Responsive Lab Podcast
Technology
About
Welcome to The Responsive Lab, presented by Virtuous. In this podcast, we're exploring how nonprofits leverage technology to deepen donor engagement. Join us in the lab as we mix innovation with impact, tackling challenges and discovering new possibilities for the nonprofit sector.
Episodes
- EP 85: Using Data Quality to Unlock AI's Potential in Fundraising with Erin Stender
Erin Stender discusses AI in fundraising on The Responsive Lab, highlighting how data quality impacts donor engagement and explaining the central role of CRMs. The episode covers strategies for data cleanup and using AI to identify unknown…
- EP 84: Building Sustained Giving Through Human Connection and Technology with Chris Larson
Chris Larson, President & CEO at Ligonier Ministries, shares insights on building sustained giving by fostering human connection and leveraging technology. The discussion covers creating reciprocity with donors, balancing support for diffe…
- EP 83: Turning Program Metrics Into Fundraising Fuel with Chris Palombo
Chris Palombo, CEO of MAP International, explains how nonprofits can communicate impact effectively by speaking the languages of the heart, finance, medical outcomes, and operational efficiency. The episode covers serving different stakeho…
- EP 82: Building Diversified Donor Portfolios with Audrey Cooper
Audrey Cooper, Associate Director of Philanthropy at Evidence Action, joins The Responsive Lab Podcast to discuss diversifying donor portfolios. Topics include the risks of donor concentration, strategic revenue diversification, building t…
- EP 81: How Nonprofits Can Use LinkedIn to Find and Cultivate New Donors with Randy Molland
Randy Molland joins The Responsive Lab to explain how nonprofits can utilize LinkedIn to build relationships with potential donors. He highlights the opportunity presented by the platform's user base and discusses strategies for effective…
- EP 80: Building Healthy Nonprofit Cultures That Fight Burnout with Dr. Jeff McGee
Dr. Jeff McGee joins The Responsive Lab to discuss fostering healthy nonprofit cultures and managing AI adoption. Key topics include communication, staff retention, ethical AI implementation, and using mentorship for technology integration.
- EP 79: Building AI-Powered Major Gift Programs That Don't Lose the Human Touch with Griff Bohm
In The Responsive Lab Podcast, Griff Bohm shares insights on using AI in major gift fundraising. The discussion covers starting with problems when adopting AI, building programs that use technology to increase donor engagement time, and pr…
- EP 78: Building a Loyalty Program That Celebrates Every Gift with Carly Plate and Dominika McLean
Carly Plate and Dominika McLean of the University of South Florida discuss their Loyalty Herd program, designed to recognize consecutive donors regardless of gift size. The episode covers program eligibility, scaling stewardship, the decis…
- EP 77: Building a Donor Strategy That Honors Every Gift with Dean Axelrod
On The Responsive Lab Podcast, Dean Axelrod shares insights on developing a donor strategy that values every gift. He explains Direct Relief's approach to donor definitions, stewardship rooted in gratitude, and the role of technology in pe…
- EP 76: How to Build a Brand That Drives Long-Term Fundraising Growth with Donna Lucas
Donna Lucas, Chief Marketing and Development Officer at Joni and Friends, shares her strategy of prioritizing brand awareness before fundraising asks. She explains how to invest in brand building, cultivate audiences, and measure impact, c…
- EP 75: What the 2026 Nonprofit AI Adoption Report Reveals About How Nonprofits Actually Use AI with Nathan Chappell
The 2026 Nonprofit AI Adoption Report reveals that while 92% of nonprofits use AI, only 7% see strategic impact. Host Scott and Carly discuss with Nathan Chappell why this is the case, the importance of AI governance, and how nonprofits ca…
- EP 74: How to Build a Capital Campaign Around Real Donor Conversations with Meg George
Meg George joins The Responsive Lab to discuss capital campaigns, advocating for the term "comprehensive campaign" and detailing effective preparation strategies. The episode covers creating feedback loops, the role of AI, donor qualificat…
- EP 73: What AI Actually Changes (And Doesn't Change) About Nonprofit Data with T. Clay Buck
In this episode of The Responsive Lab, T. Clay Buck joins hosts Carly Berna and Scott Holthaus to discuss the impact of AI on nonprofit data. Key topics include the importance of data quality with AI, building donor trust through data, and…
- EP 72: Building Trust with Donors Through Better Impact Measurement with Sonja Schappert Howden
Sonja Schappert Howden discusses building donor trust through better impact measurement, emphasizing outcomes and human-centered storytelling. She introduces the SEED Competency Ladders framework and highlights the importance of collaborat…
- EP 71: Building a Relationship-First Fundraising Culture with Marc Stein
Marc Stein shares insights on fostering a relationship-first fundraising culture, emphasizing meaningful engagement over revenue targets. The discussion covers redefining success, improving donor retention, and maintaining donor connection…
- EP 70: Digital Strategies to Drive Sustainable Fundraising Growth with Matt Lombardi
Matt Lombardi joins Carly Berna and Scott Holthaus on The Responsive Lab Podcast to discuss practical digital engagement strategies for sustainable nonprofit fundraising. The episode covers donor personas, retention tactics, recurring givi…
- EP 69: Mid-Level Matters: Turning Overlooked Donors Into Loyal Supporters with Kel Haney
Fundraising strategist Kel Haney shares insights on turning overlooked donors into loyal supporters, focusing on structured donor conversations and the effectiveness of short, impactful calls.
- EP 68: How Nonprofits Can Grow Major Gifts Using Noncash Strategies with Bailey Huston [Ask a Responsive Fundraiser]
Scott Holthaus and Bailey Huston discuss how nonprofits can leverage noncash giving strategies, including crypto, stock, and donor-advised funds, to increase major gifts and enhance the donor experience.
- EP 67: Using Neuroscience to Strengthen Donor Relationships with Cherian Koshy
This episode features Cherian Koshy discussing "NeuroGiving," exploring the neuroscience of donor decision-making. He explains how identity and friction impact giving and offers insights for fundraisers to create more intuitive donor exper…
- EP 66: Measuring What Matters: Turning Impact into Action for Growing Nonprofits with John Mark & Lauren Vanderpool
Lauren and John Mark Vanderpool explain how nonprofits can measure and communicate their impact to donors, fostering trust and increasing giving. The episode covers practical strategies including logic models and data management.
- EP 65: Building a Healthy, Human-Centered Culture in Nonprofits with Ian Adair
In this episode of The Responsive Lab, Ian Adair joins hosts Carly Berna and Scott Holthaus to discuss building and maintaining a healthy, human-centered culture in nonprofit organizations. They cover burnout recognition, self-care for lea…
- EP 64: Relationship at Scale: Building Smarter, Sustainable Donor Stewardship with Rachel Bearbower
This episode features fundraiser Rachel Bearbower discussing how small nonprofit teams can build sustainable donor relationships. Topics include the "first 100 days," efficient thank-yous, and creating lightweight stewardship systems using…
- EP 63: What It Really Takes to Run a Multi-Year Fundraising Campaign with Will Smallwood
Dr. Will Smallwood joins The Responsive Lab Podcast to share insights from Cedarville University's successful
- EP 62: How to Keep Donors Engaged When the Economy Tightens with Aarika Riddle
Aarika Riddle joins The Responsive Lab to discuss donor engagement during economic uncertainty. She shares tactical advice on stewardship, storytelling, and leadership energy, drawing on her experience navigating recessions.
- EP 61: Energized Fundraising: Happiness Habits for Long-Haul Success with Amy Eisenstein
Amy Eisenstein, capital campaign expert, joins The Responsive Lab Podcast to explain capital campaigns for nonprofits. The discussion covers campaign elements, donor engagement, feasibility studies, and the importance of happiness habits f…
- EP 60: The charity: water Experience Lab: Our Bet on In-Person, Immersive Storytelling with Viktoria Harrison
Victoria Harrison, co-founder of charity: water, explains the design and success of their in-person Experience Lab, which uses immersive storytelling and technology to foster donor generosity, raising $2 million in its initial months.
- EP 59: Calling All Heroes: Bridging the Divide in Modern Fundraising with Tammy Zonker
In this episode of The Responsive Lab, Tammy Zonker shares insights from her book "Calling All Heroes," advocating for human-centered fundraising. She discusses the limitations of existing models and offers practical advice on mid-level gi…
- EP 58: Top 3 Digital Marketing Mistakes You’re Probably Making and How to Fix Them with Chris Barlow, Brady Josephson, and Matt Scott
This episode of The Responsive Lab features Brady Josephson, Chris Barlow, and Matt Scott discussing the top three digital marketing mistakes nonprofits make. They cover issues like trying to do too much, underinvesting in branding, and co…
- EP 57: Multiplication Mindset: How Responsive Fundraisers Build Movements with Becky Endicott & Jonathan McCoy
Becky Endicott and Jonathan McCoy of We Are For Good discuss a practical framework for responsive fundraising, focusing on movement-building by centering believers, fueling joy, and letting go of control. They share steps to multiply a mis…
- EP 56: Starting a Planned Giving Program That Lasts with Russell James
Russell James discusses practical steps for nonprofits to establish or enhance planned giving programs, drawing on his expertise in fundraising, law, and academic research. The episode covers donor engagement, communication strategies, and…
- EP 55: How to Manage your Mid-Major/Major Donor Portfolios for Real Results with Gail Perry, Missy Gale, and Andrew Olsen
Fundraising experts Gail Perry, Missy Gale, and Andrew Olsen discuss managing donor portfolios. They cover strategies for segmentation, donor signals, stewarding mid-level donors, and effective fundraising tactics, considering fiscal deadl…
- EP 54: Breaking Down the 2025 Nonprofit Peer Report: Strategy, Systems, and Storytelling with Javan Van Gronigen
Javan Van Gronigen joins The Responsive Lab to discuss the 2025 Nonprofit Peer Report, highlighting key nonprofit challenges such as data misalignment and brand confusion. The episode explores strategies to improve donor engagement and dig…
- EP 53: AI Predictive Models, Generative Messaging, and Real-World AI Applications for Fundraisers with Nathan Chappell
This episode of The Responsive Lab features Nathan Chappell, Chief AI Officer at Virtuous, discussing artificial intelligence for nonprofit fundraising. Topics include predictive and generative AI, strategy, governance, privacy, ethical co…
- EP 52: How Data and Tech Can Deepen Donor Relationships at Scale with Stephen Boudreau & Erik Tomalis
In this episode of The Responsive Lab, Stephen Boudreau and Erik Tomalis discuss how data and technology can enhance donor relationships for fundraisers. They cover topics like AI, scaling human connections with tech, and the role of data…
- EP 51: The New Nonprofit Tech Toolkit: Preparing Your Organization for the Next 5 Years
This episode from the Responsive Nonprofit Summit features Erin McHugh and Jason Van Lue discussing essential tech preparations for nonprofits. Topics include AI readiness, data strategies, system transformation, and ethical innovation.
- EP 50: Building a Renewed Narrative with Community (and Breaking Old Story Myths!)
Carly Berna and Scott Holthaus host a session from the Responsive Nonprofit Summit featuring Stacy Houston, Rebecca Barnard, Jonathan McCoy, Vivian Borja, Becky Endicott, and Dr. Tim Lampkin. They explore dismantling deficit-based narrativ…
- EP 49: Don’t Lose the Donor: Keeping Fundraising Human in a Tech-Driven World with Sterrin Bird
This episode of The Responsive Lab features Sterrin Bird discussing how technology can aid fundraising without replacing human connection. Key topics include common mistakes in donor-centricity, the use of AI in major gift fundraising, the…
- EP 48: How to Transform Data Into Strategic Decisions Using AI with Tim Paris & T. Clay Buck
In this episode from the 2025 Responsive Nonprofit Summit, T. Clay Buck and Tim Paris discuss transforming nonprofit data into strategic decisions using AI. They cover the importance of clean data for fundraising, the potential and limitat…
- EP 47: Aligning AI with Mission: Human-Centered Messaging with Matt Scott
In this episode of The Responsive Lab, Matt Scott joins hosts Carly Berna and Scott Holthaus to discuss how AI can align with nonprofit missions. They cover AI applications for messaging, team capacity, donor relationships, decision-making…
- EP 46: Empathy-Driven Social Strategy for Nonprofits with Brynne Krispin
In this episode of The Responsive Lab, Brynne Krispin shares insights on using empathy-driven social strategies for nonprofits. She explains how content, personal leader profiles, and emotional storytelling on platforms like LinkedIn and I…
- EP 45: Overcoming the Competition For Connection with Nathan Chappell
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 ju…
- EP 44: Fixing What’s Broken in Nonprofit Email Marketing with Katelyn Baughan
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 reten…
- EP 43: Turning Event Attendees into Long-Term Donors with Sam Staley [Ask a Responsive Fundraiser]
In this episode of Ask a Responsive Fundraiser, Sam Staley, Founder and CEO of Event.Gives, joins us to challenge traditional metrics of event success. From the power of personalized thank-you messages to the concept of “dollars in the roo…
- EP 42: Navigating Budget Cuts, Donor Shifts, and Uncertainty with Barbara O’Reilly
What do you do when your nonprofit loses 75% of its budget overnight? In this episode of The Responsive Lab, fundraising veteran Barbara O’Reilly of Windmill Hill Consulting joins co-hosts Scott Holthaus and Carly Berna for a deeply practi…
- EP 41: Designing & Scaling a Donor Retention Strategy In 2025 with Christine Robertson and John Mark Vanderpool
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 Christine Robertson from NPact and John Mark Vanderpool from Social Impac…
- EP 40: Creating Memorable Experiences for Modern Donors with Brand Building with Brady Josephson
In this episode of The Responsive Lab , hosts Carly Berna and Scott Holthaus sit down with Brady Josephson, VP of Marketing and Growth at charity:water. Brady makes the case for long-term brand marketing in a nonprofit world obsessed with…
- EP 39: Scaling Relational Giving Through Giving Circles with Emily Rasmussen [Ask a Responsive Fundraiser]
In this episode of Ask a Responsive Fundraiser, we’re joined by Emily Rasmussen, founder of Grapevine, the platform behind the growing Giving Circle movement. Emily brings over 15 years of experience in nonprofit leadership, impact finance…
- EP 38: Beyond the Ask: Why Donor Lifetime Value Should Shape Your Strategy with John Mark Vanderpool
In this data-packed episode of The Responsive Lab , Scott Holthaus and Carly Berna sit down with John Mark Vanderpool, co-founder of Social Impact Solutions, to talk all things Donor Lifetime Value (LTV). John Mark brings a unique perspect…
- EP 37: Leading Change with Empathy: The PAUSE Framework for Nonprofits with Heather Hiscox
In this episode of The Responsive Lab, co-hosts Carly Berna and Scott Holthaus sit down with Heather Hiscox, social impact strategist and author of No More Status Quo, to unpack how nonprofits can lead organizational change with empathy, i…
- EP 36: From Story to Strategy: Marketing That Drives Donor Action with Aidan Augustin
In this episode of The Responsive Lab, Carly and Scott sit down with Aidan Augustin, Co-founder and CRO at Feathr, to unpack how to turn your story into a strategy that actually drives donor action. Nonprofits are facing real headwinds — f…