What if the biggest barrier to your fundraising success isn’t your strategy or your donor list — but your workplace culture?

In this insightful episode, I sit down with Marcia Beckner, a nationally recognized nonprofit founder, CEO mentor, culture strategist, and host of the Nonprofit CEO SPARK podcast. Marcia is the creator of the Culture CARES® Framework, a proven model for helping nonprofit leaders build healthy, inclusive, and empowering organizational cultures where everyone can thrive — and where fundraising can flourish.

Marcia shares her powerful personal journey, beginning with a life-altering ovarian cancer diagnosis in her 20s that led her to found MyLifeLine Cancer Foundation. Under her leadership, the organization grew nationally and eventually merged with a global nonprofit, reaching over 300,000 cancer patients and families.

Today, Marcia works with mission-driven leaders across the country to tackle a commonly overlooked truth: your culture is your growth engine. Without alignment, even the best fundraising strategies fall flat. But when leadership, values, and strategy are united? Teams thrive. Revenue grows. Burnout fades.

💡 You’ll learn:

• Why fundraising breakthroughs don’t happen without cultural alignment
• How to recognize and repair cultural misalignments in your organization
• The essential components of the Culture CARES® Framework
• Practical leadership shifts that reduce burnout and unlock momentum
• How inclusive cultures drive both mission and money
• Marcia’s personal story of resilience, reinvention, and impact — and how it shaped her leadership philosophy

Whether you're an executive director, fundraiser, or board leader, this episode offers a fresh, energizing perspective on what it really takes to build sustainable, thriving nonprofits.

💼 About Marcia Beckner

Marcia Beckner is the Founder & CEO of Culture CARES®, a consulting firm that helps nonprofit executives lead with confidence, unify their teams, and build inclusive cultures. She created the Culture CARES® Framework, a practical, proven approach to healthy workplace cultures. After being diagnosed with ovarian cancer at age 27, Marcia founded MyLifeLine Cancer Foundation in 2007 with a vision to transform the cancer experience through connection and community. She led its national growth and successful merger with the Cancer Support Community, expanding its impact to more than 300,000 cancer patients and families.

Today, Marcia guides nonprofit leaders through executive coaching, mentoring, and strategic advisory services. Her clients have included the Epilepsy Foundation, Colorado College, Colorado Nonprofit Association, Beryl Institute, The Art Garage, Pepper’s Senior Dog Sanctuary, The Collaborative of the SCFD in Denver, and many more. Her passion is helping organizations build healthy, empowering, and inclusive cultures where all staff can thrive.

🔗 Resources and Links

• 🌐 Website: www.CultureCARES.com
• 🎙️ Podcast: Nonprofit CEO SPARK
• 📚 Book: You Are Meant for Great Things
• 🧡 MyLifeLine Cancer Foundation: www.MyLifeLine.org
• LinkedIn

Take my free masterclass: 3 Must-Have Elements of Social Media Content that Converts

Social Media for Social Good Academy is OPEN for enrollment! Class starts Feb 23 so don't delay - sign up now!

Social media is not slowing down.

But here’s the good news: you do not need to do everything.

In this episode of Nonprofit Nation, I’m breaking down what’s actually working right now, and what you can safely ignore.

Because 2026 is not the year to chase every shiny object.

It’s the year to get focused.

I'm talking about:

• Short-form video
• Engagement signals
• Storytelling that converts
• Smart AI use
• Platform-specific strategy
• And building community beyond campaigns

If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed, this episode will help you simplify.

Take my free masterclass: 3 Must-Have Elements of Social Media Content that Converts

Workplace giving is one of the most underused tools in a fundraiser’s toolkit—but it’s also one of the most powerful.

More than 26 million U.S. employees have access to workplace giving programs, and in 2024, they donated an estimated $3 billion to nonprofits. With corporate matches included, the average employee gift totaled $1,744. That’s a major opportunity!

In this episode, we’re talking about why workplace giving is so much more than a matching gift: it’s a strategic lever for building stronger donor relationships, deepening community partnerships, and expanding your reach to younger, purpose-driven supporters.

My guest is Matt Nash, Executive Director of The Blackbaud Giving Fund, which has disbursed more than $1.6 billion to over 195,000 nonprofits around the world. He’s also a former senior leader at Fidelity Charitable and brings decades of insight into donor behavior, corporate philanthropy, and what’s next for fundraising.

💡 Together, we explore:

• How workplace giving is evolving, and what nonprofits need to know heading into 2026
• What’s changing in the expectations of employees, companies, and donors
• How to make the most of matching gift programs and workplace donations
• Five concrete ways to turn workplace giving into long-term donor engagement
• Why this channel is a key strategy for reaching and retaining younger donors

We also highlight a real-world example from Note in the Pocket, a North Carolina nonprofit that doubled its corporate volunteer hours between 2022 and 2024. When a hurricane hit, their workplace giving partnerships paid off in a big way—one company stepped in with space, funding, and logistical support to help keep their back-to-school programs on track. It’s a powerful reminder that the relationships you build through workplace giving don’t just boost donations—they build resilience.

This episode will give you a roadmap to strengthen your workplace giving strategy—and head into the new year ready to grow.

🔗 Links & Resources

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-nash/
• https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-blackbaud-giving-fund/
• https://www.facebook.com/BlackbaudGivingFund
• https://www.instagram.com/blackbaudgivingfund/

Take my free masterclass: 3 Must-Have Elements of Social Media Content that Converts