Fundraising is Dead
Tired of chasing donors, begging for money, or following one-size-fits-all formulas that never deliver? Fundraising is Dead is your antidote. Hosted by Ryan Dobson—author, speaker, and donor development expert—and Troy VanGo—systems strategist, platform builder, and nonprofit growth architect—this podcast dismantles the gimmicks and exposes the broken systems that are driving your donors away.
Episodes
Everyone wants major donors—but most nonprofits lose them before the second gift. Why? Because they don’t understand one foundational truth:
There are only two types of donors.
Seed Donors.
Sacrificial Don...
Everyone wants the next big idea to raise more money. But the truth? You’re probably ignoring the one thing that will actually take your donor relationships to the next level: your data.
In this episode of Fundraising is Dead, Ryan Dobson exposes why most nonprofits stay stuck in survival mo...
Big name. Big crowd. Big donations… right? Not always. In this episode of Fundraising is Dead, Ryan Dobson shares what really happens when you bring in a celebrity speaker—from powerful wins to painful disasters. With nearly 300 events under his belt, Ryan breaks down when a celebrity works, when it backfires, and the
In this episode of Fundraising is Dead, Ryan Dobson answers one of the most common questions he hears from nonprofit leaders: “If I’m not making an ask… what do I say?”
From voicemails to phone calls, note-taking to data collection—Ryan walks through exactly how to build long-term donor relationships without pressure or awkwardness. You'll learn the exact questions to ask, how to leave a message that gets ...
Modern fundraising isn’t just struggling—it’s broken.
In this debut episode of Fundraising is Dead, Ryan Dobson and Troy Van Go expose why the old playbook of desperate asks, endless cold calls, and donor exhaustion no longer works (if it ever did).
Ryan and Troy break down the hard data behind donor attrition, shares real-world stories of donor burnout, and introduce a better way forward: relationships bu...
If you think there's a secret phrase that will unlock donor dollars... think again.
In this episode of Fundraising is Dead, Ryan Dobson tears down one of the biggest myths in nonprofit fundraising: the idea that the right "ask" will magically open wallets.
Think you're thanking your donors the right way? Think again.
In this episode of Fundraising is Dead, Ryan Dobson reveals why most nonprofits are losing donors—not because they aren't saying "thank you," but because they're doing it badly.
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"Just ask big!" they say. "Go for the major gift!"
In this episode of Fundraising is Dead, Ryan Dobson dismantles one of the most harmful ideas in nonprofit culture: the myth of the “Big Ask.”
You’ll learn why chasing one giant donation isn't a strategy—it’s a recipe for burnout, lost trust, and donor fatigue. Ryan shares insider stories from his decades of donor development work (including le...
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