Future Nonprofit The Generosity Playbook: Gabe Cooper - How to help your donors get their hearts all in
“As an employee of a nonprofit, you're maybe blessed to get paid for the work you do every day, but it doesn't mean you care about it any more or less than the people that are giving you money. And so, by drawing them in, you build an army of committed advocates and activists for your cause. You're having an impact on the hearts of your donors by drawing them in. You're making the world a better place by creating an army of generous people.” – Gabe Cooper
What if your nonprofit could inspire generosity that drives your mission forward and scales your impact? In this episode, we sit down with Gabe Cooper, founder and CEO of Virtuous, to explore how to go beyond transactional fundraising to build authentic, human-centered relationships that draw donors more deeply into your mission.
Gabe shares his insights on donor motivations—and how you can rope them in as advocates and activists for your cause. You’ll learn about the importance of the heart and how to give supporters a cause that shapes their personal identities. He also shares why it’s critical to consider the value donors receive through their generosity. By treating supporters as true partners in your mission, Gabe believes nonprofits can unleash a wave of support that fuels impactful change.
With his background in for-profit tech and software development, Gabe is passionate about product development and giving nonprofits best-in-class tools. In this episode, he shares key lessons on innovation and provides simple, strategic, actionable tips for launching your first, small-scale innovative venture.
Listen in as Gabe dives into how organizations can adapt to changing donor expectations, use human-centered design, and harness the power of generosity to drive their missions forward. Whether you’re looking to strengthen your donor relationships or take your fundraising to the next level, this episode offers a playbook for inspiring generosity that achieves more than you ever thought possible.
Contents
1 – Gabe’s introduction to philanthropy (03:05)
2 – The power of giving and importance of nonprofits (07:10)
3 – Putting donors at the center of the mission (16:45)
4 – Simplifying innovation (23:50)
5 – Harnessing human-centered design (31:18)
6 – Gabe’s parting advice (36:28)
Links
Mentioned in this episode:
Presented by Classy
Are you a nonprofit feeling the pressure of constant change and evolving supporter expectations? Are you searching for new ways to engage your community in this new era of fundraising? At Future Nonprofit we seek out the top technology helping propel our sector forward, which is why Classy by GoFundMe is a trusted partner of ours. Classy's online fundraising platform empowers organizations to connect, engage, and grow. With Classy's latest innovation, Classy Studio, you can create personalized fundraising experiences that truly resonate. Build connections, unleash creativity, and raise more... faster! And now, with new features like Intelligent Ask Amounts, which provide personalized donation amounts for each supporter who lands on your page, and improved embedded donation forms, which lead a donor through an optimized checkout flow without leaving your website, Classy's full suite of tools is further engineered for conversion while also allowing you to create lasting relationships. The only question left is... what will YOU build? The future of fundraising is now with Classy. For more information, visit classy.org.