Advertise on podcast: Responsive Lab Podcast

In this episode of The Responsive Lab, Carly and Scott sit down with Randy Molland, Founder and Chief Giving Officer at Impact Circle. Randy spent years building businesses as an entrepreneur before a trip to an orphanage in Mexico shifted his focus entirely.  Since then, he's built a career around one specific gap: helping nonprofits build real relationships with the business community. His core belief? The people with money to give are already on LinkedIn, and most nonprofits aren't showing up. You'll hear about: Why only 43% of nonprofits use LinkedIn and what that gap means for organizations willing to show upHow Randy reframes LinkedIn as a Chamber of Commerce, not a job boardThe outreach approach that separates genuine connection from marketing spamWhy funders fund people, not organizations, and how that should shape your LinkedIn presenceHow to use LinkedIn to find sector-aligned donors and partners at any scale, local or nationalThree real success stories showing what's possible in the first weeks of using this approachHow to think about personal profiles versus org pages and how much posting actually mattersConnect with Randy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/randymolland/Learn more about Impact Circle: https://impactcircle.network/ Looking for technology that helps you build deeper donor relationships with less work from your team? Learn more at virtuous.org.

In this episode of The Responsive Lab, Carly and Scott sit down with Dr. Jeff McGee, a leadership and organizational culture strategist and creator of the Triple Loop Leadership framework. Dr. McGee has worked in nonprofits from frontline staff to executive leadership for over a decade and now coaches organizations nationwide on building healthy cultures and managing AI adoption. You'll hear about:* Why lack of honest communication creates quiet disengagement and an "us versus them" mentality between leadership and staff* The key to retention: making staff feel valued, respected, and truly part of the mission they serve* Three major challenges nonprofits face when introducing AI: ethics and privacy concerns, mixed readiness levels, and treating AI as threat versus efficiency tool* How to frame AI as a relationship-building enabler rather than job replacement in the service-oriented nonprofit sector* Using mentorship programs to bridge generational gaps when implementing new technology like AI* Why effective AI adoption is really about strong change management that includes voices from every organizational level Links from the episode:* Connect with Dr. Jeff McGee on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-jeff-mcgee-38185468/* Learn more about Cross-Cultural Dynamics: www.ccdynamics.org* Get Dr. McGee's book "Reimagining Learning: The Power of Triple Loop Leadership": Order Here* Email Dr. McGee: [email protected] Looking for technology that helps you build deeper donor relationships with less work from your team? Learn more at virtuous.org.

In this episode of The Responsive Lab, Carly and Scott sit down with Griff Bohm. As one of the founders of Momentum, an AI-powered donor engagement platform for mid-level & major gifts, Griff brings unique insights into how artificial intelligence can transform fundraising without losing the human connection that drives giving. You'll hear about:• Starting with problems instead of solutions when adopting AI tools• Building major gift programs that leverage technology to create more donor time• Understanding why major giving continues to grow as a percentage of overall fundraising• Recognizing donor expectations for personalized, impact-focused communication• Preparing teams for an AI-enhanced fundraising future• Identifying practical AI applications that remove friction from daily work• Creating systems that amplify relationship-building rather than replace it Links:Connect with Griff: https://www.linkedin.com/in/griffinbohm/Learn more about Momentum: https://virtuous.org/momentum/ Looking for technology that helps you build deeper donor relationships with less work from your team? Learn more at https://virtuous.org/.

In this episode of The Responsive Lab, Carly and Scott sit down with Carly Plate and Dominika McLean from the University of South Florida to talk about building a consecutive giving recognition program that celebrates loyalty over gift size. Their core belief? The donor who gives $25 every year for 30 years deserves just as much recognition as someone who writes one large check. You'll hear about: Why USF created Loyalty Herd to close the gap between major giving programs and unrecognized lower-level consecutive donorsHow the program defines eligibility: any dollar amount, three or more consecutive fiscal yearsHow USF scaled stewardship across 20,000 donors using milestone touch points, in-house design, and creative campus partnershipsWhy they chose not to offer a buyback option, and how that decision strengthened the program's intentHow to approach data, communications, and development teams before launching a program like thisThe real ROI of recognizing giving behavior over giving amountPractical advice for teams with small budgets who want to start something meaningful nowLinks from the episode: Connect with Carly on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carly-plate-a8373b2b/Connect with Dominika on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dominikamclean/Learn more about the USF Foundation: https://giving.usf.edu/about/about-usf-foundationLooking for technology that helps you build deeper donor relationships with less work from your team? Learn more at virtuous.org.

In this episode of The Responsive Lab, Carly and Scott sit down with Dean Axelrod, Vice President of Partnerships and Philanthropy at Direct Relief. Dean's career has spanned business, law, and financial services. But the common thread? Helping people and organizations succeed. His core belief? If someone is giving all they have to give, they're a major donor. No matter the dollar amount. You'll hear about: Why Direct Relief moved away from traditional major donor definitionsHow to build a stewardship philosophy rooted in gratitude and impactThe balance between thanking donors and confidently making asksHow to use technology to scale personalization without losing the human touchWhy hiring for culture fit matters more than hiring fastHow to prepare for the future of fundraising in an era of rapid changeDean also shares why every communication should carry value to the donor, not just value to the organization. And why confidence in asking comes from laying the relational groundwork first. Links from the episode: Connect with Dean on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dean-axelrod-mba-jd-bb010071/Learn more about Direct Relief: https://www.directrelief.org/Looking for technology that helps you build deeper donor relationships with less work from your team? Learn more at virtuous.org.

In this episode of The Responsive Lab, Carly and Scott sit down with Donna Lucas, Chief Marketing and Development Officer at Joni and Friends. Donna spent decades in consumer products marketing at brands like Adidas, K-Swiss, and Dickies before making the jump to the nonprofit world. Her core belief? Planting comes before the harvest. Brand awareness has to come before the fundraising ask. You'll hear about: Why being "the best-kept secret" is actually a failure How Donna convinced her CFO to spend 60% of the budget on brand awareness The first steps to take once leadership says yes to brand investment How Joni and Friends used Instagram to cultivate an audience for two years before asking for anything Why internal alignment matters before you launch anything externally How to measure brand impact in ways leadership can understand and trust Donna also shares how the team achieved a 12% increase in fundraising revenue the first year after their rebrand and why momentum became the proof that kept the strategy moving forward. Links from the episode: Connect with Donna on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donnamlucas/ Learn more about Joni and Friends: https://joniandfriends.org/

92% of nonprofits are using AI. Only 7% say it's actually making a strategic impact. So what's going wrong? In this episode, Carly and Scott sit down with Nathan Chappell, Chief AI Officer at Virtuous and co-founder of Fundraising.ai, to unpack the findings of the 2026 Nonprofit AI Adoption Report. Nathan breaks down why more AI tools don't equal better results, what happens when organizations use AI to speed up broken practices, and what the 7% are doing differently. You'll hear about: -The AI adoption paradox and why high usage doesn't mean high impact-Why an AI governance policy is the most important first step-How to break through the efficiency plateau-What predictive and generative AI look like in action for fundraisers-Why the habits you build in 2026 will compound for years  Download the full report: https://virtuous.org/resource/the-2026-nonprofit-ai-adoption-report-download/ Learn more about Virtuous Momentum: https://www.givemomentum.com/  

In this episode of The Responsive Lab, Carly & Scott sit down with Meg George, Co-Founder and President at George Philanthropy Group. Meg has spent her career in major gifts and now consults with nonprofits on campaign preparation and principal gift strategies. Her core belief? Campaign planning is a practice, not a moment. The organizations that raise the most money are always in some phase of a campaign. You'll hear about: Why "comprehensive campaign" is a better term than "capital campaign" What strong campaign preparation looks like before you go public How to create a feedback loop during a feasibility study The role AI can play in campaigns without replacing relationships Why qualifying donors is the number one differentiator between campaigns that succeed and those that stall The one skill every fundraiser should sharpen right now Links from the episode: Connect with Meg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meg-george-b19752165/ Learn more about George Philanthropy Group: https://www.georgephilanthropy.com/ Visit Meg's personal site: https://www.megtgeorge.com/ Get Meg's book, What's Philanthropy to Philomena?: https://www.megtgeorge.com/books

In this episode of The Responsive Lab, Carly Berna and Scott Holthaus sit down with T. Clay Buck, Founder and Principal of Next River Fundraising Strategies. Together they explore what AI actually changes about nonprofit data. And what it doesn't. Clay has spent thirty years in fundraising. He's done everything from database administration to chief development officer. He watched the sector adopt online giving forms in the early dot-com days. Now he's watching it navigate AI. You'll hear about: • Why "garbage in, garbage out" matters more than ever with AI • How donor data tells a story of trust    • The case for creating a data oversight committee at the board level    • One practical step any nonprofit can take before adopting AI     Clay also shares why fundraising should be a business of joy. And why a little more laughter might be exactly what the sector needs. Links from the episode: • Connect with Clay on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tclaybuck/    • Learn more about Next River Fundraising Strategies: https://www.nextriverfundraising.com/    • Get the book Responsive Fundraising: https://www.amazon.com/Responsive-Fundraising-donor-centric-framework-nonprofits/dp/1944194746    

In this episode of The Responsive Lab, Carly Berna and Scott Holthaus sit down with Sonja Schappert Howden, Chief Impact Officer at Seed Impact, to unpack what meaningful impact really looks like and how fundraisers can communicate it in ways donors understand and trust. Drawing from more than two decades of experience in faith-based nonprofits, Sonja explains why outputs are only the starting point, how outcomes reveal personal change, and why true impact often happens outside your organization’s walls. She introduces the SEED Competency Ladders, a framework grounded in being, doing, and relating, and shows how this approach helps fundraisers tell more human, donor-centered impact stories. You’ll also hear why impact is not linear, why collaborative measurement matters more than ever, and how removing jargon can help donors connect emotionally before they ever engage intellectually. Links from the episode: • Learn more about Seed Impact at https://www.seedimpact.org/    • Email Sonja at [email protected]   Free impact report reviews available for a limited time here: https://www.seedimpact.org/impact-report-review/January-26th-Impact-Report-Review-p801608951 

In this episode of The Responsive Lab, hosts Carly Berna and Scott Holthaus sit down with Marc Stein, Chief Philanthropy Officer at Jews for Jesus, to unpack what it really looks like to put donor relationships first without sacrificing growth. Marc brings a rare perspective shaped by decades as an entrepreneur, donor, board member, and now nonprofit executive. He shares how his team redefined success by shifting away from revenue-first metrics and toward meaningful partner engagement… and why that shift led to stronger retention, healthier teams, and sustained major gift growth. You’ll hear how Jews for Jesus reduced portfolio sizes, rethought performance measurement, embraced transparency during missteps, and used both technology and volunteers to extend personal care at scale. Marc also tackles one of the hardest challenges in major gifts… how to ensure donors stay connected to the organization even when fundraisers move on. Links from the episode: Connect with Mark on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcstein/ Learn more about Jews for Jesus: https://jewsforjesus.org/ Learn more about Virtuous at  virtuous.org/learnmore  and download your free Nonprofit CRM Checklist at  virtuous.org/crmchecklist

In this episode of The Responsive Lab, Carly Berna and Scott Holthaus sit down with Matt Lombardi, Founder of Share, to unpack what real digital engagement looks like when it’s done well and why it actually leads people to take action. Matt brings a practitioner’s perspective from working alongside nonprofits of all sizes, sharing what separates organizations that grow sustainably from those stuck on the acquisition hamster wheel. From donor personas and retention strategies to recurring giving programs that actually work, you’ll walk away with practical insights you can apply immediately. You’ll hear about: Why focus matters more than doing “all the channels” How smart digital engagement builds trust and drives generosity Creative ways to strengthen donor retention without always asking for money What recurring giving programs need to succeed long-term How technology decisions today shape fundraising outcomes tomorrow Matt also shares where nonprofits get stuck internally and how teams can build momentum even when bureaucracy, bandwidth, or fear of change slows things down. Links from the episode: Connect with Matt on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-lombardi-717547111/ Learn more about Share Talent: https://sharetalent.co/ Learn more about Share Services: https://www.shareservices.co/ Learn more about Virtuous at virtuous.org/learnmore and download your free Nonprofit CRM Checklist at virtuous.org/crmchecklist.

In this episode of The Responsive Lab, co-hosts Carly Berna and Scott Holthaus sit down with fundraising strategist Kel Haney, who has made more than twenty thousand asks by phone and helped nonprofits generate over twenty million dollars in mid-level giving. Kel shares how she went from directing theater in New York to discovering the power of a well-structured donor conversation, and why a simple five-minute call can be one of the most effective tools a fundraiser has. In this episode, you’ll hear: How Kel’s theater background shaped her approach to authentic donor conversations Why mid-level donors sit in the “messy middle” and need their own strategy The four tent poles of Kel’s five-minute fundraising ask Why scripts fail, and conversational structure succeeds How fundraisers can “hold for the silence” and build confidence over time Ways tools like Virtuous and Virtuous Momentum support personal outreach at scale How organizations can segment, prioritize, and even outsource outbound donor calls Links from the episode: Connect with Kel on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kel-haney/ Learn more about Kel’s work and schedule a convo: https://www.kelhaney.com/ Learn more about Virtuous at virtuous.org/learnmore and download your free Nonprofit CRM Checklist at virtuous.org/crmchecklist

On this episode of Ask a Responsive Fundraiser, Scott Holthaus sits down with Bailey Huston, Partnerships and Integrations Manager at The Giving Block, to answer your top questions about noncash giving and donor behavior in a changing fundraising landscape.   Bailey shares why donor choice, convenience, and control are now essential parts of the giving experience… and how offering options like crypto, stock, and donor-advised funds can unlock major gifts you may be missing today. She explains the motivations behind noncash giving, the younger and wealthier donor segments driving crypto adoption, and the simple ways nonprofits can add these channels without overwhelming their teams.   You’ll learn which donor signals matter most right now, the true opportunity behind crypto-based generosity, how to make noncash gifts easy to find and easy to give, and why these channels connect directly to lifetime donor value as younger generations take the lead in the coming wealth transfer.   To learn more or explore crypto, stock, or DAF fundraising, visit thegivingblock.com.

What really happens inside a donor’s mind when they choose to give? In this episode of The Responsive Lab, Virtuous co-hosts Carly Berna and Scott Holthaus sit down with Cherian Koshy, VP at Kindsight and author of NeuroGiving: The Science of Donor Decision Making.   Cherian unpacks why giving is rooted in identity, how friction quietly slows generous brains down, and what fundraisers can do to design clearer, more intuitive donor experiences. You will hear why one vivid human story matters more than statistics, what assumptions often lead teams astray, and how technology and AI help fundraisers respond with greater empathy at scale.   Links from the episode: Pre-order Cherian’s book here: https://neurogivingbook.com/ Get your copy of “Neurogiving: The Science of Donor Decision-Making” on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/Neurogiving-Science-Decision-Making-Cherian-Koshy/dp/1394370458/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1FIOOU34VK6YP&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9._xNfSLeOax1dA5hrtboMIg.3brVKP9LuMSye0uTMk6CzmWjAw9SO211qe9qgXcw5b8&dib_tag=se&keywords=neurogiving+book&qid=1762799955&sprefix=neurogiving+book%2Caps%2C124&sr=8-1 Connect with Cherian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheriankoshy/   Learn more about Virtuous at virtuous.org/learnmore and download your free Nonprofit CRM Checklist at virtuous.org/crmchecklist