We Are For Good Podcast - The Podcast for Nonprofits

Latest Episodes:

Gather At The Well: Is Your Workplace Actually Toxic? Self-Study, Burnout + the Courage to Stay or Go - Elandria Jackson Charles, Lindsey Fuller, and Naomi Hattaway Dec 03, 2025

Show notes

Feeling worn down by work or wondering if your burnout is more than just stress? You’re not alone.

In this episode, Lindsey Fuller is joined with Elandria Jackson Charles and Naomi Hattaway for a heartfelt conversation about how our jobs impact our wellbeing—and what to do when things start to feel overwhelming. Together, they explore real stories of burnout and offer gentle, practical tools for tuning into your own needs.

Tap into how to recognize the difference between everyday discomfort and true harm, plus find fresh ways to rest and even reclaim joy amid the daily grind. Whether you’re considering a career shift, dreaming of consulting, or simply hoping to feel more balanced, this conversation will support you and give you thoughtful steps to move forward.

Episode Highlights

Exploring Self-Study and Burnout (02:57)
The Importance of Nature and Grounding (05:31)
Navigating Personal and Professional Seasons (08:22)
Tools for Self-Care and Recovery (10:43)
The Role of Agency in Time Management (13:47)
Creating Protected Time for Wellbeing (16:54)
The Power of Naming and Noticing (19:43)
Zoom Out Somatic Practice (22:50)
Understanding Workplace Dynamics (27:32)
Differentiating Misalignment, Dysfunction, and Toxicity (28:49)
Navigating the Transition to Consulting (35:20)
Naomi and Elandria’s Affirmations (43:12)

Episode Shownotes: www.weareforgood.com/episode/toxicworkplace

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662. Working Session: Make Your Year-End Emails Stand Out with Caroline Griffin Dec 01, 2025

Show notes

If you want your year-end emails to stand out in the noisiest inbox season of the year, this Working Session is your new playbook. We brought in marketer and dynamic-content expert Caroline Griffin to break down the simple personalization shifts that make every donor feel seen—so your emails land, resonate, and inspire action.

Top 3 Takeaways:

Make Personalization Actually Personal — Go beyond “Hi {{ first_name }}.” Use giving history, donor status, or meaningful milestones to help supporters recognize their own impact—and feel connected to your mission.
Segment Smarter, Not Harder — Data not perfect? No problem. Segmentation by donor behavior (last gift, last year, lapsed, monthly) allows you to tailor messages without relying on risky merge fields.
Honor Donors by Adjusting Your Messaging — Once someone gives, they shouldn’t keep receiving asks during year-end. Excluding recent donors, or swapping in a gratitude version, strengthens trust and donor love.

This episode digs into practical, approachable ways to bring more humanity and relevance to your year-end email strategy—no fancy tech required.

Welcome back to Working Sessions: hands-on, clarity-filled conversations designed to help you move real work forward inside your organization.

Let’s get to work.

Episode Highlights

Why Dynamic Content Is the Nonprofit Email Superpower No One’s Using (01:11)
Beyond Merge Tags: Getting Creative With Donor Personalization (02:23)
Using Giving History and Impact Data to Deepen Donor Relationships (03:13)
Re-engaging Lapsed Donors Through Smart Dynamic Content (04:33)
Data Accuracy Tips: What to Do When Merge Tags Go Wrong (05:10)
Segmenting Donors Based on Recent Giving Activity (06:21)
The Donor-Respect Rule: Excluding Recent Givers From Appeal Emails (07:39)
Automating Segmentation and Exclusions in Your Email List (08:52)
Seeing Year-End Emails Through the Donor’s Eyes (09:59)

Episode Shownotes: www.weareforgood.com/episode/662

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661. Working Session: Closing Major Gifts with Courage with Julie Ordoñez Nov 26, 2025

Show notes

If you need to close major gifts in the next five weeks, this Working Session is your new game plan. We brought in major gifts coach and CourageLab founder Julie Ordoñez to break down exactly who to ask, what to say, and how to step into these conversations with more courage, clarity, and conviction—especially during giving season.

Top 3 Takeaways:

Focus Beats Frenzy: Stop trying to reach everyone. Warm prospects—the people who’ve expressed support, encouragement, or interest in the last 3–6 months are the ones most primed to say yes right now.
Courage Isn’t a Feeling, It’s an Action: Planning isn’t the work. Asking is. Discomfort is normal - and moving through it is the path to major gifts.
Ask for More, With Less Guesswork: Vague asks create homework for donors. Clear, specific asks make giving easier and speed up decisions. When in doubt, ask for more than feels comfortable—and let humility guide the conversation.

You'll leave this session with practical mindset shifts and scripts you need to move relationships forward today.

Let’s get to work.

Episode Highlights

How to Identify Your Warm Prospects (01:29)
Engaging Raving Fans and Supporters (05:38)
How to Build Courage to Make the Ask (09:04)
How to Ask for a Specific Amount (12:20)
Julie’s One Good Thing (15:26)

Episode Shownotes: www.weareforgood.com/episode/661

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660. Working Session: How to Grow Monthly Donors with Dana Snyder Nov 24, 2025

Show notes

If you want to raise more monthly gifts at year-end, this Working Session is your new playbook. We’re breaking down the simple changes that make recurring giving more visible, more compelling, and easier for your supporters to say yes to.

Top 3 Takeaways:

1. Make Monthly Giving Impossible to Miss — Clear, separate buttons for one-time and monthly gifts can increase conversions by up to 45%.

2. Lead With Monthly Giving at Year-End — Put recurring giving front and center in your year-end messaging so supporters actually choose it.

3. Test Fast, Learn Fast — Small orgs have the advantage. Simple experiments in copy, ads, or donor journeys can unlock major monthly giving growth.

This episode kicks off our new Working Sessions series — hands-on, clarity-filled conversations designed to help you move real work forward inside your organization.

Let’s get to work.

Episode Highlights:

The Missed Opportunity: Not Asking for Monthly Gifts (00:42)
Making Monthly Giving Visible: Website & Button Optimization (02:43)
Reframing Annual to Monthly Giving (03:17)
Success Story: Turner Syndrome Foundation’s Campaign (06:10)
Working Session: Analyzing and Optimizing Current Plans (07:35)
The Power of Strategic Website & Form Copy (08:14)
Setting Accessible Monthly Gift Amounts (08:51)
Humanizing Donor Communications (09:57)
“Mind Movies”: Relatable, Impactful Storytelling (11:11)
Practical Donor Engagement Tips for Email Outreach (12:10)
Dana's One Good Thing: Team Engagement Exercise (13:38)

Episode Shownotes: www.weareforgood.com/episode/660

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Gather At The Well: Re-Entry Without the Burnout: Return from Rest with Rhythm, Not Rush - Lindsey Fuller Nov 19, 2025

Show notes

We know that gut-punch feeling when your time off ends and the peace you just earned starts draining away before Monday even hits. We've all been there.

Here’s the thing: Returning to work shouldn't feel like a rush that undoes your rest.

This week Lindsey is pulling back the curtain on how she makes rest non-negotiable, even after a big pause like an eight-week micro sabbatical. She's not just sharing ideas; she’s giving you the blueprint to design a mindful reentry, a process that is actually a nourishing ritual. Listen as she grounds her approach in the theme of Recovery as a Design Principle, sharing concrete examples from her own eight-week micro sabbatical to show you how to truly honor your rest instead of undoing it.

It’s time to move past rigid "work-life balance" and embrace Work-Life Integration, designing flow that honors your mission and your humanity, choosing rhythm over rush.

Episode Highlights:

Lindsey’s Personal Approach to Returning After a Break (01:40)
Five Key Re-Entry Rituals for Sustainable Return (06:28)
Grounding Yourself: Jill’s 54321 Somatic Practice (10:08)
Using the Parasympathetic System to Rest in Motion (12:22)
Shifting from Work-Life Balance to Work-Life Integration (16:00)
Actionable Homework for Designing Your Re-Entry (21:46)
Reflective Journaling and Affirmations for Integration (22:07)

Episode Shownotes: www.weareforgood.com/episode/restwithrhythmnotrush

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659. How to Design Impactful Programs with Dignity (Melissa Helmbrecht) Nov 17, 2025

Show notes

Meet Melissa Helmbrecht 🤝, the CEO of Give Back. Founded by Bob Carr, this organization is rewriting what opportunity looks like for young people who've faced the hardest circumstances—from homelessness to abuse. In this episode, Melissa shows us the deep, lasting impact of true mentorship and the power of a supportive community.

Melissa shares how Give Back helps students not just survive, but truly thrive as leaders through comprehensive scholarships, dedicated coaching, and mentorship. We dive into Bob Carr’s inspiring legacy, whose mission of giving grew from a $250 scholarship he once received, now creating powerful systems of dignity for the next generation.

This episode is a testament to belief, the power of second chances, and in the extraordinary power of what happens when we create spaces where people feel seen, valued, and free to become who they were meant to be.

Episode Highlights:

Melissa's Formative Journey (05:00)
The Story of Give Back (07:00)
The Power of Small Acts of Kindness (07:23)
Empowering the Counted Out (10:06)
Reframing Identity and Potential (12:42)
Programs Centered in Dignity (15:30)
Building Trust and Consistency (18:10)
Stories of Transformation (21:09)
The Power of Lived Experience (22:32)
Bridging Generations in Philanthropy (25:49)
Transforming Adversity into Opportunity (28:22)
Melissa’s One Good Thing (30:21)

Episode Shownotes: www.weareforgood.com/episode/659

Join us at The Spread!

Givebutter's biggest innovation event of the year is here — The Spread, built entirely around co-creating with nonprofits like yours. 💛

We Are For Good is joining forces with GB to host in-person hackathon meetups on Friday, Oct. 2, in New York, Seattle, LA, Denver, and Indianapolis, so you can build alongside other nonprofits in the community.

Learn more and save your free spot today.

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658. How a Student-Led Movement Sparked Global Change at Atlanta International School - Veronica McDaniel + Alice Abreu Nov 12, 2025

Show notes

Meet Veronica, the dedicated teacher and guiding force, alongside Alice, the passionate Senior at Atlanta International School (AIS) and Co-President of AIS Against Human Trafficking.

AIS Against Human Trafficking is a dynamic, student-led initiative dedicated to raising awareness and mobilizing action against human trafficking through education, powerful storytelling, and global partnerships. This story represents the heart-wired generation students who are actively using their empathy and digital fluency to drive monumental societal change 🩵

Listen in to learn how this inspiring group has strategically teamed up with major global players like CNN and built a network with other international schools, transforming a local initiative into an undeniable global force. Their campaigns are a masterclass in resilience and creativity, showing the world what happens when Gen Z’s passion for justice is unleashed 🌱

Episode Highlights

Empowering Students Against Human Trafficking (02:14)
The Journey of Veronica McDaniel in Nonprofit (10:24)
The Impact of Youth Voices in Activism (16:27)
Harnessing Youth Energy for Change (21:06)
Building a Content Engine for Advocacy (22:51)
The Power of Consistency in Messaging (25:29)
Inspiring Action Through Awareness (26:47)
Intergenerational Learning and Relationship Building (29:17)
The Impact of Generosity and Empathy (32:48)
Alice’s One Good Thing: Real change starts with empathy and listening (35:49)
Veronica’s One Good Thing: Building and Maintaining Relationships (36:39)

Episode Shownotes: www.weareforgood.com/episode/658

Join us at The Spread!

Givebutter's biggest innovation event of the year is here — The Spread, built entirely around co-creating with nonprofits like yours. 💛

Learn more and save your free spot today.

Say hi 👋
LinkedIn / Instagram / Facebook / YouTube / Twitter

657. Championship Culture Meets Community Impact: The OKC Thunder Story - Erin Oldfield Nov 10, 2025

Show notes

Meet Erin 🤝, Vice President of Community Engagement and Executive Director of the Thunder Community Foundation. In this episode, we explore the story of the OKC Thunder’s meaningful impact far beyond the basketball court. While celebrating their first NBA championship is certainly exciting, Erin shows us how the team’s success has become a grounded catalyst for community philanthropy in Oklahoma City 💙

Erin offers thoughtful insights into her journey and how the Thunder builds a lasting legacy, prioritizing sustainable work over fleeting headlines. We explore fantastic initiatives like the Rolling Thunder Book Bus and local court projects. This story shows us the strength found in authentic partnerships and shared values, which are the essential ingredients for creating real, positive change.

Tune in as Erin shares a look at utilizing a large platform as a megaphone for positive stories and true community betterment. The episode is filled with transformative examples of intentional kindness and collaboration, offering valuable and encouraging insights into how purpose-driven work quietly strengthens our communities 🎧

Episode Highlights:

Erin Oldfield's Journey to Community Engagement (02:21)
The Thunder's Role in Oklahoma's Community (04:58)
Thunder Community Foundation: Programs and Impact (07:57)
Building Lasting Partnerships for Community Good (10:48)
Stories of Generosity and Philanthropy (18:24)
Advice for Sustainable Community Engagement (24:48)
Erin’s One Good Thing: Lifting Up Educators (29:17)

Episode Shownotes: www.weareforgood.com.com/episode/657

Join us at The Spread!

Givebutter's biggest innovation event of the year is here — The Spread, built entirely around co-creating with nonprofits like yours. 💛

Learn more and save your free spot today.

Say hi 👋
LinkedIn / Instagram / Facebook / YouTube / Twitter

Gather At The Well: Turn Down the Volume - Boundaries, Stress, and the Architecture of Recovery - Lindsey Fuller Nov 05, 2025

Show notes

Turn Down the Alarm, Tune Into the Signal.

That feeling of stress isn't a sign you're broken—it's your body's brilliant security system asking for your attention. It's a powerful signal that, when truly heard, guides you directly to deeper self-care and genuine resilience.

That nagging feeling of stress? It's simply your nervous system alarm stuck on full blast. It isn't a failure; it’s a profound signal gently inviting you to tend to your deepest needs.

Step in with us to embrace the art of regulation, not resistance. Lindsey shares her comforting guidance on how to actively turn down that volume and truly tune into your body’s quiet wisdom. You'll learn to craft healthy boundaries—those kind, firm limits that protect your precious energy and bring immediate calm to your system.

Ready to find your ease and greater inner awareness? Tune in for the journey 🧘‍♀️

Episode Highlights:

Reframing Stress: Stress as a sign of unmet needs; introduction to boundaries and the importance of self-care (02:25)
Somatic Scan: Turning the Volume Down (3:20)
The Science of Stress (11:00)
Utilising Boundaries for Peace (13:10)
Rebecca Somatic Movement Practice (17:24)
Self-Study to Interpret and Regulate Stress (22:13)
Revenge Procrastination (25:00)
Self-Care as a Conversation (30:00)
Resetting the Alarm (31:32)
Closing: Practice of turning down stress, micro-dosing wellness, and fostering a rhythm of rest (33:02)

Episode Shownotes: www.weareforgood.com/episode/turndownthevolume

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656. Start Before You’re Ready: Building Good Natured Learning from the Ground Up - Becca Katz Nov 03, 2025

Show notes

Meet Becca 🤝, Executive Director and Co-Founder of Good Natured Learning. Her work reminds us that the deepest lessons often begin where the wilderness starts.

In this episode, we follow Becca’s journey from exploring Wisconsin’s backwoods to leading educational programs in Kenya and how it’s all about creating true belonging between students, teachers, and nature. Good Natured Learning isn’t just a program but a movement to reshape education, showing nature as the ultimate classroom for connection and growth. Becca guides us on how to overcome imposter syndrome, building community-led solutions rooted in local wisdom, and what authentic leadership really means.

This heartfelt conversation is a must-listen for anyone passionate about leading, learning, and living with deeper connection, it’s a beautiful reminder of nature’s healing and inspiring power ✨

Learn: