RKD Group: Thinkers Podcast

Episode: “Chief fundraising officer calls on nonprofit leaders to embrace curiosity over fear”

Date: January 15, 2026
Host: Justin McCord & Ronnie Richard
Guest: Kimberly O’Donnell, Chief Fundraising Officer at Bonterra

Episode Overview

This episode launches the 2026 season with an insightful conversation with Kimberly O’Donnell, Chief Fundraising Officer at Bonterra. The discussion centers on the importance of curiosity and intentionality in nonprofit leadership, particularly in the face of rapid changes such as AI adoption and shifting funding landscapes. Kimberly shares her personal and professional journey, explores strategies to overcome scarcity mindsets, and calls on nonprofit leaders to embrace innovation over fear.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Introduction & Setting the Tone

• The Value of Storytelling: The hosts reflect on how sharing diverse origin stories in the nonprofit sector continues to offer fresh insights each year.
  "You would think at some point it might get repetitive, but no—everyone’s stories, how they got here, every time it’s interesting and exciting to me.” (Ronnie, 00:36)

Kimberly’s Background & Early Influences

• Growing up in a Large Family: Kimberly attributes her skills in people management, negotiation, and compassion to being the 6th of 7 children and learning to “get along” in a vibrant, philanthropic household.
  “Being in a big family, you have to care for a lot of people… I learned a lot about compassion, negotiation, the art of getting along.” (Kimberly, 04:03)
• Early Exposure to Volunteerism: Inspired by her parents’ dedication to philanthropy, Kimberly began volunteering as a candy striper in middle school (04:03).

Formative Career Experiences

• Congressional Commission Internship: Her work with the Commission on Immigration Reform, chaired by Barbara Jordan, deeply influenced her understanding of policy, empathy, and social issues (06:19-08:22).
• Transition from Politics to Social Good:
  “I didn’t necessarily want to go into politics. I wanted to go into people. I wanted to work in the social good sector and make a difference.” (09:08)
• Landing Her First Key Role: Persistence and taking chances shaped Kimberly’s entrance into nonprofit leadership, including a memorable lesson not to use flashy orange paper for resumes (14:19).

Navigating a Nonlinear Career Path

• Intentionality Paired with Curiosity: Kimberly describes her career as a mix of seizing opportunities and intentionally pursuing growth, relying on curiosity to drive learning:
  “For me, I feel like you could give me a role and I’ll figure it out. I’m going to get in there and tackle something new.” (16:33)
• Embracing Fear and Responsibility as a Young Leader: At age 25/26, she became an executive director with staff all older than her, learning on the job with the support of mentors (16:33).

Curiosity & Innovation in Nonprofit Work

• Sector Transformation & AI: Kimberly highlights the current era as transformational for nonprofits, citing the rise of AI, changes in federal funding, and the need to swap fear for excitement.
  “There’s a lot of fear out there... But if we could change our mindset from fear to excitement about what’s next, there is so much more we can do.” (20:00)
• Scarcity Mindset vs. Embracing Risk:
  • Nonprofit leaders often operate from a place of protecting scarce donor dollars, leading to risk aversion (21:33).
  • Kimberly proposes creating an “Innovation Fund” to transparently support experimentation and failure—helping shift culture from fear to empowered risk-taking.
    “Let it be known… you have this innovation fund for testing and learning new things. Then get out there and test and learn and AB it, see it. Go for it.” (21:33)

AI Readiness & Practical Application

• Findings from Bonterra’s AI Readiness Report:
  • A sharp uptick in AI awareness and adoption—though many don’t know how best to leverage the tools (24:23).
  • Education and experimentation are essential; the analogy of knowing you should exercise but not what workout to pick (24:23).
• Introducing Bonterra’s AI Solutions: Discussion of “Q” (QUE)—an agentic AI for nonprofits, designed by fundraisers for fundraisers, that aids segmentation, drafting communications, and strategic planning (25:58).
  • “Q is working behind the scenes to help nonprofit marketers and fundraisers do more with a base of knowledge… AI is powerful, but you need to have a human in the loop.” (25:58)

Curiosity as Leadership Muscle

• Building and Maintaining Curiosity:
  “With any bit of learning, there’s curiosity, and then there’s consistency. It’s about always being willing to learn, wherever you are.” (29:30)
  • Kimberly encourages nonprofit leaders to set daily habits for growth—akin to her own disciplined daily walking regimen.
    “Whatever muscle it is you want, you just gotta do it. Create that time and force yourself a little.” (31:21)

Intentionality in Work and Life

• Redefining ‘Balance’: Kimberly reflects on raising children as a single mom while juggling a career, ultimately prioritizing presence and intentional time over unattainable “balance.” (32:27–34:43)
  • Memorable moment regarding the importance of truly being present at her daughter’s events, rather than multitasking (36:23): “I had my laptop on my lap at a game—later my daughter said, ‘Whose mom had her head down, cranking away?’ I wasn’t there as I should have been.” (36:23)
• From Failure, Growth: Making mistakes is inevitable—reflection and self-compassion are crucial, whether at home or in professional pursuits (36:23).
• Intentionality as Superpower:
  “Intentionality can be a superpower… the more that you try to be intentional with those around you… the better leader, partner, parent you are.” (35:22, Justin)

Key Takeaways for Nonprofit Leaders

• Upskill Teams on AI: Emphasize hands-on, practical training and ensure human oversight in AI-powered fundraising (39:56).
• Test New Fundraising Tactics: Move beyond AI—continuously experiment with innovative techniques (39:56).
• Strengthen Team Connection to Purpose: Build high-performing teams through clarity, cross-functional collaboration, and positive culture—regardless of organization size or age (39:56).
• Go For It: Leaders must model, encourage, and operationalize curiosity, intentionality, and continuous learning for themselves and their teams.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Growing Up in a Big Family:
  “I just learned a lot about compassion… negotiation and getting along at a very young age.” (Kimberly, 04:03)

• On Making Nonlinear Career Choices:
  “For me, I feel like you could give me a role and I’ll figure it out. I’m going to get in there and tackle something new.” (Kimberly, 16:33)

• On the Importance of Risk-Taking:
  “On the nonprofit side, we’re afraid to take risks… but setting up an innovation fund lets your employees know—it’s OK to try and maybe fail.” (Kimberly, 21:33)

• On AI’s Role in Nonprofits:
  “People now know they should be using AI… but don’t always know how. You need to have a human in the loop.” (Kimberly, 24:23 / 25:58)

• On Curiosity and Consistency:
  “There’s curiosity, and then there’s consistency—how are you training yourself to be curious but also always learning?” (Kimberly, 29:30)

• On Intentionality as a Leader and Parent:
  “Intentionality can be a superpower… the more you try to be intentional with those around you, the better leader, partner, parent you are.” (Justin, 35:22)

• On Learning from Mistakes:
  “We make mistakes as people… don’t beat yourself up, but think about what’s important. Reflect and move forward.” (Kimberly, 36:23)

• The Final Rallying Cry:
  “It’s about learning and adopting and going for it. Right? Going for it.” (Kimberly, 39:56)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:36 – Opening reflections on storytelling
• 04:03 – Kimberly’s upbringing and root influences
• 06:19–08:22 – Impact of early career, mentors, and policy work
• 09:08 – Shift from politics to social good sector
• 12:41–15:06 – Job-hunting stories & lessons in persistence
• 16:33 – Taking on leadership at a young age; importance of curiosity
• 20:00–21:33 – The sector’s relationship with fear, scarcity, and innovation
• 24:23–25:58 – AI readiness; practical adoption and Bonterra’s “Q” platform
• 29:30 – Building curiosity as a leadership muscle
• 32:27–36:23 – Balancing (or not) work and life; the role of intentionality
• 36:23–39:56 – Learning from mistakes; key focus areas for nonprofit leaders in 2026
• 39:56–40:17 – Closing and call to action

Episode Summary

In this motivating kickoff to the 2026 series, Kimberly O’Donnell urges nonprofit professionals to boldly embrace curiosity and intentionality in both their leadership and personal lives. Drawing on rich anecdotes from her own path, she dissects the industry’s prevailing fears—especially around resource scarcity and AI disruption—and offers actionable wisdom for thriving in fast-changing times. Practical advice, such as creating innovation funds and prioritizing continuous learning, is paired with candid reflections on balancing ambition with presence, reminding listeners that the best outcomes—team or family—come from courage, experimentation, and conscious connection.