The Nonprofit Podcast

Send us Fan MailWhy - and when - do donors actually trust your organization?Every gift is a decision, and every decision has mechanics. Donorbox has mapped them in a new field guide, 10 Principles of Donor Conversion and Retention: The Science of Giving. It draws on published research into why donors give and why they stop.In the first of two episodes that break down the mechanics of the giving decision, Jena Lynch and Britt Stockert talk us through the six principles that build donor confidence: transparency, credibility, congruence, security, impactful messaging, and reciprocation. Along the way, they unpack the changes the guide recommends nonprofits make before Giving Season.About half of first-time donors never make a second gift. The research suggests that’s rarely a marketing problem. It’s a design problem, and it’s fixable.The guide is built to be used, not just read. It closes with a ten-principle self-audit: one yes-or-no test per principle, to score before any campaign goes live. Every “no” marks a specific, fixable conversion loss. Each principle also comes with practical steps a fundraiser can complete without a developer.Each principle is grounded in behavioral science, from the goal gradient effect to the reciprocity norm, and brought to life with examples from Britt’s coaching. It’s practical listening for any fundraiser focused on donor conversion and retention heading into year-end.Download your FREE copy of Donorbox’s 10 Principles of Donor Conversion and Retention: The Science of Giving today, and run the self-audit before your campaign goes live. It’s a practical first step toward turning this Giving Season’s first-time donors into next year’s repeat supporters.So, what are we talking about?Donors rarely evaluate an organization consciously. Nobody sits on a donation page weighing credibility. But donors notice when something feels off, and they leave without explaining why.That makes donor confidence hard to measure and easy to lose. Each of the six confidence principles maps to a question donors are quietly asking, from “Where does my money actually go?” to “Did anyone notice that I gave?”Building donor confidence doesn’t require a complete overhaul. It starts with spotting the small things that make someone hesitate, and addressing them before Giving Season traffic arrives.Chapters00:00 - Why First-Time Donors Don’t Return01:54 - Defining Confidence vs. Friction04:09 - Principle 1: Transparency (Where the Money Goes)06:54 - The Goal Gradient Effect & Visible Progress07:56 - Principle 2: Credibility & Social Proof11:31 - Principle 3: Congruence & Consistent Branding16:01 - DonorBox Field Guide Overview16:25 - Principle 4: Payment Security & Loss Aversion19:10 - Principle 5: Impactful Messaging (Stories vs. Numbers)22:22 - The Identifiable Victim Effect23:37 - Principle 6: Reciprocation & Meaningful Thank-Yous26:58 - The Reciprocity Norm & Retention Impact29:01 - Key Takeaways & Next Steps for Giving SeasonAbout the HostsJena Lynch is Head of Community Engagement at Donorbox and anchor of The Nonprofit Podcast, a 2025 Silver Anthem Award winner. She speaks regularly to nonprofit audiences on donor stewardship and retention.Britt Stockert is a Fundraiser Coach at Donorbox with more than 20 years of public-sector experience. She coaches nonprofit teams one-on-one and serves on the board of an immigrant- and refugee-led nonprofit.About DonorboxDonorbox 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

Send us Fan MailHappy DAF Day. Here's something to think about. Nearly one in four dollars of individual giving in the US now moves through donor advised funds, and DAF giving is growing 8X faster than everything else.Jena Lynch and Cara Augspurger get into who DAF donors really are (**Spoiler** not all are billionaires - most give under $1,000), why they tend to stay longer and give more, and where in the past these gifts have run into friction for donors and nonprofits alike.Then Jena shares what Donorbox launched today: DAFPay, powered by Chariot and built right into your Donorbox OmniGive donation form. It's available on the Pro and Premium tiers for US-registered 501(c)(3) organizations.See how Donorbox DAFPay works hereNew to DAFs? Download Episode 192, Cara’s DAF 101.In this episode:What a donor-advised fund is, in plain terms, and why the decision to give has already been madeWho DAF donors really are, and why the “wealthy donors only” picture is wrongWhere DAF gifts can get stuck, for donors and for nonprofitsThe receipting mistake that can turn into an IRS headacheHow Donorbox DAFPay brings DAF giving onto your OmniGive donation formAnd if you’re ready for a deeper dive, here are links to the research reports and resources mentioned in the show:Donorbox Pro and Premium plansEpisode 192: Cara’s DAF fundamentals episodeChariot 2026 DAF Fundraising Report Donor Advised Fund Research Collaborative Donorbox Chapters:00:00 Introduction to DAF Day and the Growth of DAFs00:29 The Rise of Donor-Advised Funds in Giving01:20 Cara’s Perspective on DAF Trends02:28 Understanding What a DAF Is and How It Works03:20 Who Are DAF Donors and Why They Give05:03 Common Misconceptions About DAF Donors08:09 The Rapid Growth and Scale of DAFs09:37 How DAFs Distribute Funds Faster 10:16 Donor Demographics and Giving Patterns12:14 Impact of DAFs on Donor Support and Giving Behavior13:59 The Challenges of Managing DAF Gifts for Nonprofits19:19 Making DAF Giving Easier: Chariot DAFPay on Donorbox22:37 Practical Steps for Nonprofits to Engage DAF DonorsAbout DonorboxDonorbox 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.Learn more at donorbox.org. Jena Lynch is Head of Community Engagement at Donorbox and host of The Nonprofit Podcast. She speaks widely on donor relationships and fundraising at conferences, webinars, and on other shows. Cara Augspurger is a frontline fundraiser and co-host of The Nonprofit Podcast. She brings what she sees on the ground at her own organization to every conversation, and hosted Episode 192, our DAF 101, for first-timers. 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 is not legal or financial advice. Please consult a professional advisor for guidance specific to your organization.Support the show

Send us Fan MailYou pulled the report. 1,800 people who gave last year haven't given a cent this year. And it's October.Cue Giving Season panic.Jena Lynch and Britt Stockert see it differently. Most of those lapsed donors didn't leave. They drifted.This episode is all about winning back LYBUNT donors (Last Year But Unfortunately Not This) before December 3 - no guilt trips. No "we miss you" emails.These donors already said yes once. That counts for a lot. Donors with a giving history come back 66% of the time. New donors come back just 24% of the time.And there's still time. Last year, December brought in 37% of nonprofits' online revenue.Britt shares the exact voicemail she'd leave a lapsed donor, and makes the case for skipping the ask in the first message (yes, even in October). Jena brings the gym membership comparison nobody wanted, but everybody needed.Got 30 minutes this week? Britt's action plan at the end is built for exactly that.What You'll LearnWhy and how "hasn't given yet" and "gone for good" are two very different listsThe unglamorous check that saves a lot of awkward emailsHow to pick 30 personal calls from a list of 1,800 (hint: not by gift size)Who in the organization should really be making those callsWhat to do when a donor leaves you on readHow to ask in December without sounding like a final noticeThe one thing every fundraiser should do on their phone todayA LYBUNT report shows who hasn't given. It can't show why. Before assuming the worst, check the data. Then start a conversation. As Jena puts it, "You are a nonprofit fundraiser, you are not a debt collector."Chapters:00:00 That report you've been avoiding01:00 LYBUNT: the acronym Britt loves03:25 The 24% vs 66% gap04:09 Check before you reach out06:02 Bounced emails and the Promotions tab myth07:13 1,800 names, 30 phone calls08:01 The biggest gift isn't always the best relationship10:05 First touch: skip the ask10:47 The voicemail you should leave13:02 Ask a question, not for money16:04 When donors leave you on read17:03 Adjusting expectations18:08 The December ask that actually lands18:50 A nonprofit, not a debt collector21:02 Your 30-minute action planJena 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...especially in Giving Season!Links MentionedM+R Benchmarks studyEp 192| Donor-Advised Funds: What Fundraisers Need to Know Now with Cara Augspurger Donorbox: donorbox.org About DonorboxDonorbox is a global fundraising platform trusted by 100,000+ nonprofits, with $4B+ raised worldwide.  This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not legal or financial advice. Consult a professional advisor.Support the show

Send us Fan MailHow far can one campaign travel this Giving Season? Further than your email list, if you set it up right.Today, Jena Lynch, Head of Community Engagement at Donorbox, shares how a crowdfunding campaign gives supporters a clear, specific goal to rally around, and how peer-to-peer fundraising turns that campaign into something supporters carry into their own networks…reaching people a nonprofit hasn't earned trust with yet.In this episode, Jena digs into:What makes a crowdfunding campaign worth sharing, not just donating toWhat a campaign page needs so a stranger understands it in secondsWhy a supporter's personal ask lands differently than a simple shareHow to choose the first few supporters to invite as fundraisersWhat to do with the year-end plan next weekStart your Giving Season campaignDonorbox Crowdfunding gives supporters a page worth sharing, a goal meter, a live donor wall, and one-click sharing built in. Turn on Donorbox Peer-to-Peer and empower supporters to build their own pages, with every dollar automatically feeding the main goal. Launch in as little as 15 minutes: donorbox.org Get your downloadable guides now, packed with tips and strategy support, from the Donorbox library:Donation Page Design Guide - image sizes, logo dimensions, and copy tipsPeer-to-Peer Fundraising 101 - campaign types, a launch plan, and event ideas Chapters 00:00 Welcome 00:23 Why one campaign should outgrow the email list02:57 What makes a crowdfunding campaign worth sharing05:11 Building the crowdfunding page as home base07:25 From sharing to peer-to-peer fundraising08:23 Borrowed trust: Leveraging personal networks for outreach10:05 Choosing the first supporters to invite11:49 Setting up supporter pages on Donorbox12:30 Next week's to-do for Giving Season campaigns13:15 Resources and closeHostJena Lynch is Head of Community Engagement at Donorbox and anchor host of The Nonprofit Podcast. About DonorboxDonorbox is a global fundraising platform trusted by 100,000+ nonprofits, with $4B+ raised worldwide.This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not legal or financial advice. Consult a professional advisor.Support the show

Send us Fan MailMost nonprofit events open exactly one path to giving: the ticket. Jena Lynch and Britt Stockert map the fundraising moments most events miss, before doors open, during the event, after everyone goes home, and unpack how nonprofits can open more paths to giving - without extra work for their team.What You'll LearnWhy the ticket purchase is one of the best, and most frequently ignored, fundraising opportunities of the event life-cycleWhat good ticket data actually looks like (knowing who to expect before your guests even walk in)Where the most donation opportunities quietly slip away once the event is underwayWhy one unified donor record beats three spreadsheets and a manual mail mergeThe one friction point Britt says to fix first, before your very next eventIf you're deep into your year-end event planning, this one is for you!Engage attendees. Simplify giving. Grow your impact.Find out more about maximizing your events with the double-down power of Donorbox Dynamic Duo  - from ticketing to post-event stewardship.You can:Streamline ticket sales and collect donations from ticket buyersManage your event in one easy-to-track placeCheck guests in with easeCollect in-person, cashless donations with just a tap, dip, or swipeChapters00:00 The Mindset Shift in Event Fundraising00:56 Welcome to The Nonprofit Podcast02:28 Capturing Generosity at Ticket Checkout04:08 Streamlining Table Registration & Payments06:00 Common In-Event Pitfalls to Avoid07:16 Eliminating Friction for Event Attendees08:52 Using Donorbox Live Kiosk & Offline Auto-Sync11:00 Post-Event Data Integration & Donor Segmentation12:55 Timely Stewardship and Follow-Up Emails13:44 Practical Action Step for Your Next Event14:51 Closing Remarks & ResourcesHost BiosJena Lynch, Head of Community Engagement at Donorbox, anchors The Nonprofit Podcast.Brittan Stockert, Fundraiser Coach at Donorbox, co-hosts The Nonprofit Podcast.Donorbox is a trusted fundraising platform used by more than 100,000 organizations worldwide, raising over $4 billion for nonprofit causes. 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 shouldn't be considered legal or financial advice. Please consult a professional advisor for guidance specific to your organization.Support the show

Send us Fan MailHeart 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 signA four-word framework simple enough to fit on a sticky noteHow to open a donor call without mentioning money at allWhat to say when a donor pushes back on overhead or transparencyWhy silence after an ask is doing more work than most fundraisers realizeHow to measure success in donor outreach beyond whether a gift landed that dayIf 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 Uncomfortable02:10 - The Trust Gap & the Power of Personal Connection03:40 - A 4-Beat Framework for Donor Conversations06:55 - Timing the Ask & Permission-Based Giving08:15 - Redefining Success Through Small Wins09:15 - Overcoming Rejection & Closing ThoughtsDonorbox 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

Send us Fan MailChatGPT. 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 LearnWhy 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 GuestJessica 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 MentionedGetting Attention: gettingattention.org - free guides, templates, and Google Ad Grant auditsGetting Attention on YouTube: weekly tutorials and marketing adviceBook recommendation: Steal Like an Artist by Austin KleonDonorbox: donorbox.org  - fundraising tools for nonprofitsHostJena 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 & Welcome1:43 Meet Jessica King from Getting Attention2:24 AI as a Traffic Source and the Shifting Search Landscape6:38 Donor Trust, AEO/AIO Buzz, and Not Losing Sight of the Fundamentals8:34 Why Foundational SEO Is the Basis for AEO10:50 Building a Marketing Mix With No Single Point of Failure13:26 Making the Most of the Google Ad Grant19:05 Why Traditional Website SEO Isn't Dead21:24 How AI Levels the Playing Field for Smaller Nonprofits24:11 Non-Negotiables for Giving Season27:53 Connect With Jessica and Getting Attention28:35 Wrap-UpDonorbox 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

Send us Fan MailA simple donor survey is the closest thing you will get to reading your supporters' minds, yet the answers you get are rarely what you expectDonors 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 LearnHow to build and segment a short, anonymous donor surveyWhy loyal donors can still misunderstand your programsHow the volunteer experience shapes donor trustFour steps to launch a donor survey before year-endResources and LinksConsolidate today’s framework with a helpful in-depth Donorbox blog: Surveying Your Donors, How to Do It Right - you can find it hereAbout the HostsCara 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.Chapters00:00 – Introduction: Why Donor Surveys Matter01:15 – Timing Your Survey Before the Fall Push03:08 – Survey Mechanics: Length, Platforms, and Subject Lines06:27 – Key Questions to Include in Your Survey08:23 – How Well Do Donors Know Your Programs?12:27 – Where Volunteering Meets Giving16:35 – The Power of One Open Question19:59 – 4 Action Steps to Launch Your Donor Survey22:42 – Wrap-Up & Final ThoughtsAbout DonorboxDonorbox 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

Send us Fan MailYou 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 Optimization08:31  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 ResourcesAbout 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 MediaDarrin Cook on LinkedInDonorbox Blog: Giving Season Fundraising, Your 3-Phase RoadmapDonorbox 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

Dr. Renee Rubin Ross, founder of The Ross Collective and author of Inclusive Strategic Planning for Nonprofits, outlines a participatory, implementation-focused approach to planning. She explains the Five‑Step Spiral framework, how to assess if an organization is ready to plan, why three‑year plans balance vision and action, and why frontline participation and RACI-style workplans make plans stick.