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Big programs can cause big problems with capacity and resourcing, no matter the size of your organization.   Cara chats with Shawn Collinsworth, CFRE,  President of Damar Services Foundation about overcoming the challenges of being a leading American provider of services to people with developmental, behavioral, and intellectual disabilities, in a time of growing need and shrinking funding.Like many organizations, Damar was at a crossroads when it came to the ability to offer life-changing support and services to a diverse group of people ranging from toddlers to senior citizens from initial diagnosis through treatment and beyond. The choice was stark, decrease the level of care and innovation, or increase support from philanthropic sources.  The 50-year-old organization buckled-up, bit the bullet and rode the fundraising bronco, and today Shawn shares how they tackled the challenge.  From new fundraising events to diversifying revenue streams, Cara and Shawn look at fundraising that really supports your mission in a post-Covid world.  You can find out more about the remarkable work Damar is doing here: Homepage - Damar Services, IncIf you have any questions, or a story to share reach out to Cara at Spotlights@Donorbox.org, or find out more at DonorboxSupport the show

Why am I losing donors?  If you are asking yourself this question more often than you like, today Cara has some answers that could turn the trend around for you.  If you are a fundraiser, founder or volunteer, donor relationship management is a vital component of keeping your mission moving toward your goal, and strong communication sits at the heart of all good relationships.  Find out how Cara’s top three easily actioned donor communication best practices can help your organization retain and engage hard-won supporters, and win over some new ones.Click here to download a Free Valuable Resource: Donorbox - Donor Communication Tips.pdfSupport the show

Branding can be a major pain point for nonprofits, but a strong nonprofit brand can help you raise more money, increase social awareness and build a solid reputation, which is why Cara and Jena are tackling the basics of brand building today. Joined by Ronald Pillay, Donorbox Director of Brand Communication, they unpack the basics of getting your brand on point and working for you, no matter how big or small your organization, or budget is.  Ronald’s background in creative direction and social sciences adds a visual storytelling layer that takes a brand from bland to beckoning beacon, building out from your mission basics to create a clear, credible and authentic identity without breaking your budget. You can find more about this on our Donorbox Nonprofit Blog, with resources to help you create a useful strategy for building or boosting your organization’s brand here: https://donorbox.org/nonprofit-blog/building-a-strong-nonprofit-brand or reach out for additional support at Spotlights@donorbox.orgSupport the show

In this episode, Cara is joined by Donorbox Brand Ambassador, Jena Lynch, unpacking the hard work that goes into developing- and sustaining - productive and effective donor relationships.   Jena’s heart for helping others drives the incisive, and profoundly practical, insights she shares.  From her time on the frontlines of fundraising to her daily engagement with nonprofits of all sizes across the globe as a brand ambassador, Jena has a wealth of proven tips for making the most of your donor relationships.  Together with Cara’s passion for fundraising practices and fundamentals, this is an actionable episode from start to end. If you would like to hear (and see) more of Jena, she can be found, along with all of The Nonprofit Podcast and a selection of webinars on some of the topics covered on this episode, here: https://www.youtube.com/c/Donorbox Or Spotlights@Donorbox.org  to reach out,  or share your opinions and experiences with Cara and Jena.  Support the show

Hope is a mighty emotion that can make even the most dire circumstances bearable!  Founder of Maya’s Hope,  Maya Crauderueff, recognized this after the death of her mother and took the decision to be the bringer of hope to orphaned, impoverished, and special-needs children everywhere, so they would know that they were loved, cared for, and were not alone. Cara and Maya dig deep into the journey, from one woman on a mission to delivering hope globally, touching on the role of volunteers, especially focused on program delivery in conflict areas, and the challenges of fundraising as the world’s attention shifts away from the humanitarian disaster unfolding in Ukraine, a key focus area for the organization, and how online fundraising tools can make all the difference to sustaining support for both crises and ongoing causes. Today Maya’s Hope provides Emergency Surgeries to children who otherwise would not be able to receive medical care due to poverty and lack of support.  They cover immediate needs such as diapers, wipes, formula, medicines and medical equipment or therapy for impoverished children with special needs.    Whether providing funding for loving caregivers, vitamin-rich formula, or access to quality medical care, Maya’s Hope improves lives, one child at a time!  You can support them here: Maya's Hope (mayashope.org)  or https://www.facebook.com/MayasHopeSupport the show

It’s all about our furry friends today as Cara sits down with Austin Meadows, Executive Director of “For the Love of Alex”.  Providing emergency funding for life-saving veterinary care of pets of low-income families For the Love of Alex has been the difference between life and death for many pets since starting in 2013.   Started by Elizabeth Hedges, who sadly passed away in February of 2018, For the love of Alex is named after her cat, Alex, who went to join Elizabeth in early May this year, after bringing an opportunity for healing to many domestic pets and families.  Cara and Austin follow the story of how For the Love of Alex began when Alex had a medical emergency and required surgery.  The experience made Elizabeth wonder what would happen if she was not in a position to afford Alex’s surgery. And so, For the Love of Alex was started with the mission to provide emergency funding to save the lives of pets in need. By the 3rd year, the dedicated founder was able to raise $1M in online donations.  Today the organization remains committed to saving lives and bringing hope to low-income pet owners and families and you can support them, or apply for services for your pet here: https://www.fortheloveofalex.org/ Support the show

In this crossover podcast with Neighbors With No Doors, Cara interviews Josiah Haken about his journey from kitchen salesman, to Starbucks barista, to outreach worker, to CEO. We discuss the root causes of homelessness and the impact of holistic engagement and care coordination.Founded in 1989, City Relief has mobilized thousands of volunteers to compassionately serve those struggling with homelessness by providing hope and resources that lead towards life transformation. Josiah leads a team of volunteers delivering a model of volunteering that enriches the lives of all who participate in the program.  He is widely recognized as the “go-to person” in New York City when it comes to teaching others how to engage with the homeless. He leads workshops with many of NYC’s major organizations that deal with homelessness, as well as with many faith communities in NYC, NJ and across the US.Josiah is the host of Neighbors With No Doors, a remarkable long-form podcast that really gets to grips with meeting the challenges of homelessness with dignity, support and respect.   You can find out more about City Relief, Josiah and his committed team here:City Relief: https://cityrelief.org/Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/neighbors-with-no-doors/id1617288086YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCi0_F9YMtjVM7wVd-70fQxwTwitter: https://twitter.com/withnodoorsDonorbox, helping you help others.Free Donate Button - Donorbox Nonprofit Fundraising SoftwareSupport the show

Believing in yourself is very difficult to do when your society sees you as “less than” because you’re a girl. It’s nearly impossible without support. Global Sojourns Giving Circle, in partnership with local changemakers, provides this support to girls and young women across the southern African region. Cara sits down with founder Priscilla Plummer, and Zambia-based Mentor Gloria Mubita, to unpack how GSGC provides grants to community-based organizations run by dynamic changemakers.  By providing mentorship to youth, with a focus on empowering girls and the ultimate goal of breaking the cycle of deep poverty, GSGC illustrates how investing in girls is one of the most effective ways to both uplift families and communities.   Since its inception, GSGC has been committed to a focus on girls and local leadership. Influenced by the many benefits Priscilla herself received from supportive mentors in her youth, and her commitment to “going deeper” in understanding, she recognized the importance of empowering local mentors for local youth and providing an educational component for donors. The results of this work show us, on a daily basis, that empowering local people leads to more meaningful and sustainable impact. Find out more about Global Sojourns Giving Circle’s work and donate here: Global Sojourns Giving Circle (gsgivingcircle.org) Support the show

Nova Ukraine is dedicated to providing humanitarian aid and raising awareness about Ukraine in the United States as well as in the rest of the world.  They established solid relationships and worked hard to grow partnerships over the past several years. Because of this, Nova Ukraine was able to get right to work as tension built at the Ukrainian borders and formed part of the first response as the missile attacks started at the end of February.  In the States, they’ve worked with individuals and partnerships to raise money and deliver tons of medical supplies and generators, load cargo planes, and provide accommodations to hungry and tired people and animals in and outside Ukraine. Yulia Zimmermann may be listed as the Marketing Lead for the organization, but after 30 minutes with her, you will know that for Yulia and Nova Ukraine, this is just the start.  Their passion and commitment to supporting a free and independent country will continue until peace is restored.  Yulia still has family struggling to leave, but her compassion and commitment to working for all affected Ukrainians is both compelling and inspiring. Links to the music, book, and performance Yulia recommends are listed below.  Learn more about the organization and how you can help here: https://novaukraine.org/donate/ Resource links: 1. Music video by Florence+Machine, shot in Kyiv, Nov 2021 > Florence + The Machine - Free 2. Music band Dakha Brakha 3. Book: Red Famine STALIN'S WAR ON UKRAINE By Anne Applebaum4. Bay to Breakers + Nova Ukraine Running Fundraiser 5. Events: https://novaukraine.org/war-time-events/ 6. NU Get involved: https://novaukraine.org/getinvolved/ Support the show (https://arigato-gozaimasu.typeform.com/to/naDeIp)

Chad Martz was in Ukraine in late February overseeing Hungry for Life compassionate projects that included orphan care and food programs in the central-eastern regions for communities based in Nikopol, Poltava, and Mariupol. On February 24, as Russia invaded Chad, his Ukrainian wife Mary and their extended family, became the nucleus of Hungry for Life’s operations in the area that now sits in the eye of the storm.Today Cara sits down with Chad, now in western Ukraine, and Jeremy Roberts to discuss how this small organization has transformed into a frontline emergency responder, the inspiring support of volunteers, and the challenge of fundraising as the conflict continues to shatter lives.Canada-based Hungry for Life has been working in Ukraine since 2004, helping groups engage in compassionate projects such as widow care, food programs, social assistance, and building projects. Today together with local partners, volunteers and funds raised in Canada and around the world they continue to support as many in dire need as they can.You can reach out and/or donate here: https://www.hungryforlife.org/donateSupport the show (https://arigato-gozaimasu.typeform.com/to/naDeIp)

The conflict in Ukraine continues to take a terrible toll as it enters the second month.  In response to the ever-increasing humanitarian need, we connected with two nonprofit organizations that have been able to pivot their on-the-ground programs and respond to the challenge of distributing emergency aid through local partnerships and networks. Jeremy Roberts, IT Director of Hungry For Life International (HFL), and Yulia Zimmermann, co-founder of Nova Ukraine, share both their organizations’ strategies and needs going forward in a frank discussion.  Covering how in moments of extreme need the shared objective becomes a common goal, presenting opportunities to partner with other nonprofits who are better positioned to deliver the life-saving aid as quickly, safely, and efficiently as possible. Canada-based Hungry for Life has been working in Ukraine since 2004, helping groups engage in compassionate projects such as widow and orphan care, food programs, social assistance, and building projects. Hungry For Life's projects are primarily located in the central-east of the country, in the areas of Nikopol, Poltava, and Mariupol. We will be catching up with Jeremy and colleague Chad, on the ground in Ukrainein the coming week to find out more, but you can reach out and/or donate here: https://www.hungryforlife.org/donate Nova Ukraine is dedicated to providing humanitarian aid to Ukraine and raising awareness about Ukraine in the United States as well as in the rest of the world.  They have to date delivered over 3 tons of medical supplies, millions of dollars in food and emergency aid, and partnered with others to provide accommodation to refugees in and outside of Ukraine.  Find out more and donate here: https://novaukraine.org/donate/Support the show (https://arigato-gozaimasu.typeform.com/to/naDeIp)

Rigid gender stereotypes are a public health crisis. For girls, gender stereotypes are the root cause of body hatred and shame, eating disorders, depression, low self-esteem, and low leadership ambition. For boys, gender role expectations are the primary driver of depression, risk-taking activities, substance abuse, suicide, and violence.The mission of today’s featured nonprofit, The Representation Project, is to fight sexism through films, education, research, and activism. They use media to challenge harmful gender norms and stereotypes. In the past decade, they have launched two national conversations that have changed the hearts and minds of millions. Join us in discussion with Dr. Caroline Heldman, Executive Director of The Representation Project, and find out more about the struggle to create a more equitable world where all humans can reach their full potential!Support the show (https://arigato-gozaimasu.typeform.com/to/naDeIp)

Aren’t dreams of the future what youth should be about?  Shareen Baptiste thinks so, so when she realized high school girls didn’t have the confidence to do this, she stepped right up.  Today she talks to Jena Lynch about the 5-year journey she and her Dream On Purpose co-founder Joanne Karagnara have been on since that moment, promoting informed, safe and healthy choices that strengthen parental relationships and serve as a connector to higher education and scholarship opportunities.  Between elementary and high schools young girls’ self-esteem drops 3.5 times more than boys!  Dream On Purpose, a Florida-based nonprofit empowers American girls 18 and younger, to actualize their dreams through interactive workshops, local resources, and socialization in structured forums.   Support the show (https://arigato-gozaimasu.typeform.com/to/naDeIp)

Home is where the heart is, but for an increasing amount of people a home of their own is just a dream.  Affordable housing is a challenge in most communities, without the work and support of organizations that support low-income families, a great many would never be able to own their homes. Heidi Bianco sat down with Habitat for Humanity of Greater Sacramento to discuss how they are impacting the lives of hundreds of families by building homes, communities, and hope.  Laine shares how this organization and its really committed group of volunteers build community, hope, and a future - not just houses. Habitat for Humanity of Greater Sacramento is dedicated to eliminating substandard housing locally and worldwide through constructing, rehabilitating, and preserving homes; advocating for fair and just housing policies, and providing training and access to resources to help families improve their shelter conditions. https://habitatgreatersac.org Laine Himmelmann | LinkedIn Support the show (https://arigato-gozaimasu.typeform.com/to/naDeIp)

It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men…Frederick Douglass may have spoken directly to JosiahKids founder and Chair Marlene Maina, when he said these words. JosiahKids is a nontraditional young leadership school committed to the mission of raising the next generation of service-minded leaders. From September through May, on the first and third Saturdays of the month, JosiahKids hosts a myriad of educational classes and events that include quality guest speakers, community service events, panel discussions, educational workshops, and leadership classes in a faith-based environment for young people between the ages of seven and 17. Educate, empower, equip! Strong and powerful words to live by, building strong and powerful leaders for tomorrow.  This is a remarkable interview, deeply moving, entirely motivational…Marlene has applied her life lessons, her heart, and soul to building a safe, community-led space that is making a difference, in the lives of our children, our future leaders.   Support the show (https://arigato-gozaimasu.typeform.com/to/naDeIp)

This week The Nonprofit Podcast gets to grips with running a lean nonprofit team in challenging times.  Jena sits down with Dr Linda Prieto, Executive Director of Upward Scholars, and Bertha Sanchez, a recent graduate on a remarkable upward trajectory!  Upward Scholars is a Latinx-led organization that provides adult immigrants the boost they need to move up the economic ladder through education and career development support. Many immigrants that arrive in the US do not come with education and economic privilege. Upward Scholars is the only 501(c)(3) nonprofit in the Bay Area, California providing financial, academic, and career development support to adults struggling with economic hardship.  As a result of their programs, students continue their education, get higher-paying jobs, and serve as role models and advocates for their children and community. Upward Scholars’ graduate Bertha Sanchez modestly shares her groundbreaking achievement with Jena, and you are going to have to listen to find out just how much this remarkable woman has achieved Upward Scholars support.  Support the show (https://arigato-gozaimasu.typeform.com/to/naDeIp)

Feeling a little overwhelmed by the work that awaits you in 2022?  If you think your passion for your nonprofit cause won’t push you far enough, listen to this! “One well and a water filter will change the future health, education access and way of life for 15 people, or three families.  It’s amazing what you can do with a PVC pump.” This is Co-founder and Executive Director Chris Coats speaking about the origins of Trailblazer Foundation to influencer Heidi Bianco on The Nonprofit Podcast with Donobox’s nonprofit evangelist Cara Augspurger. “We began with a school project, but quickly learned that water was the first priority. A person must have access to clean, potable water to improve health and sanitation. People must also have a water resource for growing their crops, livestock, and fish—the source of their food and commerce. Bad water is the cause of illness, malnutrition, and poverty. When there is good water, associated developments can occur to improve livelihoods and establish sustainable commerce.”   The Trailblazer Foundation is dedicated to improving the health, food security, education, and economic development in rural Cambodia; by providing clean water in ways that are self-sustaining by the individuals and the communities.   We sat down with Chris to discuss how they are improving the lives, health, and communities of hundreds of Cambodian families for over 17 years. https://thetrailblazerfoundation.org/ Donorbox’s powerful fundraising software supports over 50,000 global organizations and individuals, including non-profits, charities, schools, churches, open-source projects, and medical research groups. We have learned an enormous amount about donor engagement, management, and administration along the way.  More nonprofit resources and tutorials to help you on your journey:- - Learn more about nonprofit fundraising (https://donorbox.org/nonprofit-blog) - Some prominent case studies (https://donorbox.org/case-studies) - Donorbox full features (https://donorbox.org/features) - See how Donorbox integrates with other apps (https://donorbox.org/features) - Sign up for FREE today at, https://donorbox.org/orgs/new You can also check out this short video, to see how you can easily start fundraising with us online, in as little as 15 minutes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gctpjmjgeMw Host:Cara Augspurger Cara Augspurger has more than 20 years of experience in fundraising program development with specific experience in project management. Through experience in higher education, student affairs, faith-based, advocacy, and fraternal organizations, she now works with Donorbox.org to help nonprofit organizations to navigate their organizational goals and social impact by consulting and coaching on fundraising practices and fundamentals Interviewer:Heidi Bianco - Influencer Experienced Manager with expertise in Cross-Functional Relationship Management, Operational Improvements, and Experience Design. Executing memorable events, developing thought leaders into evangelists through social networks and program management. Utilizing creative energy and an inspiring attitude to provide the calm in any chaos, maintaining details without losing sight of the big picture, negotiations without devaluing the relationship, and mentoring to breathe life into performance management. #nonprofit #donation #donateSupport the show (https://arigato-gozaimasu.typeform.com/to/naDeIp)

Welcome to our premiere episode of Donorbox’s The Nonprofit Podcast!   In this new season, we make keeping up with thought-leaders, influencers, and the committed, hardworking people who shape our sector as easy as pressing play!The Nonprofit Podcast is also the perfect place to get to know some of our leading nonprofit organizations.  Our nonprofit advocates will be drilling down on the hard-won, rich vein of experience sitting at the heart of organizations that have established successful nonprofits, working through their wins and warnings.  The Nonprofit Podcast is available every Thursday on all your favorite podcast platforms, so follow, rate, and download and don’t miss an episode.In our season kick-off, Men’s health is in the Nonprofit Spotlight as Movember’s Rich Loesing joins Heidi Bianco to share Movember's taboo-busting journey.  As the leading charity, including mental health and suicide prevention, prostate cancer, and testicular cancer, Movember is transforming the way research into men’s health is done, and the way health services reach and support men.Movember has raised over $1B, funding over 1 250 mens’ health projects across the globe. By 2030 they aim to reduce the number of men dying prematurely by 25% and are well on their way to achieving their goal.Support the show (https://arigato-gozaimasu.typeform.com/to/naDeIp)

This is a mini episode (more of an announcement) covering our name change from "The Important Podcast" to "The Nonprofit Podcast." You'll also be introduced to some awesome new hosts who are working to tell these stories. While the name has changed, the mission remains the same. Enjoy :)Support the show (https://arigato-gozaimasu.typeform.com/to/naDeIp)

In this episode, you will meet co-founders Dan McKernan and Kelly Holt, the dynamic duo who founded Barn Sanctuary in 2016. You will hear the founding story, the challenges they faced and the lessons they learned along the way.  You might have heard of Barn Sanctuary during Covid19 when Animal Planet released the hit TV show Saved By The Barn in April 2020. Saved By the Barn, a show full of feel good stories and warmth, chronicles the trials, tribulations and joys of Dan, his twin brother Chris and Kelly who run the animal sanctuary. If you haven’t seen it, check out Saved By the Barn on Animal Planet.  Links and Resources Barn Sanctuary, https://www.barnsanctuary.org/ Cora the cow, https://www.barnsanctuary.org/animals/cora/ Henry the cow, https://www.barnsanctuary.org/animals/henry/ Charles the cow, https://www.barnsanctuary.org/animals/charles/  Saved by The Barn, https://www.animalplanet.com/show/saved-by-the-barn-animal-planet  Living the Farm Sanctuary Life by Gene Baur, https://www.amazon.com/Living-Farm-Sanctuary-Life-Mindfully/dp/B01HP0NX1A  The Way We Think About Charity is Dead Wrong by Dan Palotta, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfAzi6D5FpM&ab_channel=TED  Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries, https://www.sanctuaryfederation.org/  Microsanctuaries, https://microsanctuary.org/ Farm Sanctuary, https://www.farmsanctuary.org/ The Open Sanctuary Project, https://opensanctuary.org/  New Leaders Council, https://www.newleaderscouncil.org/ High Noon Entertainment, https://www.highnoontv.com/  Did you enjoy the podcast? Please leave us a 5-Star iTunes Review 🙂Support the show (https://arigato-gozaimasu.typeform.com/to/naDeIp)