Episode 251: How to Use LinkedIn to Reach Decision-Makers and Grow Funding

Do you really need to be on every social media platform to grow your nonprofit? In this episode of the Million Dollar Nonprofit Podcast, Tom Kelly sits down with LinkedIn fundraising expert Michelle Benson to break down why LinkedIn consistently outperforms other platforms when it comes to high-value donors, corporate partners, and trust fund decision-makers. Michelle explains why cold emails, coffee requests, and trustee address books are becoming less effective and how nonprofits can instead position themselves to be found by funders who are already looking to give. Drawing on her experience as both a former fundraiser and trust fund director, Michelle shares how decision-makers actually use LinkedIn, why mindset matters on each platform, and how nonprofits can build an intentional digital presence that leads to real conversations and partnerships. You’ll learn what nonprofits should have in place before funders reach out, why quality engagement matters more than likes, how commenting can be just as powerful as posting, and how to use LinkedIn without burning out or posting every day. Michelle Benson teaches nonprofits how to use LinkedIn to fundraise without cold calls or chasing the wrong donors. With 47,000 followers, over 5 million impressions, and more than 100,000 likes and comments each year, she has built a fully inbound fundraising pipeline and helped thousands of nonprofits across 32 countries do the same. If you want to reach companies, trust funds, and major donors more effectively, this episode will change how you think about LinkedIn and nonprofit fundraising. To work with Michelle, she offers year-round team training (direct message her on LinkedIn for details), as well as 4-week online LinkedIn training cohorts for fundraisers, CEOs, comms staff, and consultants running in January, May, and September 2026. You can follow Michelle on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-benson-creates-digital-pipelines/ and learn more at https://www.cultureofphilanthropy.co/.