All About Supporting Philanthropy

Today, we're diving into a topic that's reshaping the world of giving—how artificial intelligence is transforming philanthropic fundraising. Our guest today is Ashutosh Nandeshwar, an expert in technology and social impact. Ashutosh has worked at the cutting edge of AI development and is passionate about its potential to drive positive change in society. He's here to share his insights into how AI can make fundraising more efficient, inclusive, and far-reaching, while also addressing some of the challenges that come with integrating these technologies into the nonprofit sector. In this episode, we'll discuss how AI is enhancing donor engagement, optimizing fundraising campaigns, and providing nonprofits with the tools they need to scale their efforts like never before. Whether you're in the world of philanthropy or just interested in the future of giving, this is an episode you won't want to miss!

The podcast team of Meg Padovani, Jianell Present, Ian McVey, and Jay Ballinger talk about the anticipation and excitement of this year's aasp annual conference - Summit.   aasp : https://advserv.org 2024 aasp Summit : https://as.memberclicks.net episodes : https://advserv.libsyn.com/

Philanthropy Revolution - written by Lisa Greer and Larissa Kostoff - produces a polarizing reaction to its central theme of how Fundraisers and Development Officers miss the mark when asking for donations. Meg Padovani offers her views on this book and invites you to weigh in on the discussion.   Philanthropy Revolution How to Inspire Donors, Build Relationships and Make a Difference By Lisa Greer, Larissa Kostoff 368 pages   Participate in the Discussion by adding your thoughts to this thread: https://aasp.connectedcommunity.org/discussion/book-philanthropy-revolution-by-lisa-greer 00:00 - Philanthropy Revolution Book Report 04:36 - The Book Is Aimed At Development Officers 06:27 - Some Redeeming Takeaways 07:44 - A Heavy Focus on DAFs 08:55 - Statistics from the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy 09:48 - Citations and Sources at the End of the Book 11:16 - Reviews Are Polarized 12:37 - An Invitation To Comment On The Book Association of Advancement Services Professionals (aasp) advserv.org  

In doing research on the data-driven business approach, Jay highlights two books he read along the way. This book report episode has insights and descriptions on two books related to being a Data Driven enterprise and how they can help you understand a data-driven culture and how nonprofits can thrive when they focus on what the data in telling them.   Data Drive - Creating a Data Culture by DJ Patil and Hilary Mason O'Reilly Media, Inc. Published 2015 ISBN: 9781491921197   Data Driven Nonprofits by Steve MacLaughlin Saltire Press Published 2016 ISBN: 9780988850712 00.00 Intro: So much data, so many questions 01.00 (Book 1) Data Driven: Creating a Data Culture 04.00 (Book 2) Data driven non-profits  

In today's episode Jianell talks with Kate Nimety of the Zuri Group. Kate shares insights on the evolution of advancement services, the future of fund management, the importance of scalable solutions, and a horror story about a CRM change. aasp - The Association of Advancement Services Professionals - advserv.org The Zuri Group - zurigroup.com    

The many components of our identities connect to form a unique human experience that is examined and explored further in “Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for Advancement Services – Best Practices for Today's Success.” Join aasp for a book report and contributing author conversation on this free publication that engages readers through thoughtful delivery, encouraging us to uniquely make good choices. No matter the stage of journey, you'll feel inspired to ask valuable questions within critical areas of non-profit data services: acquisition, storage and usage.  00.00 Intro: Where do we start? 01.30 Book review 04.40 Summary on sections 11.50 Closing thoughts 12.40 Contributing authors - Intros 14.55 DEI vs ethics 17.10 Task force structure and action plan 20.00 Giving credit where credit is due 21.15 What is the book – what is it for? 25.45 Owning your data 31.00 Making a contribution 37.30 Valuable surprises  DEI for Advancement Services at aasp : https://www.advserv.org/dei-for-advancement-services aasp Best Practices Library : https://aasp.connectedcommunity.org/resource-libraries/best-practices-library    

Celebrating Our Wins through the Annual Aspire Awards Fellow Advancement Service professionals share their perspectives and experiences with the annual Aspire Awards, designed to recognize colleagues for their accomplishments. Become inspired and get ready to document your achievements after receiving advice from both sides of the award process. Robin and Sholanda will motivate future submissions by explaining how to best describe an innovative, complex project and measure success through impact. The size of your team and the size of the project may not matter as much as you would expect it to. It is the size of your story and the impact your project had on your foundation that matters most.   0.00 Intro: Tell your story 1.30 Diamond Award Winner Intro, Robyn Doughty 3.00 How to Start the Submission Process 7.30 Describe the Impact of Your Improvement 10.05 Budgeting Time and Effort 13.25 Selecting a Project 14.40 Click Submit, and Then What Happens? 18.20 Is It Worth It?  24.55 Juror Intro, Sholanda Martin 27.43 Becoming a Juror 28.40 The Juror Experience 29.50 What Does a Juror Look For? 34.05 Advice on ‘Worthy' Ideas 43.28 Apply and See What Happens

Chelsea Lamego and Alejandro Stevenson-Duran, co-founders of Fundminer, discuss their journey in building their company and the challenges they aim to solve in the fundraising and advancement services industry. They share how they met and started working together, the development of their product, and their experience attending the AASP Summit. They also highlight the importance of self-service and scalability in their platform, as well as the role of artificial intelligence in automating repetitive tasks. They offer advice for others looking to build their own solutions and emphasize the value of community and mentorship.

Dr. Becky Frantz is the Executive Director of Customer Service for Development and Alumni Relations at the University of California at Davis. She shares her journey in philanthropy and involvement with the Association of Advancement Services Professionals (aasp). She emphasizes the benefits of volunteering and offers advice for pursuing professional development and volunteerism. Becky also discusses the aasp mentorship program and the value of finding mentor matches in the same or different industry. She highlights the importance of formal education in philanthropy and suggests areas for degree programs or courses. She also recommends aasp's best practice webinars and the aasp Connect platform as valuable resources for learning. - Volunteering in the advancement services field can provide valuable learning opportunities and personal growth. - The aasp mentorship program offers a platform for individuals to connect and learn from each other. - Formal education in philanthropy and nonprofit management is becoming more available and can provide in-depth knowledge and skills. - aasp provides resources such as best practice webinars and the aasp Connect platform for continuous learning and professional development.  - aasp is an inclusive association that welcomes organizations from various sectors and sizes. - aasp Connect and best practices resources are valuable tools for advancement professionals. - Volunteering with aasp offers opportunities to contribute and learn from others.

Data Science for Fundraising by Ashutosh Nandeshwar and Rodger Devine is a comprehensive book that covers topics such as learning R, predictive analytics, and data visualization. The book provides step-by-step instructions and guidance on implementing these concepts. It is written in a casual and approachable language, making it easy to follow along. The authors also provide additional resources and citations for further exploration. Overall, the book is highly recommended for anyone interested in data analytics and fundraising.

Summary In this podcast episode, Meg Padovani discusses the book 'The Little Book of Gold: Fundraising for Small and Very Small Nonprofits' by Eric Hanberg. She highlights the approachability and value of the book, emphasizing its relevance for both small and large organizations. Meg explores the importance of making fundraising goals approachable and shares insights on starting small and building relationships. She also appreciates the casual and supportive tone of the book, which makes it feel like a conversation with the author. Meg concludes by emphasizing the significance of human connection in successful fundraising and the hope and inspiration the book provides.   Takeaways Fundraising goals should be approachable and focus on building relationships. Starting small and cultivating relationships is key to successful fundraising. The book 'The Little Book of Gold' is valuable for both small and large organizations. The casual and supportive tone of the book makes it an enjoyable read. Human connection is at the heart of successful fundraising.

Staying Connected with Mark DeFelippis A leader in the Advancement Services industry, Mark DeFelippis shares familiar career comforts within his professional journey, starting with falling in to a position and finding a home. This personal perspective is a story of evolution and engagement, highlighting the importance of human connection in today's virtual world.   00:00     Intros & Background 3:00        Mark's entry in to professional organizations 8:40        History and evolution of AASP and Advancement Services 13:30     Technology revolutions and finding value 17:40     Working to connect 20:30     Understanding the art of fundraising 23:15     A.I. and the Human Factor 27:30     How to build and maintain relationships virtually 32:20     Understanding your role, creating the future 36:15     Value of volunteering

Your Donor Management System is just part of your technology ecosystem. Considering the many official and unofficial downstream and bolt-on solutions, managing your CRM, or changing your CRM, requires planning and many conversations. Listen as Jeffrey Wat dicusses technology ecosystems and technical debt. 00:00 Jeffrey Wat 03:03 CRM Systems and Planning Changes 05:35 Technology Ecosystems 13:26 Navigating Changes 20:03 How to Manage Bolt-on Solutions 27:01 Guardrails for Downstream Solutions 29:48 What is Tech Debt? 32:12 You Are Important To Your Operation

Today we are going to talk with a benchmarking guru who creates, and keeps track of, a bunch or simple surveys. And through these surveys, he can pinpoint his position relative to other shops of the same size, and even against shops that they aspire to emulate. Welcome Mark Longo from Caltech.

Summit 2023 was a testament to the dedication of our colleagues and friends. It is a multi-day affair that brings like-minded individuals together to share, learn, and celebrate. If you have never attended a Summit, we strongly recommend considering it. This episode is a unique opportunity, capturing candid conversations amid the conference's hustle and bustle. Join us as we converse with prominent figures from the philanthropic realm, including: Teresa Goddard, our respected treasurer within aasp. Jessica LaBorde, who presides as the president of aasp. Sue from Northwestern, a notable contributor to the field. Andy Leeson from Loyola, an influential figure in the sector. Taylor Scott from Northwestern, sharing invaluable insights. Mark Walcott, our esteemed vice president of aasp Korey Janse from the City of Hope, a beacon of hope. Craig Kahn from the University of Kentucky, a trailblazer in philanthropic pursuits. Mark Longo from Caltech, delving into the mysteries of philanthropy. Christian Elsberry from the University of Idaho, an academic luminary. Gale Ferris, recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award, an enduring presence in our philanthropic industry. The Jerry Tolson Quartet, harmonizing the elements of our philanthropic journey. These conversations unveil common themes and shared experiences, reinforcing the idea that we all embarked on our philanthropic odysseys from different starting points. As you listen, you'll gain a deeper understanding of the path to advancement services and the heartwarming stories of triumph. Join us for this special Summit Snapshot episode, where professionalism and enthusiasm intertwine to shed light on the dynamic world of philanthropy.

Meg Padovani chats all things ChatGPT with Jay Ballinger. They reveal their "ah ha" moments, compare and contrast ChatGPT's strengths and weaknesses, describe how they are using it within Philanthropy today, and they even have a little fun with it.

Step into the world of alumni engagement like never before with the remarkable insights of Dr. Jay Le Roux Dillon. In this captivating episode, dive into the depths of alumni relationships as Dr. Dillon unveils his groundbreaking approach to crafting the Alumni Identity Score – a profound departure from conventional affinity or engagement metrics. More than a podcast episode, this is an exploration of the intricacies of alumni identity and its resonance in the realm of giving. Tune in to discover the keys to unlocking genuine alumni connections, and gain insights that will reshape your approach to fostering enduring relationships within the philanthropic landscape. Learn more about Alumni Identity as a metric and strategy at alumniidentity.com and test your own identity with your alma mater at score.alumniidentity.com. Connect with Jay Dillon on LinkedIn at LinkedIn.com/in/jayldillon

Dive into the world of data-driven philanthropy with Dr. Rodger Devine, a distinguished data scientist and expert author. In this enlightening episode, host Jianell engages in a compelling conversation that unveils the seamless integration of statistical analysis and philanthropic endeavors. Dr. Devine's adeptness at translating intricate concepts into relatable insights (and employing food analogies), adds a unique dimension to the discussion. Tune in to gain valuable insights into the synergy between data science and giving, as Dr. Devine's expertise reshapes best practices in the analytical realm of philanthropy.

Follow up to Episode 16 - Cryptocurrency. We revisit the unique gift, and the unique challenges, presented to Fort Lewis College as explained by Hillary Cote.

How do you describe Advancement Services and the value we provide? Listen to this interview with Tom Chaves to hear how he describes Advancement Services.

According to Fidelity Charitable, a third of cryptocurrency investors have donated some of their assets to charity.  Are you ready to accept donations in cryptocurrency? This episode brings together a panel of seven experts to help guide advancement services professionals through the several facets of accepting and recording crypto donations. The speakers discuss gift acceptance policies, crypto accounts, valuing and receipting crypto gifts, and prospect research.

Tara Watterson, Training Coordinator, and Margaret Griffin, Web Applications Analyst at North Carolina State University, share with us how they updated the online portal at NC State University, earning them a Sapphire Award. They took an antiquated intranet that was hard to navigate and created a modern portal to house resources to provide access to all stakeholders to be able to work efficiently with Advancement Services, Development Communications and Stewardship, and Events.

As advancement services professionals, we work hard to ensure that our organizations are in alignment with professional best practices. Every day we innovate and adapt to ever-changing conditions and characteristics of fundraising in non-profit operations. That is why aasp developed the aspire awards program. The only member awards program solely dedicated to celebrating the work of advancement services professionals. Join us as we talk to Terri Clark, Director of Prospect Development from the University of Tennessee Foundation about her team winning the 2021 aasp Aspire Saphire award for the Electronic Gift Agreement Application. She will explain how she built a gift agreement request system based within the University of Tennessee Foundation CRM system, streamlining the process for their frontline fundraisers.

In our industry of advancement services, there are a few rock stars. These are colleagues who we turn to for information and advice. They help describe the right way of recording our donors and gifts. One such individual is John Taylor. He is the creator of the fund services listserv and has worked for multiple advancement services shops. He is now a consultant for many development operations and is also the go-to guy for questions about IRS rules and for general best practices. In this episode, we are excited to bring Jianell's conversation with John Taylor to you.

When we look across our association, a full two thirds of us support higher education. That's a healthy percentage, but that also means the other one third of us support other things. Maybe it's health care or the arts or the environment or maybe education, but just not higher education. What do these other shops look like? Are they similar or different from a higher education mission? In this episode, and for everyone's benefit, we wanted to explore some of the uniqueness and challenges of supporting a non-hybrid cause.

Are you getting excited about Summit? Have you used a Best Practice White Paper lately, or did you have a chance to attend the Deep Dive Summer Series? Did you know that all of this content and more are exclusively produced by aasp volunteers?  In this episode of All About Supporting Philanthropy, listen to the voices of our some of our most engaged colleagues about what aasp and volunteerism has meant to them over the years, and why aasp and the value we provide is even more important today!

If you could wave a magic wand and receive additional, fully funded positions for your advancement services shop, what would that mean for your organization? In this episode we hear from a multitude of voices representative of many sectors as they talk about how they allocate positions across large and small advancement services shops – and how they would apply those magical new positions within their organization! Listen in for a lively discussion of the dynamics between shop size and career development, resource allocation, leadership buy-in, and staffing for strategic initiatives that will see your shop well into the future.

In this episode we go back to Australia to talk with Eric and Sandra Billman about the art and science of fostering “Donor Bliss” in cross-cultural fundraising environments. Listen in as they share how they have learned to forge connections between donors, fundraisers, and board members of different generations and backgrounds – all by focusing on a core value that transcends cultural difference: the desire to do good for others.

Advancement services professionals are familiar with the best practices that support fundraising within the context of their own communities. But how many of these best practices would still apply while working with different cultures? In this episode, Ray Li shares tips and tricks on how to conduct a successful international fundraising and alumni relations program like the one he developed for the University of Washington. One of the keys to his success? Approaching international development with a sense of curiosity and openness. Listen in to learn more!

This month marks a significant milestone: a full year of advancement services professionals managing fundraising operations during a global pandemic. Join us for this retrospective episode which features a collection of insights from thought leaders – some you've already heard from and some you'll hear more from in upcoming episodes. Listen to John Taylor, Cassie Hunt, Ray Li, Sandra & Eric Billman, and Jon Thorsen share their thoughts on how to manage gift, donor, and staff administration while also honoring the human side of adjusting to an entirely new way of navigating our personal and professional lives.

Looking for ways to use advancement services expertise to strengthen relations with colleagues across your organization? Seeking strategies to foster mutual understanding about data best practice across divisions? Join Cassie Hunt, Executive Director of Advancement Operations at Washington and Lee University, as she talks about how to craft conversations about data that nurture relationships with front line fundraisers. Also, she will share tips for how to build flexible solutions that can respond to exceptions both known and unknown.

Meet Jon Thorsen and hear about his accidental career in Advancement Services. Jon will share some of his history, his participation in professional organizations, and some advice on tackling new challenges.

Josh LaBorde, Director of Philanthropy Operations at Sutter Health and member of AHP's Healthcare Philanthropy Standards Council, joins us for a fascinating discussion about the unique challenges and strategies for managing information in support of healthcare fundraising.  Josh shares his experiences, insights and strategies for centralizing fundraising operations, fundraising for a healthcare system with many diverse entities under its umbrella, and managing data privacy and grateful patient programs for those many verticals.

Want to hear more about cultivating sustained engagement?  Jianell Present has an in depth interview with guest Gretchen Dobson, a global engagement specialist and 20 year veteran to the advancement services industry. Gretchen takes us through her storied history of starting out, adapting to changing times and what it's like to work with different philanthropic institutions around the world. 

Looking for practical advice on how to have a fulfilling mentorship with another advancement services professional? Tune in to our latest aasp podcast to hear host Jianell Present and special guest Dr. Wayne Combs discuss what to expect, what to watch out for, and how to nurture mentor/mentee relationships in order to get the most out of this horizon-broadening experience.

Join us as we deep dive into the question “Which came first? The data or the decision?” with Mark Walcott, Executive Director of Advancement Systems at University of Houston.