The Cause+Effect Podcast

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 have a lasting impact, and why authenticity and accountability are essential to healthy culture.
 
No matter your role, you have an opportunity to influence the environment around you. Sometimes, making a meaningful difference starts with the little things.
 
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CHAPTERS
00:00 – Introduction
01:15 – Two Teams, Two Very Different Cultures
07:34 – You Can Influence Culture from Any Role
08:43 – How Our Experiences Shape the Way We Treat People
12:33 – The Power of Being Fully Present
15:23 – Small Actions That Help People Feel Seen
21:31 – Accountability, Authenticity, and Healthy Leadership
24:45 – Letting People in and Leading with Authenticity

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 one-size-fits-all solutions, and why successful adoption begins with educating leaders, creating permission to experiment, and understanding the human processes behind the technology. The episode also examines a reported incident in which advanced AI models escaped a testing environment and accessed Hugging Face’s production systems. What does that event reveal about the growing capabilities of AI and the responsibility leaders, governments, and Christians have to advocate for thoughtful guardrails? AI cannot simply be ignored. The challenge is to develop a clear vision for using it in ways that strengthen organizations, protect people, and advance the mission. This is an episode you don’t want to miss.Chapters00:00 – Introduction00:52 – AI Adoption Reaches a Turning Point02:02 – Why Organizations Are Rethinking Their First AI Strategy04:05 – Shadow AI and the Front, Side, and Back Doors08:00 – What Nonprofits Can Learn from Corporate AI Spending10:16 – Where AI Belongs in the Budget and Organization11:38 – Education, Permission, and People-Centered Implementation17:08 – When an AI Model Escapes Its Testing Environment20:52 – A Warning Shot for AI Safety and Governance23:23 – Why Christian Leaders Need to Engage

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 and Josh unpack the surge in bequests, the growing influence of donor-advised funds, declining donor participation, and the challenges facing giving to religious organizations.From beginning a planned giving conversation to preparing for transformational gifts and building a broader community of support, this episode turns the data into practical next steps. Trent, Rick, and Josh also explore what Gen Z’s generosity could mean for the future and why consistent, story-driven communication is essential for moving donor relationships beyond the transactional. This is an episode you don’t want to miss.Chapters:00:00 — Introduction01:04 — What Giving USA Tells Us About 202506:10 — What Drove the Growth in Giving07:02 — The Rise of Bequests and Planned Giving12:09 — Where Donors Are Directing Their Gifts19:21 — Donor Participation and Building from the Bottom Up24:40 — Rebuilding Community Around Your Mission27:09 — What Gen Z Signals About the Future of Giving31:39 — Telling Stories That Connect Donors to Impact

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 leaders who love their people, model their values, and create an environment where others feel seen, known, and cared for.Whether you lead a nonprofit, church, ministry, or business, this episode will challenge you to ask a simple but important question: what is one practical thing you can do today to strengthen the culture of your organization? Chapters00:00 – Introduction01:40 – Why Culture Requires Proactive Investment04:02 – Culture Is Not a One-Time Event05:39 – What Chickens Can Teach Us About Leadership11:46 – Loving People in the Way They Need to Be Loved19:12 – Simple Ways to Make Culture Real 30:18 – Challenge to Leaders

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 relationship.Trent and Josh discuss how organizations can identify lapsed donors, avoid common retention mistakes, and build stronger communication strategies that re-engage supporters. They also explore why lapsed donors often still see themselves as connected to your mission — and why that should change the way nonprofits communicate with them. For nonprofit leaders, fundraisers, and ministry teams, this conversation offers practical insight into donor retention, reactivation, and building lasting relationships with the people who make your mission possible. CHAPTERS 00:00 – Introduction01:12 – Why donors stop giving02:00 – Economic uncertainty and donor confidence04:38 – The decline in charitable giving07:05 – Why silence causes donors to lapse10:36 – The problem with constant urgency13:18 – Treating donors like wallets15:28 – How to re-engage lapsed donors

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 importance of leadership modeling healthy work, the danger of blind spots, and what Dunham+Co’s 25th anniversary represents beyond celebration.For nonprofit executives, ministry leaders, and fundraising teams preparing for 2026, this conversation offers practical guidance on strategy, culture, communication, and leadership for the road ahead.Chapters:00:00 — Welcome to Cause+Effect01:16 — Data Visualization That Drives Strategy07:11 — The Metrics Nonprofit CEOs Should Watch08:55 — Why Every Communication Channel Matters13:16 — Building a Documented AI Strategy22:19 — Leadership Modeling Healthy Work30:09 — 25-Years of Dunham+Co and What’s Ahead