The Charity Charge Show – Details, episodes & analysis

In this conversation, Stephen Garten and Abby James discuss the importance of Google Ad Grants for nonprofits, how Nonprofit Megaphone helps organizations leverage this program, and the impact of AI on nonprofit marketing. They explore various strategies for maximizing the $10,000 monthly grant, share success stories from different nonprofits, and emphasize the need for effective content and user journeys to convert leads into supporters. Abby also explains the business model of Nonprofit Megaphone and the importance of maintaining eligibility for the Google Ad Grant.

Takeaways

Nonprofits can access $10,000 monthly in Google Ads for free.
Google Ad Grants help nonprofits increase visibility and donor acquisition.
Content on the nonprofit's website is crucial for ad performance.
AI is changing the landscape of digital marketing for nonprofits.
Successful nonprofits often require multiple engagements before donations.
Nonprofit Megaphone manages Google Ad Grants for various organizations.
Effective marketing strategies include understanding audience needs.
Tracking conversions is essential for measuring success.
Nonprofits should focus on user journeys to convert visitors.
Maintaining eligibility for the Google Ad Grant requires adherence to performance standards.

About Charity Charge:

Charity Charge is a financial technology company serving the nonprofit sector. From the Charity Charge Nonprofit Credit Card to bookkeeping, gift card disbursements, and state compliance, we help mission-driven organizations streamline operations and stay financially strong. Learn more at charitycharge.com.

In this episode of the Charity Charge Show we chat with Jared Walker, the founder of Dollar For, to discuss the organization's mission to alleviate medical debt through a comprehensive database of hospital charity care policies.

He explains how Dollar Four automates the application process for patients, the challenges of funding through philanthropy, and the importance of partnerships in expanding their reach. The conversation also touches on the legal aspects of medical debt, the potential for new revenue models, and the future vision for the organization.

Takeaways

• Dollar Four created a database of every hospital in the country.
• The organization eliminated $6.9 million in medical debt in April.
• Funding is fully through philanthropy, with no earned revenue model.
• The impact of Dollar Four is measurable and clear to donors.
• Hospitals are motivated to avoid bad press regarding charity care.
• Partnerships with other organizations can enhance outreach.
• There is a significant amount of medical debt within communities.
• The organization aims to enforce policies that hospitals are required to have.
• Focus on providing value to the community to attract donors.
• Future growth plans include raising $20 million over the next four years.

About Dollar For

Dollar For is a national non-profit organization dedicated to tackling the widespread issue of medical debt in the United States. Recognizing that medical debt is a leading cause of financial hardship and even bankruptcy for millions, they focus on a solution that often goes unnoticed and underutilized: hospital charity care.

Their core mission is to make charity care – which nonprofit hospitals are mandated by the Affordable Care Act to provide to lower-income patients – known, easy to access, and fairly applied. Dollar For acts as an advocate for patients, empowering them to navigate the often complex process of applying for financial assistance.

They achieve this through a multi-pronged approach:

• Direct Patient Service: Utilizing technology, Dollar For has developed a system that includes a custom database of hospital policies, a simple eligibility screener, automated application completion, and patient advocates who guide individuals through the process. This direct support has resulted in significant medical debt relief for thousands of patients.
• Systemic Change Advocacy: Beyond individual cases, Dollar For actively works to hold hospitals accountable and push for broader policy changes. They leverage media attention and their unique understanding of both the written policies and their real-world application to inform policy and advocate for improvements in charity care access. Their efforts have already influenced regulations and hospital practices across several states.

In essence, Dollar For bridges the gap between patients struggling with medical bills and the often-obscure avenue of charity care. By simplifying the application process and advocating for systemic improvements, they strive to alleviate the financial burden of medical crises and ensure that a health emergency doesn't lead to financial ruin. Their work has demonstrably reduced stress, improved health outcomes, and enhanced financial stability for the patients they serve.

In Episode 94 of the Charity Charge Show, Stephen talks to Katie Appold, Executive Director of Do More Good & Nonprofit Hub, whose mission is to create and curate content to help nonprofits do more good. Stephen and Katie Appold talk about Cause Camp (September 14-15, 2023), the struggles nonprofits are facing transitioning to a digital fundraising model, and creating great nonprofit boards.

Katie’s nonprofit career includes a variety of leadership roles for human service, foundation, and publishing-related nonprofits as well as many volunteer roles. Under Katie’s leadership, nonprofit organizations have developed new programs related to free healthcare, affordable and accessible housing and literacy programs for K-12 students. In her first Executive Director role, Katie increased the annual revenue of the organization she led by 300% and received the top grant prize in the nation for affordable housing through the Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis. Today, she leads Do More Good, the parent organization of Nonprofit Hub and Cause Camp which collectively serve more than 50,000 nonprofits throughout North America. Her educational background includes an undergraduate degree in business administration and a masters degree in nonprofit leadership. Katie is the past board president of Gracious Grounds, a housing organization serving individuals with disabilities. She is an active member of the Grand Rapids Young Nonprofit Professionals, the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce, Cause Network, the Lakeshore Nonprofit Alliance and the Association of Fundraising Professionals.

Katie Appold on the struggles nonprofits are facing in transitioning to a digital fundraising model and Cause Camp:

I would say the largest challenge that we're seeing organizations face is a transition to majority digital communication and fundraising. Pre-pandemic in person events like galas, golf outings, and one on one coffee meetings with donors were still happening. Thankfully, those things are coming back, and they're coming back strong, which is wonderful. But over the two years when the pandemic was at its peak, people really had to communicate digitally, and nonprofits had to raise their support digitally. So we're seeing a lot of organizations who are doing the right things, but they need to tweak and perfect and test and learn how to do them better.

Our solution is that we've built this year's Cause Camp's speaker list to address a lot of those issues that we see nonprofits facing. This year we have Dana Snyder, the gal who was the driving force behind Movember, talking about how you can take your mission and make it an online movement. We will also have Nathan Hill talking about how you can communicate to donors why they should give to your mission digitally? Because if you have no other way to connect with a donor other than email, it's crucial to know what you can say and do in that email to 1) make them open it and 2) connect with them in your message. Chris Hammond will also be talking about how nonprofit leaders need a strong personal network to build a strong organization, which I think is something that is often overlooked. Chris is going to talk about how to create that personal network digitally using tools like LinkedIn and connecting with people via text and email to keep relationships strong. Additionally, we have Mark Ostach, who's talking about hybrid work environments for nonprofits and how to make teams thrive.

In Episode 9 of the Charity Charge Show, Stephen Garten chats with Katie Russell, the Demand Generation Manager at SAFE Alliance.

The SAFE Alliance (SAFE) is a merger of Austin Children’s Shelter and SafePlace, and is dedicated to ending violence and abuse for everyone.

SAFE is a merger of Austin Children’s Shelter and SafePlace, and is dedicated to ending violence and abuse for everyone in our community. The organization's stand against child abuse and neglect, sexual assault and exploitation, and domestic violence. SAFE delivers comprehensive services to address the broad spectrum of needs for these survivors and works diligently to create awareness and capacity for prevention through innovative, collaboration, and highly-effective programs for at-risk demographics. SAFE is committed to changing lives (by effecting outcomes for survivors), systems (by making them more responsive), and communities (by generating healthier, more respectful environments). SAFE | Stop Abuse For Everyone.

Contact Katie: krussell@safeaustin.org

In Episode 8 of the Charity Charge Show, Stephen Garten chats with Jye Turk, the Founder & Executive Director of SolvED.

SolvED serves individuals and communities that experience a disconnect in life, particularly historically underserved populations facing challenges involving education, access, and community. Their unique solution to these challenges is a comprehensive tutoring approach that addresses social, communication, and behavioral needs of individuals. Not only does the tutoring approach set students up on a positive life trajectory, but also taps into the brilliance of the Greater Austin community, employing tutors who have lived experiences similar to the students they serve.

The organization believes that addressing the needs of the multiple generations within communities is key to building equitable outcomes and developing generational wealth.

You can reach out to Jye via his email here: jye@solvedtutoring.org

In Episode 7 of the Charity Charge Show, Stephen Garten chats with Zane Wilemon, the Founder of Ubuntu Life.

Ubuntu Life grew out of a friendship between Jeremiah Kuria and Zane Wilemon, pastors from Kenya and Texas. Meeting weekly over lunch in Maai Mahiu, a transit hub an hour outside Nairobi, they talked about faith, growth, and empowerment. Together they created a center for children with disabilities, providing life-changing therapy and medical care for kids who suffer from physical challenges and social stigma.

Over 15 years at the head of Ubuntu Life, Zane has helped the organization grow from a charity with 3 employees to a blended nonprofit business employing over 80 individuals in Kenya and the United States, with sustained revenues over $1.5 million annually. Zane is a frequent inspirational speaker, recipient of the Charles J. Cook Award in Servant Leadership from the Seminary of the Southwest.

In Episode 6 of the Charity Charge Show, the founder of Charity Charge chats with Don Wettrick, the Founder of StartEdUp and the STARTedUP Foundation.

StartEdUp is a global network of the most renowned innovators, educators and entrepreneurs. They define and employ the tactics of real innovation and leave the buzzwords in the dust. Their nonprofit wing, The STARTedUP Foundation, empowers student entrepreneurs and innovators with collaborative, immersive experiences, accelerator programs, and the first seed fund for students 14-18. Our goal is to prepare students to be enterprising contributors in this changing world.

In Episode 05 of the Charity Charge Show, the founder of Charity Charge chats with Page Whalen, Founder of We Are No Alamo

Today, people living with serious mental health concerns still experience social stigmas and negative misconceptions. But the fact is, people can expect a better quality of life than ever before. Medications have improved, new evidence-based therapies have developed, and organizations like We Are No Alamo (WANA) are building initiatives to bring renewed awareness surrounding mental health. 

WANA promotes the engagement of open and honest conversations about mental health. A growing amount of research shows that offering positive support to those suffering with MI, compared to promoting lifestyle and behavioral changes, helps those struggling live healthier and more productive lives. WANA seeks to build a community of acceptance and connection. To help shape this future, WANA started a podcast! The podcast provides a “stigma free zone” for people to open up about their mental health struggles and share their stories, while also providing mental health information and resources.   

WANA is dedicated to improving the lives of people affected by mental illness. We strive to shape a future where all people affected by MI can experience hope, recovery and wellness in a world free of stigma.

Across Central Texas, children live with the shame and stigma that often comes with being challenged by parental incarceration. When a child loses a parent to incarceration, they lose possibly the most significant person in their life. As a result they face significant risk factors that can make it difficult to succeed in school.

Seedling believes in the promise of every child: the promise of an education, the promise of a future, and the promise of all they can contribute to society.bThe Seedling mission is to support children challenged by parental incarceration with innovative, research driven, school-based mentoring.

In Episode 03 of the Charity Charge Show, the founder of Charity Charge chats with Morgan Hurley, Director of the Texas Stars Foundation.

The Texas Stars Foundation is a charitable organization dedicated to enhancing the community through various forms of support including financial contributions, gifts in kind and volunteerism. Formed in the summer of 2010, the Texas Stars Foundation is the official charity of the Texas Stars Hockey Club. The Foundation strives to utilize the talents and resources of the Texas Stars players, families, staff and ownership to enrich the greater central Texas area and military children throughout the United States.

The Texas Stars Foundation has three pillars of focus for their giving, programs and partnerships: youth engagement, honoring military families, and assisting those in need.

• The Texas Stars Foundation supports local charities and organizations by distributing more than $100,000 in cash gifts and grants during the 2018-2019 season.
• Texas Stars players, staff, and mascot Ringo, make numerous community appearances at hospitals, local nonprofits, schools and central Texas businesses.
• Thanks to the generous support of fans, players, players families and staff, the Texas Stars Foundation has distributed over $900,000 during the 2010-19 seasons in cash donations and gifts in-kind to more than 700 different local nonprofits.