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Uncertainty doesn’t just expose cracks in the system.

It exposes who actually holds value.

When uncertainty hits the sector, partnership conversations often shift. Resources tighten. Expectations change. Risk tolerance narrows.

In this conversation with Britt, impact advisor Bruce Arbit challenges the assumption that nonprofits enter these conversations from a position of need.

They don’t.

They bring impact. They bring access. They bring credibility earned through proximity to the problem. That carries value in any room, including cross-sector partnerships.

Bruce unpacks what he calls “the business of impact” and why many organizations may be underestimating their leverage in collaborative work.

In this discussion:

• Why traditional fundraising models feel strained
• How power dynamics shape partnership negotiations
• The strategic advantage of community trust and lived expertise
• What disciplined experimentation actually looks like
• Practical steps you can implement immediately

Nonprofits do not show up empty-handed. They bring assets that cannot be easily replicated.

The question may not be whether this is instability…but whether it is a moment to reassess positioning.

Head over and dig deeper with Bruce on our Nonprofit Blog:
How to Unlock New Paths to Fundraising Success and Mission Impact in 2026| Bruce Arbit

Connect with Bruce Arbit
Learn more about Bruce’s work or reach out directly on LinkedIn.

What makes Donorbox the Best Nonprofit Fundraising Platform to Achieve Your Strategic Goals?
Easy to customize, available in multiple languages and currencies, and supported by leading payment processors (Stripe and PayPal), Donorbox’s nonprofit fundraising solution is used by 80,000+ global organizations and individuals. From animal rescue to schools, places of worship, and research groups, nonprofits use Donorbox to raise more funds, manage donors efficiently, and make a bigger impact.
Discover how Donorbox can help you help others!

The Nonprofit Podcast, along with a wealth of nonprofit leadership tutorials, expert advice, tips, and tactics, is available on the Donorbox YouTube channel. Subscribe today and never miss an episode.

The Nonprofit Podcast is available every Thursday on all popular podcast platforms.
🎙️ Apple Podcasts: The Nonprofit Podcast
🎙️ Spotify: The Nonprofit Podcast
🖥️The Nonprofit Podcast 🎙️🎙️ - YouTube

Chapters

00:00. Navigating Uncertainty in Nonprofits

03:00. The Business of Impact

05:47. Power Dynamics in Partnerships

08:46. Shifting Mindsets and Strategies

11:47. Embracing Experimentation

14:51. Real-World Examples of Impact

18:11 Taking Action: Practical Steps

20:59. Conclusion: The Path Forward

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Email is where most supporters experience your organization over time – not just during campaigns, but in the quieter moments in between.

Jena Lynch sits down with our on-the-ground fundraising expert, Cara Augspurger, CFRE, to talk about what’s really happening in those in-between spaces. Because the emails you send every day? They’re shaping donor relationships long before the next ask ever lands.

They dig into what happens when email becomes something you send just to tick the box, how reactive communication slowly becomes the relationship, and why clarity matters more than volume in overflowing inboxes.

This isn’t about crafting perfect emails or sending more messages. It’s about creating a rhythm supporters can follow, and putting a few simple structures in place so consistency feels doable, even when capacity is stretched.

When email drifts, you don’t always see it right away. But you feel it later, in trust, in engagement, and in how people respond when you do reach out.

Discover:

• Why email is often the relationship, whether you intend it to be or not
• How clarity and repetition work together (without becoming noise)
• What changes when communication is supported by systems, not willpower

Don’t forget to download our useful blog to keep you 'systems' focused:

Email Marketing Tips for Nonprofits

What makes Donorbox the Best Nonprofit Fundraising Platform to Achieve Your Strategic Goals?
Easy to customize, available in multiple languages and currencies, and supported by leading payment processors (Stripe and PayPal), Donorbox’s nonprofit fundraising solution is used by 80,000+ global organizations and individuals. From animal rescue to schools, places of worship, and research groups, nonprofits use Donorbox to raise more funds, manage donors efficiently, and make a bigger impact.
Discover how Donorbox can help you help others!

The Nonprofit Podcast, along with a wealth of nonprofit leadership tutorials, expert advice, tips, and tactics, is available on the Donorbox YouTube channel. Subscribe today and never miss an episode.

The Nonprofit Podcast is available every Thursday on all popular podcast platforms.
🎙️ Apple Podcasts: The Nonprofit Podcast
🎙️ Spotify: The Nonprofit Podcast
🖥️The Nonprofit Podcast 🎙️🎙️ - YouTube

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Where do donor relationships go after the gift?

Donor retention is shaped by what carries the relationship forward over time.
When that continuity isn’t intentionally supported, donors don’t disengage all at once...they slowly lose their sense of connection.

In this episode, Jena Lynch unpacks how simple, repeatable structures, not more asks, help relationships hold between campaigns, especially for small teams.

Join Jena to discover:

• What fills the space between gifts and campaigns
• Why donor relationships drift without clear structure
• How consistency supports retention without adding more work
• Where intentional engagement replaces reactive communication

And don't forget to download our handy, free resource here:

Sample Stewardship Plan: Plan Out Your Stewardship Activities for Maximum Donor Engagement
📑 https://library.donorbox.org/sample-stewardship-plan/

A practical starting point for mapping follow-up and stewardship so supporter relationships don’t fade over time.

What makes Donorbox the Best Nonprofit Fundraising Platform to Achieve Your Strategic Goals?

Easy to customize, available in multiple languages and currencies, and supported by leading payment processors (Stripe and PayPal), Donorbox’s nonprofit fundraising solution is used by 80,000+ global organizations and individuals. From animal rescue to schools, places of worship, and research groups, nonprofits use Donorbox to raise more funds, manage donors efficiently, and make a bigger impact.

Discover how Donorbox can help you help others!

The Nonprofit Podcast, along with a wealth of nonprofit leadership tutorials, expert advice, tips, and tactics, is available on the Donorbox YouTube channel. Subscribe today and never miss an episode:
The Nonprofit Podcast is available every Thursday on all popular podcast platforms.
🎙️ Apple Podcasts: The Nonprofit Podcast
🎙️ Spotify: The Nonprofit Podcast
🖥️The Nonprofit Podcast 🎙️🎙️ - YouTube

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Most teams learn pretty quickly what happens when they give feedback and adjust accordingly. When people feel safer being honest anywhere except work, trust isn’t the issue...safety is.

Britt Stockert chats with Tasha Van Vlack, founder of The Nonprofit Hive, about psychological safety in nonprofit teams...and why silence often shows up long before burnout or turnover.

Together, they unpack what psychological safety really looks like in day-to-day nonprofit work: the ability to speak up, ask for help, name concerns, and make mistakes without fear of backlash.

We explore:

• Why nonprofit staff often feel safer processing challenges outside their own organizations
• How well-intended leadership behaviors can unintentionally shut people down
• The difference between performative care and real psychological safety
• What silence is actually signaling inside teams
• What helps rebuild trust after it’s been broken

Rather than offering quick fixes, this episode invites nonprofit leaders and teams to look honestly at how trust is built - or eroded - through everyday actions, follow-through, and response.

Where do honest conversations actually happen on your team, and what has speaking up led to in your organization? Share your experience with us, and join the broader conversation:

• Connect with Tasha Van Vlack on LinkedIn:
  https://www.linkedin.com/in/tasha-van-vlack/
• Learn more about The Nonprofit Hive:
  https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-nonprofit-hive/
• Contact Tasha:tasha@thenonprofithive.com

What makes Donorbox the Best Nonprofit Fundraising Platform to Achieve Your Strategic Goals?
Easy to customize, available in multiple languages and currencies, and supported by leading payment processors (Stripe and PayPal), Donorbox’s nonprofit fundraising solution is used by 80,000+ global organizations and individuals. From animal rescue to schools, places of worship, and research groups, nonprofits use Donorbox to raise more funds, manage donors efficiently, and make a bigger impact.
Discover how Donorbox can help you help others!

The Nonprofit Podcast, along with a wealth of nonprofit leadership tutorials, expert advice, tips, and tactics, is available on the Donorbox YouTube channel. Subscribe today and never miss an episode:
The Nonprofit Podcast is available every Thursday on all popular podcast platforms.
🎙️ Apple Podcasts: The Nonprofit Podcast
🎙️ Spotify: The Nonprofit Podcast
🖥️The Nonprofit Podcast 🎙️🎙️ - YouTube

Support the show

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DAFs don’t delay generosity - they reveal giving friction.

Donor-advised funds are shaping how people give, but many nonprofits aren’t quite ready for it.

In this episode, Cara Augspurger shares what she’s seeing firsthand as a frontline fundraiser, including why DAF donors are often some of the most prepared, responsive, and relationship-driven supporters - when nonprofits make it easy to say yes.

You’ll hear:

• What fundraisers often misunderstand about DAF donors
• Why DAF giving doesn’t slow generosity - friction does
• Simple ways to be clearer, more visible, and more DAF-ready

If donor-advised funds feel confusing or intimidating, this episode brings clarity without the noise.

Listen now and share with someone navigating donor shifts or planning for more sustainable fundraising.

Helpful DAF Resources:
We have an in-depth blog to bring you up to speed:

• Donor-Advised Funds: What Do They Mean for Nonprofits and Donors?

And, quick links to providers mentioned in the episode:

• Fidelity Charitable – Official Site (DAF info)
• Schwab Charitable / DAFgiving360 Donor-Advised Fund Page
• Vanguard Charitable – Donor-Advised Funds
• Daffy – The Donor‑Advised Fund for You™ (Official)

What makes Donorbox the Best Nonprofit Fundraising Platform to Achieve Your Strategic Goals?
Easy to customize, available in multiple languages and currencies, and supported by leading payment processors (Stripe and PayPal), Donorbox’s nonprofit fundraising solution is used by 80,000+ global organizations and individuals. From animal rescue to schools, places of worship, and research groups, nonprofits use Donorbox to raise more funds, manage donors efficiently, and make a bigger impact.

Discover how Donorbox can help you help others!
The Nonprofit Podcast, along with a wealth of nonprofit leadership tutorials, expert advice, tips, and tactics, is available on the Donorbox YouTube channel. Subscribe today and never miss an episode:
The Nonprofit Podcast is available every Thursday on all popular podcast platforms.
🎙️ Apple Podcasts: The Nonprofit Podcast
🎙️ Spotify: The Nonprofit Podcast
🖥️The Nonprofit Podcast 🎙️🎙️ - YouTube

Chapters:
00:00 - Intro: Donor-Advised Funds Are Everywhere

01:20 - What Are Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs)?

02:15 - Real Example: Fund Holder Reaches Out

03:50 - DAF Growth: A Million in 2 Years

04:39 - How DAFs Impact Nonprofits

06:27 - 3 Common Myths About DAFs

08:42 - Why Visibility + Clarity Matter for DAF Giving

11:09 - 3 Things to Do This Week (Practical Tips)

13:09 - Bonus Tip: Open Your Own DAF

15:28 - Final Thoughts: Removing Friction for Donors

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January is framed as a reset in many fields. Nonprofits know it isn’t.

Budgets are set, programs are already moving, and fundraising goals don’t wait for the calendar. Strategy doesn’t usually break in the planning – it frays later, in the small decisions that stretch capacity and make sustainability harder.

In this energy-sustaining focused episode, fundraiser coach Britt Stockert shares one grounding question fundraisers can use as a gut-check for strategy, capacity, and energy – especially when everything feels urgent.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• Why a grounding question works better than a resolution
• How it supports more sustainable fundraising decisions
• Where leaders quietly leak capacity during the year
• Plus, three practical moments to use the question to stay on track, especially when you’re tempted to add just “one more thing”!

If you’ve ever wondered what actually deserves your “yes” in fundraising, or how to keep your strategy sustainable when the year gets messy, this one’s for you.

What makes Donorbox the Best Nonprofit Fundraising Platform to Achieve Your Strategic Goals?

Easy to customize, available in multiple languages and currencies, and supported by leading payment processors (Stripe and PayPal), Donorbox’s nonprofit fundraising solution is used by 80,000+ global organizations and individuals. From animal rescue to schools, places of worship, and research groups, nonprofits use Donorbox to raise more funds, manage donors efficiently, and make a bigger impact.

Discover how Donorbox can help you help others!

The Nonprofit Podcast, along with a wealth of nonprofit leadership tutorials, expert advice, tips, and tactics, is available on the Donorbox YouTube channel. Subscribe today and never miss an episode:

The Nonprofit Podcast is available every Thursday on all popular podcast platforms.
🎙️ Apple Podcasts: The Nonprofit Podcast
🎙️ Spotify: The Nonprofit Podcast

🖥️The Nonprofit Podcast 🎙️🎙️ - YouTube

Support the show

Send us a text

Happy New Year!

We’re kicking off 2026 with a conversation many nonprofit leaders are already having behind the scenes: What’s actually changing in fundraising…and what’s just noise?

Every year, nonprofits get told to prepare for the next big trend. But the shifts shaping 2026 aren’t about shiny tools or louder campaigns. They’re quieter…and far more structural. Leaders are rethinking how fundraising holds up over time, not just how it performs in the next campaign.

Join us as Jena Lynch and Britt Stockert walk through five fundraising trends they’re seeing take hold across organizations…not as predictions, but as patterns emerging from real decision-making.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

• Why predictable revenue is becoming the anchor, not a side goal
• How first-year donor retention is moving from “processing” to intentional onboarding
• Why reducing friction often outperforms better messaging
• How transparency is shifting from polished reports to ongoing communication
• Why technology is increasingly chosen to protect capacity, not chase innovation

A question for you:
What’s one part of your fundraising system that feels fragile right now - and what would it look like to strengthen it instead of pushing harder somewhere else?

Listen in, reflect, and start the year with a steadier foundation for the work ahead.

What makes Donorbox the Best Nonprofit Fundraising Platform to Achieve Your Strategic Goals?

Easy to customize, available in multiple languages and currencies, and supported by leading payment processors (Stripe and PayPal), Donorbox’s nonprofit fundraising solution is used by 80,000+ global organizations and individuals. From animal rescue to schools, places of worship, and research groups, nonprofits use Donorbox to raise more funds, manage donors efficiently, and make a bigger impact.

Discover how Donorbox can help you help others!

The Nonprofit Podcast, along with a wealth of nonprofit leadership tutorials, expert advice, tips, and tactics, is available on the Donorbox YouTube channel. Subscribe today and never miss an episode:

The Nonprofit Podcast is available every Thursday on all popular podcast platforms.
🎙️ Apple Podcasts: The Nonprofit Podcast
🎙️ Spotify: The Nonprofit Podcast

🖥️The Nonprofit Podcast 🎙️🎙️ - YouTube

Support the show

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Final Episode of 2025!

Jena sits down with Jessica LaMesa, Co-CEO of The Life You Can Save, for a powerful, action-oriented conversation on how strategic, evidence-based giving translates into life-saving impact.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

• The Power of Rapid Response: How The Life You Can Save mobilized over $13 million in just six months, funding critical healthcare and nutrition across Sub-Saharan Africa and saving over 4,000 lives, amid U.S. foreign aid cuts.
• Behind-the-Scenes Strategy: Get an exclusive look at the partnerships, data, and trust that enabled lightning-fast action without sacrificing rigor.
• Lessons for Leaders: Essential takeaways for nonprofit leaders on navigating uncertainty, maximizing impact with lean teams, and building a foundation of donor trust.

Before you go! The Nonprofit Podcast returns on Thursday, January 8, 2026, with new episodes and a deep dive into 2026 trend insights you won't want to miss!

The full video episode is available on the Donorbox YouTube channel.

Resource Links:

• Free Download: The Better Giving Guide 2025 — Get the free, practical, evidence-informed resource to support smarter, higher-impact giving from The Life You Can Save. Download here
• Learn More: Explore the work of The Life You Can Save here.

What makes Donorbox the Best Nonprofit Fundraising Platform to Achieve Your Strategic Goals?

Easy to customize, available in multiple languages and currencies, and supported by leading payment processors (Stripe and PayPal), Donorbox’s nonprofit fundraising solution is used by 80,000+ global organizations and individuals. From animal rescue to schools, places of worship, and research groups, nonprofits use Donorbox to raise more funds, manage donors efficiently, and make a bigger impact.

Discover how Donorbox can help you help others!

The Nonprofit Podcast, along with a wealth of nonprofit leadership tutorials, expert advice, tips, and tactics, is available on the Donorbox YouTube channel. Subscribe today and never miss an episode:
🖥️The Nonprofit Podcast 🎙️🎙️ - YouTube

The Nonprofit Podcast is available every Thursday on all popular podcast platforms.
🎙️ Apple Podcasts: The Nonprofit Podcast
🎙️ Spotify: The Nonprofit Podcast

Support the show