Nonprofit Lowdown

This week on Nonprofit Lowdown, I’m joined by my business bestie and returning favorite, Brooke Richie-Babbage — strategist, executive, founder of Bending Arc, and all-around AI powerhouse.We’re diving deep into how AI is actually being used in the nonprofit space — beyond the hype.We discuss:How AI can support (but not replace) your thinkingUse cases for AI in finance, fundraising, and data analysisTools for donor segmentation and engagementWhy donor trust and ethical data use matter more than everHow to create guardrails, policies, and inclusive practices around AIWe also talk about the messy but necessary process of innovation, how to lead AI adoption with integrity, and why nonprofits must be part of the AI conversation — or risk being left behind.If you're curious about AI but unsure where to start, this one’s packed with insights, real examples, and practical tools you can use right away.Important Links:Zeffy: https://www.zeffy.com/register?&utm_source=Rhea_Wong Connect with Brooke: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bjrichiebabbage/ Fast Forward: https://www.ffwd.org/ai-for-humanity How to Train ChatGPT:  https://go.rheawong.com/annual-fundraising-plan-tracker1-3127-4300 Upcoming Events: https://www.rheawong.com/events/ My Big Ask Gifts Program: https://go.rheawong.com/big-ask-gifts-program My Book, Get That Money Honey: https://go.rheawong.com/get-that-money-honey My Newsletter: https://www.rheawong.com/ 

I’m joined by my friend and returning guest, Mitch Stein, now Head of Strategy at Chariot, and we’re breaking down the truth about Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs) — what they are, how they work, and what nonprofits are getting wrong about them.Here's what we cover:What a DAF actually is (and no, it's not just for the ultra-wealthy)Why $250 billion is just sitting in DAFs right now — and how to access itHow to stop losing donors due to missed acknowledgments and poor data practicesWhy building trust (not chasing fund managers) is key to unlocking DAF dollarsOne truly cringeworthy story from my ED days that still haunts me (you’ll want to avoid this mistake)If you’re in development, major gifts, or even running a small shop, this episode is packed with practical advice to help you tap into this growing funding source.Important Links:Connect with Mitch: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitch-stein/ DAF Fundraising Report:  https://www.givechariot.com/daf-fundraising-report How to Train ChatGPT:  https://go.rheawong.com/annual-fundraising-plan-tracker1-3127-4300 Upcoming Events: https://www.rheawong.com/events/ My Big Ask Gifts Program: https://go.rheawong.com/big-ask-gifts-program My Book, Get That Money Honey: https://go.rheawong.com/get-that-money-honey My Newsletter: https://www.rheawong.com/ 

This episode is a juicy one. I’m joined by my pal Nate Wong. Nate is a partner at The Bridgespan Group and co-author of a recent white paper, “AI Cannot Be Ignored,” which dives deep into the opportunities (and responsibilities!) that AI presents to nonprofits and the broader social sector.With the Fundraising.AI conference around the corner—where I’ll be speaking, by the way—this conversation couldn’t come at a better time.This episode was both energizing and sobering. AI isn’t just about saving time—it’s about making space for what matters: human connection, meaningful strategy, and real impact. But we can’t be passive. We have to actively shape how AI shows up in our work—and that starts by engaging with it, not avoiding it.Important Links:Connect with Nate: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanielkwong/ AI for Humanity: https://www.ffwd.org/ai-for-humanity Bridgespan: https://www.bridgespan.org/insights/exploring-ai-opportunities-for-nonprofits-and-the-social-sector How to Train ChatGPT:  https://go.rheawong.com/annual-fundraising-plan-tracker1-3127-4300 Upcoming Events: https://www.rheawong.com/events/ My Big Ask Gifts Program: https://go.rheawong.com/big-ask-gifts-program My Book, Get That Money Honey: https://go.rheawong.com/get-that-money-honey My Newsletter: https://www.rheawong.com/ 

In this special episode, I host my powerhouse 10X crew for an energetic roundtable on one of the nonprofit sector’s most important seasons: end-of-year fundraising.The conversation covers:The fundraising landscape in 2025How to use AI and automation without losing the human touchMaintaining donor trustThe importance of mid-level donor strategyZigging when others zag (analog in a digital world)How to audit and prep your tech stackWhy major gifts still matter—and take timeWhether you're a small shop with limited resources or a seasoned fundraiser navigating a changing landscape, this episode is packed with practical insights, tools, and strategies to supercharge your year-end campaign.Important Links:How to Train ChatGPT:  https://go.rheawong.com/annual-fundraising-plan-tracker1-3127-4300 Upcoming Events: https://www.rheawong.com/events/ My Big Ask Gifts Program: https://go.rheawong.com/big-ask-gifts-program My Book, Get That Money Honey: https://go.rheawong.com/get-that-money-honey My Newsletter: https://www.rheawong.com/ 

I am so excited to drop this convo with my friend and powerhouse guest, Tisha Hyter.We’re talking all about something I’m totally obsessed with right now: the Primetime Woman – women aged 45–65 who are stepping into their full power, purpose, and philanthropic influence.Tisha and I go deep on:💥 What it means to be a Primetime Woman💰 Why this group is the most philanthropic cohort in history👯‍♀️ How women are giving in community and using their skills – not just writing checks👀 Why we’re DONE with the BS and want real impact and real connection⚰️ And yep… I said it: the big gala is dead. (Long live pickleball tournaments & purpose-driven tea parties!)Tisha shares her own journey – from sales and marketing to sleigh-at-home mom (yes, sleigh 💅) to nonprofit leader – and how turning 50 became her "locker room moment" to reimagine the second half of life.As a proud Primetime Woman myself, this one felt personal. If you’re a nonprofit leader wondering how to tap into this powerful group of donors (and avoid turning them off), this episode is for you.Important Links:Upcoming Events: https://www.rheawong.com/events/ My Big Ask Gifts Program: https://go.rheawong.com/big-ask-gifts-program My Book, Get That Money Honey: https://go.rheawong.com/get-that-money-honey My Newsletter: https://www.rheawong.com/ 

Welcome back to Nonprofit Lowdown — I'm Rhea Wong, and today you're getting the raw, unfiltered replay of the power session I co-led with my ride-or-die, Brooke Ritchie-Babbage, at AFP’s Fundraising Day in NYC.Here’s what we unpack:✅ The ONE written give/get policy that shuts down the “I don’t fundraise” excuse. ✅ Our 2x2 skills map that sorts your board in 10 minutes flat. ✅ Real-world tools: board report cards, mini dinner salons, and a no-guilt off-ramp that gets even the most reluctant board members into gear. ✅ PLUS: how to rewrite the money stories that keep smart people stuck — and the questions that flip the script fast.Enough talk. Let’s build a board that raises real money. 🎙️💸Important Links:Upcoming Events: https://www.rheawong.com/events/ My Big Ask Gifts Program: https://go.rheawong.com/big-ask-gifts-program My Book, Get That Money Honey: https://go.rheawong.com/get-that-money-honey My Newsletter: https://www.rheawong.com/ 

This week, I’m joined by the ever-brilliant Connor Kirkpatrick, Director of Development at Book Harvest.Connor’s a proud alum of my Big Ask Big Give program, and in this convo we go deep on:-Going from 8 to 24 major donors in 2 years-Using data + automation to build a scalable fundraising engine-What it really means to build a culture of philanthropy💥 Connor proves that when you mix solid strategy with bold authenticity, fundraising magic happens.Important Links:Connect with Connor : https://www.linkedin.com/in/connorpkirkpatrick/  Upcoming Events: https://www.rheawong.com/events/ My Big Ask Gifts Program: https://go.rheawong.com/big-ask-gifts-program My Book, Get That Money Honey: https://go.rheawong.com/get-that-money-honey My Newsletter: https://www.rheawong.com/ 

Welcome to the FIRST episode of Fundraising Fri-Yay with me, Rhea Wong! 🎉Kicking things off with a solo episode that gets real about the uncertainty we’re all feeling right now in the nonprofit world—tariff shifts, funding freezes, economic turbulence... it’s a lot. But here’s the deal: panic won’t pay the bills. So instead of reacting, let’s respond—with strategy. 💪✨ You’ll learn:🔹 How to double revenue with a 10% lift in donor retention🔹 Why monthly giving + donor-advised funds are your secret weapons🔹 How to communicate for confidence, not crisis🔹 Ways to build internal “shock absorbers” so you're ready for anythingWhether you're leading a small shop or a big team, this episode is packed with actionable steps to help you not just survive—but THRIVE—in economic uncertainty.Let’s make every Friday a little smarter, a little bolder, and a lot more impactful.

I’m so excited to share this powerful convo with my friend and guest, Rhonda Allen, CEO of Dev Color. We went in on what it means to lead an org that centers Black technologists — especially in a moment when DEI is under fire and folks are playing it safe.In this episode, we talk about: ➡️ Navigating leadership as a Black woman in tech ➡️ What it really takes to fundraise when DEI isn’t “trendy” anymore ➡️ Why small, authentic human connections > big flashy events ➡️ How AI is reshaping our world — and why we need Black leaders at the table ➡️ The personal cost (and power) of showing up as the face of the work🖤 Rhonda drops so many gems, and I walked away feeling grounded, energized, and more committed than ever to staying 10 toes down for the mission.💥 “Let the robots robot. Let the humans human.” — yeah, I said that, and I stand by it.Important Links:Connect with Rhonda : https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhallen/ Upcoming Events: https://www.rheawong.com/events/ My Big Ask Gifts Program: https://go.rheawong.com/big-ask-gifts-program My Book, Get That Money Honey: https://go.rheawong.com/get-that-money-honeyMy Newsletter: https://www.rheawong.com/

I had the real pleasure of sitting down with my brilliant friend Anysa Holder, Chief Advancement Officer at Easterseals NJ, on the latest episode of Nonprofit Lowdown. 🙌🏽We covered so much ground, including:💥 What it’s like to stay in the nonprofit sector for 15+ years💥 The emotional labor of fundraising (especially as women of color)💥 Unpacking money trauma and mindset💥 Why board training needs a major upgrade—and how Anysa’s leading that charge💥 How to avoid burnout while staying mission-drivenOne of my favorite things Anysa said?👉🏽 “The whole job is unpacking stuff… because it’s relational.”We laughed, got deep, and got real about what it takes to do this work and still stay grounded.If you’re a nonprofit leader, fundraiser, or just trying to do meaningful work without losing yourself—this one is for you.Important Links:Connect with Anysa : https://www.linkedin.com/in/anysaholder/ The Donor Reckoning: https://go.rheawong.com/thedonorreckoningUpcoming Events: https://www.rheawong.com/events/ My Big Ask Gifts Program: https://go.rheawong.com/big-ask-gifts-program My Book, Get That Money Honey: https://go.rheawong.com/get-that-money-honey My Newsletter: https://www.rheawong.com/ 

If you’re ready to stop guessing and start converting—join me live on July 23.🎯 The Donor Reckoning™ is where real pipeline repair starts. There’s No fluff. No replay. Just results.https://go.rheawong.com/thedonorreckoning 

Don’t lose your biggest future gifts to silence. Join me live on July 23 for The Donor Reckoning™.I’ll give you the tools to rebuild your trust sequence, so you can see massive results for the rest of the year! https://go.rheawong.com/thedonorreckoning 

🎯 Join me for The Donor Reckoning™ live on July 23.You’ll walk away with the full playbook + the tools to implement it: my 24-Touch Revenue Rhythm & the Donor Decoder GPTThere is No replay... Just results.https://go.rheawong.com/thedonorreckoning

Join me live on July 23 for The Donor Reckoning™.We’re unpacking the Signal-Driven System—and building your exit ramp from the panic loop.🎟 Reserve your seat now. Only 300 spots, no replay.https://go.rheawong.com/thedonorreckoning

Join The Donor Reckoning™ on July 23🎟 No replay. No fluff. Just truth + tactics.→ Save your seat now (only 300 spots): https://go.rheawong.com/thedonorreckoning

I'm so excited to share this week’s conversation with my guest and friend Yukari Kane, CEO and co-founder of the Prison Journalism Project (@prisonjournalism).Yukari is a former @WSJ tech reporter who made the leap into nonprofit leadership — and let me tell you, her story is incredible. We talk about what it’s like to run a growing org that operates at the intersection of journalism, education, and criminal justice reform.Here’s what we dig into:✍️ How Yukari went from covering Apple to teaching journalism inside San Quentin📉 The broken media landscape and why storytelling from the inside matters more than ever💡 What it takes to raise $1.7M from scratch — without a fundraising background📊 Why building a loyal audience = building your donor pipeline🧠 Real talk on sustainability, strategy, and how to say no as a leaderOne of my favorite quotes from her:🗣️ “I’m not asking for money. I’m building relationships.”This is a must-listen for anyone running a small (but mighty!) nonprofit, building community through storytelling, or wondering how to lead through tough times with clarity and purpose.Important Links:Connect with Yukari : https://www.linkedin.com/in/yukarikane/ Upcoming Events: https://www.rheawong.com/events/ My Big Ask Gifts Program: https://go.rheawong.com/big-ask-gifts-program My Book, Get That Money Honey: https://go.rheawong.com/get-that-money-honey My Newsletter: https://www.rheawong.com/ 

This week’s episode of Nonprofit Lowdown is straight-up magic. 🪄I sat down with my friend DiCo, Executive Director of the Brooklyn Debate League, and their story is nothing short of jaw-dropping.One minute, they're a public school teacher running debate club on Fridays. The next? A viral Humans of New York post, a GoFundMe that raises $1.3 million in two days, and suddenly they're leading a movement to bring speech and debate to all kids—especially those from historically excluded communities.In this episode, we talk about: 💥 The power of speech & debate to literally change lives 💡 What it’s like to scale a nonprofit overnight 🤝 Why asking for help isn’t weakness—it’s strategy 🔥 And how DiCo built a powerhouse network just by being kind (seriously)I left this convo so inspired, fired up about the future of youth leadership, and ready to help scale this thing to the moon.Important Links:Upcoming Events: https://www.rheawong.com/events/ My Big Ask Gifts Program: https://go.rheawong.com/big-ask-gifts-program My Book, Get That Money Honey: https://go.rheawong.com/get-that-money-honey My Newsletter: https://www.rheawong.com/ 

On the latest episode of Nonprofit Lowdown, I had the absolute pleasure of speaking with Dr. Dee Frayne (aka Dr. D), a life + business coach and former nonprofit exec who gets it. We went deep on what it means to burn out in a sector that’s often under-resourced, under-supported, and powered by people who care way too much to quit… until we’re forced to.We talked about:✨ Why the nonprofit world can feel like a parking lot for potential change-makers✨ How martyrdom and hustle culture are literally making us sick✨ What it really looks like to lead with integrity (hint: it includes rest)✨ Why selflessness is a trap — and how to create space for joy, boundaries, and sustainability “There’s no medal for suffering.” If you’ve ever skipped meals, ignored your own needs, or run yourself ragged in the name of “the mission” — please give this episode a listen.This one is for us. The helpers. The givers. The change-makers who want to do it differently — and better.Important Links:Connect with Dr. Dee: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deefrayne Upcoming Events: https://www.rheawong.com/events/ My Big Ask Gifts Program: https://go.rheawong.com/big-ask-gifts-program My Book, Get That Money Honey: https://go.rheawong.com/get-that-money-honey My Newsletter: https://www.rheawong.com/ 

I’m so excited to share this week’s episode of Nonprofit Lowdown with you. I sat down with my friend and former student, Omri Preiss, the Co-Founder & Managing Director of Alliance for Europe — and we had a powerful, eye-opening conversation.We don’t often feature voices from outside the U.S., so this one is extra special. Omri is on the frontlines of preserving democracy across Europe, and what he shared about disinformation, authoritarian playbooks, and what’s at stake globally is both terrifying and incredibly motivating.Here’s what we got into: ✔️ The global playbook for undermining democracy — and how it’s playing out right now ✔️ What Alliance for Europe is doing to fight back (including tracking influence ops 👀) ✔️ Why building a strong nonprofit brand isn’t optional anymore ✔️ And how we communicate big, abstract ideas like “democracy” in a way that moves people to actHonestly, this is one of those conversations that really stayed with me — especially in the current political climate. If you care about the future of democracy, this one’s a must-listen.Important Links:Upcoming Events: https://www.rheawong.com/events/ My Big Ask Gifts Program: https://go.rheawong.com/big-ask-gifts-program My Book, Get That Money Honey: https://go.rheawong.com/get-that-money-honey My Newsletter: https://www.rheawong.com/ 

I had the pleasure of sitting down with my friend and former student, Katy Troyer, the Executive Director of the KGSA Foundation — the U.S.-based fundraising arm for the Kibera Girls Soccer Academy in Nairobi, Kenya.We talked about what it’s really like to raise money for a cause that’s thousands of miles away, how the international development sector is shifting due to major funding cuts, and why community and storytelling are more important than ever.Katy shares how she's built a passionate donor base across the U.S., the power of immersive donor trips to Kenya (yes, they played soccer and got beat 11–2), and what it takes to keep donors close when you can’t invite them to see the work in person.If you're leading an international nonprofit or just trying to deepen donor engagement, this is one to listen to. Katy is smart, strategic, and deeply committed to empowering girls through education.Important Links:KGSA: https://kgsafoundation.org/ Katy’s LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katy-troyer-5a84a810?trk=people-guest_people_search-card  Upcoming Events: https://www.rheawong.com/events/ My Big Ask Gifts Program: https://go.rheawong.com/big-ask-gifts-program My Book, Get That Money Honey: https://go.rheawong.com/get-that-money-honey My Newsletter: https://www.rheawong.com/