Rephonic
Artwork for Designing Tomorrow: Creative Strategies for Social Impact

Designing Tomorrow: Creative Strategies for Social Impact

Eric Ressler
Social Impact
Social Impact Organizations
Community Engagement
Fundraising
Marketing
Revenue Generation
Cultural Beliefs
Burnout
Nonprofits
Branding
Emotional Engagement
Transactional Marketing
Brand Building
Rebranding
Social Impact Marketing
Core Values
Good To Great
Social Impact Branding
Risk-Taking
Non-Profit Marketing

Designing Tomorrow explores a new playbook for modern social impact leaders and brands to reach their true impact potential.

Why do some social impact brands thrive, while so many others fail to get traction, build support for their cause, and make meaningful progress? Imagine your impact with truly sustainable revenue and resources. With deeper community engagement and relationships. With more... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes71Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
BusinessNon-ProfitMarketing

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Designing Tomorrow: Creative Strategies for Social Impact

Latest Episodes

What if the biggest barrier to your mission isn't funding, or talent, or market conditions — but the people sitting in your boardroom?

Not because they're bad people. But because they don't have clear expectations about their role. They weren't trai... more

YouTube

What happens when organizations can't dream?

Not because they lack vision. But because they're too busy scrambling to make payroll, chasing emergency grants, firefighting the latest crisis. Scarcity doesn't just drain bank accounts — it steals the c... more

YouTube

We break down the 2025 Bank of America Study of Philanthropy with the researchers who created it — exploring what this concentration means for nonprofit sustainability and the future of philanthropy. 

There’s a number that keeps showing up in conver... more

The biggest barrier to your next stage isn’t lack of vision or resources. It’s the moment you stop imagining what could be and start protecting what already is.

Listeners, now you can text us your comments or questions by clicking this link.

*** If... more

Key Facts

Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Pivot
PivotNew York Magazine

Recent Guests

Rob Acton
Founder of Cause Strategy Partners and veteran in nonprofit governance
Cause Strategy Partners
Episode: Design Your Board (Or It Will Design Itself)
Jamye Wooten
Social impact leader, founder of Collectivly, an imagination incubator for social change.
Collectivly
Episode: What Happens When Organizations Can't Dream
Amir Pasic
Dean of Indiana University's Lilly Family School of Philanthropy
Indiana University
Episode: Fewer Donors, Bigger Checks. Interpreting the Latest Giving Data.
Bill Jarvis
Managing Director at Bank of America Private Bank
Bank of America
Episode: Fewer Donors, Bigger Checks. Interpreting the Latest Giving Data.
Drew Dumsch
President and CEO of the Ecology School at River Bend Farm
The Ecology School
Episode: Why Facts Don't Change Minds
Mike Nellis
Founder of Authentic, has worked on major political campaigns and raised over a billion dollars online for progressive causes.
Authentic
Episode: What Political Campaigns Know That Nonprofits Don't
Jen Nguyen
Director of Post-Secondary Success at the Stupski Foundation
Stupski Foundation
Episode: The Funder Breaking All the (Fake) Rules
Stacey Edgar
Social enterprise leader and Executive Director at International Folk Art Market
International Folk Art Market
Episode: What If the Economy Were Built on Care?
Amanda Litman
Co-founder of Run for Something, author of 'When We're In Charge'
Run for Something
Episode: Amanda Litman on How Real Change Happens

Hosts

Eric Ressler
Founder & Creative Director of Cosmic; Host of Designing Tomorrow.
Jonathan Hicken
Co-Host and Executive Director of the Seymour Marine Discovery Center.

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 21 ratings
  • A totally different show

    I’ve listened to a bunch of different shows in the social impact space, but I keep coming back to this one. The first season was completely unique, where Eric gives away his entire playbook he uses with his clients for free — in detail!

    Season 2 and onward Eric is joined by a cohost (Jonathan) who is an Executive Director at a nonprofit. The dynamic between the two and their different perspectives are great and they cover topics and ideas that no one else is really talking about in the space.

    more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Social Impact Exec
    United Statesa year ago
  • Insightful, clear & inspiring

    So glad I came across this podcast! I’m starting a new role as a Content Strategist for a social impact company and am finding these succinct, value-packed episodes so helpful. And the kind, straightforward approach of the host is really refreshing as a lot of what I tend to come across in the marketing space is edgy, hype-y or so full of jargon I can’t understand it. So thanks very much - your content is a real gift!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    LMSchnee
    United States2 years ago
  • Invaluable insights for a new nonprofit startup

    As a recent founder of a nonprofit in mental health with zero experience in corporate, marketing or digital design, it only took a couple of episodes to realise I need to completely rethink the way I’m doing this. Thank you for the perspective shift and critical information, while I’m still early on in the process!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Pavlek Sun
    Australia2 years ago
  • Brilliant insights!

    As the leader of a small nonprofit, looking to up our game regarding how we communicate with our community and the world, Eric’s insights and clear directions about strategy are music to my ears. I highly recommend subscribing to this podcast.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Agrinemsors
    United States2 years ago
  • The social impact podcast you’ve been looking for🤩

    THIS is the modern, elevated conversation playbook nonprofits, B Corp, social enterprise anyone looking to do good needs. Eric Ressler is one of the foremost experts on this topic, and he flexes his brilliance in strategy, brand amplification, practical tips, tools “how the heck do I do this” teaching so you walk away from every episode armed with something to activate. Best part? It’s all entirely human built in empathy empowers the listener - no matter where they are in the journey. ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Clawyer1722
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners express excitement about the guests and topics covered, highlighting a community of engaged listeners seeking to enhance their effectiveness in social causes.
The quality of content is recognized for its clarity and actionable advice, making it a standout resource in the nonprofit sector.
Listeners appreciate the unique and practical insights shared, finding them highly applicable to their roles within social impact organizations.
Audiences welcome the blend of marketing strategies with nonprofit challenges, indicating a desire for content that acknowledges the complexities of social change leadership.
The engaging conversations between the hosts are noted for combining personal experience with professional expertise, enriching the listener's perspective on social impact.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Design Your Board (Or It Will Design Itself)
Q: How have you seen organizations take a board from that state and elevate it to a more constructive and healthy state, getting closer to that A plus vision?
Work with the board chair to evolve the board into a high-impact group, identify candidates, and bring in new members who can elevate the board's performance; it may take time to redesign the board.
Design Your Board (Or It Will Design Itself)
Q: What should fall, in your opinion and in your experience, generally speaking, in the board's set of influence and oversight versus staff? Where do you see those lines being drawn in a healthy way?
The CEO has a great amount of responsibility to lead, shepherd, guide the day-to-day work of the organization, but in almost every aspect of responsibility, there's a corollary board role that collaborates with them.
Fewer Donors, Bigger Checks. Interpreting the Latest Giving Data.
Q: What are some effective strategies for executive directors and development directors to secure resources?
Executive directors should invest strategically in development and aim for endowment stability to lift above annual funding pressures and ensure long-term viability.
Fewer Donors, Bigger Checks. Interpreting the Latest Giving Data.
Q: How do we define affluence in this context?
Affluence is defined by having at least a million dollars in net worth or $200,000 in annual income, based on the accredited investor standard.
Fewer Donors, Bigger Checks. Interpreting the Latest Giving Data.
Q: Amir, how should frontline fundraisers approach this moment strategically?
Fundraisers should maintain relationships with their donor community, as those who paused giving may return, and create compelling cases for support that address societal imbalances.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Content focuses on exploring contemporary strategies and mindsets that enable social impact organizations and leaders to thrive in a competitive landscape. Central themes include philanthropy, community engagement, storytelling, and strategic partnerships, with episodes ranging from discussions on funding challenges and major donor dynamics to the importance of authenticity in messaging. The podcast emphasizes facilitating tangible changes in the social impact sector through actionable insights and critical reflections on common practices within nonprofits and social enterprises. Noteworthy is the commitment to uncovering real-world challenges while offering pragmatic solutions for organizations striving for significant community influence.... more

Where can I find podcast stats for this podcast?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to this podcast and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does this podcast get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for this podcast, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for this podcast?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for this podcast, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does this podcast have?

To see how many followers or subscribers this podcast has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to this podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with this podcast:

1. Pivot

How many episodes of this podcast are there?

this podcast launched 2 years ago and published 71 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact this podcast?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for this podcast?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for this podcast from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for this podcast?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of this podcast. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Rob Acton
2. Jamye Wooten
3. Amir Pasic
4. Bill Jarvis
5. Drew Dumsch
6. Mike Nellis
7. Jen Nguyen
8. Stacey Edgar

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days