NIO 2025 Featured Speakers

Bold voices shaping the future of fundraising—Great Scott, you won’t want to miss this! Check back often! New speakers are being added faster than a DeLorean hitting 88 mph! 

Jeff Giddens

President at NextAfter

Cassandra Worthy

Founder & CEO of Change Enthusiasm®
Jonathan Pontell

Jonathan Pontell

Writer, Political Advisor

Andy Crestodina

Co-founder & CMO of Orbit Media

Nancy Harhut

Chief Creative Officer at HBT Marketing

Woodrow Rosenbaum

Chief Data Officer at GivingTuesday

Ardee Coolidge

Vice President, Client Services at NextAfter

Moni Oloyede

Owner / Founder of MO MarTech

Nick Marino

Director, Center for Business Impact

Jessica Best

Owner and Chief Strategist of BetterAve

John Michael Morgan

Founder of ACHVR

Anthony Jones

Founder of Anthony Jones Consulting

Brady Josephson

VP of Marketing & Growth at charity: water

Kevin Schulman

Founder of DonorVoice & DVCanvass

Matt Bailey

Digital Marketing Trainer at SiteLogic

More Speakers coming soon

88 mPH Insights

These 15-minute sessions may be short, but they’re packed with the kind of insight that bends space-time (and donor retention curves). They will fuel your fundraising flux capacitor with high-voltage ideas you can take back to your timeline.

Kimberly Bottom

Director of Community Engagement at Feathr

Gabe Cooper

CEO and Founder of Virtuous

Tristan Amaya

Account Director at NextAfter

Brad Duff-Hudkins

Vice President, Data Analytics at NextAfter

Tony Cavicchi

Associate VP, Client Services at NextAfter

Juard Van Dijkhorst

Director, Digital Membership at Oregon Public Broadcasting

Sam Waller

Sr. Digital Strategist at NextAfter

Learning Guides

Before each break, our “Learning Interpreters” will hop in the DeLorean to take us back through the highlights of the previous speakers’ sessions. These quick, energizing recaps will connect the dots, reinforce big ideas, and help you lock in what matters most before recharging for what’s next.

Ben Smithee

Chief Relationship Officer at NextAfter

Kyle Hill

Sr. Digital Strategist at NextAfter

Courtney Kincaid

Digital Strategist, CORE Team at NextAfter

Sam Waller

Sr. Digital Strategist at NextAfter

Jason Roth

Director of Marketing at NextAfter

Innovation Showcase

Innovation Showcases are 20-minute break-time sessions where sponsors share cutting-edge ideas, strategies, and tools designed to supercharge your fundraising.

Crystal Berry

Head of Growth at BetterWorld

Jamie Gleason

Executive Vice President of Client Success at Novus

Nick Black

Founder & CEO of GoodUnited

Tushar Sureka

Director of Sales at VWO

Matt Hussey

Founder of Generosity X

Kyle Hill

Sr. Digital Strategist at NextAfter

Aaron Dolton

Chief Revenue Officer at Powered by Text

Kevin Peters

Chief Technology Officer at Avid

Leigh Goggins

Head of Global Sales at people first powered by MHR

All Speakers

Ross Simmonds,

Founder & CEO of Foundation, Author & Speaker

More Speakers Coming Soon,

Kishshana Palmer,

CEO of ManageMint Inc.

Brian Miller,

Founder of Clarity Up Consulting & Professional Speaker
View All

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Jeff Giddens

Topic: Donor Psychology

1955, 1985, 2025: The Future of Fundraising Starts in the Heart of the Donor

Jeff Giddens is a digital marketing and fundraiser with over 10 years of experience in the nonprofit sector. He serves as the President at NextAfter, a nonprofit fundraising consultancy and training institute that helps organizations raise more funds, acquire more donors, and achieve their mission. Jeff has a passion for helping nonprofits use digital marketing and fundraising strategies to make a greater impact in the world. He is an experienced speaker and trainer, having conducted hundreds of workshops and speaking engagements around the world. He has worked with a wide variety of nonprofits, from small local organizations to large international charities.

In his role at NextAfter, Jeff leads a team of experts who conduct research, testing, and analysis on digital fundraising and marketing strategies. He helps nonprofits apply the latest research and best practices to their campaigns, with a focus on data-driven decision making, optimization, and continuous improvement.

Originally from Nashville, Tennessee, Jeff, his wife, and four kids live in Dallas, Texas. Jeff is a graduate of Abilene Christian University, where he majored in communication.

Cassandra Worthy

Topic: Change

Chemistry of Change: Uncover Your Inner Change Enthusiasm®

Early in my career, when my company was in the aftermath of a $5B acquisition, I almost quit. Fueled by frustration and stress, I found myself on the precipice of walking out of the office and never coming back. Had I done so, I would have become another statistic. Yet another African-American female departed from a STEM-driven industry. Top talent voluntarily resigning during a time of significant organizational
shift. Another change victim.

But I didn’t.

Instead, I woke up one day and decided to view those feelings as a signal that I was sitting in a moment of opportunity. An opportunity to transform that chemistry, that feeling into something better. To choose every day to do something, say something, behave in some way that would move the needle of my work experience towards a better feeling. I didn’t know it at the time, but I was cultivating a teachable strategy
to inspire anyone to become enthusiastic about change, to find their unique power of resilience during turbulent times.

Today, I help organizations disrupt ‘change as usual’. Through a practical and repeatable framework, I show them how they can transform their culture from surviving change to growing through change.

Jonathan Pontell

Jonathan Pontell

Topic: Marketing to the Generations

Philanthropy’s Hidden Goldmine: Meet Generation Jones

Jonathan Pontell is a widely-acclaimed writer, business and political advisor, and cultural commentator. He is the person who identified the existence of, and coined the name for, Generation Jones, and is generally viewed as its global authority. He has spoken often about Gen Jones on numerous TV networks, including NBC, BBC, CNN, Fox News Channel and CBS. He has advised various world leaders about Gen Jones voters, including several European Prime Ministers as well as U.S. Presidents. He has advised numerous Fortune 500 companies about Generation Jones consumers, including three of the largest 10 corporations in the world. Jonathan’s background combines a strong academic grounding in sociology and other social sciences, along with exceptional business success as an entrepreneur. Educated at Cambridge University (U.K.), Jonathan is a life-long student of life, constantly absorbing new lessons, including in the over 100 countries he has traveled to.

Andy Crestodina

Topic: Marketing with AI

AI for Content Strategy and Lead Generation

Andy Crestodina is a co-founder and CMO of Orbit Media, an award-winning 50-person digital agency in Chicago.Over the past 24 years, Andy’s provided guidance to 1000+ businesses. He’s written hundreds of articles on content strategy, SEO, GA4, AI and visitor psychology. He’s also the author of Content Chemistry: The Illustrated Handbook for Content Marketing.

  • Top 10 Online Marketing Experts, Forbes 
  • Top 50 Marketing Influencer, Entrepreneur Magazine 
  • Top 25 Content Marketers, Express Writers/Buzzsumo
  • Top 10 Social Media Influencers, Social Media Explorer

Nancy Harhut

Topic: Behavioral Science in Digital Marketing

5 Messaging Moves That Raise Eyebrows…And Response Rates

Nancy helps you get people to do what you want them to do. A sought-after, top-ranked speaker, she’s wowed audiences with high-energy, example-jammed sessions in London, Moscow, Madrid, Stockholm, Sao Paulo, Sydney and all over the US, revealing the impact of behavioral science on marketing.

The Co-founder of HBT Marketing, Nancy’s been named an Online Marketing Institute Top 40 Digital Strategist, Social Top 50 email marketing leader, and the winner of numerous International ECHO awards for marketing effectiveness. She has spearheaded campaigns for clients such as AARP, AT&T, IBM, Dell, Nationwide, TripAdvisor, SOS Children’s Villages, the Boys and Girls Club, and more.

Nancy is the author of the award-winning “Using Behavioral Science in Marketing, Drive customer action and loyalty by prompting instinctive responses” published by Kogan Page, named a Hot New Release by Amazon, and currently being translated into 9 languages.

Woodrow rosenbaum

Topic: GivingTuesday Data Trends

Growing Giving: Leveraging GivingTuesday Data Trends for Year-End Fundraising Strategies

As Chief Data Officer for GivingTuesday, Woodrow has been instrumental in shaping the global generosity movement and has led ground-breaking research and analysis of individual giving behaviors. He leads the GivingTuesday Data Commons, bringing together a coalition of more than 2,000 collaborators coordinated through eight working groups as well as data teams around the world to understand the drivers and impacts of generosity to inspire more giving of all types. Woodrow brings expertise in moving markets and transforming audiences from passive participants to active and vocal ambassadors. Woodrow is also the founder of With Intent Strategies, an international agency specializing in brand reimagination.

Woodrow is a member of the Generosity Commission Research Task Force, is a past Co-Chair for Global Impact Canada’s Board of Directors where he now serves as strategic advisor, and was previously a Fellow at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard Kennedy School.

Ardee Coolidge

Topic: Future Mindset

The Future Isn’t Fixed: How Fundraisers Can Rewrite the Story—One Relentless Yes at a Time

Ardee believes that the best fundraising and marketing connects with someone’s heart and empowers them to be a better person than they were before.

In an age of “click bait” and robotic campaigns that treat people like cogs in a machine rather than human beings, there’s greater opportunity than ever for fundraisers to leverage digital technology to meaningfully create value for donors at scale.

The world’s challenges have increased in complexity but the solution to the crises we see today remains the same: people are relentlessly committed to bettering their communities through generosity and service, and that’s what fundraisers get to help unleash every single day.

Before Next After, Ardee spent his career working for three national nonprofits helping them scale their marketing and fundraising efforts to achieve success through constant testing and optimization. He helped grow one organization’s email file by more than 550% and their monthly donor program by 300%.

Ardee and his wife Christina have four children and live in West Virginia.

Moni Oloyede

Topic: Marketing Attribution

Marketing Attribution Is a Scam: How to Make Better Decisions Without It

Moni Oloyede is a marketing strategist, educator, and the founder of MO MarTech—a consultancy built to help business owners stop guessing and start building marketing that actually works.

With a master’s degree in Marketing from Johns Hopkins and over a decade in the digital trenches, Moni has seen every tactic, hack, and shiny object that promised results but delivered noise.

Moni’s approach is direct, strategic, and built for the long haul. She teaches the psychology behind marketing, the structure behind communication, and the mindset shift required to stop chasing trends and start connecting with real people.

Whether she’s teaching a room full of founders, coaching nonprofits, or calling out broken marketing logic on LinkedIn, Moni’s goal is the same: to make marketing make sense—for people who don’t have time to waste.

Nick Marino Jr.

Topic: Storytelling

Storytelling That Sticks: How to Craft Digital Narratives That Drive Long-Term Giving

Nick Marino Jr., a 2025 Dallas Business Journal 40 Under 40 honoree, is a changemaker rooted in Garland, Texas and now based in Plano. For over a decade, Nick has mobilized communities to create meaningful local impact through innovative volunteerism and social good initiatives. He is the founder of Tango Charities, which produces Feed The City—one of the most inclusive and diverse volunteer events in the country. Under his leadership, Tango Charities has hosted over 1,900 events across five countries, 18 states, and 73 cities, uniting more than 100,000 volunteers and providing over 7.5 million meals to people in need.

In August 2024, Nick joined the Communities Foundation of Texas (CFT) to lead the Center for Business Impact, where his team oversees the distribution of over $10M annually from their member businesses. The Center for Business Impact is a central resource for businesses looking to empower their employees and contribute to a thriving, equitable community. Building on the foundation laid by CFT’s previous programs, including the CFT for Business and Entrepreneurs for North Texas, the Center offers comprehensive services to help businesses of all sizes maximize their social impact. These services include grantmaking, employee volunteer opportunities, philanthropic training, board placement, and internship facilitation. Additionally, the Center offers guidance on corporate social responsibility, corporate philanthropy, as well as environmental, social, and governance (ESG) programs, aiming to create a lasting community impact through business engagement.

Before his role at the Communities Foundation of Texas, Nick was part of the founding team and, for over six years, was the Senior Director of Marketing at Curis Functional Health, which has been named in the top 7% of the fastest-growing companies in America for the past three years in the Inc. 5000. Under Nick’s marketing leadership the company grew from one location in North Dallas to 60+ locations, spanning 11 states. Nick remains a partner in Curis to this day.

Looking ahead to 2025, Nick is set to launch the inaugural installment of his groundbreaking children’s book series, “Nico Makes A Difference.” These heartwarming stories are designed to empower children aged eight and under, teaching them how to make a meaningful impact in their communities from a young age.

Beyond his professional endeavors, Nick is married to his wife, Amber, and recently welcomed their daughter, Aria, to their family, which also includes their Goldendoodle, Nala. Nick’s life’s purpose is profound: to create opportunities for individuals to engage in acts of benevolence and live with a profound sense of purpose. His journey is an inspiring testament to the transformative power of dedication and compassion.

Jessica Best

Topic: Email Marketing

Fast Pass to the Future: Email Marketing List Growth… the RIGHT Way

Jessica Best has over 15 years of experience in email marketing, CRM, and permission-based data-driven marketing. She’s helped clients drive revenue from customer data in industries such as Restaurant and Hospitality, Travel, Retail, eCommerce, Nonprofit, Universities and more. She’s taught marketers from New York City to Barcelona, from Vancouver to Dublin, and even at SXSW Interactive in Austin. Jessica is the Owner and Chief Strategist of BetterAve, a consultancy focused on implementing the marketing best practices and MarTech harmony she preaches on stage for her clients.

John Michael Morgan

Topic: Abundance Mindset

The Mindset Delorean: Built to Go Beyond Limits

Entrepreneur Magazine calls best-selling author John Michael Morgan the Chuck Norris of branding and mindset. For over 16 years he has been one of the world’s elite consultants helping entrepreneurs, leaders, pastors, artists, and brands such as Starbucks, Disney, Google, Nissan, BMW, McDonald’s, Twitter, and more.

He’s delivered keynote speeches around the world on the topics of mindset and marketing. He is known for his energy, humor, storytelling, and passion in helping you achieve your goals.

JMM is a native of Nashville TN where he still resides today with his wife of over 20 years and their two children.

Anthony Jones

Topic: LinkedIn

Unlocking LinkedIn: Your Organization's Secret Weapon in 2026: How your team’s personal brands can boost fundraising and drive your mission forward

Anthony Jones is the founder of Anthony Jones Consulting, a firm that’s carved out a niche in personal branding and LinkedIn growth strategies, particularly in the non-profit sector.

His journey in the digital world began over two decades ago at Ducks Unlimited, where he had the privilege of building and leading a digital marketing team. Together, they achieved significant milestones, such as raising $40 through online donations and growing a vibrant social media base of more than 2 million followers.

Yet, it was Anthony’s exploration of LinkedIn that marked a significant pivot in his career. Originally utilized as an additional marketing channel for Ducks Unlimited, LinkedIn quickly emerged as a new platform for Anthony’s personal and professional growth. His engaging content and strategic connections on the platform reached millions and led to a series of speaking engagements, podcast appearances, and eventually, a small consulting business on the side.

In 2021, Anthony took the entrepreneurial leap, founding a full-time consulting agency with a straightforward mission: to assist clients in crafting genuine personal brands that magnetically draw engagement, unlock new opportunities, and catalyze business growth.

Brady Josephson

Topic: Thinking Differently

Time Travelers Wanted: Redefining the Fundamentals of Fundraising

Brady is VP of Marketing & Growth at charity: water — a nonprofit bringing clean and safe water to people around the world — where he leads a team of storytellers, creatives, and marketers responsible for growing, supporting, and celebrating the charity: water community and their impact.

Brady joined charity: water from NextAfter where he led marketing and helped launch the Institute for Online Fundraising which uses experiments, data, and original research to develop evidence-based tools and training to help nonprofits raise more money online. Previously, he had his own agency providing digital services to charities in Canada and the US, worked for Charitable Impact — an online giving platform and Canada’s fastest-growing Donor Advised Fund — and led marketing for Opportunity International in Canada — a global nonprofit that creates opportunities for entrepreneurs to help end the cycle of generational poverty. He started his career as the 1st full-time employee for a startup nonprofit, Spark Ventures, doing development and impact investing work in Zambia.

A self-described charity nerd, Brady received a master’s degree in Nonprofit Administration from North Park University and has spent his entire career in the philanthropic space. He has researched fundraising while at NextAfter, provided digital services to charities through his own company, and worked in marketing roles for international organizations. 

An international speaker, adjunct professor, podcaster, and five-time fantasy baseball champion, Brady lives just outside Nashville, Tennessee with his wife, son and their dog Melly.

Kevin Schulman

Topic: Thinking Differently

Time Travelers Wanted: Redefining the Fundamentals of Fundraising

Kevin Schulman is an academically trained social scientist focused on answering the why behind human behavior.

He’s the founder of DonorVoice, a behavioral science fundraising agency, and DVCanvass, a canvassing and telefundraising firm.

He’s also Managing Editor for the Agitator/DonorVoice blog, a top 5 fundraising blog globally.

Matt Bailey

Topic: Data Storytelling

From Data Dump to Data Story: Crafting Data Presentations That Drive Action

Matt has been at the forefront of entrepreneurship and digital marketing.  From developing real-estate websites in the 1990’s to starting his own digital marketing agency in 2006, he has created more than $1.2 billion in new revenue for his clients.

He is a 4-time published author and his marketing courses are used at Duke University, Rutgers University, Purdue University, University of South Florida, George Washington University, Full Sail University, and many others.

Matt is the lead instructor and educational consultant for New Media Academy in Dubai, UAE; Where he has presented for the UAE Presidential Court, Prime Minister’s Office, and the Government Media Office.

He is also the digital marketing instructor for the ANA (Association of National Advertisers), an instructor for LinkedIn Learning, and standards contributor for the OMCP (Online Marketing Certified Professional), the international standards certification and licensing program for digital marketing education.

When he isn’t immersed in the universe of marketing and technology, Matt spends most of his time being a husband and a dad (to four girls) and beekeeping. Whatever time is left is spent reading history, culture, or philosophy books. As a self-proclaimed coffee snob, he absolutely loves a good cup of joe—especially while reading.

Kimberly Bottom

Topic: Creative Optimization

Just Add Plutonium: Design Tips to Fuel Your Digital Ads

Kimberly is a passionate storyteller and a sharp strategic thinker with 15 years of experience in digital media, spending the last 10 years primarily focused on digital content and marketing for nonprofits. With a degree in Broadcast Journalism from the University of Central Florida, and work that earned an award from the Associated Press, Kimberly has gathered, produced and distributed thousands of hours of content to inform and inspire audiences. In her current role as the Director of Community Engagement at Feathr, Kimberly consults with nonprofits of all shapes and sizes on the most effective and efficient ways to know, grow and engage their audiences.

Gabe Cooper

Topic: Performance Benchmarks

Future-Proofing Your Fundraising: Three Key Metrics to Boost Generosity

Gabe Cooper is the Founder of Virtuous, a Responsive Nonprofit CRM & Marketing Platform helping nonprofits build lasting relationships with their donors. He is also the author of the top-selling books, Responsive Fundraising and The Responsive Nonprofit: 8 Key Practices for Scaling Innovation. After serving in a leadership role at a large nonprofit, Gabe went on to help build a series of successful software products in the nonprofit and for-profit sectors. His team’s products have been featured in Wired, USA Today, and the NY Times. His drive stems from a passion to create market-defining software and help charities reimagine generosity.

Tristan Amaya

Topic: Cultivation

The Case for Cultivation When You’re Short on Time, Tools, and Budget.

Tristan is an Account Director at NextAfter, where he helps nonprofits develop and execute digital fundraising strategies that not only drive results but also tell the story of their mission and impact. His work is rooted in a passion for authentic, human communication and driven by a curiosity for what today’s data reveals about donors.

Before joining NextAfter, Tristan spent six years as a freelance copywriter and content strategist, helping nonprofits and small businesses craft messaging that connects. His background as a former speech and debate coach continues to shape how he thinks about clarity, persuasion, and voice.

Tristan and his wife, Michelle, live in Texas and are enjoying life as new parents to their baby boy.

Brad Duff-Hudkins

topic: Leveraging Data & AI

DeLorean Data: Powering Nonprofit Impact from Yesterday's Insights to Tomorrow's AI

Over twenty-one years ago, Brad started in the nonprofit sector as a donor service representative at a sizeable multi-faith organization in Chicago. While there he worked his way up to leading their online fundraising and advocacy efforts. 

He then spent 11 years working as a multichannel fundraising and data analytics consultant for a large nonprofit software company. 

In the years immediately before joining NextAfter, he was the Assistant Director, Development Operations and Analytics at a political think tank where he helped build a data-driven fundraising culture.

Brad holds a BA in Political Science from Hope College and a Master of Management in Nonprofit Administration from North Park University.  He currently resides in the Chicagoland area with his wife and son. In his free time, he enjoys playing table top games with his family and helping coach his son’s hockey team.

Tony Cavicchi

Topic: Multichannel Data

Where We’re Going, We Don’t Need Siloes

Tony loves consulting with clients who boldly want to discover what’s next in unleashing generosity. Before joining the NextAfter team, Tony led direct response efforts for several non-profit brands, including Stand Together, Americans for Prosperity, HSLDA, and Hillsdale College. His relentless focus on results–and testing & optimization to get there–is informed by his corporate marketing experience using big data analytics to follow customer preferences.

He’s still a cabinet nerd from a stint at American Woodmark (NASDAQ: AMWD) where he created fancy predictive models that pretty much said manufacture whatever kitchen cabinets currently aired on HGTV’s Fixer Upper.
Tony loves history, genealogy, magical realist literature, and Latin American food. You can find him experimenting with new technology, from his podcast microphone to his lawn tractor.

Juard Van Dijkhorst

Topic: Testing

“Great Scott! Testing Doesn’t Have to Be Hard: Accelerating Fundraising with Smart Experimentation”

Juard serves as the Director of Digital Membership at Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB), where he leads the discovery and development of innovative digital strategies to drive revenue growth and boost member retention. Since stepping into the role, he has championed new opportunities across email, web, and social channels—always with an eye toward creating seamless, high-value experiences for supporters.

Passionate about forging meaningful donor relationships at scale, Juard constantly explores how data-driven insights and personalized engagement can deepen trust and relevance. Outside of work, he’s the go-to conversationalist on email automation, history trivia, and occasionally questionable travel tips—so consider this your warning before you start sharing obscure flight deals.

Sam Waller

Topic: Testing

Great Scott! Testing Doesn’t Have to Be Hard: Accelerating Fundraising with Smart Experimentation

Sam Waller is a results-driven media strategist with over a decade of experience across ecommerce, digital marketing, and nonprofit fundraising. With a background in high-performing direct response campaigns, Sam brings the rigor of ecommerce optimization to the nonprofit space, blending creativity, constant testing, and performance-focused media buying to drive growth. Whether scaling Meta ad programs or rethinking donor journeys, they are always learning, questioning assumptions, and pushing for what actually works, not what’s always been done.

Ben Smithee

Topic: Audience Segments

Chief Relationship Officer at NextAfter

At my core, I’m a strategist, storyteller, and connector. I’m passionate about helping organizations grow by building meaningful relationships, crafting clear strategies, and bringing bold ideas to life. My career started in consumer intelligence, analytics, and digital marketing. Over the past 15+ years, I’ve had the opportunity to lead initiatives for global brands, innovative nonprofits, and startups alike.

I’ve been blessed to travel the globe speaking and coaching executive teams through business transformation, and built marketing frameworks that help organizations scale by moving from confusion to clarity.  

At NextAfter I focus on amplifying our mission, deepening our client and partner relationships, and helping us grow in both purpose and performance. I lead our marketing, sales, and events teams, share our knowledge with as many leaders as possible, and support our team’s mission to unleash generosity.

My core mission is as a husband and dad. I’m an avid outdoorsman, adventure-seeker, and try to find any way to get on a golf course as much as possible.

Kyle Hill

AI

Sr. Digital Strategist at NextAfter

As a former nonprofit executive, I know what it’s like to wear a lot of hats. My first job after college was at a small nonprofit ministry organization where I was a marketing department of one. I spent the next several years optimizing our website, implementing new marketing strategies, and building a digital fundraising program. I was eventually appointed as Executive Director of the organization, giving me experience in nearly every aspect of organizational leadership.

I used my experience as a nonprofit executive to launch my own freelance marketing service, helping small business owners create clear and effective marketing strategies. With my role at NextAfter, I get to return to my roots and help other nonprofit leaders connect with donors in meaningful ways that inspire generosity. I live in Central IL with my family, where you might find me roasting coffee on my porch, playing guitar at my church, enjoying a local punk show, or deep in conversation with friends about Star Wars.

Courtney Kincaid

AI

People Give to People: Personalizing the Donor Journey

Courtney serves as a Digital Strategist on the CORE team at NextAfter and is passionate about helping nonprofits cultivate and effectively communicate their mission. 

Courtney has always sought to help others. While in college, Courtney started a blog that created resources for fellow students who were struggling. The marketing skills she developed became a creative hobby while she completed her education in social work. After graduating, Courtney worked for a Texas government agency helping children in foster care. She went on to get her master’s degree, working on political campaigns and for a public policy organization that advocated for legislation to positively impact the lives of children. 

After completing her MSW, Courtney worked for a nonprofit SaaS organization as a social media and digital marketing specialist, managing nine social media brand accounts, weekly email content marketing campaigns to 4 million users, and all paid social advertising campaigns. 

When Courtney learned about NextAfter, she jumped at the opportunity to combine both her knowledge in digital marketing with her passion as a social worker. She’s spent the last four years at NextAfter helping nonprofits build and implement strategies to grow their digital fundraising programs.

Courtney has a bachelor’s degree in social work from the University of North Texas and a master’s degree in political social work from the University of Houston. In her spare time, Courtney enjoys cooking, baking, and cozy gaming with friends. She lives in Plano, TX, with her cat, Bee, but can also be found in Houston visiting her two nephews and niece.

Sam Waller

Topic: Testing

Sr. Digital Strategist at NextAfter

Sam Waller is a results-driven media strategist with over a decade of experience across ecommerce, digital marketing, and nonprofit fundraising. With a background in high-performing direct response campaigns, Sam brings the rigor of ecommerce optimization to the nonprofit space, blending creativity, constant testing, and performance-focused media buying to drive growth. Whether scaling Meta ad programs or rethinking donor journeys, they are always learning, questioning assumptions, and pushing for what actually works, not what’s always been done.

Jason Roth

Director of marketing at NextAfter

Jason serves as the Director of Marketing at NextAfter where he and his team are responsible for driving the marketing strategy that will help NextAfter continue to be the best and most innovative Digital Fundraising Agency out there!

With over 20 years of experience in the digital marketing industry, Jason has seen and experienced just about everything. He loves the instant trackable results that come on the digital side and how easy it is to test and continue to improve results.

Before joining NextAfter and the non-profit space, Jason has worked across multiple industries including: SasS, Ecommerce, Manufacturing, Professional Services, Financial Services, and Training & Professional Development.

When Jason is not in the office you will find him at home with his beautiful wife Stephanie, 3 amazing children, and their two dogs, Lucy and Teddy.  He loves playing sports, especially ice hockey, golf and pickleball, and anything related to his beloved Buffalo Bills! 

Crystal Berry

Head of Growth at BetterWorld

Crystal Berry is the Head of Growth at BetterWorld, where she leads strategic partnerships and cross-sector expansion. Her work helps organizations raise money more effectively—unlocking hundreds of millions in fundraising and saving thousands of operating hours.

Previously, she served as EVP of Business Development and Marketing at National Catholic Education Association (NCEA), where she led a 10x growth in diversified revenue streams and directed all corporate partnerships, vendor ecosystems, and go-to-market operations.

Crystal’s background includes founding and scaling three early-stage ventures and serving for over a decade as a fractional CMO through her consulting firm, supporting mission-aligned businesses, nonprofits, and political campaigns. She lives in Northern Virginia with her husband and daughter.

Jamie Gleason

Executive Vice President of Client Success at Novus

Jamie Gleason is the EVP of Client Success Strategy at Novus, where he helps nonprofit organizations strengthen their marketing, messaging, and fundraising efforts. With nearly two decades of experience in mission-driven work, he works alongside teams to clarify their value, engage supporters, and drive sustainable growth through smart, data-informed strategy.

Jamie began his career directing a children’s camp and conference center in New York’s Adirondack Park—a role that sparked his passion for nonprofit leadership and community impact. He has since served on church leadership teams, nonprofit boards, and in consulting roles spanning creative strategy, donor engagement, and organizational development.

A natural problem-solver, Jamie’s happy place is helping nonprofits fix what’s broken and cultivate what is not growing. He lives outside Philadelphia with his wife and three kids and remains committed to helping purpose-driven organizations tell their stories and amplify their impact.

Nick Black

Founder & CEO at GoodUnited

Nick Black is a decorated U.S. Army veteran, social entrepreneur, and technology innovator. He is the Founder and CEO of GoodUnited, a Charleston-based SaaS company that empowers nonprofits to build personalized donor relationships through social media messaging platforms.

A former Airborne-Ranger qualified Army Officer, Nick served 27 months in Afghanistan and was awarded two Bronze Stars and an Army Commendation Medal for Valor. His experiences led him to co-found Stop Soldier Suicide, a nonprofit dedicated to reducing veteran suicide rates.

Nick holds a BA from Johns Hopkins University, where he played varsity football and participated in Army ROTC, and an MBA from UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School, where he was recognized with the Rollie Tillman Award for Leadership. His work has earned him honors such as UNC’s Distinguished Young Alumnus and selection as a Presidential Leadership Scholar.

Tushar Sureka

Director of Sales at VWO

Tushar Sureka is the Director of Americas Revenue at VWO, a leading A/B testing and conversion optimization platform. Tushar has spent over 10 years helping both big brands and nonprofits grow online. He works closely with mission-driven groups to turn website visitors into donors and supporters. Tushar helps nonprofits use data like big businesses so they can get more donations and do more good in the world.

Matt Hussey

Founder at Generosity X

Matt Hussey is the Founder and Lead Strategist of Generosity X, one of Canada’s fastest-growing direct response fundraising agencies.

Since launching in 2023, Matt has built a bold and talented team dedicated to one goal: creating generosity experiences that donors never forget—at scale. By blending performance marketing with donor psychology, Generosity X helps nonprofits grow revenue and deepen relationships through smarter, more intentional campaigns.

Matt has spent his career helping nonprofits unlock transformational growth through data-informed strategy, conversion rate optimization, and direct response marketing. His work has helped raise millions for causes across North America.

Under his leadership, Generosity X has become a trusted growth partner for organizations ready to scale. He’s also been recognized as one of BC Business’s 30 Under 30 for bringing entrepreneurial strategy and innovation to the nonprofit sector.

Kyle Hill

AI

People Give to People: Personalizing the Donor Journey

As a former nonprofit executive, I know what it’s like to wear a lot of hats. My first job after college was at a small nonprofit ministry organization where I was a marketing department of one. I spent the next several years optimizing our website, implementing new marketing strategies, and building a digital fundraising program. I was eventually appointed as Executive Director of the organization, giving me experience in nearly every aspect of organizational leadership.

I used my experience as a nonprofit executive to launch my own freelance marketing service, helping small business owners create clear and effective marketing strategies. With my role at NextAfter, I get to return to my roots and help other nonprofit leaders connect with donors in meaningful ways that inspire generosity. I live in Central IL with my family, where you might find me roasting coffee on my porch, playing guitar at my church, enjoying a local punk show, or deep in conversation with friends about Star Wars.

Aaron Dolton

Chief Revenue Officer at Powered by Text

Aaron Dolton is the Chief Revenue Officer at Powered by Text, where he helps purpose-driven organizations—including churches, ministries, and nonprofits—leverage the cutting-edge power of mobile messaging to achieve their goals. With a passion for driving impactful communication for nearly three decades, Aaron is at the forefront of the text marketing revolution, particularly in how it empowers these organizations to connect with their communities.

He brings a wealth of experience in strategic growth and a keen understanding of the evolving digital landscape. Aaron has a successful history of leading and building sales and marketing teams across digital, SaaS companies, and even a decade in direct mail. His expertise was honed through leadership roles, including his time as a strategic consultant at NextAfter, a leading online fundraising research lab and consultancy, and his time leading and building the marketing team for Givelify, a popular mobile giving app for churches and nonprofits.

Aaron believes the most effective fundraising strategies often involve the most direct and personal connections, and in today’s mobile-first world, that’s undeniably through text. At Powered by Text, he guides organizations in harnessing advanced messaging solutions, including the transformative potential of Multimedia Messaging Services (MMS) and Rich Communication Services (RCS), to build stronger relationships, increase engagement, and drive significant revenue.

When he’s not revolutionizing communication, Aaron lives in Allen, TX, with his wife of over 20 years, Marci, their two children, Ashlyn and Cole, and their 100+ lb Goldendoodle, Chewy. An avid outdoorsman, he enjoys all outdoor pursuits including fly-fishing, skiing, golf, hiking, and water sports. A proud Texas Longhorn, Aaron can be found rooting for the burnt orange—and against the Aggies and Sooners—every Saturday in the fall.

Kevin Peters

Topic: AI

Chief Technology Officer at Avid

Kevin Peters is the founder and CTO of Avid, a system designed to make nonprofit fundraising more effective and less complicated. After more than 20 years in fundraising consulting, he saw how difficult it was for organizations to access the data and tools they needed to succeed. Avid AI was created to bring systems together, highlight key insights, and support more strategic fundraising. Before starting Avid, Kevin served as CTO of NextAfter and worked in digital strategy, web development, and data analytics. He holds a degree in Computer Science and a Master’s in Education from Texas A&M University. Kevin lives in Frisco, TX, with his wife and their two children.

Leigh Goggins

Head of Global Sales at people first powered by MHR

For the past 20 years, I’ve partnered with business leaders to transform their organizations through innovative technology solutions.
 
 My focus is on aligning workforce strategies with business objectives by streamlining processes, delivering predictive insights, and creating personalized employee experiences. By doing so, I enable organizations to unlock greater productivity, optimize performance, and drive sustainable revenue growth.
 
I work across the US and live in Ireland with my wife and 15-year-old daughter.