Podcast Summary: Nonprofit Nation with Julia Campbell
Episode Title: Harnessing Tech to Improve Child Welfare with Ben Sand
Date: March 26, 2026
Guest: Ben Sand, Founder and CEO of The Contingent

Episode Overview

This episode explores the intersection of technology, innovation, and child welfare, focusing on how data-driven and tech-forward strategies can radically improve foster care recruitment and child welfare services. Host Julia Campbell interviews Ben Sand of The Contingent, who shares practical insights and stories from his organization's pioneering use of targeted digital engagement, innovative nonprofit models, and AI to mobilize communities and scale impact.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Ben Sand’s Journey and the Birth of The Contingent

• Ben Sand has spent over 25 years in the nonprofit sector focused on vulnerable youth and families.
  • Quote: “We built an organization to try to inspire innovation and to imagine how to think differently and do things differently.” (03:20)
• The Contingent was conceived as a “venture nonprofit,” constantly pushing for innovation through its "action lab", launching 20+ initiatives—some successes, some failures.
  • Emphasis on experimenting, risk-taking, and learning from both scalable growth and “crashing and burning.” (05:10)

2. The Aha Moment: Tech for Good in Child Welfare

• Personal realization: nonprofits were not matching the complexity of foster care problems with equally robust solutions.
• The 2019 Oregon foster care crisis and lawsuit pushed The Contingent into statewide foster parent recruitment, leading to a pivotal partnership with Microsoft and a data-driven approach.
  • Quote: “We could set up a booth at the county fair...and we wouldn’t even scratch the surface of actually meeting the need.” (08:42)
  • Memorable Moment: Ben referencing the Atlantic article “When the Nerds Go Marching In,” inspiring the idea to “hack” political mobilization tech for social good. (09:02)

3. The Shift: From Ground Game to Air Game

• Traditional outreach (“ground game”)—tabling, coffee meetings, presentations—was useful for learning but inadequate at scale.
  • Quote: “We were caffeinated as hell, but we were failing at finding the foster parent.” (10:17)
• Transition to “air game”: leveraging data and targeted digital messaging to reach and engage the right people at scale.

Timestamps:

• [10:53] Air game approach: digitizing psychographics, targeting the 5% of the population likely to consider fostering, and localizing engagement.
• [11:58] “It’s absolutely brain science. Understanding psychographics and trying to speak the language to people that...are more predisposed to say yes.”

4. Hyper-Local and Personalized Outreach

• Using large datasets and market segmentation for hyper-local, personalized invitations (e.g., “Julia, in your zip code, there are currently three children in foster care…”).
  • Quote: “It’s to say, Julia, in your zip code. There are currently three children in foster care...” (12:08)
• Balancing reach and respect for privacy; dealing with occasional pushback about targeted ads, but results validate the approach. (14:11)

5. Application Beyond Foster Care & Sector-Wide Tech Lag

• Techniques are adaptable to a range of social causes, but the nonprofit sector lags in adopting data, tech, and ethical digital engagement.
  • Recommendation to proactively address board/executive concerns about security, ethics, and tech investment.
  • Quote: “There’s also an ethical question of not considering employing these tools and strategies because you know, quite frankly, we need more people to get involved.” (19:42)

6. Moving Beyond Awareness to Action

• Awareness alone is insufficient; personal invitations to participate are critical.
  • Quote: “The problem is not awareness. The problem is that you have never been asked to participate.” (20:33)
• Advocates for an “engagement continuum”—offering multiple, accessible options for involvement and using technology to facilitate progressive engagement. (21:39)
• “Moves management” digitized, from micro-actions (donating an item) to major commitments (fostering).

7. Constructing Effective Messaging and A/B Testing

• Success starts with listening to those already engaged and analyzing their motivations.
  • Quote: “It starts by listening to the people that have already said yes. What drove them, what motivated them to get involved?” (24:26)
• Use of A/B testing and creating “lookalike audiences” to target those most likely to respond, with iterative message refinement. (25:51)

8. Scaling Success & Public-Private Collaboration

• The Contingent is now leading statewide foster care recruitment in Oregon, Arkansas, and Tennessee, with plans for further expansion.
• Discussion of government limitations (“liability-minded, bureaucratically organized organizations”) and the nonprofit sector’s unique currency: trust.
  • Quote: “Our currency ... is trust.” (28:36)
• Nonprofits are positioned to innovate and engage communities in ways government cannot.

9. AI & Tech Stack: Tools, Integration, and Organizational Readiness

• The most important technical investment is integrating your tech stack: CRM, data storage, automation, and AI tools.
  • Quote: “The cornerstone is your CRM ...organizations need to first try to analyze: is our system aligned?” (31:10)
• AI is a force-multiplier, but only if clean, connected systems are in place.
  • Advocates for sector-wide investment: “The cost of not doing it is higher than the cost of doing it.” (33:29)

10. Words of Hope & Advice for Nonprofit Leaders

• Community will engage—if nonprofits provide clear, simple, and immediate opportunities for involvement.
  • Quote: “There’s not an empathy problem…. Neighbors want to love their neighbors. We need to talk to our neighbors in ways that they consume information and give them the ability to respond...” (34:59)
• Final advice: Be bold with innovation, embrace technology, and avoid being left behind.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “We were caffeinated as hell, but we were failing at finding the foster parent.” – Ben Sand [10:17]
• “Only 5% of the population will ever even consider becoming a foster parent.... you’re looking for a needle in a field of haystacks.” – Ben Sand [21:20]
• “The cost of not doing it is higher than the cost of doing it.” – Ben Sand [33:29]
• “Our currency...is trust.” – Ben Sand [28:36]
• “Simple, clear, and quickly activates.” – Ben Sand [36:20]

Important Timestamps

• [03:07] Ben’s nonprofit journey & Contingent’s approach
• [05:03] “Venture nonprofit” model explanation
• [06:16] Tech’s potential for social good—an ethical dilemma
• [09:02] “When the Nerds Go Marching In” & hacking political machines
• [10:53] Air game vs. ground game explained
• [12:08] Localized, personalized outreach
• [14:11] Managing feedback and pushback about digital targeting
• [18:25] Advice for leaders facing tech adoption resistance
• [20:33] Awareness vs. participation paradigm
• [21:39] Building an engagement continuum
• [24:26] Messaging, motivation, and A/B testing
• [26:42] Scaling, government partnerships, and national trends
• [28:36] The nonprofit "currency" of trust
• [31:10] AI, CRMs, and building a connected tech stack
• [34:59] Words of hope and practical advice for sector leaders
• [36:43] Where to connect with Ben Sand and The Contingent

Connect & Learn More

• Ben Sand on LinkedIn
• Organization: thecontingent.org
• Signature program: Every Child (in Oregon, Arkansas, Tennessee)

Tone:
The conversation is open, passionate, and practical—full of real-world stories, technological insights, and encouragement for nonprofit leaders to embrace digital tools and data without fear. Ben is candid about failures, driven by mission, and bullish on tech as a lever for systemic change.

For listeners:
Whether you work in foster care, another grassroots field, or nonprofit tech, this episode provides a roadmap for scaling social impact with innovation, practical steps for embracing digital strategies, and encouragement to lead with both heart and data.