The Cause+Effect Podcast

The Cause+Effect Podcast

Tired of doing things the same. way. every. year? The Cause+Effect Podcast, brought to you by the Dunham Podcast Network, is a fresh voice that breaks down the latest fundraising trends, leadership lessons and the ups and downs of the nonprofit industry. Our host Trent Dunham talks to a variety of guests with effective strategies and stories that inspire us. The goal? Increased effectiveness for more impact.

Episodes

October 10, 2025 35 mins
In this reflective episode of the Cause+Effect Podcast, host Trent Dunham, President and CEO of Dunham+Company, takes a deep dive into one of the most critical traits of effective leadership: humility. Drawing from decades of experience and personal growth, Trent explores how humility shapes strong leadership, fosters wisdom, and empowers teams to thrive.
 
Whether you're leading an organization, a team, or simply influencing those a...
Mark as Played
In this episode of the Cause+Effect Podcast, host Trent Dunham is joined by Matt Ferguson and Peter McGowan, two creative leaders with a passion for storytelling, marketing, and architecture. Together, they explore the power of storytelling in shaping organizations, creating meaningful spaces, and connecting with audiences in impactful ways.

From their work with Disney and Universal Studios to their innovative projects with church...
Mark as Played
September 11, 2025 50 mins
In this thought-provoking episode of the Cause+Effect Podcast, host Trent Dunham dives into the fascinating and complex world of artificial intelligence with guest Drew Dickens. With over 25 years of ministry experience and a deep focus on the intersection of AI and spirituality, Drew brings a unique perspective on how AI is shaping our lives, our faith, and our organizations.
 
Together, they explore the practical applications of AI...
Mark as Played
In this episode of the Cause+Effect Podcast, host Trent Dunham welcomes back Rick Dunham, founder and chairman of Dunham+Company, for an insightful conversation on the latest giving trends and their implications for nonprofits.
 
Together, they unpack the Mid-Year Giving Update, exploring key data points from 2024 and early 2025, including donor participation trends, the impact of tax policy changes, and strategies for navigating the...
Mark as Played
 In this insightful episode of the Cause+Effect Podcast, host Trent Dunham is joined by Joshua Crowther to explore the critical role of measurement in organizational growth and effectiveness. With over 17 years of experience, including a decade leading Dunham+Company’s Australian office, Josh brings a wealth of expertise to the conversation.
 
Together, they dive into why measuring outcomes matters, how to define key performance indi...
Mark as Played
Welcome to this episode of the Cause+Effect Podcast, where we explore the fascinating dynamics of generational engagement in charitable giving. Host Trent Dunham is joined by two returning guests: Rick Dunham, founder and chairman of Dunham+Company, and Josh Crowther, Vice President of Dunham+Company. Together, they unpack the findings of a groundbreaking longitudinal study commissioned by Dunham+Company and published by the Giving...
Mark as Played
On this episode, we’re bringing together a dynamic conversation at the crossroads of ministry, architecture, and strategy. Hosted by Trent Dunham, this episode features three incredible guests who offer unique perspectives on designing and funding spaces to better serve communities and ministries. Erik Rogers, Chief Strategist for Donor Advancement at Dunham+Company, kicks off with insight into how ministries can elevate relationsh...
Mark as Played
June 5, 2025 30 mins
Understanding the ebb and flow of charitable giving is crucial for nonprofits and ministries to thrive in a challenging economic landscape. Trent Dunham is joined by Rick Dunham to tackle a pivotal question many organizations grapple with: What do you do when giving isn’t awesome?   

From the boom of 2021’s record-breaking donations to the flatlined trends of 2023 and 2024, this episode dives into the data, the psychology behind don...
Mark as Played
May 15, 2025 34 mins
We’re excited to have Brian Mountjoy, Chief Culture Officer at Dunham+Company, joining us today. With over a decade of experience shaping organizational culture, Brian brings valuable insights into what makes teams truly unified.  

We explore the practical side of fostering a healthy workplace culture, where unity doesn’t mean the absence of challenges but rather handling those challenges in a constructive way. Brian shares his thou...
Mark as Played
May 1, 2025 25 mins
Dive into the latest episode of the Cause+Effect Podcast, where Trent Dunham sits down with industry experts Nils Smith, Madison DeLage, and Haley Johnson to discuss the cutting-edge tools and trends shaping the future of digital marketing and fundraising.  

In this engaging conversation, the team tackles how AI is revolutionizing audience engagement, from predictive analytics to personalized content creation, making it easier than ...
Mark as Played
April 17, 2025 36 mins
Welcome to a special episode of the Cause+Effect Podcast! Today, Trent Dunham is joined by his long-time collaborator and friend, Nils Smith. This episode explores the role of trust in leadership and how it shapes career transitions, business, and ministry. Nils reflects on his nine years at Dunham+Company, highlighting moments of growth and how trust has been a cornerstone of his unconventional journey from pastoral ministry to in...
Mark as Played
Without a guest this time, Trent takes time to reflect on a meaningful and thought-provoking word that has shaped Dunham+Company at its core. Following the rebranding conversation from a previous episode, where the process of redefining Dunham+Company’s identity with the founder still involved was discussed, Trent takes a deeper look into the concept of resilience.  

Why resilience? How is it different from perseverance? And how can...
Mark as Played
March 20, 2025 25 mins
On this episode of Cause+Effect, we’re exploring creativity in a way you've never considered before. Join host Trent Dunham as he welcomes Dan Sumpter, Chief Product Officer at Dunham+Company, and Dean Sell, founder of Red Leaf Brands, for a thought-provoking discussion on understanding and redefining creativity.

Is creativity a skill reserved for only a select few? Not at all. The conversation dives into how creativity is a univers...
Mark as Played
How has the media landscape changed in the past decade, and what does it mean for content creators today? Carey Nieuwhof, returning guest and renowned leadership podcaster, joins the Cause+Effect Podcast to discuss the major shifts in content creation and media consumption over the last 5-10 years.   

From the decline of traditional blogging to the rise of video and short-form content, Carey shares insights on adapting to new media ...
Mark as Played
February 20, 2025 30 mins
Welcome to this inspiring episode of the Cause+Effect podcast featuring James Poulter, a global leader in AI and innovation. Together, Trent and James dive into how to thrive in the ever-changing environment of technology, foster creativity, and let go of outdated practices that hold us back. James shares powerful insights on how these principles can spark meaningful change in technology, ministry, business, and personally.  

Whethe...
Mark as Played
Welcome to this special episode of the Cause+Effect Podcast! Host Trent Dunham sits down with Rick Dunham, Founder and Chairman of Dunham+Company, to explore the crucial relationship between government policies and charitable giving. Together, they dig into the history of the charitable tax deduction and the recent legislation that has been introduced, proposing a universal charitable tax deduction.  

Also, discover insightful findi...
Mark as Played
Today, we’re excited to explore some fascinating insights and trends in donor psyche, brought to life by our special guest, Rick Dunham. A frequent visitor to the podcast, Rick joins Trent to unpack critical findings from the latest Donor Confidence Study – a resource the team at Dunham+Company commissions annually to better understand donors' mindsets as we head into a fresh year.  

This year’s edition of the study has a nuanced fo...
Mark as Played
January 23, 2025 40 mins
This episode of the Cause+Effect podcast dives into the highlights of Trent’s presentation at our annual Summit. Featuring a dynamic discussion between hosts Trent Dunham and Nils Smith, this conversation is packed with insights to fuel your mission.   

Trent’s iconic “Top 10 List” from the Summit takes center stage as he and Nils break down key trends, actionable recommendations, and best practices for leaders and teams. Whether yo...
Mark as Played
Join us for a special episode of the Cause and Effect Podcast, where Trent Dunham leads a discussion alongside Nils Smith, Rick Dunham, and Dan Sumpter. Together, they peel back the curtain on the rebranding process at Dunham+Company—offering invaluable insights into leadership transitions, organizational branding, and the art of patience and discernment.  

Whether you're exploring a rebrand or evaluating how to lead in a new season...
Mark as Played
Ever wondered how charities can maximize their results on GivingTuesday—and beyond? This episode dives deep into GivingTuesday 2024 and provides actionable insights to set your organization up for success in 2025. Trent is joined by two returning subject matter experts from Dunham+Company—Danielle Rice, Chief Digital Officer, and Madison DeLage, Associate Director of Digital Strategy.  

Together, they explore why GivingTuesday remai...
Mark as Played

Popular Podcasts

    If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.

    Dateline NBC

    Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com

    The Breakfast Club

    The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, And Charlamagne Tha God!

    My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark

    My Favorite Murder is a true crime comedy podcast hosted by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark. Each week, Karen and Georgia share compelling true crimes and hometown stories from friends and listeners. Since MFM launched in January of 2016, Karen and Georgia have shared their lifelong interest in true crime and have covered stories of infamous serial killers like the Night Stalker, mysterious cold cases, captivating cults, incredible survivor stories and important events from history like the Tulsa race massacre of 1921. My Favorite Murder is part of the Exactly Right podcast network that provides a platform for bold, creative voices to bring to life provocative, entertaining and relatable stories for audiences everywhere. The Exactly Right roster of podcasts covers a variety of topics including historic true crime, comedic interviews and news, science, pop culture and more. Podcasts on the network include Buried Bones with Kate Winkler Dawson and Paul Holes, That's Messed Up: An SVU Podcast, This Podcast Will Kill You, Bananas and more.

    The Joe Rogan Experience

    The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.

Advertise With Us
Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2025 iHeartMedia, Inc.