The Nonprofit Podcast
The Nonprofit Podcast is your weekly dose of real-talk fundraising, designed for the doers, dreamers, and difference-makers powering today’s nonprofit world.
Hosted by Jena Lynch, Donorbox’s Education & Community Engagement Manager, and fundraising strategist Britt Stockert, CFRE, each episode delivers clear, practical insights you can act on right away, no fluff, no filler.
You’ll also hear from Cara Augspurger, Ed.M., CFRE, ED of Grace Care Center Foundation, sharing field updates and frontline perspectives.
Whether you’re building something new or leveling up your impact, we bring you bold ideas, honest conversations, and tools to help you fundraise smarter and lead with confidence.
Information. Inspiration. Implementation. Impact.
That’s the energy we bring…every week.
Let’s get to work.
The Nonprofit Podcast
Ep 202| Slow Fundraising: How to Do Less and Raise More with Chad Barger
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Slow Fundraising: How to Do Less and Raise More with Chad Barger
Fundraising feels busy. Packed calendars, constant campaigns, endless asks. But results are not keeping pace. Many teams are working harder than ever and still missing growth targets.
Jena Lynch sits down with Chad Barger, founder of Productive Fundraising, to unpack his approach to slow fundraising. His work with nonprofits focuses on cutting through noise, using data to guide decisions, and building systems that actually deliver results.
Slow fundraising is not about doing less for its own sake. It is about doing the right work, consistently. This conversation breaks down how to focus your time, strengthen donor relationships, and build a fundraising approach that supports long-term growth without burnout.
What You’ll Learn
- Why many nonprofit teams are stuck doing too much and how slow fundraising helps identify the few activities that actually drive results
- How to use simple data tracking to understand what is working, what is not, and where time is being lost
- What it takes to build a sustainable fundraising rhythm that avoids burnout and supports long-term growth
- Why donor retention and stewardship matter more than constant acquisition, and how small improvements can increase revenue
- A practical approach to donor engagement that strengthens relationships without adding more to your workload
More About Our Guest:
Chad Barger is the founder of Productive Fundraising, where he helps nonprofits simplify their fundraising strategies and focus on what drives real results. He is a trainer, speaker, and coach known for his practical, data-informed approach to building sustainable fundraising programs, including his work around slow fundraising.
Head over to Productive Fundraising's well-stocked library of fundraising resources here.
Chapters
00:00 – The Fundraising Hamster Wheel
01:26 – What is Slow Fundraising?
03:00 – The 3 Principles That Change Everything
05:32 – Do Fewer Things (80/20 Rule for Fundraising)
07:38 – Fix Your Data First
09:06 – The Relief of Doing Less With a Plan
10:34 – Stop Burnout: Find a Sustainable Rhythm
11:54 – Time Blocking and Deep Work for Fundraisers
14:47 – Donor Retention and Stewardship
18:20 – Simple, High-Impact Donor Engagement Ideas
What makes Donorbox the Best Nonprofit Fundraising Platform to Achieve Your Strategic Goals?
Easy to customize, available in multiple languages and currencies, and supported by leading payment processors (Stripe and PayPal), Donorbox’s nonprofit fundraising solution is used by 80,000+ global organizations and individuals. From animal rescue to schools, places of worship, and research groups, nonprofits use Donorbox to raise more funds, manage donors efficiently, and make a bigger impact.
Discover how Donorbox can help you help others!
The Nonprofit Podcast, along with a wealth of nonprofit leadership tutorials, expert advice, tips, and tactics, is available on the Donorbox YouTube channel. Subscribe today and never miss an episode.