Responsive Lab Podcast

In this episode of The Responsive Lab, hosts Scott Holthaus and Carly Berna sit down with fundraising expert Gail Perry, internationally recognized keynote speaker, consultant, and author of Fired-Up Fundraising. With over 30 years of experience coaching nonprofits to achieve extraordinary fundraising results, Gail shares her insights on building a thriving major gifts program. Also in this episode, Gail shares: - How nonprofits can adapt their major gifts strategy in times of crisis - The power of a collaborative ask—and an example of it in action - How technology can enhance donor engagement while maintaining personal connections - The key metric fundraisers should track to drive success - Should board members be major donors? Tips on finding the right balance Don’t miss this exciting conversation on transforming donor relationships and elevating fundraising efforts. Watch or listen at virtuous.org/podcast or wherever you get your podcasts. Meanwhile, learn more about Gail Perry and sign up for her newsletter at gailperrygroup.com. You can also reach out to Gail at gail.p@gailperry.com. 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 Abigail Morse.

What’s the easiest way to grow as a fundraiser this year—without leaving your desk? In this special episode of The Responsive Lab, co-hosts Carly Berna and Scott Holthaus unpack exactly that. Drawing from their own time in the fundraising trenches, they explore how nonprofit professionals can grow right where they are—by staying curious, leaning into community, and choosing growth even in the busyness. And there’s no better way to do that than the Responsive Nonprofit Summit, happening June 4-5, 2025! It’s free, fully virtual, and designed to help nonprofit professionals grow their impact—without leaving their desk. Key takeaways from the episode include: - Why fundraisers struggle to make space for innovation - Where to find real-time inspiration in your work - How to grow in your role without burning out - What to expect from the Responsive Nonprofit Summit Reserve your free spot at the Summit: https://vrtuo.us/3RnQbMl Meanwhile, check out more episode of The Responsive Lab at: 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.

In this special episode of The Responsive Lab, we conducted a webinar with experts from Allegiance Group Pursuant, Dunham and Company, RKD Group, and 5by5 Agency to explore how nonprofit fundraising has evolved in the five years since COVID-19. The pandemic accelerated the shift to digital-first engagement, forcing organizations to rethink donor relationships, embrace AI-driven fundraising, and adopt data-driven strategies. We discussed key trends shaping the sector, including: - The rise of online giving and automated fundraising strategies - How donor expectations have changed, emphasizing personalization and transparency - The power of data analytics and predictive modeling in improving donor retention As technology continues to evolve, nonprofits must stay ahead of the curve by investing in innovation, AI, and strategic donor engagement. For a deeper dive into these insights, download our report: 5 Years Since COVID: How Fundraising Has Changed: https://virtuous.org/resource/5-years-since-covid/?utm_campaign=10001227-%5B2025%5D%205%20Years%20Since%20COVID&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9XVOzJ_vdU2zi7j6gHNNXWA8vpC8l4tcM9pNB-tRft7rlWCCC8N0SlIQEu5Yi-EbAo7rgw Discover more at: https://virtuous.org/blog/5-years-since-covid-the-future-of-fundraising-in-a-digital-first-world/ Meanwhile, check out more episodes of 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 Abigail Morse.

In this episode of The Responsive Lab, Carly and Scott sit down with Chris Barlow, Customer Happiness Director at Beeline Marketing, to explore how nonprofits can break through digital noise and connect with the right audience. Chris shares insights on active listening, data-driven marketing, and how nonprofits can future-proof their fundraising strategies. Also in this episode, Chris shares: - His journey and his work at Beeline Marketing - How active listening helps nonprofits engage the right audience - The most important data signals nonprofits should track - Choosing the right marketing channels for better donor engagement - How nonprofits can build a sustainable marketing strategy for the future Watch or listen now for actionable insights on how nonprofits can refine their marketing approach and drive meaningful engagement: 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.

In this episode of The Responsive Lab, Carly and Scott are joined by VP of Ministry Digital Growth at Salem Web Network, Brad Davies! This conversation unpacks what donor acquisition looks like in a digital-first world and how nonprofits can embrace digital media to fuel acquisition. Also in this conversation, they discuss: - Current trends Brad’s seeing in fundraising acquisition that fundraisers should be paying attention to. - Some of the biggest mistakes nonprofits are making today in digital and how to fix them. - Best practices that bring the greatest success in digital acquisition. - How to measure donor acquisition and ROI in paid media. - What the future of digital media acquisition looks like. To learn more about Brad Davies, visit: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daviesbrad/. Meanwhile, discover more insights in the Virtuous Nonprofit Benchmark Report: https://virtuous.org/benchmarkreport/.

In this episode of The Responsive Lab, your Virtuous co-hosts, Carly Berna and Scott Holthaus, welcome Matt Scott from CauseMic for an exciting discussion about the importance of technology in the nonprofit sector. Matt begins by sharing his background and experience in helping customers choose the right technology to meet their needs. He explains what he sees as the biggest hurdle in overcoming technological barriers, and dives into the methodology behind nonprofit tech. Taking a look at the CauseMic CRM Guide, a resource designed to help nonprofits select the right CRM to fit their fundraising goals, Matt talks about the process that went into making the guide, identifying the primary “why” that originally motivated him to create the guide for nonprofits. Also in this episode, Matt shares: - Key features on the CauseMic CRM Guide that Matt was most impressed with. - A customer story highlighting how selecting the right technology made a significant impact on their organization’s fundraising efforts. - A Mystery Question at the end! Discover more about CauseMic and download their CRM Guide at: https://causemic.com/nonprofit-crm-guide. Meanwhile, learn 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 Abigail Morse.

In this episode of The Responsive Lab, your Virtuous co-hosts, Carly Berna and Scott Holthaus, welcome Imago Consulting founder, Purpose and Profit Podcast co-host, popular speaker, and best-selling author, Dave Raley! Dave begins the conversation by introducing his new book, The Rise of Sustainable Giving: How the Subscription Economy is Transforming Recurring Giving and What Nonprofits Can Do to Benefit, which recently became Amazon’s #1 new release for Nonprofit Organizations and Charities ahead of its official launch date. He explains how the subscription economy has changed everything for nonprofits, and how it will continue to transform how people look at giving moving forward. Sharing key insights from his book, Dave offers nonprofit leaders the tools they need to adopt this new approach to giving. Key takeaways from this episode include: - Why sustainable giving matters - Lessons in subscription philanthropy - How to design and manage a thriving sustainer program - The future of sustainable giving Enter to win a copy of Dave’s Book, The Rise of Sustainable Giving, by visiting: https://virtuous.org/daveraley/ Meanwhile, discover more about The Responsive Lab at: virtuous.org/podcast. Season One of The Responsive Nonprofit 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.

In this special episode of The Responsive Lab, we’re excited to welcome Scott Holthaus as your new co-host alongside Carly Berna! Scott’s the Partner Marketing Manager here at Virtuous, where he helps nonprofits grow generosity and implement responsive fundraising. Before joining Virtuous, Scott spent 15+ years working in nonprofits and ministries in a variety of roles, including marketing and communications. He lives in the Chicago area with his wife and three kids. 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 Abigail Morse.

In this episode of The Responsive Lab, your Virtuous co-hosts, Carly Berna and Stephen Boudreau, bring in DonorSearch’s head of AI, Nathan Chappell, for an exciting conversation about AI and how it can fuel generosity in your organization. Nathan begins by diving into his experience, which includes founding the Fundraising.AI collaborative, a 10,000+ member global think-tank responsible for publishing the world’s first Framework for Responsible and Beneficial AI for Fundraising; as well as co-authoring The Generosity Crisis: The Case for Radical Connection to Solve Humanity’s Greatest Challenges. As he comes from an extensive AI background, Nathan shares varying ways that nonprofits can benefit (and have already benefited) from using AI, offering practical tips that nonprofits can implement from day one. Next, he explains the process of creating a culture of curiosity and how adaptability in any organization is key. Also along the way, Nathan shares: - How to use AI while still building personal connections with your donors - How technology can help build curiosity when looking to move the needle forward - How using AI actually gives you more time to be human - How AI can be used as a tool to scale generosity - How donors can use AI when selecting where to give and how it relates to fundraisers - And so much more + a mystery question at the end! 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.

In this episode of The Responsive Lab, your Virtuous co-hosts, Carly Berna and Stephen Boudreau, are joined by Microsoft’s Chief Product Officer and Tech for Social Impact Leadership Team member, Erin McHugh Saif. Erin begins by sharing her background, which includes experience working for big tech companies such as Blackbaud, Salesforce, and TIBCO. Next, Erin explains the nonprofit side of Microsoft and how philanthropy has helped to shape Microsoft over the years when it comes to connecting with its users, as well as the community at large. Also along the way, Erin shares: - How AI and technology have helped shape the nonprofit world, and what they have the power to achieve moving forward - The distinction between how nonprofits and for-profits use Microsoft as a service - For-profit trends that can be applied to nonprofits - Microsoft services that are currently being delivered to for-profits that present the biggest opportunities for nonprofits Discover more opportunities at Microsoft.com such as discounted offers for nonprofits, Microsoft Philanthropies, the AI governance tool kit, as well as Free AI skilling resources. 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 Abigail Morse.