The Nonprofit Podcast

Hosted by Jena Lynch, Brittan Stockert & Cara Augspurger

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236

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Aug 2026

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EN-US

About the show

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.

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September 10, 2026Episode 22110 min

Ep 221| How to Turn Your Ask Into a Connection

Send us Fan Mail Heart does that panicked double-thump. Stomach drops. Ohh - there goes gravity! Sound familiar? That's what happens right before most fundraisers call a donor to ask for money… and Britt Stockert , Fundraiser Coach at Donorbox , says that feeling is telling you the opposite of what you think. In this quick, coffee-break episode, Britt shares the four words she scribbled on a sticky note for a burned-out nonprofit leader who needed something simpler than a script. It changed how that leader's whole team makes the ask. This is perfect for fundraisers who want a low-pressure way to build donor trust, especially heading into year-end. Discover: Why the discomfort of asking for a gift is a sign of a healthy donor relationship, not a warning sign A four-word framework simple enough to fit on a sticky note How to open a donor call without mentioning money at all What to say when a donor pushes back on overhead or transparency Why silence after an ask is doing more work than most fundraisers realize How to measure success in donor outreach beyond whether a gift landed that day If you’re ready to refine your ‘Ask’ approach and get on track for Giving Season, schedule time with Britt here . That nervous feeling before asking for a gift isn't proof something's wrong. It's proof the moment matters. Britt's fix isn't more confidence - it's structure: four words on a sticky note that turn a high-pressure ask into a real conversation between two people who both care about the same thing. Chapters: 00:00 - Why Asking for Support Feels Uncomfortable 02:10 - The Trust Gap & the Power of Personal Connection 03:40 - A 4-Beat Framework for Donor Conversations 06:55 - Timing the Ask & Permission-Based Giving 08:15 - Redefining Success Through Small Wins 09:15 - Overcoming Rejection & Closing Thoughts Donorbox is a trusted fundraising platform used by 100,000-plus organizations worldwide, helping them raise over $4 billion collectively. Learn more at donorbox.org. Enjoying the show? Subscribe for more practical fundraising strategies, leadership insights, and tools to help your nonprofit grow sustainably. Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not intended as legal or financial advice. Please consult a professional advisor for guidance specific to your organization. Support the show

September 3, 2026Episode 22030 min

Ep 220| Navigating AI search & Google Ad Grants for nonprofits with Jessica King

Send us Fan Mail ChatGPT. Claude. Gemini. Or Google...Search visibility has changed. AI search is changing how donors and volunteers find nonprofits, and most teams are still figuring out what to do about it. This week, host Jena Lynch talks with Jessica King, Director at Getting Attention, about what's actually working in search right now...from why ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini are showing up as real traffic sources, to why relying on one platform is risky, plus how to make full use of the $120,000-a-year Google Ad Grant. Jessica's take: you don't need a new playbook for AI, just a stronger version of the marketing fundamentals you already know. What You'll Learn Why ChatGPT and Claude are already shortlisting nonprofits before donors ever reach your site, and what that means for your funnel. Why AI search doesn't call for a new strategy, just sharper execution of the SEO fundamentals you already have in place. How to build a channel mix that holds up when a single algorithm or platform shifts. How to extend the reach of your $120,000-a-year Google Ad Grant as search behavior changes. Why page-level content depth outweighs metadata for both AI and traditional search, and what that means for your content priorities. If your team has just a few hours a month for online visibility this Giving Season, this episode tells you where to spend them. About Our Guest Jessica King is Director at Getting Attention, where she helps nonprofits get more from Google Ad Grants, paid Google Ads, and search-focused content strategy. Before Getting Attention, Jessica worked in communications and digital marketing across higher education and the nonprofit sector, with a focus on SEO for mission-driven organizations. She holds a Master's degree in Communication from Virginia Tech. Links Mentioned Getting Attention: gettingattention.org - free guides, templates, and Google Ad Grant audits Getting Attention on YouTube : weekly tutorials and marketing advice Book recommendation: Steal Like an Artist by Austin Kleon Donorbox: donorbox.org - fundraising tools for nonprofits Host Jena Lynch is Head of Community Engagement at Donorbox. Each week on The Nonprofit Podcast, she brings nonprofit leaders practical strategies and clear insight to help them raise more and reach further. Chapters: 0:00 Intro & Welcome 1:43 Meet Jessica King from Getting Attention 2:24 AI as a Traffic Source and the Shifting Search Landscape 6:38 Donor Trust, AEO/AIO Buzz, and Not Losing Sight of the Fundamentals 8:34 Why Foundational SEO Is the Basis for AEO 10:50 Building a Marketing Mix With No Single Point of Failure 13:26 Making the Most of the Google Ad Grant 19:05 Why Traditional Website SEO Isn't Dead 21:24 How AI Levels the Playing Field for Smaller Nonprofits 24:11 Non-Negotiables for Giving Season 27:53 Connect With Jessica and Getting Attention 28:35 Wrap-Up 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. 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

August 27, 2026Episode 21923 min

Ep 219| Stop guessing: What donors REALLY want before year-end

Send us Fan Mail A simple donor survey is the closest thing you will get to reading your supporters' minds, yet the answers you get are rarely what you expect Donors are sitting on insights most nonprofits never think to look for. Cara Augspurger , our field correspondent and CEO of Grace Care Center Foundation , joins Jena Lynch to share what happened when her team surveyed hundreds of donors ahead of Giving Season, and what the answers revealed about messaging, trust, and the surprising link between volunteering and giving. And brace yourself - your best donors may not understand your organization as well as you think. What You'll Learn How to build and segment a short, anonymous donor survey Why loyal donors can still misunderstand your programs How the volunteer experience shapes donor trust Four steps to launch a donor survey before year-end Resources and Links Consolidate today’s framework with a helpful in-depth Donorbox blog: Surveying Your Donors, How to Do It Right - you can find it here About the Hosts Cara Augspurger has been a nonprofit leader and fundraiser since 1996. As President and CEO of Grace Care Center Foundation and a founding board member, she brings decades of hands-on experience to conversations spanning annual fundraising, capital campaigns, donor stewardship, and relationship building. A Certified Fund-Raising Executive (CFRE) and University of Illinois graduate, Cara previously served as a fundraising coach at Donorbox, where she helped nonprofits connect the dots between strategy and results. Jena Lynch , Head of Community Engagement at Donorbox, 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 the anchor of The Nonprofit Podcast, she keeps strategy clear, steady, and actionable. Chapters 00:00 – Introduction: Why Donor Surveys Matter 01:15 – Timing Your Survey Before the Fall Push 03:08 – Survey Mechanics: Length, Platforms, and Subject Lines 06:27 – Key Questions to Include in Your Survey 08:23 – How Well Do Donors Know Your Programs? 12:27 – Where Volunteering Meets Giving 16:35 – The Power of One Open Question 19:59 – 4 Action Steps to Launch Your Donor Survey 22:42 – Wrap-Up & Final Thoughts 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. 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

August 20, 2026Episode 21825 min

Ep 218| End-of-Year Fundraising: A Giving Season Roadmap for Nonprofits

Send us Fan Mail You can't repair the runway while the plane is taking off. 🛫 That's Darrin Cook's blunt take on why Giving Season prep has to start in August, not November. Darrin joins Jena Lynch to break down how early infrastructure work, not last-minute campaign scrambling, drives real Giving Season results. He shares a framework for auditing donor data and donation flows now, building stronger donor segments, and knowing where automation earns its keep without losing the human side of donor stewardship. Plus, why protecting your fundraising team from burnout is part of the strategy, not separate from it. Head straight to the Donorbox Blog to dive deeper into Giving Season prep with a 3-phase roadmap to keep you on track from now until January, here . Chapters 00:00 Why Giving Season Prep Starts in August 01:47 Meet Darren Cook (MyMogul Media) 02:45 Don't Repair the Runway Mid-Flight: Giving Season Timeline 05:07 Systems Audit: Tech, Websites, and Mobile Optimization 08:31 Nurturing Donors: Relationship Messages Before the Big Ask 11:14 Simple Donor Segmentation: 6 Key Groups to Target 14:55 Humanizing Automation: What to Automate vs. What to Keep Personal 18:10 Preventing Team Burnout During the Year-End Rush 19:51 The January Debrief: Turning Campaign Data into Next Year's Strategy 22:58 Where to Find Giving Season Resources About Our Guest Darrin Cook is the founder of My Mogul Media . Since 2009, he's helped nonprofits across the US build cleaner, more connected digital systems, so teams can stop grinding and start growing. About Our Host Jena Lynch is Head of Community Engagement at Donorbox and host of The Nonprofit Podcast, bringing practical strategies every week for nonprofits that want to raise more and do more. Resources and Links: My Mogul Media Darrin Cook on LinkedIn Donorbox Blog: Giving Season Fundraising, Your 3-Phase Roadmap Donorbox is a trusted fundraising platform used by more than 100,000 organizations worldwide, helping raise more than $4 billion for causes globally. 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 podcast is for educational purposes only and is not intended as legal or financial advice. Please consult a professional advisor for guidance specific to your organization. Support the show

August 13, 2026Episode 21725 min

Ep 217| Strategic Planning Isn't an Implementation Problem - with Dr. Renee Rubin Ross

Send us Fan Mail A plan built by a few people at the top and handed down is just paperwork. Dr. Renee Rubin Ross argues real ownership comes from who's in the room while the goals get decided, not just who signs off on them. Dr. Ross is the founder of The Ross Collective and author of Inclusive Strategic Planning for Nonprofits. In this episode, she and Britt break down her five-step spiral planning process, including step zero: how to know your organization is actually ready to plan. They also talk about what happens when planning uncovers real dysfunction, and how to tell whether it's a planning problem or a leadership one. Grab Renee's free Strategic Planning Template, the Five-Step Spiral breakdown, and sample strategic plans in the links below. Inclusive Strategic Planning for Nonprofits (book) can be purchased here The Five-Step Spiral, explained here Get Your Free Strategic Planning Template here And, Sample nonprofit strategic plans here Chapters: 00:00 - Why Traditional Strategic Planning Fails 02:10 - Why Write Another Book on Strategic Planning? 04:47 - The 5-Step Spiral Planning Framework 07:26 - Balancing Visioning with Concrete Execution 09:29 - Why 3-Year Strategic Plans Work Best 10:50 - Step 0: Assessing Organizational Readiness 12:51 - Navigating Internal Tension & Staff Culture 15:45 - The 3 Circles of Participation (Deciders, Builders, Sharers) 18:46 - Translating Your Plan into Action (Using RACI) 22:13 - What You Lose by Excluding Frontline Staff 23:35 - Where to Find Dr. Ross About Donorbox: Donorbox is a trusted fundraising platform used by more than 100,000 organizations to raise over $4 billion worldwide. 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 podcast is for educational purposes only and is not legal or financial advice. Please consult a professional advisor for guidance specific to your organization. Support the show

August 6, 2026Episode 21610 min

Ep 216| How to Write a Nonprofit AI Policy & Close the Donor Trust Gap

Send us Fan Mail Only 26% of nonprofits tell donors when AI helped write to them. 76% of donors say they should be told. That's not small! It's a fifty-point trust gap that grows every time an organization reaches for a new tool without a plan for it. This week, Jena Lynch digs into what's actually pulling nonprofits toward AI right now (hint: it's burnout, not hype), why donors can tell when a human checked out of the process, and the socioeconomic costs that rarely make it into the fundraising conversation. She shares four practical moves any organization can put in place this week, no tech background required. What you'll learn: Why AI-governed organizations are pulling ahead while everyone else is improvising The three numbers behind nonprofit AI's donor trust problem, and why donors notice even when they can't name what feels off The real cost behind the tools that never shows up in a donor letter Four moves to close the trust gap, starting with a policy you can write today Resources for you from this episode: Free nonprofit AI policy template download to get you started here An easy-read blog with a full breakdown on how to use AI responsibly as a nonprofit, here . Donorbox is a trusted fundraising platform serving more than 100,000 organizations worldwide, helping them raise over $4 billion and counting. 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 podcast is for educational purposes only and is not intended as legal or financial advice. Please consult a professional advisor for guidance specific to your organization. Support the show

July 30, 202614 min

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-end The one question your strategic plan has to answer first How to run a funding reality check that shows exactly where the gaps are How to set numbers-based targets for a "good year", no gut feel required About 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

July 23, 202624 min

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 nonprofits Why promotion skills and leadership skills aren't the same thing How one avoided conversation can quietly cost you your best people What leaders can do right now to close the gap More 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

July 17, 202623 min

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 more How simple data tracking reveals what's actually working How to build a fundraising rhythm that avoids burnout Why donor retention deserves more attention than new donor acquisition More 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 LinkedIn Productive Fundraising Productive 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

July 9, 202613 min

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 cautious How to make recurring giving visible and easy to choose Why in-person energy needs an instant way to give A simple way to check your own donation experience About 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