The Cause+Effect Podcast

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, this episode provides practical and inspiring lessons for navigating change with resilience.

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 remains a crucial day for charities despite emerging competition like Travel Tuesday and discuss 2024 performance trends in fundraising and donor engagement. They also highlight key strategies high-performing organizations used this year, including growing email lists, cultivating mid/major donors, and using matching grants effectively.  Whether you're an experienced nonprofit leader or just starting to dip your toes into fundraising, this episode equips you with the strategies and foresight to elevate your organization’s efforts.  Listen now for expert tips on aligning technology, messaging, and community engagement for long-term fundraising success.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly reshaping the nonprofit world by providing tools for better outreach and engagement through personalized messaging and content delivery.In this episode of the Cause+Effect Podcast, taped live at the Dunham-Company Annual Summit, James Poulter joins us to discuss the changes and speculate about the future of AI's impact on ministry work. He champions the integration of AI in ministry, harnessing its analytical capabilities to deepen understanding of constituent needs, automate mundane tasks, and empower ministers to focus on meaningful interactions within their communities.Poulter is a distinguished digital marketing professional and technology expert, with a particular emphasis on Conversational AI strategy. As the CEO and Co-Founder of Vixen Labs, James has been instrumental in establishing the company as Europe's leading full-service Voice Agency. Vixen Labs specializes in voice consultancy and design, assisting brands in leveraging voice-first technology and conversational interfaces for effective communication and promotion.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is reshaping the ministry landscape and the team at Dunham+Company is constantly evaluating how these new tools can move your cause forward.On this episode of the Cause+Effect Podcast, Chief Technology Officer, Danielle Rice, and Chief Strategist Social Media+Innovation, Nils Smiths, join the show to discuss the creative ways non-profit organizations can harness the power of AI tools to enhance their impact and efficiency. From streamlining administrative tasks, optimize resource allocation, improve program effectiveness, repurposing content, to increasing organization security, AI is here to stay and by adopting AI tools, ministries can maximize their reach and impact, ultimately advancing their mission.

In this episode, we tackle the vital topic of year-end planning for nonprofit organizations, churches, and any mission-driven group navigating the final stretch of the year. Join us as we explore insightful strategies to ensure your organization handles donors with care and integrity, paving the way for continued mission success. In this program we also discuss how recent events, like elections, influence donor behavior and how to anticipate their impact.  Whether you're a seasoned leader or new to the nonprofit world, this episode provides actionable advice to help you end the year strong. Tune in and discover how to nurture your donor relationships and secure the support needed to carry your mission into the new year.

Welcome to this episode of the Cause+Effect Podcast, hosted by Trent Dunham with co-host Nils Smith. Today, we’re joined by Danielle Rice, the digital and data science lead at Dunham & Company, to explore the powerful role of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) in driving organizational growth.  In this insightful discussion, we break down what KPIs are and why they’re essential for any organization aiming for success. Learn how to effectively set and utilize KPIs across various functions like program growth, fundraising, and marketing. Discover the importance of visualizing data for decision-making and hear firsthand experiences and strategies from our hosts and guest on implementing KPIs to achieve measurable improvements.  Whether you’re a leader of a large nonprofit or a small startup, this episode will equip you with the knowledge and tools to harness KPIs for better data-driven decisions.

In this episode, Dunham+Company’s Chief Creative Officer, Dan Sumpter, flips the script by interviewing our host, Trent, on a topic that resonates deeply with organizations today—how to grow in a healthy way. This isn't about personal growth but rather scaling organizationally without losing sight of core values and mission.  Join us as we explore the pressures and opportunities of growth, balancing innovation with consistency, and staying true to your mission while meeting the expectations of donors and stakeholders. Listen in for a dynamic discussion that promises valuable takeaways for leaders striving to grow responsibly and effectively.

In today's fast-paced digital world, where communication is often reduced to quick texts and bold social media statements, have we lost the art of nuance? Join Trent as he explores this crucial aspect of leadership that can shape not only the trajectory of our organizations but also enhance our personal relationships.  In this episode, learn how nuanced communication can guide leaders to make better decisions, facilitate open dialogue, and invite feedback. We'll discuss the concept of "nuanced decisiveness," showcasing historical examples like General MacArthur’s tunnel vision during the Korean War versus George Washington’s flexible strategies in the Revolutionary War.  Tune in to discover practical steps to enhance your leadership through thoughtful communication, open-mindedness, and humility. Rediscover the balance between confidence and adaptability and learn how nuanced leadership can lead to more effective decision-making and stronger teams.

Join Trent in this eye-opening episode of the Cause+Effect Podcast, featuring Rick Dunham, founder and chairman of Dunham and Company. They explore a timely and significant piece of research from the Generosity Commission, "The Shifting Landscape of American Generosity."  Discover how macroeconomic factors have influenced giving behaviors over the years, leading to a noticeable downturn in donor participation rates, even as total philanthropic dollars have increased.  Whether you're part of a nonprofit organization, a church, or simply interested in philanthropy, this episode offers valuable insights into the current state and future direction of American generosity. Don't miss out on this opportunity to enrich your understanding and equip yourself with the knowledge needed to thrive in today's challenging environment.

On this Cause+Effect episode, Nils Smith and Dan Sumpter join Trent in a discussion on rebranding your company. They review what a brand refresh is and how to figure out when it is time for your organization to consider implementing one. Whether you're a startup or an established organization, understanding the dynamics of a brand refresh can be crucial for staying relevant and competitive.  They also highlight how Dunham+Company helps organizations through the rebranding process and bring you behind the scenes as they unpack the work they are doing on an updating the brand of their own organization. If you’ve thought about rebranding your company, or if you even should, this episode will help you unpack what a brand refresh is and why you should or shouldn’t move forward with a rebrand.

In this episode of the Cause+Effect podcast, Trent and Nils Smith discuss the recent ruling against Google in a massive antitrust lawsuit and the resulting shifts in the social media landscape. They discuss how this could impact the ways you search on the internet in the future and give insights into the leading platforms that you should consider creating content on.  Nils highlights what he believes to be the top two platforms to create vertical shortform video content, while also discussing how AI impacts the way people now search for things on the internet.

As you seek to grow the support for your organization, do donors know how their generosity is advancing the cause of your ministry? How your ministry is changing lives, advancing Kingdom work, and providing resources for those seeking answers?  This is where a Case for Support plays a critical role!  On this episode of the Cause+Effect podcast, Trent is joined by Rick Dunham, Founder and Chairman, and Dan Sumpter, Chief Creative Officer, to discuss the development of this important tool.

Dunham+Company Founder, Rick Dunham, returns to the show to unpack some very revealing research on Christian radio, specifically, listeners who have a favorite station. The study reveals who these ‘P1’ listeners are (those who have a favorite radio station), and why they do (or don’t) support their favorite station. What motivates them to tune in to a station? And further, what motivates their support?  Rick highlights the major findings and uncovers steps for you to take as a result of this research. Specifically, understand their listening habits, reconsider some of your messaging, and integrate more stories of life-change.

As a Fellow at the Cultural Research Center and Associate Professor of Humanities at Arizona Christian University, Dr. Adam Rasmussen draws upon his 25 years of experience in Christian education to inspire students to thrive under the Lordship of Christ in all aspects of their lives. With a passion for helping students connect their faith with reason and culture, he guides them to make meaningful and relevant connections that go beyond mere academic study.The Cultural Research Center's most recent research has considered what type of Christian leader is more likely to hold Biblical views. We are excited to discuss these findings and other important insights from Dr. Rasmussen's research.

It’s no surprise that stubbornly high inflation has impacted how donors are feeling. That’s why you need to understand the implications of the current economic climate.   On this episode Founder+Chairman of Dunham+Company, Rick Dunham, joins the show to discuss the latest iteration of our popular Donor Confidence Study, exploring the implications of the new findings.   To access the study, visit https://www.dunhamandcompany.com/insights and click on “Research.” And for more insights like this come back next time for fresh content from the Cause+Effect Podcast.

While raising capital to move a ministry’s strategy forward is important work, it can also create leadership anxiety and seem daunting and even overwhelming.  On this episode of the Cause+Effect Podcast, Erik Rogers, the Chief Strategist for Donor Advancement at Dunham+Company, joins the show to discuss the value of capital campaigns and the most common mistakes organizations make when trying to raise these financial resources. Whether you're a seasoned fundraiser or venturing into your first campaign, this insightful discussion is essential listening.

When it comes to digital advertising, the only constant we can count on is change. Thanks to Meta’s latest privacy policy updates, digital advertisers and marketers have been forced to shift strategies to maintain performance from previous years. Does this mean that the opportunity for a successful outcome is dead? In this podcast, Dunham Company’s Director of Digital Madison Farrell shares her learnings from these recent shifts and ways to adapt to these changes.

As we look at today’s digital landscape, we can easily see how crowded the marketplace has become, placing a greater demand for quality content to cut through the noise. On this episode of the Cause+Effect Podcast, we discuss the need for a solid SEO strategy to amplify your organization’s reach and create greater impact. Don’t miss out!

When you think of change management your mind likely flips toward systems, processes, and goals.Dunham+Company Chief Strategist, Jonathan Pitts, joins the podcast to discuss how to navigate change by suggesting that one of the greatest things to consider in change management is you. Your soul. Your growth. Your Christlikeness. Jonathan shares three lessons he has learned that will certainly help you navigate a season of change: 1) assume the Lord is provoking the change; 2) assume He cares about your character more than anything; and 3) assume God wants your relationships to stay intact. Change is inevitable. Tension in change is inevitable. How you manage that change is up to you. Join us on this episode to learn how to change well!

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly reshaping the nonprofit world by providing tools for better outreach and engagement through personalized messaging and content delivery. In this episode of the Cause+Effect Podcast, taped live at the Dunham-Company Annual Summit, James Poulter joins us to discuss the changes and speculate about the future of AI's impact on ministry work. He champions the integration of AI in ministry, harnessing its analytical capabilities to deepen understanding of constituent needs, automate mundane tasks, and empower ministers to focus on meaningful interactions within their communities. Poulter is a distinguished digital marketing professional and technology expert, with a particular emphasis on Conversational AI strategy. As the CEO and Co-Founder of Vixen Labs, James has been instrumental in establishing the company as Europe's leading full-service Voice Agency. Vixen Labs specializes in voice consultancy and design, assisting brands in leveraging voice-first technology and conversational interfaces for effective communication and promotion.