Grant Writing & Funding

Does your nonprofit struggle to retain donors while constantly searching for new ones? You’re not alone.

This challenge is known as donor churn—and most nonprofits lose around 55% of their donors every year. Even more surprising? It can cost 50–100% more to acquire new donors than the value of their initial donation. So how do you break the cycle?

In this episode, we explore a powerful and personal approach to donor engagement using video—with Matt Barnett, co-founder of Bonjoro.

Bonjoro is a platform designed to help organizations build real relationships at scale through simple, personalized video messages. Imagine this: a new donor gives to your nonprofit, you get a notification, record a quick thank-you video using their name, and send it off in minutes. That small effort can create a huge, lasting impact.

Matt and I dive into how nonprofits can use Bonjoro to strengthen donor relationships, increase retention, and enhance fundraising campaigns. We talk about using video for monthly giving programs, why relationship-building is at the core of sustainable funding, and how Bonjoro makes this process seamless and effective.

We also explore the inspiration behind Bonjoro, the company’s unique culture (including the story behind the bears!), their 1% pledge, and even tips on working with virtual teams.

If you’re looking for innovative, human-centered ways to connect with your donors and grow your impact, this episode is packed with actionable ideas.

Matt Barnett is the co-founder of Bonjoro, a customer (and donor) engagement platform designed to help businesses and nonprofits build meaningful relationships through personalized video messaging. With a background in entrepreneurship and a passion for human connection, Matt created Bonjoro to help organizations scale authenticity and stand out in a digital world.

Through Bonjoro, Matt has helped thousands of organizations improve customer and donor retention by making communication more personal, impactful, and memorable.

Bonjoro Website: https://www.bonjoro.com/

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Thanks for listening!

Warmly,
Holly Rustick

Leading the $1 Billion for Good Movement: By 2030, aspiring and seasoned grant writers inside the Freelance Grant Writer Academy & Grant Professional Mentorship will 1) WIN $1 Billion in Grants, and 2) MAKE $30 Million in their Grant Writing Businesses. We are on our way already.