Responsive Lab Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Episode 13: Sustainable Giving Unlocked with Dave Raley Feb 11, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of The Responsive Lab, your Virtuous co-hosts, Carly Berna and Scott Holthaus, welcome Imago Consulting founder, Purpose and Profit Podcast co-host, popular speaker, and best-selling author, Dave Raley! Dave begins the conversation by introducing his new book, The Rise of Sustainable Giving: How the Subscription Economy is Transforming Recurring Giving and What Nonprofits Can Do to Benefit, which recently became Amazon’s #1 new release for Nonprofit Organizations and Charities ahead of its official launch date. He explains how the subscription economy has changed everything for nonprofits, and how it will continue to transform how people look at giving moving forward. Sharing key insights from his book, Dave offers nonprofit leaders the tools they need to adopt this new approach to giving. Key takeaways from this episode include: - Why sustainable giving matters - Lessons in subscription philanthropy - How to design and manage a thriving sustainer program - The future of sustainable giving Enter to win a copy of Dave’s Book, The Rise of Sustainable Giving, by visiting: https://virtuous.org/daveraley/ Meanwhile, discover more about The Responsive Lab at: virtuous.org/podcast. Season One of The Responsive Nonprofit 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 Abigail Morse.

Episode 12: The Responsive Lab Welcomes Scott Holthaus! Feb 04, 2025

Show notes

In this special episode of The Responsive Lab, we’re excited to welcome Scott Holthaus as your new co-host alongside Carly Berna! Scott’s the Partner Marketing Manager here at Virtuous, where he helps nonprofits grow generosity and implement responsive fundraising. Before joining Virtuous, Scott spent 15+ years working in nonprofits and ministries in a variety of roles, including marketing and communications. He lives in the Chicago area with his wife and three kids. 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 Abigail Morse.

Episode 11: The Secrets of AI: Creating a Culture of Curiosity Jan 28, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of The Responsive Lab, your Virtuous co-hosts, Carly Berna and Stephen Boudreau, bring in DonorSearch’s head of AI, Nathan Chappell, for an exciting conversation about AI and how it can fuel generosity in your organization. Nathan begins by diving into his experience, which includes founding the Fundraising.AI collaborative, a 10,000+ member global think-tank responsible for publishing the world’s first Framework for Responsible and Beneficial AI for Fundraising; as well as co-authoring The Generosity Crisis: The Case for Radical Connection to Solve Humanity’s Greatest Challenges. As he comes from an extensive AI background, Nathan shares varying ways that nonprofits can benefit (and have already benefited) from using AI, offering practical tips that nonprofits can implement from day one. Next, he explains the process of creating a culture of curiosity and how adaptability in any organization is key. Also along the way, Nathan shares: - How to use AI while still building personal connections with your donors - How technology can help build curiosity when looking to move the needle forward - How using AI actually gives you more time to be human - How AI can be used as a tool to scale generosity - How donors can use AI when selecting where to give and how it relates to fundraisers - And so much more + a mystery question at the end! 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 Abigail Morse.

Episode 10: Microsoft’s Lessons for Nonprofits with Erin McHugh Saif Jan 14, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of The Responsive Lab, your Virtuous co-hosts, Carly Berna and Stephen Boudreau, are joined by Microsoft’s Chief Product Officer and Tech for Social Impact Leadership Team member, Erin McHugh Saif. Erin begins by sharing her background, which includes experience working for big tech companies such as Blackbaud, Salesforce, and TIBCO. Next, Erin explains the nonprofit side of Microsoft and how philanthropy has helped to shape Microsoft over the years when it comes to connecting with its users, as well as the community at large. Also along the way, Erin shares: - How AI and technology have helped shape the nonprofit world, and what they have the power to achieve moving forward - The distinction between how nonprofits and for-profits use Microsoft as a service - For-profit trends that can be applied to nonprofits - Microsoft services that are currently being delivered to for-profits that present the biggest opportunities for nonprofits Discover more opportunities at Microsoft.com such as discounted offers for nonprofits, Microsoft Philanthropies, the AI governance tool kit, as well as Free AI skilling resources. 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 Abigail Morse.

Episode 9: We Are For Good’s Keys to Successful Nonprofits Dec 31, 2024

Show notes

In this episode of The Responsive Lab, your Virtuous co-hosts, Stephen Boudreau and Carly Berna, are joined by Jon McCoy and Becky Endicott from the podcast, We Are For Good. They begin by talking about how to measure success, giving examples such as tracking the various forms of engagement in one’s organization. Next, they discuss the topic of activation. How do donors, listeners and supporters respond to calls to action, and what kind of pushback is there from nonprofits in this area? Later, they dive into the process of syndicating content, meaning spreading a message or an idea to multiple channels for different audiences. Sharing examples and tips from their success, Jon & Becky offer invaluable insights on how organizations can connect with their supporters through activation and harness the power of generosity in the current giving climate that we live in. More topics include: - The pitfalls of only measuring giving against other metrics in an organization’s growth plan - How to engage dimensionally with your organization’s supporters - How the Barbie Movie is a good example of what not to do in terms of activation - And so much more! Season One of The Responsive Nonprofit 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 Abigail Morse.

Episode 8: The Giving Experience Research Study with OneCause Dec 17, 2024

Show notes

In this episode of The Responsive Lab, your co-host, Carly Berna, is joined by fellow Virtuous colleague, Scott Holthaus, for a special audio-only edition featuring Virtuous partner, OneCause. Included in the conversation are OneCause’s CMO, Karrie Wozniak, and Director of Corporate Communications, Sarah Sebastian. Together, Karrie and Sarah share details from the 5th edition of OneCause’s Giving Experience Research Study—a report that highlights the latest social giving trends in the nonprofit sector. This crucial report offers actionable insights to help organizations build deeper, lasting connections with their donors. Offering key finding from this report, Karrie and Sarah will also share: - The meaning of ‘social donor’ and ‘social giving’ - How nonprofits can use technology to build trust, ease, and connection with their donors - Effective strategies on how organizations can attract younger, more diverse donors - How nonprofits can best use the data from the report to make an impact on their organization Download the Giving Experience Research Study now at: https://www.onecause.com/ebook/giving-experience-study-fifth-edition/ 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 Abigail Morse.

Episode 7: Fundraising Trends & the Power of Leading Up with Trent Dunham Dec 03, 2024

Show notes

In this episode of The Responsive Lab, Stephen Boudreau and Carly Berna are joined by industry leader, Trent Dunham, for an exciting conversation about the world of modern fundraising and how to become effective leaders in an ever-changing nonprofit landscape. Trent begins by dissecting some of the large-scale (or macro) trends in fundraising today, and lists some of the struggles that nonprofits may be facing in our current economic climate, highlighting some tools that they can utilize to overcome these challenges – such as AI technology and automation. Trent goes on to talk about what it means to properly define ‘success’ and how to prioritize your organization’s goals in order to achieve that success, emphasizing how leadership plays an important role in both prioritization and execution in an organization. Later, Trent talks about what it means to ‘Lead Up’ as a means of furthering your organization’s growth ability to push through obstacles. Other Topics Include: – How communicating priorities effectively provides clarity for accountability – How to strategically execute a plan that has been prioritized effectively – How to use technology in order to scale your organization – How providing solutions to problems rather than listing the problems themselves can help steer your organization in the right direction – A mystery question at the end! Learn more about Trent Dunham by visiting https://www.dunhamandcompany.com/. 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 Abigail Morse.

Episode 6: “What the Fundraising?” A Look at Mallory Erickson’s Latest Book Nov 19, 2024

Show notes

In this episode of The Responsive Lab podcast, Carly Berna and Stephen Boudreau are joined by executive coach, fundraising consultant, and host of the podcast What the Fundraising, Mallory Erickson, for an exciting conversation about the evolution of fundraising – plus, a sneak peak of Mallory’s new book, What The Fundraising? Mallory begins by discussing the common obstacles faced by fundraisers today, and how to overcome them using strategies that Mallory explains in detail in her book. Later, they’ll talk about the importance of mindset in fundraising and how adopting a positive and resilient mindset can lead to ultimate success – both professionally and personally. Also along the way, Carly, Stephen and Mallory will talk about: - Adopting the “courage over confidence” mindset - Building aligned donor relationships - Innovative fundraising techniques and how to implement them - The importance of self-care and mental health for fundraisers Lastly, Mallory is offering one lucky winner a FREE copy of What the Fundraising. Here’s the link for more information and to add your name for a chance to win! http://virtuous.org/malloryerickson. Learn more about Mallory at MalloryErickson.com. 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 Abigail Morse.

Episode 5: How to Make Every Donor Feel Like a Major Donor with Andrew Olsen Nov 05, 2024

Show notes

In this episode of The Responsive Lab, Stephen Boudreau and Carly Berna are joined by Executive Vice President at DickersonBakker, Andrew Olsen, for a discussion about nonprofit fundraising and how to give donors a better giving experience. They dive into the current climate of fundraising and discuss what it means to create a major-donor like strategy. They take an in-depth look at the ‘responsive’ part of Responsive Fundraising and talk about what it really means to be personal with your donors when communicating with them. Andrew goes on to address the question of whether every donor should be treated as a major donor, or if they should be treated the way they prefer to be treated, as well as what it takes to embrace effective change for long-term success. Other Topics Include: - The changing demographics in the fundraising landscape - Why donors have started to lose trust in nonprofits, and how to overcome it. - Using data and technology to connect with your donors - The dilemma surrounding ‘mass customization’ - How leadership can either make or break a nonprofits ability to embrace change Discover more 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 Abigail Morse.

Episode 4: Scaling Your Nonprofit with Taylor Shanklin Oct 22, 2024

Show notes

In this episode of The Responsive Lab, Carly Berna and Stephen Boudreau team up with nonprofit expert Taylor Shanklin for a lively deep dive into the art of scaling a nonprofit organization. Together, they unpack what growth truly means, explore how it differs for smaller organizations versus larger ones, and tackle the common hurdles that can keep nonprofits from reaching their full potential. Taylor shares real-world examples of what growth can—and should—look like, along with practical advice for nonprofits on scaling in a healthy, efficient way to seize every opportunity. Other topics in this episode include: -Taylor’s personal story of growth -The role of technology -A mystery question at the end! Taylor is the founder of Berlele and Creative Shizzle, and is an experienced Storybrand Guide and Business Made Simple Coach, focusing on a dream to help purpose-driven companies and organizations communicate thrive. 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 and download your free Nonprofit CRM Checklist at virtuous.org/crmchecklist. Special thanks to editor and sound engineer Barry R. Hill and producer Abigail Morse.

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