The Raimy and Bini Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

What do landscaping, grant writing for dummies, and pistachios have to do with faith-based fundraising?

More than you'd think.

In this episode, Raimy and Bini are joined by Evan Cox and Jon DeLange, the dynamic duo behind strategicfundraisingplan.com, who’ve helped hundreds of Christian ministries raise more money with less stress.

You’ll hear how Evan went from mowing lawns to mentoring ministries, why Jon thinks "our" is the most dangerous word in fundraising, and how the best donor strategy might start with a bag of chips and a personal text.

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Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Philanthropy and Fundraising

01:25 Personal Journeys into Fundraising

08:00 The Formation of Strategic Fundraising Plan

11:09 Understanding Christian Giving

13:35 The Ideal vs. Reality of Donor Relationships

17:39 Meeting Emotional Needs of Donors

22:03 Balancing Identity and Impact in Fundraising

27:47 Navigating Giving Priorities in Faith Communities

32:00 Cultural Priorities in Fundraising

34:34 Trends in Fundraising: Technology and Relationships

38:43 The Need for Authentic Connections

41:41 Blind Spots in Nonprofit Leadership

46:47 Rapid Fire Insights on Fundraising

What If Donor Advised Funds (DAFs) Became the Norm — Not the Exception?

This week, we sit down with Mitch Stein, Head of Strategy at Chariot, for a masterclass on the fast-evolving world of Donor Advised Funds (DAFs) — and why they're becoming the giving wallet of the future.

Mitch pulls back the curtain on:

What DAFs really are (and why most people misunderstand them)

How tech and policy shifts are unlocking $250B+ in charitable assets

Why nonprofits must stop being passive about DAFs — and start fundraising smarter

How using a DAF actually doubles the average donor’s gift

The myth of DAF “warehousing” — and the surprising stats that prove otherwise

Plus, a ballistic missile siren mid-recording (yes, really), insights from Mitch’s time at Goldman Sachs, and the one word Mitch would remove from the non-profit world.

Whether you're a donor, fundraiser, or nonprofit exec — this episode will change how you think about giving.

HOT OFF THE PRESS: The Chariot DAF Fundraising Report! Click here to read it TODAY!

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Chapters:

00:00 Navigating Life Under Threats

16:52 The Evolution of Donor-Advised Funds

19:26 DAFs: A Tool for All, Not Just the Wealthy

23:18 Engaging the Next Generation in Philanthropy

25:22 Employer Matching Programs and DAFs

30:12 The Challenge of DAFs: Money Warehousing

33:24 Increasing Granting Rates from DAFs

37:59 Marketing DAFs to Nonprofits

42:19 The Future of DAFs: A Charitable Wallet for Everyone

45:42 Empowering Nonprofits in the DAF Space

50:53 Final Thoughts and Encouragement

This week, Bini and Raimy sit down with Elisheva Hudson of Hudson Films, a true expert in nonprofit video production. Elisheva knows exactly how to craft videos that do more than tell a story. They inspire action.

In this episode, she takes us behind the scenes of nonprofit filmmaking and breaks down the dos and don'ts of creating compelling content. She shares her best tips for getting the most out of interviews, reveals the secret to capturing raw emotion on camera, and explains how to hold a viewer's attention in an age of ever-shrinking attention spans.

If you have ever wondered how to make a nonprofit video that actually moves people but did not know where to start, this episode is for you. We walked away with a ton of insights and we think you will too.

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Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Guest

08:49 Elisheva Hudson's Journey into Filmmaking

11:59 Transition to Nonprofit Filmmaking

15:43 Understanding Nonprofit Needs for Video

19:13 Collaborative Process with Nonprofits

22:25 Challenges in Filmmaking for Nonprofits

26:07 The Art of Extracting Compelling Stories

30:59 The Importance of Pre-Production

35:35 Best Practices for Condensing Stories

40:25 Crafting the Narrative: The Role of Location in Filmmaking

44:38 Budgeting for Impact: Navigating Nonprofit Video Production

50:56 The Balance of Quality: Documentary Filmmaking vs. Social Media Content

59:16 The Future of Video: Evolving Trends in Nonprofit Storytelling

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Find Elisheva on Linkedin:  @elishevahudson  Elisheva's website: https://www.hudsonfilmsdocustory.com/---Good of The Week: Raimy: Tom Ahern of https://www.aherncomm.com/Bini:  @posterized11 ​ (YouTube Channel)

In this week's episode of the Raimy and Bini Podcast, we talk about data! (Cue the Jon Stewart popcorn gif.)

Our fearless hosts dive into a topic many nonprofit professionals avoid: metrics. They explore different ways to approach evaluation and measurement, what’s worth tracking, and what’s totally overrated.

Bini and Raimy break it down from three angles: fundraising, program impact, and organizational health. They unpack the difference between outputs (butts in seats!) and outcomes (results that matter), and discuss the behavioral changes organizations should look for in the people they serve.

Plus, Bini discovers Raimy has never seen Star Wars (though he does know who Yoda is), they play a quick round of “Who said it: Yogi Berra or Alice in Wonderland?” and share some real-world examples of the best — and worst — measurement practices they’ve seen.

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Good of the Week:

• Raimy: Donald Miller of Business Made Simple (link)
• Bini: Riverside.fm (link)

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Chapters:

00:00 Audio Challenges and Learning Experiences

02:48 Insights from Donald Miller on Fundraising

05:18 The Role of Metrics in Nonprofit Success

12:12 Key Metrics for Fundraising Performance

18:42 Understanding Program Impact and Donor Retention

27:07 Real-World Applications of Metrics in Fundraising

34:33 Measuring Impact in Nonprofits

40:43 Outputs vs. Outcomes: Understanding Metrics

47:11 Leading vs. Lagging Indicators in Organizational Success

51:50 The Importance of Storytelling in Metrics

01:00:19 Overrated and Underrated Metrics in Nonprofits

01:12:28 Practical Steps for Measuring Impact

In this week's episode of The Raimy and Bini show, we dive into 5 qualities that make a nonprofit leader shine... and five that could use a little work.

We tackle some of the big questions keeping you up at night like:

• Are good nonprofit leaders any different from good for-profit leaders
• How do strong leaders empower their staff?
• And how can leaders avoid chasing shiny objects and stay focused on the mission at hand?

Raimy's voice is a little raspy in this one, possibly due to too much hootin' and hollerin' at a recent Bat Mitzvah, but don’t let that distract you.

This episode is packed with key takeaways you can implement right away to become a more effective and efficient leader.

Also...The Good of the Week:

Raimy: Julie Cooper of FundraisingWriting: https://www.fundraisingwriting.com/

Bini: The Savannah Bananas: https://thesavannahbananas.com/

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Chapters:

00:00 Introduction and Good of the Week

05:24 Savannah Bananas and Customer Experience

10:49 The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of Nonprofit Leadership

16:18 Differences in Nonprofit vs For-Profit Leadership

22:03 Vision and Mission-Driven Leadership

27:38 Mastering Relationships in Nonprofit Leadership

28:10 Mastering Relationships in Nonprofits

29:38 The Art of Networking and Communication

32:38 Empowering Teams and Trust in Leadership

36:29 Red Flags in Leadership

41:33 Identifying Poor Leadership Traits

47:24 The Importance of Vision and Communication

50:20 Listening vs. Talking in Leadership

51:49 Decision-Making and Leadership Challenges

In this week's episode of the Raimy and Bini Podcast, we say all there is to say about AI. Once you listen to this episode, you won't need a single other resource about the subject for the rest of your life.

Jokes!

In fact, this episode may very well become obsolete in the four days between recording time and publishing time.

But we can't let that stop us.

Love it or fear it, AI is here, and it's changing everything. It's evolving more rapidly than any other technology in history, and every day brings new tools that utilize the technology for more specific and more niche tasks.

We go through our favorite AI tools, how nonprofits can use them, and where we see the technology headed in the coming months and years.

This episode blends useful tips that you can implement today with some soapbox preaching about a healthy mindset when using all of these amazing, new resources that we couldn't have imagined a few short years ago.

Happy listening.

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Chapters:

00:00 Setting the Scene: Home Decor and Personal Touches

02:52 The Good and Bad of Running: Personal Experiences

05:47 Lessons from Disappointment: Parenting and Emotional Growth

08:16 Navigating Failures: Running and AI Projects

11:14 The Role of AI in Nonprofits: A New Frontier

14:11 Rapid Advancements in AI: Keeping Up with Change

17:07 AI in Nonprofits: Current Applications and Future Potential

19:44 Writing in the Age of AI: The Writer's Perspective

22:26 Tools for Nonprofits: Exploring AI Solutions

25:20 The Naysayers: Resistance to AI Adoption

27:51 The Future of Nonprofits: Bridging the Tech Gap

34:10 Investing in AI Tools for Nonprofits

36:23 AI Strategy Implementation in Organizations

38:10 Utilizing AI for Meeting Insights

40:53 The Value of Paid AI Tools

42:57 Personalization in Fundraising and Social Media

45:47 Enhancing Annual Reports with AI

46:40 Creating Social Media Content with AI

49:42 Leveraging AI for Effective Campaigns

52:18 The Complexity of AI Adoption

56:39 The Future of Nonprofits in an AI-Driven World

If you were starting a nonprofit from scratch, what would be your first move?

In the latest episode of the Raimy and Bini Podcast, we walk through how we would each approach starting a brand new organization.

(Bini even put together a chat-gpt-fueled advisory committee that guided him throughout the process.)

We talk about the pros and cons (well, mostly cons) of starting a nonprofit and the different ways to think about the business side of things.

We ask questions like:

Should you focus on service provision first, or lock down your financials?

How do you analyze similar organizations in your space?

Is competition a threat or an advantage?

What metrics actually tell you if you're succeeding?

What are the fundamental differences between starting a nonprofit vs. a for-profit business?

What type of person (and with what background) is best suited to start a new organization?

This episode covers a lot of ground—perfect for newcomers and grizzled veterans alike.

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Good of the Week:

Raimy: His Accountant! (Yes, you read that right!!!)

Bini: Dana Snyder and the Monthly Giving Summit

Find Dana here: https://positiveequation.com/

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Chapters:

00:00 Introduction and Feedback on Previous Episodes

02:33 The Importance of Guest Contributions

05:15 Gratitude and Positive Experiences

08:12 Monthly Giving Summit Insights

10:58 Starting a Nonprofit: Challenges and Considerations

13:43 Identifying Needs and Competition in Nonprofits

16:30 Understanding the Nonprofit Landscape

19:21 The Complexity of Nonprofit Funding

21:47 Differentiating Between Service Recipients and Donors

24:31 Exploring Alternatives to Starting a Nonprofit

27:28 Social Enterprises vs. Nonprofits

28:56 The Purpose of Nonprofits: Results Over Existence

33:13 Generational Shifts in Nonprofit Leadership

38:09 Funding Fundamentals: Identifying Financial Support

44:17 Metrics and Impact: Measuring Success

48:33 Building a Supportive Board: The Importance of Community

52:08 Fiscal Sponsorship: A Pathway to Nonprofit Launch

55:54 First Steps: Crafting a 90-Day Plan for Success

In this week's episode of THE Raimy and Bini Podcast, we interview the hip-hop fundraiser (and our second Jeremy in a row), Jeremy Haselwood. Jeremy is a two-time bestselling author. His first book, The Digital Fundraising Blueprint, is a cheat code for nonprofits looking to crush online giving. And his second book, Finding Your EDGE, is all about unlocking your personal and professional potential.

Jeremy tells us about how he ended up working with big brands like Coca-Cola and The Salvation Army. He tells us what he thinks nonprofits should focus on with their limited time and resources. He tells us about how a hip-hop career that fell a little short led to a life serving mission-driven organizations.

Jeremy is a great writer, a better teacher, and, most importantly, a super nice guy.

Hope you enjoy this conversation mostly about digital fundraising (with a little college football thrown in).

Work with Jeremy and buy his books here:

www.jeremyhaselwood.com

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction and Good of the Week

06:36 Introducing Jeremy Haselwood

11:22 Jeremy's Origin Story

19:01 The Intersection of Marketing and Nonprofits

26:36 Digital Marketing Strategies for Nonprofits

30:35 Crafting Concise Communication

33:01 Navigating Social Media Strategies

34:28 Choosing the Right Platforms for Nonprofits

39:21 The Power of Email Marketing

44:44 Understanding Data Hygiene in Email Marketing

48:41 Effective Fundraising Strategies

52:24 Rapid Fire Insights on Nonprofit Fundraising

This week, we sit down with the happiest fundraiser on the planet, Jeremy Stern.

Jeremy shares when he first knew he wanted to work in the nonprofit world (spoiler: it’s earlier than you’d guess). He reflects on the lessons he learned after stepping into an executive director role shockingly early in his career and he reveals the core truths every fundraiser must embrace to stop fearing the word "no."

Now the Director of Partnerships at CauseMatch, Jeremy has also held key roles at Tzohar, Ohr Torah Stone, and nine years as Executive Director of ORA.

Join us for the first-ever guest episode of The Raimy & Bini Podcast. Jeremy’s been there, done that, and gathered a wealth of fundraising wisdom along the way. You won’t want to miss it.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction and Guest Announcement

02:32 Crisis Fundraising and Organizational Resilience

05:04 Sports Rivalries and Team Dynamics

08:04 Introducing Jeremy Stern: The Happy Fundraiser

10:34 Jeremy's Journey into Nonprofit Work

13:15 Fundraising Lessons and Challenges

16:03 The Importance of Donor Relationships

18:48 Navigating Nonprofit Leadership

21:39 Transitioning to Remote Fundraising

24:23 Virtual Fundraising in a Pandemic

26:57 Final Thoughts and Future Directions

31:23 Joining CauseMatch: A New Chapter

33:06 Understanding Partnership Models

36:31 Learning and Growth in Fundraising

41:17 The Importance of Data in Fundraising

49:24 Maintaining Positivity in Fundraising

54:24 The Mindset of a Successful Fundraiser

01:05:34 Shifting from Scarcity to Growth Mindset

Your fundraising message might be costing you donors.

Here’s 4 ways to fix it.

You pour time into emails, social posts, and appeals. But are they actually moving donors to act?Most nonprofits make one big mistake—they talk aboutthemselves instead of making the donor the hero.

In this episode, Bini and Raimy (mostly Raimy) break down the4 essential building blocks of nonprofit messaging thatkeep donors engaged, giving, and coming back.

✅Why most fundraising emails flop (and how to fix them)

✅How to make your message about the donor—not just your org

✅The secret to writing donor appeals that actually drive action

✅How to adapt messaging for email, social, and direct mail

🎧Listen now and start writing copy that turns engagement into real impact!

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction and Conference Insights

09:08 The Importance of Communication in Fundraising

18:31 Crafting Compelling Nonprofit Messaging

28:02 The Donor-Centric Approach to Fundraising

31:15 The Power of Impactful Communication

34:04 Articulating Problems and Solutions

36:35 The Importance of Vulnerability in Messaging

38:11 Facilitating Fundraising Through Collaboration

43:27 Adapting Messaging Across Different Media

47:37 The Emotional Side of Giving

54:28 Practical Tips for Effective Storytelling