Responsive Lab Podcast

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.

In this episode of Ask a Responsive Fundraiser, Scott talks with Glen Peck, SVP of Technology & Business Intelligence at the Lustgarten Foundation, about the often-overlooked elements that make or break a CRM transition. Glen brings deep insight into how large nonprofits can lead tech change with clarity, reduce disruption, and use reporting to make smarter decisions. He outlines how fundraising and tech teams can work together to build systems that actually grow giving. Topics Covered: • How to prepare your org for a CRM migration • Why it’s time to rethink legacy workflows, not replicate them • The role of reporting in fundraising leadership • How tech teams can move from maintenance to innovation Learn more about The Lustgarten Foundation: https://lustgarten.org/ Ready to deepen your donor relationships and drive meaningful results? Learn more about Virtuous and how responsive fundraising can help your team grow generosity: https://vrtuo.us/4hsSN6g

Are your events helping you grow relationships or just revenue? In this episode of Ask a Responsive Fundraiser, Scott sat down with Trevor Nelson, Co-Founder of HGA Fundraising and host of the Hey Nonprofits podcast, to explore how nonprofit events can become a springboard for long-term donor engagement, not just a one-night success. Trevor is known for leading nonprofits to more profitable fundraising experiences through HGA’s auction services, but what stands out most is his commitment to donor relationships after the event. In this conversation, you'll get key insights on things like: • Why many nonprofits leave donor potential on the table after events • What behavioral signals to look for to identify committed supporters • How auctions, raffles, and follow-up strategies can drive donor lifetime value • Why a responsive mindset is key to connecting donors with your mission beyond the ballroom Trevor reminds us that if you’re only thinking about dollars raised that night, you’re missing the real opportunity. Learn more about HGA Fundraising: https://hgafundraising.com/ Listen to the Hey Nonprofits podcast: https://hgafundraising.com/nonprofit-podcasts/ Ready to deepen your donor relationships and drive meaningful results? Learn more about Virtuous and how responsive fundraising can help your team grow generosity: https://vrtuo.us/4hsSN6g

In this episode of The Responsive Lab, Carly Berna and Scott Holthaus sit down with Tim Lockie, founder of The Human Stack and longtime nonprofit tech strategist, to dig into a bold truth: technology alone won’t save your nonprofit. Tim unpacks why so many digital transformation efforts fall flat, and what it takes to build a culture that embraces data, AI, and change without burning out your team. Key Takeaways: - Without aligned human behavior, the best systems won’t lead to better outcomes. - Burnout often happens not from big changes, but from the accumulation of small ones. - Nonprofits need a people-first framework to truly adopt new tools. - There’s a big difference between individuals using AI tools and organizations making it safe and strategic. - The success of your tools hinges on the trust and collaboration between people. To connect with Tim or learn more about his work at The Human Stack, visit https://thehumanstack.com/ or find him on LinkedIn. Learn more about Tim’s AI For Everyone course at https://thehumanstack.com/academy/aiforanyone 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 about Virtuous 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.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐝𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐫 𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐚 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐝𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐫 𝐣𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐲𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐬𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐚𝐥? In this episode of Ask a Responsive Fundraiser, Scott chats with George Weiner — founder of Whole Whale and creator of Cause Writer AI — about using analytics and AI to unlock more personal, effective donor experiences. George brings the perspective of a nonprofit technologist who’s been in the trenches, helping hundreds of organizations increase impact through smart, responsive strategies. In this conversation, you'll get key insights on things like: • Why “collecting more data” isn’t the goal, interpreting it is. • How small tweaks to donation pages can unlock big giving results. • Where fundraisers go wrong with AI (and how to course-correct). • What it really takes to build donor-centered experiences at scale. Learn more about Whole Whale: http://wholewhale.com CauseWriter: http://causewriter.ai Ready to deepen your donor relationships and drive meaningful results? Learn more about Virtuous and how responsive fundraising can help your team grow generosity: https://vrtuo.us/4hsSN6g

Donor acquisition is up, but retention is still a struggle. And your board? Supportive in theory, but silent in practice. Sound familiar? In this episode of Ask a Responsive Fundraiser, Barbara O’Reilly, CFRE — founder of Windmill Hill Consulting and a 30-year fundraising veteran — helps us unpack two of the most persistent challenges nonprofits face today. You’ll learn: • Why first-time donors often walk away (and how to change that) • The real reasons board members freeze when it’s time to fundraise • How to coach your board into confident, authentic fundraising advocates • What internal markers signal readiness for a capital campaign Barbara brings sharp insight, encouragement, and a practical mindset rooted in decades of experience with institutions like Harvard and the American Red Cross. Learn more about Windmill Hill Consulting: https://whillconsulting.com/ Ready to deepen your donor relationships and drive meaningful results? Learn more about Virtuous and how responsive fundraising can help your team grow generosity: https://vrtuo.us/4hsSN6g

In this episode of The Responsive Lab, Carly Berna and Scott Holthaus chat with Christine Robertson, Consulting Manager at NPact, about what clean data really means for fundraisers—and why it matters more than you might think. Christine brings years of donor database expertise to a topic that too often gets overlooked or siloed. From CRM strategy to daily habits, she shares how data can be a tool for empathy, not just administration—and how development teams can think more relationally about the information they collect. Key Takeaways: - Why good data is the foundation for meaningful donor relationships - The top 3 data health issues most nonprofits miss—and how to fix them - How to maintain clean data without chasing perfection - Why “data is never done” and how to build healthy maintenance rhythms - Tips for fundraisers without a full-time DBA - Why CRMs should reflect relationships, not just transactions To connect with Christine or learn more about her work at NPact, reach out at crobertson@npact.com or find her on LinkedIn. 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 about Virtuous 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.

In this episode, Scott sits down with Griff Bohm, co-founder and CRO of Momentum, for an "Ask a Responsive Fundraiser" with questions about how nonprofits can fuel generosity by creating personal, impactful donor experiences. Drawing on Griff’s expertise at the intersection of behavioral psychology, AI, and philanthropy, this episode gives some practical strategies to rethink recurring giving and build lasting donor relationships, all while leveraging modern technology to scale generosity. What you’ll learn in this episode: How to make recurring giving emotionally engaging and habit-forming. Strengthening donor relationships beyond simple transactions. Leveraging behavioral science to energize giving without exhausting your audience. Griff’s advice is focused on creating truly personal connections at scale, increasing donor retention, and empowering teams to grow generosity with every interaction. Learn more about Momentum: https://www.givemomentum.com/ Ready to deepen your donor relationships and drive meaningful results? Learn more about Virtuous and how responsive fundraising can help your team grow generosity: https://vrtuo.us/4hsSN6g

In this episode, we sit down with Mike Esposito, founder and lead fundraising strategist of Mike Esposito Fundraising, to explore practical strategies for small to mid-size nonprofits aiming to strengthen donor relationships and achieve sustainable fundraising growth. Drawing on his extensive experience, Mike shares insights on building effective fundraising systems, board engagement, and successful corporate partnerships. Topics we cover: • Developing a sustainable and repeatable major gifts strategy tailored for smaller fundraising teams. • Engaging board members in fundraising without overwhelming them. • Converting event attendees and volunteers into long-term, committed donors. • Approaching corporate sponsorships strategically to create meaningful, mutually beneficial partnerships. Mike provides actionable advice fundraisers can implement immediately, highlighting the importance of personalized donor experiences, clear next-step engagement tactics, and strategic corporate outreach. Learn more about Mike Esposito Fundraising and how they help nonprofits build lasting fundraising success: https://www.mikeespositocfre.com/ Discover how Virtuous can support your nonprofit’s growth: https://vrtuo.us/4hsSN6g The Responsive Lab is brought to you by Virtuous. Virtuous is committed to helping nonprofits grow generosity through personalized donor engagement. Their mission is to inspire nonprofits to build deeper connections with givers. Learn more at virtuous.org/learnmore and download your free Nonprofit CRM Checklist at virtuous.org/crmchecklist.

In this episode of The Responsive Lab, Virtuous co-hosts Carly Berna and Scott Holthaus talk with Diana Hoyt, founder of Formula for Fundraising. With over four decades in the nonprofit world, Diana shares her signature philosophy—”Know Your Numbers, Know Your Donors"—and how data and human connection can work together to boost donor engagement and retention. Diana offers practical tips for nonprofits looking to create meaningful donor experiences, segment effectively, and balance technology with personal touchpoints. She also shares how her journey into stand-up comedy has brought even more heart to her fundraising work. Key Takeaways: - Why personalization goes far beyond using a donor’s name - How to segment donors by interest, geography, and giving patterns - The role of small VIP events in donor engagement - Where automation helps—and where it doesn’t - Why notes, phone calls, and even front-desk conversations matter - How recurring giving and thoughtful stewardship increase retention To learn more or connect with Diana, visit Formula for Fundraising: https://www.formulaforfundraising.com Meanwhile, discover more about The Responsive Lab: virtuous.org/podcast 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 Barry R. Hill and producer Abigail Morse.