Best Rhea Wong Podcasts (2025)

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#364- Giving Tuesday But Make It Major Gifts 14:10

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2h ago14:10

14:10

In this week’s episode of Nonprofit Lowdown, I’m sharing a juicy slice of one of my free live webinars—and trust me, this isn’t your typical “Giving Tuesday tips” vibe. Instead of talking about social posts, I break down how to turn Giving Tuesday into a major donor discovery day. Yep. One day. Major donor pipeline. Let’s go. Why Giving Tuesday is …

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#363- Making the Case for Your Board 15:51

3d ago15:51

15:51

If you’ve been listening to me for a while, maybe caught one of my trainings, or you’re on my email list, this is your nudge: now is the time to work with me on your major gift strategy. I only have 20 spots left between now and the end of 2025 in my Big Ask Gift Program, and prices will increase in 2026. Let’s be real — one of the biggest blockers…

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#362- What You Need to Know Before Giving Tuesday with Jess Campbell 50:45

15d ago50:45

50:45

We’re counting down to Giving Tuesday, and my good friend Jess Campbell is dropping ALL the fundraising wisdom you need to finish the year strong. She’s the queen of email 👑 — but in this convo, Jess goes way beyond inbox strategy to share the “do this, not that” of end-of-year campaigns. From securing a match donor (“matches are magic!” ✨) to buil…

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Ep. 125: Restoring Beau Geste • 2025 Pordenone Festival Report • Six Degrees of Charlie Chaplin 1:33:26

13d ago1:33:26

1:33:26

Restoring Beau Geste (1926), with Robert Harris and James Mockoski • 2025 Pordenone Silent Film Festival Report, with Lokke Heiss and Lea Stans • Six Degrees of Charlie Chaplin, with Steve Massa and Uli Ruedel (93:26)By Michael Gebert

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#361- Plugging Donor Leaks Before Year-End 26:47

12d ago26:47

26:47

We’re in what I like to call the Super Bowl of fundraising — that mad sprint to December 31st. Before you pour all your time and energy into your year-end campaign, I want to make sure you’re not losing money through hidden leaks in your donor funnel. In this episode, I break down the four biggest leaks that cost nonprofits thousands every year — a…

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#360- What K-Pop Demon Hunters Taught me About Fundraising 20:17

18d ago20:17

20:17

As we sprint toward the Super Bowl of fundraising — year-end giving — let’s talk about something that too many of us overlook: stewardship. Recently, I joined a K-Pop Demon Hunters singalong with 250 strangers in a rainy Brooklyn room. Did I hit the right notes? Nope. Did it matter? Also nope. Because we created something beautiful together. And th…

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#359- Accidental Fundraiser with Stephanie Roth and Haley Bash 43:48

25d ago43:48

43:48

I sat down with Stephanie Roth and Haley Bash, co-authors of the updated Accidental Fundraiser, and we got into what it really means to fundraise when you didn’t plan on it—and maybe don’t feel totally ready for it. We talked about: Why so many people still feel uncomfortable asking for money How house parties can be more effective (and fun) than g…

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#358- Donor Retention with Erika Carley 42:37

1M ago42:37

42:37

I’m so excited about this episode with the amazing Erika Carley, Chief Impact Officer at National Angels (and one of the smartest donor retention minds I know). If you’ve ever said, “We just need more donors,” STOP. What you really need is to keep the donors you already have — and Erica is here to show us how. In this episode, we dive deep into: ✨ …

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124: Steven C. Smith on Hitchcock and Herrmann • Stephen Rebello on Strangers On a Train 1:45:48

1M ago1:45:48

1:45:48

The Hitchcock Episode: Steven C. Smith, author of Hitchcock and Herrmann: The Friendship & Film Scores That Changed Cinem • Stephen Rebello, author of Criss-Cross: The Making of Hitchcock's Dazzling, Subversive Masterpiece Strangers on a Train (105:49)By Michael Gebert

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#357- The Hidden Cost of Your Tech with Rachel Bearbower 40:56

2M ago40:56

40:56

This week, I’m chatting with my brilliant friend Rachel Bearbower, founder of the Nonprofit Automation Agency and my go-to tech guru. We’re talking all things tech stacks — the good, the bad, and the painfully expensive. In this episode, we dig into: ✅ Why so many nonprofit tech setups are a hot mess ✅ What tools are actually worth the money and ti…

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#356- The Trust Crisis in Major Gift Fundraising with Greg Warner 40:21

2M ago40:21

40:21

It’s year-end giving season — and if your strategy still relies on wealth screens and spray-and-pray asks, it’s time for a reset. On this week’s Nonprofit Lowdown, I’m joined by my friend (and fan favorite) Greg Warner, CEO of MarketSmart, to talk about why trust is your only currency — and how we’re getting it so, so wrong. 💥 Why wealth screens ca…

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#355- The Future of Fundraising and AI with Brooke Richie-Babbage 37:36

2M ago37:36

37:36

This week on Nonprofit Lowdown, I’m joined by my business bestie and returning favorite, Brooke Richie-Babbage — strategist, executive, founder of Bending Arc, and all-around AI powerhouse. We’re diving deep into how AI is actually being used in the nonprofit space — beyond the hype. We discuss: How AI can support (but not replace) your thinking Us…

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Wong Fei Hung v Adonis Creed | ft. Emily Bateman 1:23:58

2M ago1:23:58

1:23:58

Check out Game of Groans! Send us a text Support the showBy Jay Davis & Eliah Stokes Nelson

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#354- Demystifying DAFs with Mitch Stein 34:17

2M ago34:17

34:17

I’m joined by my friend and returning guest, Mitch Stein, now Head of Strategy at Chariot, and we’re breaking down the truth about Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs) — what they are, how they work, and what nonprofits are getting wrong about them. Here's what we cover: What a DAF actually is (and no, it's not just for the ultra-wealthy) Why $250 billion is…

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Ep. 123: Cleveland Silent Film Festival • Lukas Foerster on Weimar Comedies • A Gish Sisters Book 1:27:37

2M ago1:27:37

1:27:37

!23: Emily Laurance on The Cleveland Silent Film Festival and Colloquium • Lukas Foerster on Champagne and Caviar: Four Weimar Comedies • Ben Urish and Rick Geary on The Movie Girls, by Jan Wahl (87:38)By Michael Gebert

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#353- AI Can't Be Ignored with Nate Wong 42:53

3M ago42:53

42:53

This episode is a juicy one. I’m joined by my pal Nate Wong. Nate is a partner at The Bridgespan Group and co-author of a recent white paper, “AI Cannot Be Ignored,” which dives deep into the opportunities (and responsibilities!) that AI presents to nonprofits and the broader social sector. With the Fundraising.AI conference around the corner—where…

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#352- Year End Giving Prep with 10x Crew 41:36

3M ago41:36

41:36

In this special episode, I host my powerhouse 10X crew for an energetic roundtable on one of the nonprofit sector’s most important seasons: end-of-year fundraising. The conversation covers: The fundraising landscape in 2025 How to use AI and automation without losing the human touch Maintaining donor trust The importance of mid-level donor strategy…

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#351- Why the Prime Time Woman is Gold for Fundraisers with Tisha Hyter 30:13

3M ago30:13

30:13

I am so excited to drop this convo with my friend and powerhouse guest, Tisha Hyter. We’re talking all about something I’m totally obsessed with right now: the Primetime Woman – women aged 45–65 who are stepping into their full power, purpose, and philanthropic influence. Tisha and I go deep on: 💥 What it means to be a Primetime Woman 💰 Why this gr…

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Yu Shu Lien v Rhea Ripley | ft. MrEricAlmighty & Affable Joey 1:30:59

3M ago1:30:59

1:30:59

Check out The Wait For It Podcast! Check out Affable Chat! Send us a text Support the show

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#350- Transforming Nonprofit Boards 58:45

3M ago58:45

58:45

Welcome back to Nonprofit Lowdown — I'm Rhea Wong, and today you're getting the raw, unfiltered replay of the power session I co-led with my ride-or-die, Brooke Ritchie-Babbage, at AFP’s Fundraising Day in NYC. Here’s what we unpack: ✅ The ONE written give/get policy that shuts down the “I don’t fundraise” excuse. ✅ Our 2x2 skills map that sorts yo…

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Sifu v Knuckleduster | ft. Dave Jackson (Tales from the Backlog) 1:19:30

3M ago1:19:30

1:19:30

Check out Tales from the Backlog here! Join the Discord Send us a text Support the show

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122: Richard Koszarski and Dennis Doros on Made in New Jersey • Lon Davis on Edward Everett Horton 1:38:24

3M ago1:38:24

1:38:24

122: Richard Koszarski on Made in New Jersey • Dennis Doros on New Jersey, Queen Kelly and Missing Movies • Lon Davis on Edward Everett Horton (98:24)By Michael Gebert

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#349- Fundraising Across Generation Divides with Connor Kirkpatrick 39:25

4M ago39:25

39:25

This week, I’m joined by the ever-brilliant Connor Kirkpatrick, Director of Development at Book Harvest. Connor’s a proud alum of my Big Ask Big Give program, and in this convo we go deep on: -Going from 8 to 24 major donors in 2 years -Using data + automation to build a scalable fundraising engine -What it really means to build a culture of philan…

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Fundraising Fri-Yay #1- Recession Ready Playbook 10:52

4M ago10:52

10:52

Welcome to the FIRST episode of Fundraising Fri-Yay with me, Rhea Wong! 🎉 Kicking things off with a solo episode that gets real about the uncertainty we’re all feeling right now in the nonprofit world—tariff shifts, funding freezes, economic turbulence... it’s a lot. But here’s the deal: panic won’t pay the bills. So instead of reacting, let’s resp…

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#348- How to Navigate in This Moment with Rhonda Allen 37:43

4M ago37:43

37:43

I’m so excited to share this powerful convo with my friend and guest, Rhonda Allen, CEO of Dev Color. We went in on what it means to lead an org that centers Black technologists — especially in a moment when DEI is under fire and folks are playing it safe. In this episode, we talk about: ➡️ Navigating leadership as a Black woman in tech ➡️ What it …

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#347- Advice from a BIPOC Fundraiser with Anysa Holder 40:03

4M ago40:03

40:03

I had the real pleasure of sitting down with my brilliant friend Anysa Holder, Chief Advancement Officer at Easterseals NJ, on the latest episode of Nonprofit Lowdown. 🙌🏽 We covered so much ground, including: 💥 What it’s like to stay in the nonprofit sector for 15+ years 💥 The emotional labor of fundraising (especially as women of color) 💥 Unpackin…

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SPECIAL: The #1 Mistake in Donor Emails 2:51

4M ago2:51

2:51

If you’re ready to stop guessing and start converting—join me live on July 23.🎯 The Donor Reckoning™ is where real pipeline repair starts. There’s No fluff. No replay. Just results. https://go.rheawong.com/thedonorreckoning

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SPECIAL: Why You’re Not Getting a Second Gift 2:53

4M ago2:53

2:53

Don’t lose your biggest future gifts to silence. Join me live on July 23 for The Donor Reckoning™. I’ll give you the tools to rebuild your trust sequence, so you can see massive results for the rest of the year! https://go.rheawong.com/thedonorreckoning

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SPECIAL: The Fix for Panic Fundraising (in 90 Days or Less) 2:33

4M ago2:33

2:33

🎯 Join me for The Donor Reckoning™ live on July 23.You’ll walk away with the full playbook + the tools to implement it: my 24-Touch Revenue Rhythm & the Donor Decoder GPT There is No replay... Just results. https://go.rheawong.com/thedonorreckoning

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SPECIAL: Signal vs. Noise: How Fundraisers Waste Their Best Leads 3:02

4M ago3:02

3:02

Join me live on July 23 for The Donor Reckoning™.We’re unpacking the Signal-Driven System—and building your exit ramp from the panic loop. 🎟 Reserve your seat now. Only 300 spots, no replay. https://go.rheawong.com/thedonorreckoning

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SPECIAL: Why 92% of Your Donors Have Disappeared 2:48

4M ago2:48

2:48

Join The Donor Reckoning™ on July 23 🎟 No replay. No fluff. Just truth + tactics. → Save your seat now (only 300 spots): https://go.rheawong.com/thedonorreckoning

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#346- How an Indie Newsroom Fights Big‑Money Media with Yukari Kane 33:06

4M ago33:06

33:06

I'm so excited to share this week’s conversation with my guest and friend Yukari Kane, CEO and co-founder of the Prison Journalism Project (@prisonjournalism). Yukari is a former @WSJ tech reporter who made the leap into nonprofit leadership — and let me tell you, her story is incredible. We talk about what it’s like to run a growing org that opera…

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Vi v Sanji | ft. Matt AKA Stormageddon 1:21:43

4M ago1:21:43

1:21:43

Check out Matt here! Join the Discord Send us a text Support the show

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#345- Cinderella Nonprofit: How a Brooklyn Debate Coach Went Viral and Raised $1.3 Million in 48 Hours with DiCo 34:32

4M ago34:32

34:32

This week’s episode of Nonprofit Lowdown is straight-up magic. 🪄 I sat down with my friend DiCo, Executive Director of the Brooklyn Debate League, and their story is nothing short of jaw-dropping. One minute, they're a public school teacher running debate club on Fridays. The next? A viral Humans of New York post, a GoFundMe that raises $1.3 millio…

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121: Rob Byrne on San Francisco Film Preserve • Lisa Stein Haven on Early Buster Keaton 1:24:27

4M ago1:24:27

1:24:27

Rob Byrne on San Francisco Film Preserve • Lisa Stein Haven, author of Early Buster Keaton: From the Vaudeville Stage to Comique Films, 1899-1920 (84:28)By Michael Gebert

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#344- Beyond Burnout with Dr. Dee Frayne 41:55

5M ago41:55

41:55

On the latest episode of Nonprofit Lowdown, I had the absolute pleasure of speaking with Dr. Dee Frayne (aka Dr. D), a life + business coach and former nonprofit exec who gets it. We went deep on what it means to burn out in a sector that’s often under-resourced, under-supported, and powered by people who care way too much to quit… until we’re forc…

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Chun-Li v Kenny Omega | ft. Kaiju vs. History & Phil Barrera 1:55:57

5M ago1:55:57

1:55:57

Check out Kaiju vs. History! Check out Cosmic Crit! Check out The More You Nerd! Check out The Wait For It Podcast! Join the Discord Send us a text Support the show

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#343: Defending Democracy + Raising Money for Policy with Omri Preiss 38:22

5M ago38:22

38:22

I’m so excited to share this week’s episode of Nonprofit Lowdown with you. I sat down with my friend and former student, Omri Preiss, the Co-Founder & Managing Director of Alliance for Europe — and we had a powerful, eye-opening conversation. We don’t often feature voices from outside the U.S., so this one is extra special. Omri is on the frontline…

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Lee v Danny LaRusso | ft. Caleb Van Nice & Jon Haig (Video Game Lounge) 1:19:27

5M ago1:19:27

1:19:27

Check out Jon on the Video Game Lounge! Join the Discord Send us a text Support the show

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#342- Fundraising for International NGO with Katy Troyer 26:29

5M ago26:29

26:29

I had the pleasure of sitting down with my friend and former student, Katy Troyer, the Executive Director of the KGSA Foundation — the U.S.-based fundraising arm for the Kibera Girls Soccer Academy in Nairobi, Kenya. We talked about what it’s really like to raise money for a cause that’s thousands of miles away, how the international development se…

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#341- Building A Nonprofit From Scratch with Dr. Nastassia Harris 34:02

5M ago34:02

34:02

This week on Nonprofit Lowdown, I sit down with the phenomenal Dr. Nastassia Harris (@perinatalhealthequity) to talk about her journey from professor and nurse to full-time founder and CEO of the Perinatal Health Equity Initiative. We talk about: ✅ Making the leap into nonprofit leadership ✅ Facing fears around fundraising & salary ✅ “Burning the s…

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Kingpin v Hwoarang | ft. Aaron (SuperPod Saga) 1:01:02

6M ago1:01:02

1:01:02

Check out Aaron on SuperPod Saga! Join the Discord Send us a text Support the show

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120: Eddie Muller and the Dames of Noir • Ben Model on The Silent Film Universe 1:31:13

5M ago1:31:13

1:31:13

Eddie Muller, author of Dark City Dames • Ben Model, author of The Silent Film UniverseBy Michael Gebert

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#340- Scaling an Organization to 7 Figures with Jehron Petty 32:44

6M ago32:44

32:44

I’m beyond excited to share my latest episode of Nonprofit Lowdown featuring one of my former students and now nonprofit powerhouse, Jehron Petty, founder and CEO of ColorStack. Y’all—Jehron started ColorStack during the height of the pandemic, fresh out of Cornell, and five years later? He’s leading a national org serving over 15,000 Black and Lat…

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#339- Stepping Into Consulting with Amber Buck Hamilton 32:36

6M ago32:36

32:36

I got to chat with my friend and former student Amber Buck Hamilton, founder of Fig Leaf Development and a total rockstar in the fundraising world. We talked about: ✅ Why she left her high-level nonprofit job to start her own consulting biz ✅ How burnout, family, and values drove her decision ✅ What it really feels like to take the leap (spoiler: t…

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Selection Sunday: Season 7 26:41

5M ago26:41

26:41

We're so back. Join the Discord Send us a text Support the showBy Jay Davis & Eliah Stokes Nelson

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#338- Power of a Healthy Pipeline with Maria Griffin 41:23

6M ago41:23

41:23

I had the absolute pleasure of sitting down with my friend and fundraising rockstar Maria Griffin on the latest episode of Nonprofit Lowdown — and trust me, you need to hear this one. Maria is the Chief Advancement Officer at DREAM (yes, the same DREAM from the episode with Rich Berlin!) and she's about to launch her own consultancy to help nonprof…

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#337- Tenacious Fundraising in Tough Times 48:19

6M ago48:19

48:19

Hey friends—I'm turning my recent Leadership Connect session into a podcast episode because the conversation was too real not to share with a wider audience. If you’re a fundraiser, ED, or nonprofit leader navigating today’s uncertainty, this one’s for you. Yes, the economy is wobbly. Yes, federal and state dollars are shrinking. But no, that doesn…

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#336- Values Driven Fundraising with Karla Altmayer 37:48

7M ago37:48

37:48

I had the absolute pleasure of speaking with Karla Altmayer, co-founder of Healing to Action, on Nonprofit Lowdown this week — and wow, this conversation is a must-listen. We talked about how her team is flipping the script on both gender-based violence and traditional fundraising. Instead of fancy decks or transactional asks, they’re hosting under…

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119: First Women of Hollywood • The Visionary June Mathis 1:27:33

6M ago1:27:33

1:27:33

Mary Mallory, author of First Women of Hollywood • Thomas J. Slater, author of June Mathis: The Rise and Fall of a Silent Film Visionary (87:33)By Michael Gebert