Scaling Smarter: How Nonprofits Can Amplify Their Impact

In this episode of the Purpose & Profit Podcast, hosts Dave Raley and Carly Berna sit down with Mohamed Osman and Ali Metcalf from Spring Impact, a nonprofit dedicated to helping mission-driven organizations scale their impact effectively in both the UK and the US.Mohamed, Spring Impact’s CEO, brings over two decades of experience in health, social enterprise, and humanitarian work, including his time as Global Grants Director at the Elton John AIDS Foundation. Ali, a Managing Consultant at Spring Impact, has worked on projects from Uganda to the UK, scaling solutions in parenting, education, health, and community development.The conversation explores the challenges and strategies behind scaling nonprofit initiatives. Mohamed and Ali discuss the importance of building for scale from the outset, the role of partnerships in sustainable growth, and how funding landscapes impact the ability of organizations to expand their reach. They highlight the significance of shifting from directly delivering solutions to enabling others to implement them—exemplified by Bridges to Prosperity’s transition from building bridges to supporting governments in constructing them.Key takeaways include:The need to fall in love with the problem rather than the solution, as solutions evolve over time.The balance between maintaining control and allowing strategic partners to help scale impact.Diversifying funding sources while remaining mission-aligned.Practical advice for nonprofits looking to scale, including focusing on strategic partnerships and understanding funding dynamics.Learn more about Purpose & Profit Podcast at: purposeandprofitpodcast.com/podcast.Meanwhile, discover more about Spring Impact at: https://www.springimpact.org/.Season Six of the Purpose & Profit Podcast is brought to you by:VIRTUOUS: Virtuous.orgFAITHSEARCH PARTNERS: FaithSearchPartners.comIMAGO CONSULTING: Imago.ConsultingAVID AI: AvidAI.comDICKERSONBAKKER: DickersonBakker.comSHARE ShareTalent.coSYNERGY: SynergyDMS.comSpecial thanks to editor and sound engineer Barry R. Hill and producer Abigail Morse.

AI is transforming the way nonprofit organizations operate, but for many leaders, knowing where to start can feel overwhelming. In this episode of Purpose and Profit Podcast, your co-hosts, Carly Berna and Dave Raley, break down how leaders can confidently embrace AI to enhance their work.From using AI for brainstorming and decision-making to balancing machine-powered insights with human judgment, Carly and Dave share practical strategies. They also highlight key AI trends for 2025 and the AI-powered tools making the biggest impact.Also in this episode, Dave and Carly talk about:The biggest misconceptions leaders have about AIWhy AI-generated insights still need human oversightThe ethical considerations of AI in the nonprofit spaceSimple ways to start integrating AI into your daily workflowWant to take action? Read How to Talk to AI on the Wave Report, at https://www.imago.consulting/articles/how-to-talk-to-ai.Meanwhile, download the guide, 12 Ways to Leverage AI, to explore more ways AI can support you: https://www.imago.consulting/12-ways-to-use-ai.Season Six of the Purpose & Profit Podcast is brought to you by:VIRTUOUSVirtuous believes in increasing generosity through personal donor engagement, no matter the gift size. The Virtuous platform streamlines nonprofit workflows, eliminates back-office tasks, and focuses on the relationships that matter. With their CRM, fundraising, volunteer, and marketing tools, nonprofits can create responsive experiences that build trust and grow impact. Visit virtuous.org to learn more.FAITHSEARCH PARTNERSFaithSearch Partners is an executive search firm for faith-based organizations, dedicated to providing lasting solutions and championing faith-driven leaders. Their mission is to serve their clients and empower them with the right people at the right time to help drive their unique mission of ministry forward. Learn more about FaithSearch Partners at faithsearchpartners.com/.IMAGO CONSULTINGImago Consulting is an advisory firm that helps nonprofits and businesses grow through innovation. Innovation is the lifeblood of any growing organization. Imago publishes a weekly trends report called The Wave Report – learn more at .imago.consulting and subscribe at imago.consulting/wavereport.AVID AIJuggling tools instead of engaging donors? Meet Avid—the first-ever fundraising agency in the cloud. It unifies your data, deploys ready-to-use strategies, and makes donor engagement personal—at scale, on demand, in minutes. Visit avidai.com and see how fundraising gets smarter.DICKERSONBAKKERFor over 40 years, DickersonBakker has been a trusted partner to nonprofits across the country and globe. They’ve worked with thousands of organizations and helped raise billions of dollars to support meaningful missions. Their expertise spans fundraising, leadership development, and strategic growth. Learn more at dickersonbakker.com.SHAREShare helps Christian nonprofits shine with innovative marketing and digital fundraising. But that’s not all—they’re your tech-savvy partner, building tools to make your work easier and your impact bigger. Ready to grow your mission? Visit Sharetalent.co today!SYNERGYSynergy helps nonprofit organizations broaden donor engagement through phone-based solutions such as P2P texting, Voice Broadcasting, Inbound call handling solutions and Mid-Level donor engagement solutions. By integrating into your current mail and digital strategies, we create a personal connection with your donors that increases their devotion to your cause. Learn more at synergydms.com.Special thanks to editor and sound engineer Barry R. Hill and producer Abigail Morse.

In this episode of Purpose and Profit Podcast, Dave Raley and Carly Berna are pleased to welcome Amit Meredith to the show! Amit is the Head of Marketing for “GoFundMe,” overseeing brand strategy, marketing activations, and growth in an effort to help connect people with causes they care about.With a background working for companies like Warner Bros. Discovery, Samsung, and Boots UK, as well as higher education institutions and nonprofits, Amit is uniquely qualified to talk about the giving landscape today and how nonprofits can view that landscape in order to maximize their fundraising efforts.Diving into her role at GoFundMe, Amit shares findings from the GoFundMe Social State of Giving Report and explains the recent rise of what are known as “Impact Creators.”Also in this episode, Amit talks about: The Gen Z population and the power of sharingHow social media plays a role in fundraisingHow to use AI to boost fundraising effortsAdvice for for-profit and nonprofit leaders from her vast experience working in both sectorsA lightning round at the end!Discover more from the GoFundMe Social State of Giving Report at: https://www.gofundme.com/c/socialgivingSpecial thanks to editor and sound engineer Barry R. Hill and producer Abigail Morse.Season Six of the Purpose & Profit Podcast is brought to you by:VIRTUOUSVirtuous believes in increasing generosity through personal donor engagement, no matter the gift size. The Virtuous platform streamlines nonprofit workflows, eliminates back-office tasks, and focuses on the relationships that matter. With their CRM, fundraising, volunteer, and marketing tools, nonprofits can create responsive experiences that build trust and grow impact. Visit virtuous.org to learn more.FAITHSEARCH PARTNERSFaithSearch Partners is an executive search firm for faith-based organizations, dedicated to providing lasting solutions and championing faith-driven leaders. Their mission is to serve their clients and empower them with the right people at the right time to help drive their unique mission of ministry forward. Learn more about FaithSearch Partners at faithsearchpartners.com/.IMAGO CONSULTINGImago Consulting is an advisory firm that helps nonprofits and businesses grow through innovation. Innovation is the lifeblood of any growing organization. Imago publishes a weekly trends report called The Wave Report – learn more at .imago.consulting and subscribe at imago.consulting/wavereport.AVID AIJuggling tools instead of engaging donors? Meet Avid—the first-ever fundraising agency in the cloud. It unifies your data, deploys ready-to-use strategies, and makes donor engagement personal—at scale, on demand, in minutes. Visit avidai.com and see how fundraising gets smarter.DICKERSONBAKKERFor over 40 years, DickersonBakker has been a trusted partner to nonprofits across the country and globe. They’ve worked with thousands of organizations and helped raise billions of dollars to support meaningful missions. Their expertise spans fundraising, leadership development, and strategic growth. Learn more at dickersonbakker.com.SHAREShare helps Christian nonprofits shine with innovative marketing and digital fundraising. But that’s not all—they’re your tech-savvy partner, building tools to make your work easier and your impact bigger. Ready to grow your mission? Visit Sharetalent.co today!SYNERGYAt Synergy, they boost your nonprofit's donor engagement through innovative phone-based solutions. Whether it's P2P texting, voice broadcasting, inbound call handling, or mid-level donor engagement, they seamlessly integrate with your existing mail and digital strategies. Their goal is to create a personal connection with your donors, enhancing their commitment to your cause. Let Synergy be your donor engagement team and watch your donor retention and revenue grow. Discover more at synergydms.com.

In this exciting new episode of Purpose and Profit Podcast, Carly Berna has the unique opportunity to interview fellow co-host, Dave Raley, on his new book, The Rise of Sustainable Giving: How the Subscription Economy is Transforming Recurring Giving and What Nonprofits Can Do to Benefit, which became Amazon’s #1 new release for Nonprofit Organizations and Charities before its official launch date! Dave Raley begins by explaining the 3-year process that went into writing this book, which began with a passion to increase generosity among nonprofits around the world.  Dave goes into detail about how the subscription economy has changed everything for nonprofits, and how it will continue to transform how people look at giving moving forward. Having studied top-performing nonprofits that are tapping into this new type of subscription giving, he now shares the core elements of building a thriving, sustainable giving program. The Rise of Sustainable Giving is now available for purchase on Dave’s website at sustainablegiving.org and on Amazon at ⁠https://amzn.to/3E5TRPF⁠. Get your copy today and start transforming your recurring giving efforts for a better, more generous tomorrow.  Season Five of the Purpose & Profit Podcast is brought to you by: VIRTUOUS Virtuous is a software company committed to helping nonprofits grow generosity. Virtuous believes that generosity has the power to create profound change in the world and in the heart of the giver. With that in mind, it’s their mission to move the needle on global generosity by helping nonprofits better connect with and inspire their givers. Learn more about Virtuous at www.virtuous.org and download your free Nonprofit CRM Checklist at www.virtuous.org/checklist.  FAITHSEARCH PARTNERS FaithSearch Partners is an executive search firm for faith-based organizations, dedicated to providing lasting solutions and championing faith-driven leaders. Their mission is to serve their clients and empower them with the right people at the right time to help drive their unique mission of ministry forward. Learn more about FaithSearch Partners at https://faithsearchpartners.com/. IMAGO CONSULTING Imago Consulting is an advisory firm that helps nonprofits and businesses grow through innovation. Innovation is the lifeblood of any growing organization. Imago publishes a weekly trends report called The Wave Report – learn more at www.imago.consulting and subscribe at www.imago.consulting/wavereport. Special thanks to editor and sound engineer Barry R. Hill and producer Abigail Morse.

In this episode of Purpose & Profit Podcast, Dave Raley and Carly Berna are joined by Grapevine Founder and CEO, Emily Rasmussen, for an exciting discussion about an exciting and growing trend known as crowdgranting. Emily founded Grapevine, an organization dedicated to bringing people and communities together to further the giving movement, and she shares her passion for giving and how she has managed to share it with the world. Next, she dives into the definition of a “Giving Circle” and what it means to build one, offering real-world examples along the way. Later, she explains the difference between crowdgranting and crowdfunding, sharing how crowdgranting can be a more powerful approach to philanthropy.  Also along the way, Emily talks about:  The “Four C’s” of crowdgranting that nonprofits should be aware of. One of the most popular giving circle models on Grapevine’s platform and why it was so effective. An exciting partnership that Grapevine formed with Bombas, and how it increased awareness of Giving Circles. And much more + a lightning round at the end! You can learn more about Grapevine at https://www.grapevine.org, and Emily at https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-rasmussen-02816619.  Season Five of the Purpose & Profit Podcast is brought to you by: VIRTUOUS Virtuous is a software company committed to helping nonprofits grow generosity. Virtuous believes that generosity has the power to create profound change in the world and in the heart of the giver. With that in mind, it’s their mission to move the needle on global generosity by helping nonprofits better connect with and inspire their givers. Learn more about Virtuous at virtuous.org and download your free Nonprofit CRM Checklist at virtuous.org/checklist.  FAITHSEARCH PARTNERS FaithSearch Partners is an executive search firm for faith-based organizations, dedicated to providing lasting solutions and championing faith-driven leaders. Their mission is to serve their clients and empower them with the right people at the right time to help drive their unique mission of ministry forward. Learn more about FaithSearch Partners at faithsearchpartners.com/. IMAGO CONSULTING Imago Consulting is an advisory firm that helps nonprofits and businesses grow through innovation. Innovation is the lifeblood of any growing organization. Imago publishes a weekly trends report called The Wave Report – learn more at imago.consulting and subscribe at imago.consulting/wavereport. Special thanks to editor and sound engineer Barry R. Hill and producer Abigail Morse.

In this episode of Purpose & Profit Podcast, we’re excited to welcome back Sheeba Philip! Sheeba is a visionary leader with 25 years of experience at the intersection of business and purpose. During her career, she has transformed iconic brands like Oreo, JCPenney, and Jell-O, while also leading impactful nonprofit initiatives to combat human trafficking and create jobs for women in East Africa. Sheeba currently leads a global advisory practice, equipping CEOs of purpose-driven funds, brands, and organizations to achieve transformational growth.  Sheeba begins her conversation with Dave and Carly talking about what it means to adopt an entrepreneurial approach in your organization. Sharing real world experience from both for-profit and nonprofit organizations, Sheeba shares some practical tips on how entrepreneurism can be molded into a regularly practiced habit. Later, Sheeba explains how discipline is the backbone of any successful venture, offering advice on how to maintain focus on the most important tasks when there are so many distractions and potential opportunities at hand.  Also along the way, Sheeba talks about:  How vision without a clear strategy can be detrimental to an organization’s plans for growth What it means to have a passion for a problem  How to gather and analyze data to ensure you’re moving in the right direction How to embrace agility and adapt to change Season Five of the Purpose & Profit Podcast is brought to you by: VIRTUOUS Virtuous is a software company committed to helping nonprofits grow generosity. Virtuous believes that generosity has the power to create profound change in the world and in the heart of the giver. With that in mind, it’s their mission to move the needle on global generosity by helping nonprofits better connect with and inspire their givers. Learn more about Virtuous at ⁠virtuous.org⁠ and download your free Nonprofit CRM Checklist at ⁠virtuous.org/checklist⁠.  FAITHSEARCH PARTNERS FaithSearch Partners is an executive search firm for faith-based organizations, dedicated to providing lasting solutions and championing faith-driven leaders. Their mission is to serve their clients and empower them with the right people at the right time to help drive their unique mission of ministry forward. Learn more about FaithSearch Partners at ⁠faithsearchpartners.com/⁠. IMAGO CONSULTING Imago Consulting is an advisory firm that helps nonprofits and businesses grow through innovation. Innovation is the lifeblood of any growing organization. Imago publishes a weekly trends report called The Wave Report – learn more at ⁠.imago.consulting⁠ and subscribe at ⁠imago.consulting/wavereport⁠. Special thanks to editor and sound engineer Barry R. Hill and producer Abigail Morse.

In this episode of Purpose & Profit Podcast, your co-hosts, Carly Berna and Dave Raley, talk about the power of invented holidays and the concept of shared moments that rally people together around a common cause or idea. How do these shared moments across these various invented holidays relate to the for-profit and nonprofit sector and why might it be important to recognize as professionals in the industry? Is there an untapped opportunity there? That’s what Carly and Dave are looking to uncover in this episode. They begin by defining what invented holidays are - May the 4th, Talk Like a Pirate Day, No Phone Day, etc. - and dive into brand-specific holidays such as Amazon Prime Day and GivingTuesday, listing the various aspects that make them such a success culturally, as well as from an economic standpoint.  They talk about how creating shared moments around the theme of an invented holiday can help unify communities, capitalize on FOMO, and ultimately drive sales and giving among businesses and nonprofits.  Later, they’ll share practical tips on how you can incorporate invented holidays into your organization. Steps on how to do this include:  Mapping out the calendar to see what holidays might be relevant for your organization When to start the ‘celebration’ process of the holidays’ shared moments, and how long to continue that celebratory process What it might look like to create your own brand-specific holiday based on your specific audience For more information on invented holidays such as GivingTuesday, visit: https://www.imago.consulting/articles/the-power-of-invented-holidays  Season Five of the Purpose & Profit Podcast is brought to you by: VIRTUOUS Virtuous is a software company committed to helping nonprofits grow generosity. Virtuous believes that generosity has the power to create profound change in the world and in the heart of the giver. With that in mind, it’s their mission to move the needle on global generosity by helping nonprofits better connect with and inspire their givers. Learn more about Virtuous at virtuous.org and download your free Nonprofit CRM Checklist at virtuous.org/checklist.  FAITHSEARCH PARTNERS FaithSearch Partners is an executive search firm for faith-based organizations, dedicated to providing lasting solutions and championing faith-driven leaders. Their mission is to serve their clients and empower them with the right people at the right time to help drive their unique mission of ministry forward. Learn more about FaithSearch Partners at faithsearchpartners.com/. IMAGO CONSULTING Imago Consulting is an advisory firm that helps nonprofits and businesses grow through innovation. Innovation is the lifeblood of any growing organization. Imago publishes a weekly trends report called The Wave Report – learn more at .imago.consulting and subscribe at imago.consulting/wavereport. Special thanks to editor and sound engineer Barry R. Hill and producer Abigail Morse.

In this episode of Purpose and Profit Podcast, your co-hosts Dave Raley and Carly Berna are joined by Leah Kral, a consultant, public speaker, and author of the book, Innovation for Social Change: How Wildly Successful Nonprofits Inspire and Deliver Results. Beginning with the concept of “Nonprofit Innovation,” Leah dives into what innovation can look like for nonprofits, how it isn’t just a for-profit tactic for success, and how innovation comes in all shapes and sizes – from major social changes that affect entire people groups, to smaller, systematic changes that streamline inter-organizational processes.  Leah moves on to talk about how innovation, as a concept, can seem promising, and yet the application can often appear daunting to organizations who may not know where to start. This, Leah explains, is where the ‘how’ of innovation comes in.  Offering for-profit examples that can be thoughtfully applied to the nonprofit sector, Leah presents some practical ways that organizations can break through the barriers that often lead to stagnated efforts at innovation and growth. Also along the way, you’ll get to hear about: How speaking with your customers or audience can significantly help your organization move the innovation needle forward Creating a culture of psychological safety, i.e. that ‘safe space’ to be able to share honest feedback and express new ideas Asking the right questions, using imagination, and employing experimentation that will help your organization adapt and grow Learn more about Leah Kral by visiting:  Leah’s website Leah’s email newsletter Leah's LinkedIn page Season Five of the Purpose & Profit Podcast is brought to you by: VIRTUOUS Virtuous is a software company committed to helping nonprofits grow generosity. Virtuous believes that generosity has the power to create profound change in the world and in the heart of the giver. With that in mind, it’s their mission to move the needle on global generosity by helping nonprofits better connect with and inspire their givers. Learn more about Virtuous at virtuous.org and download your free Nonprofit CRM Checklist at virtuous.org/checklist.  FAITHSEARCH PARTNERS FaithSearch Partners is an executive search firm for faith-based organizations, dedicated to providing lasting solutions and championing faith-driven leaders. Their mission is to serve their clients and empower them with the right people at the right time to help drive their unique mission of ministry forward. Learn more about FaithSearch Partners at https://faithsearchpartners.com/. IMAGO CONSULTING Imago Consulting is an advisory firm that helps nonprofits and businesses grow through innovation. Innovation is the lifeblood of any growing organization. Imago publishes a weekly trends report called The Wave Report – learn more at imago.consulting and subscribe at imago.consulting/wavereport. Special thanks to editor and sound engineer Barry R. Hill and producer Abigail Morse.

In this episode of Purpose & Profit Podcast, Carly Berna and Dave Raley are joined by co-founder of We and Me, Chad Littlefield, for a conversation about connection and the benefits of asking powerful questions.  They begin by diving into what it means to create impactful conversations and the idea of “connection over content” as a means of fostering transparency and trust. Chad laters defines the “we” method that enhances dialogue and collaboration in one’s organization, and offers strategies that for-profit and nonprofit leaders alike can employ to build a culture of openness and effective communication.  Other Topics Include: – How to eradicate small talk and create conversations that matter  – How for-profits and nonprofit organizations can adapt their communication strategies to stay relevant and effective in a changing environment – Chad’s advice to organizations on how to improve communication and garner stronger connections that build a deeper level of trust Learn more at purposeandprofitpodcast.com. Season Five of the Purpose & Profit Podcast is brought to you by: VIRTUOUS Virtuous is a software company committed to helping nonprofits grow generosity. Virtuous believes that generosity has the power to create profound change in the world and in the heart of the giver. With that in mind, it’s their mission to move the needle on global generosity by helping nonprofits better connect with and inspire their givers. Learn more about Virtuous at virtuous.org and download your free Nonprofit CRM Checklist at.virtuous.org/checklist.  FAITHSEARCH PARTNERS FaithSearch Partners is an executive search firm for faith-based organizations, dedicated to providing lasting solutions and championing faith-driven leaders. Their mission is to serve their clients and empower them with the right people at the right time to help drive their unique mission of ministry forward. Learn more about FaithSearch Partners at https://faithsearchpartners.com/. IMAGO CONSULTING Imago Consulting is an advisory firm that helps nonprofits and businesses grow through innovation. Innovation is the lifeblood of any growing organization. Imago publishes a weekly trends report called The Wave Report – learn more at www.imago.consulting and subscribe at www.imago.consulting/wavereport. Special thanks to editor and sound engineer Barry R. Hill and producer Abigail Morse.

In this episode of Purpose of Profit Podcast, Dave Raley and Carly Berna are joined by RKD Group’s Justin McCord for a discussion about how to create an experience that drives the value of your organization’s product or service. Justin begins by sharing his experiences working in sports as a marketer. He explains what it’s like to compete for the entertainment dollar and how to differentiate your organization from others in the industry.  Together with Dave and Carly, Justin dives into the practical applications of what it means to be a “winning team” and how even smaller organizations with limited budgets can adopt those “winning” principles for lasting success. Other Topics Include: – How to better understand your audience – Adding amplifiers to your organization – Advice for nonprofits  Season Five of the Purpose & Profit Podcast is brought to you by: VIRTUOUS Virtuous is a software company committed to helping nonprofits grow generosity. Virtuous believes that generosity has the power to create profound change in the world and in the heart of the giver. With that in mind, it’s their mission to move the needle on global generosity by helping nonprofits better connect with and inspire their givers. Learn more about Virtuous at virtuous.org and download your free Nonprofit CRM Checklist at virtuous.org/checklist.  FAITHSEARCH PARTNERS FaithSearch Partners is an executive search firm for faith-based organizations, dedicated to providing lasting solutions and championing faith-driven leaders. Their mission is to serve their clients and empower them with the right people at the right time to help drive their unique mission of ministry forward. Learn more about FaithSearch Partners at faithsearchpartners.com/. IMAGO CONSULTING Imago Consulting is an advisory firm that helps nonprofits and businesses grow through innovation. Innovation is the lifeblood of any growing organization. Imago publishes a weekly trends report called The Wave Report – learn more at imago.consulting and subscribe at imago.consulting/wavereport. Special thanks to editor and sound engineer Barry R. Hill and producer Abigail Morse.