Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership
Ranked #1 on FeedSpot's Nonprofit Leadership and Philanthropy podcast lists, Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership is the go-to resource for current and aspiring nonprofit leaders. Hosted by Dr. Patton McDowell and powered by Armstrong McGuire, the show delivers practical wisdom from the sector's most experienced executives, fundraisers, board leaders, and consultants — every Thursday.
Patton brings 30+ years of nonprofit leadership, coaching, and consulting experience, and shares proven best practices for individual and organizational success drawn from his work with hundreds of nonprofit organizations. With 366+ episodes, a 5/5 rating on Apple Podcasts, and listeners in 130+ countries, Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership is where serious nonprofit professionals come to grow. Hit subscribe and accelerate your path to nonprofit leadership. Learn more and access all episodes at www.armstrongmcguire.com/podcasts
Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership
352: Fundraising That Works: Measure What Matters (Greg Warner)
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352: Fundraising That Works: Measure What Matters (Greg Warner)
SUMMARY
Fundraisers often focus on the bottom line—how much money came in—but Greg Warner argues that many nonprofit teams are still flying blind because they don’t track the few metrics that actually explain performance. In this episode, Greg (founder of MarketSmart) explains what leaders and boards miss when they focus only on transactions, and how a small set of operational metrics can dramatically improve fundraising strategy. A major focus is donor lifetime value (LTV)—what it is, why it matters, and how any organization can calculate it using donor lifespan, average gift, and giving frequency. Greg also shares why donors give in proportion to the value they perceive from the relationship, and why shifting from transactions to partnerships leads to stronger retention, smarter prioritization, and more confident, data-informed decisions.
ABOUT GREG
Greg Warner is the founder of MarketSmart, a fundraising technology company focused on helping organizations identify donor readiness and build stronger donor relationships at scale. He entered the sector from the perspective of a committed donor—frustrated by impersonal, transactional fundraising—and turned that experience into tools and systems designed to help nonprofits deliver more value, improve donor engagement, and raise more major gifts.
RESOURCES & LINKS
- Fundraising Report Card
- MarketSmart (resources + tools)
- Greg Warner on LinkedIn
- Tools mentioned: DAF widget, bequest calculator (via MarketSmart site)
- Book recommendation: Asking About Asking (Kent Stroman)
- Follow the Podcast
- Learn more about the PMA & Armstrong McGuire merger