In this episode of the Nonprofit Leadership Podcast, Dr. Rob Harter sits down with Greg Warner, founder of MarketSmart, to explore how nonprofit leaders can use fundraising data more effectively. Greg shares the story behind the Fundraising Report Card, a free tool designed to help organizations better understand donor retention, lapsed donors, giving trends, and overall fundraising performance.

The conversation also dives into the future of fundraising, including how AI can create efficiencies, improve donor engagement, and free up development teams to focus more on meaningful relationships. Greg offers a powerful reminder that donors should never be treated like ATMs, but rather as people looking for purpose, trust, and connection through their giving.

Key Topics Include:

• What the Fundraising Report Card is and how it helps nonprofits assess donor trends, retention, and lapsed giving
• Why lifetime donor value is one of the most important metrics nonprofit leaders should understand
• Common data challenges organizations face, including poor data hygiene and activity-based measurement
• How AI can improve fundraising efficiency by handling repetitive tasks and supporting donor cultivation
• Why donor relationships should be approached relationally rather than transactionally
• How empathy for the donor experience can lead to more transformational gifts
• What nonprofit leaders should prepare for as fundraising continues to evolve in the years ahead

Mentioned in This Episode:

• Greg Warner on LinkedIn
• MarketSmart: iMarketSmart.com
• Fundraising Report Card: FundraisingReportCard.com

This Episode is Sponsored By:

• DonorBox

Links to Resources:

• Interested in Leadership and Life Coaching? Visit Rob’s website: RobHarter.com
• Find us on YouTube: Nonprofit Leadership Podcast YouTube Channel
• Suggestions for the show? Email us at nonprofitleadershippodcast@gmail.com
• Request a sample coaching session: Email Rob at rob@robharter.com

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Listen and subscribe to the Nonprofit Leadership Podcast on iTunes, Spotify, or Amazon. Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share with other nonprofit leaders!

In this episode of the Nonprofit Leadership Podcast, Rob Harter sits down with Christoph Gorder, leader of Airbnb.org, to explore how Airbnb has built a social impact model that looks very different from a traditional corporate foundation. As an independent 501(c)(3), Airbnb.org operates separately from Airbnb while still leveraging the company’s technology, host network, and infrastructure to provide emergency housing for people displaced by disasters and other crises.

Christoph shares how Airbnb.org is rethinking disaster response by using millions of available homes around the world to provide fast, flexible, dignified shelter for families in need. He also talks about leadership, scaling nonprofit impact, the role of AI and technology in modern nonprofit operations, and why strategic partnerships are essential for responding effectively in moments of crisis. This conversation is packed with insights for nonprofit leaders who want to innovate, collaborate, and maximize their mission impact.

Key Topics Include:

• How Airbnb.org is structured as an independent 501(c)(3) with its own board and mission
• Why Airbnb.org’s model is different from a traditional corporate social responsibility or philanthropic arm
• How the organization scaled from responding to 8 disasters in 2023 to 78 disasters two years later
• What nonprofit leaders can learn about focus, standardization, and scaling wisely
• How Airbnb.org used local partnerships like 211LA and Catholic Charities to respond quickly during the Los Angeles wildfires
• Why giving displaced families choice and control is such an important part of effective disaster housing
• How AI, technology, and collaboration can help nonprofits become more efficient and responsive

Mentioned in This Episode:

• Airbnb.org

This Episode is Sponsored By:

• DonorBox

Links to Resources:

• Interested in Leadership and Life Coaching? Visit Rob’s website: RobHarter.com
• Find us on YouTube: Nonprofit Leadership Podcast YouTube Channel
• Suggestions for the show? Email us at nonprofitleadershippodcast@gmail.com
• Request a sample coaching session: Email Rob at rob@robharter.com

Subscribe and Share
Listen and subscribe to the Nonprofit Leadership Podcast on iTunes, Spotify, or Amazon. Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share with other nonprofit leaders!

David Beckmann joins Dr. Rob Harter for a conversation on poverty alleviation, public policy, and the practical steps nonprofit leaders can take to reduce hunger and hardship in the United States and around the world. A pastor, economist, activist, and former president of Bread for the World, David shares insights from decades of advocacy work and discusses the central ideas in his book, Poverty Abolitionists.

In this episode, David reflects on the significant progress that has been made in reducing poverty over recent decades, while also warning that recent policy shifts are reversing some of those gains. Rob and David explore the role of nonprofit advocacy, the intersection of faith and public policy, and why leaders in the social impact sector need a vision that extends beyond their own organizations.

Key Topics Include:

• Why David Beckmann believes poverty is a solvable problem in the U.S. and globally
• What decades of data reveal about the dramatic decline in global and U.S. poverty rates
• How advocacy can help nonprofit leaders influence policies that affect hunger and poverty
• The impact of government funding cuts, tariffs, and immigration policies on vulnerable communities
• Why nonprofit organizations play a unique role in offering both practical support and personal connection
• How faith, spirituality, and beliefs about justice can shape public support for anti-poverty policies
• Why nonprofit leaders need a mission bigger than their organization to create lasting change

Mentioned in This Episode:

• David Beckmann’s website: https://www.davidbeckmann.net
• David Beckmann’s book: Poverty Abolitionists
• Bread for the World: https://www.bread.org
• Alliance to End Hunger: https://alliancetoendhunger.org
• Feeding America: https://www.feedingamerica.org

This Episode is Sponsored By:

• DonorBox

Links to Resources:

• Interested in Leadership and Life Coaching? Visit Rob’s website: RobHarter.com
• Find us on YouTube: Nonprofit Leadership Podcast YouTube Channel
• Suggestions for the show? Email us at nonprofitleadershippodcast@gmail.com
• Request a sample coaching session: Email Rob at rob@robharter.com

Subscribe and Share
Listen and subscribe to the Nonprofit Leadership Podcast on iTunes, Spotify, or Amazon. Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share with other nonprofit leaders!

In this episode Dr. Rob Harter sits down with Asiaha Butler, co-founder and CEO of the Resident Association of Greater Englewood (R.A.G.E.), to explore how one resident’s decision to stay transformed into a powerful, resident-led movement for community healing, ownership, and revitalization. Asiaha shares the defining moment that changed her life: seeing a young girl playing in a vacant lot filled with broken glass and deciding that leaving Englewood was no longer the answer.

Through this conversation, Asiaha unpacks how grassroots leadership, deep relationship-building, and a mission bigger than yourself can spark lasting change. From helping residents reclaim vacant lots to promoting homeownership, economic justice, and neighborhood belonging, her story offers nonprofit leaders a compelling model for building trust, preventing mission drift, and leading with both courage and joy.

Key Topics Include:

• How a single moment in a vacant lot inspired Asiaha Butler to stay in Englewood and invest in her community
• The founding story of R.A.G.E. (Resident Association of Greater Englewood) and its resident-led approach to transformation
• Why “community development of the mind” is essential before physical redevelopment can succeed
• How relationship-building, belonging, and “porch life” help restore social fabric in disconnected communities
• The role of vacant land activation, homeownership, and the Buy the Block Homebuyer Grant in advancing economic justice
• How nonprofit leaders can document their story, reflect on their journey, and share their mission more effectively
• Asiaha’s leadership lessons on rest, reflection, joy, and preventing burnout in mission-driven work

Mentioned in This Episode:

• Resident Association of Greater Englewood (R.A.G.E.)
• Asiaha Butler on Instagram (@mrs_englewood)
• R.A.G.E. on Instagram (@rage_englewood)

This Episode is Sponsored By:

• DonorBox

Links to Resources:

• Interested in Leadership and Life Coaching? Visit Rob’s website: RobHarter.com
• Find us on YouTube: Nonprofit Leadership Podcast YouTube Channel
• Suggestions for the show? Email us at nonprofitleadershippodcast@gmail.com
• Request a sample coaching session: Email Rob at rob@robharter.com

Subscribe and Share
Listen and subscribe to the Nonprofit Leadership Podcast on iTunes, Spotify, or Amazon. Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share with other nonprofit leaders!

In this episode, Dr. Rob Harter sits down with Julia Devine of Relatable Nonprofit to explore the rapid rise of nonprofit consulting and why more professionals are moving into this space. Drawing from a new industry report based on responses from 381 nonprofit consultants, Julia shares what is fueling this post-COVID shift and why nonprofits are increasingly turning to consultants and fractional experts to solve urgent capacity gaps.

Rob and Julia also unpack some of the biggest myths about nonprofit consulting, including the idea that only certain specialties earn more or that consulting is simply an easy career pivot. They discuss what today’s nonprofit consultants actually do, how retainers and project-based work are shaping the field, and what nonprofit leaders should understand about hiring outside expertise in a changing funding environment.

Key Topics Include:

• Why nonprofit consulting has grown significantly over the last five years, especially after COVID
• How layoffs, federal funding cuts, and reduced grant support are pushing professionals toward consulting
• Why nonprofits are hiring consultants and fractional workers instead of adding full-time staff
• What Julia Devine’s report revealed about consultant earnings, hourly rates, and business models
• The difference between nonprofit consulting and fractional roles such as CFO, COO, or CEO support
• Why niche positioning and problem-specific marketing matter more than offering general services
• How retainer agreements and project-based work are helping consultants build sustainable income

Mentioned in This Episode:

• Relatable Nonprofit

This Episode is Sponsored By:

• DonorBox

Links to Resources:

• Interested in Leadership and Life Coaching? Visit Rob’s website: RobHarter.com
• Find us on YouTube: Nonprofit Leadership Podcast YouTube Channel
• Suggestions for the show? Email us at nonprofitleadershippodcast@gmail.com
• Request a sample coaching session: Email Rob at rob@robharter.com

Subscribe and Share
Listen and subscribe to the Nonprofit Leadership Podcast on iTunes, Spotify, or Amazon. Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share with other nonprofit leaders!

In this episode, Dr. Rob Harter sits down with Stefan Feuerstein to explore why healthy delegation is essential for nonprofit leaders who want to avoid burnout and build sustainable organizations. Drawing on years of leadership experience in the humanitarian sector, Stefan explains that delegation is not about getting work off your plate, but about empowering team members, clarifying responsibility, and helping others grow into greater leadership.

Rob and Stefan unpack the fears that often keep mission-driven leaders from delegating well, especially the fear that the mission will suffer if someone else takes on key responsibilities. Stefan shares practical insights from his A-B-C Delegation Framework and explains how leaders can create healthier teams by defining responsibility, building trust, and developing people in ways that strengthen both the organization and its impact.

Key Topics Include:

• Why delegation is a leadership skill every nonprofit leader must develop
• How poor delegation contributes to burnout, bottlenecks, and micromanagement
• The fear and control issues that keep leaders from letting go
• What healthy delegation looks like in a growing organization
• How Stefan’s A-B-C Delegation Framework creates clarity and trust
• Why delegation should be used to develop people, not just distribute tasks
• A practical first step leaders can take this week to reduce overwhelm

Mentioned in This Episode:

• Stefan Feuerstein’s website: https://abcdelegation.com/
• Stefan Feuerstein on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stefan-feuerstein-0b35a7117
• Stefan’s book, A-B-C Delegation: The Manager’s Guide to Effective Delegation:

This Episode is Sponsored By:

• Donorbox

Links to Resources:

• Interested in Leadership and Life Coaching? Visit Rob’s website: RobHarter.com
• Find us on YouTube: Nonprofit Leadership Podcast YouTube Channel
• Suggestions for the show? Email us at nonprofitleadershippodcast@gmail.com
• Request a sample coaching session: Email Rob at rob@robharter.com

Subscribe and Share
Listen and subscribe to the Nonprofit Leadership Podcast on iTunes, Spotify, or Amazon. Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share with other nonprofit leaders!

In this episode, Dr. Rob Harter sits down with Michael Thatcher, CEO of Charity Navigator, to explore how the nation’s largest independent charity evaluator is evolving to better serve donors and nonprofits alike. With over a decade at the helm, Michael shares how his background in technology and impact measurement has shaped Charity Navigator’s shift toward a more comprehensive, 360-degree view of nonprofit effectiveness.

From financial transparency and governance best practices to measuring real impact and rebuilding trust in the nonprofit sector, this conversation dives deep into how data-informed giving can strengthen both donor confidence and organizational performance. Whether you’re a nonprofit executive striving for a higher rating or a donor seeking to invest in meaningful change, this episode provides practical insights to help you give—and lead—smarter.

Key Topics Include:

• The mission of Charity Navigator and how it has expanded to rate over 250,000 nonprofits
• Why overhead is not a proxy for impact—and how to think beyond simple financial ratios
• Best practices for improving your nonprofit’s rating, including governance, transparency, and data submission
• How Charity Navigator’s new 360-degree rating system evaluates organizational health and impact
• The importance of transparency, independent boards, and posting your IRS Form 990
• Why donors should think of their giving as an investment in impact, not just a charitable transaction
• Addressing declining trust in the nonprofit sector and the role of third-party evaluators in rebuilding confidence

Mentioned in This Episode:

• Charity Navigator

This Episode is Sponsored By:

• DonorBox

Links to Resources:

• Interested in Leadership and Life Coaching? Visit Rob’s website: RobHarter.com
• Find us on YouTube: Nonprofit Leadership Podcast YouTube Channel
• Suggestions for the show? Email us at nonprofitleadershippodcast@gmail.com
• Request a sample coaching session: Email Rob at rob@robharter.com

Subscribe and Share
Listen and subscribe to the Nonprofit Leadership Podcast on iTunes, Spotify, or Amazon. Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share with other nonprofit leaders!

In this episode, Dr. Rob Harter sits down with Suzanne Ehlers, Executive Director and CEO of USA for UNHCR (the fundraising partner of the UN Refugee Agency), to explore how women are reshaping philanthropy—and how nonprofits can better design giving models that reflect who is actually driving decisions. Suzanne shares why traditional fundraising approaches often haven’t been built with women at the center, even though women influence the vast majority of giving decisions and are poised to inherit a significant portion of global wealth. (UNHCR)

Suzanne also unpacks USA for UNHCR’s women-led campaign, Building Better Futures, a $15M initiative that supports refugee women through higher-education scholarships via UNHCR’s DAFI program. Together, Rob and Suzanne discuss how relationship-based philanthropy, authentic storytelling, and flexible program delivery can create deeper donor engagement and more durable impact for refugee women and girls. (UNHCR)

Key Topics Include:

• Why philanthropy models must evolve to match who drives giving decisions—and why women’s leadership in giving matters
• How Building Better Futures centers women “soup to nuts”: donor voice, decision-making, and impact priorities
• The power shift from transactional fundraising to relationship-driven philanthropy and shared purpose
• How USA for UNHCR is helping sustain and expand the DAFI Scholarship Programme for refugee higher education
• Closing the gender gap in refugee education by intentionally prioritizing women scholars
• Storytelling that’s “by and for” women—using authentic refugee voices to inspire action
• Why flexibility (host-country study, support systems, and virtual options) is essential for education programs in refugee contexts

Mentioned in This Episode:

• USA for UNHCR (UN Refugee Agency fundraising partner): https://www.unrefugees.org
• Building Better Futures campaign: https://www.unrefugees.org/building-better-futures/
• UNHCR’s DAFI Tertiary Scholarship Programme: https://www.unhcr.org/us/what-we-do/build-better-futures/education/higher-education-and-skills/dafi-tertiary-scholarship-0
• Suzanne Ehlers on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suzanne-ehlers
• Not Really Strangers Podcast https://www.unrefugees.org/not-really-strangers-podcast/ (UNHCR)

This Episode is Sponsored By:

• DonorBox

Links to Resources:

• Interested in Leadership and Life Coaching? Visit Rob’s website: RobHarter.com
• Find us on YouTube: Nonprofit Leadership Podcast YouTube Channel
• Suggestions for the show? Email us at nonprofitleadershippodcast@gmail.com
• Request a sample coaching session: Email Rob at rob@robharter.com

Subscribe and Share
Listen and subscribe to the Nonprofit Leadership Podcast on iTunes, Spotify, or Amazon. Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share with other nonprofit leaders!