Using the Whole Whale Nonprofit Podcast

The Whole Whale Podcast combines Nonprofit News from the nonprofit sector and conversations with leaders about how they’re making an impact.  With over 2k nonprofit professionals listening a month, we’re proud to be known well by experts in the field looking for new ideas and information.

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Started: 2014    |   Episodes: +300  |  Monthly downloads: 2k-4k

 

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What We Were Watching This GivingTuesday (news)

Giving Tuesday and Nonprofit Challenges In this week’s episode of the Nonprofit NewsFeed, George Weiner, Chief Whaler of Whole Whale, and Nick Azulay, Senior Digital Strategy Manager at Whole Whale, dive into the aftermath of Giving Tuesday and the ongoing debate about OpenAI’s nonprofit origins. Main Topics: Critical Insights: Calls to Action: Closing Thought: The… Read more »

What Does The Election Mean For Nonprofits? Engaging Different Perspectives…

Navigating Nonprofit Growth Amidst Political Shifts: Insights from Whole Whale In this episode of the Nonprofit News Feed, George Weiner, Chief Whaler at Whole Whale, and Nick Azouay, Digital Strategist, dive into the evolving landscape of the nonprofit sector. They discuss how historical trends might mirror the potential growth and challenges nonprofits face in light… Read more »

Scaling Nonprofits: Mastering HR Challenges

Host George engages with Dr. Tiffany Slater, founder and CEO of HR TailorMade, to delve into the complexities of human resources within nonprofit organizations. As nonprofits grow, they often encounter HR challenges that can impede their mission-driven work. Dr. Slater’s company serves as a fractional HR department, providing tailored solutions to nonprofits across the United… Read more »

📜 U.S. Congress Fast-Tracked (Now Failed) Bill To Strip Nonprofits of Their Status Without Due Process (news)

House Vote Analysis H.R. 9495 Yea Nay Not Voting Democratic 52 125 13 Republican 198 1 21 Total Vote Breakdown Total Yeas: 250 Total Nays: 126 Not Voting: 34 Required for 2/3 majority: 290 votes (of 435 total seats) Party Breakdown Democrats: 52 Yea, 125 Nay, 13 Not Voting Republicans: 198 Yea, 1 Nay, 21… Read more »

Halloween Recap: How To Make The Most Of Holidays For Nonprofits (news)

Leveraging Holidays for Nonprofit Fundraising: Insights and Strategies In this week’s episode of the Nonprofit News Feed, George Weiner, Chief Whaler of Whole Whale, and Nick Azulay, Digital Strategist, delve into innovative fundraising strategies for nonprofits, focusing on leveraging holidays to boost donations. As the holiday season approaches, they highlight the potential of using cultural… Read more »

“Extractive Empathy” & The Hidden Costs of Donation-Based Crowdfunding Platforms

Exploring ‘Extractive Empathy’ and the Dynamics of Nonprofit Fundraising In this episode of the Nonprofit News Feed, hosts George Weiner, Chief Whaler of Whole Whale, and Nick Azoulay, Digital Strategist at Whole Whale, dive into the intricacies of nonprofit news with a focus on the concept of “extractive empathy.” The episode begins with a discussion… Read more »

💻😳 Fallout Continues Between WordPress & For-Profit Competitor (news)

In this week’s episode of the Nonprofit Newsfeed by Whole Whale, hosts George Weiner, Chief Whaler, and Nick Azulay, Senior Digital Strategy Manager, delve into significant developments affecting the nonprofit sector. They kick off with an enticing offer from Whole Whale University, providing a substantial discount on their end-of-year course bundle, aimed at empowering nonprofit… Read more »

Navigating Nonprofit Cybersecurity and Global Funding Challenges

In this episode of the Nonprofit News Feed, George Weiner, Chief Whaler of Whole Whale, and Nick Azulay, Digital Strategist, delve into pressing nonprofit sector issues, with a focus on cybersecurity threats and global funding challenges. They also highlight a significant philanthropic initiative by Melinda French Gates. Key Topics and Insights: Call to Action: Nonprofits are… Read more »

Whole Whale Releases Nonprofit Advertising 2024 Research (news)

Nonprofit Ad Spend Trends and Disaster Relief Efforts: Key Insights from This Week’s Nonprofit News In this week’s episode of the Nonprofit News Feed, George Weiner, Chief Whaler of Whole Whale, and Nick Azulay, Digital Strategist, delve into Whole Whale’s newly released 2024 nonprofit advertising study. This original research, in partnership with Cause IQ, analyzes… Read more »

We Let An AI Talk About Our GivingTuesday Predictions 🤑

Digital Agency Whole Whale Announces Official 2024 GivingTuesday Predictions See what Google’s new podcast-generating AI has to say about it at 5:50 into the episode! Digital agency Whole Whale, the publishers of this podcast, have announced their annual GivingTuesday generosity predictions. Based on Whole Whale analysis that incorporates an adjusted linear regression, trends in Google Search… Read more »

Nonprofit Digital Engagement Report Finds Nonprofits Embracing AI & Digital For Program Success 

Main Topics: Key Insights: Quotes and Statistics: Closing Thought: The nonprofit sector is rapidly evolving with the adoption of digital technologies and AI, but it faces significant challenges, from legal battles over racial equity to the need for better economic data. These developments highlight the sector’s resilience and adaptability, underscoring the importance of continued advocacy and… Read more »

2 Special Guests Talk about Time Tribbles and AI

Time tribbles and AI article. Transcript [00:00:00] There are, are two special guests that I have brought on to talk about cause writer, AI and the different things it can do as well as this concept that we have been talking about. [00:00:14] Called time Tribbles and well, I’ll just let these two folks. Talk… Read more »

Internet History Hinges On One Nonprofit 🌐🏛️ (news)

Nonprofit News Roundup: Internet Archive’s Legal Battle, AmeriCorps Grants, and Addressing Child Malnutrition Hosted by George Weiner and Nick Azulay of Whole Whale Key Topics Covered: Reflective Thought: The Internet Archive’s legal struggles highlight the delicate balance between copyright protection and the preservation of digital history. As nonprofits, understanding these dynamics is crucial for safeguarding… Read more »

YOU are not the hero – Your Donor is | Interview with Dr. JJ Peterson StoryBrand

This week’s podcast features an enlightening conversation with Dr. JJ Peterson, head of StoryBrand and co-host of the Marketing Made Simple podcast. Dr. Peterson shares his expertise on how nonprofits can leverage the StoryBrand framework to clarify their messaging and engage donors more effectively. With a background in both the nonprofit and for-profit sectors, he… Read more »

Musk Sues Nonprofit Out of Existence; Tech NPOs Loose Steam (news)

Episode Overview: In this episode, George and Nick dive into critical nonprofit news, including Elon Musk’s legal battle with a nonprofit advertising group, the financial struggles of tech nonprofits post-pandemic, and a wave of funding cuts impacting local nonprofits. They also share updates on the digital divide and a unique initiative in Kansas to claim… Read more »

Managing Nonprofit Brand Safety & Presence On LLMs: What You Need To Know 💻 ❓

Main Topics: Special Guests: Critical Insights: Quotes: Calls to Action: Closing Thought: The digital landscape is rapidly evolving with AI and LLMs at the forefront. Nonprofits must adapt to these changes to maintain their visibility and effectiveness. Proper governance and strategic planning, especially in areas like planned giving, are crucial for long-term success.

Universal Basic Income Pilot and Nonprofit Trends: Insights and Implications (news)

Universal Basic Income Pilot and Nonprofit Trends: Insights and Implications Hosts: George Weiner (Chief Whaler, Whole Whale) and Nick Azulay (Senior Strategy Manager, Whole Whale) Main Topics: Feel-Good Story: Closing Thought:

SPECIAL EPISODE: Project Management For Nonprofits w/ Special Guest Kathleen Daniels!

Episode Highlights: Key Takeaways: Closing Thought: Kathleen’s insights underscore the importance of efficient project management in the nonprofit sector. By prioritizing tasks, leveraging the right tools, and supporting team members, nonprofits can enhance their impact and drive meaningful change.

SCOTUS Thinks Homelessness Is A Crime ⚖️ (news)

Supreme Court Ruling Criminalizes HomelessnessIn a controversial decision, the Supreme Court ruled in a 6-3 vote that the city of Grants Pass, Oregon, did not violate the Eighth Amendment by criminalizing homelessness. This ruling has far-reaching implications, allowing cities to enforce ordinances that penalize behaviors associated with being unhoused, such as sleeping or camping on… Read more »

Nonprofit News Feed Podcast: Trust in Nonprofits Rises, Local Journalism Fund, and Innovative Solutions (news)

Main Host Update This week’s episode is a special solo edition hosted by Nick Azulay. George, CEO and founder of Whole Whale, is on paternity leave after welcoming a new baby. Congratulations to George and his family! Key Topics Covered: Critical Insights and Quotes: Calls to Action: Closing Thought: In a time of widespread distrust,… Read more »

AI Transparency, Environmental Impact, and Ethical Tech Shifts (news)

Nonprofit News Feed: AI Transparency, Environmental Impact, and Ethical Tech Shifts Hosted by George Weiner and Nick Azulay of Whole Whale Main Topics: Feel-Good Story: Critical Insights: Call to Action: Closing Thought:

Are These Organizations Still Nonprofits? PGA, OpenAI, NCAA (news)

Are These Organizations Still Nonprofits? A Deep Dive into Nonprofit Status and the Blurring Lines Overview This week on the Nonprofit Newsfeed, George Weiner, Chief Whaler of Whole Whale, and Nick Azulay, Senior Manager of Digital Strategy at Whole Whale, delve into the complex and evolving landscape of nonprofit status. They question whether certain large… Read more »

AI in the Nonprofit Sector: Revolutionizing Social Change (news)

Hosts: George Weiner (Chief Whaler, Whole Whale), Nick Azulay (Senior Manager Digital Strategy, Whole Whale) This week’s episode of the Nonprofit Newsfeed dives deep into the growing influence of AI in the nonprofit sector. George Weiner and Nick discuss the latest trends, challenges, and opportunities, highlighting key stories and developments. Main Topics Critical Insights Quotes… Read more »

Round-up for Charity on the Rise (news)

Would you like to round-up for charity? Point-of-sale donations, especially “round-up” campaigns, have seen a significant surge in recent years, raising millions of dollars for various charitable causes. In 2022, these campaigns brought in $749 million, a 24% increase from 2020. A recent survey conducted by Binghamton University faculty revealed that 53% of Americans give… Read more »

Seth Godin on Unlocking Positive Auctions for Fundraising with GoodBids.org

In this episode of the Whole Whale Podcast, host George Weiner sits down with Seth Godin, bestselling author, entrepreneur, and founder of GoodBids.org, to discuss how nonprofits can innovate their fundraising strategies and engage donors more effectively. Seth introduces the concept of positive auctions, a new approach to fundraising where every bid is a non-refundable… Read more »

Exploring AI in Nonprofits: Insights from Seth Godin & Latest Tech Updates (news)

📌 This week on the Nonprofit News Feed: Join George Weiner, Chief Whaler at Whole Whale, and Nick Azulay, Digital Strategist, as they dive into the latest developments affecting the nonprofit sector. 🔹 Special Guest: Get insights from Seth Godin on raising over $70,000 through positive auctions with GoodBids.org. 🔹 AI Advancements: Discover the implications… Read more »

Navigating Google’s Core Update and Nonprofit Impacts (news)

Episode Summary: Navigating Google’s Core Update and Nonprofit Impacts In this episode of the Nonprofit News Feed, George Weiner, Chief Whaler of Whole Whale, and Nick Azoulay, Digital Strategist at Whole Whale, delve into the recent Google core update and its implications for nonprofits. They also cover other significant news, including personnel changes at the… Read more »

Seasons of Growth: A Gardener’s Approach to Nonprofit Expansion

In an enlightening episode of our nonprofit-focused podcast, we had the pleasure of speaking with Michael Randel, the visionary founder and director of Randel Consulting Associates. Michael, a distinguished member of the nonprofit ISD network, shared his innovative framework known as the “Seasons of Change,” offering a fresh lens through which nonprofits can view growth… Read more »

Deepfake AI & Nonprofits (news)

🌟 Episode Highlight: Adapting to Google’s Algorithm Updates and the Power of AI in Nonprofit Marketing In the most recent episode of Whole Whale’s nonprofit news feed, George Weiner, Chief Whaler, alongside digital strategist Nick Pazerle, embarked on a comprehensive discussion beginning with the pressing challenges presented by Google’s recent core updates. These updates, particularly… Read more »

Digital Frontiers and Legal Battles over Homelessness (news)

**Whole Whale Podcast Episode: Innovations, Advocacy, and the Future of Nonprofit Strategy** In this enlightening episode of the Whole Whale Podcast, George Weiner, alongside digital strategist Nick Azoulay, unravels a series of compelling updates and discussions that span the gamut of nonprofit innovation, legal advocacy, and strategic insights aimed at navigating the dynamic landscape of… Read more »

Playing with Udio for Nonprofits

As I listened to the hauntingly beautiful song we generated with a single prompt on UDIO, I couldn’t help but reflect on the words of John Philip Sousa from over a century ago. In 1905, he warned that recordings would lead to the demise of music, fearing that people would no longer submit themselves to… Read more »

Navigating New Legislation and Transforming Climate Anxiety into Action (news)

Legislation Impacting Nonprofits: A Mixed Bag of Pros and Cons This week’s focus begins with a dive into the Kids Online Safety Act (COSA), legislation aimed at enhancing online protections for minors. Despite its bipartisan support and backing by over 200 organizations, COSA has sparked controversy among nonprofits, with debates centering around free speech concerns… Read more »

Is it time to take Crypto Donations Seriously? 2024 Trends From The Giving Block

This podcast discusses the current state and future potential of cryptocurrency philanthropy, featuring Pat Duffy from The Giving Block based on their 2024 Crypto Philanthropy Trends and Predictions report. The main topics covered include: The podcast emphasizes the importance of nonprofits embracing cryptocurrency as a giving method, making it easily accessible to donors, and actively… Read more »

Debunking Tax Deduction Myths & Navigating New Philanthropy Trends (news)

This Week’s Highlights: Tax Deductions and Corporate Philanthropy Shifts Welcome back to the Nonprofit News Feed with your hosts, George Weiner, Chief Whaler of Whole Whale, and Digital Strategist Nick Azulay. This week, we dive into the misconceptions surrounding charitable donations and tax deductions, and explore the evolving landscape of corporate philanthropy. Myth-Busting Tax Deductions… Read more »

AI’s Impact on Nonprofit Sector: Language Translation, Education, and Philanthropy Trends (news)

This week on Nonprofit News Feed, George Weiner and Nick Azoulay of Whole Whale discuss the potential implications of AI-powered language translation for the nonprofit sector, survey data on AI adoption in nonprofits, and optimistic predictions for philanthropic giving in the coming years. The conversation kicks off with reflections on an article from The Atlantic… Read more »

Mackenzie Scott’s Millions, Catholic Charities Under Fire, and the Battle for DEI (news)

Transcript of NonprofitNewsfeed.com summary by CauseWriter.ai   Nonprofit News Roundup: Mackenzie Scott’s Millions, Catholic Charities Under Fire, and the Battle for DEI 🎙️ **Mackenzie Scott’s Philanthropic Impact and the Nonprofit Lottery**In this episode of the nonprofit newsfeed, your hosts George and Nick from Whole Whale dive into Mackenzie Scott’s latest philanthropic move, where she donated a staggering $640 million… Read more »

ACLU: Time is TickTocking on Rights (news)

ACLU & Nonprofit Coalition Calls On Congress To Reject TikTok Bill The ACLU rejected calls by Congress last week to ban TikTok or force its sale to an American entity as part of a broader outcry from civil society over concerns with the legislation. Last week, the House of Representatives passed the bill known as… Read more »

Nonprofit Sector Reaches for the Stars: First Nonprofit-Backed Satellite Launches (news)

Nonprofitnewsfeed.com Critical Insights, Statistics, and Quotes: Calls to Action: Closing Thought: The nonprofit sector continues to innovate and push boundaries, from space missions to social justice, demonstrating the power of focused efforts and strategic partnerships on Earth and beyond. Let’s celebrate these milestones and brace for the challenges ahead, always remembering the core mission of… Read more »

Nonprofit Donation Loophole, NYPD ‘Kettling’ and Anti-DEI Map (news)

The episode covers the Open AI lawsuit filed by Elon Musk, the NYPD mandated to change protest response tactics, the rise of anti-DEI bills in several states, the history of Women’s History Month, and ends with a lighthearted dad joke. The hosts also discuss the behind-the-scenes tactics of editing and adapting content for YouTube and… Read more »

IVF, NRA, and Deforestation: Nonprofit (News)

Title: Nonprofit News Highlights: IVF Information, NRA Verdict, and Deforestation Crisis In this week’s edition of Nonprofit News Feed, we dive into three major stories that are making headlines in the nonprofit sector. From the legal implications of IVF to the NRA’s guilty verdict, and the alarming increase in deforestation, these stories highlight the ongoing… Read more »

Honoring Jimmy Carter, ESG & B Corps Scrutiny (news)

Nonprofit News Digest: Honoring Jimmy Carter, ESG & B Corps Scrutiny, and a Homeless Advocacy Victory This week’s episode of the Nonprofit News Feed, hosted by George Weiner, Chief Whaler of Whole Whale, and Digital Strategist Nick Azulay, celebrates President’s Day with a tribute to former President Jimmy Carter’s legacy in the nonprofit sector. The… Read more »

Nonprofit Gets Their Feet Wet With $17M Jesus-Themed Super Bowl Spots (news)

A 60-second ad spot and an additional 15-second spot for the ad campaign “He Gets Us” made a stir for being among the largest ad buys for a registered charity. The ads featured images of people washing the feet of others within diverse circumstances and environments and closed with an acknowledgment of Jesus’ non-discriminatory feet… Read more »

How The Nonprofit Sector Lost Out On $17 Billion (news)

How The Nonprofit Sector Lost Out On $17 Billion In The Soon-To-Lapse Charitable Deduction Act In a giving season when many smaller and medium-sized nonprofit organizations wonder about how to retain and expand their small-dollar donors in relation to stagnant donations, perhaps one of the more salient solutions is about to expire. House Resolution (H.R.)… Read more »

GoFundMe’s Charitable Gap & Ocean Cleanup Concerns (news)

Nonprofit Newsfeed Highlights: GoFundMe’s Charitable Gap, Ocean Cleanup Concerns, and AI’s Role in Preserving Indigenous Languages GoFundMe’s Charitable Chasm Exposed In this episode, George Weiner delves into the disparities in GoFundMe’s distribution of disaster funds. A New York Times analysis revealed that households with incomes over $150,000 received 28% more aid than those under $75,000… Read more »

Billionaire Philanthropy Shifts & EU Greenwashing Crackdown (news)

Free weekly news summary: NonprofitNewsFeed.com Billionaire Philanthropy Shifts and EU Greenwashing Crackdown: Nonprofit News Feed Insights In this episode of the Nonprofit News Feed, George Weiner, Chief Whaler, alongside Nick Azulay, delves into the philanthropic strategy shifts at the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI) and the broader influence of high-net-worth individuals in the nonprofit sector. Amidst… Read more »

Aid or Obstacle? Debating USAID’s Food Program and its Impact on Global Hunger (news)

Nonprofit Sector Confronts International Aid Challenges and Navigates Donor Dynamics In this week’s episode of the Nonprofit News Feed by Whole Whale, hosts George and Nick delve into pressing issues within the nonprofit world, including the complexities of the USAID food program, philanthropic trends in New York City, and the unpredictable nature of billionaire-backed philanthropy.… Read more »

2024 What Nonprofit Marketers Need to Know (news)

Read full 2024 Predictions and what nonprofit marketers should plan for in 2024. Nonprofit Newsfeed & Whole Whale Podcast Episode Summary Episode Title: Navigating Nonprofit Digital Marketing Trends for 2024 In this insightful episode, hosts George Weiner and Nick Azulay of Whole Whale discuss essential digital marketing trends that nonprofit professionals should be aware of… Read more »

+Half of Teenagers on Social “Almost Constantly” & Stop Planting Trees? (news)

Conversation Summary: Teen Social Media Usage: Pew Research Center study highlights that nearly half of US teens are online almost constantly, a steep rise from 24% in 2014-2015. Smartphone Access: 95% of teens have or can access a smartphone. TikTok Usage: 58% of teens use TikTok daily; 17% nearly constantly. Role of Nonprofits: Organizations like… Read more »

Buffett Vs Mackenzie Comparing Giving & ACLU Backing NRA (news)

Meet the Faces of Crypto Philanthropy | The Giving Block Based on the “Faces of Crypto Philanthropy” article by The Giving Block, the most generous donor appears to be Vitalik Buterin, co-founder of Ethereum. He has donated cryptocurrencies valued at over $1 billion to various causes, including COVID-19 relief, medical research, and Ukraine humanitarian aid.… Read more »

Stop Hiring ”Development Officers” & Other Secrets to Scaling Altruism | Author Donald Summers

Guest Details Donald SummersFounder and CEO of Altruist PartnersAuthor of “Scaling Altruism”Founder of Altruist Accelerator (altruistaccelerator.org) Conversation Summary Altruist Partners’ Mission:For 17 years, they’ve helped social enterprises and nonprofits worldwide to scale their revenue and impact. They established a nonprofit to maximize the dissemination of their methodology. The Book “Scaling Altruism”:Serves as a curriculum for… Read more »

Giving Tuesday $3.1B Misses the Mark – why? (news)

Today’s podcast delves into several significant topics in the non-profit sector. The U.S. has pledged $3 billion to the Climate Action Fund at COP28, highlighting efforts to help nations most affected by climate change, like island nations at existential risk. The discussion acknowledges the importance of this funding, even as it’s debated whether it’s sufficient.… Read more »

#GivingTuesday (news) & What happens when Nonprofit boards fail?

The Associated Press reports on the increasing importance of GivingTuesday for nonprofits, especially amid concerns of declining donations. GivingTuesday, which began as a hashtag in 2012, has grown into a significant fundraising event where many nonprofits leverage matching campaigns to maximize donations. The end of the year traditionally sees a surge in charitable giving. The… Read more »

Nonprofit Board Fires Sam Altman At OpenAI In High-Stakes Drama (news)

So, what happens when a nonprofit board meets with a Silicon Valley CEO? The two factions of OpenAI clashed like the resistance fighting the empire in a scene from Star Wars but with fewer special effects. Here’s what we think is happening based on reports… OpenAI, initially a non-profit dedicated to beneficial AI development, has… Read more »

5 Biggest Mistakes Made in Strategic Planning

We interviewed Carol Hamilton from Gracesocialsector.com about how nonprofit strategic planning could be improved. Not involving enough people. Often only senior leadership and the board do the planning, thinking they alone have the vision. But all levels of staff should participate to gain buy-in. Surprisingly, there is often 80% agreement on goals across roles. Failing… Read more »

$2B FINE for #rollingcoal & Mr. Beast Build (news)

DOJ Going After Ebay For “Coal Rolling” Devices The Department of Justice has filed a complaint against Ebay alleging that the company let over 343,000 after-market “coal rolling” devices be purchased on the platform, according DOJ paperwork filed in Brooklyn federal court. CBS News reports that Ebay claims the complaint by the DOJ “unprecedented” and that the… Read more »

Only 15% of Nonprofit Employees Took Advantage of this (news)

PSLF Program Eliminated $51 Billion In Student Debt For Public & NPO As reported by Philanthropy.com, the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program, initiated in 2007, was designed to alleviate student debts for those dedicating a decade to nonprofits or government roles. However, the program was largely unknown and challenging to secure until recent rule… Read more »

Can a 100-year-old Nonprofit turn on ecommerce? (news)

Weekly nonprofit news.  Goodwill Moves to Ecommerce with GoodwillFinds Goodwill is trying to grow its online sales in order to generate more revenue to fund its job training and employment assistance programs. The nonprofit is facing increasing competition from for-profit resale sites like ThredUp and Poshmark. Goodwill recently launched GoodwillFinds, an ecommerce site where 14… Read more »

Why Fiscal Sponsorship is a Great Way to Start a Nonprofit

We interview  Andrew Schulman, founder of Schulman Consulting an expert in dealing with Fiscal Sponsorships. Here are some of the largest fiscal sponsors if you want to get started.  Key points about fiscal sponsorship from the conversation: A fiscal sponsorship allows a new project or group to operate under the legal and tax-exempt status of an… Read more »

Why Gov Shutdowns Hurt Nonprofits (news)

Ouster of GOP Speaker Hampers Ability of Congress To Function Amid Looming Shutdown The ouster of House GOP Speaker Kevin McCarthy nearly two weeks ago continues to hamper the ability of the legislative branch to advance policy, even as the spectre of a government shutdown continues to loom large. Nonprofits like the National Low Income… Read more »

How ChatGPT Ruins the RFP Process & How to Solve

Nonprofit RFPs vs RFCs [00:00:00] . Following on with our favorite guest of the moment right now, Heather Yandow, of course, founder of nonprofit.ist, nonprofit ist, and consultant at third Space. We are talking about whether or not, because this has been coming up a lot, will G p t destroy RFPs? And I know… Read more »

(news) War in Israel & GivingTuesday Predictions

War Breaks Out In Israel & Gaza, & What It Means For Nonprofits A horrific terrorist attack by Hamas into Israel ignited the region into chaos and war, making the prospect of peace seem ever more distant. The ground invasion by Hamas (the de facto government of Gaza) shocked Israel and the world. As of… Read more »

NYC Floods, Nonprofit Hospital Fails (news)

NYC Floods Underscore Lack of Climate Resilience In America’s Biggest City Floods last week left New Yorkers bewildered, as typically dry streets became overrun with water as documented in videos and pictures. The floods, which particularly impact Brooklyn & Queens, renewed calls from New Yorkers to double down on climate resiliency in America’s most densely… Read more »

Lithium Reserves Pit Climate Resilience Against Indigenous Calls To Protect Land (news)

Lithium reserves discovered in 2020 have recently renewed excitement over the United States’ ability to be self-sufficient when it comes to mining lithium, according to reporting from Insider and others. Newly-released findings suggest that the volume of lithium is among the most concentrated of known deposits, and could make the site a strategic goldmine for… Read more »

Climate Protests, Ashton Kutcher resigns, Meta fundraising update (news)

UN General Assembly Marked By Climate Protests Both In U.S. And Abroad On September 16, 2023, thousands of climate change protesters, predominately youth activists, poured into the streets of Lower Manhattan as part of a global week of demonstrations leading up to the UN General Assembly, according to The New York Times. The New York… Read more »

Day of Service for 9/11 & Pay Gap at Nonprofits (news)

Opening of New Performing Arts Center Coincides With Commemoration of The Events of September 11th Every year, the week of September 11th is a week of commemoration. New York is filled with stories of this day — stories of loss, of bravery, of sacrifice, of reunion. But perhaps most visible, the physical World Trade Center,… Read more »

Elon Musk Blames Anti-Defamation League For… (news)

Nonprofit Brings NARCAN over-the-counter A lifesaving medication that reverses opioid overdoses will soon become more accessible, thanks to an innovative nonprofit company. Harm Reduction Therapeutics has received FDA approval for RiVive, the first over-the-counter naloxone nasal spray created by a nonprofit. Available in early 2024, RiVive aims to save lives by providing broad, low-cost access… Read more »

From Dark Money to Digital Petitions: Reclaiming Government With Tech | MapLight.org

Daniel Newman, president and co-founder of MapLight, joins to discuss how their technology improves government transparency and direct democracy. MapLight builds software for state and local governments to provide easy public access to campaign finance data, e-signatures for petitions, and other services. Their goal is to counter the undue influence of money in politics byFrom Dark Money to Digital Petitions: Reclaiming Government With Tech | MapLight.org“>… Read more »

August 28th marks sixty years from Martin Luther King Jr.’s iconic “I Have a Dream” speech (news)

60 Years after a Dream August 28th marks sixty years from Martin Luther King Jr.’s iconic “I Have a Dream” speech during the March on Washington in 1963. To remember the event, tens of thousands gathered again at the Lincoln Memorial on Saturday to declare that King’s dream of racial equality was still unfulfilled. Speakers… Read more »

Who are YOUR people? What is THEIR journey? | The Open Lines Marketing Framework

Interview with Lindsay Dayton LaShell, Marketing Activist at Open Lines Marketing.  Discussion covers social trends on LinkedIn and the Marketing Framework Lindsay has developed: Adopting the Framework is an eight-step process 1. Who else is on your playing field? Call it competitive or landscape research if you want, but understanding who else your audience is finding… Read more »

Charity Telemarketing Scam Costs $22m (news)

Telemarketing Scheme Indictments Surface Warnings On Safe Donation Practices On Thursday, federal officials arrested Richard Zeitlin and Robert Piaro for allegedly defrauding donors of tens of millions of dollars that were meant for political nonprofit groups supporting causes like aid to military veterans and breast cancer research, according to reporting from The New York Times.… Read more »

Why Don’t Governments Want Direct Democracy Online Petitions

We interviewed Evan Ravitz, Guide, Photographer, Writer, Editor. He is the Founder, Strengthen Direct Democracy. They won the 1st ONLINE petitioning for direct democracy (and only).Links: petitions.bouldercolorado.gov http://EvanRavitz.com  Evan’s Summary of the Issuecontact: eravitz@gmail.com “There is one country in the world that for centuries has enjoyed more government by the people than all others put together, with… Read more »

NYC Asylum Seekers in the Street & Milk Money Story (news)

Asylum Seekers Left Stranded Outside Hotel Draws National Attention To NYC’s Migrant Crisis New York City has seen an unprecedented influx of migrants in need of assistance over the past couple of years, with that trend culminating in a high-profile debacle outside the Roosevelt Hotel, where migrants were left stranded on the sidewalk. Throughout last… Read more »

Humanitarians Sound Alarm On Conflict & Atrocities In Sudan While Donors Fall Short (news)

Humanitarians Sound Alarm On Conflict & Atrocities In Sudan While Donors Fall Short Aid groups and international organizations are increasingly sounding the alarm on the humanitarian cost of conflict as Sudan’s civil war rages on. On April 15th, 2023, fighting broke out between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary organization.… Read more »

Green Tax Credits for Nonprofits (news)

The Giving Block Negates the Carbon Footprint of Cryptocurrency Donations | NonProfit PRO FTX to clawback $71.5 million from Bankman-Fried’s NGO | crypto.news Inside Tony Bennett’s charitable efforts as big-hearted star created NYC performing arts public school and non-profit | The US Sun Religious Congregations Taking Advantage of Green Tax Credits The U.S. government is offering billions of dollars in tax… Read more »

Risk of Global Famine is Real (news)

Nonprofitnewsfeed.com Russia Pulls Out Of Black Sea Initiative Risking Global Grain Price & Supply Shock The Black Sea grain export deal, which has facilitated the safe export of grain from Ukraine for the past year and played a significant role in easing a global food crisis, is set to expire after Russia announced it would… Read more »

How much should nonprofits pay consultants?

2022 Survey of Nonprofit Consultants Rates Heather Yandow, founder of Nonprofit.ist shares some topline findings from this survey. Rough Transcript: [00:00:00] This week on the Holywell Podcast, we’re trying to answer a simple question, but it gets really tough. How much should you pay? How much should you charge for a nonprofit consultant? And who… Read more »

Global Warn(m)ing for Social Impact

Earth Repeatedly Sets Record For Hottest Day Ever Recorded, Underpinning Urgency of Protecting Vulnerable Communities Data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the University of Maine show that the period of July 3, 2023 through July 6, 2023 are the four hottest days ever recorded on Earth. Thursday, July 6, set the newest record when… Read more »

Supreme Court Delivers Landmark Rulings On Affirmative Action & Student Loans (news)

Supreme Court Delivers Landmark Rulings On Affirmative Action & Student Loans The Supreme Court recently made two significant rulings, one striking down affirmative action in college admissions and the other rejecting President Biden’s plan to discharge federal student loan debt. The affirmative action decision mandates that colleges and universities seek alternate means to achieve diversity within student… Read more »

LIV Golf Becoming Nonprofit???

PGA Tour’s Nonprofit Status Complicated By LIV Merger Concerns have been raised regarding the future of the nonprofit PGA Tour following its proposed merger with for-profit LIV Golf, supported by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, as reported by The Nonprofit Times and The Washington Post. Despite its intentions to maintain its nonprofit status, this proposed merger has led… Read more »

Rebalancing Literacy in the US – What Nonprofits Need to Do Now… (news)

Fight Over Phonics Forces Curricula Revisions In Number Of U.S. Schools Lucy Calkins, an education professor and creator of the popular “Units of Study” curriculum used by a quarter of U.S. elementary schools, has significantly revised her approach to early reading instruction, as reported by The New York Times. In response to mounting criticism from parents… Read more »

SWAT Raid On Cop City Bail Fund Organizers (news)

SWAT Raid On Cop City Bail Fund Organizers Criticized By Activists The Atlanta Solidarity Fund, a nonprofit that offers bail and legal support to activists, has seen three of its board members arrested on charges of “money laundering” and “charity fraud,” according to reporting by The Intercept and others. The arrests were carried out by the… Read more »

Debt Ceiling Compromise Means Cuts to Assistance (news)

Debt Ceiling Compromise Means Cuts to Assistance The recent debt ceiling deal in the US Congress includes a significant shift in the funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The program’s funding will move from a contingency fund to the regular budget, potentially providing more stability. However, some advocates worry that this change could… Read more »

New Bill Could Increase Nonprofit Charitable Donations (news)

New Bill Could Increase Nonprofit Charitable Donations “The Charitable Act,” a new bill in Congress, was introduced on January 24, 2023, by Senators James Lankford (R-OK) and Chris Coons (D-DE). As reported by The Nonprofit Times explains that the bill would allow anyone who donates to a charity to benefit from both the standard deduction and the… Read more »

”I Can’t Save You” Author Interview: Anthony Chin-Quee

Our interview with Anthony Chin-Quee covers episodes from the book, his experience after publishing and insight into his experience with imposter syndrome. There are also many lessons for leaders in how they prepare the next generation.  Buy the book Brief Summary Anthony Chin-Quee’s ‘I Can’t Save You’ tells the struggles of a Black physician Anthony… Read more »

How to turn $89m in Donations into Robocall Scams (news)

New York Times Investigation Finds Nearly $89 Million Raised Via Robocall Self-Enriching Scheme A New York Times investigation has found that a circle of conservative nonprofits, consultants, and shell companies together formed a self-enrichment scheme. Nonprofits loosely construed around conservative causes including The American Police Officers Alliance used aggressive robocall tactics to solicit small-dollar donors that raised… Read more »

PETA Calls Kentucky Derby a ‘Killing Field’ (news)

PETA Issues Strong Statement Re: Kentucky Derby Horse Deaths Animal rights activist group PETA offered a strong statement as the news of now 7 horse deaths leading up to the Kentucky Derby made waves. PETA’s Senior Vice President Kathy Guillermo issued the following statement: “Churchill Downs is a killing field. Freezing Point is the latest casualty.… Read more »

Pantheon Heroes Depart as Platform Hosts Hate (news)

Pantheon Heroes Depart as Platform Faces Backlash for Hosting Hateful Websites In recent weeks, controversy has erupted over website operations platform Pantheon hosting websites for influential anti-LGBTQ and anti-immigration organizations including Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), designated as hate groups by the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), as reported by ARS Technica. The backlash began on LinkedIn, where several developers… Read more »

The End of Affirmative Action – Nonprofits Impacted (news)

Nonprofit Suit Before Supreme Court Could Upend Affirmative Action In Higher Education The nonprofit organization Students for Fair Admissions’ case against Harvard University and the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, currently before the Supreme Court of the United States, may end the ability for institutions of higher education to engage in race-conscious admissions decisions.… Read more »

Unbelievable Nonprofit Bet on Biomarker Pays off for Parkinson’s (news)

A Decade+ Investment Pays off with Parkinson’s Biomarker Discovery In 2010, the Michael J. Fox Foundation made a BIG bet on investing in researching a biomarker for Parkinson’s Disease (PPMI project). On April 12th it was announced that the bet paid off.  Researchers announced that with the α-synuclein seeding amplification assay (αSyn-SAA), they now have a tool… Read more »

50% Increase in Youth Gun Violence (news)

Nonprofitnewsfeed.com Activists & Nonprofits Mobilize In Response To Shooting & Increase In Child Gun Deaths In Nashville, Tennessee, student activists from March For Our Lives and Students Demand Action (associated with Everytown for Gun Safety) have been protesting for gun reform and school safety, following a school shooting on March 27 that killed three children… Read more »

MacKenzie Scott $250M Open Grant (news)

Scott Announces “Open Call” For No-Strings Grants MacKenzie Scott is launching a $250 million open call for community-focused nonprofits through her organization, Yield Giving, as reported by the Associated Press and others. The initiative aims to provide unrestricted $1 million donations to 250 selected nonprofits with operating budgets between $1 million and $5 million. This marks… Read more »

Building Nonprofit Fundraising Through Grants | GrantWatch.com

We interview Libby Hikind, CEO and founder of GrantWatch.com and GrantWriterTeam.com about what nonprofits need to know about applying for grants. About Libby HikindFind on LinkedIn Libby Hikind is the Founder and CEO of GrantWatch.com, the leading grant funding search engine for nonprofits, businesses, and individuals. Libby holds a post master’s degree in Educational Administration… Read more »

Nonprofit Insulin Maker Wins in CA (news)

State of California Partners With Nonprofit Drugmaker To Produce Affordable Insulin California Gov. Gavin Newsom has announced a $50 million, 10-year contract with nonprofit drugmaker Civica Rx to produce the state’s own line of affordable insulin, CalRx, according to reporting from NPR and other sources. Upon FDA approval, these insulins, which are expected to be interchangeable with popular brand-name insulins, will… Read more »

NGOs Call On U.N. To Advocate For Reproductive Rights In U.S. (news)

NGOs Call On U.N. To Advocate For Reproductive Rights In United States Nearly 200 human rights organizations, including major international NGOs like Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, have sent an “urgent appeal” to the United Nations (UN), calling for the international body to intervene and ensure that the United States protects reproductive rights, as reported… Read more »

Rise of Nonprofit AI – response to OpenAI shift (news)

EleutherAI Seeks To Make Open-Source AI Research a Nonprofit Enterprise As reported by TechCrunch, The EleutherAI community research group is starting a nonprofit research institute, the EleutherAI Institute, which could have significant implications for safe and ethical AI development. The institute will be funded by donations and grants from various sources, including AI startups and former… Read more »

Train Derailment & Environmental Fallout (news)

Train Derailment & Environmental Fallout In East Palestine Leads To Political & Legal Frenzy The train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio has led to a frenzy of political activity, criticisms, lawsuits, investigations, advocacy demands, and conspiracy theories as the fallout from the derailment continues to maintain prominence in the national conversation. The derailment has prompted… Read more »

Is February for Fraud? (news)

Project Veritas CEO Ousted By Board Of Directors James O’Keefe, founder and CEO of the conservative organization Project Veritas has been ousted by the group’s board of directors, according to reporting from The Washington Post and other outlets. O’Keefe was ousted on concerns that his antics threatened the organization’s IRS 501(c)3 tax-deductible status, according to a memo… Read more »

Earthquake Devastation In Turkey & Syria (news)

Devastation In Turkey & Syria As Earthquake Exacerbates Ongoing Crises In Region A devastating 7.8-magnitude earthquake rocked Turkey and Syria last Wednesday, in a region already at the center of the world’s most pressing humanitarian crises. As of writing, the Associated Press reports a death toll surpassing 33,000. The New Humanitarian reports that the region has already been… Read more »

How to Personalize for Purpose on Your Website | Optimonk

We discuss different ways to increase leads on your site through personalization with the Head of Partnerships from Optimonk, Eric Melchor. Website Personalization is the human-centric approach to CRO that focuses on the customers’ needs first. It is about creating more relevant customer journeys that are unique, remarkable, and meaningful on a personal level. A… Read more »

Is Charity Content for Clicks Charitable? The Mr. Beast Debate (news)

Hot Take Debate: Was Mr. Beast’s Cataract Surgery Video charitable? Adam Faircloth joins the debate. https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamfaircloth/ Context:  MR Beast made content around paying for 1k eye surgeries, is this charitable.  the video has 95 million views and was sponsored by Experian. At a rate of $2.13 per CPM, the video has generated at least $200k.  does… Read more »

Buying Voter Files is so 2015 Advocacy – Join 2023 with Quorum

Alex Wirth, Co-founder & CEO of Quorum.us – a leading public affairs software that helps map, track, change, and report on policy landscape, shares insights into advocacy approaches that will work in 2023. Alex ranks: Twitter, IRL meetings, calling, letters, videos, Meta, and billboards as just some of the methods advocacy organizations can be using… Read more »

National Blood Donation Eligibility Update (news)

On Friday the FDA proposed new policy revisions that demonstrate a shift toward more inclusive regulations surrounding blood donation for members of the LGBTQ community and those of various sexual orientations, according to reporting from CNBC and others. In 2015, the lifetime ban on gay men from donating blood was eased to allow those who abstained from… Read more »

Cookie-pocalypse & Fundraising in 2023 | Agility Lab Consulting

Elyse Wallnutt, Founder & Principal at Agility Lab Consulting shares how nonprofit fundraising professionals need to adapt to the removal of 3rd party cookies, dealing with evolving donor privacy laws Resources on GDPR, SHEILD, and CCPA for nonprofits. About Elyse Wallnutt “I specialize in assessing and helping you right-size your internal solutions portfolio – including current-state… Read more »

AmazonSmile Turned Upside Down Cutting $449m CSR Program (news)

Amazon Sunsets AmazonSmile Amid Cost-Cutting  The AmazonSmile will be ending by February 20th, according to a statement from the company, as reported by NPR and others. While the program dispersed nearly $449 million to nonprofits globally, the company says that the donations were spread too thin, minimizing impact. Amazon pointed to other efforts, such as its Housing… Read more »

Using Food Entrepreneurship to Feed Careers | Hot Bread Kitchen

We interview Leslie Abbey, Chief Executive Officer, Hot Bread Kitchen. In this podcast, Leslie shares how HBK is focused on reaching 1,000 “breadwinners’ by 2024 and how it has been leading the organization out of the pandemic. Hot Bread Kitchen programs and services include professional skills training and career programs, job placement, food entrepreneurship and social services support.… Read more »

MLK Day Celebrated by Nonprofits & Santos’ Charity Questions (news)

Nonprofits Energize & Give Back To Communities On MLK Day Nonprofits across the country worked to engage and give back to communities this MLK Day. Virginia nonprofit Rise Against Hunger worked to fill 50,000 bags of food to serve communities in need. The article notes that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. spoke often about hunger, and was… Read more »

Thousands of NYC Nurses Go On Strike As Hospital & Union Talks Fall Apart (news)

Thousands of NYC Nurses Go On Strike As Hospital & Union Talks Fall Apart A dramatic, last-ditch effort to avert a strike failed this weekend, leading nurses at two major NYC hospitals to go on strike, according to reporting from Politico and others. Approximately 7,000 nurses at Montefiore Medical Center and Mount Sinai Hospital went on… Read more »

Mastodon Embraces Nonprofit Status (news)

Mastodon Embraces Nonprofit Status As Potential Industry Model Mastodon, an open-source microblogging site, has rejected offers from more than five US-based investors in recent months, according to reporting from Ars Technica. The platform’s non-profit status is “untouchable,” according to its founder Eugen Rochko. Mastodon has similar features to Twitter but is made up of many decentralized,… Read more »

Where Did MacKenzie’s Billions Get Donated? (news)

Nonprofitnewsfeed.com MacKenzie Scott Releases Comprehensive List Grant Recipients MacKenzie Scott has released a comprehensive database of all the nonprofit organizations that have received grants from her over the past several years. Scott has in many ways upended the philanthropy sector with the sheer volume and size of the grants, as well as their “no strings attached” nature. The… Read more »

Helping 40,000 Young Entrepreneurs | Sky’s The Limit

Interview with co-founder and CEO of Sky’s The Limit ,Bo Ghirardelli. Bo discusses how they built a youth entrepreneurship network that has supported over 40k young people. Learn how Sky’s The Limit leverages corporate partners to help achieve its mission.  Links: Success stories Twitter Corporate partnerships Rough Transcript [00:00:00] Today on the podcast, we have… Read more »

CVS CSR Needs Health Check (news)

CVS Shows “Pledges” Do Not Equal Direct “Donations” In November 2021, US pharmaceutical giant CVS’s social responsibility team announced a $10 million commitment to the American Diabetes Association (ADA) to be delivered over three years, as reported by Quartz. However, what CVS omitted is that the donations collected from customers through in-store fundraising weren’t going to… Read more »

#GivingTuesday Predictions: Search Is Down, Hope Is Up (news)

2022 Giving Tuesday Predictions: Search Is Down, Hope Is Up Whole Whale, the publishers of this newsletter, predict a record-setting $3.2 billion will be donated for Giving Tuesday this year. The prediction is the result of an analysis based on an adjusted linear regression, trends in Google Search terms around “Giving Tuesday,” and national giving trends.… Read more »

Controversy in Qatar & Giving Tuesday is Coming (news)

Qatar World Cup Centers International Human Rights Issues, Corruption, And Sportswashing The 2022 FIFA World Cup is underway in Qatar in a climate marred by years of controversies related to human rights issues, corruption, and influence peddling. While this is the first time the games will be held in an Arab country, Qatar’s bid was a… Read more »

Maximizing Corporate Event Fundraising | Move for Hunger

Conversation with Adam Lowy, Founder and ED of Move For Hunger. Adam shares about the landscape of food insecurity in the US and the need for year-round support for food banks – not just around Thanks Giving.  Move for Hunger is also succeeding with great in person truck pulling events that raise food, funds and… Read more »

FTX Collapse & Effective Altruism (news)

What The FTX Collapse Does & Does Not Mean For Crypto Philanthropy & Effective Altruism  Crypto-exchange FTX, one of the largest such exchanges, collapsed last week, leaving the cryptocurrency world in disbelief as stakeholders try to piece together what happened and what comes next. The company’s founder Sam Bankman-Fried (known by the moniker SBF) was a… Read more »

The Power Law of Large Donors | Causevox

Rob Wu, Founder of Causevox.com shares lessons learned from talking to over 100 large gift officers and donors. Learn about the BAIT approach to donor qualification. BAIT – Budget, Affinity, Intension, Timeliness  About Causevox 11 years ofexperience We launched in 2010 and help nonprofits rally communities and raise millions every year. 1500+customers From small community-service… Read more »

Crypto DAFs are 3X MORE Generous that Traditional DAFs | Endaoment.org

Alexis Miller, Donor Engagement and Strategic Partnerships Lead at Endaoment.org shares how crypto DAFs work and why nonprofits should start paying attention. When compared with traditional DAF payouts, Endaoment is showing 3x payout rate of funds- 22% to 58%.  We also discuss other ways crypto donors differ from traditional fiat donors. About Alexis Miller Alexis Miller… Read more »

Greenpeace: ”Recycling is Futile” (news)

Reality of Recycling Comes To Forefront As Environmental Concerns Peak  Nonprofit Greenpeace has released a new report acknowledging the gross inefficiencies and near futility of recycling, as reported by Grist. The report highlights that even while the use of plastics across the world surges, the amount of plastic that gets recycled has decreased, a symptom of a solution… Read more »

Voter Engagement Can’t Be One-and-Done | Voter Empowerment Project

Interview with Dave Chandrasekaran, Co-founder and Executive Director of the Voter Empowerment Project. VEP leverages skilled volunteers to help front-line community-based organizations that work on voter engagement. Dave shares how they engage volunteers to support communities over time rather than just every 2 years.  Learn how trust was built with CBO’s over time and how… Read more »

Terrifying Twitter Trends – Nonprofits React (news)

Reactions, And Worries, As Musk Twitter’s Takeover Is Finalized Elon Musk’s $44 Billion takeover of Twitter was completed last week, with Musk officially becoming the owner and de-facto CEO of the influential social media platform. The drawn-out saga of the acquisition, which at times seemed like it would fall through, marks the beginning of a… Read more »

Girl Scouts Get $85 Million Historical Donation (news)

Girl Scouts Get $85 Million Donation From MacKenzie Scott MacKenzie Scott, known for historic billion-dollar donations continues to change nonprofits’ fortunes, this time with an $85 million donation to the Girl Scouts of USA. The donation is the single largest donation in the organization’s history since its founding in 1912, and will help the organization… Read more »

“Big Lie” -Affiliated Nonprofits Scrutinized by FBI (news)

“Big Lie” -Affiliated Nonprofits Scrutinized By Authorities On Eve of Midterm General Election Two organizations associated with the “Big Lie,” the disproved conspiracy that Donald Trump won the 2020 presidential election, face scrutiny for financial impropriety. The Arizona Attorney General (a Republican who as recently as 2020 courted Trump’s endorsement) has asked the FBI and… Read more »

10th Annual Giving Tuesday: Predictions & Strategies | Big Duck

Discussion with Farra Trompeter, Co-director of Big Duck, and George Weiner about the 10th anniversary of Giving Tuesday. How can we be unique in a crowded spaghetti bowl of communications? How should your organization approach this year’s event on November 29th?  Will Giving Tuesday raise a new record on the day? Whole Whale predicts it… Read more »

Marijuana Win For Social Justice (news)

In Win For Criminal Justice Advocates, Biden Pardons Marijuana Charges & Orders Evaluation of Cannabis Scheduling The Biden Administration announced last week a series of pardons for those charged on federal, simple marijuana possession charges, in a win for criminal justice reform advocates. The legacy of the Nixon Administration’s “War On Drugs” is still felt… Read more »

What is the CURE for medical debt? | RIPMedicalDebt.org

On this episode, Allison Sesso, the CEO & President of RIP Medical Debt talks about their unique approach to alleviating medical debt of Americans. By leveraging medical debt markets and partnering with hospitals, RIP Medical Debt is able to achieve 100X leverage on every dollar donated to wipe out debt at scale. Resource: Medical debt… Read more »

Should Nonprofits Takeover ESG & Hurricane Ian (news)

Discussions of Corporate ESG Ratings Should Be Monitored By Nonprofit Industry More and more, discussions about the efficacy, morality, and financial benefit of ESG-rated publicly-traded companies on the stock market are becoming commonplace. At nonprofitnewsfeed.com, we think that nonprofits need to be equipped with the context needed to engage both prospective donors and the public at… Read more »

Nonprofits Respond To Hurricane In Puerto Rico (news)

Nonprofits Respond To Hurricane In Puerto Rico Puerto Rico felt the brunt of hurricane Fiona last week, shutting power to the island and devastating everything from homes to agriculture as severe flooding uprooted life yet again in communities. Puerto Rico, still recovering from hurricane Maria which landed back in 2017, again finds itself in need… Read more »

Pooh & Public Domain Creative Opportunities | MarketingArtfully.com

The copyright on Winnie-the-Pooh by A. A. Milne officially moved into the public domain this year. What does that actually mean?  How might nonprofits use public domain characters like this to help tell their story? Tara Jacobson is the owner of MarketingArtfully.com with over 20 years experience in the marketing industry. She helps us break… Read more »

Patagonia Goes ALL-IN on Nonprofits (news)

Patagonia Goes All-in Transferring Ownership to Nonprofit The private B Corp company Patagonia, known for outdoor gear and its outspoken position on the environment has transferred its ownership to a nonprofit (reported by The NonProfit Times). The company, worth an estimated $3 Billion, is transferring 98% of non-voting stock to the Holdfast Collective a 501(c)(4), and 2%… Read more »

Donate Now, Pay Later Explained by B Generous

Conversation with Dom Kalms, the CEO and Founder of B Generous. B Generous allows for donors to donate now, and pay later. We discuss how this technology works, how nonprofits get money upfront and donors are allowed to pay back the loan interest-free over 9 months.  There are new giving opportunities that are opened up… Read more »

GOP Senate Ads $180M Fail & NAACP NC Loses Nonprofit Status (news)

GOP-Tied NRSC Mismanaged Fundraising In Lead-Up To Crucial Midterm Elections The National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), the fundraising and campaign arm of the Senate Republicans, is facing backlash from its own party as details of how it lost millions on an ill-concieved fundraising strategy emerge. The NRSC, chaired by Rick Scott, managed to take in… Read more »

Public Service & Student Debt Forgiveness (news)

Biden Announces $10k, $20k Student Loan Forgiveness For Most Borrowers The Biden administration announced last week that up to $10k of federal student loan debt would be forgiven for eligible borrowers, including up to $20k for Pell Grant recipients. The sweeping announcement was a controversial policy move but nonetheless a major one, with tens of millions of… Read more »

What is SHADOW moderation & how is it silencing speech?

A deep conversation on the topic of shadow moderation, a feature that lets moderators on platforms like Facebook and Reddit censor posts without alerting the person who posted it. We discuss how pernicious this problem is at scale with Rob Hawkins, the founder of Reveddit, which is a tool that lets users discover which of… Read more »

$1.6B Donation to Conservative Nonprofit (news)

Low-Profile Donor Gives $1.6 Billion To Conservative Political Nonprofit Barre Seid, an “electronics manufacturing mogul,” has donated over $1.6 billion to the conservative political nonprofit Marble Freedom Trust, according to reporting from The New York Times. The 501(c)4 nonprofit, led by a prominent conservative political operator, represents the largest single donation to a political organization ever… Read more »

Historic Environmental Bill Passes (news)

Nonprofits & Environmental Groups React To Landmark Inflation Reduction Act Legislation The Inflation Reduction Act was signed into law by the Biden White House shortly after passing through the Senate and House of Representatives in what has become a dramatic and unexpected win for Democrats and environmental activists alike. The new legislation is the largest… Read more »

No Amnesty for NGO Report on Ukraine (news)

Amnesty International Triggers Global Criticism For Problematic Report Lacking Vital Context Amnesty International published a new report as part of its ongoing reporting on the war in Ukraine that has been widely criticized as lacking critical context and framing, triggering both internal and external condemnation. The report criticizes the Ukrainian military for violating “international humanitarian law” by… Read more »

Trevor Project CEO Scrutiny for Past Pharma Consulting (news)

Nonprofit News. Trevor Project CEO Under Fire For Purdue Pharma Consulting Work Trevor Project CEO Amit Paley is coming under internal pressure from staff for previous consulting work done at McKinsey for Purdue Pharma, according to reporting from Teen Vogue. (The first revelations were published by the Huffington Post.)  Purdue Pharma, responsible for bringing OxyContin to market,… Read more »

What does a unified NGO rating system look like? (news)

Charity Navigator To Unveil New, Unified Charity Rating System Charity Navigator, the 501(c)3 charity rating organization, has provided additional information on the proposed changes to their new rating system. The new system, according to a release, will “will bring together our legacy Charity Navigator 2.1 (Star) system with our Encompass Rating System, rating more than 200,000… Read more »

Surprising Fundraising Facts from Classy.org

Interview with Soraya Alexander, COO of Classy.  We discuss the Classy State of Modern Philanthropy and dig through the data. Get the report: https://donationtrends.classy.org/  Rough Transcript [00:00:00] George Voice Dub: I have known about this particular fundraising platform for quite some time. I’m excited to have none other than Soraya Alexander, the chief operating officer,… Read more »

988 Hotline is LIVE! NGOs should be ready (news)

988 Mental Health Crisis Hotline Rolls Out Across Country The consolidated 988 national mental health hotline rolled out over the weekend, as part of a broader effort to fill gaps in emergency mental health response and access throughout the country. The effort, in large part spearheaded by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the… Read more »

National Volunteer Shortage Threatens Stability of Nonprofits (news)

NonprofitNewsFeed.com  National Volunteer Shortage Threatens Stability of Nonprofit Programming Nonprofits in Arizona are having a hard time getting volunteers to come back compared to pre-Covid times, as reported by Axios. This represents a continuation of a broader trend since the onset of the pandemic, where nonprofits have seen volunteer participation decline nationally. Nonprofits like the Ronald McDonald… Read more »

Roe v. Wade Repeal Upends Nearly 50 Years Of Constitutional Abortion Protection (news)

Roe v. Wade Repeal Upends Nearly 50 Years Of Constitutional Abortion Protection; Access To Abortions Enters Into State-By-State Public Policy Frenzy Nearly 50 years of the constitutionally-upheld right to abortion access came to an end on Friday with the Supreme Court’s ruling in the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision. The decision, written by Justice Samuel… Read more »

Did DAFs Just Lose $38 billion? (news)

Market Volatility Has Potential To Impact DAFs & Crypto Philanthropy Major philanthropy trends over the past several years have included the rise of crypto philanthropy and donor-advised funds, alternate forms of giving that may see the trickle-down impacts of the current bear market and overall market volatility. Donor-advised funds, or DAFs, have seen a surge… Read more »

Brookings Institution President Resigns Amid FBI Probe (news)

Nonprofitnewsfeed.com Brookings Institution President Resigns Amid FBI Foreign Lobbying Probe Brookings Institution President John Allen has resigned after national press outlets reported he was under FBI investigation for undisclosed lobbying efforts on behalf of the government of Qatar. While Allen denies any wrongdoing, he was revealed in court filings to be the target of an FBI probe… Read more »

Complexity of the Catholic Church & Roe v. Wade | CatholicsforChoice.org

Jamie Manson, President of Catholics for Choice joins host George Weiner for a conversation about what the future of their work looks like in the reality of a post Roe v. Wade world. Jamie shares how rogue bishops in the church are actually speaking in direct contrast to the way a majority of Catholics in America… Read more »

Nonprofit Trust Drops 3% Survey Reveals (news)

Nonprofit news for June.  Independent Sector Releases Survey On Nonprofit Trust  Independent Sector has released its third annual survey on trust within the nonprofit and civil society sector. The findings show that nonprofits still benefit from strong public trust (56% of respondents say they trust nonprofits), making NPOs among the few social institutions that the majority of… Read more »

Gun Rights Advocacy Groups Fill Void Left By NRA (news)

Nonprofit news: In Wake Of Uvalde School Shooting, Gun Rights Advocacy Groups Fill Void Left By NRA On May 24 a gunman opened fire at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas killing 19 students, two teachers, and wounding 17 others. The horrific shooting has rekindled the decades-long debate in the United States between gun control… Read more »

Do you REALLY need an RFP? | Nonprofit.ist

Interview with Heather Yandow, the founder of Nonprofit.ist, an online resource that helps pair nonprofits with the right consultants; a co-founder of Beehive Collective, a Raleigh-based giving circle; and the creator of Third Space Studio’s Individual Fundraising Benchmark Report. Host, George Weiner discusses how nonprofits should approach RFPs and finding the right contractor or agency for… Read more »

988 National Suicide Prevention Hotline Launches This Summer (news)

988 National Suicide Prevention Hotline To Soon Go Live The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services is unveiling a new national emergency number for individuals experiencing a mental health crisis. The new 988 emergency number, akin to 911, will redirect to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, which is managed by the Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services… Read more »

High inflation hits food banks hard (news)

High Inflation Continues To Impact Sector, Including Food Banks As inflationary pressures keep year-over-year price increases high, food banks see both an increase in demand and a shortage of supply. Food pantries across the country are dealing both with an increase in demand due to broader consumer-facing prices, as well as a harder time keeping… Read more »

Roe V. Wade Changes the NGO Landscape (news)

Nonprofit News of the week. Supreme Court Poised To Strike Down Roe v. Wade, Changing Advocacy Landscape For Both Pro-Choice & Pro-Life Nonprofits  A draft decision of the United States Supreme Court ruling on a pending abortion case appears to show the majority of justices in favor of striking down Roe v. Wade, upending nearly… Read more »

Roe v. Wade, NGO Bill & Google Inclusivity Tool (news)

NonprofitNewsfeed.com  Supreme Court has voted to overturn abortion rights, draft opinion shows Federal “Nonprofit Sector Strength And Partnership Act” Draws Praise & Critique As reported by GlobeNewswire/Independent Sector, bipartisan federal legislation has been introduced to “increase collaboration between federal officials and nonprofits to better serve the sector and communities year-round, especially during emergencies.” The bill aims to, among… Read more »

3 Steps to Talking Politics Without Tearing Your Hair Out | Kamy Akhavan

Have we lost the ability to have conversations with folks on “the other side”? Kamy Akhavan is debunking how to have polarizing discussions that are actually productive. Making connections with people from opposing views is hard to do but it’s very powerful when we do get through to each other.   With 20 years of experience bridging divides, Kamy’s work has… Read more »

Earth Day Activity & Slow Nonprofit Job Recovery Q1 (news)

This podcast discusses how the nonprofit sector is lagging behind the rest of the economy in terms of pandemic recovery. George and Nick discuss how nonprofits are being impacted by the pandemic and the challenges they face in terms of fundraising and providing services. They also talk about how the sector is trying to adapt… Read more »

BLM Under Filing Scrutiny & New Drilling Leases (news)

Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation Faces Scrutiny Over Spending & Transparency Questions have arisen over how the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation (BLMGNF) has spent and reported on charitable contributions, as reported by New York magazine. The organization, which serves as an umbrella organization for some local BLM organizations (though not all organizations with… Read more »

Global Food Crisis & Google Analytics Cliff (news)

War In Ukraine Continues To Increase Likelihood Of Global Food Crisis  According to reporting from The New York Times, the war in Ukraine continues to threaten global food, agriculture, and other vital infrastructure. Farmers in Ukraine are reporting that granaries, farms, and other agriculture-related infrastructure are being destroyed by the Russians, all but halting Ukraine’s ability… Read more »

War Crimes Tracked by NGOs & Pending Food Crisis (news)

War In Ukraine Threatens Global Food Security, Likely To Exacerbate Food Emergencies Among Vulnerable Populations According to reporting from The New York Times, the war in Ukraine threatens global food security on a large scale. Ukraine and Russia together account for nearly 30% of the global wheat supply and serve as a vital supplier of fertilizer,… Read more »

100k Ukrainian Refugees to U.S. & $43M to Habitat for Humanity (news)

Nonprofit news: United States To Welcome 100,000 Ukrainian Refugees The Biden Administration has announced plans to welcome up to 100,000 Ukrainian refugees into the United States, according to reporting from Politico. Refugees will be allowed entry through a range of admission pathways, including “humanitarian parole,” and “immigrant or nonimmigrant visas.” Since February, the U.S. has given… Read more »

What would happen if you interviewed an AI version of yourself?

We trained an OpenAI.com  GPT3 processor to act like George Weiner the founder of Whole Whale and then had the real George Weiner ask it questions. The answer to those questions were answered by an AI voice trained on George’s voice using Descript.com.  Enjoy.   This is the AI transcript:  The following is a conversation with… Read more »

Large-Scale Giving For Ukraine & Crypto Giving Acquisition (news)

nonprofit news for the last week of March 2022. Russia <> Ukraine War Galvanizes Large-Scale Global Giving According to survey research reported by The NonProfit Times, approximately one-quarter of Americans said they’ve donated to charities addressing the war in Ukraine. Nearly two-thirds of the remaining Americans surveyed say they planned to donate soon. While grassroots giving… Read more »

292: (news) Census undercount & Oligarch Philanthropy Problem

2020 Census Undercounted Hispanic, Black, & Indigenous Communities According to reporting from The New York Times, the 2020 United States census undercounted hard-to-reach communities and disproportionately undercounted Hispanic, Black, and Indigenous Americans. The count was affected not only by the logistical hurdle of counting during the height of the pandemic but also due to attempted political… Read more »

291: (news) Historic Refugee Crisis & $80M Crypto Donation Response

Weekly Nonprofit News. As Ukrainian Refugee Crisis Becomes Historic In Size, Elements of Media Coverage Criticized For Ahistoric Framing As the Russian invasion of Ukraine and subsequent war enters its second week, the size and scope of the refugee crisis has spiraled into a full-scale disaster of historic proportion. The humanitarian situation in Ukraine has… Read more »

290: (news) Invasion of Ukraine Triggers Humanitarian Catastrophe

Russia Invades Ukraine, Triggers Full Scale War & Humanitarian Catastrophe Early Thursday morning, Russian ground troops launched an all-out war against Ukraine, with the assumed intention of overtaking the entire country and overthrowing its government. Here are 5 key takeaways from the NGO and humanitarian perspective: The UN High Commissioner for Refugees now estimates half a million… Read more »

289: (news) DOJ Headaches & Public Benefit App

DOJ Rules On Foreign Agent Registration Could Cause Headaches For NonprofitsAccording to reporting from Axios, the U.S. Department of Justice’s new proposed rules regarding foreign agents and influence could cause major headaches for nonprofits. The Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), aims to minimize the influence peddling of foreign countries and organizations, however some advocacy groups assert… Read more »

288: Fundraising Automations to Setup in Q1

Isabelle Brauer, Fundraising Manager at Whole Whale shares a few insights from the newest Whole Whale University Nonprofit Fundraising course.  You can’t automate empathy, but you CAN automate a thank you. We all care about our donors but sometimes get lost juggling the ‘human touch’ of nurturing leads and manually completing tasks on time. Creating… Read more »

287: (news) Nonprofits Prepare for Ukraine Evac & Volunteer Shortage

Weekly news for the nonprofit sector. Nonprofits & NGOs Prepare As The Russia <> Ukraine Standoff Becomes Dire As the situation in Ukraine deteriorates, the nonprofit organization Project Dynamo has announced it is preparing for the potential emergency evacuation of Americans from Ukraine. The organization, initially formed to aid in the evacuation from Afghanistan, is just one… Read more »

286: The Great U.S. Volunteer Shortage & CEO Transition at VolunteerMatch

Greg Baldwin CEO and President talks about the current needs for volunteers across the VolunteerMatch network. What are the macro factors causing the return to normal volunteering behaviors and what can nonprofits do? Greg also discusses the CEO transition and how the organization is approaching finding his replacement. VolunteerMatch is the most effective way to… Read more »

285: (news) Don’t GoFundMe in Canada & Crisis at Textline Around Data Sharing

Weekly nonprofit news summary from hundreds of sources. Crisis Text Line Ends Data-Sharing Relationship With For-Profit Entity As reported by Politico and other outlets, Crisis Text Line has ended its data sharing relationship with for-profit spin-off organization Loris.ai, which uses data to inform customer service software. Crisis Text Line, which uses a text-based approach to provide… Read more »

284: The Case for Crypto Donations – The Giving Block

A lively discussion with Pat Duffy, the co-founder of The Giving Block about where crypto philanthropy is and important lessons from 2021. Is it time for your nonprofit to start accepting cryptocurrency? What are the questions and issues that might come up? We discuss the topic in depth.  Data from 2021 in Crypto Philanthropy from… Read more »

282: (news) Nonprofits VS Spyware & National Blood Shortage

Pegasus Spyware Poses Major Threat To Civil Society Globally In a detailed post released last week by Human Rights Watch, the global advocacy organization details the exact ways that its Crisis and Conflict director was targetted by the Pegasus spyware “five times between April and August 2021.” The breach was “peer reviewed” by Amnesty International’s Security Lab,… Read more »

282: NGO Capital for Capital Rioters & Red Cross Hacked

Nonprofit news for the week of Jan 24th, 2022. ‘Red Flags’ At Nonprofit Backing U.S. Capitol Rioters Experts see lots to worry about with the far-right endorsed Patriot Freedom Fund, a registered nonprofit organization fundraising money to support people charged with crimes involving the events of January 6th, 2021. As reported by NPR, the fund, led… Read more »

281: (news) Thousands Serve on MLK Day & A Classy Acquisition

Nonprofit news summary. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Draws Thousands To Community Service Across Country From Des Moines to Portland to Charleston and everywhere in between, thousands of volunteers across the country participated in a national day of service, often in partnership with local-based nonprofit and community organizations. MLK Day is the only federally-recognized national day of service and is… Read more »

280: (news) PE Firm Acquires Nonprofit Tech & PEW 2021 Data

Nonprofit News for mid January.  Acquisition of Network For Good, Backed By Provide Equity Firm, Rolls Up Numerous Nonprofit Technology Products The same venture firm that brought EveryAction, Social Solutions and CyberGrants under one corporate roof has added Network For Good to its roster. The as yet unnamed umbrella firm is being funded by UK-based private… Read more »

279: The Hidden Cost of COVID on Children Who Lose Parents

Special podcast feature on a recent research report revealing how many children have lost parents due to COVID. Whole Whale’s Nick Azualy interviews Dan Treglia about the report recently featured in the New York Times. More than 167,000 children have been robbed, by COVID-19, of a parent, grandparent, or other in-home caregiver on whom they… Read more »

278: (news) Nonprofits Salary Struggles & Franklin A. Thomas Legacy

Nonprofit News summary. Nonprofits Struggle To Compete With For-Profit Businesses For Staff Amid rising inflation, rising wages, decreased unemployment, and the so-called “great resignation,” nonprofit organizations are struggling to maintain and hire staff, according to reporting from The New York Times. While for-profit businesses lost more jobs during the pandemic, the nonprofit sector has struggled more to… Read more »

277: Predictions and Trends for Nonprofits in 2022

Nick Azulay, Maura Paxton and George Weiner share their predictions for the nonprofit industry in 2022. They cover Email shifts, USPS hikes, social movements associated with the election and potential Roe V. Wade rulings and many other trends that may come. 

276: (news) log4j Nightmare Before Nonprofit Christmas & Jobs Report

Nonprofit news in December. Nonprofit Job Gains Slow As Sector Approaches Pre-Pandemic Employment Levels According to data from the Center for Civil Society Studies (CCSS) at Johns Hopkins University as reported by the Nonprofit Times, nonprofit job growth slowed in November but shows that most nonprofit categories are expected to achieve near full employment by the… Read more »

275: ‘Troll Philanthropy‘ and For-Profit Activism

Weekly news from NonprofitNewsfeed.com Elon Musk Dubbed “Troll Philanthropist” In New York Times Elon Musk’s high-profile brush with the typically staid world of philanthropy is generating waves. Famously getting into a public ruff with the World Food Programme (WFP) over how much money it would take to “solve world hunger,” one researcher at the Urban Institute… Read more »

274: The rise of remote fundraising through the pandemic with atlasGO

We talk with Magali the Co-founder & Chief Revenue Officer at atlasGO about how the platform saw an explosion of use during the pandemic. The most popular activities used to fundraise quickly expanded beyond walks and runs to things like gardening for a cause and atlasGO supported all of them.   About Magali Mathieu Magali is… Read more »

273: #GivingTuesday up 9% & Clinton Foundation Down 75%

Nonprofit news for the week of December 6th, 2021 GivingTuesday Raises Record $2.7 Billion In Donations Annual day of generosity GivingTuesday has generated approximately $2.7 billion in donations, according to the folks at givingtuesday.org. The record-setting day of generosity topped 2020’s giving sum by 9%. While the increase in donations from 2019 to 2020 was, percentage-wise,… Read more »

272: How much should nonprofits budget for ads? The Nonprofit Ad Study

The study was conducted from Form 990 data from 7,171 U.S. 501(c)(3) organizations with $1 to $10 million in revenue from 2018-2019 courtesy of Cause IQ (filing years 2019 and 2020). The goal was to create a large enough sample size to answer questions about advertising size for nonprofits that rely on common funding methods. … Read more »

271: (news) Beware #GivingTuesday scams & Toy inflation impact

 Nonprofitnewsfeed.com  summary of the week.  This Giving Tuesday Eve, Beware of Scams! On this day before Giving Tuesday, consumers are being asked to be on the lookout for scams. The Better Business Bureau has published a guide to making informed decisions about donating. Nonprofits should make this process easy for prospective donors by being transparent, proving credibility, and making… Read more »

270: #GivingTuesday updates & Donor Trust Report

Nonprofit News summary. Nonprofits Gear Up For Annual GivingTuesday GivingTuesday, the annual fundraising event held the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, is already beginning to drive nonprofit communication and marketing strategies as we enter the holiday season. Agency Whole Whale (the creators of this newsletter) predicts over $3 Billion in total GT revenue, while organizations like the Giving… Read more »

269: How to adjust Google Ad Grant Campaigns for EOY

George Weiner interviews Ali Glazer, Advertising Lead at Whole Whale about the current digital ads landscape and where the Google Ad Grant is. Set it and forget it doesn’t work for end-of-year campaigns and there are some great updates that can lead to increased donations.  Ali walks through some of her favorite tactics and discusses… Read more »

268: (news) Inflation hits pantries & $3B prediction for #GivingTuesday

 Nonprofit News summary Prediction: GivingTuesday To Generate Over $3 Billion In Donation Revenue  Nonprofit digital marketing agency Whole Whale predicts that for the first time ever, GivingTuesday will generate over $3 Billion in revenue. While 2020 saw unprecedented charitable giving in the throws of the pandemic, the agency predicts revenue will surpass that record. “Based on our analysis… Read more »

267: (news) Infrastructure $ for Nonprofits & COP26 Pledge Updates

Nonprofit News for 11/8/2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill Passes, Includes Energy Updates For Nonprofits The $1-trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill passed the U.S. House of Representatives last Friday, to become one of the most significant investments in infrastructure in U.S. history. The bill includes provisions for helping religious and nonprofit organizations update the sustainability of their spaces… Read more »

66: What I learned at Whole Whale | Exit Pod interview with Janai

On this episode George, Chief Whaler of Whole Whale does an exit interview podcast with Janai Cornwell, Senior Digital Advertising Associate. They talk about what is great about learning at an agency, the decision to go in-house at a nonprofit, and why mobile matters in ads.  Janai on LinkedIn

265: (news) Climate on the Agenda & Nonprofit Ad Spending Study

Climate Takes Center Stage At COP26 Summit In Glasgow The world’s attention is focused on Glasgow this week as the global COP26 climate conference begins. With world leaders like Joe Biden and Narendra Modi in attendance, the summit will again push collective climate action to the forefront of a global conversation about sustainability. The summit, which has… Read more »

264: Using Inclusive Language for writing online | InclusivityTool.com

Interview with Marielle Sumergido, Senior Strategist and product lead for The Inclusivity Tool by Whole Whale. Also joining in the conversation about how we think about and use inclusive language online is Leo Quintero, Founder of  Quintessential Tools, a DEI Consulting company.  The inclusivity tool is a tool that scrapes a URL that you input… Read more »

263: (news) Whistleblower Aid vs Facebook & Amnesty out of Hong Kong

Nonprofit news for the week of Oct 25th, 2021 Hong Kong nonprofits are forced to leave and Facebook Whistleblower is supported by nonprofit. Amnesty International Forced To Pull Out of Hong Kong International human rights organization Amnesty International has announced that it will be pulling its operations out of Hong Kong, according to a press release.… Read more »

262: Fundamentals of Copywriting for a Cause

Training conversation with Whole Whale team about copywriting best practices for nonprofits. Maura Paxton, Digital Optimization Manager and Sarah Homet, Digital Marketing Associate share approaches to writing ads and useful frameworks.   We explore the relationship between emotional energy and the power of the right copy to evoke action. Resources: AIDA: https://www.truesense.com/ringer/aida-essential-direct-response-fundraising-truths ACCA: https://learnlandingpages.com/landing-page-design/ (lots of formulas, starting with… Read more »

261: (news) Volunteers kidnapped & Breast Cancer Fraud

Nonprofit news for the week of October 18th, 2021 Nonprofit Fundraising Off Of Breast Cancer Has “Deep Ties” To Scam PAC Groups In an investigative report done by OpenSecrets and The Daily Beast, the nonprofit The American Breast Cancer Coalition appears to be a “scheme to extract millions of dollars in donations, mostly from small donors.”… Read more »

260: What happens when Cryptocurrency meets DAFS? Endaoment

This week host George Weiner interviews Zach Bronstein, the Chief Operating Officer of Endaoment and DAF built on Ethereum helping people donate cryptocurrency.  About Endaoment Endaoment is a new Community Foundation & public charity offering Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs) built atop the Ethereum blockchain, allowing folks to donate to almost any U.S. nonprofit organization. Our mission is… Read more »

259: (news) Nonprofits Helping Afghan resettlement and Indigenous community Reparations

Nonprofits On Front Lines of Afghan Resettlement Seek More Foundation & Government Support Nonprofits on the front lines of helping the thousands of Afghan refugees settling in the United States say that they need more financial support to continue to provide services for resettlement. Many of these organizations, accustomed to relatively limited numbers of people who need… Read more »

258: (news) Changes at Change.org and NYC Housing Self-dealing

October nonprofit news.  Jack A. Brown III And Other NYC Nonprofit Housing Executives Benefiting From Organizations They Run A feature investigative report by the New York Times has found that Jack A. Brown III and other executives associated with homeless and housing nonprofits in New York City have derived significant personal financial benefit from the organizations they… Read more »

257: (news) Billions Pledged at UN & Crypto Giving Trend

The nonprofit news summary for the last week of September! The Giving Block Expects To Process $100M In Crypto Donations In 2021 The Giving Block, a cryptocurrency giving solution for nonprofits, reports that it expects to process over $100 million in donations by the end of 2021. In a press release, The Giving Block estimates that 2021… Read more »

256: (news) Haiti Supply Chain Issues & Omaze lands $85M Funding

nonprofitnewsfeed.com Global Supply Chain Shortages Disrupt NGO Operations In Haiti & Elsewhere The New York Times reports that many nonprofit organizations and international NGOs are facing severe shortages of goods, disrupting their charitable operations. The global supply chain issues, largely attributed to the pandemic, have caused headaches for groups like the Haitian American Caucus, which provides the… Read more »

255: Planned Giving & The One Thing to Know

Planned giving can be difficult for nonprofits to incorporate into their giving strategy but it shouldn’t be according to our guest Tony Martignetti. Tony, the evangelist for Planned Giving, shares how and why nonprofits that are over 5 years old should be adopting this fundraising strategy.  About Tony Tony Martignetti is the evangelist for Planned… Read more »

254: (news) Nonprofit Reality Show & 9/11 Day of Service

Nonprofit News for September 13th, 2021 Nonprofits Honor Anniversary of 9/11 With Day Of Service On the 20th anniversary of the events of September 11th, 2001, nonprofits across the country have made the solemn day one not only of remembrance—but one of giving back to communities. The nonprofit 9/11 Day, started by two friends, one of… Read more »

253: (news) HRC President Fired & Afghan Refugee Support

Nonprofit news from the sector. Human Rights Campaign President Fired After Ties To Cuomo Alphonso David, President of Human Rights Campaign, an LGBTQ+ advocacy organization, was ousted due to ties to former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. After contentious internal decision-making, David was fired for his reported role in assisting Cuomo with responses to accusations of sexual… Read more »

252: (news) Hurricane Ida & Afghanistan Nonprofit Response

Hurricane Ida ramping up nonprofit response and following the GoFundMe support in Afghanistan. Nonprofits And Volunteer Organizations Step Up in Wake of Hurricane Ida After Category 4 Hurricane Ida made landfall in south Louisiana on Sunday, organizations on the ground are already stepping up to help their neighbors. The organization Shreveport Volunteer Network, a community-based emergency response… Read more »

251: (news) Afghanistan Fundraising & Nonprofit Democracy Report

Nonprofit news highlights for the week of 8/23/2021 Viral Fundraiser For Afghans Pits Bountiful Generosity Versus A Logistical Nightmare A GoFundMe hosted by an “Instagram personality” has generated well over $5 million in funds in an effort to support the airlift of vulnerable people attempting to flee Afghanistan. Only one problem — organizing an evacuation from a… Read more »

250: (news) Afghanistan & Haiti – How Nonprofits are Responding

Earthquake Rattles Haiti, Nonprofits & NGOs Step Up In Shadow of Previous Quake Response A 7.2-magnitude earthquake rattled Haiti over the weekend, a devastating blow for a country already in the midst of a severe political crisis. The quake, the epicenter of which was located west of Port-au-Prince, initially seemed less catastrophic as it occurred… Read more »

249: (news) Half of U.S. Gives & ASPCA Overhead Questions

ASPCA Faces Criticism Over Programming Expense Ratio The ASCPA, known as one of the largest and most publicly visible animal welfare nonprofits within the United States, is facing criticism highlighted in this CBS News spot over how it spends its donations. According to the report, only 47% of all donations go towards programs that directly help animals,… Read more »

248: From Fellow to Fulltime – Kariesha Martinez exit interview

After two great years at Whole Whale, Kariesha Martinez, Senior Marketing Associate is moving on. She shares how the Whole Whale Fellowship program works, what she learned over two years and other advice/thoughts for the company. Kariesha Martinez Senior Marketing AssociateLinkedIn Kariesha is the Digital Advertising Whaler where she runs paid advertising campaigns across Facebook,… Read more »

247: (news) Bezos Blasts Off Donation & Nonprofit Trust Report

Nonprofit news for the week of 7/26/2021. Bezos Blasts Off Into Space, Donates $200 Million         Jeff Bezos, Amazon founder and the world’s wealthiest human, has announced a $200 million donation to the activist Van Jones and humanitarian chef José Andrés. The money, with no strings attached, was part of Bezos’ new “Courage and Civility Award.” Bezos announced the… Read more »

246:(news) Nonprofit Closure Trend & Steph Curry Joins NinetyToZero

200 Nonprofits Close In Minnesota, Indicative of Larger Trend Between April of 2020 and March of 2021, 186 nonprofits stopped operations, according to data from the state of Minnesota. Hundreds of other nonprofits are believed to have downsized operations dramatically, indicating a substantial trend. Health, arts, and religious organizations were hurt most substantially. While this… Read more »

245:(news) Fundraising Scrutiny & Frontline SMS Closes

Online Fundraising Platforms Face Fresh Scrutiny New scrutiny is being applied to the donation fundraising tactics of political fundraising platforms. After a New York Times expose highlighting potentially deceptive practices was released in April, fresh criticism has come in the form of an open inquiry being led by four democratic state attorneys general. The inquiry is into… Read more »

244: (news)Donor Disclosure Fight & NCAA Athletes Can Earn

Summary of nonprofit news. Supreme Court Throws Out Nonprofit Donor Disclosure Law Last Thursday the Supreme Court of the United States ruled in a 6-3 ruling that California could no longer require nonprofits to submit donor information to the state. Advocates of the law say it adds donor and transparency to the finances of organizations that may serve… Read more »

243: Ann Nguyen Exit Interview Podcast

An exit interview with Ann, Technical Creative Director of WholeWhale.com reflecting on lessons she learned during her 7 years with the company.  Ann Nguyen Technical Creative Director On Socialhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/nguyenannhttps://twitter.com/annnnnguyen Ann joined Whole Whale in 2013 and has been making splashes since then in the areas of design, development, and A/B testing. She keeps the New… Read more »

242: (news) Buffett Donates Billions Leaving Gates & NFL Pride History

Nonprofit news for the week of 6/28/2021 Warren Buffett Gives Away $4.1 Billion To Charity, Steps Down From Gates Foundation Warren Buffett, one of the richest people in the world, has announced a donation of nearly $4.1 billion to charity. This donation comes on the heels of other massive philanthropic donations from wealthy individuals like MacKenzie Scott.… Read more »

241: Lessons from freeCodeCamp – founder interview

We interview Quincy Larson, the founder and a teacher at freeCodeCamp.org. freeCodeCamp is a nonprofit community that helps millions of people learn to code 100% for free helping thousands of people find their first coding job. Quincy shares how the organization got started, built a strong volunteer base and grew its amazing educational library course by course. … Read more »

240: (news) 5% Rise in US Giving & Juneteenth Official

Nonprofit news summary for the week of June 22nd, 2021.  Charitable Giving Reaches All-Time High In 2020 – Report A new Giving USA report says that U.S. charitable giving reached an all-time high of approximately $471 billion. Driven by factors such as an unprecedented pandemic and a broad reckoning over racial violence, giving increased 5.1% from 2019 to… Read more »

239: (news) DAF legislation & Nonprofit Wins Pulitzer

Nonprofit news summaries for the week of June 14th, 2021.  Featured product: A new Inclusivity Language Tool from Whole Whale. Helping organizations check their websites for inclusive language.  New Federal Legislation Aims To Speed Up Donor Advised Funds’ Impact To Charities New proposed legislation introduced by Sen. Angus King (I-Maine) and Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) seeks… Read more »

238: How To Travel Ethically – Author interview

Interview with Sarika Bansal, Editor and Author of Tread Brightly, a series of curated essays on Ethical Travel. George Weiner interviews Sarika about the themes and topics covered by some of the essays. They also dive into the creation and closing of Sarika’s nonprofit BRIGHT Magazine. About Tread Brightly Are there ways we can turn travel from… Read more »

237: (news) Direct mail price hikes & OpenSecrets.org Launches

Nonprofit news summaries for June 7th Direct mail price hikes and a push for transparency in politics by nonprofits. USPS Price Increase May Lead To Headache For Nonprofits The United States Postal Services (USPS) has filed for an increase in prices averaging nearly 6.9% system-wide, according to the Nonprofit Times. As many nonprofit organizations still rely… Read more »

236: (news) Nonprofits in Tulsa & USAID Russian Hack

Tulsa Massacre After 100 Years: Nonprofits Part Of Efforts To Bring Justice The Tulsa massacre, one of the most egregious examples of racial violence in American history, marks its 100th anniversary. After “Black Wall Street” was destroyed by mobs of white supremacists, efforts to bring justice are underway. The Oklahoma Archaeological Survey, associated with the… Read more »

235: (news) Carbon Capture & Fighting Voter Suppression

Weekly nonprofit podcast news.  Nonprofit Fights Carbon Emissions With Financial Marketplace University of Chicago professor Michael Greenstone has created a nonprofit called Climate Vault, which could revolutionize how we offset carbon emissions in the marketplace. Using the current cap and trade infrastructure to its advantage, the organization seeks to redirect capital to environmentally-conscious startups in exchange for… Read more »

234: Volunteering through the Pandemic with Golden

Karisha Martinez interviews Sam Fankuchen, the Founder & CEO of Golden.  Volunteering is a proven driver of happiness and provides a myriad of physical, mental and social benefits, from living longer and feeling more fulfilled to increasing the chances of being hired. Because of these benefits, we believe volunteering should be a part of every self-care… Read more »

233:(news) $1B Meme Coin Donation & Nonprofit Jobs Report

Weekly nonprofit news updates.  Crypto Billionaire Donates $1 Billion In Meme Coin To India The founder of the cryptocurrency Ethereum, Vitalik Buterin, announced that he has donated approximately $1 billion in the meme coin Shiba Inu to nonprofit organizations battling COVID-19 in India. The announcement comes at an interesting moment as philanthropists are increasingly taking up cryptocurrency… Read more »

232:(news) Gates Foundation Divorce & Vaccine Awareness work

Bill & Melinda Gates File For Divorce After 27 years of marriage, Bill and Melinda Gates have filed for divorce, rocking one of the largest philanthropic organizations in the process. The Gates Foundation, which began working with providing internet to libraries, now manages nearly $5 billion in annual grants and employs nearly 1,600 people, tackling… Read more »

231: Your Voice Matters: Author Interview

We interview Erline Belton the Author of Your Voice Matters.  Erline Belton is President and CEO of Belton’s Crossing, LLC a real estate Development Corporation and the CEO and Founder of the Lyceum Group, an organizational development-consulting firm. The mission of her consulting firm, The Lyceum Group, is to influence societal and workplace re-thinking to… Read more »

230:(news) Redistricting Battles & Thinning Girl Scout Cookie sales

Nonprofit News for the week of May 4th, 2021 Democratic Nonprofit Sues Ahead of Potential Redistricting Fight Off the heels of a contentious and troublesome 2020 census, the next political fight shaping up with substantial impact might be redistricting. Acknowledging these tense political battles yet to come, a lawsuit filed by the nonprofit National Redistricting Action… Read more »

229: What I learned in 5 Years at Whole Whale: Meredith Esquivel

Meredith Esquivel the Senior Marketing Manager at Whole Whale shares what she has learned after 5 years before leaving for business school. About Meredith Linkedin:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/meredithesquivel/  Meredith is fascinated by human behavior, particularly how digital “body language” can inform marketing strategies for social good. Certified in Google Analytics, Google Ads, and Pardot by Salesforce, she is… Read more »

228:(news) SCOTUS Deciding on Donor Privacy & Marijuana Funding for Nonprofits

Supreme Court To Hear Nonprofit Fundraising Case With Broad Implications For Sector On Monday, the Supreme Court will hear a case on donor transparency and fundraising with the potential for broad implications for both traditional nonprofits and political organizations. The case centers on a dispute about whether California can mandate that tax-exempt organizations report its top donors… Read more »

227:(news) Homeless Hotels & Nonprofit Jobs Rise

California Program Pays To Convert Hotels Into Homeless Shelters California’s new Homekey program will spend nearly $600 million to buy hotels and motels and convert them into homeless shelters. The program is a positive step for both addressing issues of homelessness as well as aiding a hospitality industry hit hard by the pandemic, giving owners… Read more »

226: The Social Policy of Homelessness

Host Kariesha Martinez interviews Dan Treglia, PhD about the complexities of affordable housing and the nuance of how San Francisco ended up paying $61k per tent.  About Dan Treglia Dan Treglia, PhD, is an Associate Professor of Practice at the University of Pennsylvania, Associate Director of the Partnership for Effective Public Administration and Leadership Ethics (PEPALE),… Read more »

225:(news) Fraud to the left, Fraud to the right

Nonprofitnewsfeed.com  summary of the week of 4/12/2021 GOP Fundraising Platform Under Fire for Deceptive Donation Forms A recent New York Times article highlighted the potentially deceptive nature of fundraising forms hosted on the GOP’s WinRed donation platform, resulting in the Trump campaign having to issue nearly $122 million in refunds and causing a spike in fraud complaints… Read more »

224: How to 10x $ to Build Inclusive Affordable Housing

Micaela Connery, Co-founder of The Kelsey talks about how they use financing and grants to 10x investment in affordably disability housing in San Francisco and San Jose. She also gives her reaction to the $60k per tent that San Francisco paid during the Pandemic.  About Micaela Micaela co-founded The Kelsey with her cousin Kelsey, who… Read more »

223:(news) Capitol Riot Fundraising & Good Econ Signals For NGOs

Positive Economic Indicators Welcome News for Nonprofits Positive economic predictors should be good news for nonprofits after a challenging year, according to experts. GPD, regional economic indicators, unemployment, government spending, and changes in the stock market are all indicators that might predict the fiscal health of nonprofits. While every nonprofit’s revenue stream and expenses are different,… Read more »

222:(news) Voter Suppression, #StopAsianHate, & DAFS

Weekly summary of nonprofit news.  Restrictive Voting Legislation In Georgia Indicative of Larger, Concerning Trend Last week, Georgia governor Brian Kemp signed into law a restrictive voting bill decried by voting rights advocates and the President alike as “Jim Crow in the 21st century.” The new legislation comes less than three months after Raphael Warnock was elected… Read more »

221: Making sense of Facebook Tracking vs IOS 14

Interview with Meghan Daly, Whole Whale’s Paid Social Manager about the changes that will impact digital advertisers on Facebook.   Simply put, iOS14 is Apple’s most current iPhone operating system. iOS14.5 is an update to this operating system that will include many things (including 200+ new emojis!), but the specific update that’s generating a lot of buzz is… Read more »

220: How Issue Voter is shifting the focus to Policy

George Weiner interviews Maria Yuan, the CEO and Founder of Issue Voter. Issue Voter is an online service that according to their site helps people: “Track your rep’s activity. We tell you how your rep voted, how often your representative agrees with you, and whether or not they’ve attended a vote. Encourage open discussion. You can share… Read more »

219: (news) NYC and ICE need to spend millions for nonprofit support

NYC Owes Homeless Nonprofits Millions In Unpaid InvoicesThe City of New York owes its homeless nonprofit organizations over $150 million in unpaid invoices, according to a survey of homeless shelter operators. Catherine Trapani, the executive director at Homeless Services United, the umbrella organization that represents shelter operators, says “there needs to be a recognition of just how… Read more »

218: (news) $1B Stimulus for AmeriCorps + Rise in Giving Trend

2020 Saw 10% Jump In GivingAccording to the Quarterly Fundraising Report, nonprofit fundraising was up 10% overall in 2020 compared to 2019. While this represents the highest volume of donations in 5 years, donor retention continues to drop (approximately by 4%), even after new donors are acquired or re-activated. A decline in retained, repeat donors… Read more »

217: Managing Cash Flow Through Crisis – GrowthForce

Kariesha Martinez interviews Stephen King, CEO and President of GrowthForce. They discuss how to manage cashflow in crisis with their 5-Step Framework. Managing Cash Flow Through Times of Crisis – Having successfully navigated five recessions as an entrepreneur and fundraiser, Stephen knows how to read the numbers to make data-driven decisions – and this unique… Read more »

216:(news) $61k for a tent and what $1.9T stimulus means for nonprofits

$1.9 Trillion Stimulus Bill Passes With Expansion Of Unemployment Benefits And PPPThe Biden administration’s new COVID Relief bill has passed the House and Senate, clearing the way for approval of an expansive new bill designed to expand unemployment benefits, the federal PPP, as well as support for vaccine distribution and fiscal relief for states. This critical piece… Read more »

215: Are billionaire gifts really gifts, and how nonprofits may be the future of news.

CEO Calls Billionaire Philanthropy A ‘PR Scam.’ Dan Price, founder and CEO of credit-card payment company Gravity Payments, says that billionaire philanthropists who donate lots of money in return for glowing reviews and good press is “one of capitalism’s biggest PR scams.” In Washington state, billionaires pay 3% of their income on taxes while the poor… Read more »

211: (news) Nonprofit Job losses, Giving Blck and Money making mittens

Nonprofit news of the week of 2/1/2021 Nonprofit Sector Still Seeing Net Loss of Nearly 1 Million JobsThe Johns Hopkins Center for Civil Society Studies has released a new report that shows that nonprofit employment is still well below pre-pandemic levels. While the sector has recovered from its losses of nearly 1.64 million layoffs last… Read more »

210: Human-centered Design – teenyBIG

How do you strike the balance between qualitative data and quantitative data for your marketing efforts? This week on the pod, we talk with Emily Taylor, Principal of teenyBIG, about how she defines human-centered design and striking the balance between qualitative and quantitative data to make sure you’re engaging your audience. About Emily Emily Taylor, Principal of… Read more »

209: Giving Tuesday results, Coercive Control language – NonprofitNewsFeed.com

This week on the podcast we talk about the most recent nonprofit news for the week of 1/25/2021. Whole Whale has created a weekly newsletter and article board for people in the industry interested in staying up-to-date with the sector’s most important news. Pulling from over 100 sources, NonprofitNewsFeed.com is a free way to stay updated about nonprofit… Read more »

208: How to Make Meaningful Media Content – FirstStage.org

Host Kariesha Martinez interviews Antonio L. Davis, Jr. Digital Marketing & Content Manager of FirstStage.org. Organic social can feel like the unsung hero of audience engagement. It feels almost random what content works and what doesn’t. This week on the pod, we talk with Antonio Davis about how he is able to listen to his audience and create… Read more »

207: Flexible Work and Job Sharing Strategies – Marathon Kids

Host Kariesha Martinez interviews Cami Hawkins, CEO of Austin-based non-profit, Marathon Kids, to talk about her experience creating a flexible workspace and how other organizations can implement one for their employees.  Cami discusses: Job share: For increased flexibility, Cami has hired people on a job share basis which entails hiring two people to do one… Read more »

206: The V-Shaped Volunteering Outlook – VolunteerMatch

Our guest Greg Baldwin, CEO of VolunteerMatch discusses the historical drop in volunteering in 2020. Overnight listings and attendance to in-person volunteering events fell off a cliff as stay-at-home orders rolled across the country in March, 2020. VolunteerMatch has released Quarterly updates on the state of US volunteering that we discuss.  There were some spikes… Read more »

205: Building Small Homes for the Holidays – Smalltimore Homes

Host Kariesha Martinez interviews LaQuida Chancey, the founder of Smalltimore Homes. Baltimore, like many cities, struggle with housing insecurity which has been made even more dangerous during COVID and now the winter. LaQuida’s solution is simple: build homes, small ones. These micro-shelters offer protection from the cold and allow social distancing for people experiencing homelessness. Smalltimore Homes, is… Read more »

204: Spotify Ideas For Social Impact

Kariesha Martinez and George Weiner exchange ideas for using Spotify playlists to increase the impact of nonprofits. Public playlists can be completely customized and embedded on websites and across social. This medium can be used to thank donors, motivate volunteers or even educate stakeholders. There many ways to start playing with this tool for free… Read more »

203: Hiring Robots to Write Donor Letters – Addressable

This week’s interview with Adam Szarzynski, founder of Addressable walks through how their writing robots are helping thank tens of thousands of supporters. Adam created the company around a writing robot created by his father and then created a service for nonprofits to retain and re-engage donors.  Their work has shown supporter lists that receive… Read more »

202: Donor Thank You Ideas

Our host George Weiner, chief whaler of Whole Whale runs through creative ideas to thank donors. Thanking donors can drastically improve retention rates and November/December is a great time to do this. Sadly only around 1 in 5 first time donors repeat their gift in the next year (AFP data). This may be the most… Read more »

201: Creativity: The Key to a Remarkable Life – Author Interview

On episode 201 our host Kariesha Martinez interviews Firdaus Kharas the author of Creativity: The Key to a Remarkable Life. With great nonprofit examples of how creativity has been used to save lives in public health, Firdaus shares some of the key lessons from the book.  Buy the book on Amazon Trigger Warning: Sexual Assault… Read more »

200: Trends to Plan for in 2021

On the 200th episode of the podcast George Weiner, Chief Whaler and Megan Anhalt, Chief Strategy Officer discuss what a Joe Biden and Kamala Harris America mean for nonprofit giving.  They also discuss five major trends across the technology landscape that will impact the way nonprofits need to plan for 2021. Tech trends covered: Zoom adding… Read more »

199: Building Smart Nonprofits- Author Interview

Make sure you’re running your nonprofit to be able to stand through the tests of time. Are you engaging your board members? Are you working with similar nonprofits? Are you continuously speaking with your staff? In this podcast episode, we speak with David O’Brien and Matthew Craig to cover exactly how you can make your… Read more »

198: The Philanthropy Revolution – Author Interview

Our host Kariesha Martinez interviews Lisa Greer, entrepreneur and author of PHILANTHROPY REVOLUTION: How To Inspire Donors, Build Relationships, And Make A Difference.  The largest wealth transfer in the history of mankind and world crises is creating an existential threat to the 1.5 million nonprofits in the United States. In her book, Lisa Greer provides… Read more »

197: Is Your Nonprofit Getting to the Damn Point?

Our host Kariesha Martinez interviews Lewis D. Chaney, Business Storytelling Consultant / Public Speaking Coach.  Is your nonprofit ready for that interview or presentation? Not being able to clearly communicate the point of your purpose as an organization is costing your nonprofit. This episode discusses why public speaking is needed at every level and tactics for… Read more »

196: Is a full MBA worth it? Talking through the options

On this episode, George Weiner interviews Marielle Sumergido, Digital Marketing Whaler about her early career journey and the role a mini-MBA from Rutgers University in Digital Marketing played.  We talk through whether full programs are worth it in our agency and nonprofit industries and what students actually get from an MBA. According to MBAprograms.org, the average cost of an MBA… Read more »

195: Giving Tuesday 2020 Tips and Predictions

This week Kariesha Martinez and George Weiner discuss ideas and factors impacting Giving Tuesday, the day of giving on Dec 1st, 2020 this year. They also talk through the annual Whole Whale prediction for funds raised. Based on our analysis that incorporates an adjusted linear regression, trends in Google Search terms around “Giving Tuesday,” and… Read more »

194: How to Build a Cryptocurrency Donation Campaign – The Giving Block

This week we dive into the world of cryptocurrency donations with The Giving Block. Pat Duffy, the Co-founder of The Giving Block shares how and why the cryptocurrency owners are interested in donating.  Setting up donation pages that accept cryptocurrency can open the door to new donors. Pat also shares how they are working on… Read more »

93: (2 for 2) Impact ideas: Smart speaker donors, Marketplace for giving days, Donor Thank you service, white label GoFundme

This week’s 2 for 2 episode of Whole Whale’s podcast focused on social impact ideas invited Tim Sarrantonio, Director of Strategic Partnerships at Neon One. These ideas are evaluated based on their impact, financial viability, and reach.  Ideas Covered Tim’s Ideas Giving marketplace – there’s a massive misunderstanding about the ways that community giving events influence… Read more »

192: (2for2) Impact ideas with Joe Magee – Kids media channel, UGC child symptoms, Family podcast history

On this 2 for 2 series, we share and evaluate social impact business ideas with Joe Magee.  The ideas are evaluated across Impact, Financial viability, and Scalability.  Ideas Modern day, digital first PBS: A direct to consumer education “channel” delivered via app Crowd-Sourced Children symptoms platform to help parents understand the conditions/dynamics kids are dealing… Read more »

191: (2 for 2) National Unprofiled Day, Homeless donation marketplace, and shower Social Impact Ideas

This week we trade social impact ideas with Adam Soclof, senior Brand Marketing expert. He shares his experience from years of brand marketing combined with great social innovation ideas. We exchange 4 social impact/b corp/nonprofit ideas. We thrash on the idea, ‘why would this fail’, ‘why would it succeed’, the difficulty of execution. Not being precious… Read more »

190: (2 for 2) Ideas for social impact with Visceral

This is a new podcast format from Whole Whale where we share social impact ideas with select guests. Jay Buys the co-founder of B-corp design agency Visceral joins as a guest for the new 2 for 2 Whole Whale interview format.  We trade 2 ideas with each guest that also comes with 2 social impact/b… Read more »

189: How to Manage Grief in the Workplace – Lantern.co

Without proper planning, navigating life after a death can be overwhelming. Whether you’re planning with a loved one or just lost someone, Lantern.co has all the resources you need to plan and execute accordingly. This week, host Kariesha Martinez interviews Liz Eddy, Co-Founder + CEO of lantern.co Liz builds companies that tackle taboo topics. She… Read more »

188: How to Challenge your Boss without Getting Fired & other Whaler Lessons

After 6 amazing years of working with Whole Whale, Laura Clevenger our Impact Whaler is moving on to become a doctor. George interviews Laura’s experience of working at the company, our hiring process and how she was able to become the kind of employee that could challenge her boss.  This episode is a must-listen for… Read more »

187: Data Visualization, Moving From Numbers to Narrative

Host Kariesha Martinez interviews today guest; Tara Todras-Whitehill, an award-winning visual storyteller and communications consultant. The New York Times has published her work on more than 20 of its covers; and her clients have included the World Bank, UNICEF, Search For Common Ground, and the International Rescue Committee.     While Tara has had the opportunity… Read more »

186 – How we made a Fundraising Course from Idea to Launch

Whole Whale has been working on our most comprehensive online course in history focusing on Online Fundraising. Dean of Whole Whale University, Meredith Esquivel walks us through every step along the way to creating this course. From idea, planning, writing, editing, filming, marketing and launching.  This podcast dives into how the sausage is made when… Read more »

185: Raising $20k in 4 Days with Popcorn – Jack & Jill

Whoever thought that a fundraiser promoting popcorn, of all things,  could raise 20k in just 4 days? On this week’s episode, host Kariesha Martinez interviews Yvonne d, on how she was able to accomplish such a goal with the DoubleGood.com platform.  Listen in on how exactly she was able to surpass her goal with the… Read more »

184: Using Podcasting to Build Clients ~ Through the Noise

In this crossover podcast episode with Through The Noise, George Weiner and Ernesto sit down and talk about podcasting, how to use it to showcase your work and build your client base, recognizing and reaching your audience, and creating the right content. Original Episode: 

183: Google Ad Grant Application, Compliance & Creative Fall Ideas

Welcoming back our own Google Ad Grant expert Rachel Clemens to talk about the 2020 Google Ad Grant updates. The application has been streamlined, Google is increasing Ad Grant amounts around causes working around COVID and the Black Lives Matter movement.  Also, Fall is coming which means there are tons of creative ideas for organizations… Read more »

182: #StopHateForProfit – Interview from Next in Nonprofits

Megan Anhalt, Chief Strategy Officer of Whole Whale is interviewed on the Next in Nonprofits podcast about what nonprofits should do around the #StopHateForProfit Facebook ad boycott. Original Episode on Next in Nonprofits.

181: How we lost a staff member due to H-1B Policy

In this internal Whole Whale episode, we talk with Rhea Bhambhani our Ads and Analytics Whaler. We discuss her time at Whole Whale, what she has learned and what the impact of the U.S. H-1B policy. Though Whole Whale has won past petitions for H-1B’s, the hostile current climate has stacked the odds too far… Read more »

180: By Turning a Gala Virtual, Upaya Raised $302k

With less than a week in preparation, Upaya shifted their in-person Gala to a Virtual Event that raised $302k against a $200k stretch goal. Kate Cochran, CEO of Upaya Social Ventures shares the story and lessons of this amazing virtual event with Whole Whale host, Kariesha Martinez.  About: Upaya Social Ventures is fighting extreme poverty… Read more »

179: Virtual Reality for Impact – with Mind Glow

Virtual reality can seem like a far off technology, mostly used for video games and tech conference demos. But, what if we could use virtual reality to provide situational training for emergencies? Neilda Pacquing, Founder and CEO of Mind Glow, is using virtual reality to make companies more prepared for workplace emergencies, starting with active shootings. Listen to… Read more »

178: Homelessness in the Time of COVID-19

We’ve all been told to stay at home but, for the 2 million Americans experiencing homelessness each year, that’s not an option. For them, shelter in place choices put them between a rock and a hard place, with no clearly safe choice.  Despite representing 13% of the U.S. population, Black Americans represent 40% of the… Read more »

177: The 7 Elements of a Primal Brand (reprise)

We have been seeing elements of the 7 elements of the primal brand everywhere and so we went back to a great episode with Patrick Hanlon the author of Primal Branding and is the CEO and founder of THINKTOPIA, a global brand and strategic innovation practice for Fortune 100 clients. The seven elements of the Primal Brand… Read more »

176: Tactics to Grow Your Podcast Downloads

In this podcast strategy episode, we talk with Nick Azulay our Digital Marketing Analyst Whaler about 14 ways to increase podcast downloads.   We have been in the podcast game with our nonprofit focused podcast – Using the Whole Whale for over 5 years. Here are some of our best tactics and ideas that have worked to drive… Read more »

175: COVID-19 College Advising & Making the Shift to Digital

Almost overnight the College Advising Corps (CAC) had to pull counselors across the country from Highschools in response to COVID-19.  Nicole Farmer Hurd, PhD, the Founder and Chief Executive talks through how CAC has been making the shift to digital support for their students. Our host, Kariesha Martinez walks through the myriad issues facing college-bound students in… Read more »

174: How to Design an Auction Event

Planning a live fundraising event can take months and even years to plan. This week on the podcast, we talk with Layne, the Auctionista. They specialize in auctioneering, specifically for live fundraising events. Listen as we chat about the 27 steps they take to prepare for a live fundraising event, why there are no small… Read more »

173: COVID-19 Trends & Opportunities

This podcast will cover current events and trends that we think social impact leaders should be thinking about.  On this internal podcast episode George Weiner, Chief Whaler and Kariesha Martinez, Advertising Whaler discuss the trends and opportunities during the COVID-19 crisis. While giving may be declining, there are opportunities to find talent and ways to… Read more »

172: Expanding a Business to Germany is Hard – here’s why

We interview EU Whalers Michaela Luecke and Luciana Padua about their experience expanding Whole Whale’s digital agency services to Austria, Germany, Switzerland and Spain. After over a year of work and a few clients, Whole Whale has decided that the experiment just didn’t work.  There are many hard-earned lessons that we discuss starting digitally-focused companies… Read more »

171: How are donor emails cultivated in the first 45 days?

How does your organization treat donor emails in the first 45 days? According to research by Classy, 45 days is the threshold of where donors are most likely to upgrade their donation (aside from the 365 day mark) or upgrade to a recurring gift. But what are organizations doing during that time period? We interview… Read more »

170: The Unashamed Guide to Virtual Management

Our country and most of the world shifted to work from home almost overnight due to COVID-19, but are we doing it right? This week we talk about the world of remote work with Ben Bisbee, the co-author of The Unashamed Guide To Virtual Management.  Working remotely is a reality of today’s and tomorrow’s workforce.… Read more »

169: Census in the Time of COVID-19

The US Census is currently underway during the COVID-19 crisis and many experts are worried that a true count will be made increasingly more difficult. Karthick makes it clear why the Census matters for each state and nonprofit, regardless of industry or cause. An accurate count impacts voting maps, public resource allocation of services and… Read more »

168: Catching Momentum in a Time of Coronavirus

We interview  Mike Berland, the founder & CEO of research, data, and analytics firm Decode M who is an expert how people think and behave as consumers, voters, and decision-makers. We talk about His upcoming book “MAXIMUM MOMENTUM: How to Get It, How to Keep It” in the context of the Coronavirus news storm. Mike shares stories and tactics of… Read more »

167: Fundraising in Times of Uncertainty – Martin Leifeld

Interview with Martin Leifeld, Martin Leifeld is an author, consultant, coach and public speaker.   During his 24 years of professional fundraising, Martin and his teams raised a staggering $500 million dollars. In 2018 Martin was named Outstanding Fundraising Executive by the Association of Fundraising Professional St. Louis Regional Chapter.  We discuss how to deal with… Read more »

166: The Best Way to Contact Congress – advice from Quorum

We interview Alex Wirth, the co-founder of Quorum.us a leading legislative tracking tool. Alex shares what works in getting the valuable attention of elected officials. Should you use phone calls, mail, social? Should you send your messages all at once or over time?  Not all mediums are equal in gaining the attention of representatives and… Read more »

165: Fixing Flaky Volunteers – Allen Kramer

Looking to grow your volunteer base? Allen Kramer, president of Mobilize, on why data and tech are so important to the success of volunteer recruitment and retention. Mobilize is the events management and volunteer recruitment platform that connects mission-driven organizations and their supporters. Mobilize has been used by over 1,000 organizations and 1.3M volunteers, in just… Read more »

164: Is Personalized Video Worth the Lift?

When it comes to advertising and marketing, it’s common knowledge that the more personalized the message, the better. But are personalized videos too heavy a lift? Oli Bridge, Head of Marketing at Bonjoro, says no. In fact, personalized video is the best way to double your fundraising efforts.  This week, we sit with Bridge as… Read more »

163: Using the Impact Method – Sarah Olivieri

We interview Sarah Olivieri about the Impact Method and how to apply it to your nonprofit. https://pivotground.com/ Sarah Olivieri is a nonprofit business strategist, #1 International Best Selling author, and former Executive Director. She has been featured on over 30 podcasts and is the creator of the Impact Method™ – a framework that helps nonprofits simplify their operations,… Read more »

162: The Power of Pillar Pages for SEO

We talked with Whole Whale’s Rachel Clemens about the importance of pillar pages to organize and optimize your content. This fundamental SEO strategy is one of the most effective at building traffic around a larger keyword topic. Tune in as Rachel breaks down content arrangement and the pillar page planning process. To read more about… Read more »

161: Don’t Worry, Individual Giving is Down – Sherry Quam Taylor

Individual giving in 2018 declined 1.1% (adjusted inflation 3.4%) according to the annual Giving USA Trends report.  Should we worry? Sherry Quam Taylor works with small to medium-sized nonprofits to jump-start their fundraising, aiding the transition from small individual donations to large foundational gifts. Tune in as we investigate the current paradox in giving trends,… Read more »

160: From Nonprofit to Elected Office? – Samra Brouk

Do nonprofits and politics have anything in common? For Samra Brouk, success in both has gone hand in hand. In this episode, Kariesha Martinez interviews Samra about her nonprofit background and her Democratic Senate race in the 55th District of NY State. We discuss the importance of fundraising, marketing, and remembering that all those data… Read more »

159: How to Survive in the Nonprofit Software Business – CauseVox

We interview Rob Wu the Founder and CEO of CauseVox.com a nonprofit focused fundraising solution https://www.causevox.com/. CauseVox has been around for over a decade in the SAS business world and has learned a lot over the years. Learn the value of capitalizing on your tailwind and growing an audience one post at a time.  CauseVox generates… Read more »

158: Where Tech and Criminal Justice Intersect – Alia Toran-Burrell

Alia Toran-Burrell walks us through how a Code For America app, “Clear My Record,” went from connecting people with criminal records with attorneys to replacing attorneys altogether. We learn about the sobering reality of criminal record clearance in America, and the incredible ways tech is stepping in to fix the problem.  For more information on… Read more »

157: “Transform Your Board Into a Fundraising Force” – Kay Sprinkel Grace

Renowned non-profit consultant, Kay Sprinkel Grace, reveals how to maximize board member engagement and bolster fundraising efforts with her “AAA” solution. Speaking to findings in her new book, “Transform Your Board Into a Fundraising Force: The Essentials You Need to Know,” Kay Sprinkel Grace breaks down the Ambassador, Advocacy, and Asker components of board membership. Her… Read more »

156: The 9 Nonprofit Trends of 2019 – Cause IQ

We interview Josh Hurd, the Founder of Cause IQ a leading nonprofit data aggregator about the top nonprofit trends of 2019.  Cause IQ used their data to compare nonprofit financials from 2018-2019 versus 2017-2018 for the same 5,000 most popular organizations, and found that revenues are growing more than previously for most organizations — but… Read more »

155: The 2020 Privacy Protections – SHIELD & CCPA

Our guest, Joshua Peskay, VP of Technology Strategy of Round Table Technologies and Whole Whale University Cyber Security teacher explains what nonprofits need to know about the coming changes.  There are two new major online privacy policy changes coming in 2020, the CCPA in California and SHIELD act in New York. The New York Stop Hacks and Improve… Read more »

154: Adventures at AfroTech 2019

Whole Whale’s Advertising Fellow, Kariesha Martinez shares her experience and interviews at AfroTech 2019. AfroTech is the largest conference gathering of Black techies created by Blavity, an American Internet media company and website based in Los Angeles, created by and for Black millennials. Their mission is to “economically and creatively support Black millennials across the African… Read more »

153: Using Analytics to Answer: Who Are My Donors? – Webinar with CauseVox

What motivates new donors versus returning donors? What content do they favor? What series of interactions drove them to donate in the first place? Using Google Analytics, along with your donation platform and social media insights tools, you can get the answers to these questions and more. Join George Weiner, CEO + Founder of Whole… Read more »

152: Why we should save .ORG domains

In an interview with Jacob Malthouse, founder of .ECO domains and former VP of Global Partnerships of ICANN. Jacob explains how domains are run by ICANN and the Internet Society, making the case for why they should be saved.  Support the message at: SaveDotOrg.org The nonprofit that runs .ORG domains is being taken over by… Read more »

151: Private Equity Buys .ORG Public Interest Registry (PIR)

On November 13th, 2019 the Internet Society and Public Interest Registry (PIR)  announced that Ethos Capital will acquire PIR and all of its assets from the Internet Society for $1.135 Billion dollars. What does it mean that a private equity firm now own the .ORG, .NGO, .ONG domains nonprofits rely on for their websites? We… Read more »

150: Navigating the future of jobs – Brynne Kennedy

This podcast conversation about the Talent Mobility Revolution, a concept Brynne Kennedy breaks down in her book Flat, Fluid and Fast: Harness the Talent Mobility Revolution to Drive Employee Engagement, Accelerate Innovation, and Unleash Growth. Brynne is also a candidate for US Congress in California’s Fourth Congressional District and shares larger thoughts on what leads… Read more »

149: The 2019 Giving Tuesday Webinar

GivingTuesday was launched in 2012 as a day to celebrate and inspire giving and has since grown into the world’s largest movement for generosity. Last year, GivingTuesday crossed the $1 billion mark, with U.S. nonprofits raising over $400 million online in just one day. Are you ready for this year? Join Chief Whaler George Weiner… Read more »

148: How We Won the H-1B Lottery

We interviewed our own Technical Creative Director, Ann Nguyen about her five-year journey of working on an H-1B visa then finally gaining employment-based permanent residency through EB-3 application. This long process involved a lot of work, paper, patience and of course, luck. This podcast conversation walks through how a company should consider the value of… Read more »

147: Happy Birthday to Me – Facebook Fundraisers

A short fun podcast about the importance of Facebook birthday fundraisers in nonprofit online fundraising plans. Since 2015, Facebook fundraisers have raised over $2 Billion, half of this has been from the birthday function. George talks about his own small birthday fundraiser on Facebook to support Power Poetry and how it looks in the larger… Read more »

146: Making Volunteer Time Count – Timecounts.org

Interview with Amanda Rose the Founder and CEO of Timecounts. This volunteer management software platform is now helping thousands of organizers and organizations manage and mobilize volunteers. Amanda shares her background of founding Twestival and her journey of launching a startup in the social impact sector. There is a point where spreadsheets just don’t work… Read more »

145: End-of-Year Fundraising Tips

Megan Anhalt, Chief Strategy Officer of Whole Whale shares advice for EOY fundraising and what your nonprofit should be doing to maximize holiday giving. Did you know that 12% of funds are donated in the last three days of December? We discuss how this, Giving Tuesday and other events/behaviors should impact your EOY strategies.  More… Read more »

144: Why We Sent a Whaler to Buenos Aires

We interview Meredith Esquivel, Marketing Manager and Dean of Whole Whale University about why she spent the month of September 2019 in Buenos Aires working remotely. Meredith explains the perk that Whole Whale offers through https://www.hackerparadise.org/ that pays for whalers (staff) to work remotely for the company. The catch is that employees must agree to stay on… Read more »

143: Why Out-of-the-box Analytics Fail – Simo Ahava

 This week’s interview is with Simo Ahava, who is a partner and co-founder at 8-bit-sheep and also has been a Google Developer Expert for Google Analytics and Google Tag Manager since 2014. Simo’s blog has a singular purpose: To tell complicated stories in a simple, understandable, and actionable way at simoahava.com. We discuss why out-of-the-box implementations of tools like Google Analytics… Read more »

142: How to Stand Out like a Stand Up comedian – Leigh Kessler

Interview with Leigh Kessler, one of the most recognized comedians on the VH1 network, regularly appearing on hit shows like “The Greatest”, and the network’s top-rated show “Best Week Ever”, and CNN Headline News where he was a comedy panelist on “Showbiz Tonight”. Today he is a frequent speaker & presenter on technology, fundraising, data strategy, and audience development.… Read more »

141: The Making of Nonprofit Management 101 (the book)

This comprehensive book about Nonprofit management just released its second edition and the editor, Darian Rodriguez Heyman talks about the process and lessons learned. We learn about the process of gathering experts, making the asks, and the marketing involved in creating the book. In just two short weeks, Nonprofit Management 101 has become a top seller on… Read more »

140: Crash Course in NGO State Fundraising Compliance

When is it OK to drive above the speed limit when it comes to registering your nonprofit in each State? With millions being raised across the digital landscape this decision could cost your nonprofit thousands in fines if you don’t understand the rules. Ronald J. Barrett, VP, Nonprofit Services at Cogency Global and Author: Nonprofit Fundraising Registration: Nolo’s 50-State… Read more »

139: Building Mental Availability to Grow Brands (rebroadcast)

Original episode 67 resources. How Brands Grow is one of our favorite books at Whole Whale and in this rebroadcasted episode 67, we talk with a researcher who worked with the Author. Dr Margaret Faulkner, Senior Research Associate, Ehrenberg-Bass Institute for Marketing Science at the business school, in the University of South Australia. Margaret’s primary areas of… Read more »

138: Gaming & Live Stream Fundraisers – How to with Tiltify

Tiltify is a leading platform for live stream fundraisers for nonprofits. Michael Wasserman their CEO (Creative Evil Overlord), explains how the platform works and what makes for a successful stream.  Resources Tiltify.com Who are Dr. Lupo and Ninja, gaming celebrities Pickle Challenge on Tiltify GuardianCon – social good gaming conference Twitch and Twitch Con PAX… Read more »

137: Our Employee Gave 3 Months Notice – here’s why

This episode comes from inside of Whole Whale where our Digital Analyst whaler, Jack Downs talks about why he gave 3 months notice to George (founder of Whole Whale). It is Whole Whale’s requested policy that employees give 3 months notice, something unheard of in standard 2 weeks notice HR policies. This conversation explores the… Read more »

136: Managing Facebook Fundraisers Effectively – GoodUnited.io

Facebook fundraisers are raising hundreds of millions for nonprofits. This new avenue of giving continues to grow with Instagram donation stickers and increasing use of the Birthday fundraiser feature. Jeremy Berman, Founder and President of GoodUnited.io discusses the process of managing and thanking the donors giving on Facebook.  The work of thanking and engaging with… Read more »

135: Why Peer-to-Peer Fundraising works – Rallybound.com

The Co-Founder of Rallybound, Joe Magee shares what they have learned after supporting hundreds of nonprofits with peer-to-peer fundraising. The industry is as old as it is successful, helping raise millions of dollars year-in and year-out. P2P fundraising began with large organized walks but now boasts an incredibly diverse range of events/activities that allow supporters… Read more »

134: Raising $50M from online gaming with Extra-Life.org

E-Sports are on track to be a billion-dollar market in 2019 and the opportunity for peer-to-peer giving is just starting.  Extra Life unites thousands of gamers around the world to play games in support of their local Children’s Miracle Network Hospital. Since its inception in 2008, Extra Life has raised over $50 million USD for sick and… Read more »

133: Is it a mission or vision statement?

Whole Whale’s COO,  Megan Anhalt dives into how to create a mission and vision statement, what the difference is and helps us tell the difference. This podcast builds on our popular Mission Statement Generator resources. In short, the vision statement is the destination and the mission statement is the path – the how you get… Read more »

132: Engage for Good 2019 Conference interviews

Whole Whale’s Olivia Marlowe-Giovetti went to the Engage For Good conference in Chicago on May 29th-30th and had quick interviews with attendees. The conference focuses on cause marketing, profit, and purpose. Organizations interviewed: CSM LeadDog, Adrienne Rochetti For Momentum, Mollye Rhea, President and Founder Good 360, Jim Alvey, Director of Partnerships, Disaster Recovery Harbor Compliance, Borock… Read more »

131: (short) US Giving Drops 1.7% – What Gives?

The Giving USA report came out on June 18th and announced that interest adjusted giving dropped 1.7% in 2018. A big culprit is the tax deduction changes, however, the data show several shifts that may be moving this trend. Internal podcast with Megan Anhalt, CSO of Whole Whale and George Weiner, Chief Whaler discuss the… Read more »

130: How to manage thousands of volunteers – FoodForward.org

Interview with Joe Bobman, the Technology & Engagement Manager of Food Forward. Food Forward fights hunger and prevents food waste by rescuing fresh surplus produce, connecting this abundance with people in need and inspiring others to do the same. They do this with the help of thousands of volunteers that are carefully managed through communication tech. Resources Foodforward.org http://learn.volunteermatch.org/ https://volpro.net/… Read more »

129: The Story of a Free Fundraising Platform – GiveLively.org

We interview David DeParolesa, Chief Executive Officer of Give Lively a free fundraising platform. In the nonprofit software landscape full of fees for donation processing, this company is a true standout offering their myriad platform features at 0 extra cost. Their journey of building a free platform has taught Give Lively a lot about what works… Read more »

128: RoundUp App: Making Change Matter for Charity

Interview with Grant Hensel, founder of the RoundUp App and Nonprofit Megaphone. The app allows supporters to round up the change from their credit card purchases for the charity they care about every month. Learn how this app got started and how it is helping nonprofits build their recurring giving campaigns.   How the RoundUp App… Read more »

127: LinkedIn Strategies for Nonprofits

We talk with Megan Anhalt, the Chief Strategy Officer at Whole Whale about using LinkedIn more effectively. Why LinkedIn for nonprofits? It’s one of the largest social networks: More than 610 million users in 200 countries and territories around the globe are on LinkedIn. Over 260 Million monthly active users: An estimated 100 Million of… Read more »

126: Using AI for Ethical Impact with Lisa Rau

In this episode, we interview AI expert Lisa Rau, Founder of Fionta. Lisa holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science, specializing in Artificial Intelligence and is a part of the Berkeley Artificial Intelligence Research (BAIR) group. She also led AI research for eight years at GE Corporate Research, where she published 50-some articles in peer-reviewed journals… Read more »

125: How to Grow App & Podcast Audiences – Charity Miles

We talk with Gene Gurkoff, the founder of Charity Miles about how he has grown their user base to over 250k monthly active users and a successful podcast that supports their community. Charity Miles is an app that allows donates money from corporate sponsors to the charity you care about for every mile you exercise. Resources… Read more »

124: Instagram Donation Stickers #MakeStoriesMatter

On May 1st, 2019 Instagram launched a new giving tool, we discuss how to make Instagram donation stickers. Olivia Marlowe-Giovetti from our team about different story strategies to try to raise money for your nonprofit.

123: Storytelling through the press

We talk with Chandra Hayslett, Communications Director at Center for Constitutional Rights about how she leverages the press to tell CRR’s story. Chandra is a Pulitzer-prize winning executive with 21 years’ communications experience (10 in communications and 11 in journalism) with sound awareness in developing and implementing integrated marketing and communications plans that advance clients’… Read more »

122: How to Run an Apps for Good Gathering

We attended the http://publicgoodapphouse.org on March 29th, 2019 to learn more about this great event and the showcased apps. Then the organizer, Susan Tenby, the Director of Community + Partnerships for Caravan Studios, a division of TechSoup shared how she organizes these gatherings. Resources http://stophatespeech.eventbrite.com – next event: Wed, April 24, 2019 – 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM EDT… Read more »

121: Start your Nonprofit Capital Campaign Right Now

We discuss why right now in 2019 is the absolute best time in history to start a capital campaign for your nonprofit. Increased wealth, wealth transfer events, and tax climates are aligning and who knows how long it will last before the next economic slowdown. CJ Orr of The Orr Group walks us through the… Read more »

120: (short) Facebook is not a social media platform

A short monologue about why Facebook is not a social media platform if you are an organization, it is an Ad Platform. We talk about basic ads strategy and how to think about using $100 per month to test it. If you spend time making posts on Facebook, you are spending money. Each year, the… Read more »

119: Why 350.org Dismantled Their Digital Team

How 350.org, a very tech-savvy, global environmental organization changed its approach to their internal digital team. Hanna Thomas, the Chief Product Officer explains how the organization made this transition to a product mindset. Her Medium article about removing their digital team inspired this conversation. Resources Find 350.org on Twitter @350 New/Mode advocacy campaign tools Your… Read more »

118: Elevator Pitch-off with 37 Vendors at #19NTC

We attended the 2019 Nonprofit Technology Conference (#19NTC) from March 13-15 in Portland, OR and gave 37 software vendors 15 seconds to pitch what their product is and what it does. This is a fun tour around the Nonprofit Technology Conference and an opportunity to listen for what you think works and might work for… Read more »

117: Using Local Podcasts for a Purpose

We interview Lucas Griffin about how he is using the Bushwick Podcast to share stories and news happening in Bushwick, Brooklyn. The series celebrates local culture, explains the factors driving change in the community, and shares resources to help people in the neighborhood shape the future of Bushwick for the better. Lucas shares how they use the… Read more »

116: The logic of good IA to improve websites

We interview Sam Raddatz, CEO and Lead Information Architect of the Logic Dept. about the importance of information architecture (IA) and the process of doing user testing to improve websites. Sam explains how we can avoid the ‘curse of knowledge’ and see our websites through the eyes of others and then make changes necessary to… Read more »

115: Breaking into the $100B inside Donor-Advised Funds (DAF)

  Sue Schwartzman, an expert in advising family philanthropic dollars shares her insight into Donor-Advised Funds. A market that currently controls over $100B in assets earmarked for charities. Sue is the founder at Schwartzman Advising and has years of experience understanding this market and how to position your organization for those larger dollars.    … Read more »

114: Understanding Lean Impact for Nonprofits

We interview Ann Mei the author of Lean Impact. She is a leading advocate for social innovation and the former Chief Innovation Officer at USAID. She draws on her rare experience as an executive across the tech industry, nonprofits, and the U.S. government to offer a unique perspective on tackling the most pressing social challenges… Read more »

113: Startup using bottles to save the environment

We interview Patrick Boadu, a partner at Soul Bottles, a B-Corp making custom glass water bottles in Germany that also gives a portion of sales to water-focused nonprofits. Their work has prevented 800kg (1,760lbs) of wasted plastic and given 42,000 people access to clean drinking water. Resources Soul Bottles – order custom brand glass bottles… Read more »

112: One Billion Messages for Good with Twilio.org

We talk with Meghan Nesbit, Director of Nonprofit Development at Twilio.org about how they got to 1 Billion SMS messages and how the larger company thinks about impact. Twilio is a leader in SMS and flexible messaging solutions and their approach to impact involves grants, volunteering, and in-kind use of their powerful product. We also… Read more »

111: How Box.org Works – founder interview

We hear how Box.com, leading online cloud storage and content management tool has grown it’s CSR program in a novel way. Bryan Breckenridge, the Founding Executive Director shares the approach and story of how Box.org became an embedded social enterprise within Box.com. He also shares great case studies of how nonprofits are leveraging the power… Read more »

110: (short) How we spent $13k on a vitamin

A short episode talking about the creation and termination of AllGoodText.com, a product by Whole Whale. AllGoodText.com was a product we launched in 2014 that pulled data from YouTube and Google Analytics and turned it into a weekly text message summary. After four years and thousands of data texts we’re closing shop as of Nov,… Read more »

109: Play That Pays at Playworks – Interview With the President

We interviewed Elizabeth Cushing, the President of PLAYWORKS about how they have built a model of healthy play to schools at scale. As a part of the journey they have innovated, creating earned revenue streams through the PLAYWORKS programs and open models with RECESS LAB. Resources RECESS LAB PLAYWORKS on Facebook PLAYWORKS Impact (From Playworks)… Read more »

108: 92nd Street Y on the creation of Giving Tuesday

The Chief Innovation Officer, Asha Curran shares the story of how the 92nd Street Y created the epic day of #GivingTuesday. This day of giving follows Black Friday and Cyber Monday in the US and has been adopted on various days across the globe. In 2017 it raised over $300M and there is no way… Read more »

107: Raising +100k Coats and Dollars From the Rising Generation at New York Cares

Gary Bagley, Executive Director of New York Cares, shares how the organization has achieved the milestone of distributing 2 million winter coats for New Yorkers in need as well as plans for growing impact further. Gary shares how the organization aims to use text messaging and other technologies to improve volunteering engagement. We also discuss… Read more »

106: Using Digital Campaigns at the USO

We interview Adam Faircloth, Senior Digital Strategist and Beth Palmisano,  Director of Integrated Fundraising about how they used a digital campaign to drive impact and fundraising outcomes at the USO. Their Campaign to Connect drove over a million messages of support to troops and helped build a substantial base of support for their integrated fundraising program.

105: (short) Don’t build that app!

We make the case for not building an app. When you balance the cost and facts of app usage it is probably the worst technical investment your organization can make. Consider that about 20% of apps are used once then deleted (flurry + Statista), and 80% apps don’t make it 30 days (Quettra mobile analytics).… Read more »

104: Keeping your Nonprofit Brand Current

Sarah Durham, author of the book Brandraising and CEO and founder of Big Duck shares current trends in nonprofit branding and communications. We discuss how much has changed since the company’s founding in 1994 and what has stayed the same. The question of whether to evolve a brand or rebrand entirely is also discussed. Resources Books… Read more »

103: Understanding Facebook Fundraising

Facebook’s donation tool charges 0% and has raised hundreds of millions for nonprofits that know how to use it. Digital fundraising strategist, Julia Campbell walks us through how your organization can use this powerful platform. Julia is also the author of – Storytelling in the Digital Age: A Guide for Nonprofits! Resources Free and low-cost… Read more »

102: Crafting a digital strategy for TFA

A case study of how Teach For America implemented a digital strategy across the organization. This case study goes through the process that Peter Petralia, Partner at Modern Craft led. We learn the key elements involved in steering an organization of this size. Resources Modern Craft TFA case study Episode 12: Teach For America Podcast… Read more »

101: Lyft-ing up Social Impact: Inside CSR at Lyft

We interview Lisa Boyd, Senior Manager of Social Impact at Lyft. This ridesharing company is setting a standard for social impact that includes the largest carbon offset programs in history, direct donations and offering free “relief rides” that make a difference for thousands. Resources Relief Rides Program Lyft Round Up and Donate Atlantic article about… Read more »

100: Seth Godin on Nonprofit Strategy

Acclaimed author, marketer, and teacher, Seth Godin, whose mentorship inspired the birth of Whole Whale, joins us for our 100th podcast episode. While there is more knowledge accessible today than any other time in human history, Godin contends, we’re spending our time watching cat videos instead. (Hey, some of those cat videos are trying to… Read more »

099: Earworms for good – Music branding for social impact

We talk with Greg Thomas, Whole Whale’s campaign strategist and professional musician about the use of music and jingles for impact. How does your organization use or think about music branding, theme songs, or jingles when creating the brand image? Organizations spend tons on visual branding, videos and storytelling but all too often outsource the… Read more »

098: Crisitunities & other story telling campaign tactics

This week on the podcast we talk with Megan Anhalt, a digital campaign expert who has worked with DoSomething.org, CZI, and Purpose. Megan shares her research and training around the elements of storytelling for campaigns and what it takes to “go viral”. We explore how nonprofits can and should take advantage of ‘crisitunities’, moments when… Read more »

097: How GuardianX is leveraging tech for social change

It’s Friday night. You’ve left a bar, said goodbye to your friends heading in the opposite direction, and are walking the 8 blocks home. Or perhaps you’ve worked late and are making your way to a different subway station to get home because your normal train isn’t running. Maybe you’re in a new town at a… Read more »

096: How to #win at Facebook advertising for nonprofits

This week on the podcast, we talk about the website that Shall Not Be Named: Can we still use Facebook advertising for good (could we ever use Facebook advertising for good?). tl;dr — yes. Our own Digital Advertising Whaler Jasmine Cordew joins us to talk about navigating the Social Network for social impact. There are several advantages… Read more »

095: How Cystic Fibrosis Foundation builds online communities

This week on the podcast, Chief Whaler George Weiner chats with Emily Dulcan, Online Community Experience Lead at Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Joining CFF after 3 years as Digital Director at the Peace Corps, Emily knows from community building. She talks with George about how the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation overcomes the challenge of in-person interaction for… Read more »

094: How Fair Trade Certified is building on 20 years of impact with lean digital practices

If you’ve ever bought coffee from Whole Foods, chances are you’ve seen the Fair Trade Certified logo. The organization has been helping consumers to make the right choice the easiest choice by identifying thousands of products that are made and harvested in sustainable and ethical manners, protecting land and waterways in nearly 50 countries and… Read more »

093.5: (Short) Phishing for Cyber Security

What is the point of a firewall when you’re employees leave the back door open? This short rant from Chief Whaler George Weiner discusses some super simple things your employees can to protect against 90% of the cyber attacks out there. Many of the emails about privacy policy invading our inboxes are little more than reactions to… Read more »

093: All about GDPR with Stanford PACS

How are we using private information for public good? GDPR (aka, the General Data Protection Regulation) goes into effect in the European Union next week, so now’s a good time to be asking that question. GDPR compliance means more than the click of a button: This is a fundamental reevaluation of how we protect and… Read more »

092: Saving the internet with the Mozilla Foundation

In Episode 92 of Using the Whole Whale, we talk to Craig Wiroll, the Gigabit Portfolio Manager with the Mozilla Foundation, about the Foundation’s work to save the Internet… and maybe all of the people that use it? If Mozilla is new to you, we won’t say you live under a rock, but you live nearby…If… Read more »

091.5: Things we Learned from #18NTC

Bonus episode! George and Olivia talk through some of the highlights from #18NTC, the 2018 Nonprofit Technology Conference, including the state of play for Facebook, what we can look forward to with GDPR, and how we can apply lessons from a digital newsroom for nonprofit communications. We may have also had a few sazeracs. When… Read more »

091: Sasha Samochina on how NASA fuses science and art (Live from SXSW)

In our final Live from SXSW episode (for 2018 at least), Olivia speaks with Sasha Samochina of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. While everyone else was at Westworld, Olivia talks about the Wild West of VR with Sasha, one of the JPL’s Immersive Visualization Producers in Pasadena, CA after her panel, “Let’s Get Real: Practical Uses… Read more »

90.5 CFC drops $66M – news update from America’s Charities

The Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) reported that $101M was raised in 2017 by federal employees, this represents a 40% or $66M decline in funds raised for nonprofits. In 2009, this same program raised over $200M has steadily declined over the past years and Jim Starr, the President and CEO of America’s Charities helps us understand… Read more »

090: CERN — Doing the things a particle can with James Beacham (Live from SXSW)

Science, y’all. Olivia is (at least in podcast terms) still at SXSW 2018, talking with Dr. James Beacham, with the ATLAS Experiment at the Large Hadron Collider at CERN, who was part of the panel Decrypting the Universe: Science and Art at CERN last month in Austin. The Higgs boson particle? The Large Hadron Collider?… Read more »

089: Lean Data with Emma Lalley and Twisha Mehta (Live from SXSW)

When we see a conference session titled “Lean Data: How to Use Data to Drive Social Progress,” you can bet we’re signing up, and that’s exactly what happened when Account Strategist Whaler Olivia Marlowe-Giovetti went to SXSW last month. After a great session co-led by Emma Lalley of New Story and Twisha Mehta of Samasource (along… Read more »

088: WTF with Tim O’Reilly (Live from SXSW)

In a special (perhaps Very Special?) episode of Using the Whole Whale recorded live in Austin, Olivia Marlowe-Giovetti speaks with Tim O’Reilly of O’Reilly Media. If you’re using the Internet today (and you are if you’re listening to this podcast), you can thank Tim in at least some small part. He wrote the first popular… Read more »

087.5: Things We Learned from Strata Data Conference

In the second of 2 episodes between Chief Whaler George and Account Strategist Whaler Olivia, we talk about (taco-bout?) our recent conference adventures, wrapping up with George’s time at the Strata Data Conference in San José (where our Design Whaler Ann presented on Machine Learning and A/B Testing). Much like SXSW, tacos were had. Attending… Read more »

087: Things We Learned from SXSW

In the first of 2 episodes between Chief Whaler George and Account Strategist Whaler Olivia, we talk about (taco-bout?) our recent conference adventures, beginning with Olivia’s time at SXSW 2018. There were discussions on digital sanctuary, empathy, VR, blockchain, and — of course — tacos. Yes, Elon Musk did a pop-up AMA. Yes, Westworld was… Read more »

086: Using the Thank You Strategy (short)

A short podcast where George talks about a simple, yet powerful way to think about thanking your audience in order to increase the impact of your communications. Resources Thank You Economy book Donor’s Choose Drip campaign strategy Environmental Defense Fund podcast

085: The Testimonial Tactic (short)

This is a short ideacast from George Weiner about how you can better leverage testimonials in your business. Our online reputations are shaped by how others report on our services and work – how are you being deliberate about asking for these reviews? Per the request made in the podcast, please consider taking a minute… Read more »

084: Totally Uncorked with Nonprofit Branding Evangelist Elaine Fogel

If you think nonprofit branding is important, this podcast is for you. We speak with author, speaker, marketer, brand and customer experience evangelist, educator, and consultant Elaine Fogel, president and CMO of Solutions Marketing & Consulting LLC located in Scottsdale, Arizona. A sought-after marketing and branding thought leader who specializes in small-to-medium businesses and nonprofit organizations, Elaine… Read more »

083: Bringing classical music into the digital age with 21C Media Group

In M+R’s 2017 Benchmarks Study, cultural nonprofits emerged as the MVP in several areas. Email list size growth was more than double the overall nonprofit average (21% compared to 10%). Website visitor signup rates were simiarly higher than average — 2.7% for cultural nonprofits versus the overall average of 1.1%. This sector also had the… Read more »

082: Understanding workplace giving with America’s Charities

 Workplace giving contributes roughly $4 billion to charities in the U.S. each year. As the data show, there is a burgeoning interest in the workforce of aligning with organizations that share their personal values, and that includes giving back either through monetary contributions or in-kind pro bono work. There’s no organization better suited to talk… Read more »

081: Risky Business with Risk Alternatives

Risk: Grey hair generator, or force for good? We talk with Ted Bilich, CEO of DC-based Risk Alternatives. Their mission is to build stronger communities by helping nonprofits and startups master risk management and process improvement, implementing a regular cycle to create a resilient culture. No one wants to talk about all of the things that can… Read more »

080: Using Facebook Messaging for Impact with @Mssg

We interview Michael Sabat, Founder of @Mssg and talk about how organizations can more easily use Facebook messaging to collect information and connect with their audience. Facebook messenger and messaging continue to grow and audiences may be expecting your page to respond with a chat experience. This episode covers different ways your organization can leverage… Read more »

079: The role of a digital team at Communities in Schools

We interview Shakirah A. Hill| Director, Digital Strategy at the Communities In Schools National Office. The discussion covers breaking down silos across the organization and how to balance data and anecdotes in storytelling.   Resources Communities in Schools On Twitter @cisnational Find Shakirah on Twitter @ShakirahAdianna     About Shakirah Hill Shakirah Hill is the… Read more »

078: #GivingTuesday predictions and tips for 2017

November 28th, 2017 is the big day – #GivingTuesday is the national day of giving following Black Friday and Cyber Monday. We share our predictions and quick tips for how to maximize the day for your nonprofit. Spoiler – we believe giving will pass the $200M mark, showing a 20% lift from 2016’s day of… Read more »

077: Making Fundraising mobile with MobileCause

We interview Sean MacNeill the CEO of MobileCause an organization that provides mobile and online fundraising solutions for a new generation of donors with end-to-end digital fundraising software that is easy, fast, flexible and built exclusively for nonprofits. Resources MobileCause website Low-cost SMS solutions About Sean Sean MacNeill joined MobileCause as CEO and a member… Read more »

076: Distilling what you need to know about SEO for impact

Great discussion with Will Critchlow, the Founder and CEO of Distilled, an SEO digital agency. We discuss how to engage, influence, convince and convert organic traffic by creating the right content. How much should you study the changing field of SEO to get the most out of it? Resources Distilled SEO and tech consulting and… Read more »

075: How to think about designing and building websites with Great Believer

We interview Josh Riman, the founder of Great Believer, a nonprofit-focused creative services agency about the importance of design. Websites and Resources Upwork 99designs Designing the stop sign parody video Front door disease article Square space – low-cost website builder and platform Wix – low-cost website builder and platform Builtwith.com – shows what a website… Read more »

074: The strategy of staying top of mind with content

Interview with John Hall, the author of “Top of Mind: Use Content to Unleash Your Influence and Engage Those Who Matter To You” and CEO and co-founder of Influence & Co., a tech-enabled content marketing agency that helps brands and individuals extract and leverage their expertise to create, publish, and distribute content to gain influence, visibility,… Read more »

073: The Clean Money Revolution – How is your money invested?

We interview Joel Solomon, the author of “Clean Money Revolution: Reinventing Power, Purpose and Capitalism“. Our discussion covers what ‘social impact investing’ is and why it is important for the coming generation to care where their money goes.   About Joel Solomon Prior to the founding of Renewal Funds, Joel spent 14 years with founder… Read more »

072: How Voting Should Work with Democracy Works

This episode features a discussion with Kathryn Peters, the co-founder of Democracy Works and Magdalena Kura, the Product Director at Democracy Works. Their work is helping register more voters across the country and increase participation in local and national elections.       “One study of the 2012 elections estimated that as many as 3.9… Read more »

071: Email Fundraising with the Environmental Defense Fund

Can nonprofits increase their donation size using basic email marketing techniques? Yes they can, and we sat down with Emily Stevenson of the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) to learn how. Compared to direct mail and other forms of communication, email marketing is a very effective and low-cost form of member engagement. Using EDF’s email list… Read more »

070: Listening to Communities to Create Better Apps

We interview Marnie Webb the CEO of Caravan Studios, a division of TechSoup, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Caravan Studios’ collaborative approach uses a theory of technology intervention to allow communities to respond to the issues they care about most. Caravan Studios has used this methodology to launch projects in the United States, Brazil, and Qatar. The… Read more »

069: Primal Branding for Nonprofits

We interview Patrick Hanlon the author of Primal Branding and the CEO and founder of THINKTOPIA, a global brand and strategic innovation practice for Fortune 100 clients including American Express, Levis, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, PricewaterhouseCoopers and many others. We discuss how nonprofits should think about these core elements lead into a belief system… Read more »

67.5 – Content Marketing for Nonprofits

In this episode, we talk with Olivia Giovetti from the Whole Whale team about content marketing and how nonprofits can leverage it. It is also revealed that Olivia originally found out about Whole Whale through content created around Giving Tuesday! Resources Learn more about content marketing strategy Learn the basics of SEO for nonprofits Understand… Read more »

067: Myth Busting Nonprofit Marketing with Science

We debunk myths about burst advertising, branding, and customer retention with Dr Margaret Faulkner, Senior Research Associate, Ehrenberg-Bass Institute for Marketing Science at the business school, in the University of South Australia. Margaret’s primary areas of expertise and research are in measuring consumer-based brand equity and advertising effectiveness, with a focus on tracking brand health… Read more »

066: How Charity Charge is turning credit points into purpose

We Interview the founder of Charity Charge, Stephen Garten, about how he got started and how his company is changing the charity credit card game. Instead of earning miles or bonus points, every transaction with the Charity Charge card allows you to donate 1% cash back to ANY nonprofit of your choice. It’s an easy… Read more »

065: DoSomething.org Webinar on How to do Cause Marketing

Webinar with Samra Brouk the Director of Business Development at DoSomething.org. Samra walks us through how DoSomething.org aproaches combining cause campaigns, celebrities and sponsors to drive impact and revenue. DoSomething.org has worked with some of the largest brands in the country to create meaningful campaigns that have engaged millions of young people. Their approach is… Read more »

064: The Happy Healthy Nonprofit author interview

We interview the authors of The Happy Healthy Nonprofit; Beth Kanter and Aliza Sherman. This book shows you how to shift your organization’s culture by treating self-care as a strategic imperative to do more and do it better. Find and relieve cultural and behavioral pain points Achieve better results with attention to well-being Redefine your… Read more »

063: How Video Games Can Save the World – Author Asi Burak

We interview Asi Burak, the author of Power Play: How Video Games Can Save the World about the bold claim regarding video games. Asi serves as the Chairman of Games for Change (G4C), an influential organization with the mission to celebrate the positive power of digital games. G4C produces the Annual Games for Change Festival… Read more »

062: Author Interview – Mission Control

We interviewed Liana Downey, an internationally acclaimed strategic advisor dedicated to creating social change. As the CEO of Liana Downey & Associates, Liana leads a global team that helps leaders increase focus and change lives. Clients include social enterprises, nonprofits and federal, state and city governments, such as Speak up Africa, Community Solutions, the Nature… Read more »

061: The Foxiest Fundraising Data To Explore From MJFF

Live from our WWULive training on Donor Analytics, we talk with the top data analysts from the Michael J Fox Foundation about how they use fundraising data to increase results. We talk with Luba Smolensky, Associate Director of Analytics and Matt Krco, CRM & Analytics Officer about the tools and tactics they use to analyze… Read more »

060: How to Make Your Cause More Effective at Fundraising

Special interview done at our WWULive event focused on doing more with donor data. We interview Greg Cohen the Associate Director of Cause Effective about how they approach fundraising. Resources Presentation from event: Cause Effective Video from our WWULive event

059: Domains That Save the Environment: Announcing .ECO

The top level domain (TLD) .ECO is being released starting in 2017 and we talk with the founders of this initiative to see how it works under the hood.

058: Food from Tablets to Tables & The Metrics of Dignity

We interview Daniel S. Reyes, the Deputy Executive Director from NY Common Pantry about their choice pantry program. Daniel shares what the organization learned about how this move to digitization improved their stockroom efficiency and helped them better understand what their customers wanted.

057: How the Golden Volunteering Mobile App is Building for Impact

In this episode, we speak to Sam Fankuchen, the founder and CEO of Golden, about how Golden strives to improve volunteerism for both the volunteer and the nonprofit that is hosting the volunteers.

056: Technology Trends for Tomorrow with Future Today Institute

Future Today Institute researches emerging technology to predict the future. We speak with Amy Webb, the founder and CEO of Future Today, about how to identify trends in technology and how we use those to plan for the future.

055: How we built a successful web product MVP for $100

SNORKL is a product designed to help bridge the gap between nonprofits and vendors. Whole Whale speaks to one of its own, Laura Clevenger, to talk about the process of designing that could change the sector.

054: Texts that Change Climate with ACE

ACE is a company that strives to educate and empower young people to make a difference in climate change. We speak to Leah Qusba, ACE’s Communications Director, about the use of SMS in their education programs, and the use of surveying for long and short term projects.

053: Awesome Automation Tools Used At The True Colors Fund

Joe Moran, the Chief Creative Officer of The True Colors Fund is a master of automating his work. He discusses his tricks, starting with a list of repetitive tasks as he comes across them and then seeing how they may be automated by tools like ITTT.com and Zapier.com.

052: Helping Homelessness with Hope Data

Dan Treglia PhD from the University of Pennsylvania School of Social Policy and Practice discusses his research on the impact of hope and resilience on family shelter stays. We talk with him about how he did this research and at a broader level how other organizations can think about impact studies like these.

051: Making Food Stamps User-Friendly

PROPEL builds software for low-income Americans who are often overlooked by traditional tech innovation. We talk with Jimmy Chen the CEO, Founder and his CTO, Ram Mehta about how they have gone about building the app that is now helping thousands of people manage their food stamps.

050: The data behind donor retention with CauseVox

We talked with Rob Wu the CEO of CauseVox about data from the 2015 Fundraising Effectiveness Survey Report put together by the Fundraising Effectiveness Project. We discuss the data and more importantly how nonprofits should think about keeping their donors.

049: Bit.ly and Canva Tips from TopNonprofits

During the NTC 2016 conference in San Jose, we caught up with Amy Devita from Top Nonprofits – a great resource for nonprofit lists and guides. She shares the thinking behind how Top Nonprofits chooses the content they write and then how they use Bit.ly to track it and Canva to make it look good.

048: How to Select, Run, and Attend a Conference like a Boss

Ritu Sharma, the co-founder of Social Media For Nonprofits has years of experience running, speaking and attending conferences that help the nonprofit sector. We cover what to look for in a conference, tactics to help you find a speaking role, ways to keep costs down, and the best way to focus your networking.

047: Back to the Future of Fundraising with MJFF

The Michael J. Fox foundation was able to capture the attention from Back to the Future Day in 2015 and turn it into a record breaking fundraising year around #GivingTuesday. Emily Moyer, the SVP of Marketing and Digital Strategies at the Michael J. Fox Foundation explains the process of moving friends to funders.

046: What happens when the world has internet? Avinash Kaushik

In this brief discussion, we discuss the impact that universal connectivity will have on nonprofits and what web analytics will look like in this landscape with Avinash Kaushik, the Digital Marketing Evangelist for Google, co-Founder of Market Motive Inc and author of best selling analytics books.

045: Data Storytelling with Avinash Kaushik

Avinash Kaushik, the Digital Marketing Evangelist for Google, co-Founder of Market Motive Inc and author of best selling analytics books shares his thoughts on the difficult process of turning data into insights.

044: Using Marketplaces to Move Hunger

Today we have a great conversation with Adam Lowy, the founder of Move For Hunger, an organization that organizes movers to donate the food that people normally waste when they move. Learn how they use offline and online activities to increase the amount of food donated to those in need.

043: Monetizing Your Nonprofit’s Core Competency

Today, we interview with Steve Vick, the founder of Nonprofit Ally and Noble Paws. In this podcast he talks to us about his inspiration and approach to creating both organizations in a way that supports revenue and makes a difference in the world.

042: Turning Small Actions into Big Wins with Change.org

Change.org is the largest website for petitions on the internet with over 100 million users. We interview Meghan Teich, the west coast client manager, about the best way for nonprofits to leverage the platform.

041: Reading Literacy On Call for Lower Schools

TutorMate is a program run by Innovations for Learning that connects trained, remote volunteers to help younger students with reading literacy. We talk with Dan Weisberg, the National Director of TutorMate about how they developed and scaled the program.

040: Bots don’t donate, so don’t pay to reach them

An article from Bloomberg Business this September, “How Much of Your Audience is Fake” caught our eye. We tracked down our friend and ad fraud expert Dr. Augustine Fou to talk with us about the article and some of his new research on bots and how to avoid them.

039: How to win online voting competitions

Mark Horvath, the founder of invisiblepeople.tv, and CMO of The Rescue Mission has participated and won some of these competitions but the greatest tip he has is actually not to play them at all. This week, Mark talks to us about the true cost behind burning your list to ask potential donors to vote for you.

038: Stop apologizing and start volunteering with @NewYorkCares

New York Cares is the city’s largest volunteer management organization, running volunteer programs for 1,300 nonprofits, city agencies, and public schools. Today, Gary Bagley, the Executive Director of New York Cares discusses how they use data and technology to increase the amount of New Yorkers that volunteer.

037: Growing Change @Greenpeace with the MobLab

Our conversation with Michael Silberman, the Global Director at the Mobilisation Lab discusses their approach and what has worked in their efforts to make change within a massive institution.

036: Where to start with online course creation for your organization

The world of elearning and online courses is growing by the day, so how can your nonprofit begin to play with this growing tech? Hear how Julie Leary, the Digital Strategy Whaler at Whole Whale, has created an online course that has trained over 200 students about the Google AdWords Grant in 3 months.

035: Should you go out of business to achieve the greatest impact?

Today, we speak with the founders of ChangeBetter.org, Amanda Ashton and Ellie Zietlin, to discuss their approach to helping nonprofits discover their impact model. We will talk about their journey starting and how they approach the sector.

034: What should nonprofits stop doing?

In the second half of our interview with Brian Reich, Author of Shift & Reset and founder of little m media, we discuss what nonprofits should stop doing and other fun rapid fire questions.

033: Shift & Reset your thinking about social impact with Brian Reich

How should we be setting goals and measuring success in the nonprofit sector? Find out the answer in the first half of our interview with Brian Reich, Author of Shift & Reset and founder of little m media.

032: How CauseIQ leverages Nonprofit big data

Cause IQ provides information and tools to help companies discover new nonprofit clients. Hear the inside story of how Josh Hurd, Founder of Cause IQ got started and has built his product.

031: How do you design a game to kick cancer’s ass? Ask HopeLab

Today, we speak to Dr. Janxin Leu, Director of Product Innovation at HopeLab. He explains how their behavioral approach to game design led to ground breaking results in a game designed to fight cancer.

030: Doing MAS with your Latino audience

Matt Addler, founder of M??S strategies, a marketing firm that helps nonprofits reach and speak to the right Latino market discusses why we need to think differently about this growing audience.

029: What’s the role of games in making social change?

We talk with Asi Burak, the president of GamesForChange.org, an organization that leads the sector in thinking about the intersection of games and social change. Our conversation covers some examples of successful games and how nonprofits can start exploring gaming for social impact.

028: Rockefeller Foundation hatches storytelling platform

We talk with Jereme Bivins, Digital Strategist at The Rockefeller Foundation and RJ Bee, SVP of Hattaway Communications. We will discuss how they created the platform, HatchForGood.org, and how nonprofits can make the most of it.

027: Making Malaria No More with Text Messages

Today, we speak to Josh Tabb, the Global Digital Strategist at Malaria No More. In the US, Josh is using web analytics and assisted conversions to drive increased donations. In Africa, Malaria No More is leveraging text messaging to keep medication stocked and to fight the spread of fraudulent medicine.

026: Is bot traffic clouding your analytics and wasting your money?

Dr. Augustine Fou , Group Chief Digital Officer; Ad Fraud Researcher, knows and studies bot activity and believes this issue will continue to plague the industry. In this interview, we discuss how to know the numbers we see in web analytics are accurate.

025: The Rebrand Effect – should your nonprofit rebrand?

Sarah Durham, the president of the nonprofit digital branding agency Big Duck, discusses the results of a rebranding survey of over 350 nonprofits. If your nonprofit is considering a rebrand of the logo, website, or communication materials it is important to understand the key ingredients that can make the difference for success.

024: Tales from #GivingTuesday with GivKwik.com

In this interview Jason Rosado (GivKwik.com Founder) and Jorge Fontanez (Advisory Council Member) discuss the importance of visual story telling and developing your organization’s ‘baseball card’ that can quickly tell the story of impact to supporters on giving platforms.

23: Panel – Maximizing Your Return on Fundraising with Big Data

Listen to an interesting panel discussion about using data inside nonprofits to boost fundraising with Emily Moyer from the Michael J. Fox Foundation, John Mix of the IRC, and
George Weiner of Whole Whale.

022: How Workplace Giving Works and Why it Matters – America’s Charities

Workplace giving enables companies to setup reoccurring donation systems for their employees and support a culture of corporate giving and purpose. Steve Delfin, the CEO of America’s Charities discusses the importance of unrestricted funds for nonprofits and how a change to an all online system will harm giving in the federal campaigns.

021: How Kiva.org deals with barnacles and loan bias

The Kiva.org platform has to deal with many challenges. One of them is how to support the platform over time as it collects ‘barnacles’ or bugs that come from time and the other is how they avoid playing favorites on the platform. We talk with Sam Mankiewicz, the CTO of Kiva.org about he navigates these challenges.

020: How impact goals are tested and used at Kiva.org

Kiva.org, a leader in the micro finance world, has loaned over $60 million to date and they are still growing. We talk with the CTO of Kiva.org, Sam Mankiewicz about how digital goals are measured and used in the development process.

019: Get to school or else Kinvolved will text your parents

Kinvolved is helping schools and teachers change the game around attendance. Their system uses an online attendance tracker in classrooms that allows teachers to log late/absent students. Today, we speak with Miriam Altman, co-founder of Kinvolved, to see how they’re turning the tide on tardiness with texts.

018: How Crisis Text Line is saving lives with text messages and data

CrisisTextLine.org is a text message hotline that connects teens with counselors at any time of the day. We talk with Bob Filbin, the chief data scientist at CTL about how their system works and why it matters to open up their data.

017: GreatNonprofits.org deals with the courtesy bias

GreatNonprofits.org aggregates real feedback from the people that nonprofits seek to help, the question is are these people just being nice when leaving reviews and exhibiting a courtesy bias? We speak to Perla Ni, the founder, to try and answer this question.

016: How DonorsChoose.org drives classroom donations through email

DonorsChoose.org is the leader in classroom giving in the U.S., they make it an easy, fun, and rewarding experience to find a classroom to support. We talk with Oliver Hurst-Hiller, the CTO about how they create a great experience for donors and approach their technology with this mindset.

015: Text messaging to prevent deportation with United We Dream

United We Dream works for the 11+ million undocumented immigrants in the US and they are using text messaging to help do this. We talk with Adrian, the data and technology manager about how they are using text alerts and communication to help immigrants keep up with the requirements/deadlines of the US Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA).

014: Turning Mobile Ads into Impact with Charity Miles

Charity Miles is an amazing fitness app that is also raising money for non-profits through ads. We learn about what it takes to create an app for social change from Gene Gurkoff, the CEO and founder of this amazing organization.

013: Using data to make voting easier

Democracy Works & TurboVote, Co-founder Seth Flaxman talks about using data and technology to help people vote via mail. Their main product, TurboVote has had great success due to their team’s ability to gather the most accurate list of election locations in the country. They have made voting via absentee ballot as easy as getting a movie from Netflix, which is the first step of their larger plan to make voting easier in the US.

012: What TFA can teach us about Yammer

Learn how Teach For America has been able to use Yammer to increase communication, knowledge sharing, and deepen relationships across the country. Aaron French, who runs internal communications at TFA shares his insight on what worked in rolling out this platform. We focus on the people, process and products that went into adoption of this technology.

011: Why pagespeed matters to DoSomething.org

Pagespeed is an important metric to DoSomething.org because it impacts usability, SEO and the overall health of the code. We talk with Matt Holford, the CTO of DoSomething.org about how they are working to reduce page load time. Learn which tricks they have for launching a new Drupal site and optimizing for speed.

010: DoSomething.org About Managing a Tech Team (Part 1)

George talks with Matt Holford, the new CTO of DoSomething.org, about how he approached his role and improved their tech development process. Matt discusses his three step approach of learn – plan – execute, using a faceted feature analysis (FFA) process at DoSomething.org to manage and prioritize products.

009: Quality Assurance Testing that Changes Lives

This week we talk with Andy Aczel, the CTO of the SpecialistGuild.org, about how they use quality assurance (QA) testing to change the lives of people on the Autism Spectrum. The Specialist Guild is able to train, place, and employ people on the spectrum while also doing great work to improve how websites and applications work for organizations.

008: Feeding Hungry Children with Text Messages

We talk with Jason Wilson from No Kid Hungry about their unique text messaging program and how it is connecting families with free lunches for their children over the summer. Listen to a fun story that goes beyond text-to-donate campaigns and thinks about programmatic impact.

007: Using Big Data for Big Impact at Sumall.org

We interview Stefan Heeke, the CEO of the Sumall Foundation, and answer the question: how can we think about using big data and analysis to predict homelessness and other amazing projects?

006: What Poetry, Prison and Algorithms have in common

We talk with Roland Legiardi-Laura, the ED of PowerPoetry.org, about how they became the largest teen poetry site in the US. Find out what the literacy gap has to do with incarceration in the US and how we can use algorithms to begin to quantify poetry.

005: Water into Wine – World Water Day Hoax

We talk with Chris Noble of Cause Media & Good Studio, about what we can learn from creating the press wave and how to gather usable data.

004: A/B Testing with Global Giving and Obama

Kevin Conroy, Chief Product Officer of Global Giving will talk about A/B testing with Optimizely and discuss how to think about testing your site. Then we discuss how the Obama digital team used A/B testing to drive an extra $60 Million in donations.

003: 2014 NTC interview with CEO, Amy Sample Ward

We talk about the 2014 National Technology Conference with the CEO of NTEN, Amy Sample Ward. Find out their tricks to create surveys and listen to an awesome pirate band.

002: Data Culture in the non-profit world

Big Data is revolutionizing the way we live, communicate and do business. However, harnessing the full power of Big Data has only begun to be realized by those who can afford it.

001: Using the Whole Whale