Bruce Paul
Nonprofit Donor Research Expert · Conference Speaker · Founder of Donor Pool Builder
Bruce Paul helps nonprofit leaders understand donors, build trust, strengthen their brand, and raise more money. As founder of Donor Pool Builder, the first syndicated donor experience and brand tracking system for nonprofits, he brings fresh, local data on how donors think and what moves them to give.
Bruce has given 50+ keynotes, conference sessions, webinars, and executive briefings, to audiences from small leadership groups to conferences of 5,000+. He turns large-scale survey research into practical steps leaders can use the next day. Before turning to the nonprofit sector, he built global research practices at Nielsen and other leading firms, and advised Fortune 500 boards and C-suites on brand and customer strategy. He speaks English, Mandarin, Cantonese, Japanese, and Spanish, and has worked in Tokyo, Hong Kong, and Shenzhen.
Book Bruce to SpeakSignature Topics
- What Donors Really Want from Nonprofits
- How Nonprofits Build Trust Before They Ask for Money
- How to Increase Individual Donations
- Shifting Donor Attitudes and Giving Priorities
- How Nonprofit Brand Image Affects Giving
- Donor-Advised Funds, Bequests, and the Future of Giving
- How to Avoid or Correct Nonprofit Brand Mistakes
- How Local Donor Attitudes Differ by Community and Cause
- Using Donor Research to Raise More Money
- Making Fundraising and Communications Easier for Donors
What Audiences Take Away
- What donors know, believe, and expect from nonprofits
- The trust signals that make people more likely to give
- Ways to improve donor communications, stewardship, and engagement
- How donor priorities differ by geography, cause, and community
- How to use brand and perception data to make smarter fundraising decisions
- Practical next steps that help nonprofits raise more money
On Stage
Selected Nonprofit & Philanthropy Engagements
| Organization | Year | Topic |
|---|---|---|
| CT Nonprofit Alliance Annual Conference | 2026 | Latest Connecticut Donor Trends |
| Northwest CT Community Foundation | 2026 | Latest Donor Trends in NW CT |
| CT Council for Philanthropy, Connect2026 | 2026 | Connecticut Donor Trends (with Bank of America) |
| CCP Community Foundation Group | 2026 | CT DAFs and Bequests |
| Opening Doors Fairfield County | 2026 | Affordable Housing as a CT Public Priority |
| Celebrate Westport | 2026 | Local Update on Donor Attitudes |
| Center for Nonprofits | 2025 | How to Increase Individual Donations in Fairfield County |
| Fairfield County's Community Foundation | 2025 | Shifting Donor Attitudes |
| CT Council for Philanthropy | 2025 | Donor Behavior and Attitudes in Connecticut |
| CCP Housing Funder Group | 2025 | Housing-Related Donor Behavior |
| The Housing Collective | 2025 | Special Update on Housing Attitudes |
Broader Speaking Experience
CX Week (5,000+ attendees) · Community Bank National Network · Credit Union Webinar Network · BankWorld · Bank CEO Strategy Forum · New England Financial Marketing Association · COCC Client Conference · Texas Bankers Conference
As featured in
Also cited in Credit Union Times, Banker & Tradesman, Banking New England, Banking New York, The Day, and other industry media.
What Nonprofit Leaders Say
“You provided great insight on improving our targeting, and we have leaned into new messaging. The 2 subsequent campaigns have done great.”— Director of Development, community nonprofit, Westport CT
“This is exactly what we need.”— Chief Financial Officer, social services nonprofit, Bridgeport CT
“This is brilliant, really well done.”— Board Member, children's nonprofit, New Brunswick NJ
Background
- B.A., Political Economy and Asian Studies, UC Berkeley
- M.A., Chinese, Yale-in-China / Chinese University of Hong Kong
- Fulbright Fellow in Economics, China
- Certified Client Experience Professional (CXPA)
- President, Rotary Club of Westport Sunrise
- Speaks English, Mandarin, Cantonese, Japanese, and Spanish
Invite Bruce to Speak
Keynotes, conference sessions, board briefings, and webinars, with data tailored to your region and audience.
Schedule a Call