Nonprofit Nerd®: Impact Unleashed

In this episode of Nonprofit Nerd®: Impact Unleashed, Jarrett Ransom sits down with Dr. Jen Fry to explore how curiosity, learning, and evidence-based thinking can transform nonprofit leadership. Together, they discuss the importance of asking better questions, designing organizations that learn and adapt, and balancing data with the human side of impact. This conversation offers practical insights for nonprofit leaders who want to...

In this episode of Nonprofit Nerd®: Impact Unleashed, Jarrett Ransom is joined by Mitchell Jeffery, founder of Ember Collective, to explore “the forgotten middle”. The dependable team members who consistently deliver but rarely demand attention. Together, they challenge common assumptions about performance, burnout, and support, urging nonprofit leaders to look beyond crisis management and high-performer praise. This practical conv...

Nonprofit leadership is evolving fast, and hiring the right senior talent has never been more critical. Jarrett Ransom sits down with Barrett Krise, partner at Bell Oaks Executive Search, for a candid conversation about what boards are prioritizing in turbulent times: innovative thinking, authentic people leadership, and cross-sector experience that strengthens mission impact. They unpack shifting candidate expectations around flex...

Season 9 of Nonprofit Nerd®: Impact Unleashed is officially here. In this kickoff episode, host Jarrett Ransom welcomes nonprofit leaders into a new year of reflection, momentum, and possibility. Celebrating past milestones while looking ahead to 2026, Jarrett sets the stage for a season filled with honest conversations, practical insights, and inspiring voices from across the sector. From fundraising and finance to HR, branding, a...

As the year comes to a close, host Jarrett Ransom pauses to reflect on another milestone for Nonprofit Nerd Impact Unleashed; 80 episodes and a season filled with insight, resilience, and heart. 

In this special post-holiday episode, Jarrett acknowledges the exhaustion, complexity, and emotional weight many nonprofit leaders carry at year’s end, while offering encouragement, gratitude, and perspective. It’s a thoughtful re...

In this episode of Nonprofit Nerd®: Impact Unleashed, host Jarrett Ransom sits down with Deb Nelson, Tax Partner at Eide Bailly, to unpack the financial fundamentals every nonprofit leader needs to understand. With more than 20 years of experience serving the nonprofit sector, Deb shares practical insights on managing cash flow, building collaborative and realistic budgets, avoiding common financial pitfalls, and using timely finan...

In this episode of Nonprofit Nerd®: Impact Unleashed, host Jarrett Ransom sits down with Jaclyn Pederson, CEO of Feeding Matters, to explore what values-centered leadership looks like in practice. Jaclyn shares her journey from volunteer coordinator to CEO, reflecting on stepping into executive leadership at a young age, leading through the uncertainty of the pandemic, and building an organizational culture grounded in trust, authe...

In this powerful conversation, Nonprofit Nerd®: Impact Unleashed host Jarrett Ransom sits down with Dr. Melanie Gray, leader, professor, and lifelong nonprofit advocate, to explore how trauma-informed leadership can transform today’s nonprofit workplaces. 

Drawing from over 20 years of experience, Dr. Gray explains the realities of compassion fatigue, the growing pressures on nonprofit teams, and why leaders must prioritiz...

In this thought-provoking episode of Nonprofit Nerd®: Impact Unleashed, host Jarrett Ransom sits down with Christine Thompson for a candid conversation about the evolving dynamics between funders and nonprofits. Together, they unpack what it really means to share power, promote transparency, and move toward more trust-based and equitable funding models.

Christine also shares insights from the CEO roundtable she facilitates...

In this episode of Nonprofit Nerd®: Impact Unleashed, host Jarrett Ransom sits down with Eva Fordham, founder and principal of Expert Philanthropy, to unpack the art and strategy of giving. Eva shares how she helps high-net-worth donors align their values with meaningful causes, and offers insight into what separates a good donor experience from a great one. From the motivations that drive modern philanthropists to the challenges o...

In this episode of Nonprofit Nerd®: Impact Unleashed, host Jarrett Ransom sits down with Erik Speakman, founder and principal of Speakman Management Consulting, for an insightful conversation about what it truly takes to lead with purpose in today’s complex nonprofit environment.

Drawing on decades of experience guiding organizations through growth and transition, Erik shares practical strategies for strengthening leadersh...

In this episode of Nonprofit Nerd Impact Unleashed, host Jarrett Ransom welcomes Javan Van Gronigen, creative agency founder and digital strategist, for an insightful conversation on the future of nonprofit fundraising. Together, they explore how AI, automation, and data are reshaping donor engagement—and how to balance cutting-edge technology with genuine human connection.

Javan shares lessons from his journey founding 50 and 50, a...

In this episode of Nonprofit Nerd Impact Unleashed, host Jarrett Ransom welcomes Ann Fellman from Bloomerang for an insightful conversation about the future of nonprofit sustainability. Ann shares practical strategies for future planning, donor engagement, and integrating technology to streamline operations and build stronger donor relationships.

Together, they explore 2025 giving trends, the evolving role of AI in fundraising, and ...

Host Jarrett Ransom, The Nonprofit Nerd®, kicks off a new chapter of Nonprofit Nerd®: Impact Unleashed by reflecting on the show’s inspiring journey — over 70 episodes of stories and strategies from the nonprofit world. Tune in to explore what’s next for leaders tackling the sector’s toughest challenges in sustainability, innovation, and community impact.

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In this season finale of Nonprofit Nerd®: Impact Unleashed, host Jarrett Ransom reflects on the key themes and takeaways from an inspiring season focused on nonprofit leadership, sustainability, and strategic growth. From navigating organizational challenges to celebrating the dedication of mission-driven leaders, this episode ties together the insights and stories that empower nonprofit professionals to make lasting impact. Tune i...

In this episode of Nonprofit Nerd®: Impact Unleashed, host Jarrett Ransom sits down with seasoned fundraiser and consultant Toni Paz, CFRE. From her 30 years of experience in arts, civil rights, and criminal justice reform, Toni shares powerful insights on leadership, adaptability, and innovation in the nonprofit sector. Together, they explore how times of crisis can spark creativity, the importance of strong fundraising strategies...

In this continuation of their conversation, Jarrett Ransom, the Nonprofit Nerd®, CEO of The Rayvan Group, LLC, and host of Nonprofit Nerd®: Impact Unleashed, and Mary Crogan, VP of Brand Marketing at Bloomerang, discuss two powerful case studies that highlight how nonprofits can strengthen donor relationships in uncertain times. Mary emphasizes the importance of trust, transparency, and consistent storytelling, while encouraging or...

In this special two-part conversation, Jarrett Ransom, the Nonprofit Nerd®, CEO of The Rayvan Group, LLC, and host of Nonprofit Nerd®: Impact Unleashed, welcomes back Mary Crogan, Vice President of Brand Marketing at Bloomerang, to dive deep into the evolving landscape of nonprofit leadership. Mary shares insights from Bloomerang’s relaunch, highlighting how generosity isn’t fading, it’s transforming. Together, they explore how non...

In this insightful episode of Nonprofit Nerd®: Impact Unleashed, host Jarrett Ransom, the Nonprofit Nerd®, CEO of The Rayvan Group, LLC, sits down with nonprofit consultant Ginny Waller of Waller Consulting as she shares her journey from an authoritarian leadership style to an inclusive, adaptive approach that empowers teams and strengthens organizations. She opens up about the challenges of guiding nonprofits through leadership tr...