The Nonprofit Lab

What if you could raise money for a nonprofit by listening to Spotify, going for a walk, or even playing Fortnite? In today's episode, we delve into some really cutting-edge technology in the world of social impact with our guests Mario and Maurizio Hernandez, brothers and founders of Knobl.

My guest today is Lucia Kanter St. Amour is the VP for UN Women USA, attorney of 25 years, international negotiation superhero, and bestselling author of For the Forces of Good: The Superpower of Everyday Negotiation.In this episode we go to a lot of places. We’ll learn about Lucia’s journey into the nonprofit sector as a founder, explore the inspiration and lessons learned in her grassroots nonprofit, successes and challenges of building impactful programming as a small nonprofit, similarities, differences, and connections in her leadership roles outside of the nonprofit sector.

What if fundraising was less about individual transactions and more about belonging? Grapevine founder and CEO Emily Rasmussen joins to explore the power of giving circles and what nonprofits can learn from collective giving. She breaks down how community, collaboration, and donor agency can deepen relationships, strengthen retention, and turn generosity into something people experience together.

After September 11th, David Paine and Jay Winuk had an idea: transform a day of tragedy into one defined by service. Nearly 25 years later, 9/11 Day has become one of America’s largest day of service, engaging tens of millions of people and helping establish September 11th as a federally recognized National Day of Service. David and Jay share the personal story behind the movement, the long road from an idea to federal legislation, how they built a sustainable model with nonprofits, businesses, and government, and what 25 years have taught them about service, unity, and our shared humanity.

How do you modernize digital fundraising at one of America’s largest and most recognized nonprofits while staying true to a mission that’s endured for more than 160 years? In this episode, Rupert Schutz, Director of Digital Operations at Boys & Girls Clubs of America, shares lessons from leading digital transformation across a nationwide network of local organizations. From donor experience, stewardship, and A/B testing to AI, data strategy, and building trust with supporters, Rupert offers practical insights into what it takes to drive innovation, improve fundraising performance, and prepare nonprofit organizations for the future.