The Raimy and Bini Podcast

Leora and Eitan Ashman share how a devastating stroke became the unlikely foundation of Koach Eitan, an Israel based nonprofit supporting brain injury survivors and their families. Leora gets real about building a nonprofit from lived experience, leading without a playbook, fundraising through relationships, and growing a mission while still living the story every single day.They talk about messy beginnings, caregiver reality, purpose driven leadership, and what it actually looks like to turn personal pain into sustainable impact. A raw, honest conversation on the Raimy & Bini Podcast.

In this episode, Raimy and Bini invite Kevin Schulman on the podcast and then proceed to let him politely light a match to about 40 years of fundraising “best practices.”Kevin is the founder of DonorVoice, a behavioral science fundraising agency, and managing editor of The Agitator DonorVoice blog. He studies why humans actually do what they do and applies that thinking to charitable giving.Spoiler alert: it is not because you asked nicely.They get into:Why “people give because we ask” is a mythWhy persuasion is a trap and alignment is the real gameHow identity and personality should drive fundraising strategyWhat personalized matching really means (and why segmentation barely scratches the surface)Why most donor journeys collapse in year oneWhy unfinished stories hurt more than they helpWhy “engagement” might be the most misunderstood word in fundraisingHow generative AI can finally make smarter personalization possibleThis conversation will probably make you uncomfortable.In a good way.If you are a fundraiser, nonprofit leader, or anyone who has ever thought, “There has to be a better way than this,” press play.----The Agitator Blog link is hereThe Charity: Water Test (mentioned in the epsiode) is here

In this episode, we sit down with Joseph Bornstein, founder and CEO of CauseMatch, to talk about what it really takes to build something meaningful in the nonprofit and tech worlds. Joseph shares the story behind CauseMatch, from his early days as a nonprofit founder to bootstrapping a platform that now supports organizations around the world.We dive into leadership, values, team culture, and what it means to build a company that cares about people, not just products. Joseph opens up about the challenges of scaling, making hard decisions, supporting a team through crisis, and staying grounded in purpose.We also talk about what nonprofits often get wrong, what they can do better, and why understanding your data, setting clear expectations, and building accountability systems can change everything. Plus, a look at how AI and technology are shaping the future of fundraising.

It is the last episode recorded in 2025, so we did a two-part special.First, we looked back at last year’s predictions. What actually happened in 2025. Where we were right. Where we were off. We talk about AI moving from a novelty into real workflows, the comeback of in person events, the ongoing growth of donor advised funds, and the reality check around monthly giving growth.Then we go all in on 2026 predictions, including changes in tax law and how that may affect giving behavior, growing pressure on DAF dollars sitting unused, the rise of AI skill gaps inside nonprofits, donor privacy becoming a real trust issue, and why donor retention may finally become the main lever for growth.Super fun episode!

In this episode, Raimy and Bini sit down with Meredith Rothbart, co-founder and CEO of Amal Tikva, for a wide-ranging and candid conversation about peacebuilding, leadership, and what it means to undertake long-term work amidst ongoing conflict.Meredith shares her personal journey into this field, how Amal Tikva was built, and why she believes real peacebuilding between Israelis and Palestinians has never actually been tried. The conversation moves between big ideas and very human moments, from organizational strategy and field-building to trauma, burnout, and what leadership looks like after October 7.They talk about what happens when nonprofits are asked to hold impossible complexity, how change really happens in deeply divided societies, and why strong systems, shared language, and coordination matter more than ever. Meredith also reflects on what it means to keep going when progress is slow, criticism is constant, and the stakes feel unbearably high.This is not a political debate or a set of easy answers. It’s a thoughtful, grounded conversation about leadership, resilience, and staying committed to meaningful work over the long haul.---https://www.amal-tikva.org

Winter finally showed up in Israel, and Bini and Raimy used that as the perfect excuse to have a big question conversation.Bini brings a headline that feels almost unreal: MrBeast and the Rockefeller Foundation teaming up. A Gen Z phenomenon and the most old-school foundation.They dig into whether philanthropy is ready for disruption, what disruption even means in this space, and what real nonprofits should take from huge examples like this.They talk about creators and micro influencers, trust and attention, donation pages as a major disruptor, and how technology keeps changing what donors expect. They also wrestle with the tension between foundations wanting more data and nonprofits just trying to do the work without drowning in reporting.When they recorded this episode, they were thinking of those of you who feel overwhelmed by new tools, new platforms, and a new generation of donors.They end with practical advice: name your actual problems, avoid shiny object chasing, and stay curious, because the next big idea might come from a place you would normally dismiss.

In this episode, Raimy and Bini take a clear-eyed look at GivingTuesday. Not the hype, not the pressure, just the real question every nonprofit wrestles with. Does it actually help, or does it pull time and attention away from end-of-year giving, which is where the real momentum lives?They walk through the story of how GivingTuesday started, how it grew, and why its timing makes it so tricky for fundraisers. They talk about what the data actually shows: Lower conversion rates, smaller gifts, and donors who are far more generous just a few weeks later.More importantly, they get into what to do about it. How to use the day without letting it run your calendar. How to turn it into a simple thank you, a soft setup for your end-of-year campaign, or a moment to highlight something small without draining your team.It’s a grounded, honest look at a day that shows up every year, whether you’re ready or not. And it might help you feel a little saner as you head into December.

This week, Raimy and Bini sit down with Rabbi Tuly Weisz, founder of Israel 365 and one of the most active nonprofit leaders working at the intersection of Jewish life, Christian support for Israel, and public advocacy. This episode looks at how big ideas get built in the nonprofit world, how leaders handle pushback, and what it takes to hold onto a mission when the landscape gets loud.With Rabbi Weisz, the conversation moves into where nonprofit leadership meets politics, faith, and community building. They talk about building partnerships outside the Jewish world, navigating criticism from every direction, raising awareness during moments of crisis, and what it means to lead an organization through sensitive work that not everyone understands.----------------------Get Rabbi Weisz's new book 'Universal Zionisim' hereTo learn more about Israel365 and all the great work they do, click here

We’re back with Season 2! We dive right into the GoFundMe fiasco: what actually happened, why it rubbed so many nonprofits the wrong way, and how the apology somehow made it worse. We talk about tipping, SEO, missing money, and what happens when tech companies forget to ask permission.Raimy shares a tepid/lukewarm take on the debacle: that the damage wasn’t about lost dollars; it was about lost trust.We talk about why keeping things simple still wins, why “sorry” is a complete sentence, and why every platform that serves nonprofits needs to listen before it launches.Give it a listen and tell us what you think.

What do landscaping, grant writing for dummies, and pistachios have to do with faith-based fundraising? More than you'd think. In this episode, Raimy and Bini are joined by Evan Cox and Jon DeLange, the dynamic duo behind strategicfundraisingplan.com, who’ve helped hundreds of Christian ministries raise more money with less stress.You’ll hear how Evan went from mowing lawns to mentoring ministries, why Jon thinks "our" is the most dangerous word in fundraising, and how the best donor strategy might start with a bag of chips and a personal text.---------------------Chapters:00:00 Introduction to Philanthropy and Fundraising01:25 Personal Journeys into Fundraising08:00 The Formation of Strategic Fundraising Plan11:09 Understanding Christian Giving13:35 The Ideal vs. Reality of Donor Relationships17:39 Meeting Emotional Needs of Donors22:03 Balancing Identity and Impact in Fundraising27:47 Navigating Giving Priorities in Faith Communities32:00 Cultural Priorities in Fundraising34:34 Trends in Fundraising: Technology and Relationships38:43 The Need for Authentic Connections41:41 Blind Spots in Nonprofit Leadership46:47 Rapid Fire Insights on Fundraising

What If Donor Advised Funds (DAFs) Became the Norm — Not the Exception?This week, we sit down with Mitch Stein, Head of Strategy at Chariot, for a masterclass on the fast-evolving world of Donor Advised Funds (DAFs) — and why they're becoming the giving wallet of the future.Mitch pulls back the curtain on:What DAFs really are (and why most people misunderstand them)How tech and policy shifts are unlocking $250B+ in charitable assetsWhy nonprofits must stop being passive about DAFs — and start fundraising smarterHow using a DAF actually doubles the average donor’s giftThe myth of DAF “warehousing” — and the surprising stats that prove otherwisePlus, a ballistic missile siren mid-recording (yes, really), insights from Mitch’s time at Goldman Sachs, and the one word Mitch would remove from the non-profit world.Whether you're a donor, fundraiser, or nonprofit exec — this episode will change how you think about giving.HOT OFF THE PRESS: The Chariot DAF Fundraising Report! Click here to read it TODAY!---------------------------Chapters:00:00 Navigating Life Under Threats16:52 The Evolution of Donor-Advised Funds19:26 DAFs: A Tool for All, Not Just the Wealthy23:18 Engaging the Next Generation in Philanthropy25:22 Employer Matching Programs and DAFs30:12 The Challenge of DAFs: Money Warehousing33:24 Increasing Granting Rates from DAFs37:59 Marketing DAFs to Nonprofits42:19 The Future of DAFs: A Charitable Wallet for Everyone45:42 Empowering Nonprofits in the DAF Space50:53 Final Thoughts and Encouragement

What’s it like to fundraise when your donors are in one place and the impact they're making is happening thousands of miles away?In this episode, we sit down with Morgan Gross, the founder of Fundraising Beyond Borders, who joins us from a literal farm in Zambia. (Yes, there are monkeys. Yes, they jump on her roof.)We talk about the messy, meaningful world of international fundraising: building donor trust, telling stories ethically, managing time zones, and setting up systems that actually get used. Morgan shares what’s different about global fundraising and what’s universal, whether you’re raising money in Tanzania, Toronto, or Tulsa.This one has it all, from CRM setups and scratch-off postcards to what it’s like transitioning from Missouri public school teacher to global fundraising strategist on a Zambian farm.You’re going to like this one.------------------------------Chapters00:00 Introduction to Morgan Gross and Her Journey04:20 Living in Zambia: A New Perspective on Nonprofits05:54 Founding Project Wake Up: A Nonprofit for Mental Health07:00 Transitioning to Fundraising Beyond Borders10:26 Building Donor Trust and Ethical Storytelling13:57 The Importance of Transparency in Fundraising17:39 Overcoming Challenges in International Fundraising19:40 Identifying Ideal Donors and Setting Goals22:30 The 12-Month Fundraising Strategy24:30 Success Stories: Real-World Examples of Fundraising28:33 The Role of Storytelling in Nonprofit Messaging31:51 Utilizing Social Media for Engagement36:10 The Impact of CRM on Donor Retention39:01 Cultural Misconceptions in International Fundraising----------------------------------Links: Check out Morgan's website here: linkMorgan's free downloads here: linkConnect w/ Morgan on LI: link

You open an email from a nonprofit. Four seconds later, you close it. No donation. No action. No connection.In this episode, we take you inside a real fundraising email from a major organization. We don’t name names to take shots. We do it to learn. Together, we break it down. Line by line, design choice by design choice. We ask: What’s working here? What’s missing? And what can every nonprofit learn from this?From subject lines to CTAs to the psychology behind a donor’s decision to give, we unpack the choices that make or break an appeal. Some of what we found surprised us. Some of it frustrated us. All of it will make you think differently about your next fundraising email.This isn’t theory. It’s a hands-on teardown with insights you can put to work right away.---------------------------------Chapters: 00:00 Introduction and Good of the Week02:40 Fundraising Emails: What Nonprofits Get Wrong05:23 Dissecting the ADL Email08:06 Best Practices in Fundraising Emails10:53 Personalization and Emotional Appeal14:07 Calls to Action and Urgency16:55 Problem-Solution Framing in Fundraising20:00 Empowering Donors in Messaging25:29 Donor-Centric Fundraising Strategies27:03 Transforming Donor Engagement29:00 The Power of Personal Stories31:18 Emotional Impact in Fundraising33:14 Simplifying Communication for Better Engagement35:21 Design vs. Personalization in Fundraising Emails37:56 The Importance of Specific Donation Requests40:03 Balancing Design and Authenticity42:24 The Challenge of Fundraising Messaging47:04 Final Thoughts on Effective Fundraising Emails--------------------------------Good of the Week:1. Coach Thibodeau, formerly of the @NYKnicks 2. Jeff Brooks of @moceaniconlineH/T Ephraim Gopin @1832communications Double H/T @Anti-Defamation-League

Bini turns 50! He celebrates the only way he knows how: by recording a podcast. We kick things off with Bini's reflections on being an old man before diving into questions like: How should nonprofits think about special occasions like birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, and national events? What’s the right way to mark these moments with donors? What are the wrong ways? And what kind of impact do these small touchpoints really have?Topics include:Why most organizations ignore birthdays (and why they shouldn't)The five categories of special occasions every nonprofit should plan forHow to be personal without being creepySystems, shortcuts, and a few disaster storiesWhy Bini got a birthday coupon... and 10,000 other people did too

What happens when you mix fierce advocacy, government bureaucracy, and a refusal to look the other way? You get Bob Nelkin.In this episode, we sit down with Bob, whose 50-year career spans government, nonprofits, academia, and policy reform.From walking unannounced into state institutions to uncover abuse... to reducing infant mortality with a coalition of beauticians and crossing guards... Bob's stories are wild, inspiring, and deeply human.You’ll hear about:What makes a real leader in the nonprofit worldWhy some problems need rage, and others need strategyHow to get people to follow you, even when they start out yelling at youThe hard truth about nonprofit mergers, and why some organizations should call it quitsAlso: Clemente, empathy, and what Bob thinks young leaders need most today.This isn’t a history lesson. It’s a lived one.--------------------------------------Chapters:00:00 Introduction to Bob Nelkin's Journey04:48 Confronting Injustice in Institutions10:07 Building Community Support for Change15:22 Innovative Approaches to Public Health20:30 Rethinking Child Welfare Systems27:02 Navigating Challenges: The State of Nonprofits Today33:13 Evaluating Ideas: A Three-Point Test for Success42:39 Investing in Future Leaders: The Next Generation of Change

There are a lot of things people say about nonprofits that just aren’t true. In this episode, we go after some of the biggest myths in the fundraising world.Like the idea that if your cause is good enough, the money will follow.Or that board members don’t need to give.Or that overhead is a dirty word.Or that only rich people can make a difference.We don’t just bust these myths. We talk about where they come from, why they’re so sticky, and how they hold organizations back.----------------------------------Chapters:00:00 Introduction and Podcast Setup03:31 The Impact of Storytelling in Fundraising08:56 Myth Busting in Nonprofit Fundraising16:12 Debunking Common Fundraising Myths19:20 The Pilota Rule and Nonprofit Funding Misconceptions27:57 The Myth of Nonprofits Not Making a Profit30:46 Board Member Contributions: More Than Just Connections38:03 The Power of Small Donors in Philanthropy-----------------------------

In this episode, Raimy and Bini dig into the 2025 M+R Benchmarks Study, a wide-ranging report on digital fundraising trends. We unpack the surprising stat that online giving is flat and explore why monthly giving continues to rise, now making up 31% of all online revenue. We question whether donors are driving the trends or just responding to smarter asks. We also tackle the 11% drop in email fundraising, what it means for your strategy, and how deliverability and list hygiene might be at the root. Plus, we offer thoughts on donor-advised funds, the underused power of in-person volunteering, and how to actually use data to shape decisions instead of just reacting to it.This one is for fundraisers who want to step back, zoom out, and rethink how they approach their digital strategy.Link to the M+R Benchmarks study is here: Link----------------------------------------Chapters:00:00 Pre-Webinar Rituals and Personal Moments07:21 Good of the Week: Family Stories and Humor13:49 Exploring the M+R Benchmark 2025 Study18:36 Surprising Insights from the Study20:46 Email Fundraising Trends and Challenges27:57 Understanding Monthly Giving Dynamics32:10 The Impact of Social Media on Fundraising36:52 The Future of Donor-Advised Funds and Volunteer Engagement-----------------------Keywordsfundraising, online giving, email marketing, donor behavior, monthly giving, volunteer engagement, M+R Benchmark 2025, nonprofit sector, data analysis, community building

Barry Kislowicz knew he wanted to be a rabbi when he was two-years-old. What he didn't know at the time was that he would go on to do so much more. A couple decades later, Rabbi Dr. Kislowicz is a coach who helps nonprofit leaders find their way through chaos. In this episode, Bini and Raimy hear how Barry went from managing a school to coaching the folks who run them.Barry shares some gems about leadership. He talks about the importance of self-awareness (even though it’s one of the hardest things to master) and how emotional intelligence is crucial for any leader. We also dive into the unique challenges nonprofit leaders face, like managing a board of experts who might be terrible at nonprofit stuff (but amazing at making money).If you’re into leadership, managing tricky situations, or just want to hear Barry dodge the embarrassing stories Bini keeps trying to get him to tell, this episode’s for you.---------------------------------Good of the Week:JONI for WhatsApp: https://joni.pyrogss.com/Michael Mitchell: LI Profile----------------------------------Chapters:00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Guest10:12 Barry Kislowicz's Journey into Coaching13:05 The Shift from Education to Coaching16:10 Transitioning from Teacher to Head of School18:57 Coaching Style and Methodology22:12 The Role of a Coach vs. a Boss25:01 Setting Goals and Measuring Success28:15 Recommended Resources for Leaders31:02 Identifying When to Seek Coaching34:02 The Importance of Community in Leadership37:11 Conclusion and Final Thoughts37:42 Navigating Financial Leadership41:42 Understanding Stakeholder Dynamics47:53 Building Relationships with Constituents48:51 Leadership in Nonprofit vs. Corporate Worlds01:01:10 Essential Qualities for Effective Leadership----------------------------------------------------Find Barry here:Business Website linkSubstack Leadership Lenses linkLeadership Lenses Podcast link

We’re back! After a short break, Bini shows off his dining room art (and explains why he's podcasting from a new angle), and Raimy shares an epic Good of the Week story involving his dad, a piece of medical tape, and a life-changing bottle of dish soap. Then we dive deep into the world of matching donations. Why they work. When they don’t. What they do to donors’ brains. And how to use them without effectively. From psychology to strategy to how to talk to big matchers, we break down everything you need to know to make the most of the match.Have a matching story? Good or bad? We want to hear it.H/T to our 'Good of the Week:Bini's sister in law for the artworkRaimy's Dad and Dawn DishsoapLike, subscribe and share this episode with the people you care about the most!-----------------------Chapters:00:00 Introduction and Personal Updates08:56 The Importance of Matching Donations21:00 Strategies for Effective Matching Campaigns33:00 Engaging Major Donors in Matching Programs33:09 The Importance of Recognizing Matchers39:09 Cultivating Future Matchers49:14 Understanding the Matcher: Who They Are58:08 The Impact of Lead Gifts01:07:28 Final Thoughts on Matching Strategies

This week, Bini and Raimy sit down with Elisheva Hudson of Hudson Films, a true expert in nonprofit video production. Elisheva knows exactly how to craft videos that do more than tell a story. They inspire action.In this episode, she takes us behind the scenes of nonprofit filmmaking and breaks down the dos and don'ts of creating compelling content. She shares her best tips for getting the most out of interviews, reveals the secret to capturing raw emotion on camera, and explains how to hold a viewer's attention in an age of ever-shrinking attention spans.If you have ever wondered how to make a nonprofit video that actually moves people but did not know where to start, this episode is for you. We walked away with a ton of insights and we think you will too.----------------------Chapters:00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Guest08:49 Elisheva Hudson's Journey into Filmmaking11:59 Transition to Nonprofit Filmmaking15:43 Understanding Nonprofit Needs for Video19:13 Collaborative Process with Nonprofits22:25 Challenges in Filmmaking for Nonprofits26:07 The Art of Extracting Compelling Stories30:59 The Importance of Pre-Production35:35 Best Practices for Condensing Stories40:25 Crafting the Narrative: The Role of Location in Filmmaking44:38 Budgeting for Impact: Navigating Nonprofit Video Production50:56 The Balance of Quality: Documentary Filmmaking vs. Social Media Content59:16 The Future of Video: Evolving Trends in Nonprofit Storytelling--------------------Find Elisheva on Linkedin:  @elishevahudson  Elisheva's website: https://www.hudsonfilmsdocustory.com/---Good of The Week: Raimy: Tom Ahern of https://www.aherncomm.com/Bini:  @posterized11 ​ (YouTube Channel)