Nonprofit Lowdown

Hosted by Rhea Wong

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405

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Jun 2026

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About the show

This is Nonprofit Lowdown where I review and recommend the best ideas, resources, tools, tricks and tips to run your nonprofit like a pro!

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June 15, 202638 min

#393- Burnout, Budget Cuts, and the Future of Fundraising with Glennda Testone

I sat down with my friend Glennda Testone, CEO of the Nonprofit Leadership Lab, to talk about what we're both seeing across the sector right now: burnout, funding uncertainty, increasing demand for services, and nonprofit leaders trying to do more with less.It's easy to get caught up in the anxiety of the moment, but one thing became crystal clear in our conversation: the organizations that will weather this season best are the ones investing in relationships.We talked about why individual donors matter more than ever, the risks of relying too heavily on grants and government funding, and why fundraising is ultimately about human connection not transactions.We also got into some hot takes on galas, donor behavior, AI, and what nonprofit leaders should be focusing on when everything feels uncertain.If you've been wondering how to navigate the current fundraising landscape, I think you'll find this conversation both grounding and encouraging.Important Links:Nonprofit Leadership Lab: https://nonprofitleadershiplab.com/?wickedsource=google&wickedid=Cj0KCQjw0JnRBhDJARIsALobnXYMR6sg7UyNnriy98C0t1QkwFu8XqFOpgP5qXL4hJB-Ly5wREp22jYaAlXLEALw_wcB&w_adid=733701107251&w_campaignid=22263756844&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=22263756844&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22263756844&gclid=Cj0KCQjw0JnRBhDJARIsALobnXYMR6sg7UyNnriy98C0t1QkwFu8XqFOpgP5qXL4hJB-Ly5wREp22jYaAlXLEALw_wcB My Newsletter: ⁠https://www.rheawong.com/⁠My Quiz: https://bit.ly/4vDEBjl

June 8, 202628 min

#392- Fundraising Without Fear: Moving from Scarcity to Sustainability with Andrew Murphy

One of my favorite parts of this work is watching nonprofit leaders grow into fundraisers not because they become slick salespeople, but because they discover that fundraising is really about relationships.That's exactly what happened with my guest this week, Andrew Murphy.When Andrew stepped into the Executive Director role at the Wisconsin Inmate Education Association, he inherited an incredible mission and a passionate community of supporters. What he didn't inherit was a fundraising system. Like so many nonprofit leaders, he found himself staring at a donor list, sending emails, making phone calls, and wondering what he was supposed to do next.Over the last two years, I've had the privilege of working alongside Andrew as he built a fundraising program from the ground up. In this conversation, he shares what changed when he stopped thinking about fundraising as asking people for money and started thinking about it as inviting people into a meaningful partnership.We talk about the donor survey strategy that became the foundation of his work, how prison tours helped supporters connect directly with the mission, and why building genuine relationships created more sustainable results than any fundraising tactic ever could.What I love most about Andrew's story is that it isn't about a magic formula. It's about having a system, staying consistent, and leading with authenticity.And the results speak for themselves. WIEA has nearly doubled its individual giving, created a stronger pipeline of supporters, and moved from worrying about making budget to dreaming about what's possible next.If you've ever felt like you're making fundraising up as you go, if you've inherited a donor program without a roadmap, or if you're tired of operating from a place of scarcity and uncertainty, I think you're going to find a lot of encouragement in this conversation.Enjoy my conversation with Andrew Murphy.Important Links:Connect with Andrew: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-murphy-6b960bb8/My Big Ask Gifts Program: ⁠https://go.rheawong.com/big-ask-gifts-program⁠My Newsletter: ⁠https://www.rheawong.com/⁠

June 1, 202621 min

#391- What Happens When You Stop Fundraising on Hope with Amy Lester

Ever feel like your major gifts program is held together by spreadsheets, good intentions, and crossed fingers?This week, I'm joined by my client and friend Amy Lester, Major Gifts Officer at Polar Bears International, for a candid behind-the-scenes look at how she transformed her fundraising program in just over a year.When Amy started, she inherited a portfolio, a giant spreadsheet of prospects, and what she lovingly calls a "hope strategy." Fast forward 15 months, and she's exceeded her fundraising goal by more than $400,000, doubled major donor gifts, increased her conversion rate from 40% to 84%, and brought in 19 new major donors.My favorite takeaway? Amy's shift from feeling overwhelmed and reactive to confident and strategic. That's the magic of having a system.If you're sitting on a portfolio full of potential and wondering how to turn donor relationships into real revenue growth, this episode is packed with practical lessons you can apply immediately.Important Links:Connect with Amy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-lester-cfre-40166b49/ My Big Ask Gifts Program: ⁠https://go.rheawong.com/big-ask-gifts-program⁠ My Book, Get That Money Honey: ⁠https://go.rheawong.com/get-that-money-honey⁠ My Newsletter: ⁠https://www.rheawong.com/⁠ My Quiz: https://bit.ly/4vDEBjl

May 25, 202636 min

#390- The Fundraising Strategy Too Many Nonprofits Ignore with Tess Conrad

This episode honestly changed the way I think about planned giving.I sat down with Tess Conrad and walked away realizing that planned giving isn’t just for giant institutions with fancy development teams. Tess made the case that even small nonprofits can start building a legacy giving program—and that some of your best future donors may already be quietly sitting in your database.We talked about why loyal donors matter more than wealthy ones, why monthly donors are often ideal planned giving prospects, and how relationships, not complicated financial knowledge, are really at the heart of this work.One thing that really stuck with me: the average estate gift is around $50,000, and many of those gifts come from people who never made huge annual donations during their lifetime.If you’ve ever thought, “We’re too small for planned giving,” this conversation is for you.Important Links:Connect with Tess: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/tess-conrad-cfre/My Big Ask Gifts Program:⁠ ⁠https://go.rheawong.com/big-ask-gifts-program⁠⁠ My Book, Get That Money Honey:⁠ ⁠https://go.rheawong.com/get-that-money-honey⁠⁠ My Newsletter:⁠ ⁠https://www.rheawong.com/⁠⁠ My Quiz: ⁠https://bit.ly/4vDEBjl

May 18, 202626 min

#389- The Human Side of AI with Janine Quijije

In this episode of Nonprofit Lowdown, I sat down with Janine Quijije to talk about AI but probably not in the way you’re used to hearing about it.Instead of asking, “How can AI help us do more?” Janine asks a much more important question: How can AI help us preserve our energy and prevent burnout?We talk about the reality of being overextended in the nonprofit sector, the pressure to constantly produce, and how AI can actually help us create more sustainable ways of working. One of my favorite takeaways was Janine’s simple exercise of uploading your calendar into ChatGPT and asking it to audit how you’re spending your energy. The results? A little confronting… and incredibly helpful.This episode is really a reminder that your worth is not tied to how exhausted you are.My Ai Analysis Report: Your export contained 239 campaigns, but most showed 100% open rates against tiny sendcounts — those are automated/triggered sends (welcome flows, single-recipient sends), not listbroadcasts. I filtered to campaigns sent to at least 500 people, which isolated 43 realbroadcasts to your full list (median list size ~6,400).For each subject line, I tagged structural features (length, emoji, punctuation, opening word,presence of 'you/your', sender voice, editorial framing, etc.) and compared the top 11 andbottom 11 performers to identify what actually correlates with open rate on your list specificallyImportant Links:Connect with Janine: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janinequijije/ My Big Ask Gifts Program: ⁠https://go.rheawong.com/big-ask-gifts-program⁠ My Book, Get That Money Honey: ⁠https://go.rheawong.com/get-that-money-honey⁠ My Newsletter: ⁠https://www.rheawong.com/⁠ My Quiz: https://bit.ly/4vDEBjl

May 11, 202627 min

#388- The Development Director Exodus

This episode felt personal for me because I’ve been watching so many development directors quietly disappear from organizations lately. And honestly? It’s not just about burnout or “bad hires.” Most of the time, it’s a systems problem.In this episode, I’m unpacking the two biggest reasons development directors leave, what it’s really costing nonprofits when they do, and why so many organizations are unknowingly operating without the infrastructure needed to sustain fundraising success.If you’re an ED, board member, or fundraiser, this conversation is your reminder that busy does not always mean effective and that great people cannot thrive in broken systems forever.Important Links: Book a Call: https://connect.rheawong.com/ My Big Ask Gifts Program: ⁠https://go.rheawong.com/big-ask-gifts-program⁠ My Book, Get That Money Honey: ⁠https://go.rheawong.com/get-that-money-honey⁠ My Newsletter: ⁠https://www.rheawong.com/⁠

May 4, 202633 min

#387- The Real Mental Health Crisis No One Is Talking About

This episode felt personal—because it is.In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, I sat down with Lauren Carson (Black Girls Smile) and April Walker (Philanthropy for the People), and we got real about what’s actually happening right now—in our work, in our communities, and in our bodies.If I’m honest, it feels like a lot. And I know I’m not the only one.We talked about how the pressure out in the world—politics, funding cuts, constant uncertainty—is showing up in our mental health. Especially for Black women and girls, who are so often expected to just… keep going.And then there’s the funding piece. The promises that didn’t last. The lack of transparency. The constant hustle. It’s exhausting—and it’s impacting how we show up as leaders, as teammates, as humans.One thing that really stuck with me:We talk a lot about resilience as “pushing through,” but not enough about healing. And without healing, what are we actually sustaining?So here’s what I’m taking with me this month:Rest isn’t a reward—it’s necessary (even in small moments between meetings)I don’t have to do everything—just focus on what actually mattersMy inner voice matters—if I’m resting but still beating myself up, that’s not restAnd honestly… sometimes the most powerful thing I can do is just breatheIf there’s one thing I’d invite you to do this month, it’s this:Tell yourself the truth about how you’re actually doing—and give yourself a little more space to be human.We’re all figuring this out. And you don’t have to do it alone.Important Links:Black Girl Smile: https://www.blackgirlssmile.org/Stop Flying Blind: Fix Your Leaky Fundraising System: ⁠https://go.rheawong.com/donorjourneyauditwebinar-2026⁠ My Big Ask Gifts Program:⁠ ⁠https://go.rheawong.com/big-ask-gifts-program⁠⁠ My Book, Get That Money Honey:⁠ ⁠https://go.rheawong.com/get-that-money-honey⁠⁠ My Newsletter:⁠ ⁠https://www.rheawong.com/⁠⁠ My Quiz: ⁠https://bit.ly/4vDEBjl

April 27, 202636 min

#386- How to Actually Use Wealth Screening (Without Getting Burned) with Tina Duong

We’re diving into a topic I have a serious love-hate relationship with: wealth screening. My guest is Tina Duong, founder of Impact ProTech and a 25+ year fundraising veteran. And let me tell you she has thoughts.We’re getting into what wealth screens get wrong, why fundraisers rely on them too much, and what you actually need to know to identify the right donors.Let’s dig in.Important Links:ImpactPro: https://www.impactpro.tech/ Stop Flying Blind: Fix Your Leaky Fundraising System: https://go.rheawong.com/donorjourneyauditwebinar-2026 My Big Ask Gifts Program: ⁠https://go.rheawong.com/big-ask-gifts-program⁠ My Book, Get That Money Honey: ⁠https://go.rheawong.com/get-that-money-honey⁠ My Newsletter: ⁠https://www.rheawong.com/⁠ My Quiz: https://bit.ly/4vDEBjl

April 20, 202621 min

#385- Why Your Boards Won't Fundraise and How to Change That

I hear this all the time: “Why won’t my board fundraise?” And I get it—it’s frustrating. But here’s the truth I’ve learned: it’s usually not because they don’t care. It’s because no one ever showed them a version of fundraising that feels human.Most board members think fundraising means awkwardly asking friends for money. Of course they avoid it. When we shift the definition to something more relational—making introductions, building connections, saying “join me”—everything starts to soften.We also have to talk about the money stuff. The beliefs we all carry about money? They don’t magically disappear just because someone joined a board. Creating space to unpack that can be a game changer.A few things that really move the needle:Everyone gives something—it creates ownershipMake fundraising visible and celebrate the effortBe specific: don’t ask for “help,” ask for responsibilityCreate real connection between board membersAnd I’ll be honest—changing board culture takes time. Some people will lean in, some won’t. But when it clicks? When your board actually wants to bring people in? There’s nothing more powerful.If this is something you’re working through, you’re not alone—and there is a way forward.Important Links:Board Fundraising Training: https://go.rheawong.com/forboardmembers-929795 Webinar: https://bit.ly/4emZZCXStop Flying Blind: Fix Your Leaky Fundraising System: https://go.rheawong.com/donorjourneyauditwebinar-2026 My Big Ask Gifts Program: ⁠https://go.rheawong.com/big-ask-gifts-program⁠ My Book, Get That Money Honey: ⁠https://go.rheawong.com/get-that-money-honey⁠ My Newsletter: ⁠https://www.rheawong.com/⁠ My Quiz: https://bit.ly/4vDEBjl

April 13, 202614 min

#384- Stop Flying Blind: Fix Your Leaky Fundraising System

I’ve been in this sector for over 20 years, and I keep seeing the same thing:Great fundraisers don’t stay.And it’s not because they don’t care—it’s because we’re asking them to be the system.They’re holding donor relationships, strategy, and next steps all in their heads… and when they leave, everything leaves with them.That’s not a people problem. It’s a systems problem.In this episode, I talk about why burnout keeps happening, the real cost of turnover, and why hiring “better” fundraisers won’t fix it.Because the truth is:You don’t rise to the level of your goals—you fall to the level of your systems.If this sounds familiar, I’m hosting a free webinar:Stop Flying Blind: Fix Your Leaky Fundraising SystemI’ll walk you through a simple 6-part audit to help you find what’s broken and fix it.Important Links:Stop Flying Blind: Fix Your Leaky Fundraising System: https://go.rheawong.com/donorjourneyauditwebinar-2026 My Big Ask Gifts Program: ⁠https://go.rheawong.com/big-ask-gifts-program⁠ My Book, Get That Money Honey: ⁠https://go.rheawong.com/get-that-money-honey⁠ My Newsletter: ⁠https://www.rheawong.com/⁠