

Million Dollar Nonprofit
Tom Kelly
Welcome to The Million Dollar Nonprofit — the daily podcast for small-but-mighty teams ready to scale their impact without burning out. Hosted by nonprofit growth strategist Tom Kelly, each episode delivers no-fluff strategies to raise more, automate smarter, and finally understand what’s working (and what’s not). Learn how to use AI tools, sharp messaging, and efficient systems to turn clicks into donations, casual supporters into loyal advocates, and your scrappy org into a million-dollar nonprofit. Whether you're solo or leading a small team, this is your playbook for sustainable, scalable fundraising that actually works.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Aug 8, 2025 • 8min
Episode 141: The Ultimate Nonprofit Event Automation Playbook: From Save-the-Date to Thank-You
Event chaos ends here.Tired of chasing down RSVPs, sending last-minute reminders, and getting ghosted after your nonprofit events? You’re not alone—and you’re not stuck. In today’s episode of The Million Dollar Nonprofit, we’re building your Event Echo Engine—a simple, 3-step automation system that helps you:→ Get more people to RSVP→ Actually show up→ Stay engaged (and donate!) after the eventAll with fewer headaches and zero chaos.We’ll walk through the full strategy—smart invites, automated reminders, and powerful post-event follow-up—plus share the real results from a small nonprofit that raised $7,300 in 10 days using this exact playbook.You don’t need a bigger team. You just need better systems. Let’s build yours.Head over to our Instagram and DM us the word "AI' for our Free AI Nonprofit Growth Playbook. https://www.instagram.com/charityauctionstoday/

Aug 7, 2025 • 8min
Episode 140: How to Reengage Your Cold Donor List and Drive New Gifts
Your old event lists aren’t dead — they’re dormant.You know that spreadsheet from last year’s gala? The trivia night roster? The silent auction RSVPs from 2021? Most nonprofits treat those lists like they’re useless. But those names already showed up for you. They bought tickets, placed bids, and raised their hands to say, “I care.”Today on The Million Dollar Nonprofit, I’m walking you through a powerful 4-step system — the R.S.V.P. Donor Reboot — to help you turn cold event lists into warm, re-engaged donors. We’re talking zero awkward emails, fully automated outreach, and reactivation messages written in minutes with AI.I’ll show you how to segment your lists by past engagement, craft messages that reconnect instead of pressure, and build a smart, simple campaign that runs in the background — and brings donors back.No ad spend. No chasing. Just real results from the people who already believed in your mission once.Looking for a place to host your fundraiser? Get started for free with CharityAuctionsToday - https://www.charityauctionstoday.com/auctions/new?el=podcast109&htrafficsource=podcastorganic

Aug 6, 2025 • 7min
Episode 139: Reactivating Lapsed Donors with AI (It’s Easier Than You Think)
Most nonprofits lose up to 70% of their donors after the first gift. But what if reactivating those donors didn’t require more emails, more hustle, or more guesswork?In this episode of The Million Dollar Nonprofit, I break down a proven 3-step system called the Reactivation Flywheel — a smart, automated way to reconnect with lapsed donors and turn “we haven’t heard from them in years” into “they just gave again.”You’ll learn:How to segment lapsed donors the right wayWhat to say (and what NOT to) in your reactivation emailsHow to use AI and automation to bring back donors on autopilotThe exact ChatGPT prompts to build your full sequence in under an hourOne nonprofit used this system to raise $11,300 from 147 donors they thought were gone — all in just 10 days. And you can too.If you’ve got lapsed donors sitting in your CRM, this episode could be your comeback story.Looking for a place to host your fundraiser? Get started for free with CharityAuctionsToday - https://www.charityauctionstoday.com/auctions/new?el=podcast109&htrafficsource=podcastorganic

Aug 5, 2025 • 8min
Episode 138: Why Your “Last Chance” Emails Aren’t Working—and What To Do Instead
You don’t need a month-long campaign to raise real money. Sometimes, all it takes is three emails and 48 hours. But here’s the key—urgency without the hype.In today’s episode of The Million Dollar Nonprofit, Tom Kelly walks you through the exact 3-email flash campaign framework that’s helped nonprofits raise thousands—fast—without burning out their list or sounding spammy. You’ll learn how to structure your emails, what to say (and avoid), and how to use AI to write it all in under 30 minutes.We cover:Why flash campaigns work (when done right)The “Spark, Pulse, Close” email structureChatGPT prompts to write each messageHow to automate the whole thing with ConvertKit or MailchimpA real-life example that raised $3,200 from a list of just 712 donorsWhether you’ve got a matching gift, a micro-goal, or an auction countdown—this is how to build momentum fast and keep donors excited to give.Looking for a place to host your fundraiser? Get started for free with CharityAuctionsToday - https://www.charityauctionstoday.com/auctions/new?el=podcast109&htrafficsource=podcastorganic

Aug 4, 2025 • 6min
Episode 137: Nonprofit Email Subject Lines That Raised $100K
You’ve got a powerful story. A generous donor list. A solid campaign plan. But if your email subject line doesn’t land? None of it matters. No opens. No clicks. No gifts.In today’s episode of The Million Dollar Nonprofit, I’ll show you the five subject lines that helped real nonprofits raise over $100,000, and break down why they worked—plus how to use AI to generate dozens more that fit your mission, your voice, and your donors.You’ll learn:The psychology behind high-performing subject linesHow to spark curiosity, emotion, urgency, and action—ethicallyAI prompts that turn one idea into a dozen headline-ready optionsA simple A/B testing method to boost open rates fastHow to match subject lines to donor segments for even better resultsWhether you’re writing to new donors, lapsed givers, or auction bidders, this episode gives you the tools to make your next subject line your best-performing asset.Looking for a place to host your fundraiser? Get started for free with CharityAuctionsToday - https://www.charityauctionstoday.com/auctions/new?el=podcast109&htrafficsource=podcastorganic

Aug 3, 2025 • 4min
Episode 136: Is Your Fundraising Urgency Burning People Out? Here’s What to Do Instead
You’ve seen those guilt-trip emails: “If you don’t give now, someone suffers.” Yikes. That kind of pressure may get one donation—but it kills trust.In today’s episode of The Million Dollar Nonprofit, Tom Kelly breaks down a better way: ethical urgency. Learn the Three C’s Framework—Clarity of Timing, Consequences of Delay, and Community in Motion—to move donors to action without manipulation.You’ll walk away with:✅ A messaging formula that feels good (and actually works)✅ AI prompts to build your own high-performing emails✅ A ready-to-use 5-part donor campaign framework✅ Real-life results from a nonprofit that raised $18K in 5 days—without pressuring anyoneIf you want campaigns that donors love to open—and love to give to—this episode’s your blueprint.Looking for a place to host your fundraiser? Get started for free with CharityAuctionsToday - https://www.charityauctionstoday.com/auctions/new?el=podcast109&htrafficsource=podcastorganic

Aug 1, 2025 • 8min
Episode 135: How to Turn Donors Into Builders (and Why They’ll Give More Because of It)
Don’t Beg, Build: How Empowered Donors Give More—and Keep GivingThere’s a lie baked into nonprofit culture: “We’re just asking for help.” But today, we’re flipping that script. Because you’re not begging—you’re building. And when donors feel like builders, not wallets, they don’t just give... they stay.In this episode of The Million Dollar Nonprofit, Tom Kelly unpacks the Builder Mindset Framework—a simple, powerful shift in how you talk to donors. You’ll learn how to create messaging that affirms identity, showcases real outcomes, and invites collective ownership. Why? Because empowered donors give more, return more often, and bring others along.Plus: Tom shares exact ChatGPT prompts, email flows, and automation tools you can plug in today using DonorBooks, ConvertKit, and more—so your fundraising runs on connection, not guilt.You’ll walk away with a full empowerment engine. No pressure. Just momentum.

Jul 31, 2025 • 6min
Episode 134: How to Collect Nonprofit Impact Stories Without Interviews or Burnout
Automate Your Nonprofit’s Impact Stories—No Interviews, No StressLet’s face it: collecting testimonials can be a mess. You forget to ask, they forget to reply, and when the story finally comes in? It’s a three-sentence scramble with no punctuation. But what if collecting powerful donor-ready stories was automatic?In this episode of The Million Dollar Nonprofit, Tom Kelly shows you how to capture, clean, and publish real impact stories—without interviews, awkward asks, or email chasing. You’ll learn how to use forms, automations, and AI (yep, ChatGPT) to turn raw testimonials into emotional, clear, donor-facing stories. Plus, how to store and tag them so your next appeal, grant, or social post is just a copy-paste away.This is storytelling on autopilot. No burnout. No bottlenecks. Just proof your mission works—and tools that do the heavy lifting.Looking for a place to host your fundraiser? Get started for free with CharityAuctionsToday - https://www.charityauctionstoday.com/auctions/new?el=podcast109&htrafficsource=podcastorganic

Jul 29, 2025 • 6min
Episode 133: 3 Tools That Practically Write Your Annual Report
Let’s be honest—most nonprofit annual reports take forever to finish… and barely get read. They’re bloated, over-edited, and exhausting. But what if your next report practically wrote itself? In today’s episode of The Million Dollar Nonprofit, we’re flipping the script.You’ll learn how to create a clear, beautiful, and impactful annual report—in a single afternoon—using just three AI-powered tools:✔ ChatGPT for the writing✔ Beautiful.ai or Canva for the design✔ Smart prompts to make it all feel effortlessYou’ll also get real-world examples, ready-to-use templates, and time-saving tips to help you go from notes to polished report fast. No more bottlenecks. No more 2 a.m. editing sessions. Just real data, real stories, and a real plan to wow your donors—and inspire more giving.Subscribe now to The Million Dollar Nonprofit and turn your biggest reporting headache into your next fundraising win.Looking for a place to host your fundraiser? Get started for free with CharityAuctionsToday - https://www.charityauctionstoday.com/auctions/new?el=podcast109&htrafficsource=podcastorganic

Jul 28, 2025 • 6min
Episode 132: The AI-Powered Blueprint for Your Year-End Fundraising Success
Year-end appeals shouldn’t feel like a last-minute scramble. Yet every December, it’s the same story—rushed emails, last-ditch asks, and crossed fingers. What if this year felt different?In today’s episode of The Million Dollar Nonprofit, we’re ditching the chaos and building your year-end appeal in one sitting—with AI. You’ll get the exact prompts, templates, and structure to create a compelling story, map your 4-week campaign, and write every email, post, and text—fast.Here’s what we’re covering:The 3-part narrative arc that connects with donorsHow to turn that story into a strategic content calendarAI prompts that generate all your copy in your voiceA real-world case study (donations tripled!)Whether you’re a one-person shop or leading a full team, this is your shortcut to raising more—without burning out. Grab your coffee, open ChatGPT, and let’s knock out your biggest campaign of the year.


