Show Notes
What if the greatest threat to your nonprofit isn't lack of funding or passion—but a quiet crisis happening in your donor database right now?
Most nonprofit CEOs claim they have "good retention," but when you peel back the onion, the reality is sobering: organizations are losing 40% or more of their donors every single year. It's nearly impossible to build a sustainable mission when you're hemorrhaging that much support annually.
In this episode, we sit down with Justin Wheeler, founder and CEO of Fundraise, a technology platform serving nonprofits globally. Before building Fundraise, Justin spent 13 years in the nonprofit trenches, co-founding organizations like Invisible Children and Liberty in North Korea. Those experiences—the frustrations with inadequate tools and the hunger for better solutions—inspired him to create purpose-built technology for the nonprofit sector. In this conversation, we explore: Why digital fundraising for nonprofits hasn't evolved like e-commerce, and what needs to change How AI-powered insights can identify at-risk donors before they churn and surface hidden opportunities for deeper engagement The critical guardrails needed when using powerful personalization technology ethically Why the nonprofit sector is suddenly embracing AI after years of tech resistance (hint: FOMO is real) How AI could finally solve the systemic donor retention crisis that quietly kills missions Justin's approach isn't about replacing human connection with algorithms—it's about using AI to tell fundraisers where to focus their relational energy for maximum kingdom impact. As he puts it: "Just because you have the data doesn't mean the person is going to give. You still need to build authentic relationships." This episode is essential listening for anyone leading fundraising efforts, managing donor relationships, or wondering how AI can serve—not replace—the human heart of nonprofit work.
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