Podcast Summary: Going Big! with Kevin Gentry

Episode: Going Big with François de Kerret: Zero-Fee Fundraising and Building Tools Nonprofits Deserve

Date: December 1, 2025
Host: Kevin Gentry
Guest: François de Kerret, CEO & Co-Founder of Zeffy

Overview

In this episode, Kevin Gentry sits down with François de Kerret, co-founder and CEO of Zeffy—a fundraising platform that charges nonprofits zero fees. They discuss the origins and mission of Zeffy, how zero-fee fundraising has the power to revolutionize nonprofit work, and what it really takes to build scalable, purpose-driven technology for changemakers. The conversation explores risk-taking, thinking big in the nonprofit world, what makes a great team, and lessons from supporting over 80,000 organizations.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Frustration That Started It All

• François’ drive began with volunteering:
  • François was surprised at how hard it was to get involved as a volunteer in his new home of Canada compared to the seamless experiences in e-commerce.
  • “I just wanted to be useful and give my time for free. But it was more complicated than useless things like buying shoes.” (03:26)
• Identifying a root cause:
  • Nonprofits often have poor technology, not out of neglect, but because they devote all possible resources to their mission.
  • “Building a website is just a step towards the mission, but it’s not the mission.” (06:26)

Zeffy: From Simple Solution to Movement

• First realization:
  • Zeffy needed to be 100% free to truly serve the sector.
  • Celebrated milestones included surpassing $1 billion in processed donations and becoming the top choice for grassroots nonprofits.
  • “The more grassroots nonprofit, the first technology choice is for them.” (08:46)
• Moving beyond a solution to a movement:
  • Zeffy’s scale proves there’s core demand for models that don’t sap charitable dollars through fees.

The Zero-Fee Model — Breaking the Mold

• Pushback from skeptics:
  • Countless industry insiders said the zero-fee model was unsustainable, as Zeffy is funded purely from optional donor tips.
  • “A lot of people didn’t believe in this model… our answer has always been execution and just trying.” (09:30)
  • They started with a three-month trial, aiming for $50,000 processed, and let the numbers do the talking.
• Rationale for donors tipping:
  • Transparency and clarity about where their money goes motivate donors to contribute tips.
  • "Just putting in the forefront that 100% would go to the nonprofit really motivated donors to add a tip. I think that's really the key driver.” (22:19)

Why Nonprofits Struggle to Think and Scale Big

• Tension between ambition and resources:
  • Many nonprofit leaders have ambitions as big as any entrepreneur but face constraints on using donor funds to scale operations.
  • “For-profits can raise money and waste a lot in the process before impact. But in nonprofit, you can’t do that.” (14:04)
• Risk aversion:
  • Nonprofits are culturally pressured to avoid failure, as failing could mean wasting donor money.
  • “If you fail, you are wasting donor money and philanthropy money. And it’s bad. Failing is part of trying, so it shouldn’t be bad.” (17:26)

Addressing Overhead & Dan Pallotta’s Challenge

• Double-edged sword:
  • Zeffy supports Dan Pallotta’s call for more overhead investment, but also recognizes donors inherently want as much as possible to go to mission rather than admin.
  • “I think Zeffy, in a way, is solving this overhead issue by just giving the technology for free...” (19:04)
• Magnitude of impact:
  • By removing 5% in fees, Zeffy gives nonprofits much more capacity to invest, considering many have little discretionary budget.

Talent, Team, and Culture at Scale

• Radical focus on hiring:
  • Zeffy’s core lesson in scaling is that recruiting exceptional people is essential.
  • “Today, we’re only 40 at Zeffy but work with 80,000 nonprofits. A new hire is a miracle.” (27:11)
• How to find top talent:
  • Continuous hustle, lots of networking, and willingness to hire great people even when there’s no immediate fit.
  • "Even today as CEO, probably a third or 50% of my time is meeting with people, networking…” (28:42)
• Prioritization and saying no:
  • Staying true to mission means constantly filtering out off-focus growth ideas, even when suggested by investors or top hires.
  • Great hires are also there to help the CEO say no. (33:11)
• Evaluating ambition:
  • Asking candidates repeatedly about their long-term dreams to spot genuine ambition.
  • “We want to see something in their eyes that they want to achieve in their life.” (34:47)

Memorable Quotes

• On what advice to give oneself:
  • “I would take bolder bets… I think if we had been even bolder, we could just have worked less and be a bit easier. But had the same level of impact or even more…” (40:58)
• On living a life of meaning:
  • “If I had a superpower, that whatever I do will work, what would I do? And then think, okay, what's preventing you from actually doing it?” (42:32)
• Reflecting on nonprofit founders:
  • "What strikes me is the drive of those founders that say, there's one guy, he decided to run from Montreal to Mexico to just raise awareness… or there's just almost every fund does. You see them the weekend they wake up at six and they take their truck and they go drive to pick up the food..." (35:51)

Key Timestamps

• The original frustration & idea: 03:26 – 06:26
• Turning a solution into a movement: 06:26 – 08:46
• Skepticism & model validation: 09:30 – 11:50
• Scaling to the U.S. (the big leap): 23:37 – 25:40
• Lessons on hiring at scale: 26:29 – 29:48
• Staying mission-focused and prioritizing: 30:57 – 33:26
• Identifying ambitious talent: 33:47 – 35:00
• Stories from nonprofit founders: 35:51 – 37:38
• Advice to your younger self: 40:58 – 41:44
• Living with optimism and going big: 42:32 – 43:25

The Future of Fundraising & Tech (François’ Vision)

• Democratization of technology:
  • In five years, he predicts every nonprofit will have access to world-class fundraising tech, just like every e-commerce business does now.
  • “In five years, I think most [nonprofits] will be on a great fundraising technology and a great CRM...” (38:18)
• The AI challenge:
  • He hopes nonprofits won’t be left behind during the AI revolution: “I'm pretty sure this won't happen. Nonprofit will have as great technology to operate the mission well.” (38:18)

Closing Inspiration

• Be bold, think big, stay true to your values, and make the leap:
  • “If I had a superpower that whatever I do will work, what would I do? And then think, okay, what's preventing you from actually doing it? But that's probably the right way to know what you should be doing.” (42:32)
• Celebration of nonprofit leadership:
  • Both Kevin and François repeatedly honor the passion, sacrifice, and drive of nonprofit leaders—and the need for tools that set them free to amplify their missions.

For more insights or to try Zeffy, visit Zeffy.com. For other inspiring episodes and resources, visit goingbigpodcast.com.