Responsive Lab Podcast

Latest Episodes:

EP 53: AI Predictive Models, Generative Messaging, and Real-World AI Applications for Fundraisers with Nathan Chappell Sep 11, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of The Responsive Lab, we go deeper into the real, raw questions nonprofit leaders are asking about artificial intelligence. Things like strategy and governance to privacy, personalization, and predictive modeling.

Join Virtuous’ Chief AI Officer, Nathan Chappell, alongside co-hosts Carly Berna and Scott Holthaus as they unpack:

What AI really means for nonprofit teams
How predictive and generative AI work together to drive giving
Why most AI initiatives fail and how to beat the odds
Ethical and environmental concerns (and how to respond to them)
How Virtuous is building the future of fundraising through AI

Nathan brings years of experience in machine learning, innovation, and responsible AI use in philanthropy. This session is a roadmap for nonprofit teams looking to move from AI curiosity to AI clarity.

Watch the webinar that prompted this conversation here: 5 Essentials for AI Success: What Today’s Fundraising Teams Need to Know (and Do) to Thrive

Learn more about Virtuous at virtuous.org/learnmore and download your free Nonprofit CRM Checklist at virtuous.org/crmchecklist

EP 52: How Data and Tech Can Deepen Donor Relationships at Scale with Stephen Boudreau & Erik Tomalis Sep 09, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of The Responsive Lab, co-hosts Carly Berna and Scott Holthaus sit down with

Stephen Boudreau and Erik Tomalis from Avid to explore how fundraisers can actually use their data to drive meaningful action.

From demystifying AI to scaling human relationships with technology, this conversation dives into the real challenges facing fundraisers today and how teams can stop drowning in spreadsheets and start making decisions with confidence. Erik shares lessons from 5,000+ donor visits and how tech can enable deeper generosity, while Stephen explains why the best fundraising teams are shifting from being data hoarders to decision-makers.

Plus, they introduce Avid, a new fundraising operating system that helps nonprofits aggregate data, visualize insights, identify audiences, and deploy campaigns, all without replacing your existing tools.

Learn more about Avid at https://www.avidai.com/

Learn more about Virtuous at virtuous.org/learnmore and download your free Nonprofit CRM Checklist at virtuous.org/crmchecklist

EP 51: The New Nonprofit Tech Toolkit: Preparing Your Organization for the Next 5 Years Sep 05, 2025

Show notes

In this special episode of The Responsive Lab, co-hosts Carly Berna and Scott Holthaus bring you a featured session from the 2025 Responsive Nonprofit Summit.

Erin McHugh, Chief Product Officer at Microsoft Tech for Social Impact joins Jason Van Lue, VP of Product at Virtuous, for a deep dive into what nonprofits need to be thinking about today to prepare for the future. From the future of AI and “digital colleagues” to practical data strategies, Erin outlines a clear, human-centered vision for tech innovation in the sector.

You’ll hear:

Why strong data foundations are essential before adopting AI
The difference between automating tasks and transforming systems
Real-world examples from fundraisers, healthcare providers, and program teams
How to balance innovation with ethics, trust, and human connection
The concept of “frontier nonprofits” and how to become one

Learn more about Virtuous at virtuous.org/learnmore and download your free Nonprofit CRM Checklist at virtuous.org/crmchecklist

EP 50: Building a Renewed Narrative with Community (and Breaking Old Story Myths!) Sep 04, 2025

Show notes

In this special episode of The Responsive Lab, co-hosts Carly Berna and Scott Holthaus bring you a featured session from the 2025 Responsive Nonprofit Summit.

Join guests Stacy Houston, Rebecca Barnard, Jonathan McCoy, Vivian Borja, Becky Endicott, and Dr. Tim Lampkin as they challenge outdated narratives in nonprofit storytelling and share how to co-create more authentic, dignified, and powerful stories with the communities you serve.

Highlights include:

Dismantling deficit-based narratives
Honoring community voice in storytelling
Why joy and complexity must be part of your mission narrative
Tactical strategies for ethical co-creation

Learn more about Virtuous at virtuous.org/learnmore and download your free Nonprofit CRM Checklist at virtuous.org/crmchecklist

EP 49: Don’t Lose the Donor: Keeping Fundraising Human in a Tech-Driven World with Sterrin Bird Sep 02, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of The Responsive Lab, co-hosts Carly Berna and Scott Holthaus sit down with Sterrin Bird, long-time fundraising leader and nonprofit executive-in-residence at Attain Partners, for a conversation on how technology can support—but never replace—the deeply human work of fundraising.

Sterrin unpacks:

Why so many orgs still get “donor-centricity” wrong
How AI agents can support mid-level and major gift fundraising at scale
Why donor trust is your most valuable currency—and how to protect it
What truths about fundraising will never change, no matter the tools

You’ll walk away with clear direction on how to evaluate AI tools, use them to solve your biggest problems, and keep community, belonging, and authenticity at the heart of your work.

Connect with Sterrin on LinkedIn or at https://sterrinbird.com/
Learn more about Attain Partners here.
Learn more about Current here.

Learn more about Virtuous at virtuous.org/learnmore and download your free Nonprofit CRM Checklist at virtuous.org/crmchecklist

EP 48: How to Transform Data Into Strategic Decisions Using AI with Tim Paris & T. Clay Buck Aug 28, 2025

Show notes

In this special episode of The Responsive Lab, co-hosts Carly Berna and Scott Holthaus bring you a featured session from the 2025 Responsive Nonprofit Summit. We’re diving deep into one of the most overlooked assets in the nonprofit world: data.

Fundraising veteran T. Clay Buck and neuroscience-PhD-turned-AI-CEO Tim Paris explore why clean data isn’t just a tech concern, it’s a fundraising necessity.

From the dangers of messy data to the exciting frontier of predictive and agentic AI, Clay and Tim break down:

• How poor data leads to lost revenue

• Why every data point represents a real, generous human

• What AI can (and can’t) do without clean donor records

• How to protect data privacy in an AI-powered world

• Practical steps for nonprofits to build a data-first culture

Learn more about Virtuous at virtuous.org/learnmore and download your free Nonprofit CRM Checklist at virtuous.org/crmchecklist

EP 47: Aligning AI with Mission: Human-Centered Messaging with Matt Scott Aug 26, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of The Responsive Lab, co-hosts Carly Berna and Scott Holthaus are joined by Matt Scott—founder of CauseMic and nonprofit messaging strategist—for a candid conversation on aligning AI with your mission. Together, they explore the real (and often misunderstood) ways AI can amplify your message, improve team capacity, and deepen donor relationships without losing the human touch.

Matt shares how nonprofits are already using AI to simplify strategic decision-making, scale their messaging with custom GPTs, and synthesize information for smarter execution. You’ll learn why values-based AI guidelines matter, how to remix your messaging for different audiences, and what nonprofits get wrong when defining their value proposition.

Discover more about CauseMic and download their CRM Guide at: https://causemic.com/nonprofit-crm-guide.

Learn more about Virtuous at virtuous.org/learnmore and download your free Nonprofit CRM Checklist at virtuous.org/crmchecklist

EP 46: Empathy-Driven Social Strategy for Nonprofits with Brynne Krispin Aug 19, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of The Responsive Lab, hosts Carly Berna and Scott Holthaus sit down with Brynne Krispin, founder of Cause Fokus, to talk about the power of an empathy-driven social strategy and how nonprofits can use content and platforms like LinkedIn and Instagram to foster trust, connection, and long-term donor retention.

Brynne brings a decade of nonprofit social media experience — including her time at IJM — and explains how she pivoted toward empathy-based storytelling after realizing traditional tactics weren’t cutting it. She shares how activating the personal profiles of nonprofit leaders, using emotional storytelling even when limited by privacy, and showing up with consistency can all work together to increase engagement and deepen donor loyalty.

Claim your special listener discount on Brynne’s brand-new ebook, Read the Room: Why Empathy is the Secret Sauce in Successful Branding. Get 50% off with the code VIRTUOUS here.

Learn more about Virtuous at virtuous.org/learnmore and download your free Nonprofit CRM Checklist at virtuous.org/crmchecklist

EP 45: Overcoming the Competition For Connection with Nathan Chappell Aug 14, 2025

Show notes

In this special episode of The Responsive Lab, co-hosts Carly Berna and Scott Holthaus bring you a featured session from the 2025 Responsive Nonprofit Summit. Virtuous Chief AI Officer, Nathan Chappell, explores why nonprofits aren’t just competing for dollars anymore, they’re competing for connection.

Drawing from his decades of experience and his acclaimed book The Generosity Crisis, Nathan challenges fundraisers to confront today’s tough questions:

What if the donors you have today are the only donors you’ll ever have?
Are you building community… or playing a numbers game?

You’ll walk away with four actionable steps to build lasting donor relationships that grow generosity for years to come.

Learn more about Virtuous at virtuous.org/learnmore and download your free Nonprofit CRM Checklist at virtuous.org/crmchecklist

EP 44: Fixing What’s Broken in Nonprofit Email Marketing with Katelyn Baughan Aug 12, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of The Responsive Lab, co-hosts Scott Holthaus and Carly Berna sit down with email marketing consultant Katelyn Baughan of KB Digital to uncover what’s broken in nonprofit email marketing and how to fix it.

From donor retention challenges to the pitfalls of “spray and pray” messaging, Katelyn shares practical ways to move from broadcasting to relationship-building. Learn how to create a high-impact donor welcome series, set up automations that actually save time, and test your way into more effective fundraising emails.

You’ll walk away with:

The top reasons nonprofit emails underperform — and how to measure success
Practical tips for building a donor welcome series that inspires
Smart automation strategies to deliver better stewardship at scale
Examples of targeted emails that drive action
One simple change you can make today to boost results

Connect with Katelyn Baughan:

LinkedIn: Katelyn Baughan
Podcast: Inbox to Impact
Sign up for her weekly email tips at https://katelynbaughan.com/

Learn more about Virtuous at virtuous.org/learnmore and download your free Nonprofit CRM Checklist at virtuous.org/crmchecklist

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