In this week's episode of the Nonprofit Newsfeed, George and Nick delve into the critical issue of donor data ownership within donation platforms. They reveal that for 25% of platforms, nonprofits cannot seamlessly migrate recurring donors, potentially severing relationships with monthly contributors. George emphasizes the importance of understanding donor payment tokens and the impact of being locked into platforms without data portability. The episode also touches on the philanthropic landscap...
Jul 06, 2025•21 min•Ep. 454
In this episode of the Whole Whale podcast, host George Weiner speaks with Sal Alpietro, Chief Community Officer at Fundraise Up, about a critical issue affecting nonprofits: the ownership and transfer of payment tokens for monthly donors. Sal shares alarming stories of nonprofits facing exorbitant fees and resistance when trying to move donor data between platforms. They discuss the importance of asking the right questions before signing contracts with donation platforms and the potential finan...
Jun 30, 2025•26 min•Ep. 453
In this episode of the Nonprofit Newsfeed, hosts George and Nick explore the intricacies of recent mass mobilizations and the challenges facing nonprofits. The podcast focuses on the recent "No Kings" protests, a massive mobilization across all 50 states with participation from an estimated 5 to 7 million people. Nick shares his firsthand experience at the New York protest, emphasizing the diverse and passionate turnout despite the rain. The event's success hinged on strategic digital organizing...
Jun 23, 2025•12 min•Ep. 452
This week on the Nonprofit Newsfeed by Whole Whale, George and Nick delve into the ramifications of the GOP's newly proposed tax bill and its potential impact on the nonprofit sector. As the bill progresses from the House to the Senate, nonprofits face several looming challenges. These include the "foundation tax bomb," which proposes a tiered excise tax on foundation assets that could drastically reduce grant-making capacities, and a disincentive for major donors, which might discourage wealthy...
May 30, 2025•18 min•Ep. 451
In this week's episode of the Nonprofit Newsfeed from Whole Whale, hosts Nick and George focus on significant shifts in nonprofit tech strategy and community recognition initiatives. Main Topics: Microsoft's Software Grant Changes: Microsoft announced the end of its decade-long grant program providing free Microsoft 365 business premium accounts and Office 365 E1 licenses to around 400,000 nonprofits. This change, effective for renewals on or after July 1, 2025, will require nonprofits to transi...
May 21, 2025•17 min•Ep. 450
Understanding Microsoft Nonprofit Licensing Changes: Survival Guide and Solutions In this episode, Joshua Pesky, the Chief Product Officer at RoundTable, discusses with George the partial termination of Microsoft's grants program around Office 365 licenses. The discussion covers the impact on nonprofits, the timeline for changes, and possible solutions for affected organizations. Joshua explains the importance of checking license statuses through the admin portal and suggests alternatives like u...
May 21, 2025•25 min•Ep. 449
Gates Foundation's Bold Plan and Legislative Challenges for Nonprofits In this week's episode of the Nonprofit Newsfeed, George and Nick dive into significant developments affecting the nonprofit sector. The discussion kicks off with Bill Gates' groundbreaking announcement regarding the Gates Foundation, the largest American foundation by asset volume. Gates revealed plans to dissolve the foundation by December 2045, aiming to spend down its entire endowment of over $200 billion. The foundation ...
May 19, 2025•20 min•Ep. 448
Social Imprints CEO Jeff Scheinbein warns of an impending June "cliff" for the promotional products industry as Chinese tariffs threaten to disrupt the $25 billion swag market. As a workforce development company where 85% of employees face employment barriers, Social Imprints exemplifies the American social enterprise success story now at risk from trade policies. Scheinbein explains that contrary to political narratives, manufacturing can't simply shift to the US overnight - the infrastructure ...
May 05, 2025•45 min•Ep. 447
Nonprofit Technology Conference Insights: Navigating Change and Building Community Resilience In this special episode of the Nonprofit Newsfeed, Whole Whale's Nick hosts colleagues Axel and Kathleen as they share experiences and insights from the recent Nonprofit Technology Conference (NTC), hosted by NTEN. This premier event for nonprofit technology professionals highlighted the sector's adaptability and resilience in the face of rapid technological and political changes. Main Topics and Guests...
May 05, 2025•20 min•Ep. 446
Nonprofit News Podcast Recap: The Threat to 501(c)(3) Status and Social Media Strategies In this week's episode of Nonprofit News Feed, hosts George and Nick delve into critical topics affecting the nonprofit sector. The discussion kicks off with an exploration of the potential repercussions for nonprofits if they lose their 501(c)(3) status—a concern highlighted by recent political maneuvers and threats to organizations like Harvard and Wikipedia. They discuss the dire consequences of such a st...
May 05, 2025•16 min•Ep. 445
Revolutionizing Nonprofit Fundraising with AI: An Interview with PosterChild.ai CEO Leandrew Robinson In this episode, we delve into the innovative world of nonprofit fundraising with Leandrew Robinson, the CEO and founder of PosterChild.ai. Discover how their peer-to-peer fundraising strategy helped their first customer achieve a 350% increase in individual giving year over year. Leandrew shares his journey from e-commerce to social impact, the importance of authentic storytelling, and how AI c...
Apr 28, 2025•42 min•Ep. 444
The Corporate Capture of Carbon Footprints: A Nonprofit Perspective In the latest episode of the Nonprofit Newsfeed, hosted by George and Nick from Whole Whale, the discussion takes a thought-provoking turn towards the concept of "corporate capture" and the real origins of the term "carbon footprint." This episode delves into how corporations, particularly British Petroleum (BP), have strategically shifted the focus of environmental responsibility onto consumers. George Weiner reveals that the t...
Apr 28, 2025•18 min•Ep. 443
In this week's episode of Nonprofit Newsfeed by Whole Whale, George and Nick dive into an engaging discussion packed with insights for nonprofit enthusiasts. AI in Fundraising: The conversation shifts to an intriguing experiment reported by TechCrunch, where Sage Future, backed by Open Philanthropy, tasked AI models with fundraising for charity. These AI agents, with human oversight, raised $270 for Helen Keller International by engaging in tasks like setting up social media accounts and creatin...
Apr 11, 2025•20 min•Ep. 442
In this episode, George interviews Allison Fine, President of Every.org, about their innovative donation platform for nonprofits. Fine discusses Every.org's unique value proposition, including no transaction or setup fees, acceptance of various payment methods including cryptocurrency, and a focus on meaningful donor engagement. The conversation also covers the challenges of maintaining a zero-fee model, Every.org's growth spurred by partnerships with notable philanthropists, and their use of AI...
Apr 08, 2025•21 min•Ep. 441
Navigating Nonprofit Challenges: Political Pressures, Greenwashing, and AI Innovations In the latest episode of Nonprofit Newsfeed by Whole Whale, hosts George and Nick delve into pressing issues affecting the nonprofit sector, from political pressures to environmental challenges and technological advancements. Key Topics and Insights: Political Attacks on Nonprofits: The episode highlights the increasing political pressures faced by nonprofits, particularly those involved in contentious issues ...
Apr 05, 2025•18 min•Ep. 440
In this episode of the Nonprofit News Feed by Whole Whale, hosts George and Nick delve into the financial turmoil facing Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit behind the beloved children's program, Sesame Street. The organization is grappling with the expiration of its HBO contract, which previously served as a significant revenue stream. This development coincides with broader challenges, including potential funding cuts to PBS and NPR and the impact of reduced U.S. foreign assistance on Sesame Worksh...
Mar 28, 2025•18 min•Ep. 439
Main News Stories Greenpeace Lawsuit Energy Transfer (owners of Dakota Access Pipeline) is suing Greenpeace for $300 million in damages The lawsuit claims Greenpeace orchestrated protests near Standing Rock, which Greenpeace denies Potential damages could reach $800 million with punitive damages, potentially bankrupting Greenpeace USA Greenpeace maintains they only supported an indigenous-led movement (involving over 300 tribal nations) The hosts discuss concerns about this establishing a danger...
Mar 19, 2025•16 min•Ep. 438
In this episode of the Nonprofit News Feed, George and Nick discuss recent challenges facing the nonprofit sector under the Trump administration. They examine two major concerns: changes to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program potentially excluding certain nonprofit employees, and federal agencies removing progressive terminology from government websites. The hosts share insights from a Center for Effective Philanthropy report indicating 90% of nonprofit leaders anticipate negative impact...
Mar 16, 2025•17 min•Ep. 437
In this episode, we focus on declining nonprofit website traffic due to AI search tools. Key points include: Nonprofit website traffic is declining as AI tools like ChatGPT and Google's AI overviews reduce the need for users to visit original content sources. Major content creators like HubSpot have lost up to 80% of their traffic due to these changes. We recommend: Adjusting traffic expectations (considering "break-even" the new growth) Focusing on conversion rate optimization Creating original...
Mar 10, 2025•18 min•Ep. 436
Ami Dar, founder of Idealist.org, joins George for an insightful conversation on the groundbreaking merger between Idealist and VolunteerMatch.org—a rare consolidation poised to reshape nonprofit and volunteer engagement globally. Ami shares candid insights into why nonprofit mergers rarely happen, systemic challenges in nonprofit funding, and how this merger creates a single hub for millions seeking jobs, volunteer opportunities, and meaningful community involvement. He also discusses underutil...
Mar 03, 2025•44 min•Ep. 435
Nonprofit NewsFeed Podcast: Trump Administration Impact & Philanthropy's Response Episode Summary In this episode of the Nonprofit News Feed Podcast, host Nick Azulay is joined by Whole Whale COO and President Megan Anhalt to discuss the new Trump administration's impact on the social impact sector and philanthropy. The conversation covers the federal funding freeze affecting numerous nonprofit organizations, particularly highlighting the stop work order affecting unaccompanied minors in imm...
Feb 25, 2025•24 min•Ep. 434
In this episode, hosts George Weiner (Chief Whaler at Whole Whale) and Nick Azulay (Digital Strategy Manager) discuss several notable stories in the nonprofit sector. They begin with an analysis of Super Bowl social impact advertisements, breaking down the effectiveness and cost implications of nonprofit messaging during the big game. They highlight that the $8 million cost for a 30-second spot equals roughly 275 years of the average nonprofit's annual advertising budget. The conversation then s...
Feb 13, 2025•16 min•Ep. 433
Dissolution of USAID and Its Global Impact on Humanitarian Aid In this week's episode of the Nonprofit News, George Weiner and Nick Azulay from Whole Whale dive into the troubling developments surrounding the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). As the largest international development humanitarian donor, USAID's dissolution and potential absorption into the State Department is raising alarms across the nonprofit sector. The agency, responsible for 40% of global humanitari...
Feb 05, 2025•19 min•Ep. 432
Nonprofit News Feed: Navigating Policy Shifts and New Opportunities This week on Whole Whale's Nonprofit News Feed, hosts George Weiner and Nick Azulay delve into the tumultuous changes impacting the nonprofit sector under the current U.S. administration. The episode kicks off with a discussion on the federal funding freeze and two executive orders targeting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives and immigration policies. These orders have created a climate of fear and self-censorshi...
Jan 30, 2025•27 min•Ep. 431
In this episode of Nonprofit Newsfeed, George Weiner, Chief Whaler at Whole Whale - a marketing and analytics agency for nonprofits , is joined by Leo Quintero, VP of Learning and Innovation. Together, they delve into the rare and exciting news of a merger between Volunteer Match and Idealist.org, two titans in the nonprofit sector. This merger promises to consolidate resources and enhance the ability to connect individuals with volunteer opportunities and nonprofit jobs across the globe. Main H...
Jan 22, 2025•22 min•Ep. 430
In this episode of the Nonprofit News Feed by Whole Whale, hosts George Weiner and Nick Azulay delve into critical topics affecting the nonprofit sector, focusing on the response to the LA wildfires, the politicization of fundraising platforms, and innovative governance in nonprofit organizations. LA Wildfires and Nonprofit Mobilization The episode opens with a detailed discussion on the LA wildfires, where thousands of firefighters are battling blazes across 45 square miles, affecting 88,000 re...
Jan 15, 2025•22 min•Ep. 429
Navigating the Nonprofit Landscape in 2025: Tech Challenges and Opportunities In this episode of Nonprofit News Feed, George Weiner, Chief Whaler of Whole Whale, and Nick Azulay, Digital Strategist, dive into the evolving tech landscape and its implications for nonprofits in 2025. As they welcome the new year, the duo highlights key tech stories that could significantly impact the nonprofit sector, focusing on the influence of tech CEOs on political narratives and the role of AI in shaping infor...
Jan 08, 2025•19 min•Ep. 428
Exploring the Impact of a Four-Day Workweek on Nonprofits In this week's episode of the Nonprofit News Feed by Whole Whale, George Weiner and Nick Azulay dive into the potential effects of a four-day workweek on the nonprofit sector. As digital strategists and nonprofit enthusiasts, they explore how this shift, gaining traction in places like Tokyo and parts of Europe, could influence volunteer availability and nonprofit operations. Nick highlights the growing trend towards shorter workweeks, no...
Dec 21, 2024•23 min•Ep. 427
Navigating New Social Media Frontiers and Celebrating Giving Tuesday Success In this week's episode of the Nonprofit News Feed by Whole Whale, hosts George Weiner and Nick Azulay delve into the evolving landscape of social media for nonprofits and celebrate a major milestone in charitable giving. The discussion kicks off with an analysis of BlueSky, a burgeoning social media platform touted as a polite alternative to Twitter. Originally a Twitter project, BlueSky has gained traction with approxi...
Dec 12, 2024•16 min•Ep. 426
Giving Tuesday and Nonprofit Challenges In this week's episode of the Nonprofit NewsFeed, George Weiner, Chief Whaler of Whole Whale, and Nick Azulay, Senior Digital Strategy Manager at Whole Whale, dive into the aftermath of Giving Tuesday and the ongoing debate about OpenAI's nonprofit origins. Main Topics: Giving Tuesday Predictions and Economic Context: The team discusses their prediction for Giving Tuesday donations, hoping to surpass $3.5 billion, a hopeful 11% increase from 2023's $3.1 bi...
Dec 07, 2024•16 min•Ep. 425
