Gratitude becomes impactful when it is practiced with intention.
MatchNice sat down with Trish Davis on The Nonprofit Lab podcast to discuss how turning gratitude into stewardship can strengthen relationships and support sustainable nonprofit leadership. Trish shared insights from her work with Susan G. Komen and what it means to lead with appreciation.
Grateful for the opportunity to learn from this conversation.
đ§ Full episode available through the link in bio.
Philanthropy has the power to reshape systems, but only when itâs intentional.
MatchNice had the opportunity to join the team at Truist Foundation on The Nonprofit Lab podcast to discuss how strategic philanthropy can drive long-term impact in our communities. Their work is centered on two powerful pillars that support economic mobility:
⢠Creating career pathways that help individuals upskill and thrive
⢠Strengthening small businesses to build resilient local economies
During the conversation, five guiding principles of impactful work stood out:
Trust fuels change
Data drives clarity
Collaboration wins
Capacity builds strength
Progress begins with inclusion
Grateful for the chance to exchange ideas on how philanthropy, when done with intention, can truly move communities forward.
đ§ Full episode available through the link in bio.
I love when a conversation leaves you both smarter and more hopeful. Thatâs how it felt interviewing Nathan Chappell, MBA, MNA, CFRE, AIGP.
Thereâs so much ground you could cover with someone as thoughtful and experienced as him, and I did our best to hit it all in this weekâs episode.
We talked about:
- Lessons from Nathanâs early journey in the nonprofit world
- How radical connection can rebuild generosity
- What Responsible and Beneficial AI look like in practice
- Why measuring relationships alongside revenue reveals deeper impact
- And how curiosity can guide the next era of giving
Plus, I bet youâll learn something new and inspiring about Nathan that you didnât know before. Grateful to learn from one of the greats in our space.
đ§ Listen to the full episode in bio!
Nathan: thanks for leading with curiosity, wisdom, and wonder, and for keeping us grounded in the fact that amidst all the tech, fundraising is deeply human.
A while back, I had the chance to join Brian Gawor on The Nonprofit Lab podcast to talk about how fundraisers can lead with engagement, not just wealth data, to build stronger donor relationships.
We discussed why engagement-focused insights often outperform wealth ratings, how honest feasibility studies help build real trust, and how small, intentional acts of gratitude can meaningfully impact fundraising outcomes.
You can listen through the link in bio!
Catching up on a past episode of The Nonprofit Lab that Iâm excited to reshare â my conversation with Westley Todd Holiday, the driving force behind Holiday HOOPS & ARTs, a 24-year family-built nonprofit serving youth through basketball, arts, mentoring, and life skills.
In this episode, Westley talks about:
đ The realities of leading a family-run nonprofit
đ How his arts background shapes his approach to leadership and programs
đą Why small organizations can build incredibly deep community connections
With Holiday HOOPS & ARTs nearing its 25th anniversary, his reflections on resilience, creativity, and community-centered work are just as meaningful today as when we recorded it.
If you missed this one the first time around, itâs a great episode to revisit.
đ Fundraising today isnât about doing more. Itâs about focusing on what truly matters. I recently had the chance to sit down with Erik Tomalis on The Nonprofit Lab podcast, and our conversation kept coming back to one theme: focus. After years of watching how generosity really grows, one thing is clear to me â when fundraisers lean into connection, clarity, and trust, everything else falls into place. In our conversation, Erik and I explored: đŻ How to cut through all the noise and identify the few insights that actually move the needle â¤ď¸ Why personalization and trust still outperform every new technology trend đĄ How Avidâs fundraising operating system helps teams shift from manual tasks to meaningful work We also dug into what responsible AI looks like in fundraising, and why strong data practices are becoming the foundation of donor trust. If youâve ever felt overwhelmed by systems, spreadsheets, or silos⌠this episode is worth a listen.
Want to raise more? Start by showing up when it matters most.
I recently had the chance to host an incredible conversation on The Nonprofit Lab with a guest who truly understands that the best development work is relationship work. At Insightful Philanthropy, she and her team focus on helping nonprofits listen deeply, track what matters, and turn donor news into opportunities for stronger, more human connections.
đ Showing up for the wins
đŽâđ¨ Showing up for the losses
â¤ď¸ Building trust that lasts longer than a single gift
Together, we explored why staying attuned to donor news and life updates isnât just a tactic â itâs a powerful way to show donors they matter and to strengthen relationships that fuel long-term impact.
If youâre a fundraiser looking to deepen donor relationships, or just need a reminder of why showing up matters more than shiny tactics, this episode is for you.
đď¸ Grateful to our partners at Change for leading the way on fundraising compliance and infrastructure. Tune into this Nonprofit Lab episode with Sonia Nigam to hear more! đ§
Link in bio!
DAFs are one of the most powerful tools in philanthropy today â but the systems around them havenât always made it easy for donors or nonprofits to unlock their full potential.
Thatâs why I loved this conversation with Elon Packin, co-founder & CEO of Chariot, on The Nonprofit Lab by MatchNice.
We explored:
đš The power of being morally ambitious as founders
đš How DAFs and DAF infrastructure are accelerating philanthropy
đš The data showing how frictionless giving multiplies generosity
Iâm incredibly excited about whatâs ahead with the MatchNice Ă Chariot partnership â launching the worldâs first DAF matching solution ahead of #DAFDay on October 9. Another step toward unlocking more generosity at scale.
đ§ Listen with link in bio!
Huge thanks to Elon and the Chariot team for building whatâs next in philanthropic innovation.
When we gather, something bigger than fundraising happens.
Heartbeats sync. Stories connect. Belonging grows.
Thatâs what this conversation on The Nonprofit Lab is all about. We sat down with Samantha Swaim, an expert whoâs spent two decades helping nonprofits design events that donât just raise moneyâbut build movements.
Together, we explored why gatherings matter, what makes them memorable, and how small choicesâlike a story told well or an invitation to actâcan transform the entire experience.
A few of Samanthaâs favorite tips:
1ď¸âŁ Lead with one powerful story, not a pile of stats
2ď¸âŁ Donât fear the askâitâs an invitation to belong
3ď¸âŁ Follow up with gratitude and recognition, not just a receipt
If youâve ever wondered how to move from filling a room to creating connection, this episode is for you.
The first US financial institution was established 100 years before the first tax exempt organization, and it wasnât built for nonprofits.
From opening a brokerage account to receiving a stock gift, too many nonprofit leaders face barriers that waste time and limit financial growth.
Loved this conversation with Karen C. Houghton, CEO of Infinite Giving, on The Nonprofit Lab by MatchNice. Learned SO much.
Karen brings the rare perspective of someone who has:
âď¸ Founded and run a nonprofit (and lived the challenges firsthand)
âď¸ Spent a decade in tech and venture capital
âď¸ Now built a modern investment platform designed just for nonprofits
In this episode, youâll hear:
đš Why reserves and endowments are essential for financial sustainability
đš How stock, crypto, and DAF gifts unlock generosity at a larger scale
đš What it takes to shift from scarcity to abundance in nonprofit finance
đ§ Give it a listen! Find the link in bio.
Big thanks to Karen, Lauren Patrick, and the Infinite Giving team for showing how financial stewardship can be a catalyst for mission growth.
Thereâs a side of nonprofit work that most people never see â the systems, processes, and decisions that make giving actually work.
In this episode, I sat down with Kevin Wood from NPact to talk about the quiet but critical work that happens behind the scenes. From managing donor funds to fixing broken databases to making sure the money goes where itâs supposed to â Kevin has seen it all.
This conversation is a reminder that generosity isnât just about intention. Itâs about infrastructure. And when nonprofits have the right tools and support, they can focus less on fixing problems and more on deepening their impact.