Building Movements: Insights from Mackenzie Darling

Transforming nonprofit visions into impactful movements.

Creating a movement goes beyond just fundraising; it’s about inspiring a community to co-create and champion a shared vision. In this episode of **Profiting with Nonprofits**, Mackenzie Darling shares her journey and insights on movement building in the nonprofit space.

The Vision Behind Movement Maker

Mackenzie runs the Movement Maker school, designed for nonprofit executive directors and mission-driven organizations. Her **Movement Maker Incubator program** focuses on the inner workings of movement building.

'How do you steward a vision that's larger than yourself in right relationship?' — Mackenzie Darling

This question is at the heart of her approach, emphasizing the importance of shared leadership and community involvement.

Profit and Purpose: A New Perspective

One of the key takeaways from the conversation is the relationship between profit and purpose. Mackenzie argues that many nonprofits mistakenly prioritize purpose over profitability.

'Profit and purpose can be married, but we've been putting them in the wrong order.' — Mackenzie Darling

This perspective challenges the conventional belief that nonprofits should shy away from making money. Instead, she advocates for viewing community members not just as funders but as co-creators of the mission.

Learning from Experience

Mackenzie shared a powerful example from her early work with a nonprofit documentary film organization that spread its message globally through community-driven film screenings.

'We grew that to over five million people in 128 countries... by not asking for support directly at the right time, we missed out on a potential eleven million dollars.' — Mackenzie Darling

This anecdote illustrates the potential impact of engaging communities effectively and the importance of asking for support.

The New Operating System for Nonprofits

Mackenzie emphasized the need for a shift in how nonprofits operate, particularly in the age of AI and content saturation.

'In the age of AI, content is cheap. It's the user-generated content that tells the authentic stories that matter.' — Mackenzie Darling

This highlights the necessity for nonprofits to foster genuine community connections rather than relying solely on automated systems.

Reflection

The conversation with Mackenzie Darling offers valuable insights for nonprofits looking to build sustainable movements. By embracing co-creation and understanding the intertwined relationship of profit and purpose, organizations can grow and thrive in today’s landscape.

For a deeper dive into Mackenzie’s insights and strategies, you can reach out to Mackenzie https://www.linkedin.com/in/makenziedarling/

This podcast is sponsored by Givesuite.com, your nonprofits growth engine. To learn more about Givesuite. check us out www.Givesuite.com

The easiest fundraising win might be the one everyone is avoiding: a five-minute phone call. Kel Haney shows how nonprofits can turn lapsed supporters, subscribers, and ticket buyers into renewed donors without scripts, awkward asks, or endless email follow-up.If your organization relies on major gifts, monthly giving, or automation alone, this conversation is a reality check.

Kel breaks down why mid-level donors need a different approach, and why the organizations that treat them like people - not entries in a CRM - are seeing real momentum fast. You’ll discover:

• Why five-minute calls outperform cold outreach for warm community members
• The exact kind of donor or attendee Kel’s team targets first
• How artists make fundraising feel human, natural, and surprisingly effective
• Why scripts can actually hurt relationship-building
• The simple scheduling habit that makes phone-based fundraising sustainable
• How one hour a week can compound into hundreds of meaningful conversations a yearKel also shares the framework behind her five-minute fundraising ask, including the structure she uses to keep calls focused while still allowing for real conversation. She explains why curiosity beats pressure, why “always be candid and always be curious” matters more than “always be closing,” and how earned revenue and contributed revenue work together in performing arts organizations.This episode makes a strong case for something many nonprofits miss: your next wave of sustainable support may already be in your audience, your subscriber base, or your lapsed donor list. The opportunity is not just to raise more money, but to build trust, loyalty, and long-term community around your mission.Essential listening if you work in nonprofit fundraising, performing arts, mid-level donor strategy, or any organization trying to create stronger relationships instead of just chasing transactions. Kel Haney is the founder of a consulting firm that helps nonprofits retain and grow mid-level donor bases through short, relationship-first phone calls led by artists.

Connect with your community www.givesuite.com/try

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Most nonprofits are leaving money on the table by treating donors like transactions. Ryan Dobson explains how his father helped raise more than $3 billion without ever making the standard ask and why the real growth happens when you build friendships, not funnels. Sean Littman and Ryan Dobson break down the donor relationships that create lifetime supporters, including the exact mistake that causes seven out of 10 first-time donors to never give again. If you want more repeat giving, stronger major donor relationships, and a fundraising approach that feels human instead of robotic, this conversation is packed with practical ideas you can use immediately. You'll discover:

• Why donor trips, house calls, and real conversations outperform traditional fundraising asks
• The 'donor intelligence framework' for remembering spouses, kids, hobbies, and life details that matter
• How to keep the conversation going after the gift instead of stopping at a generic receipt
• Why seed donors often have far more capacity than their first gift suggests
• How thoughtful follow-up can turn a one-time donor into a long-term friend and board-level supporterRyan shares stories from decades around Focus on the Family, including the relationships that led to major gifts, a built-from-friendship Welcome Center, and donor bonds that lasted for decades. Sean connects those lessons to modern nonprofit marketing, automation, and CRM strategy, showing how the right systems can help you scale personal care without losing the human touch.The message is simple but powerful: if you want more funding, stop chasing money and start learning people. This episode is essential listening for nonprofit leaders, fundraisers, marketers, and anyone responsible for donor retention, major gifts, or building a culture of genuine appreciation.

Guest credibility:

Ryan Dobson is a philanthropy consultant and host of Fundraising is Dead. He draws on a lifetime around nonprofit leadership, donor relationships, and the legacy of his father’s work at Focus on the Family.

Connect with him https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesryandobson/

Connect with new friends https://luma.com/npconnectionfest

Connect with your community www.givesuite.com/try