The Cause+Effect Podcast

29:58

Is Your Brand as Effective as It Could Be? | Dan Sumpter

The Cause+Effect Podcast ·

2026/10/01

A strong brand is about much more than a logo, color palette, or tagline. It begins with clarity about who your organization is, what makes it distinct, and the consistent promise it makes to the people it serves.In this episode of the Cause+Effect Podcast, Trent Dunham is joined by Dan Sumpter, Chief Product Officer at Dunham+Co, to explore what brand strategy really means and why it matters for nonprofits, churches, and ministries. From defining your brand promise and aligning your team to

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34:08

Building Stronger Donor Relationships Through Text |...

The Cause+Effect Podcast ·

2026/09/17

Text messaging gives nonprofits and ministries a personal way to connect with the people who support their work. But building a meaningful relationship starts with what you give, long before you ask.In this episode of the Cause+Effect Podcast, Trent Dunham is joined by Aaron Dolton, Chief Revenue Officer of Powered By Text, to explore how organizations can use text messaging to serve their supporters and deepen engagement. From welcoming new subscribers and sharing helpful resources to showing

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35:07

5 Mistakes That Can Derail Your Capital Campaign |...

The Cause+Effect Podcast ·

2026/09/03

Capital campaigns can create incredible opportunities for growth and impact, but even a compelling vision can fall short without the right preparation.In this episode of the Cause+Effect Podcast, Trent Dunham is joined by Erik Rogers, Chief Strategist for Donor Advancement at Dunham+Co, to unpack five common mistakes that can derail a capital campaign. From passive leadership and overloaded schedules to under-resourcing the campaign, rushing into the public phase, and overlooking the value of

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29:39

How Little Things Shape Your Culture | Brian Mountjoy

The Cause+Effect Podcast ·

2026/08/20

Great culture isn’t built through one big initiative. It’s shaped in the small, everyday moments that show people they are seen, valued, and cared for.In this episode of the Cause+Effect Podcast, Trent Dunham is joined by Brian Mountjoy, Chief Culture Officer at Dunham+Co, for a conversation about the experiences and choices that shape the culture around us. Through stories from sports, leadership, the workplace, and life, they explore why being fully present matters, how simple acts of care can

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25:03

Your Team is Using AI: Do You Have a Plan? | James...

The Cause+Effect Podcast ·

2026/08/06

AI is no longer a future consideration for nonprofit and ministry leaders. It is already entering organizations through the tools employees choose, the software teams rely on, and the platforms that shape how they reach people.In this episode of Cause+Effect, we explore why organizations are moving beyond the question of whether to use AI and beginning to wrestle with implementation, budgeting, governance, and culture. The conversation covers the rise of “shadow AI,” the limitations of

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34:25

Giving USA 2026: What You Need to know | Rick Dunham...

The Cause+Effect Podcast ·

2026/07/23

In this episode of the Cause+Effect Podcast, Trent Dunham, President and CEO of Dunham+Co, is joined by Rick Dunham, Founder and Chairman, and Josh Crowther, VP of Dunham+Co, for a practical conversation about the new Giving USA 2026 report and what it means for churches, ministries, and nonprofit organizations.Charitable giving reached $617.2 billion in 2025 and grew even after adjusting for inflation. But behind that healthy top-line number are important shifts in how and where people give. Rick

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32:44

Creating a Culture That Actually Cares | Brian Mountjoy

The Cause+Effect Podcast ·

2026/07/09

In this episode of the Cause+Effect Podcast, Trent Dunham, CEO+ President of Dunham+Co, is joined by Brian Mountjoy, Chief Culture Officer at Dunham+Co, for a conversation on what it really takes to build and sustain a healthy organizational culture.Through stories ranging from chicken coops and workplace brackets to unforgettable moments of caring for people well, Trent and Brian unpack why culture is not created by slogans, parties, or values on a wall. It is shaped every day by intentional

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23:29

Why Donors Stop Giving and How to Win Them Back |...

The Cause+Effect Podcast ·

2026/06/11

In this episode of the Cause+Effect Podcast, Trent Dunham, President+CEO of Dunham+Co, sits down with Josh Crowther, VP of Dunham+Co, to unpack the real reasons donors lapse. Some reasons are outside an organization’s control, like personal financial pressure, economic uncertainty, or shifting cultural attitudes toward generosity. But many causes are self-inflicted — including silence, poor communication, overused urgency, and fundraising tactics that prioritize immediate ROI over long-term

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35:22

Trent's Top 10 For 2026 (Pt. 2) | Eric Gomez

The Cause+Effect Podcast ·

2026/05/28

In this episode of the Cause+Effect Podcast, Trent Dunham, President and CEO of Dunham+Co, is joined again by Eric Gomez, COO of Dunham+Co, for part two of their conversation around Trent’s Top 10 for 2026.Picking up with the second half of the list, Trent and Eric discuss how nonprofit leaders can use data visualization to make better decisions, why every communication channel matters, and how organizations should approach AI with more than reactionary experimentation. They also explore the

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33:02

Trent's Top 10 For 2026 (Pt. 1) | Eric Gomez

The Cause+Effect Podcast ·

2026/05/14

In this episode of the Cause+Effect Podcast, Trent Dunham, President and CEO of Dunham+Co, is joined by Eric Gomez, COO of Dunham+Co, for a practical conversation on key trends and opportunities facing churches and nonprofit organizations in 2026.Drawing from Trent’s annual “Top 10” insights shared at the Dunham+Co client summit, Trent and Eric unpack five major areas leaders should be paying attention to: how to maximize every piece of content, why donor education around tax code changes matters,

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21:07

The Myth of Summer Giving | Joshua Crowther

The Cause+Effect Podcast ·

2026/04/30

Does giving really go down in the summer—or have nonprofits simply come to expect it?In this episode of the Cause+Effect Podcast, Trent Dunham, President+CEO of Dunham+Co, is joined by Joshua Crowther, VP of Dunham+Co, to unpack the myths and realities of summer giving. Together, they discuss how disrupted rhythms, vacations, fiscal year timing, and donor communication all shape giving behavior during the summer months.Rather than accepting the “summer slump” as inevitable, Trent and Josh explore

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34:31

Manifesto of the Future Church | David Kinnaman

The Cause+Effect Podcast ·

2026/04/16

Is a spiritual resurgence really happening or are we just seeing isolated moments?In this episode of the Cause+Effect Podcast, Trent Dunham sits down with David Kinnaman, CEO of Barna Group, to talk about what Barna’s latest research is revealing about faith, church attendance, and spiritual openness in America.David shares why younger generations, especially Gen Z, may be showing more openness to Jesus than many leaders expected, why that openness does not always translate into comfort with

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43:29

The Best Story Wins | Matthew Luhn

The Cause+Effect Podcast ·

2026/04/02

In this episode of Cause+Effect, Trent Dunham is joined by Matthew Luhn — writer, animator, director, author, and longtime Pixar story leader. Drawing from his work on Toy Story, Monsters, Inc., Finding Nemo, Up, and more, Matthew shares what makes a story memorable and why great storytelling is essential for leaders, ministries, and nonprofits trying to inspire action.Together, Trent and Matthew explore why facts alone rarely stick, how story creates emotional connection, why the audience should be

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32:23

Can AI Increase Impact? | James "JP" Poulter

The Cause+Effect Podcast ·

2026/03/19

In this episode of Cause+Effect, Trent Dunham sits down with James “JP” Poulter, Head of Innovation at Dunham+Company and author of AI at Work (coming August 2026), for a timely conversation on what AI means for ministry leaders right now.JP breaks down the fast shift from conversational AI to agentic AI, explains why leaders should stop treating AI like just an answer engine, and offers practical ways organizations can use these tools to reduce administrative burden and create more space for

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26:08

The Fundraising Signals You Can't Ignore in 2026 |...

The Cause+Effect Podcast ·

2026/03/05

In this episode of The Cause+Effect Podcast, Trent Dunham is joined by Rick Dunham, Founder and Chairman of Dunham+Company, and Josh Crowther, Vice President of Dunham+Company, to unpack key findings from the latest Donor Confidence Report.Together, they explore what the research reveals about donor behavior heading into 2026: why more donors say they may give less, how economic fear is shaping generosity, why direct mail still matters more than many organizations realize, how text messaging is

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31:18

Fail Fast, Learn Faster | Matt Potter

The Cause+Effect Podcast ·

2026/02/19

In this episode of The Cause+Effect Podcast, Trent Dunham sits down with Matt Potter, co-founder of PRAY.COM, for a candid conversation on how mission-driven leaders can build, test, and scale with both conviction and clarity. Matt shares his providential story—from adoption and early exposure to tech, to stepping into a calling that led to PRAY.COM’s launch in 2016—and the leadership mindset that helped them pivot from ideas that sounded right to solutions that actually served people.Together, they

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39:28

The Shepherd’s Heart for the One | Adam Mesa

The Cause+Effect Podcast ·

2026/02/05

Recorded live at the Dunham+Company Summit, Trent Dunham sits down with Pastor Adam Mesa of Patria Church for a grounded conversation about keeping ministry and mission-driven work personal. Adam shares lessons from a healthy leadership transition, how Patria's content strategy is designed to be a “front door” for people exploring faith, how Psalm 23 reframes leadership as shepherding, and how God always cares about the one, the individual.The heartbeat of the episode is simple: don’t get so busy

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30:17

Building Healthy Culture | Jenni Catron

The Cause+Effect Podcast ·

2026/01/22

What makes a team want to show up—and what causes even mission-driven organizations to quietly drift into burnout, confusion, or disengagement?Trent Dunham sits down with Jenni Catron, Founder & CEO of The 4Sight Group and author of Culture Matters, for a practical conversation about building environments where people thrive. Jenni shares why culture can’t be left to chance, how “environment” shapes engagement (often more than we realize), and why clarity is one of the strongest indicators of a

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32:21

Strategies for Ministry Success in 2026

The Cause+Effect Podcast ·

2026/01/07

In this episode, host Trent Dunham, President and CEO of Dunham+Company, is joined by Josh Crowther, VP at Dunham+Company, to discuss how ministries and organizations can start 2026 strong. Together, they explore key strategies for effective communication, donor engagement, and vision casting to set the tone for a successful year. From debunking the myth of "donor fatigue" to practical tips on leveraging the new year for deeper connections with supporters, this episode is packed with actionable

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22:34

Fundraising Strategies for Challenging Times

The Cause+Effect Podcast ·

2025/12/18

In this episode of the Cause+Effect Podcast, host Trent Dunham is joined by Rick Dunham, founder and chairman of Dunham+Company, to discuss how leaders can navigate turbulent times in fundraising. With 2025 coming to a close and 2026 on the horizon, they explore practical strategies for staying grounded, retaining donors, and maintaining a donor-centric approach during challenging seasons. From emphasizing the importance of retention to making strategic budget decisions, this conversation is packed

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