The Psychology of Asking and Giving explores the psychology of generosity, persuasion, and human connection—especially in the nonprofit sector. Hosted by Katrina VanHuss, a longtime fundraising strategist, and Otis Fulton, a social psychologist, this episode explores why people find asking others for money so difficult and how people decide to give. Whether you work in philanthropy or just care about making change, this show digs into the deeper psychology behind asking—and why people say yes.

What happens when traditional advocacy doesn’t cut it anymore?

In a raw and timely conversation, I sat down with Courtney Bugler, CEO of ZERO Prostate Cancer, to talk about the shift from “little a” advocacy to “Big A” activism—and what it means for nonprofit leaders navigating fear, risk, and rising misinformation.

Courtney doesn’t flinch when the stakes are high. She names what’s broken, leads with values, and challenges the rest of us to get louder.

Her message? Chaos is the point. So, we better show up loud enough to break through it.

In this episode, we dive into the evolving landscape of peer-to-peer fundraising and ask some provocative questions: Should we still organize fundraising efforts around traditional formats like walks, runs, and rides? Why do those formats often make sense to nonprofit staff but fall flat with volunteers? We’ll unpack the behavioral trends of different generations, explore whether DIY fundraising is the real solution, and ask the question no one seems to be asking: Why aren’t we talking more about gaming and streaming?

Joining us for this conversation are three fundraising powerhouses: Aimee Simpson, Chief Development Officer at the Immune Deficiency Foundation; Michael Wasserman, CEO and Co-Founder of Tiltify; and Katrina VanHuss, Founder of Turnkey For Good.

Katrina VanHuss, CEO Turnkey, interviews two CEOs who have successfully merged nonprofits to great advantage to their respective missions.

Colon Cancer Alliance CEO Michael Sapienza successfully merged two nonprofits. John Lehr, CEO Parkinson Foundation, has merged nonprofits twice with success.

These CEOs talk about the path, the pain, the purpose and the product of those mergers.

Need somewhere to get immediate help from experienced peers, without judgment? Here you go.

In this episode, I break down the four critical actions every nonprofit leader must take in the face of mounting challenges: double down on major gifts while building community, merge for greater impact, find your people, and prioritize self-care. But why these steps?

I dive into the psychology behind it, exploring how the Just World Hypothesis fuels neoliberal policies that deepen inequality, erode social safety nets, and reshape the nonprofit landscape. Discover how cognitive biases, political ideologies, and shifting donor behaviors are changing the game—and what you can do to navigate this new reality.

Need somewhere to get immediate help from experienced peers, without judgment? Here you go.

Psychologist Dr. Otis Fulton and Turnkey Founder Katrina VanHuss discuss (as if they were on their on back porch...they're married) how recognition works at the psychological level. Part 2

Need somewhere to get immediate help from experienced peers, without judgment? Here you go.

Psychologist Dr. Otis Fulton and Turnkey Founder Katrina VanHuss discuss (as if they were on their on back porch...they're married) how recognition works at the psychological level. Part 1

Need somewhere to get immediate help from experienced peers, without judgment? Here you go.

The boundaries between livestream fundraising and traditional peer-to-peer fundraising are disappearing. Our donors and fundraisers are iterating faster than we are, erasing the difference between these two departments as influencers become content creators who are team captains. This "horseshoe dynamic" requires a restructuring of the revenue department. Not doing so means losing constituents and income.

Michael Wasserman, founder of Tiltify, and Katrina VanHuss, founder of Turnkey For Good, discuss these changes in both technical and organizational terms.

Need somewhere to get immediate help from experienced peers, without judgment? Here you go.