Responsive Lab Podcast

Latest Episodes:

EP 33: Building Clean, Connected, and Donor-Centric CRMs with Christine Robertson [Ask a Responsive Fundraiser] Jun 12, 2025

Show notes

On this episode of Ask a Responsive Fundraiser, Scott chats with Christine Robertson, Consulting Manager at NPact and expert in nonprofit CRM systems, to unpack the essential role that clean data, empowered teams, and thoughtful automation play in driving generosity.

Christine doesn’t just talk about data management; she shows how it can transform fundraising when done right.

Topics covered:

• Why maintaining your database is like cleaning your house—and how to tackle it one strategic step at a time

• How to shift database teams from “back office” to strategic fundraising partners

• Practical tips to build automation that saves time without sacrificing donor nuance

• How to build repeatable systems that support personalized donor journeys at scale

Learn more about Christine's work at NPACT or connect with her on LinkedIn.

Ready to deepen your donor relationships and drive meaningful results? Learn more about Virtuous and how responsive fundraising can help your team grow generosity.

EP 32: Inside the 2025 Benchmark Report with Carly Berna & Gabe Cooper Jun 10, 2025

Show notes

What does it really take to grow generosity in 2025?

In this episode of The Responsive Lab, co-host Scott Holthaus sits down with Carly Berna, Fundraiser in Residence at Virtuous, and Gabe Cooper, CEO of Virtuous, for an in-depth conversation about the newly released 2025 Virtuous Nonprofit Fundraising Benchmark Report.

You’ll learn why these seven KPIs matter more than ever, what the data reveals about donor loyalty and mid-level giving, and how nonprofits can turn these insights into action, without overwhelming their teams.

New this year:
• “Days between first and second gift” metric
• Ready-to-use board deck and health check tools
• Real customer stories woven throughout

📥 Download the full report: https://virtuous.org/resource/nonprofit-benchmark-report-2025

The Responsive Lab is brought to you by Virtuous. Virtuous is a software company committed to helping nonprofits grow generosity. Virtuous believes that generosity has the power to create profound change in the world and in the heart of the giver. With that in mind, it’s their mission to move the needle on global generosity by helping nonprofits better connect with and inspire their givers.

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

Special thanks to editor and sound engineer Tom Meintzer and producer Riley Young.

EP 31: Breaking Through Donor Fatigue with Beth Fisher Jun 03, 2025

Show notes

Fundraisers today are overwhelmed. Between short donor attention spans, economic uncertainty, and leadership pressure to meet ambitious goals, it’s easy to feel stuck or burnt out. That’s exactly why Beth Fisher, nonprofit consultant, strategist, and former Chief Advancement Officer, joined Scott and Carly to share a perspective that’s as empowering as it is practical. In the episode, Beth gets real about: - What it means to be “tenaciously relational” - Why most fundraising feels inauthentic, and how to fix it - How to break through the noise with genuine connection - The balance between hitting budget numbers and building long-term donor trust - The one thing every fundraiser should do if they’re feeling stuck Whether you’re new to fundraising or leading a seasoned development team, Beth’s advice will help you build donor relationships that actually last, and bring more joy to your work in the process. 👉 Learn more about Beth and her consulting work at https://bethfisher.com/ and https://www.fisherstrategic.com/ Meanwhile, discover more about The Responsive Lab at virtuous.org/podcast Season One of The Responsive Lab is brought to you by Virtuous. Virtuous is a software company committed to helping nonprofits grow generosity. Virtuous believes that generosity has the power to create profound change in the world and in the heart of the giver. With that in mind, it’s their mission to move the needle on global generosity by helping nonprofits better connect with and inspire their givers. Learn more at virtuous.org/learnmore and download your free Nonprofit CRM Checklist at virtuous.org/crmchecklist Special thanks to editor and sound engineer Barry R. Hill and producer Riley Young.

EP 30: Avoiding the Hidden Risks in CRM Transitions with Glen Peck [Ask a Responsive Fundraiser] May 29, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of Ask a Responsive Fundraiser, Scott talks with Glen Peck, SVP of Technology & Business Intelligence at the Lustgarten Foundation, about the often-overlooked elements that make or break a CRM transition. Glen brings deep insight into how large nonprofits can lead tech change with clarity, reduce disruption, and use reporting to make smarter decisions. He outlines how fundraising and tech teams can work together to build systems that actually grow giving. Topics Covered: • How to prepare your org for a CRM migration • Why it’s time to rethink legacy workflows, not replicate them • The role of reporting in fundraising leadership • How tech teams can move from maintenance to innovation Learn more about The Lustgarten Foundation: https://lustgarten.org/ Ready to deepen your donor relationships and drive meaningful results? Learn more about Virtuous and how responsive fundraising can help your team grow generosity: https://vrtuo.us/4hsSN6g

EP 29: Turning Event Donors into Lifelong Supporters with Trevor Nelson [Ask a Responsive Fundraiser] May 22, 2025

Show notes

Are your events helping you grow relationships or just revenue? In this episode of Ask a Responsive Fundraiser, Scott sat down with Trevor Nelson, Co-Founder of HGA Fundraising and host of the Hey Nonprofits podcast, to explore how nonprofit events can become a springboard for long-term donor engagement, not just a one-night success. Trevor is known for leading nonprofits to more profitable fundraising experiences through HGA’s auction services, but what stands out most is his commitment to donor relationships after the event. In this conversation, you'll get key insights on things like: • Why many nonprofits leave donor potential on the table after events • What behavioral signals to look for to identify committed supporters • How auctions, raffles, and follow-up strategies can drive donor lifetime value • Why a responsive mindset is key to connecting donors with your mission beyond the ballroom Trevor reminds us that if you’re only thinking about dollars raised that night, you’re missing the real opportunity. Learn more about HGA Fundraising: https://hgafundraising.com/ Listen to the Hey Nonprofits podcast: https://hgafundraising.com/nonprofit-podcasts/ Ready to deepen your donor relationships and drive meaningful results? Learn more about Virtuous and how responsive fundraising can help your team grow generosity: https://vrtuo.us/4hsSN6g

EP 28: AI, Empathy, and the Human Side of Nonprofit Innovation with Tim Lockie May 20, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of The Responsive Lab, Carly Berna and Scott Holthaus sit down with Tim Lockie, founder of The Human Stack and longtime nonprofit tech strategist, to dig into a bold truth: technology alone won’t save your nonprofit. Tim unpacks why so many digital transformation efforts fall flat, and what it takes to build a culture that embraces data, AI, and change without burning out your team. Key Takeaways: - Without aligned human behavior, the best systems won’t lead to better outcomes. - Burnout often happens not from big changes, but from the accumulation of small ones. - Nonprofits need a people-first framework to truly adopt new tools. - There’s a big difference between individuals using AI tools and organizations making it safe and strategic. - The success of your tools hinges on the trust and collaboration between people. To connect with Tim or learn more about his work at The Human Stack, visit https://thehumanstack.com/ or find him on LinkedIn. Learn more about Tim’s AI For Everyone course at https://thehumanstack.com/academy/aiforanyone Meanwhile, discover more about The Responsive Lab at virtuous.org/podcast. Season One of The Responsive Lab is brought to you by Virtuous. Virtuous is a software company committed to helping nonprofits grow generosity. Virtuous believes that generosity has the power to create profound change in the world and in the heart of the giver. With that in mind, it’s their mission to move the needle on global generosity by helping nonprofits better connect with and inspire their givers. Learn more about Virtuous at virtuous.org/learnmore and download your free Nonprofit CRM Checklist at virtuous.org/crmchecklist. Special thanks to editor and sound engineer Barry R. Hill and producer Riley Young.

EP 27: Turning Donor Data into Actionable Journeys with George Weiner [Ask a Responsive Fundraiser] May 15, 2025

Show notes

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐝𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐫 𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐚 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐝𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐫 𝐣𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐲𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐬𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐚𝐥? In this episode of Ask a Responsive Fundraiser, Scott chats with George Weiner — founder of Whole Whale and creator of Cause Writer AI — about using analytics and AI to unlock more personal, effective donor experiences. George brings the perspective of a nonprofit technologist who’s been in the trenches, helping hundreds of organizations increase impact through smart, responsive strategies. In this conversation, you'll get key insights on things like: • Why “collecting more data” isn’t the goal, interpreting it is. • How small tweaks to donation pages can unlock big giving results. • Where fundraisers go wrong with AI (and how to course-correct). • What it really takes to build donor-centered experiences at scale. Learn more about Whole Whale: http://wholewhale.com CauseWriter: http://causewriter.ai Ready to deepen your donor relationships and drive meaningful results? Learn more about Virtuous and how responsive fundraising can help your team grow generosity: https://vrtuo.us/4hsSN6g

EP 26: Donor Retention, Board Engagement, and Campaign Readiness with Barbara O'Reilly [Ask a Responsive Fundraiser] May 08, 2025

Show notes

Donor acquisition is up, but retention is still a struggle. And your board? Supportive in theory, but silent in practice. Sound familiar? In this episode of Ask a Responsive Fundraiser, Barbara O’Reilly, CFRE — founder of Windmill Hill Consulting and a 30-year fundraising veteran — helps us unpack two of the most persistent challenges nonprofits face today. You’ll learn: • Why first-time donors often walk away (and how to change that) • The real reasons board members freeze when it’s time to fundraise • How to coach your board into confident, authentic fundraising advocates • What internal markers signal readiness for a capital campaign Barbara brings sharp insight, encouragement, and a practical mindset rooted in decades of experience with institutions like Harvard and the American Red Cross. Learn more about Windmill Hill Consulting: https://whillconsulting.com/ Ready to deepen your donor relationships and drive meaningful results? Learn more about Virtuous and how responsive fundraising can help your team grow generosity: https://vrtuo.us/4hsSN6g

EP 25: Building Donor Relationships Through Thoughtful Data Practices with Christine Robertson May 06, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of The Responsive Lab, Carly Berna and Scott Holthaus chat with Christine Robertson, Consulting Manager at NPact, about what clean data really means for fundraisers—and why it matters more than you might think. Christine brings years of donor database expertise to a topic that too often gets overlooked or siloed. From CRM strategy to daily habits, she shares how data can be a tool for empathy, not just administration—and how development teams can think more relationally about the information they collect. Key Takeaways: - Why good data is the foundation for meaningful donor relationships - The top 3 data health issues most nonprofits miss—and how to fix them - How to maintain clean data without chasing perfection - Why “data is never done” and how to build healthy maintenance rhythms - Tips for fundraisers without a full-time DBA - Why CRMs should reflect relationships, not just transactions To connect with Christine or learn more about her work at NPact, reach out at crobertson@npact.com or find her on LinkedIn. Meanwhile, discover more about The Responsive Lab at virtuous.org/podcast. Season One of The Responsive Lab is brought to you by Virtuous. Virtuous is a software company committed to helping nonprofits grow generosity. Virtuous believes that generosity has the power to create profound change in the world and in the heart of the giver. With that in mind, it’s their mission to move the needle on global generosity by helping nonprofits better connect with and inspire their givers. Learn more about Virtuous at virtuous.org/learnmore and download your free Nonprofit CRM Checklist at virtuous.org/crmchecklist. Special thanks to editor and sound engineer Barry R. Hill and producer Riley Young.

EP 24: Rethinking Recurring Giving: Behavioral Science for Better Donor Retention with Griff Bohm [Ask a Responsive Fundraiser] May 01, 2025

Show notes

In this episode, Scott sits down with Griff Bohm, co-founder and CRO of Momentum, for an "Ask a Responsive Fundraiser" with questions about how nonprofits can fuel generosity by creating personal, impactful donor experiences. Drawing on Griff’s expertise at the intersection of behavioral psychology, AI, and philanthropy, this episode gives some practical strategies to rethink recurring giving and build lasting donor relationships, all while leveraging modern technology to scale generosity. What you’ll learn in this episode: How to make recurring giving emotionally engaging and habit-forming. Strengthening donor relationships beyond simple transactions. Leveraging behavioral science to energize giving without exhausting your audience. Griff’s advice is focused on creating truly personal connections at scale, increasing donor retention, and empowering teams to grow generosity with every interaction. Learn more about Momentum: https://www.givemomentum.com/ Ready to deepen your donor relationships and drive meaningful results? Learn more about Virtuous and how responsive fundraising can help your team grow generosity: https://vrtuo.us/4hsSN6g

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