Responsive Lab Podcast

In this episode of The Responsive Lab, hosts Carly Berna and Scott Holthaus sit down with Lauren and John Mark Vanderpool from Social Impact Solutions to answer some pressing questions we didn’t have time to cover during a recent webinar.   Lauren and John Mark break down what impact really means, how to measure it, and how clear impact data can deepen donor trust and grow giving. You’ll also hear practical advice for using logic models, building realistic internal systems, handling confidentiality, and making sense of hundreds of stories without overwhelming your team.   If you’ve ever felt unsure how to measure the real change your nonprofit creates or how to share that story with donors, this conversation will give you practical next steps you can use right away.   Links from the episode: Learn more about Social Impact Solutions: https://www.socialimpactsolutions.com/ Connect with Lauren on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauren-vanderpool-socialimpactsolutions/ Connect with John Mark on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-mark-vanderpool-521485184/   Learn more about Virtuous at virtuous.org/learnmore and download your free Nonprofit CRM Checklist at virtuous.org/crmchecklist

Nonprofit leadership is meaningful work, but it can also feel exhausting. Between fundraising pressure, staff turnover, and board expectations, many leaders quietly run on empty long before they ever consider stepping away.   In this episode of The Responsive Lab, Virtuous co-hosts Carly Berna and Scott Holthaus sit down with CEO of the Seattle Police Foundation, Ian Adair, to talk about what it really takes to stay healthy in leadership and build organizations where people want to stay.   You’ll hear Ian, Carly, and Scott dig into: - How to recognize when you or your team are approaching burnout, and what to do next - Why self care is “not selfish” and why nonprofit leaders struggle to prioritize it - What healthy vulnerability looks like in leadership without oversharing or overburdening staff - Practical ways to build loyalty, belonging, and professional growth into your culture - How to coach and engage your board so they contribute in the right lanes - Key steps for turning around struggling organizations and leading through transition - Why “adaptive resilience” is a core leadership practice in today’s nonprofit landscape   Connect with Ian on social media: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ianadair2010/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ianmadair/  X: https://x.com/IanMAdair   Learn more about Virtuous at virtuous.org/learnmore and download your free Nonprofit CRM Checklist at virtuous.org/crmchecklist

Speed matters. So does being seen. In this episode, co-hosts Carly Berna and Scott Holthaus sit down with fundraiser, former executive director, and founder of the Nonprofit Automation Agency, Rachel Bearbower, to unpack how small teams can deliver big-feeling donor experiences. We cover the “first 100 days” journey, the one-minute thank-you, and why silence erodes trust faster than anything. You’ll hear practical steps to turn repeatable stewardship moments into lightweight systems, how to anchor automation in your CRM, and a candid look at what Rachel learned by donating to 15 nonprofits to audit their follow-up.   Links from the episode: Learn more about Rachel’s business, Nonprofit Automation Agency: https://www.nonprofitautomationagency.com/ Connect with Rachel on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelbearbower/ Get the 5 Ways to Automate Your Donor Stewardship ebook: https://www.nonprofitautomationagency.com/ebook Book a demo with the Nonprofit Automation Agency: https://www.nonprofitautomationagency.com/pricing   Learn more about Virtuous at virtuous.org/learnmore and download your free Nonprofit CRM Checklist at virtuous.org/crmchecklist

Launching a capital campaign is one thing. Raising over $200 million and outgrowing your original goals is another. In this episode of The Responsive Lab, hosts Carly Berna and Scott Holthaus sit down with Dr. Will Smallwood, Vice President for Advancement at Cedarville University, to unpack the story behind the wildly successful “One Thousand Days Transformed” campaign.   Dr. Smallwood shares the campaign’s roots in mission-first storytelling, how strategic planning turned into campus-wide buy-in, and what it really takes to build momentum, from data-informed planning to real-time transparency with donors. You’ll hear the lessons Cedarville learned while expanding a campaign goal from $125M to $175M, and ultimately raising over $205M. Plus, Will reflects on what he’d do differently, including that time they switched CRMs mid-campaign.   Links from the episode: Connect with Will Learn more about Cedarville University and the “One Thousand Days Transformed” campaign   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, hosts Carly Berna and Scott Holthaus are joined by Aarika Riddle, Executive Director of Kristi Yamaguchi’s Always Dream, for a conversation about leading through uncertainty, stewarding well in challenging moments, and grounding your work in mission when fatigue sets in.   Aarika shares lessons from navigating multiple economic downturns in her fundraising career, including the 2008 recession and recent years of uncertainty. She gets tactical about the basics that still work (thank-you notes, stewardship, donor storytelling), how to personalize at scale using simple tools, and why leadership energy makes or breaks team morale.   Links from the episode: Connect with Aarika Learn more about Always Dream Follow Always Dream on Instagram   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, hosts Carly Berna and Scott Holthaus sit down with capital campaign expert Amy Eisenstein of Capital Campaign Pro to demystify one of the most ambitious and often misunderstood fundraising tools in a nonprofit’s playbook: the capital campaign.   Amy shares her journey from development director to co-founder of a firm that has guided hundreds of organizations through campaigns ranging from $3M to $150M. You’ll learn the key elements of a successful campaign, including when to launch, who should consider one, how to engage donors, and why feasibility studies aren’t about saying “no,” they’re about choosing the right path forward.   This episode includes practical advice, like: Why your internal team shouldn’t carry a campaign alone How feasibility studies help you plan, not pause What stewardship looks like during a multi-year fundraising effort How technology can reduce burnout and elevate donor engagement Why donor joy and fundraisers’ happiness habits matter in long campaigns   Links from the episode: Listen to the All About Capital Campaigns podcast Learn more about Capital Campaign Pro   Learn more about Virtuous at virtuous.org/learnmore and download your free Nonprofit CRM Checklist at virtuous.org/crmchecklist

Viktoria Harrison, co-founder of charity: water, shares her vision for the Experience Lab in Franklin, Tennessee, a unique space blending immersive storytelling and technology to deepen donor connections. She discusses the power of innovative, in-person experiences to inspire generosity in a post-COVID world. Viktoria highlights the significance of leading with a compelling hook and how small towns can rival major cities for community-building, all while sharing insights from the lab's early fundraising success of $2 million.

In this episode of The Responsive Lab, co-hosts Carly Berna and Scott Holthaus sit down with fundraising powerhouse Tammy Zonker to talk about her new book, Calling All Heroes. Tammy brings 25+ years of experience and over $1B raised to the conversation. She shares why our sector needs a third way: human-centered fundraising.   From the hidden pitfalls of both donor and community-centered approaches to the practical steps organizations can take to adopt a more holistic model, this episode is filled with a whole lot of wisdom and inspiration. Plus, Tammy drops strategies for mid-level giving, donor acquisition, and how AI can actually free fundraisers up for the relational work that matters.   Connect with Tammy on LinkedIn Learn more about Fundraising Transformed Pre-order Calling All Heros   Learn more about Virtuous at virtuous.org/learnmore and download your free Nonprofit CRM Checklist at virtuous.org/crmchecklist

In this special episode of The Responsive Lab, Brady Josephson (Charity:Water), Chris Barlow (Beeline Marketing), and Matt Scott (CauseMic) tackle the three most common mistakes nonprofits make in marketing and engagement and how to avoid them.   From trying to do everything at once, to neglecting brand investment, to overcomplicating donor segmentation, this discussion is packed with tactical insights you can apply right away.   You’ll hear: Why identifying your organization’s true “engine of growth” is critical How to balance brand-building with direct response The role of donor motivations in shaping meaningful segmentation Practical ways to future-proof your nonprofit’s marketing   Learn more about Virtuous at virtuous.org/learnmore and download your free Nonprofit CRM Checklist at virtuous.org/crmchecklist

In this special episode of The Responsive Lab, John and Becky, co-founders of We Are For Good, talk movement-building from the stage at the Responsive Nonprofit Summit 2025.   John and Becky share their deeply practical framework for moving from donor acquisition to donor multiplication by centering believers, fueling joy, and letting go of control. Through stories from Komen, charity:water, the Michael J. Fox Foundation, and their own early experiences in healthcare philanthropy, they make the case that responsive fundraising isn’t just a strategy, it’s a belief system.   You’ll walk away with: The 8 steps to multiply your mission through community A shift from passive donors to active builders Practical ways to foster shared ownership and belonging A reminder that joy is a powerful multiplier   🔗 Learn more at https://www.weareforgood.com/   Learn more about Virtuous at virtuous.org/learnmore and download your free Nonprofit CRM Checklist at virtuous.org/crmchecklist