7 nonprofit podcasts every changemaker should listen to

There are only 24 hours in a day, which puts a strict cap on the amount of information you can absorb. If you’re hoping to learn more about the nonprofit sector—whether it pertains to fundraising, marketing and communications, or governance—you might not find time to read countless articles, newsletters, or blog posts.

...But you might find time to listen to a podcast. 🎤

Podcasts are a quick, simple way to absorb new information.

You can listen to episodes while getting ready, cooking dinner, or enduring your morning commute. In the past decade, podcasting has grown exponentially in the United States and across the globe. In 2021, there were nearly 118 million people listening to podcasts in the U.S., and nearly a quarter of Americans reported getting their news from podcasts versus other mediums.

There are hundreds of nonprofit podcasts on iTunes alone, plus countless centered on marketing, management, and your respective industry.

If you’re looking for a new nonprofit podcast to add to your library, keep reading. Below, we offer several valuable podcasts that can help you launch, grow, or reach the goals of your nonprofit organization.

7 nonprofit podcasts you should listen to right now

As a nonprofit leader, you want to gather outside sources and intel to help your organization reach the next level. You might even have a goal to launch your own podcast and want to hear how others in your community are doing things. 

Below, find seven top nonprofit podcasts to learn more about fine-tuning your outreach tactics, gathering corporate sponsorships, and implementing creative fundraising strategies to help accomplish your mission.

1. We Are For Good 👭

Want to gain real-world advice from changemakers in the nonprofit sector? We Are For Good is a podcast helping nonprofit leaders and philanthropists increase their social impact through mindset shifts, tools, and innovative ideas. With new episodes released three times a week, co-hosts (and Givebutter Experts!) Jonathan McCoy, CFRE and Becky Endicott, CFRE interview leaders, influencers, and philanthropists to share the lessons they’ve learned in the nonprofit sector.

We Are For Good teaches nonprofit professionals how to accomplish their mission even on a bootstrapped budget, leverage the power of storytelling to captivate supporters, develop a solid fundraising strategy to reach your goals, and optimize your web and marketing posts to reach your audience.

2. The Generosity Freakshow 💣

Looking to gain corporate sponsorships and refine your fundraising strategy? The Generosity Freakshow takes a 360-degree view of the nonprofit world, interviewing thought leaders throughout the philanthropy space. The show touches on cause marketing and CSR (corporate social responsibility) programs, digital marketing and how to increase donor conversions, and the latest giving trends and fundraising research.

Host Brady Josephson is the Managing Director of NextAfter and a Givebutter fundraising expert. NextAfter provides a data-driven approach to helping mid-sized and small nonprofits raise more money online. As a self-described “charity nerd,” professor, and speaker, his work has been featured in the Huffington Post, NPR, and The Chronicle of Philanthropy.

3. Persuasion School 📚

Remember: The lessons applied to for-profit businesses can also be applied to the nonprofit sector. The Persuasion School podcast isn’t strictly a nonprofit podcast, but applies bite-sized lessons in psychology, neuroscience, and salesmanship—all of which can be leveraged to transform one-time donors into recurring supporters.

The Persuasion School podcast has been featured in Entrepreneur, Medium, and Thrive Global, and is hosted by nonprofit consultant and Givebutter Expert, Jake Savage. As a former sales rep, Jake has sold millions of dollars worth of products, led Inc. 500 sales teams, and knocked on hundreds of thousands of doors. Today, Jake leverages sales methods used in corporate America to help nonprofit leaders achieve their goals.

4. Missions to Movements 💕

If you want to reach a wider pool of donors, you need to stay up-to-date on the latest digital marketing trends. Missions to Movements is a podcast taking a deep-dive into nonprofit marketing, offering real-world tips on social media strategy, launching your next campaign, or even how to leverage tools like video, TikTok, and Canva.

Missions to Movements is hosted by Dana Snyder, CEO of Positive Equation and Givebutter Expert. Positive Equation is an Atlanta-based consultancy helping nonprofit marketers capture audiences through social media, events, storytelling, and supporter engagement. Dana has worked with changemakers at Movember, Dress for Success, USTA, American Idol, Empire, and the Gary Sinise Foundation.

5. What the Fundraising 💪

As a nonprofit leader, fundraising is—and will always be—a top priority. What the Fundraising is a podcast that focuses on the latest fundraising trends, personal and professional development, and leadership habits. The podcast hopes to disrupt the nonprofit sector by preventing burnout in nonprofit leaders, focusing on working smarter (not harder!), and reminding listeners that work should be fun (not just fulfilling).

What the Fundraising is hosted by Givebutter Expert and social entrepreneur Mallory Erickson. Mallory leads her own consulting practice where she focuses on executive coaching and campaign management. After serving as Executive Director for multiple organizations and raising multiple seven figures every year for seven years, she opened her own practice where she has helped 50+ organizations refine their nonprofit fundraising strategy.

6. The Nonprofit Leadership Podcast ✌

If you want to continuously expand your organization, you need to stay up-to-date on the latest trends. The Nonprofit Leadership Podcast covers the most critical issues in the nonprofit sector, including how to develop and recruit effective board members, how to develop corporate partnerships, and new technology that can help you accomplish your goals.

The Nonprofit Leadership Podcast is hosted by Dr. Rob Harter, a nonprofit executive with nearly 30 years of experience. Rob is the former Executive Director of Christian Center of Park City, a Utah-based nonprofit focused on humanitarian and community services.

7. Nonprofits Are Messy 📈

As a nonprofit leader, how can you build a sustainable organization that gives your team the tools, resources, and balance necessary to do their jobs? The #1 nonprofit podcast on iTunes, Nonprofits Are Messy, can help. The podcast episodes are focused on helping leaders refine their business models to create high-functioning boards, develop a strong organizational culture, advance racial equity and advocacy work, and prevent burnout amongst internal staff.

Nonprofits Are Messy is hosted by Joan Garry, known as the “Dear Abby” of the nonprofit sector. Joan served as CEO of GLAAD, developed a blog for nonprofit leaders and board members that reaches 100,000 readers per month, and founded The Leadership Lab, a monthly online membership site for nonprofit executives who can’t afford coaching.

Learn how to run a successful nonprofit through podcasts

Nonprofit podcasts feature thought leaders discussing the tools, strategies, and tactics that helped them lead a successful organization.

You can listen to a podcast’s latest episodes on your commute, during your workout, or while running errands.

Hopefully, this list gives you several podcasts to add to your library—many of which are hosted by Givebutter Experts. These experts help nonprofit organizations of all sizes launch new campaigns, reach new donors, and ultimately bring about social change. Plus, these experts can help you leverage new tools and technology to help reach your goals—many of which can be found right on the Givebutter platform.

Givebutter is the all-in-one, always-free, donor-centric fundraising platform that contains 130+ fundraising tools, built-in CRM, and marketing automation, all while offering the lowest platform fees in the industry. Ready to see how Givebutter can help you reach your goals? Take a tour to get started.