<![CDATA[The Better Way Nonprofit Podcast]]>The future of nonprofit success is being rewritten. From changing donor behaviors to the tidal wave of AI technology, we're watching as decades-old strategies grow less effective every day. Nonprofits who want to reverse downward trends and fuel their growth need a Better Way — and Derric Bakker has the experience and insights to help us move forward. Inspired buy the bestselling book A Better Way to Fundraise, this podcast is a wealth of ideas and tactics for nonprofit leaders who are ready for something better.

]]>https://betterwaychampions.org/podcast/Riverside.fm (https://riverside.com)Mon, 21 Sep 2026 09:26:49 GMTWed, 15 Jul 2026 19:56:17 GMT60Derric Bakker<p>The future of nonprofit success is being rewritten. From changing donor behaviors to the tidal wave of AI technology, we're watching as decades-old strategies grow less effective every day. Nonprofits who want to reverse downward trends and fuel their growth need a Better Way — and Derric Bakker has the experience and insights to help us move forward. Inspired buy the bestselling book A Better Way to Fundraise, this podcast is a wealth of ideas and tactics for nonprofit leaders who are ready for something better.</p>episodicDerric Bakkermarketing@dickersonbakker.comno<![CDATA[Episode 3 | What Next-Gen Donors Actually Want | Dr. Michael Moody]]>The old script was give first, then get involved. For younger donors it has flipped, and most nonprofits are still fundraising off the old one. In this episode, host Derric Bakker welcomes Dr. Michael Moody, Professor of Philanthropic Studies at Indiana University's Lilly Family School of Philanthropy and co-author of Generation Impact: How Next Gen Donors Are Revolutionizing Giving. Together they explore the shifting paradigm of youth generosity and unpack why traditional donor journeys no longer produce results with rising generations.

Rather than generosity fading among younger donors, the traditional script has reversed. Next-gen donors want to get involved, build connection, and see impact before making a financial gift. Derric and Michael discuss how nonprofits can adapt to this hands-on, cause-driven

approach, foster multi-generational giving conversations, and adopt a strategy of treating every donor like a major donor.

IN THIS EPISODE

00:00 Introduction and flipping the donor script

03:18 Is generosity actually fading?

05:31 The current golden age of giving

08:45 Why traditional methods are not working

13:16 How millennials approach giving

16:17 Giving tryouts and involvement first

19:52 Asking the right question

22:28 Lightning round, the traits of next-gen donors

25:56 Beyond 501c3s, LLCs, impact investing and DAFs

28:28 Treating every donor like a major donor

30:36 Practical suggestions and why waiting is a mistake

ABOUT THE GUEST

Dr. Michael Moody is Professor of Philanthropic Studies at Indiana University's Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, where his research focuses on family and next generation donors.

RESOURCES

Generation Impact, by Dr. Michael Moody

Young Donors Aren't Ignoring Nonprofits. Nonprofits Are Ignoring Them., by Derric Bakker on Substack

Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy

A Better Way to Fundraise: Treat Every Donor Like a Major Donor, by Derric Bakker

DickersonBakker

LINKS

Join the Better Way community

Subscribe to Derric's Substack for more on relational fundraising

Work with us!

Watch on YouTube

Follow DickersonBakker on LinkedIn

ABOUT THE SHOW

The Better Way Nonprofit Podcast is hosted by Derric Bakker, CEO of DickersonBakker and author of the Amazon bestseller A Better Way to Fundraise: Treat Every Donor Like a Major Donor. Every episode exists to do one thing: help you treat every donor like a major donor. Not as a theory. As a practice. More at betterwaychampions.org.

]]>edf48a77-7fe5-4d8d-8d2d-019f73968909Tue, 15 Sep 2026 17:51:07 GMT<p>The old script was give first, then get involved. For younger donors it has flipped, and most nonprofits are still fundraising off the old one. In this episode, host Derric Bakker welcomes Dr. Michael Moody, Professor of Philanthropic Studies at Indiana University's Lilly Family School of Philanthropy and co-author of Generation Impact: How Next Gen Donors Are Revolutionizing Giving. Together they explore the shifting paradigm of youth generosity and unpack why traditional donor journeys no longer produce results with rising generations.</p><p></p><p>Rather than generosity fading among younger donors, the traditional script has reversed. Next-gen donors want to get involved, build connection, and see impact before making a financial gift. Derric and Michael discuss how nonprofits can adapt to this hands-on, cause-driven</p><p>approach, foster multi-generational giving conversations, and adopt a strategy of treating every donor like a major donor.</p><p></p><p>IN THIS EPISODE</p><p>00:00 Introduction and flipping the donor script</p><p>03:18 Is generosity actually fading?</p><p>05:31 The current golden age of giving</p><p>08:45 Why traditional methods are not working</p><p>13:16 How millennials approach giving</p><p>16:17 Giving tryouts and involvement first</p><p>19:52 Asking the right question</p><p>22:28 Lightning round, the traits of next-gen donors</p><p>25:56 Beyond 501c3s, LLCs, impact investing and DAFs</p><p>28:28 Treating every donor like a major donor</p><p>30:36 Practical suggestions and why waiting is a mistake</p><p></p><p>ABOUT THE GUEST</p><p>Dr. Michael Moody is Professor of Philanthropic Studies at Indiana University's Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, where his research focuses on family and next generation donors.</p><p></p><p>RESOURCES</p><p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.amazon.com/Generation-Impact-Donors-Revolutionizing-Giving/dp/1119422817/" target="_blank">Generation Impact, by Dr. Michael Moody</a></p><p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="betterwaychampions.substack.com" target="_blank">Young Donors Aren't Ignoring Nonprofits. Nonprofits Are Ignoring Them., by Derric Bakker on Substack</a></p><p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://philanthropy.indianapolis.iu.edu/index.html" target="_blank">Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy</a></p><p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.amazon.com/Better-Way-Fundraise-Reshaping-Philanthropy/dp/B0GXPQNSCH" target="_blank">A Better Way to Fundraise: Treat Every Donor Like a Major Donor, by Derric Bakker</a></p><p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="dickersonbaker.com" target="_blank">DickersonBakker</a></p><p></p><p>LINKS</p><p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="betterwaychampions.org" target="_blank">Join the Better Way community</a></p><p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="betterwaychampions.substack.com" target="_blank">Subscribe to Derric's Substack for more on relational fundraising</a></p><p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="dickersonbaker.com" target="_blank">Work with us!</a></p><p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://betterwaychampions.org/podcast/" target="_blank">Watch on YouTube</a></p><p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="linkedin.com/company/dickerson-bakker-&amp;-associates" target="_blank">Follow DickersonBakker on LinkedIn</a></p><p></p><p>ABOUT THE SHOW</p><p>The Better Way Nonprofit Podcast is hosted by Derric Bakker, CEO of DickersonBakker and author of the Amazon bestseller A Better Way to Fundraise: Treat Every Donor Like a Major Donor. Every episode exists to do one thing: help you treat every donor like a major donor. Not as a theory. As a practice. More at <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://betterwaychampions.org" target="_blank">betterwaychampions.org</a>.</p>no00:36:2213Episode 3 | What Next-Gen Donors Actually Want | Dr. Michael Moodyfull<![CDATA[Episode 2 | How AI Scales Relationship-Based Fundraising | Dr. Cheryl Contee]]>Great fundraisers have always listened, personalized, and thanked well. They just could never do it for everyone. That constraint is dissolving.

In this episode, host Derric Bakker sits down with Dr. Cheryl Contee, pioneering technology entrepreneur, digital transformation expert, and author of AI for Nonprofits. Together they explore how mission-driven organizations can extend high-touch, relationship-based fundraising

to donors at every level.

Rather than using technology to automate away the human element, Derric and Cheryl discuss how predictive and generative AI can serve as a co-pilot. They walk all seven behaviors from A Better Way to Fundraise, outline five essential ethical guardrails for protecting donor trust, and explain how automating administrative work gives fundraisers more time to build authentic connections.

IN THIS EPISODE

00:00 Introduction and the infrastructure shift

03:18 Meet Dr. Cheryl Contee

06:39 Behavior 1, Listen First

09:59 Behavior 2, Personalize Every Touch Point

14:38 Behavior 3, Express Genuine Gratitude

20:00 Behavior 4, Earn Their Next Gift

24:30 Behaviors 5 and 6, predictive AI

28:30 Behavior 7, Never Betray Trust, the five guardrails

38:16 Transparency and disclosure

41:16 The ultimate AI killer app

ABOUT THE GUEST

Dr. Cheryl Contee runs Brightworks AI, her consultancy for nonprofits ready to begin an AI journey, and is a senior advisor to posterchild.ai. She previously co-founded Attentive.ly, an early social listening platform for nonprofits.

RESOURCES

AI for Nonprofits, by Dr. Cheryl Contee

Brightworks AI

A Better Way to Fundraise: Treat Every Donor Like a Major Donor, by Derric Bakker

DickersonBakker

LINKS

Join the Better Way community

Subscribe to Derric's Substack for more on relational fundraising

Work with us!

Watch on YouTube

Follow DickersonBakker on LinkedIn

ABOUT THE SHOW

The Better Way Nonprofit Podcast is hosted by Derric Bakker, CEO of DickersonBakker and author of the Amazon bestseller A Better Way to Fundraise: Treat Every Donor Like a Major Donor. Every episode exists to do one thing: help you treat every donor like a major donor. Not as a theory. As a practice. More at betterwaychampions.org.

]]>6fbb111b-a825-4509-ba8f-c75289991b14Tue, 15 Sep 2026 16:47:25 GMT<p>Great fundraisers have always listened, personalized, and thanked well. They just could never do it for everyone. That constraint is dissolving.</p><p>In this episode, host Derric Bakker sits down with Dr. Cheryl Contee, pioneering technology entrepreneur, digital transformation expert, and author of AI for Nonprofits. Together they explore how mission-driven organizations can extend high-touch, relationship-based fundraising</p><p>to donors at every level.</p><p></p><p>Rather than using technology to automate away the human element, Derric and Cheryl discuss how predictive and generative AI can serve as a co-pilot. They walk all seven behaviors from A Better Way to Fundraise, outline five essential ethical guardrails for protecting donor trust, and explain how automating administrative work gives fundraisers more time to build authentic connections.</p><p></p><p>IN THIS EPISODE</p><p>00:00 Introduction and the infrastructure shift</p><p>03:18 Meet Dr. Cheryl Contee</p><p>06:39 Behavior 1, Listen First</p><p>09:59 Behavior 2, Personalize Every Touch Point</p><p>14:38 Behavior 3, Express Genuine Gratitude</p><p>20:00 Behavior 4, Earn Their Next Gift</p><p>24:30 Behaviors 5 and 6, predictive AI</p><p>28:30 Behavior 7, Never Betray Trust, the five guardrails</p><p>38:16 Transparency and disclosure</p><p>41:16 The ultimate AI killer app</p><p></p><p>ABOUT THE GUEST</p><p>Dr. Cheryl Contee runs Brightworks AI, her consultancy for nonprofits ready to begin an AI journey, and is a senior advisor to <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://posterchild.ai" target="_blank">posterchild.ai</a>. She previously co-founded <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://Attentive.ly" target="_blank">Attentive.ly</a>, an early social listening platform for nonprofits.</p><p></p><p>RESOURCES</p><p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.amazon.com/AI-Nonprofits-Putting-Artificial-Intelligence/dp/1394298412/" target="_blank">AI for Nonprofits, by Dr. Cheryl Contee</a></p><p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="brightworksai.com" target="_blank">Brightworks AI</a></p><p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.amazon.com/Better-Way-Fundraise-Reshaping-Philanthropy/dp/B0GXPQNSCH" target="_blank">A Better Way to Fundraise: Treat Every Donor Like a Major Donor, by Derric Bakker</a></p><p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="dickersonbaker.com" target="_blank">DickersonBakker</a></p><p></p><p>LINKS</p><p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="betterwaychampions.org" target="_blank">Join the Better Way community</a></p><p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="betterwaychampions.substack.com" target="_blank">Subscribe to Derric's Substack for more on relational fundraising</a></p><p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="dickersonbaker.com" target="_blank">Work with us!</a></p><p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.youtube.com/@DickersonBakker_BetterWay" target="_blank">Watch on YouTube</a></p><p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="linkedin.com/company/dickerson-bakker-&amp;-associates" target="_blank">Follow DickersonBakker on LinkedIn</a></p><p></p><p>ABOUT THE SHOW</p><p>The Better Way Nonprofit Podcast is hosted by Derric Bakker, CEO of DickersonBakker and author of the Amazon bestseller A Better Way to Fundraise: Treat Every Donor Like a Major Donor. Every episode exists to do one thing: help you treat every donor like a major donor. Not as a theory. As a practice. More at <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://betterwaychampions.org" target="_blank">betterwaychampions.org</a>.</p>no00:46:5012Episode 2 | How AI Scales Relationship-Based Fundraising | Dr. Cheryl Conteefull<![CDATA[Episode 1 | Relational Fundraising: The Origin of The Better Way | Andrew Olsen]]>The Better Way did not start with a book. It started with two people in the same profession, looking at the same problem from opposite seats. In the premier episode, host Derric Bakker is joined by Andrew Olsen, President of DickersonBakker and two-time bestselling author. Coming from oppposite sides of the profession, major gift consulting and direct response marketing, they reached the same diagnosis: rising acquisition costs, revenue concentrating into the top few percent of donors, and programs optimized for volume rather than relationship.

Derric and Andrew discuss what broke, why standard campaign metrics hid it, and what changed when they rebuilt around relationships. They cover the agency incentives that work against donors, what a hybrid relational program looks like when direct mail and major gifts stop

operating as separate worlds, and the two behaviors to start with this week.

IN THIS EPISODE

00:00 Welcome and the changing world of fundraising

01:16 Two convergence journeys

04:33 Meet Andrew Olsen

06:51 Cracks in the direct response machine

08:29 Industrialized fundraising versus relationships

12:18 Pushing for change from the inside

16:02 Building a hybrid relational agency

21:13 Market response and proof of concept

25:53 Shifting mindsets and measuring what matters

31:11 Taking ownership and surprising results

32:50 Practical takeaways, listen first and earn the next gift

ABOUT THE GUEST

Andrew Olsen is President of DickersonBakker. He has held senior leadership roles at Moore, Omnicom, Russ Reid, Strategic Fundraising and Newport ONE, serving more than a thousand ministries and nonprofits and helping them raise over a billion dollars. He is a two-time

bestselling author, host of The Rainmaker Fundraising Podcast, and serves on the board of Downrange Warriors.

RESOURCES

A Better Way to Fundraise: Treat Every Donor Like a Major Donor, by Derric Bakker

The Rainmaker Fundraising Podcast, hosted by Andrew Olsen

Downrange Warriors

DickersonBakker

LINKS

Join the Better Way community

Subscribe to Derric's Substack for more on relational fundraising.

Work with us!

Watch on YouTube

Follow DickersonBakker on LinkedIn

ABOUT THE SHOW

The Better Way Nonprofit Podcast is hosted by Derric Bakker, CEO of DickersonBakker and author of the Amazon bestseller A Better Way to Fundraise: Treat Every Donor Like a Major Donor. Every episode exists to do one thing: help you treat every donor like a major donor. Not as a theory. As a practice. More at betterwaychampions.org.

]]>f0177aa5-a452-4138-9bee-a8244cd71ec7Tue, 15 Sep 2026 16:38:52 GMT<p>The Better Way did not start with a book. It started with two people in the same profession, looking at the same problem from opposite seats. In the premier episode, host Derric Bakker is joined by Andrew Olsen, President of DickersonBakker and two-time bestselling author. Coming from oppposite sides of the profession, major gift consulting and direct response marketing, they reached the same diagnosis: rising acquisition costs, revenue concentrating into the top few percent of donors, and programs optimized for volume rather than relationship.</p><p></p><p>Derric and Andrew discuss what broke, why standard campaign metrics hid it, and what changed when they rebuilt around relationships. They cover the agency incentives that work against donors, what a hybrid relational program looks like when direct mail and major gifts stop</p><p>operating as separate worlds, and the two behaviors to start with this week.</p><p></p><p>IN THIS EPISODE</p><p>00:00 Welcome and the changing world of fundraising</p><p>01:16 Two convergence journeys</p><p>04:33 Meet Andrew Olsen</p><p>06:51 Cracks in the direct response machine</p><p>08:29 Industrialized fundraising versus relationships</p><p>12:18 Pushing for change from the inside</p><p>16:02 Building a hybrid relational agency</p><p>21:13 Market response and proof of concept</p><p>25:53 Shifting mindsets and measuring what matters</p><p>31:11 Taking ownership and surprising results</p><p>32:50 Practical takeaways, listen first and earn the next gift</p><p></p><p>ABOUT THE GUEST</p><p>Andrew Olsen is President of DickersonBakker. He has held senior leadership roles at Moore, Omnicom, Russ Reid, Strategic Fundraising and Newport ONE, serving more than a thousand ministries and nonprofits and helping them raise over a billion dollars. He is a two-time</p><p>bestselling author, host of The Rainmaker Fundraising Podcast, and serves on the board of Downrange Warriors.</p><p></p><p>RESOURCES</p><p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.amazon.com/Better-Way-Fundraise-Reshaping-Philanthropy/dp/B0GXPQNSCH" target="_blank">A Better Way to Fundraise: Treat Every Donor Like a Major Donor, by Derric Bakker</a></p><p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://andrewolsen.net/rainmaker-podcast/" target="_blank">The Rainmaker Fundraising Podcast, hosted by Andrew Olsen</a></p><p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.downrangewarriors.org/" target="_blank">Downrange Warriors</a></p><p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="dickersonbaker.com" target="_blank">DickersonBakker</a></p><p></p><p>LINKS</p><p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="betterwaychampions.org" target="_blank">Join the Better Way community</a></p><p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="betterwaychampions.substack.com" target="_blank">Subscribe to Derric's Substack for more on relational fundraising</a>.</p><p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="dickersonbaker.com" target="_blank">Work with us!</a></p><p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.youtube.com/@DickersonBakker_BetterWay" target="_blank">Watch on YouTube</a></p><p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="linkedin.com/company/dickerson-bakker-&amp;-associates" target="_blank">Follow DickersonBakker on LinkedIn</a></p><p></p><p>ABOUT THE SHOW</p><p>The Better Way Nonprofit Podcast is hosted by Derric Bakker, CEO of DickersonBakker and author of the Amazon bestseller A Better Way to Fundraise: Treat Every Donor Like a Major Donor. Every episode exists to do one thing: help you treat every donor like a major donor. Not as a theory. As a practice. More at <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="betterwaychampions.org" target="_blank">betterwaychampions.org.</a></p>no00:37:5011Episode 1 | Relational Fundraising: The Origin of The Better Way | Andrew Olsenfull