Nonprofit marketing, donor engagement, and storytelling are no longer optional. In this episode of the Nonprofit Counsel Podcast, host May Harris sits down with Jules Taggart, founder and CEO of Wayward Kind and fractional Chief Marketing Officer. Jules explains why today’s nonprofits can’t rely only on friendships, snail mail, or one-off campaigns to reach donors.

She explains how social media, storytelling, and a multi-touchpoint approach are critical to donor engagement in today’s crowded nonprofit landscape. You’ll learn why empathy plus utility is the secret to effective marketing, how to segment your audiences, and how even small nonprofits can build momentum without overwhelming their teams

What You Will Learn in This Episode

✅ Why modern donor engagement requires multiple touchpoints across channels
✅ How to move past the stigma of marketing and embrace storytelling
✅ Practical steps to start marketing strategically without overwhelming your team
✅ Why stakeholder conversations generate the most effective content

Is your nonprofit ready to align investments, policies, and technology with your mission? Visit NonprofitCouncil.com to access strategies and tools to help you build sustainable impact and lead with confidence.

Key Timestamps

• 0:00 Why donor engagement is no longer one touchpoint

• 0:47 From agency founder to fractional Chief Marketing Officer

• 2:24 The “M word” stigma: why nonprofits resist marketing

• 4:08 Donor behavior shifts: from snail mail to social media

• 8:19 How to start marketing strategically without overwhelm

• 9:41 Empathy + utility: the two keys to great nonprofit marketing

• 10:12 Finding part-time marketing help (copywriters, contractors, CMO)

• 13:04 Marketing beyond donors: reaching program participants & clients

• 15:24 Why talking to stakeholders creates your best content

• 16:48 What a fractional Chief Marketing Officer really does

• 18:54 How to engage your board in marketing efforts

• 20:19 Final tip: talk to stakeholders before doing anything else

Guest Bio

Jules Taggart is the founder and CEO of Wayward Kind, where she helps nonprofits align marketing strategy with fundraising and strategic plans. As a fractional Chief Marketing Officer, Jules provides both strategic guidance and hands-on execution, ensuring nonprofits use their limited resources effectively to grow donor engagement, attract participants, and strengthen their storytelling.

Resources & Links

• For Profit Law Group - Website - https://www.fplglaw.com 

• Nonprofit Counsel - Website - https://www.nonprofitcounsel.com/ 

• Wayward Kind - Website - https://waywardkind.com/ 

• Jules Taggart - LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/julestaggart
  
  

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