What do Peloton workouts, Bible reading plans, and TikTok challenges all have in common? They keep people coming back — not because they’re long, but because they’re structured.In this episode of The Million Dollar Nonprofit, Tom Kelly reveals how to use that same concept to build a 5-day donor challenge funnel that creates excitement, forms giving habits, and grows donations — all on autopilot.Using the framework Hook. Habit. Harvest., you’ll learn how to:1️⃣ Hook: Create irresistible invites that get donors to join your challenge.2️⃣ Habit: Design short, story-driven daily actions that build consistency and connection.3️⃣ Harvest: Automate the funnel in tools like DonorBooks or GoHighLevel so it runs anytime.Tom shares real examples of nonprofits turning short campaigns into long-term recurring giving, and gives you ready-to-use ChatGPT prompts to write your email series and workflow instantly.Whether you’re a small nonprofit or scaling fast, this episode will help you turn quick engagement into lasting impact — without adding more to your plate.
What’s harder than getting a donor to give? Getting them to share why they gave. Those stories are gold — but most nonprofits never capture them.In this episode of The Million Dollar Nonprofit, Tom Kelly reveals how to build a video testimonial generator using ChatGPT + Typeform so you can collect, polish, and share authentic donor stories on autopilot.Using the three-step framework — Ask. Assemble. Amplify. — Tom walks you through how to:1️⃣ Automate story collection with Typeform prompts that feel conversational and inspiring.2️⃣ Turn raw responses into 30-second video scripts using ChatGPT.3️⃣ Share testimonials across social media, email, and events to attract new donors effortlessly.You’ll even hear a real-world example of a children’s nonprofit that used this exact system to collect 45 donor stories and double engagement — all within two weeks.If you’ve ever wished your supporters could help tell your story for you, this is your blueprint to make it happen.
Most nonprofits sit on storytelling gold — powerful donor and beneficiary testimonials that could inspire thousands, but instead, they collect digital dust.In this episode of The Million Dollar Nonprofit, Tom Kelly shows you how to take those real stories and turn them into scroll-stopping, donation-driving videos using AI tools like Descript, OpusClip, and ChatGPT.You’ll learn a simple three-step framework — Collect. Clip. Caption. — that makes it fast and easy to turn raw footage into viral TikToks, Reels, or Shorts that people actually share. From using AI to find emotional soundbites to generating engaging captions and hooks, you’ll discover how to make your nonprofit’s story shine on social media — without needing a production team.Tom also shares a real-life case study of a homelessness nonprofit that used this strategy to reach 50,000 views and raise $18,000 — all from videos they already had.If you want to grow donations through authentic, shareable storytelling, this episode is your roadmap.
Why do people share TikToks, memes, or YouTube Shorts? Because it feels rewarding. Now imagine if your donors felt that same reward every time they shared your mission.In this episode of The Million Dollar Nonprofit, Tom Kelly breaks down how to build a donor growth loop that turns every donation into a ripple effect of giving. Using a simple three-step framework — Trigger, Reward, Repeat — you’ll learn how to encourage donor sharing at the right moment, make sharing emotionally rewarding, and create an automated referral system that keeps new donors coming in without extra effort.Tom also shares real-world examples of nonprofits who used automated tools like DonorBooks to drive 25% more new donors through simple referral systems — all without spending a dime on ads.If you’re ready to scale donor engagement and turn generosity viral, this episode is your blueprint.
If every donor brought just one more, how fast would your nonprofit grow? Double. Triple. Explode. That’s the power of referrals — and the key to sustainable, scalable growth.In this episode of The Million Dollar Nonprofit, Tom Kelly reveals how to build a donor referral engine using AI and automation. You’ll learn the Identify, Incentivize, Integrate framework to find your best evangelists, motivate them to share your mission, and make referrals easy to track and reward.Tom breaks down how to use ChatGPT prompts to identify high-engagement donors, create low-cost recognition-based incentives, and write ready-to-share referral messages your supporters can send via text or DM.Plus, he shares a real-life case study of a food bank that grew new donor acquisition by 28% just by adding referral links into their thank-you emails.Don’t rely on hope — build a system that multiplies your mission.Head over to our Instagram and DM us the word "AI' for our Free AI Nonprofit Growth Playbook. https://www.instagram.com/charityauctionstoday
Most nonprofits treat peer-to-peer fundraising like a one-off event—a 5K here, a birthday fundraiser there—and then let it fizzle out.But what if you could turn your supporters into mini-fundraising powerhouses who continually bring in new donors, and use AI to scale it all effortlessly?In this episode, Tom Kelly shares a proven framework:Recruit. Resource. Repeat.You’ll learn how to:Use AI to identify your most engaged and socially active supportersBuild easy plug-and-play toolkits to help them fundraise confidentlyAutomate re-engagement so top fundraisers keep coming backPlus, hear a real nonprofit success story that turned 50 fundraisers into 1,200 new donors—with one-third becoming recurring givers.🎯 Don’t just run a fundraiser—build a growth engine.
When a supporter hosts a fundraiser for your nonprofit—whether it’s a birthday campaign, 5K, or classroom challenge—who usually gets thanked? The donors. But the person who did all the work—the one who rallied their friends, shared your mission, and raised the money—often gets little more than a quick “Thanks for hosting” email.In this episode of The Million Dollar Nonprofit, Tom Kelly reveals how to automate thank-you campaigns for peer-to-peer fundraisers so every supporter feels like a hero without you manually sending 200 emails. Using the Recognize. Reward. Repeat. framework, you’ll learn how to keep your most passionate fundraisers engaged—and coming back year after year.Tom breaks it down step-by-step:Recognize: Build an automated thank-you flow that celebrates fundraisers both personally and publicly with email sequences, shoutouts, and tags.Reward: Send low-cost but high-impact tokens of appreciation—certificates, swag, or shoutouts—to make fundraisers feel truly valued.Repeat: Close every thank-you sequence with an invitation to return next year, turning one-time hosts into long-term advocates.You’ll hear how one cancer nonprofit automated a 3-part thank-you campaign—immediate gratitude, recap with totals, and next-year invite—and saw 67% of fundraisers sign up again.
What’s the real difference between a good volunteer and a great one? A good volunteer shows up, helps out, and goes home. A great volunteer spreads the word, brings their friends, and tells your story better than your staff does.In this episode of The Million Dollar Nonprofit, Tom Kelly breaks down how to turn your volunteers into donor advocates—people who don’t just give time, but also help you raise money and expand your reach. With the simple framework of Equip. Encourage. Elevate., you’ll learn how to empower volunteers to become powerful ambassadors for your mission.Tom shows you exactly how to:Equip your volunteers with advocacy kits—ready-to-share posts, prewritten texts, and quick donor invites they can share in seconds.Encourage them with impact-driven messaging and feedback that shows how their advocacy directly fuels your mission.Elevate your top advocates with public recognition, shoutouts, and small appreciation gifts that inspire others to step up.You’ll also hear a real-life example of a youth nonprofit that equipped just 50 volunteers with shareable fundraising content—and those volunteers brought in 120 new donors, with several becoming recurring givers.If you’ve ever wondered how to make your volunteers part of your fundraising team without adding more work to your plate, this episode gives you the blueprint.You’ll walk away with 3 actionable steps:Volunteers don’t just give their time, they can give you reach, donors, and momentum. Equip them, encourage them, elevate them, and watch your fundraising grow.
How often do you contact your volunteers? Not just when you need them—but to thank them, encourage them, and invite them deeper into your mission? Most nonprofits are great at recruitment—but terrible at retention. They treat volunteers like gig workers, people who clock in, do a task, and leave.In this episode of The Million Dollar Nonprofit, Tom Kelly shares how recurring volunteer outreach can change everything. You’ll learn to set up a consistent, warm cadence of communication that keeps volunteers feeling valued, without making you sound robotic.The 3-step framework—Rhythm, Relate, Repeat—helps you build a system that engages volunteers at the right frequency, personalizes messages at scale using AI, and automates sequences so outreach happens seamlessly. Tom walks you through creating a 12-month volunteer communication calendar, crafting emails with personalization tokens, and building recurring sequences that drip gratitude, storytelling, invitations, and feedback requests—all automatically.You’ll also hear a real example of a community theater that automated quarterly outreach, boosted volunteer retention by 37%, and converted several volunteers into donors. This episode gives you the tools and prompts you need to keep volunteers connected, appreciated, and engaged year-round.Whether you’re managing a small team or hundreds of volunteers, this system helps you nurture relationships, increase retention, and turn helpers into long-term champions—all while saving time and energy.
Tired of chasing down volunteers with endless reminder emails, last-minute shift swaps, and chaotic spreadsheets? You’re not alone. Most nonprofit leaders spend way too much time coordinating volunteers—and it doesn’t have to be that way.In this episode of The Million Dollar Nonprofit, Tom Kelly shows you how to build the easiest volunteer coordination system ever, using nothing more than AI + Google Calendar. No fancy software, no steep learning curve—just a simple system that runs on autopilot.You’ll learn the 3-step framework—Schedule, Sync, Support—to move your volunteer coordination out of chaos and into clarity. Tom covers how to set up color-coded calendars, automate reminders via email and SMS, and even use AI to handle last-minute cancellations by suggesting replacements.You’ll also hear a real-world example of a food bank that used this system to boost attendance by 26% and cut staff coordination time in half. By the end, you’ll have a roadmap for freeing up your time, reducing stress, and giving volunteers the clear communication they need to show up ready.Whether you’re running a gala, managing weekly shifts, or coordinating hundreds of volunteers, this system will help you simplify scheduling, improve reliability, and keep everyone on the same page—automatically.
Most nonprofits think of volunteers as helping hands—but the smartest leaders see them as something more. Volunteers are not just free labor; they’re future donors, champions, and even board members. The question is: how do you move people from “I’ll help for an hour” to “I’m all in for the mission”?In this episode of The Million Dollar Nonprofit, Tom Kelly introduces the Volunteer Loyalty Ladder, a simple three-step system—Welcome, Wow, Win—that transforms one-time helpers into lifelong supporters. You’ll learn how to roll out the red carpet for new volunteers, create experiences that “wow” them and keep them coming back, and invite them into deeper commitment when the time is right.Tom shares practical examples, including an animal rescue that used this exact system to turn 22% of its volunteers into financial donors within a year. You’ll also discover how to automate welcome sequences, create low-cost wow moments, and craft the perfect “ask” that moves loyal volunteers into monthly giving, committees, or leadership roles.By the end of this episode, you’ll have a clear roadmap for turning volunteers into champions who don’t just give their time, but also their treasure—and fuel your nonprofit’s long-term growth.
If you’ve ever found yourself training the same volunteer on the same task for the tenth time, you know how exhausting and inefficient it can be. Not only does it drain your time, but it also slows down your events and leaves volunteers confused. The good news? Volunteer training doesn’t have to be manual. With the right tools, you can automate it once and use it forever.In this episode of The Million Dollar Nonprofit, Tom Kelly reveals how to automate volunteer training using ChatGPT and Loom so every volunteer gets clear, consistent instructions—without you repeating yourself. You’ll learn a simple three-step framework: Script, Show, Send. First, let AI write step-by-step training scripts for your key volunteer roles. Then, record short training videos with Loom that bring those scripts to life. Finally, automate delivery through your CRM so every new volunteer instantly receives the exact training they need.Tom also shares a real-world example of a school PTO that used this system for their silent auction. In past years, volunteers were left guessing what to do. But once they automated training with ChatGPT and Loom, check-in took half the time, checkout was error-free, and volunteers called it the smoothest event they’d ever helped with.By the end of this episode, you’ll know how to stop training 100 times, and instead, train once—then let automation do the heavy lifting. Because when volunteers feel prepared and confident, your events run smoother, your stress level drops, and your mission gets a major boost.
Every nonprofit leader knows the struggle: a volunteer shows up excited to help, but within minutes, it’s clear they’re in the wrong role. The shy person stuck at check-in. The outgoing people-person hidden in the back. The volunteer who dreads tech suddenly running your auction software. It’s not just awkward—it’s a recipe for volunteers not coming back.But what if you could flip that? What if every volunteer was placed in the role where they shine—before they even walked through the door? That’s exactly what AI can do for your nonprofit.In this episode of The Million Dollar Nonprofit, Tom Kelly shares a simple three-step framework—Ask, Analyze, Assign—that will transform how you manage volunteers. You’ll learn how to design an intake survey that goes beyond availability and digs into personality, preferences, and skills. Then, discover how AI tools like ChatGPT can analyze responses and recommend the best roles for each volunteer. Finally, see how to automate assignments and send role-specific welcome emails that make volunteers feel valued, supported, and excited to return.
Your top donors don’t just want polished newsletters or glossy gala recaps. They want access—the raw, authentic, behind-the-scenes moments that show the real heartbeat of your mission. And when you give them that insider view, their loyalty skyrockets.In this episode of The Million Dollar Nonprofit, Tom Kelly reveals how to set up an automated behind-the-scenes series that makes major donors feel like VIPs—without draining your team’s time. You’ll learn the Collect, Curate, Connect framework to capture raw moments, package them into a story, and deliver them automatically through your CRM.You’ll discover:What kind of behind-the-scenes content donors actually crave.How to build a 3–4 part series that flows like a story.The automation workflow to make every top donor feel like an insider.A real-life nonprofit case study that boosted retention from 62% to 81%.Your donors don’t just want to fund the story. They want to feel the story. Show them what happens behind the curtain, and they’ll stick with you for life.Head over to our Instagram and DM us the word "AI' for our Free AI Nonprofit Growth Playbook. https://www.instagram.com/charityauctionstoday
Most nonprofits build their campaigns around their own calendars—fiscal year-end, Giving Tuesday, the spring gala. But donors live in their own rhythms: birthdays, anniversaries, first gifts, retirements, even losses. And when you connect your fundraising to their moments, not just yours, you raise more and build stronger relationships.In this episode of The Million Dollar Nonprofit, Tom Kelly shares how to build campaigns around Life, Loyalty, and Legacy moments that truly resonate. You’ll learn how to spot donor milestones, script warm messages, and automate delivery—so your donors feel seen, celebrated, and connected at every stage of their journey.You’ll discover:How to align campaigns with personal donor milestones.Loyalty-focused ways to celebrate donor anniversaries.How to show up during legacy moments with empathy.A real-life nonprofit example that saw 4x response rates using donor birthday messages.Don’t just campaign around your calendar. Campaign around their lives—that’s where the magic (and giving) really happens.Head over to our Instagram and DM us the word "AI' for our Free AI Nonprofit Growth Playbook. https://www.instagram.com/charityauctionstoday
Most nonprofits plan their year with the same old calendar—Giving Tuesday, year-end appeal, a spring gala, maybe a fall walk-a-thon. But here’s the secret: donors don’t give to dates—they give to stories.In this episode of The Million Dollar Nonprofit, Tom Kelly shows you how to use AI to craft an annual giving theme that transforms your fundraising into a story donors can follow all year long. Learn how to anchor your theme, align it with quarterly campaigns, and amplify it across every channel so your fundraising feels cohesive, compelling, and unstoppable.You’ll discover:How to brainstorm story-driven annual themes in minutes with AI.The Anchor → Align → Amplify framework for planning your fundraising year.How to turn campaigns into “chapters” donors actually follow.Real nonprofit examples that grew revenue 34% using annual themes.Don’t just run campaigns. Tell a story, anchor your year in a theme, and watch donors stay engaged every chapter of the way.Head over to our Instagram and DM us the word "AI' for our Free AI Nonprofit Growth Playbook. https://www.instagram.com/charityauctionstoday
What if you could make every donor feel like a VIP—without filming hundreds of individual thank-you videos? In this episode of The Million Dollar Nonprofit, Tom Kelly shows you how to use AI-powered dynamic video thank-yous to wow donors at scale. Learn how to record one core message, personalize it with donor names, gift amounts, and impact, and automate delivery within minutes.You’ll discover:The simple Record → Render → Release framework.AI tools like Synthesia and HeyGen that personalize video at scale.Automation workflows that deliver thank-yous instantly while emotions are fresh.Real nonprofit results: 71% open rates and 18% repeat gifts in one week.Donors don’t just want to be thanked—they want to be known. With dynamic videos, you can deliver gratitude that feels genuine, personal, and unforgettable.Head over to our Instagram and DM us the word "AI' for our Free AI Nonprofit Growth Playbook. https://www.instagram.com/charityauctionstoday
Donors don’t want more emails—they want smarter ones.In this episode of The Million Dollar Nonprofit, Tom Kelly shows you how to use conditional logic + AI to send donor emails that feel personal without writing hundreds by hand. Using the Segment. Script. Send. framework, you’ll learn how to:Build simple donor segments that branch automatically.Script personalized thank-you and impact emails with AI.Set CRM rules that deliver the right message to the right donor at the right time.Hear how one nonprofit boosted open rates by 42% and secured second gifts faster just by setting up smart email rules.Generic blasts are dead. Smarter, more personal emails are the future.Head over to our Instagram and DM us the word "AI' for our Free AI Nonprofit Growth Playbook. https://www.instagram.com/charityauctionstoday
Not every donor moment should be automated—and not every moment should be personal.In this episode of The Million Dollar Nonprofit, Tom Kelly breaks down how to know the difference so you can scale without losing connection. Using the Routine. Relational. Rare. framework, you’ll learn:Which touchpoints to automate with AI and CRMs.When to slow down and send something personal.How to honor rare, transformational gifts with creativity.Hear how an arts nonprofit used this approach to save staff hours, boost retention by 21%, and keep donors feeling deeply seen—all while leveraging AI as an assistant, not a replacement.Don’t automate everything. Don’t personalize everything. Do both—wisely.
🎬 Why reinvent the wheel when you can replay your greatest hits?In this episode of The Million Dollar Nonprofit, Tom Kelly reveals how to build a Fundraising Replay Machine—a system where your best campaigns don’t just run once, they run again and again with small tweaks, AI-powered rewrites, and fresh updates.You’ll learn the 3-step framework—Re-Run, Re-Write, Re-Raise—and discover how to:Pull past campaigns that crushed it and run them again.Use AI to refresh copy, hooks, and CTAs.Automate a 12-month replay calendar that raises money year-round.Hear how an animal shelter re-ran a 2018 adoption email with AI updates and raised $18,000 in one week—proof that replays can be just as powerful (if not more) than originals.Stop burning yourself out creating everything new. Build your Replay Machine, and let your best campaigns raise again and again.Head over to our Instagram and DM us the word "AI' for our Free AI Nonprofit Growth Playbook. https://www.instagram.com/charityauctionstoday