50+ Nonprofit Thought Leaders to Follow on LinkedIn (2025)

If you're in nonprofit leadership, fundraising, or digital strategy, LinkedIn can be a goldmine of insight, encouragement, and practical tips. But with so many voices out there, where do you start?

Here’s a curated list of influential nonprofit professionals and thought leaders worth following and engaging with. These folks consistently share value-packed content, practical tips, and perspective-shifting advice that can help you raise more, grow smarter, and lead with clarity.

🏆 Top Picks: Nonprofit Thought Leaders

These are some of the most recognized and respected voices in the nonprofit sector:

• Beth Kanter – LinkedIn
  Pioneer in digital transformation, co-author of The Networked Nonprofit.
• Jeff Brooks – LinkedIn
  Respected voice in donor-focused fundraising and copywriting.
• Gail Perry, CFRE – LinkedIn
  Expert in major gifts, capital campaigns, and donor-centered engagement.
• Kivi Leroux Miller – LinkedIn
  Leads the Nonprofit Marketing Guide; excellent on content strategy.
• Julia Campbell – LinkedIn
  Digital storytelling and social media pro for nonprofits.
• Allison Fine – LinkedIn
  Futurist voice in AI, philanthropy, and tech-for-good.
• Derrick Feldmann – LinkedIn
  Researcher behind the Millennial Impact Project; expert in emerging donor trends.
• Joan Garry – LinkedIn
  Leadership coach for nonprofit executives and boards.
• Vanessa Chase Lockshin – LinkedIn
  Founder of The Storytelling Nonprofit; donor comms specialist.
• Mary Cahalane – LinkedIn
  Fundraising copywriter with a focus on donor loyalty.

🏢 Fundraising & Marketing Experts

These professionals deliver regular value around campaigns, donor relations, and storytelling:

• Tony Martignetti – LinkedIn
  Host of Nonprofit Radio; always featuring practical sector insight.
• T. Clay Buck – LinkedIn
  Data-driven fundraising ops, passionate about ethical donor care.
• Lisa Sargent – LinkedIn
  Renowned copywriter focused on retention and legacy giving.
• Kirsten Bullock – LinkedIn
  Specializes in board fundraising and development.
• Sandy Rees – LinkedIn
  Helps small nonprofits build predictable, sustainable revenue.
• Claire Axelrad – LinkedIn
  ‍Legal background + fundraising wisdom. Runs Clairification, widely read.
• Jim Shapiro – LinkedIn
  ‍Co-founder of The Better Fundraising Co. Offers actionable insights on major donor strategy, direct response, and story-driven fundraising.
• Cherian Koshy – LinkedIn
  ‍Nonprofit strategist and behavioral economics expert. Shares practical frameworks for storytelling, donor psychology, and fundraising innovation.

📊 Tech, Strategy & Governance Pros

For big-picture thinking, digital adoption, and systems-level insight:

• John Kenyon – LinkedIn
  Veteran in nonprofit digital strategy and training.
• Phil Buchanan – LinkedIn
  President of CEP; expert in funder/grantee dynamics.
• Marc Gunther – LinkedIn
  Journalist covering philanthropy and impact accountability.
• Alice Korngold – LinkedIn
  Board development and ESG strategist.
• Anne Ackerson – LinkedIn
  Nonprofit governance and leadership development expert.
• Neetal Parekh – LinkedIn
  Founder of Innov8Social; bridges social entrepreneurship and nonprofit.
• David King – LinkedIn
  Director at Lake Institute on Faith & Giving.
• Mitch Stein - LinkedIn
  Nonprofit tech leader and advisor. Shares insights on digital innovation, giving trends, and impact measurement.
• Woodrow Rosenbaum - LinkedIn
  Chief Data Officer at GivingTuesday. Shares global giving data trends, real-time donor behavior insights, and strategies for measuring generosity at scale.
• James Martin - LinkedIn
  Founder of Rally Corp and Growth Strategist at The Growth Executive, LLC

👥 Niche + Emerging Voices

These leaders speak with authenticity from the field and often represent smaller or specialized organizations:

• Valerie Leonard – LinkedIn
  Focused on community engagement and capacity building.
• Denver Frederick – LinkedIn
  Host of The Business of Giving; bridges philanthropy and leadership.
• Dolph Goldenburg – LinkedIn
  Consultant on strategy, succession, and operational health.
• Katie Appold – LinkedIn
  Executive director of Do More Good; branding for good causes.
• Amy DeVita – LinkedIn
  Curates and leads at TopNonprofits.
• Kristal Frazier – LinkedIn
  Advocate for faith-based giving and equity-centered fundraising.
• Mario Knobl - LinkedIn
  Turning LinkedIn into a Fundraising Engine for Nonprofits

🚀 Bold Thinkers & Visionary Voices

These leaders challenge the status quo and push the boundaries of what's possible in nonprofit work:

• Mallory Erickson – LinkedIn
  Creator of Power Partners Formula™; blends mindset, leadership, and modern fundraising practice.
• Dan Pallotta – LinkedIn
  Author of Uncharitable and TED speaker; fierce advocate for rethinking nonprofit overhead and impact.
• Kevin Barenblat – LinkedIn
  Co-founder of Fast Forward; supports tech nonprofits and AI-for-good initiatives.
• Tara Roth - LinkedIn
  President of the Goldhirsh Foundation. Former COO of GOOD and lead on Pepsi Refresh Project. Regularly shares powerful insights on civic leadership, philanthropic innovation, and systems-level change.

➕ Additional Voices to Consider

• James Misner – LinkedIn
  Strategic major gifts & campaign planning expert. Regularly shares frameworks for prospect research and capital campaigns.
• Brieanna Quinn – LinkedIn
  Specialist in annual giving, donor stewardship, and retention strategies.
• Mike Duerksen – LinkedIn
  Focuses on direct mail, multichannel campaigns, and campaign testing strategies.

🔗 Additional Influencers from the 2025 "LinkedIn Voices" List

These names were recognized by NonprofitFundraising.com for their consistent, high-value content:

• Jeremy Reis – LinkedIn
  Email, donor strategy, and digital fundraising daily posts.
• Andrew Olsen – LinkedIn
  High-level donor strategy and board engagement.
• Jess Campbell – LinkedIn
  Storytelling, small-shop hacks, and authentic donor comms.
• Mike Meyers – LinkedIn
  Faith-based and international fundraising.
• Katelyn Baughan – LinkedIn
  Engaging younger donors with fresh tech and tools.
• Dave Raley – LinkedIn
  Thoughtful, sustainable strategies for recurring giving.
• Olga Woltman – LinkedIn
  Fundraising ops with a side of wit and strategy.
• David Schwab – LinkedIn
  Email and campaign optimization.
• Amanda Smith – LinkedIn
  CRM and data strategy for nonprofits.
• Kevin Fitzpatrick – LinkedIn
  Higher-ed and alumni fundraising.
• Tammy Zonker – LinkedIn
  Fundraising leadership and team coaching.
• Dan Drucker – LinkedIn
  Donor stewardship expert.
• Jen Wasem – LinkedIn
  Grants strategist and nonprofit development pro.
• Daniel Christy – LinkedIn
  Capital campaigns and development planning.
• Lisa Greer – LinkedIn
  Author of Philanthropy Revolution — donor POV done right.

✨ How to Use This List

• Follow + Engage: Don’t just follow—comment on their posts, reshare with insights, and show up consistently.
• Start Conversations: Ask questions, tag them when relevant, and highlight their work.
• Invite Them In: Feature them in roundups, webinars, or even just cross-post ideas from their threads.

These leaders are making an impact—and if you're serious about scaling your nonprofit's mission, so should you. Oh, and if you want this list in a spreadsheet or similar file format, just saw the word. It's easy to share!

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