Responsive Lab Podcast

In this episode of The Responsive Lab, hosts Carly Berna and Scott Holthaus sit down with Brady Josephson, VP of Marketing and Growth at charity:water.    Brady makes the case for long-term brand marketing in a nonprofit world obsessed with short-term returns. He unpacks how charity:water’s latest initiatives — including their immersive Experience Lab and viral “Work from Bed” campaign — are using creativity and real-world touchpoints to increase future donor demand and loyalty.   From the difference between performance and brand marketing to tangible ways nonprofits can create their own pattern interruptions, this episode is a practical and inspiring masterclass in modern donor engagement.   🔗 Follow Brady on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/bradyjosephson 🔗 Learn more about charity:water: charitywater.org   Learn more about Virtuous at virtuous.org/learnmore and download your free Nonprofit CRM Checklist at virtuous.org/crmchecklist

In this episode of Ask a Responsive Fundraiser, we’re joined by Emily Rasmussen, founder of Grapevine, the platform behind the growing Giving Circle movement.   Emily brings over 15 years of experience in nonprofit leadership, impact finance, and community organizing. She shares how responsive fundraisers can shift from transactional giving to relational belonging.   You’ll hear:   • What it actually means to build a donor community • Why collaborative giving is on the rise (and what’s driving it) • How to recognize the real competition for donor attention • Why peer connections often build more trust than staff alone • How to scale relationship-building without scaling headcount The average across the nonprofit industry is that only 2% of new donations are set up to recur. On Grapevine, more than 50% of new donations are set up to recur.   By inviting donors into genuine community (not just another appeal cycle) nonprofits can unlock generosity, deepen trust, and increase lifetime value.   Connect with Emily & More Resources:   • How to start a Giving Circle for your Nonprofit - it's a very fast and easy process to get started • Harnessing Collaborative Impact: How Giving Circles Elevate Nonprofits • Connect with Grapevine  

In this data-packed episode of The Responsive Lab, Scott Holthaus and Carly Berna sit down with John Mark Vanderpool, co-founder of Social Impact Solutions, to talk all things Donor Lifetime Value (LTV).   John Mark brings a unique perspective — combining nonprofit experience, impact evaluation, and business acumen — to help leaders rethink their fundraising strategy. In the episode, you’ll explore how understanding and leveraging donor LTV can completely shift your acquisition strategy, communications, and ultimately, your impact.   John Mark shares: Why LTV isn’t just for startups anymore Balancing acquisition cost and donor value The case for quality over quantity in donor portfolios How to calculate and apply long-term net metrics Real examples of using social impact data to engage ideal donors   Plus, you’ll hear a powerful story of a nonprofit that drove 7-figure revenue through clever acquisition strategy without spending a dime on fundraising.   📌 Explore more from Social Impact Solutions at https://www.socialimpactsolutions.com/  📌 Take the free fundraising quiz at https://www.fundraisingquiz.org/    Learn more about Virtuous at virtuous.org/learnmore and download your free Nonprofit CRM Checklist at virtuous.org/crmchecklist

In this episode of The Responsive Lab, co-hosts Carly Berna and Scott Holthaus sit down with Heather Hiscox, social impact strategist and author of No More Status Quo, to unpack how nonprofits can lead organizational change with empathy, inclusion, and clarity. Heather shares the story behind her innovative PAUSE Framework — a practical, five-step method to navigate uncertainty and build sustainable change.   From challenging the myths of startup culture to redefining change management through a lens of love, care, and equity, Heather reveals the tools nonprofit leaders need to stop defaulting to consultants or technology as a silver bullet — and start empowering their teams through behavioral change and continuous learning.   💡 Learn how to: Redesign your change processes with intentional empathy Shift from assumptions to co-designed solutions Use stakeholder interviews to fuel real transformation Apply behavioral testing before full-scale implementation   📚 Explore more of Heather’s work: The PAUSE Framework: https://www.pauseforchange.com/ Her book “No More Status Quo”: https://letherspeakusa.org/no-more-status-quo/ Online conversation series: https://www.possibilityproject.org/   Virtuous is a software company committed to helping nonprofits grow generosity.   Virtuous believes that generosity has the power to create profound change in the world and in the heart of the giver. With that in mind, it’s their mission to move the needle on global generosity by helping nonprofits better connect with and inspire their givers.   Learn more about Virtuous at virtuous.org/learnmore and download your free Nonprofit CRM Checklist at virtuous.org/crmchecklist

In this episode of The Responsive Lab, Carly and Scott sit down with Aidan Augustin, Co-founder and CRO at Feathr, to unpack how to turn your story into a strategy that actually drives donor action.   Nonprofits are facing real headwinds — from declining trust to loud public skepticism. But Aidan makes the case that now is the time for nonprofit leaders to get louder, not quieter. With humor, clarity, and tactical advice, Aidan explains how digital marketing can fuel fundraising success and help change the narrative around nonprofit impact.   You’ll learn how to: Use storytelling to counter negative press and drive action Map your donor journey with a marketing funnel mindset Start with bottom-of-funnel wins like retargeting and work your way up Integrate marketing and fundraising for better results Measure ROI on marketing and prove its value to your board   🔗 Learn more about Feathr: https://www.feathr.co/ 🔗 Connect with Aidan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aidanaugustin/   Virtuous is a software company committed to helping nonprofits grow generosity. Virtuous believes that generosity has the power to create profound change in the world and in the heart of the giver. With that in mind, it’s their mission to move the needle on global generosity by helping nonprofits better connect with and inspire their givers.   Learn more about Virtuous at virtuous.org/learnmore and download your free Nonprofit CRM Checklist at virtuous.org/crmchecklist

Mid-level donors are often overlooked. But in this episode of The Responsive Lab, Jeff Schreifels joins co-hosts Carly Berna and Scott Holthaus to explain why that’s a costly mistake. As Principal at the Veritus Group and a recognized authority in major gifts, Jeff shares the pivotal role mid-level giving plays in a healthy donor pipeline. He breaks down the common roadblocks nonprofits unintentionally put in front of givers and offers practical guidance for teams ready to take their mid-level programs seriously. 💡 Learn more about Jeff and Veritus Group at veritusgroup.com Virtuous is a software company committed to helping nonprofits grow generosity. Virtuous believes that generosity has the power to create profound change in the world and in the heart of the giver. With that in mind, it’s their mission to move the needle on global generosity by helping nonprofits better connect with and inspire their givers. Learn more about Virtuous at virtuous.org/learnmore and download your free Nonprofit CRM Checklist at virtuous.org/crmchecklist

Gabe Cooper is the CEO and Founder of Virtuous, dedicated to enhancing nonprofit generosity, and Nathan Chappell is the Chief AI Officer who specializes in leveraging technology for donor engagement. They discuss the ethics of AI in nonprofits and how it can free fundraisers to focus on meaningful connections. Real-world examples illustrate AI's potential to personalize outreach and transform donor relationships. The conversation emphasizes a human-plus-machine future, where responsible technology enhances philanthropy while maintaining sincerity in fundraising efforts.

On this episode of Ask a Responsive Fundraiser, Scott chats with Christine Robertson, Consulting Manager at NPact and expert in nonprofit CRM systems, to unpack the essential role that clean data, empowered teams, and thoughtful automation play in driving generosity.   Christine doesn’t just talk about data management; she shows how it can transform fundraising when done right.   Topics covered:   • Why maintaining your database is like cleaning your house—and how to tackle it one strategic step at a time • How to shift database teams from “back office” to strategic fundraising partners • Practical tips to build automation that saves time without sacrificing donor nuance • How to build repeatable systems that support personalized donor journeys at scale   Learn more about Christine's work at NPACT or connect with her on LinkedIn.   Ready to deepen your donor relationships and drive meaningful results? Learn more about Virtuous and how responsive fundraising can help your team grow generosity.

What does it really take to grow generosity in 2025? In this episode of The Responsive Lab, co-host Scott Holthaus sits down with Carly Berna, Fundraiser in Residence at Virtuous, and Gabe Cooper, CEO of Virtuous, for an in-depth conversation about the newly released 2025 Virtuous Nonprofit Fundraising Benchmark Report. You’ll learn why these seven KPIs matter more than ever, what the data reveals about donor loyalty and mid-level giving, and how nonprofits can turn these insights into action, without overwhelming their teams. New this year:     • “Days between first and second gift” metric     • Ready-to-use board deck and health check tools     • Real customer stories woven throughout 📥 Download the full report: https://virtuous.org/resource/nonprofit-benchmark-report-2025 The Responsive Lab is brought to you by Virtuous. Virtuous is a software company committed to helping nonprofits grow generosity. Virtuous believes that generosity has the power to create profound change in the world and in the heart of the giver. With that in mind, it’s their mission to move the needle on global generosity by helping nonprofits better connect with and inspire their givers. Learn more about Virtuous at virtuous.org/learnmore and download your free Nonprofit CRM Checklist at virtuous.org/crmchecklist. Special thanks to editor and sound engineer Tom Meintzer and producer Riley Young.

Fundraisers today are overwhelmed. Between short donor attention spans, economic uncertainty, and leadership pressure to meet ambitious goals, it’s easy to feel stuck or burnt out. That’s exactly why Beth Fisher, nonprofit consultant, strategist, and former Chief Advancement Officer, joined Scott and Carly to share a perspective that’s as empowering as it is practical. In the episode, Beth gets real about: - What it means to be “tenaciously relational” - Why most fundraising feels inauthentic, and how to fix it - How to break through the noise with genuine connection - The balance between hitting budget numbers and building long-term donor trust - The one thing every fundraiser should do if they’re feeling stuck Whether you’re new to fundraising or leading a seasoned development team, Beth’s advice will help you build donor relationships that actually last, and bring more joy to your work in the process. 👉 Learn more about Beth and her consulting work at https://bethfisher.com/ and https://www.fisherstrategic.com/ Meanwhile, discover more about The Responsive Lab at virtuous.org/podcast Season One of The Responsive Lab is brought to you by Virtuous. Virtuous is a software company committed to helping nonprofits grow generosity. Virtuous believes that generosity has the power to create profound change in the world and in the heart of the giver. With that in mind, it’s their mission to move the needle on global generosity by helping nonprofits better connect with and inspire their givers. Learn more at virtuous.org/learnmore and download your free Nonprofit CRM Checklist at virtuous.org/crmchecklist Special thanks to editor and sound engineer Barry R. Hill and producer Riley Young.