Episodi

  • How Little Things Shape Your Culture | Brian Mountjoy

    How Little Things Shape Your Culture | Brian Mountjoy
    Aug 20 2026
    Great culture isn’t built through one big initiative. It’s shaped in the small, everyday moments that show people they are seen, valued, and cared for. In this episode of the Cause+Effect Podcast, Trent Dunham is joined by Brian Mountjoy, Chief Culture Officer at Dunham+Co, for a conversation about the experiences and choices that shape the culture around us. Through stories from sports, leadership, the workplace, and life, they explore why being fully present matters, how simple acts of care can have a lasting impact, and why authenticity and accountability are essential to healthy culture. No matter your role, you have an opportunity to influence the environment around you. Sometimes, making a meaningful difference starts with the little things. CONNECT WITH US https://dunhamandcompany.com CHAPTERS 00:00 – Introduction 01:15 – Two Teams, Two Very Different Cultures 07:34 – You Can Influence Culture from Any Role 08:43 – How Our Experiences Shape the Way We Treat People 12:33 – The Power of Being Fully Present 15:23 – Small Actions That Help People Feel Seen 21:31 – Accountability, Authenticity, and Healthy Leadership 24:45 – Letting People in and Leading with Authenticity
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    30 min
  • Why Donors Stop Giving and How to Win Them Back | Joshua Crowther

    Why Donors Stop Giving and How to Win Them Back | Joshua Crowther
    Jun 11 2026
    In this episode of the Cause+Effect Podcast, Trent Dunham, President+CEO of Dunham+Co, sits down with Josh Crowther, VP of Dunham+Co, to unpack the real reasons donors lapse. Some reasons are outside an organization’s control, like personal financial pressure, economic uncertainty, or shifting cultural attitudes toward generosity. But many causes are self-inflicted — including silence, poor communication, overused urgency, and fundraising tactics that prioritize immediate ROI over long-term relationship. Trent and Josh discuss how organizations can identify lapsed donors, avoid common retention mistakes, and build stronger communication strategies that re-engage supporters. They also explore why lapsed donors often still see themselves as connected to your mission — and why that should change the way nonprofits communicate with them. For nonprofit leaders, fundraisers, and ministry teams, this conversation offers practical insight into donor retention, reactivation, and building lasting relationships with the people who make your mission possible. CHAPTERS 00:00 – Introduction 01:12 – Why donors stop giving 02:00 – Economic uncertainty and donor confidence 04:38 – The decline in charitable giving 07:05 – Why silence causes donors to lapse 10:36 – The problem with constant urgency 13:18 – Treating donors like wallets 15:28 – How to re-engage lapsed donors
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    23 min
  • Balancing Growth and Core Values in Organizations

    Balancing Growth and Core Values in Organizations
    Oct 3 2024
    In this episode, Dunham+Company’s Chief Creative Officer, Dan Sumpter, flips the script by interviewing our host, Trent, on a topic that resonates deeply with organizations today—how to grow in a healthy way. This isn't about personal growth but rather scaling organizationally without losing sight of core values and mission. Join us as we explore the pressures and opportunities of growth, balancing innovation with consistency, and staying true to your mission while meeting the expectations of donors and stakeholders. Listen in for a dynamic discussion that promises valuable takeaways for leaders striving to grow responsibly and effectively.
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    36 min
  • The Lost Art of Nuance

    The Lost Art of Nuance
    Sep 19 2024
    In today's fast-paced digital world, where communication is often reduced to quick texts and bold social media statements, have we lost the art of nuance? Join Trent as he explores this crucial aspect of leadership that can shape not only the trajectory of our organizations but also enhance our personal relationships. In this episode, learn how nuanced communication can guide leaders to make better decisions, facilitate open dialogue, and invite feedback. We'll discuss the concept of "nuanced decisiveness," showcasing historical examples like General MacArthur’s tunnel vision during the Korean War versus George Washington’s flexible strategies in the Revolutionary War. Tune in to discover practical steps to enhance your leadership through thoughtful communication, open-mindedness, and humility. Rediscover the balance between confidence and adaptability and learn how nuanced leadership can lead to more effective decision-making and stronger teams.
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    16 min
  • Navigating Change Management with Michael Tomlinson

    Navigating Change Management with Michael Tomlinson
    Aug 17 2023
    God gives seasons for a reason. But, seasons change and change is inevitable in healthy and thriving organizations. Yet, navigating change is one of the more difficult tasks any leader or organization faces. On today's episode of the Cause+Effect Podcast, Tomlinson, the CEO of BDI (a full-service, omni-channel, marketing and fundraising agency for nonprofits) joins Trent Dunham to discuss their own experiences with navigating change and share what lessons they have learned for the path forward.
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    48 min
  • The Benefits of a Healthy Transition

    The Benefits of a Healthy Transition
    Jun 8 2023
    One year after the founder of Dunham+Company, Rick Dunham, stepped into a new role as Chairman, and Trent Dunham became the new President, the two are joined by Nils Smith to reflect on what worked well, what was uniquely hard, and why every organization must take seriously the work of succession and leadership transitions. It is an insightful and honest conversation you will not want to miss!
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    35 min
  • Your Team is Using AI: Do You Have a Plan? | James “JP” Poulter

    Your Team is Using AI: Do You Have a Plan? | James “JP” Poulter
    Aug 6 2026
    AI is no longer a future consideration for nonprofit and ministry leaders. It is already entering organizations through the tools employees choose, the software teams rely on, and the platforms that shape how they reach people. In this episode of Cause+Effect, we explore why organizations are moving beyond the question of whether to use AI and beginning to wrestle with implementation, budgeting, governance, and culture. The conversation covers the rise of “shadow AI,” the limitations of one-size-fits-all solutions, and why successful adoption begins with educating leaders, creating permission to experiment, and understanding the human processes behind the technology. The episode also examines a reported incident in which advanced AI models escaped a testing environment and accessed Hugging Face’s production systems. What does that event reveal about the growing capabilities of AI and the responsibility leaders, governments, and Christians have to advocate for thoughtful guardrails? AI cannot simply be ignored. The challenge is to develop a clear vision for using it in ways that strengthen organizations, protect people, and advance the mission. This is an episode you don’t want to miss. Chapters 00:00 – Introduction 00:52 – AI Adoption Reaches a Turning Point 02:02 – Why Organizations Are Rethinking Their First AI Strategy 04:05 – Shadow AI and the Front, Side, and Back Doors 08:00 – What Nonprofits Can Learn from Corporate AI Spending 10:16 – Where AI Belongs in the Budget and Organization 11:38 – Education, Permission, and People-Centered Implementation 17:08 – When an AI Model Escapes Its Testing Environment 20:52 – A Warning Shot for AI Safety and Governance 23:23 – Why Christian Leaders Need to Engage
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    25 min
  • Giving USA 2026: What You Need to know | Rick Dunham & Joshua Crowther

    Giving USA 2026: What You Need to know | Rick Dunham & Joshua Crowther
    Jul 23 2026
    In this episode of the Cause+Effect Podcast, Trent Dunham, President and CEO of Dunham+Co, is joined by Rick Dunham, Founder and Chairman, and Josh Crowther, VP of Dunham+Co, for a practical conversation about the new Giving USA 2026 report and what it means for churches, ministries, and nonprofit organizations. Charitable giving reached $617.2 billion in 2025 and grew even after adjusting for inflation. But behind that healthy top-line number are important shifts in how and where people give. Rick and Josh unpack the surge in bequests, the growing influence of donor-advised funds, declining donor participation, and the challenges facing giving to religious organizations. From beginning a planned giving conversation to preparing for transformational gifts and building a broader community of support, this episode turns the data into practical next steps. Trent, Rick, and Josh also explore what Gen Z’s generosity could mean for the future and why consistent, story-driven communication is essential for moving donor relationships beyond the transactional. This is an episode you don’t want to miss. Chapters: 00:00 — Introduction 01:04 — What Giving USA Tells Us About 2025 06:10 — What Drove the Growth in Giving 07:02 — The Rise of Bequests and Planned Giving 12:09 — Where Donors Are Directing Their Gifts 19:21 — Donor Participation and Building from the Bottom Up 24:40 — Rebuilding Community Around Your Mission 27:09 — What Gen Z Signals About the Future of Giving 31:39 — Telling Stories That Connect Donors to Impact
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    34 min