in a way your closest friend would understand. Finally, “C” is for Change It Up. Social media is not a box-checking exercise. Robin stresses adaptability: experiment, reset, and test new content approaches as platforms evolve.
Nonprofits often overwhelm supporters by blasting out too much information at once. Robin’s framework offers a more human and sustainable way forward. He also adds a crucial reminder: “The real measure isn’t clicks or conversions. It’s how you improve the lives of the people receiving your content.”
The conversation takes a deeply personal turn when Robin shares his Joy Audit, developed after the tragic loss of his brother. By redefining his life through the lenses of Create, Connect, and Contribute, Robin discovered how to realign time and energy toward purpose—linking directly to nonprofit burnout, recognizing how leaders often wear multiple hats without space for renewal.
Fundraisers Friday cohosts Julia C. Patrick and Tony Beall dive into a thought-provoking conversation about the future of corporate sponsorships, the changing dynamics of nonprofit partnerships, and the launch of their new book, The Architecture of Fundraising.
The show kicks off with Julia setting the tone for a discussion that is anything but light—because corporate sponsorships in 2026 will demand more strategy, accountability, and creativity than ever before.
Tony adds his perspective, explaining how employee engagement has overtaken gala tables as the centerpiece of sponsorship. He explains: “When structured well, employee engagement helps a corporation develop emerging leaders through volunteerism, while strengthening teams through shared service experiences.”
Julia expands the conversation by connecting sponsorships to employee retention, HR priorities, and brand loyalty. She shares real stories from her career, including the tough calls nonprofits face when lucrative corporate dollars come from companies with misaligned values. Together, the cohosts explore how consumer behavior and corporate reputation intersect with philanthropy, reminding us that today’s donors and customers expect alignment of values, not just a logo on a program.
The episode doesn’t shy away from controversy. DEIB funding withdrawals, politically charged sponsorships, and “cancel culture” pressure on corporations have already reshaped the landscape. Julia tells of an advisory board that lost funding simply for using DEIB language, while Tony points to Pride organizations nationwide that saw longtime sponsors retreat. Yet both emphasize that diversification of revenue, transparent policies, and mission alignment are essential for weathering these storms.
Technology and data are also at the forefront. Sponsors are no longer satisfied with anecdotes or temporary goodwill; they want measurable outcomes. Julia and Tony challenge nonprofits to track impact rigorously, report frequently, and integrate sponsor ROI into community stories. The conversation makes clear: numbers, stories, and values all matter—and nonprofits that can weave them together will win long-term partnerships.
This episode motivates nonprofits to rethink how they approach corporate sponsors. The message is unmistakable: the future of sponsorships is about long-term vision, measurable impact, and authentic alignment.
Step into a conversation that goes right to the heart of nonprofit operations: banking relationships, establishing credit, and securing financial footing for long-term stability. Guest Jason Garcia, CEO of Holdings, a bank just for nonprofits, offers real guidance on how nonprofits can think like businesses when it comes to financial credibility and strategy.
Jason begins by sharing his vision for HoldingsForGood.com: “Our hope and mission is to be the dedicated partner for nonprofits across the U.S. and help them achieve their goals and increase their chances of success in their missions.” With a career built in community banking and startup finance, Jason brings a sharp perspective to an area where many nonprofits struggle—creditworthiness.
The conversation turns to the importance of establishing a credit strategy early. Jason advises that nonprofits should begin as soon as possible, even if they aren’t immediately seeking loans or credit lines: “The best time to talk to different credit providers is when you don’t need it.”
Practical steps emerge throughout the conversation, cohosted by Ellie Hume and Julia Patrick. Building a strong permanent file of organizational documents—EIN, IRS determination letter, bylaws, state registrations—was identified as essential. Ellie emphasizes that many nonprofits have these materials but often can’t locate them when needed. Jason describes how physical addresses (not PO boxes) are becoming non-negotiable due to fraud prevention measures, a reminder of how operational details intersect with financial access.
This important discussion expands beyond traditional lines of credit. Vendor relationships, government contracts, and reporting to credit bureaus such as Dun & Bradstreet, Experian, and Equifax were positioned as overlooked opportunities to build a financial profile. Ellie points to the frustrations nonprofits face when executive directors are forced to tie personal social security numbers to organizational credit cards.
What will be clear is that banking relationships are not just transactional; they’re strategic. From choosing the right accounts and systems that sync seamlessly with accounting platforms, to knowing when to push for the removal of personal guarantees, nonprofits must think about finance as a forward-looking strategy rather than an emergency fix.
The episode closes with an energizing call from Jason: operate like a business. By being proactive with credit, asking the right questions of financial partners, and benchmarking against peer organizations, you can position your NPO for resilience!
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exploring a powerful theme that affects every nonprofit: the necessity of diversifying revenue streams—with cohosts Julia C. Patrick and Tony Beall. While fundraising is often viewed as a singular number to hit, Tony ignites the convo with, “If we are focused on putting everything in one basket, we’re putting our programs and services at risk.”
Together, they walk through the “lanes” of nonprofit revenue: major gifts, corporate sponsorships, grants, and planned giving—each requiring different skill sets but all anchored in one common thread: relationships. Tony’s thinking. . . “True success in fundraising rests in your ability to build relationships, even in grantmaking where you may need an invitation from a foundation.” Julia echoes the reality that planned giving, while unpredictable, can yield transformational gifts, while corporate sponsorships often demand careful alignment between mission and brand values.
The informative conversation covers monthly giving programs, now empowered by digital tools. What once felt arduous is now a viable, forecastable stream. Monthly donors often “testing” an organization with smaller contributions before stepping into major gift or legacy conversations—a fact savvy nonprofits should embrace. Julia points out how this incremental giving builds a sense of community: donors rowing in the same direction together, proving that even $10 a month can matter.
‘Cause Marketing’ receives sharp focus. Tony explains that beyond revenue, its real value is in brand awareness. “What is the soft dollar value of the exposure your nonprofit gains?” he asks, while cautioning that consumers demand authentic mission alignment; token efforts rarely shift donor or customer behavior without deeper resonance.
The discussion wraps with a thoughtful action strategy: how nonprofits allocate time and talent across lanes. For many, events consume disproportionate staff energy—sometimes to the detriment of post-event stewardship. Tony clarifies how staff specialization matters too—grant writers are not gala planners—and leaders must invest in professional development and digital tools to support diversification.
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Dr. Stephanie Rose-Belcher, COO of JMT Consulting, and Kristen Stine, HR Director at JMT Consulting, explore the real financial and human costs of nonprofit staffing. This discussion blends finance, HR, and leadership into a compelling narrative about how organizations can protect their missions by rethinking how they hire, onboard, and retain talent.
Stephanie begins by framing the evolution of nonprofit finance within a technological context. Reflecting on the industry’s shift from ledgers to AI-enabled platforms, she notes: “Technology lets finance leaders be much more of a strategist than ever before, not just someone crunching numbers and submitting reports.”, capturing a fundamental truth: today’s nonprofit financial leaders are central to strategy, not just compliance.
Kristen brings the HR dimension into focus by quantifying the staggering financial cost of turnover. “According to the Deloitte survey, we’re looking at anywhere between 50 and 200% of the annual salary of a person to recruit them, onboard them, and get them up to speed,” she warns. Beyond dollars, she points to the strain turnover places on morale, workload, and culture. Investing in retention, she argues, is not a “nice to have” but a fiscal necessity.
The discussion highlights how onboarding inefficiencies further magnify these costs. While skilled professionals may shorten the curve, Stephanie cautions that “to get to mastery and really know the organization and its nuances, it takes a hard four months for an experienced person and six months or more for others.” Without deliberate investment in training, mentorship, and culture-sharing, nonprofits risk losing ground during this critical period.
Both guests emphasize that solutions need not be costly. Flexible scheduling, sabbaticals, leadership development, and even creative benefits platforms can create workplaces that people want to stay in. They stress the importance of tailoring approaches across generations: younger staff may prioritize professional growth, while older or part-time staff may value flexible time. Equity, transparency, and HR creativity, they argue, can reconcile these different expectations.
The episode closes with a look ahead to JMT’s Innovate 2026 conference in Washington, DC—an event designed to unite finance leaders around not just technology, but broader trends shaping nonprofit leadership and sustainability.
This conversation challenges nonprofit leaders to view HR and finance as inseparable. Recruitment and retention decisions are not only about culture—they are also about stewardship of resources, organizational stability, and the ability to serve missions with consistency and strength.
Leadership isn’t about perfection—it’s about presence, awareness, and courage. That’s the central message of this sparkling conversation featuring Wendy F. Adams, CFRE, CEO of Cultivate for Good, co-host Ellie Hume of Your Part-Time Controller, and co-host Julia Patrick. Together, they unpack what it means to truly “read the room” and lead with authenticity.
Wendy brings her trademark candor and wisdom to the conversation. Affectionately called the “Elephant Slayer”, she reminds us that every meeting has unspoken dynamics—and ignoring them doesn’t make them disappear. “There’s always one in the room and it doesn’t get any smaller. We’ve got to be able to read that,” she offers. Her advice? Pause, acknowledge what’s happening, and create space for truth to emerge. Far from being awkward, this honesty often gives others permission to voice what they’re feeling too.
Ellie adds valuable perspective from the accounting and numbers world, where emotional intelligence isn’t always the strongest suit. Her questions prompt Wendy to outline practical strategies—like intentionally setting tone before a meeting, clarifying expectations, and practicing emotional awareness in social settings as a warm-up for boardroom discussions. It’s not about being naturally gifted; as Wendy emphasizes, “Spoiler: it didn’t come natural to anyone. This girl is working on it all the time.” Growth comes from steady practice.
The trio also explore the modern challenge of hybrid and virtual meetings. Cameras off? Silence in the Zoom squares? Wendy pushes back against the false assumption that silence equals agreement. Instead, she encourages leaders to embrace pauses, ask clarifying questions, and bring remote participants into the conversation first. It’s about building connection and respect, not just plowing through an agenda.
Julia raises a deeply personal question: can seasoned leaders in their 60s really evolve? Wendy’s answer is refreshingly hopeful—yes. Tools like the “Five Voices” framework help leaders understand their natural style while intentionally developing their weaker “voices.” Courageous leadership is about humility and transparency, she argues. Admitting to your team that you’re learning and evolving isn’t weakness—it’s a strength that inspires trust.
For emerging leaders, Wendy’s advice is equally empowering: don’t wait for perfection. Ask questions, seize small opportunities to lead projects or meetings, and allow your leadership style to grow alongside your organization. If you outgrow your current space, that’s not failure—it may simply mean it’s time to align with a new environment that fits your values and vision.
In a conversation that feels more like a real-time crisis briefing than a casual update, Derick Dreher, Government Funding Department Leader at Your Part-Time Controller (YPTC), breaks down the latest turbulence in federal funding. If your nonprofit depends on government grants—or even corporate partnerships—you’ll want to pay attention.
Derick opens with a stark truth: “Change is the only constant these days.” Over the past several months, nonprofits have faced an unprecedented series of delays, freezes, and sudden shifts in the flow of federal dollars. From an outright funding pause by the Office of Management and Budget to agency-specific cancellations and now a new executive order forcing a 30-day grant-making pause, the reliability nonprofits once counted on has been replaced with a precarious “rolling boil” of uncertainty.
But it’s not just about delays. The newly passed One Big Beautiful Bill—a sprawling 900-page spending package—introduces a corporate giving floor of 1% of taxable income. The concern? Many corporations have historically given just under that threshold, meaning some could cut giving entirely, while others may “bunch” donations into large, infrequent gifts, creating cash flow whiplash for nonprofits.
Derick also tackles a thorny, politically charged issue: DEIB (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging) language in grant applications. After an executive order forbidding “illegal discrimination” without clearly defining it, some nonprofits began scrubbing websites and documents out of fear of jeopardizing awards. New DOJ guidance offers more clarity, but each organization will need to work with legal counsel to understand the implications.
Equally eye-opening is a startling public perception gap: only 5% of Americans believe they’ve interacted with a nonprofit, despite most having lifelong contact with them—from hospitals and schools to museums and sports leagues. Derick urges nonprofits to continually communicate their value to stakeholders and elected officials, noting that state and local funding often originates from the federal level.
Looking ahead, he’s watching two key indicators: the volume of grants listed on grants.gov (a barometer of federal stability) and the progress of 12 appropriations bills that must pass before October 1 to avoid a government shutdown. His advice? Increase the frequency of cash flow projections, consider lines of credit, and engage corporations now—before the 2026 deduction changes kick in.
Derick’s message is both calming and urgent: understand what you can control, seek accurate information, and act strategically to protect and position your nonprofit to thrive, even in a climate where certainty is in short supply.
Has your nonprofit ever had a simulated break-in to test your digital defenses? If not, you may already have an intruder inside!
Cyberattacks aren’t just happening to big corporations—they’re happening to nonprofits every day. And far too many organizations have no idea they’ve been breached until months later. Cybersecurity expert Michael Nouguier, Partner of Cybersecurity Services at Richey May, pulls back the curtain on the urgent, often-overlooked practice of penetration testing—known as “pen testing.” His message is blunt: if your nonprofit hasn’t done one, you may already be compromised.
Michael explains that a pen test is essentially a real-world simulation of a cyberattack, conducted by ethical hackers to expose weaknesses before malicious actors exploit them. “It’s like hiring a home inspector before you buy a house,” he says, “but instead of finding leaky pipes, we’re finding the digital doors and windows you’ve accidentally left wide open.” These gaps can exist in email, donor databases, websites, payment systems—anywhere sensitive information lives.
The process starts with scoping—identifying your organization’s tech environment, third-party tools, and data flows. From there, ethical hackers gather open-source intelligence (OSINT) to see what information about your nonprofit is publicly available, then attempt to exploit any vulnerabilities found. This may involve phishing attempts, network access attempts, or probing for weaknesses in online applications. Post-exploitation, the team determines how far they can move within your systems—accessing donor records, financial data, or confidential client files.
The findings are compiled into a detailed report, along with a letter of assessment that can be shared with insurers or contractual partners. In many industries, including healthcare, justice, and education, annual pen testing isn’t optional—it’s required by regulation or by contract. Yet, as Michael warns in this episode, many nonprofits sign agreements without realizing they’re agreeing to perform such tests.
Waiting too long is costly. IBM research shows that proactive security measures can save organizations over $200,000 per breach. On the flip side, skipping pen testing can raise your cyber insurance premiums—or get your coverage denied entirely. And because updates, new software, and staffing changes continually introduce new risks, pen testing isn’t a one-and-done task—it’s an annual checkup for your organization’s digital health.
Michael also touches on the human factor. When testing social engineering risks, you often don’t alert staff in advance—because real attackers certainly won’t. The goal is to create realistic conditions, not staged ones.
This conversation should serve as a wake-up call: penetration testing is not an optional luxury—it’s a frontline defense. Whether you hold donor payment information, confidential case files, or sensitive program data, you can’t afford to leave your cybersecurity to chance.
Online giving isn’t just the future of fundraising—it’s the now! Emily Kelly, National Accounts Manager at Bloomerang, delivers a practical, energizing roadmap for nonprofits to raise more money online—without adding more stress to already full plates.
This conversation is for any nonprofit ready to increase online giving, improve donor retention, and strengthen relationships in a digital-first world. Emily blends practical “fix it today” steps with a bigger vision for creating donor experiences that inspire giving, year after year.
Emily’s passion for relationship-building is woven through every tactic she shares. With a background in marriage and family therapy, she sees fundraising not as transactions, but as an opportunity for deeper human connection. “The power of please and thank you is so much more powerful than anything else,” she begins—a reminder that technology should serve relationships, not replace them.
Her first piece of advice is deceptively simple: make sure your donate button works. Too often, organizations overlook this basic step. Then, view your donation page through the eyes of a first-time visitor—would you feel compelled to give? Is it clear, inviting, and emotionally engaging? Placement matters too. The donate button should be easy to spot, ideally at the top of your page, without forcing visitors to search for it.
Emily urges nonprofits to offer multiple payment options—credit/debit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, ACH, and even Venmo—to meet donors where they are. Each generation prefers different tools and limiting payment methods risks losing potential gifts.
She also challenges organizations to reimagine the donor experience for online gifts. Segmentation is key—tailoring acknowledgments by gift size, donor type, or relationship history. A generic thank-you isn’t enough; donors want to feel seen and valued. Communication preference tracking—whether donors prefer email, phone, text, or snail mail—helps build authentic connections and increase retention.
And yes, the old-fashioned phone call is making a comeback. Emily shares research showing that calling a first-time donor within 24–48 hours makes them four times more likely to give again. Whether done by staff, volunteers, or board members, these calls create goodwill on both sides—reigniting board member engagement while deepening donor trust.
Emily’s philosophy is clear: treat every gift, whether $50 or $50,000, as the start of a relationship. One-time gifts can become long-term commitments—or even legacy gifts—when nonprofits follow up with gratitude, intentionality, and consistent communication.
Connected TV (CTV) advertising isn’t just for big brands anymore—it’s an emerging frontier for nonprofits to tell their stories on the biggest screen in the house. Kris Johns, CEO and founder of AdGood, shared how his organization is unlocking unused, high-quality streaming ad space for nonprofits—at up to 70% off market rates.
AdGood works directly with major publishers and platforms to collect unfilled “ad slates” (those silent filler moments you see while streaming) and make them available exclusively to nonprofits. “We sit at the bottom of the ad stack,” Kris explains, “so anything they don’t fill, we get access to.” This programmatic approach allows nonprofits to run CTV campaigns with the same flexibility and robust reporting as they would on Meta or Google—except now, they’re on television.
CTV offers a unique blend: the emotional impact of a full-screen, in-home experience with the precise targeting of digital marketing. Nonprofits can target down to a single ZIP code, choose dayparts, and even adjust campaigns mid-flight for maximum return. It’s an opportunity to put your mission front and center while supporters are engaged with content they love.
For organizations without in-house production capabilities, AdGood has built a self-serve AI-powered ad generator. In just minutes, nonprofits can create a 30-second, TV-ready spot by entering their website URL, swapping images or scripts, and even translating into 30+ languages. Ads can be hyper-local (with a budget starting at just $250) or scaled nationally with managed services.
Kris emphasizes that this isn’t just about filling empty ad space—it’s about empowering nonprofits with tools and access they’ve historically been priced out of. AdGood is also piloting full attribution reporting to track which viewers saw an ad, visited a nonprofit’s site, and ultimately donated.
From small-town initiatives to nationwide campaigns, the flexibility and affordability of CTV through AdGood could change how nonprofits think about media. As Kris puts it, “Our goal is to turn marketing from a cost center to a profit center for nonprofits.”
This high-energy episode of Fundraisers Friday is packed with smart, actionable tips to help nonprofit leaders reignite board engagement—especially when things feel slow or disconnected. Cohosts Julia C. Patrick and Tony Beall bring clarity, candor, and creativity to the perennial challenge of motivating board members to actively participate in fundraising.
“If board members understand their roles and are equipped with tools, they can feel confident and proud to help raise funds,” starts Tony. He encourages nonprofits to start with clear job descriptions and fundraising expectations—not as pressure, but as empowerment.
Julia adds heart to the conversation with a powerful reflection: “When we elevate one board conversation, that knowledge often travels with members into other parts of their community.” This ripple effect of board engagement is a golden opportunity for nonprofits to build momentum well beyond their own walls.
They cover eight key strategies, including:
· Revisiting board policies and roles in fundraising
· Turning mission moments into impact moments
· Using real dollar amounts (not percentages!) to make financial urgency tangible
· Engaging board members in grant applications and partnership opportunities
· Celebrating donor wins and learning from not-so-great experiences
· Tapping into each member’s personal “why” to foster deeper commitment
One particularly refreshing approach? Encouraging board members to share their successes—and even their mistakes—so others can learn and grow together. “We’ve all had experiences as donors, good and bad,” says Tony. “Sharing both helps us create better outcomes and stronger relationships.”
You’ll also hear a compelling conversation about how board members can fill various fundraising roles—prospector, cultivator, solicitor, or steward—so no one feels forced into uncomfortable territory. “Every board member can participate in at least one of these ways,” Tony reminds us.
This episode is perfect for any nonprofit leader preparing for a seasonal push or looking to infuse new energy into board culture. With warmth and wisdom, Julia and Tony show that reigniting your board starts with real connection, clarity of purpose, and honest conversation.
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