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Do your donors believe they matter to your organization? Jay Werth welcomes Bill Crouch, founder and CEO of Bright Dot and author of Mattership: Making Donors Feel They Matter, to explore that question on Convergent’s The Difference.

Drawing on four decades in fundraising and his experience as a college president, Bill discusses where transformational giving begins, and how everyday communications shapes a nonprofit's fundraising culture.The conversation also explores emotional intelligence, donor portfolios, and practical ways to put Mattership into action.

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Every fundraiser knows that stories drive donations. But have you ever stopped to ask what sharing a story actually costs the person who lived it? In this episode of The Difference, host Jay Werth sits down with Maria Bryan—Partnership Marketing Manager at Donorbox and host of the When Bearing Witness podcast—to dive deep into trauma-informed storytelling. They unpack the hidden emotional toll on story owners and development staff, challenge the myth that "ethical storytelling doesn't raise money," and discuss why standard liability releases aren't enough. Plus, Maria shares actionable steps you can implement right away to make your storytelling safer, more dignified, and far more effective.

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Is over-polishing your fundraising videos actually hurting your impact? On this episode of The Difference, host Jay Werth talks with documentary filmmaker Peter Murphy Lewis about why hyper-polished content erodes donor trust. They explore how targeting niche audiences drives bigger returns, how to turn routine events into lasting narrative engines, and where to draw the line on beneficiary ethics.

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How can your organization secure critical funding during an uncertain economy? Host Jay Werth breaks down practical fundraising strategies with experts Clint Neesmith and Erin Sammis. Discover how to leverage available resources and maximize opportunities across every nonprofit sector.

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In this episode of The Difference, Jay Werth sits down with Carmen James Randolph, Founding President and CEO of the Women's Foundation of the South, to discuss why traditional philanthropy often falls short for women and girls of color—and what it takes to build a different model.

Carmen shares the story behind the launch of the Women's Foundation of the South. After more than two decades in philanthropy, she explains why trust-based grantmaking matters, and discusses how investing in healing, leadership, and long-term endowments can create lasting change.

Whether you're a nonprofit leader, funder, or donor, this conversation offers practical insights into building stronger communities by changing how we think about giving.

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Giving reached a record $617 billion in 2025. So why does fundraising feel harder than ever?

In this episode of The Difference, Jay Werth is joined by Convergent's Brian Abernathy and Tom Ralser to unpack the story behind the headline. Together, they explore the shrinking donor base, growing competition for funding, and why today's funders increasingly think like investors. Listen now to discover why the future of fundraising may be less about asking and more about proving impact.

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What do donors expect from nonprofits in 2026? According to Catherine LaCour, it’s simple: transparency, speed, and accountability.

On this episode of The Difference, Jay Werth welcomes the new leader of The Blackbaud Giving Fund for a conversation about the evolution of workplace giving and philanthropy's future.

They unpack:

• Why corporate giving has moved into the C-suite spotlight
• How technology is accelerating charitable impact
• The growing importance of trust in donor behavior
• What nonprofits must do to build long-term corporate partnerships

This episode is a masterclass in a modern fundraising strategy.

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Major donor fundraising is changing, and fast. In this episode, Convergent's Tom Ralser joins Jay Werth to unpack the rise of “impact giving.” Drawing from new 2026 research from the Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy and Giving USA, we explore why donors are increasingly focused on measurable outcomes, strategic engagement, and ROI-style philanthropy.

Tom shares practical insights on donor communication, restricted gifts, impact reporting, and how nonprofits of every size can adapt to the more investor-minded generation of philanthropists. We also discuss the risks for a sector increasingly dependent on fewer, wealthier donors, and what fundraisers can do now to prepare for the years ahead.