Fundable and Findable: Getting Out of the Nonprofit Starvation Cycle

What actually makes a nonprofit truly fundable, and not just busy, but built to last?In this episode of the Sustainable Giving Podcast, Dave Raley sits down with Kevin L. Brown, CEO of Mighty Ally and author of Fundable & Findable, to unpack a hard truth: most nonprofits don’t struggle because they lack passion or effort. They struggle because they lack clarity.From his journey out of the advertising world to working alongside nonprofits globally, Kevin brings a sharp lens to the structural challenges holding organizations back. Together, Dave and Kevin explore what it really takes to move beyond the “starvation cycle” and into a model of sustainable, scalable impact, where organizations are not only doing meaningful work, but are clearly positioned, deeply trusted, and consistently supported.This is a candid, thought-provoking conversation that challenges assumptions about fundraising, branding, and what it means to build something that lasts.What would change if your organization focused less on doing more, and more on becoming unmistakably clear?Key Topics They Cover:Why most nonprofits stay small, and what’s really holding them backThe “Fundable & Findable” Framework explainedEscaping the starvation cycleFrom confusion to clarity: a real transformation storyThe tension around “looking slick” as a nonprofitAlso in this episode, they talk about:Why donors don’t read—and how to “get to the point to get to the donor”The myth of diversification in nonprofit funding modelsWhy retention starts immediately after the first giftThe role of leadership as the “chief earning officer”How hybrid nonprofit models (like Mighty Ally) unlock new sustainability pathwaysKey Resources:Get your copy of Fundable & Findable.Connect with Kevin on LinkedIn.The Bridgespan Group Study.Connect with Dave on ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠.Learn about Dave’s new program, ⁠⁠RISE⁠.Special thanks to our team at Sustainable Giving: Tom, Kirsten, Victoria, and Abigail.