Fundraising Command Center Podcast

Americans spend $500 a year on tips they'd rather not give—$37.80 per month in guilt-induced gratuities. 72% say tipping is expected in more places than five years ago. 50% have felt manipulated by checkout tablet screens. And 30% now tip less out of spite when prompted.

That same guilt-based extraction is now spreading to nonprofit donation pages—and the data is brutal. The American Cornerstone Institute found that asking donors to "cover the fees" triggers a 38.5% drop in conversions and 20.5% less total revenue.

Do the math: on 1,000 donation attempts, you lose 385 donors and roughly $17,000 in revenue trying to capture a 3...

Duration: 00:14:08

Before Newton ever formalized motion and gravity, a Persian poet captured the rhythm of nature in two lines. As non-native speakers, it’s hard to do justice to the original in performance—so we’ll honor it by sharing it plainly, and then we’ll stick to the translation.

کلیم کاشانی
موجیم که آسودگی ما عدم ماست
ما زنده به آنیم که آرام نگیریم

Translation:
“We live by refusing to settle. We are waves—when we become still, we disappear.”

From there, we run a grounded thought experiment: What happens if the Earth stops rotating? When rotation fades, the Coriolis effect fades with it—winds stop curving into familiar patterns and become more direct. And with prolonged daylig...

Duration: 00:10:36

This Podcast explores the advanced capabilities of the Click & Pay Suite Autoresponder feature in Salesforce. The discussion focuses on moving beyond standard tax receipts to create hyper-personalized donor journeys.

Key Topics Covered:

SKU-Based Triggers: assigning specific email templates to specific items (the "Tiger vs. Horse" use case).Time-Delayed Workflows: setting up automated "surprise and delight" emails 48 hours post-donation (the "Little Susie/Jimmy" use case).Campaign Specifics: tailoring responses for Capital Campaigns and Building Funds.Technical Setup: A high-level look at the Designer, Rules, and Queue logic.

Duration: 00:10:17

Does asking your friends to donate to your campaign annoy them, or does it actually make them more likely to give in the future?

In this episode, we explore the groundbreaking research paper "Fundraiser Magic: The Impact of Personalized Solicitation on Online Donation Campaigns". This study represents a unique collaboration between industry and academia, authored by Professor Shen and Professor  Barkhi of the Pamplin College of Business at Virginia Tech, and Dr. Razvan, CEO of Click & Pledge.

Analyzing over a decade of data covering 5,471 campaigns and nearly $67 million in donations, the researchers s...

Duration: 00:09:50

How does the Click & Pay Suite handle complex donor journeys? This audio overview dissects the mechanics of the Engagement Plan tool in Salesforce. We discuss:

The 4 Conditions: How the system reacts to Opened, Not Opened, Clicked, and Donated statuses.The Hierarchy: Understanding how donors move from Parent to Child campaigns automatically.The Strategy: A walk-through of a quarterly "drip" scenario that ensures no donor is left behind. Perfect for Salesforce admins and fundraising managers looking to automate their workflow.

Duration: 00:14:36

In Part 1, we talked about how bad data makes you blind. In Part 2, we talk about how bad platforms hold you hostage.

In late 2025, the nonprofit world was rocked by the "Shadow Page" report: Major platforms like GoFundMe were found to have created over 1.4 million unauthorized donation pages using scraped IRS data.

They used your name. They hijacked your SEO. They kept the donor data.

In this conclusion to our "Toxic Revenue" series, we expose the mechanics of this digital identity theft:

The SEO Hijack: How "Clone" pages rank...

Duration: 00:08:29

 Are your donation forms triggering the "Pain of Paying"? Drawing on research from Richard Thaler and Uri Gneezy, this episode dismantles the "Cover the Fee" trend. We discuss why isolating credit card fees validates the damaging "Overhead Myth" and how nonprofits can pivot to a Holistic Ask. 

Learn why the Better Business Bureau validates 35% overhead, and how you can confidently ask donors for a 15% "Foundation Gift" that covers your real costs while promising 100% impact for the cause. 

Duration: 00:07:56

We have been taught that every donation is a blessing. We’ve been told to "meet the donor where they are," whether that’s on Facebook, PayPal, or a third-party run site.

But what if I told you that taking $1 from the wrong channel is actually worse than getting nothing at all?

In this episode, we explore the controversial concept of "Toxic Revenue." We dissect how data silos—disconnected systems like PayPal Giving Fund, Facebook, and Excel—are stripping your organization of its memory. You are getting the cash (the calories), but you are losi...

Duration: 00:11:16

Why is it that even the smartest CRMs can't figure out that "Liz" and "Elizabeth" are the same person? In this episode, we dive into the chaos of nonprofit data management—from the nightmare of 3,600 donors named "Brown" to the infamous "husband’s email" scenario that corrupts donor records. 

We explore the Click & Pledge "Temporary Contact" feature: a digital holding tank that uses progressive learning and aliases to stop duplicates before they start. Learn how to turn your database into a self-cleaning machine that gets smarter with every transaction. 

Duration: 00:12:35

Fundraising is not an economic problem; it’s a cognitive one. Most nonprofits lose revenue because they force donors to think—asking for addresses, phone numbers, and complex decisions that kill the emotional impulse to give.

In "The Physics of Belonging," we break down why you must pivot from seeking "Donors" (who touch and leave) to "Members" (who join and stay). By combining the psychology of identity with zero-friction tools like PayQuick.ly, organizations can bypass the "budget brain" and tap directly into the "belonging brain." Discover why the path to higher Lifetime Value isn’t about asking...

Duration: 00:12:07

You don’t buy a morning coffee to "support" the coffee shop. You buy it to fix your own fatigue and restore balance. What if philanthropy works the exact same way?

In this episode, we apply the principles of Allostatic Foraging and Adam Smith’s economics to the nonprofit sector. We challenge the old narrative of "guilt-based giving" and explore the science of why donors are actually foraging for agency. Discover why the most successful nonprofits of the future won't be the ones asking for help—but the ones offering a powerful tool to fix a broken world.

Duration: 00:12:39

Most fundraising data tells you who gave. Active Inference tells you why. This episode bridges the gap between Karl Friston’s Free Energy Principle and modern non-profit strategy. We dismantle the traditional view of the donor journey and replace it with the "Markov Blanket"—the interface of trust between your organization and the world.

Key topics include:

Surprise Minimization: Why donors donate to resolve internal uncertainty, not just to feel good.Epistemic vs. Pragmatic Value: How to balance "solving the problem" with "explaining the problem."The Donor Digital Twin: A blueprint for using AI to simulate dono...

Duration: 00:14:40

The Ultimate Year-End Fundraising Playbook

Join us as we unlock the secrets to smashing your year-end giving goals! This episode is your comprehensive playbook, transforming the stress of Giving Tuesday and the holiday season into an unprecedented wave of generosity.

We dive deep into proven, actionable strategies: from crafting compelling, donor-centric stories that cut through the noise, to optimizing your digital channels for a seamless giving experience. Learn how to strategically use matching gifts to multiply impact, effectively segment your audience for personalized appeals, and convert single-day donors into long-term, loyal supporters for the coming...

Duration: 00:11:52

How do you turn a simple donation form into a fully branded, engaging fundraising movement? In this episode, we take a deep dive into the CONNECT Peer-to-Peer Site builder.

We explore the essential difference between your "Campaign" (the engine) and your "Site" (the car), and how to link them seamlessly. Listen in to learn how to:

Gamify your fundraising using Widgets like Leaderboards, Team Rankings, and Progress Bars.Customize your look with the responsive "Builder" tools so your site looks great on mobile and desktop.

Duration: 00:11:33

Tired of the "Frankenstein Problem"—patching together separate tools for your online store, event ticketing, and registration? This podcast deep dive reveals the Click and Pledges Store and Event Solution, the comprehensive, single-source platform designed specifically to eliminate administrative chaos for mission-driven organizations.

Learn the why, what, and how of consolidating your commerce and events into one powerful, unified ecosystem.

In this episode, you will discover:

The Power of Consolidation: How a single platform replaces multiple subscriptions, eliminates data silos, and stops the administrative nightmare of manual data reconciliation.Professional Online Stores: Go beyond si...

Duration: 00:12:21

Interested in maximizing donor retention while drastically reducing administrative burdens? Listen now to understand how enabling the Recurring Updater with a simple checkbox in CONNECT settings can transform how you handle recurring gifts, or check out how organizations can utilize the Virtual Terminal to manage these updates internally!

Duration: 00:08:43

 Is your fundraising strategy reactive or predictive? In this episode, we introduce a new lens for understanding donor behavior: The Biological Theory of Fundraising.

We move beyond simple transaction history to treat your donor base as an evolving ecosystem. By applying the principles of evolutionary biology and neuroscience to the Click & Pledge ecosystem, we uncover a framework for anticipating donor needs before they even click "donate."

In this episode, we cover:

The Neuroscience of Giving: How "Mentalizing" and the "Free Energy Principle" drive donor decisions to minimize surprise.Genotype vs. Phenotype: Why t...

Duration: 00:11:25

Givent is Click & Pledge's proprietary virtual fundraising app designed to turn any virtual event on Zoom or webinars into an active fundraising event for nonprofit organizations. It integrates directly within Zoom, allowing attendees to donate in real-time using an in-app donation form, complete with real-time donation counters, support for recurring payments, and integrations for company matching gifts. 

Givent enables nonprofits to invite companies to fundraise on their behalf, allowing corporate sponsors to easily integrate real-time giving into their everyday meetings, town halls, or webinars, thus embedding purpose into every meeting. Setting up Givent is straightforward, requiring the n...

Duration: 00:08:23

We mentalize our friends and family every day—we read their mood, we adapt, we connect. So why do we talk to our donors like they're just a name on a list?

This episode explores the "empathy gap" in modern fundraising. We introduce a powerful framework for "mentalizing" your donors—treating them with the same intelligence, passion, and emotional depth that you possess yourself. Learn how to stop broadcasting and start building real relationships by asking one simple question: "Are you talking to your donors as if you're talking to yourself?"

In this episode, we cove...

Duration: 00:08:07

This episode provides a comprehensive audio overview of Swiper1, the Click & Pledge App designed to help nonprofits accept payments on the go. Swiper1 functions as an easy-to-manage credit card processing system compatible with both Android and iOS devices.

Learn how users can instantly accept donations by connecting the physical Swiper1 device seamlessly via Bluetooth, or by manually entering credit card information directly into the mobile app.  

We tour the key functionalities that make Swiper1 an ideal solution for fundraising events:

Duration: 00:10:03

Part 3: The Bene Score

This is Part 3, our finale. In Part 1, we introduced the Free Energy Principle, where the brain avoids "surprise." In Part 2, we applied this to fundraising, showing that irrelevant asks create "high entropy" noise that donors are wired to ignore.

Now, we bridge the gap from theory to practice. If we must avoid "surprising" our donors, how do we know what's on their minds? We introduce the Bene Score, a powerful predictive model that uses Bayesian estimation—the same "belief updating" math the brain uses—to bring all donor interactions toge...

Duration: 00:09:41

Ready to elevate your fundraising? The pledgeTV podcast explores innovative ways to use video, empowering you to connect with donors and supercharge campaigns through our video fundraising app. 

Duration: 00:11:44

Part 2: The Entropy of an Ask

This is Part 2 of our series. In Part 1, we established that the human brain is a prediction machine that works hard to minimize "surprise" (or entropy) by solving its most immediate "prediction errors" first.

Now, we connect that theory directly to fundraising. We explore how "inefficient" communication—like jargon, generic asks, and irrelevant messages—is just "high entropy," or "bad surprise," that the donor's brain is wired to eliminate. We'll reframe "efficient" fundraising as a low-entropy, low-friction process that confirms a donor's identity and makes giving the easiest action to r...

Duration: 00:08:32

Discover how PayQuickly minimizes friction for donors: the forms appear as simple opening tabs, similar to a chatbot, on the side or corner of the webpage. The forms are intentionally brief, asking only for first name, last name, and email, avoiding additional custom questions, mailing addresses, or phone numbers. This minimalist approach supports the concept of "Don't Make Me Think," ensuring donors engage less logically and complete the emotional act of giving faster.

Duration: 00:10:02

Part 1: The $10 in Your Wallet: Why We Hate 'Surprise'

This is Part 1 of our series. In this episode, we introduce the Free Energy Principle, a core theory from neuroscience. We break down how your brain acts as a "prediction machine" that is fundamentally wired to minimize "surprise" (or entropy). We'll use the example of finding $10 in your wallet to show how this explains why we prioritize immediate, predictable needs (like coffee or parking) over abstract goals. This lays the foundation for understanding all human behavior—including a donor's.

Duration: 00:09:10

The idea for SmartLink originated when a non-profit client faced a major challenge, having sent 10,000 emails to patrons with the wrong campaign link, making immediate resolution difficult without problematic correction emails. SmartLink solves this by offering a solution where the destination of the link can be dynamically changed in real time at any time, even if the original link itself cannot be altered.

Duration: 00:09:28

 Is "free" really free? This podcast uncovers the hidden costs and deceptive practices behind fundraising services that claim to be gratis. We expose how "donor-covered fees" and confusing "tips" can silently erode your donor's generosity and divert funds away from your mission. Learn why transparency and legitimate overhead are always better than the illusion of free, and how to protect your nonprofit and your donors from financially harmful models. 

Duration: 00:08:06

If you are looking for more ways to enhance donor stewardship, we can explore the specific wild cards available for customizing the personalized email message or review the exact administrative steps for setting up user profiles with limited Swiper1 access. What part of the Shoutout process interests you most?

Duration: 00:13:35

 Unlock the true potential of your fundraising by understanding your most vital asset: the evolving donor. Inspired by the idea that nothing makes sense except in the light of evolution, this podcast explores how tracking each donor's journey and growth with your organization is the key to meaningful connections and lasting impact. 

Duration: 00:11:03

The episode content describes the Adaptive Intelligent (AI) Link, a new feature powered by Click & Pledge. This system assigns a unique donation link to each contact in Salesforce for the life of their presence in the CRM. The AI Link is designed for hyper-personalization, automatically adjusting suggested donation amounts based on the donor’s historical data, personal context, and their giving history and potential. When a patron clicks the link, the donation buttons are customized. The system also adapts based on the donor's Engagement Rank and special Boost Days (such as Giving Tuesday or Year-End Giving), tracking and analyzing th...

Duration: 00:10:38

The first ten seconds of a James Bond movie glue you to your seat. Before the plot even starts, the filmmaker has your complete attention. Why? It's a "pattern interrupt"—a powerful signal that breaks through the noise.

Now, look at your last donor email. Was it the Bond intro, or was it just more noise?

Our brains are wired to ignore "sameness" and lock onto "difference." This is not just human nature; it's the core principle behind the "Attention" mechanism in modern AI. In this episode, we explore why your donors are ignoring you an...

Duration: 00:09:57

This is a special invitation from the Click & Pledge Fundraising Command Center!

We're inviting our valued clients and partners to be featured on our "The How" podcast series. This is your chance to share your organization's incredible mission, your successes, and how you're making an impact, all with zero time commitment for an interview.

Simply complete a short online questionnaire, and our team will craft your unique podcast episode for your approval. We'll then produce and broadcast your story, asking our audience to visit your website and support your vital work. Let...

Duration: 00:08:56

Welcome to your mission control for mastering modern philanthropy! This introductory episode sets the stage for the Click & Pledge Fundraising Command Center Podcast, your comprehensive guide to elevating your impact. We unveil our unique three-pillar approach: The Why, The What, and The How.

Discover "The Why" for deep insights into the science and philosophy of giving, "The What" for an inside look at our powerful tools, and "The How" for real-world success stories from your peers. Tune in and join our community as we explore the strategies, tools, and mindsets shaping the future of fundraising.<...

Duration: 00:07:34