Nonprofit Launch Plan Podcast for Startup, Small, and Growing Nonprofits

The Most Important Gift Is the Second One: How to Move Donors from First Gift to Lifelong Partner

Most nonprofits spend a tremendous amount of time figuring out how to acquire new donors.

Far fewer spend time creating a clear plan for what happens after a donor makes their first gift.

In this episode of the Nonprofit Launch Plan Podcast, nonprofit growth coach Matt Stockman explores why donor retention is one of the most overlooked growth opportunities for startup, small, and growing nonprofits.

You'll learn why the first gift...

Many nonprofit leaders believe they have a fundraising problem when, in reality, they have a donor journey problem.

In this episode, Matt breaks down the four stages every donor moves through before making a first gift and explains why focusing only on donation appeals can cause organizations to lose potential supporters long before they ever reach the giving stage.

You'll learn why awareness alone isn't enough, how interest and engagement build trust, and why the first gift is not the finish line but the beginning of a deeper relationship.

If you've ever wondered...

Could Your Nonprofit Survive Two Weeks Without You?

What would happen if you disappeared for two weeks?

No email. No phone calls. No text messages. No checking in.

Would your fundraising continue? Would your volunteers know what to do? Would donors still receive thank-you calls? Would your team keep moving forward?

Or would everything come to a standstill until you returned?

In this episode, Matt Stockman tackles one of the most common growth barriers facing startup, small, and growing nonprofits: the founder bottleneck. When too much of an organization's...

Stop Chasing Followers: What Really Matters on Social Media

For many nonprofit leaders, social media can feel like both a billboard and a scoreboard.

It's easy to look at follower counts, likes, shares, and views and assume those numbers determine whether your nonprofit is succeeding online. It's also easy to believe that if you could just grow a large enough audience, donors, volunteers, and supporters would naturally follow.

The reality is much different.

In this episode, Matt Stockman explains why engagement matters far more than follower count, especially for startup, small...

Starting a nonprofit is exciting. But for many leaders, the pressure to immediately build a standalone 501(c)(3), create HR systems, manage compliance, oversee payroll, and handle financial reporting can become overwhelming before the mission ever gains momentum.

In this episode of the Nonprofit Launch Plan Podcast for Startup, Small, and Growing Nonprofits, Matt sits down with Noah Stockman and Brianna Carr from Third Sector New England (TSNE), one of the most established fiscal sponsorship organizations in the country, to unpack how fiscal sponsorship actually works and why it may be one of the most misunderstood structures in...

Monthly giving is one of the most overlooked growth strategies for startup, small, and growing nonprofits.

Too many nonprofit leaders spend their time chasing the next fundraising campaign, the next event, the next grant opportunity, or the next major donor conversation, while overlooking one of the most stabilizing and sustainable revenue streams they could build: recurring monthly donors.

In this episode, nonprofit growth coach Matt Stockman breaks down some of the biggest misconceptions about monthly giving and explains why recurring donors are often far more valuable than nonprofit leaders realize. If your nonprofit constantly feels...

What does it actually take to move a nonprofit from an idea to a sustainable, growing organization?

In this episode of the Nonprofit Launch Plan Podcast for Startup, Small, and Growing Nonprofits, Matt Stockman sits down with Paul Schmitz, founder and executive director of ShowerUp, to talk about the real-world journey of building a nonprofit from the ground up.

What started as a simple vision to provide mobile showers for people experiencing homelessness has grown into a multi-city nonprofit serving thousands through mobile shower and laundry services. But this conversation goes far beyond the story...

Many startup nonprofits and growing organizations get stuck because they believe they need a building, full staff, major funding, or a polished infrastructure before they can begin serving people. In this episode of the Nonprofit Launch Plan Podcast, nonprofit growth coach Matt Stockman explains how to launch a Minimum Viable Program (MVP) so you can start small, create real impact, build momentum, and grow wisely. If you are starting a nonprofit, designing your first program, or trying to expand without chaos, this episode gives practical nonprofit startup strategies, nonprofit program development advice, and smart growth planning for mission-driven leaders. 

Many aspiring nonprofit leaders delay launching because they believe they need the finished version of the dream before they can begin.

They think they need the building, the staff, the full budget, polished branding, and complete infrastructure before making impact. In this episode, Matt Stockman explains why that mindset keeps great missions stuck at the starting line.

This is Part 1 of a two-part series focused on building what Matt calls your Minimum Viable Program (MVP), the smartest way to start small, help real people, create momentum, and learn what works before scaling.

You’ll...

Ever had a donor prospect seem fully engaged… only to go completely silent? No reply. No questions. No decision.

In this episode, Matt breaks down exactly what to do next when a potential supporter “ghosts” you, without coming across as pushy, desperate, or unsure.

The reality is, silence almost never means rejection. More often, it means something far simpler and far more fixable.

You’ll learn how to reframe what’s actually happening, avoid the most common follow-up mistakes, and step back into your role as a confident guide in the donor decision-m...

If your nonprofit feels stuck, the issue may not be your strategy or your effort. It may be the relationship at the core of your organization.

In this episode, we revisit a foundational conversation with Bob Lonac on one of the most critical dynamics in any nonprofit: the relationship between the CEO or Executive Director and the board.

When this relationship is healthy, aligned, and clearly defined, it becomes the backbone of a strong, growing organization. When it’s not, it creates confusion, friction, and ultimately limits your impact.

Matt and Bob unpack wh...

What if your nonprofit could reach people who are already searching for the exact problem you solve… without spending a dollar on ads?

In this episode, Matt Stockman sits down with digital marketing strategist Matt Mundt to break down one of the most underutilized tools available to nonprofits today: the Google Ad Grant.

Eligible nonprofits can access up to $10,000 per month in free Google search advertising. Yet most organizations either don’t know about it, don’t understand it, or never fully leverage it.

This conversation provides a practical, strategic starting point to help y...

For many nonprofit leaders, hosting a large event feels like a natural step in growing awareness and raising funds. But before you jump into planning venues, catering, invitations, and programming, there is a more important question to ask:

Is your nonprofit actually ready to host an event?

In this episode, Matt Stockman breaks down how nonprofit leaders can pressure test whether an event is the right next step for their organization, and the two foundational questions that should guide every successful nonprofit event.

Done well, an event can introduce...

Sooner or later, every nonprofit leader faces a difficult leadership moment. You bring someone onto your team because you believe in them. They care about the mission and want to help move the organization forward. But over time something starts to feel off. Deadlines slip. Details are missed. Results are not what they should be. Now you are left wondering what the real issue is.

In this episode of the Nonprofit Launch Plan Podcast for Startup, Small, and Growing Nonprofits, nonprofit...

Brainstorming meetings are supposed to spark creativity, solve problems, and move your nonprofit forward. But for many leaders, they end up feeling like a waste of time, energy, and attention. In this episode, nonprofit growth coach Matt Stockman explains why most brainstorming sessions fail and shares a simple 7-step framework nonprofit leaders can use to design meetings that produce clear ideas, better decisions, and real progress.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

Each nonprofit grows through 5 distinct phases in its early years, and in this episode of the Nonprofit Launch Plan Podcast, Matt Stockman explains how nonprofit leaders move from early traction into long-term sustainability by understanding where their organization sits in the development cycle. If you’re trying to grow your donor base, stabilize funding, scale programs, or strengthen your leadership structure, this conversation will help you focus on the right priorities at the right time.

This episode continues the Nonprofit Flight Path framework by walking through Phases 3–5, the stages where nonprofits move from initial traction into stability and...

Every nonprofit begins the same way: with a problem that refuses to leave your mind. In this episode, Matt introduces the Nonprofit Flight Path, a five-phase framework that maps the predictable journey every nonprofit takes from early dreaming to long-term sustainability.

Today’s focus is on the first two phases:

If you are in the early stages of launching your nonprofit, this episode will help you:

There is a critical moment in the early life of almost every nonprofit when leaders feel pressure to go bigger.

More marketing. More emails. More social posts. A bigger event. A broader appeal.

And when those efforts fall flat, it is easy to assume something is wrong with the mission.

In this episode, I explain why the problem usually is not your mission at all. It is timing.

This is part three of a three-part series on securing your first nonprofit dollars. In this final installment, we focus on why early...

What comes after your very first nonprofit gifts? For most startup and early-stage nonprofits, the next critical source of funding is not grants, events, or online campaigns. It is your board and your board’s network.

In this second episode of a three-part series on securing your first nonprofit dollars, we focus on the real role your board plays in early fundraising, why board giving is about validation rather than obligation, and how to set expectations that build momentum without burning people out. If you are at or just beyond “ground zero” with 0 names, 0 donors, and $0, this e...

What do you do when your nonprofit officially exists, the paperwork is approved, the vision is clear, and everything else is still at zero?

Zero names in the database.
 Zero donors.
 Zero dollars in the bank.

In this episode of the Nonprofit Launch Plan Podcast, Matt Stockman kicks off Part 1 of a three-part series on how startup and early-stage nonprofits secure their very first dollars. If you are at what Matt calls “ground zero,” this conversation is more important than you might think.

Rather than starting with grants, strangers, or complex fundra...

When a professional athlete hits a slump, the solution is rarely something flashy. Coaches bring players back to the fundamentals. Stance. Form. Focus. Repetition.

In this episode of the Nonprofit Launch Plan Podcast, Matt Stockman applies that same principle to nonprofit leadership. When your organization feels harder to run than it should, when every solution seems to create two new problems, it is usually not a motivation issue or a creativity issue. It is a fundamentals issue.

This episode walks nonprofit leaders through three leadership behaviors to stop in 2026 and three strategic shifts to start...

Many nonprofit leaders celebrate raising money, yet still find themselves unable to pay the bills. In this episode, Matt Stockman unpacks one of the most common and dangerous funding traps facing small and growing nonprofits: an overdependence on restricted giving.

You will learn why restricted gifts are not the villain, how they can quietly undermine your organization’s stability, and how to shift donor conversations toward healthier, mission-aligned support. Matt walks through real examples, practical frameworks, and specific language you can use to educate donors, build trust, and protect your nonprofit’s long-term impact.

If your...

Many nonprofit leaders have a powerful vision, a meaningful mission, and a deep personal calling. Yet when it comes time to raise funds, they hit unexpected resistance. In this episode, Matt Stockman explains why passion alone does not create a fundable nonprofit program and how to transform a heartfelt idea into a clear, credible, and sustainable program that donors and foundations are willing to support.

You will learn the critical distinction between passion and program, why donors evaluate outcomes rather than emotion, and how to apply a simple five-part framework to pressure-test any program idea before taking...

In this episode of the Nonprofit Launch Plan Podcast for Startup, Small, and Growing Nonprofits, Matt Stockman breaks down the three core marketing channels that most small and early-stage nonprofits actually need. Rather than chasing every new platform or trend, Matt explains how focusing on the right channels, in the right order, can reduce overwhelm, build trust, and create sustainable momentum for your organization.

This episode is especially relevant for nonprofit founders and leaders who feel pressure to “be everywhere” while still trying to run their organization and advance their mission.

What You’ll Learn in Thi...

In this episode of The Nonprofit Launch Plan Podcast, Matt breaks down a simple, practical, and highly effective three-email year-end fundraising strategy designed specifically for startup, small, and growing nonprofits. Whether you’re behind on your December communications or trying to maximize year-end generosity, this episode gives you a proven roadmap to follow.

Matt shows why email is still the #1 driver of online giving for small nonprofits and how even organizations with modest budgets can see strong results by sending the right messages at the right time.

🔑 What You’ll Learn in This Episode

In this episode of The Nonprofit Launch Plan Podcast for Startup, Small, and Growing Nonprofits, Matt digs into one of the biggest barriers to nonprofit effectiveness: clutter. Not the kind in your hall closet, but the kind that shows up in your donor messaging, your schedule, your internal processes, and even your website. Pulling inspiration from Greg McKeown’s book Essentialism, Matt explores the transformative question:

“If I didn’t already have this, would I invest in it?”

 and shows nonprofit leaders how applying that single question can create more clarity, impact, and freedom in the work...

In this second part of his conversation with veteran nonprofit leader Tom Atema, host Matt Stockman dives deeper into the heart of leadership and fundraising. With over 50 years of experience leading organizations like Heart for Lebanon, John Maxwell’s Equip, and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, Tom shares timeless wisdom for nonprofit founders and fundraisers on how to build meaningful relationships, steward donors well, and lead from a place of value—not pressure.

If you’ve ever struggled with donor burnout, awkward asks, or the tension between mission and money, this episode is for you.

💡 In This E...

In this episode of The Nonprofit Launch Plan Podcast for Startup, Small, and Growing Nonprofits, host Matt Stockman sits down with veteran nonprofit leader Tom Atema, co-founder of Heart for Lebanon and former VP with John Maxwell’s Equip. With more than 50 years of experience in ministry and development work, Tom shares timeless, faith-driven wisdom on what it really means to build meaningful relationships with your donors—what he calls investors.

You’ll discover how to approach every gift, no matter the size, as the start of a relationship… not a transaction. Tom unpacks practical habits that turn sma...

If you’ve ever felt like every week starts from zero — or like every day is more reactive than proactive — this episode is for you. Matt Stockman breaks down how to escape the constant cycle of overwhelm by creating what he calls your Nonprofit Operations Flywheel: a simple set of systems that give your organization rhythm, predictability, and peace of mind.

In this practical, step-by-step episode, Matt walks you through five systems (or “gears”) that keep your nonprofit running smoothly — even when you’re short on time, staff, or energy:

Complexity quietly chokes far too many nonprofits—large and small. Spreadsheets multiply, meetings take over calendars, and software stacks pile up in the name of “getting organized.” But the truth is, the best-run nonprofits are not the ones that are more complicated—they’re the ones that are simpler.

In this episode, Matt Stockman breaks down how unnecessary complexity creeps into nonprofit operations, planning, and technology—and how to fight back with clarity and focus. Whether you’re still in the dreaming phase or already running programs, you’ll learn practical steps to strip away the clutter and lead with si...

Leadership expert Max Dupree once said, “We cannot become what we want by remaining where we are.” In this episode of The Nonprofit Launch Plan Podcast, host Matt Stockman unpacks one of the biggest leadership hurdles nonprofit leaders face — decision paralysis.

Whether it’s keeping a struggling team member too long, clinging to a tired fundraising event, or avoiding an uncomfortable board conversation, decision paralysis can quietly stall your mission’s growth. Matt shares the real reasons leaders get stuck and walks you through a simple, 3-step framework to start making confident, courageous decisions that move your organ...

One of the biggest mistakes startup and small nonprofits make is trying to serve too many people with too broad of a mission. The result? Your message gets fuzzy, donors aren’t sure exactly who they’re helping, and your programs end up stretched thin.

The truth is this: clarity creates impact. Donors don’t give to “programs” or “initiatives”—they give to change a life. They want to see a face, know a name, and understand exactly what difference their gift is making. That all starts with one essential step: identifying your beneficiary.

In this episode of...

Making an emotional connection with your donors is key to fundraising success. But what happens when that emotional momentum hits a digital wall?

So often, the moment a donor is ready to make a gift, the experience on your website feels different, broken, or disconnected—and that can cost you a donation and, more importantly, the trust you’ve worked so hard to build.

In this episode, host Matt Stockman dives into the crucial user experience through the whole donor journey—from clicking a button to completing the gift. He's joined by Cari Kates, Director of Dig...

Fundraising is the lifeblood of your nonprofit—but it doesn’t have to leave you and your team exhausted. In this episode, host Matt Stockman shares five common fundraising practices that drain small nonprofit leaders of their limited energy and capacity. More importantly, he offers practical alternatives that build sustainability, trust, and stronger donor relationships.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

How do you build lasting trust with donors when your nonprofit is small and your budget is limited? In this episode of the Nonprofit Launch Plan Podcast, Matt takes a deep dive into one of the most recognized nonprofits in the world—Charity: Water—and uncovers what every small or startup nonprofit can learn from their approach.

You’ll discover:

In this episode of the Nonprofit Launch Plan Podcast, host Matt Stockman addresses a common fear among nonprofit leaders: annoying their donors. He explains that most donors actually stop giving because they don't hear from the organization, not because they lose interest. Matt breaks down why donor communication isn't a transactional obligation, but a way to build a relationship based on trust and consistency. He shares a powerful story of a nonprofit leader who only communicated during a campaign and was essentially "ghosting" their donors. He argues that a donor's financial gift is an intimate act, a desire for...

Are you a new or small nonprofit leader who gets a knot in your stomach at the mention of "finances"? You're not alone. Most of us get into this work to make an impact, not to stare at spreadsheets. But ignoring the numbers can put your mission at risk.

In this episode of The Nonprofit Launch Plan Podcast for Startup, Small, and Growing Nonprofits, host Matt Stockman demystifies financial management and gives you a simple, non-intimidating guide to building a strong financial foundation. We'll move you past the messy shoebox of receipts and show you how to...

In this episode of the Nonprofit Launch Plan Podcast, host Matt Stockman shares four essential principles for leading your team through difficult seasons. Every nonprofit faces storms—whether it's staff turnover, a shift in funding, or external political changes. How a leader responds during these times can define the future of the organization.

Matt shares a story about a client who took over a small nonprofit after the founder's passing, only to find it in disarray. The new leader made difficult but necessary changes, leading to a period of uncertainty and fear among the team. He emphasizes th...

In this episode of "The Nonprofit Launch Plan Podcast for Startup, Small and Growing Nonprofits", host Matt Stockman dives into the critical topic of self-leadership for nonprofit professionals. Drawing from recent coaching conversations, Matt explores four common mistakes that startup, small, and growing nonprofit leaders make. These aren't intentional errors but rather pitfalls that can lead to burnout, team frustration, and stalled organizational growth.

Learn how to identify and overcome these self-leadership challenges with practical, actionable strategies. Whether you're just starting a nonprofit or leading an established small organization, this episode provides essential guidance on how to...

Demystifying Tech & AI for Nonprofits with David Watters

In this episode of the Nonprofit Launch Plan Podcast for Startup, Small, and Growing Nonprofits, host Matt Stockman dives into a topic that can feel overwhelming for new and small nonprofits: technology, automation, and AI. Matt's guest is David Watters, CEO of Simple and Engaging, a company dedicated to helping nonprofits use technology smarter to improve their impact.

David shares invaluable insights for organizations just starting out or still relatively small, emphasizing that technology should always be purposeful and focused on solving clear, actual problems...