

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

Apr 27, 2025 • 6min
How to Build a Donor Journey They Can’t Resist
What if your donor communications were as binge-worthy as a Netflix series?In today’s episode of The Million Dollar Nonprofit, Tom Kelly breaks down The Netflix Strategy — a proven system to transform your donor journey into an irresistible, sequential experience using AI tools like ChatGPT, ConvertKit, and DonorBooks.You’ll learn how to map out “donor seasons” that walk supporters through your story, build cliffhangers that keep them emotionally hooked, and automate it all so that every new donor gets a personalized, captivating experience without extra work.Real-world results? A small arts nonprofit boosted email opens to 61% and donor retention by 37% — just by thinking in episodes, not one-time blasts.Inside, you’ll get swipeable ChatGPT prompts, a step-by-step action plan, and the behind-the-scenes system Tom uses to turn new donors into loyal fans (and fans into lifelong champions).Grab my free AI growth playbook here -https://app.gohighlevel.com/v2/preview/tuv7F75UH41Y7on2cqI9?notrack=trueReady to build a donor experience they can’t stop bingeing? Let’s dive in.

Apr 26, 2025 • 5min
Monthly Giving on Autopilot: How to Build Predictable Revenue Without the Stress
What if your nonprofit could wake up to dozens of new donations every month—without launching a new campaign every five minutes?In this episode of The Million Dollar Nonprofit, Tom Kelly breaks down exactly how to set up a simple, high-impact monthly giving program that runs on autopilot.You'll learn why monthly donors are the real MVPs of nonprofit fundraising, why you don’t need a fancy "donor club" or new website to get started, and the three key elements you actually do need:A simple, human-centered offerA smart, automated welcome sequenceMonthly proof-of-impact pings that keep donors connected for the long haulTom also shares actionable ChatGPT prompts, quick wins you can set up in an afternoon, and real-world examples of nonprofits who boosted their donor retention from 68% to 91%—without extra staff time or expensive consultants.If you’re ready to build steady, predictable, and scalable monthly revenue without the stress, this episode is your blueprint.Set it. Forget it. And watch your impact grow—on autopilot.Grab my free AI growth playbook here -https://app.gohighlevel.com/v2/preview/tuv7F75UH41Y7on2cqI9?notrack=true

Apr 25, 2025 • 7min
Stop Chasing Donors: Use AI to Attract High-Intent Givers
What if your next donor didn’t come from a cold email, a social post, or a gala table—but from Google?In this episode of The Million Dollar Nonprofit, Tom Kelly shares how to stop chasing donors and start attracting high-intent givers who already believe in your mission. Using AI tools like ChatGPT, small nonprofit teams can now create systems that do the heavy lifting—without burning out staff or wasting ad dollars.You’ll learn:Why interruption marketing is failing and what to do insteadHow to use AI to create searchable, donor-centered contentThe easiest lead magnet you can create this week (and why it works)What to include in your welcome email sequence to build trust fastHow one small nonprofit gained 317 new leads and 29 monthly donors in 6 weeks—without a single cold callThis isn’t theory. It’s a roadmap to build an inbound fundraising system that works while you sleep.Plus, Tom drops exact ChatGPT prompts you can copy/paste today, real examples from nonprofits already seeing results, and three action steps to start your shift from chasing to attracting.If you’re ready to build momentum with less grind and more magnetism, hit play.Grab my free AI growth playbook here -https://app.gohighlevel.com/v2/preview/tuv7F75UH41Y7on2cqI9?notrack=true

Apr 24, 2025 • 6min
Why I Ditched Spreadsheets for DonorBooks and Never Looked Back
Does your CRM feel more like a burden than a solution? In this episode of The Million Dollar Nonprofit, Tom Kelly goes deep on the donor CRM he actually uses every day—DonorBooks.Designed for lean teams with big goals, DonorBooks isn’t just a database—it’s your behind-the-scenes operations assistant. Tom breaks down how this powerful yet intuitive CRM helps nonprofits:Tag donors based on behavior, not just data points View full donor timelines for context-rich conversations Use plug-and-play automations (powered by ChatGPT!) to save time and boost giving You’ll hear exactly how to turn donor activity into smart, timely outreach—and walk away with actionable ChatGPT prompts, automation tips, and the 3 things you can do today to make your CRM start working for you.Grab my free AI growth playbook here -https://app.gohighlevel.com/v2/preview/tuv7F75UH41Y7on2cqI9?notrack=true

Apr 23, 2025 • 6min
3 Nonprofit CRMs That Actually Talk to Each Other (and Save You Hours)
Are you juggling 14 tabs just to keep your nonprofit running? Email in one app. Donors in another. Events in a spreadsheet. Sound familiar? In this episode of The Million Dollar Nonprofit, Tom Kelly reveals three game-changing CRMs built for small nonprofits that actually talk to each other—saving you hours and helping you raise more with less.Learn how tools like DonorBooks, Kindful, and Bloomerang can:Sync with your favorite email and event toolsAutomate donor follow-ups using AITrack behavior and boost retentionEliminate spreadsheet chaosPlus, get proven ChatGPT prompts for writing donor emails, automating re-engagement, and building a modern fundraising tech stack.Perfect for EDs, fundraisers, and nonprofit marketers tired of data silos and ready for automation.Grab my free AI growth playbook here -https://app.gohighlevel.com/v2/preview/tuv7F75UH41Y7on2cqI9?notrack=trueGrab The Million Dollar Nonprofit on Amazon.

Apr 22, 2025 • 7min
Beyond Mailchimp: Smarter Donor Emails for Nonprofits Using Instantly.ai and ConvertKit
If your nonprofit is still using Mailchimp for donor emails—but you’re struggling with low engagement, no segmentation, and manual follow-up—you need to hear this.In this episode of The Million Dollar Nonprofit, nonprofit coach Tom Kelly shares how small nonprofit teams are upgrading their email marketing using Instantly.ai and ConvertKit—two powerful tools built for automated, personalized donor communication.You’ll learn:Why Mailchimp no longer works for modern nonprofitsHow to re-engage lapsed donors with AI-generated, human-sounding emailsHow to automate donor welcome series, follow-ups, and segmentation with ConvertKitA real example of a $5,000 gift from one re-engagement emailHow to pair Instantly + ConvertKit for a complete nonprofit email systemPlus, you’ll get proven ChatGPT prompts for donor emails, tips for creating donor tags that make sense, and three action steps to get started today.Whether you’re a small team or a solo fundraiser, this episode gives you the nonprofit email marketing playbook you’ve been missing.Ready to build smarter email systems and stronger donor relationships? Listen now.Grab my free AI growth playbook here -https://app.gohighlevel.com/v2/preview/tuv7F75UH41Y7on2cqI9?notrack=true

Apr 21, 2025 • 6min
The 30-Minute Email Campaign That Raises Real Donations
Can you really plan, write, and automate a full email campaign in under 30 minutes?In this episode of The Million Dollar Nonprofit, Tom Kelly walks you through a proven 3-step system to turn your inbox into a donation engine—without stress, burnout, or last-minute writing marathons.You’ll learn how to use AI tools like ChatGPT and ConvertKit to define your campaign goal, generate high-converting emails in seconds, and schedule the entire sequence to run on autopilot. This isn’t theory—it’s the same framework that helped one small nonprofit raise $4,200 in five days from a list of under 1,000 subscribers.Whether you’re fundraising for an event, a matching gift deadline, or just trying to stay consistent with donors, you’ll get copy-and-paste prompts, scheduling tips, and automation hacks to make your emails work harder—so you don’t have to.Plus, discover how tools like DonorBooks and CharityAuctionsToday help you track results and scale what works, even with a tiny team.If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by email campaigns or stuck staring at a blank screen, this is your shortcut to more impact, more donations, and more ease.Grab my free AI growth playbook here -https://app.gohighlevel.com/v2/preview/tuv7F75UH41Y7on2cqI9?notrack=true

Apr 19, 2025 • 7min
The AI Welcome Sequence: Automate Donor Retention & Turn First-Time Gifts into Lifelong Support
Most nonprofits pour energy into getting that first donation—then ghost the donor right after. In this episode of The Million Dollar Nonprofit, Tom Kelly reveals the exact AI-powered welcome sequence that turns first-time givers into lifelong supporters—automatically.You’ll get the full breakdown of the 3-part sequence, including ChatGPT prompts to help you write thank-you emails, impact stories, and warm invitations to monthly giving. You’ll learn how to set it all up in tools like ConvertKit or your CRM—so every new donor feels seen, valued, and connected from day one.Whether you’re running solo or managing a team, this system is simple to launch and powerful for retention. One small nonprofit even doubled their second gift rate using this exact strategy.Plus, hear how to segment donor messages with DonorBooks and personalize every email without writing each one from scratch.If you're looking for nonprofit donor retention tips, AI automations, or an easy way to build deeper donor relationships, this is your must-listen guide.Grab my free AI growth playbook here -https://app.gohighlevel.com/v2/preview/tuv7F75UH41Y7on2cqI9?notrack=true

Apr 17, 2025 • 7min
How We Used ChatGPT to Raise $50,000—No Gala Required
Can ChatGPT actually help your nonprofit raise real money? In this episode of The Million Dollar Nonprofit, Tom Kelly reveals the exact five AI prompts that helped generate over $50,000 in donations—without a gala, without cold calls, and without a big team.You’ll learn how to use ChatGPT to write high-converting fundraising emails, engaging auction item descriptions, donor thank-you messages, and social media stories that drive action. Whether you’re a small nonprofit with limited staff or just getting started with AI tools, this episode will give you copy-and-paste prompts you can use today to boost donor engagement and increase revenue.Plus, discover how to segment donor lists using Donor Books and create higher-performing fundraising events with CharityAuctionsToday.If you're looking for nonprofit fundraising tips, AI for nonprofits, or easy ways to automate donor communication, this is your must-listen guide.Grab my free AI growth playbook here -https://app.gohighlevel.com/v2/preview/tuv7F75UH41Y7on2cqI9?notrack=true

Apr 16, 2025 • 7min
The Invisible Fundraiser: How AI Works Behind the Scenes While You Sleep
AI Was Raising Money While I SleptWhat if your most effective fundraiser never needed a desk, never burned out, and worked all night long? In this episode of The Million Dollar Nonprofit, Tom Kelly pulls back the curtain on “The Invisible Fundraiser”—a smart, automated system powered by AI tools that helps nonprofits bring in donations, follow up with leads, and build stronger donor relationships 24/7.You’ll discover how to:Use ChatGPT to write donor emails, thank-you notes, and appeal letters in secondsPersonalize outreach at scale without extra staffCreate frictionless giving experiences that convert midnight inspiration into actionAutomate your follow-ups, email sequences, and auction pages with simple toolsTom also shares a real-life case study of a small nonprofit that raised $5,000 in just two weeks—without full-time staff—by putting the Invisible Fundraiser system to work.Grab my free AI growth playbook here -https://app.gohighlevel.com/v2/preview/tuv7F75UH41Y7on2cqI9?notrack=true


