The Difference: Nonprofit Fundraising in a For-Profit World
In every community, nonprofits compete within a narrow band of funders. Many struggle to stand out and make their case the most compelling. What difference allows your nonprofit to reach fundraising goals and achieve financial sustainability? In each episode, an expert addresses what makes the difference for major investments, feasibility studies, campaigns, and effective organizations.
Episodes
In this thought-provoking episode, Host Jay Werth sits down with Greg Warner, CEO and founder of MarketSmart, to explore the paradigm shift reshaping nonprofit fundraising. With nearly two decades of experience in philanthropy and tech innovation, Warner critiques outdated, organization-centric models and champions a more human-centered, donor-driven approach rooted in empathy, data, and value exchange.
Together, they ...
After three years of declining donations, 2024 delivered a reversal that has nonprofit leaders everywhere asking: "Is this rebound for real?"
In this insightful analysis linked to the 2025 Giving USA Report, Convergent Principal Tom Ralser and General Manager, Brian Abernathy, join Jay Werth to reveal the drivers behind donor behavior, not just economic indicators.
This is a strategic deep-dive connecting the...
In this episode, Convergent's Funding Strategist, Katie Davenport, shares her inspiring journey from middle school science teacher to Executive Director of the Greenwood Promise. She discusses how the program provides tuition-free education to students in Greenwood County, building a skilled workforce and strengthening the local economy. Katie opens up about overcoming fundraising challenges, the growing impact o...
Convergent's Jay Werth and Pam Reid discuss the importance of conducting a feasibility study before launching a capital or comprehensive campaign.
Pam emphasizes that feasibility studies provide crucial intelligence for a case for investment development and informed decision-making. She also introduces the IMPACT acronym for case content: Introduction, Mission, Problem, Actual Impact, Call to Action, and Transpar...
Convergent Nonprofit Solutions' Tom Ralser explains why Asking Rights™ raises the sights for your organization's donors. Join Tom and The Difference Host Jay Werth as they discuss how nonprofit leaders and organizations can move the funding process from a charity mindset to one of investment. You don't want to miss it!
Convergent Senior Funding Strategist, Pam Reid, and Host Jay Werth, discuss Pam's transition from her for-profit corporate role to nonprofit fundraising. She emphasizes the importance of transparency in board member expectations, including giving, fundraising, and attendance.
Pam also highlights the need for 100% board participation in campaigns and strategies to foster a productive board fundraising culture.
In this episode, 'The Difference' Host Jay Werth, sits down with Nat Auten, President & CEO of the YMCA of Catawba Valley in Western North Carolina, to explore what it takes to plan and execute a successful comprehensive fundraising campaign.
From capital improvements to endowments and annual funds, Nat shares how his donor-centric approach, focus on legacy giving, and deep YMCA roots have shaped a strat...
Convergent's Capital Campaign series features Daniel Hall, Director of Managed Service for Harness Giving, and host Jay Werth, discussing how nonprofit leaders can best communicate a strategic plan that is actionable, transparent, and compelling to internal stakeholders and potential donors. Learn why Comprehensive Campaigns are a game-changer for nonprofit fundraising. Sign up for updates.
Join Sarah Sprinkle, CEO and Founder of Sarah Sprinkle Philanthropy, and The Difference podcast host, Jay Werth, as they discuss the importance of a comprehensive strategic plan before launching a fundraising campaign.
Sprinkle emphasizes aligning the mission with the organization's impact, creating time-sensitive goals, and involving stakeholders. Sprinkle also shared her approach to strategic planning, using sp...
In the latest episode of Convergent's The Difference podcast, Host Jay Werth discusses comprehensive fundraising campaigns with Li Li from Foursquare Research, Inc.
Li Li explains the importance of market analysis as a tool for nonprofits, likening it to a GPS for efficient planning. She emphasizes the need for unbiased research to avoid confirmation bias and highlights the significance of involving stakeholders.
In this episode of The Difference, Convergent's Rex Otey and Jay Werth discuss the importance of development audits for nonprofit organizations, emphasizing their role in evaluating fundraising effectiveness and readiness for comprehensive campaigns.
Otey highlights that audits are not punitive but aim to improve fundraising efficiency. He shares an example of a higher education client that followed audit recomme...
In an era of economic shifts and political uncertainty, how can nonprofits secure sustainable funding and continue their vital work? In this episode of The Difference, host Jay Werth speaks with Amber Wynn, philanthrepreneur, about the impact of today’s political climate on fundraising.
They explore key strategies for financial stability, compliance, and effective communication, that help nonprofits weather uncertaint...
In this episode of The Difference, host Jay Werth sits down with Brian Abernathy, General Manager of Convergent Nonprofit Solutions.
Brian oversees Convergent’s strategic direction, daily operations, and project success, ensuring clients achieve their fundraising goals.
Kicking off a new series on Comprehensive Campaigns, Jay and Brian explore the benefits of this multi-year fundraising approach—how it fosters cohesive ...
In this episode of 'The Difference', join host Jay Werth, and guest, Doug Croft, Senior Project Manager with Convergent Nonprofit Solutions.
Croft has 30 years of nonprofit management experience, starting early in his career with the Boy Scouts of America, and eventually leading three chambers of commerce in North Carolina and Texas.
Croft discusses his all-time favorite volunteer role as ...
In this episode of 'The Difference', join host Jay Werth, and guest, Tom Ralser, Convergent Nonprofit Solutions' Principal and Director of Asking Rights.
Tom Ralser has a three-decade career in fundraising. He’s consulted with and added value to numerous nonprofit organizations, and pioneered applying return on investment principles to nonprofit fundraising.
In this episode, Tom will...
Tune in to hear Jay Werth's latest conversation on 'The Difference' podcast with Convergent's Project Director, Andy Brubaker. Brubaker just finished an incredible two-week volunteer deployment with the American Red Cross in Georgia, where he supported disaster response and relief efforts. He describes what it was like to help Georgia’s communities affected by Hurricane Helene and witness the resil...
Mike Goorhouse, Founder of Inspiring Impact, explains how planned giving can be transformational for nonprofits.
Speaker Bio
Mike Goorhouse is Founder and Lead Consultant at Inspiring Impact, LLC, a firm dedicated to helping nonprofit and philanthropic organizations effectively inspire change in their community.
He has spent his entire career in philanthropy including working with Family Foundati...
In this episode of 'The Difference', Convergent's Jay Werth is joined by Gabe Cooper, Founder and CEO of Virtuous, a Responsive Nonprofit CRM & Marketing Platform. Cooper and Werth discuss the importance of listening and connecting to your donors, and how fundraising automation technology can give your organization valuable insight.
Guest Bio
Gabe Cooper is the Founder and CEO of Virtuous, a Resp...
Join Convergent Nonprofit Solutions' Jay Werth and Tom Ralser, as they discuss key takeaways from The Giving Institute's Giving USA: The Annual Report on Philanthropy in the latest episode of 'The Difference'.
Convergent Nonprofit Solutions offers fundraising services to nonprofits throughout the country that are looking to increase their funding and make a bigger impact. Let our team of...
Larry Raff is President of Copley Raff Inc., a global consultancy to nonprofits in support of fundraising and management, and he's the Principal and creator of Abacus Major Donor Ask Calculator LLC. In his conversation with Convergent Principal Tom Ralser, Raff shares how to leverage objective donor giving, behavioral, and relationship data specific to your organization to determine pledge asks and goals. Raff an...
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