The sgENGAGE Podcast

National Doctors' Day is observed on March 30th to honor physicians for their dedication and contributions to society and their community. This date can be a great opportunity to fundraise for your healthcare organization by sharing your successes and challenges with donors. Join Tracey Bozzelli, managing director for the healthcare vertical in customer success at Blackbaud, and Paul St. Onge, co-founder of Doing Good Digital, for ideas on donor outreach through digital strategy.Topics discussed:Deciding on a fundraising strategyFocusing on donor stewardshipDirect email messagingEngaging the patient file for donor acquisitionExisting patient donorsHonoring the caregiverResources:Webinar: Online Fundraising Strategies for Doctors' DayTaking Doctors' Day Beyond the Direct Mail Appeal | The ENGAGE BlogDoing Good Digital: Weighing the Pros and Cons of Doctors' DayQuotes:"The trick is to really engage that patient file throughout those twelve months and again when we get to one of those tentpole moments like Doctors' Day.""I'd recommend if you have some non-solicitation and communication that's going out at the start of month start, tease out the fact that Doctors' Day is coming up, tease out some some nice stories about some of the doctors that are on your staff.""When we think of some of the basics when it comes to a successful Doctors' Day campaign, warming up the audience is part of it."

Andrew Troup, Director of Giving & Engagement at Blackbaud, speaks with Brandolon Barnett, Head of Innovation & Philanthropy at Giving Compass, about the merging of artificial intelligence (AI) and social impact. What are the opportunities for AI and what are the potential pitfalls?Topics covered in this episode:• The rapid evolution of artificial intelligence• Experimenting with user testing• The donor's journey using AI• Leveraging AI tools for annual reports and donor outreach• Creating consumable content for machines• Importance of cyber security• Risk of AI in job replacementSubscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher or your preferred streaming service for future episodes!Quotes:“We really need to be cognizant of the risk of creating a kind of feedback loop. What happens when AI is learning from the data that's online?”“You would be surprised how many organizations of all sizes put out annual reports […] through their website or through pdfs that aren't easily machine readable and you really have to start thinking about, ‘Can ChatGPT or similar tools read our annual report?'”“AI is really uniquely positioned to provide a lot of opportunity, especially for those that have not typically had that opportunity in the past to access or to leverage technology.”

PEAK Grantmaking President and CEO Satonya Fair is back on the Blackbaud Grantmaking™ Thought Leadership Webinar Series to share how her organization is embracing learning and unlearning. Throughout the conversation, she shares what it means to be an emergent learner and to put down tools that no longer serve you so you can pick up new ways of engaging. She also discusses how learning cannot be an extra task on your list of goals—it has to be engrained in the work you do.Join us for the first part of our conversation with Satonya and watch the webinar to hear the full discussion.

Dan Keyworth, vice president of Customer Success Modernization at Blackbaud, sits down with Dan White, principal counsel on Blackbaud's Privacy Team, to break down the complex but important topic of data privacy for nonprofits. Learn more about the five key principals across global privacy laws that can help you develop an adaptable data privacy program.Topics covered in this episode:• Why do nonprofits need privacy programs?• What is personal data?• New laws and legislation • Identifying themes across the laws• Individual rights to privacy and transparency• Key takeaways from laws passed in Colorado specific to nonprofits• The Universal Opt-Out Mechanism• Steps you can take to put a privacy program in placeResources:Blackbaud's Privacy Resource CenterQuotes:“This whole concept of data privacy stems back from the historical view of privacy as a human right and in the digital age, that's evolved into a focus on personal data.”“It's important to understand what data you're collecting, how you're using that data, and where you might be sharing that data. If you don't know that, it makes complying with these laws impossible.”“Colorado is a good place to look at for a model for privacy laws that are going to go into effect. Oregon and Delaware are following in the footsteps of Colorado's [privacy] laws.”

Heather Hiscox is on a mission to change the way we change the world. As an author, speaker, and consultant to nonprofit organizations and foundations, Heather has been on both sides of the grantee experience. Her time managing grant funding to be awarded as well as her experience applying for grant funding gives her a unique perspective on how to optimize value for both the grantmaker and the grantees during the application process.In this conversation, Heather gives several tips for grant making organizations to streamline their processes and improve the user experience related to pre-award, communications, and follow-up.Resources Mentioned in the Podcast:Pause for ChangeHumannatureMargaret Wheatley and the definition of leadership and institutional powerVu Le, Nonprofit AF, and suggestions on improving the grant applicationMore content by Heather: How Grantmakers Can Improve Collaboration Through Empathy and Experimentation Collaborative Grantmaking: Rethinking How to Assess Impact 7 Tips to Incorporating Empathy and Redefining Impact Check out our latest webinar with Heather

They say that the only constant is change, and change is often brought on by crises. In this panel discussion, Blackbaud's Melissa Furr talks with two veteran grantmaking professionals to discuss how their organizations manage their mission while staying in tune with the needs of their communities. Lisa Tacker from the Two Ten Footwear Foundation and Beth Broomall from the Charles H. Dater Foundation share their best practices and advice for organizations on things to do before, during, and after a crisis to make sure your organization avoids mission creep.

When is the last time you took a bird's eye view of your engagement strategy? From how many solicitations to send a year to maintaining your donor database and keeping your message aligned across teams, engagement can quickly become stale or ineffective without a tested strategy. In today's episode, Kate Averett Anderson of the Blackbaud Institute sits down with fundraising experts Lawrence Henze and Nathalie Highland to discuss best practices for engagement and tools you can use to communicate with your supporters more efficiently. After the conversation, check out the free Development Planning Toolkit from the Blackbaud Institute to fill out your own Engagement Strategy framework and put what you've learned into practice! This episode of the ENGAGE podcast features excerpts from the webinar Development Planning: Your Three-Step Guide to Engaging Supporters. Catch the full discussion, on demand, now. Topics covered in this episode include: The pitfalls of an unexamined engagement strategy Breaking down silos for more effective engagement The benefits of reduced solicitations to supporters Tips for testing new approaches and conducting donor surveys  Resources: Development Planning: Your Three-Step Guide to Engaging Supporters  Quotes: “Through those direct and personal interactions with our staff and our experts, donors were given the opportunity to understand not just what we do, but how and why we do it. And so that has been a real benefit and jumpstarted our major gift program and has helped to spur our growth over time.” – Nathalie Highland “I've always asked my clients to put me on their mailing list, and I would typically make a donation to them to see how they communicated with me as a donor. And I spent eight years tracking those communications. What I found was that there were some organizations that sent me at least at least 36 direct mail pieces per year!” – Lawrence Henze

As women wield greater economic power and harness their influence to lead change, their generosity is rapidly transforming the philanthropic landscape. What is possible when women are active participants in philanthropic work, engaging all the levers available to advance the public good? The Women's Philanthropy Institute (WPI), part of the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at IUPUI, increases understanding of women's philanthropy through rigorous research and education with the vision of empowering women to use their wealth and power to uplift others. Following WPI's sixth national symposium All In, All Rise, WPI Associate Director Jacquie Ackerman sat down with three symposium participants to discuss how women's involvement in philanthropy influences and strengthens communities, encourages greater strategic giving and builds a more diverse community of engaged citizens. This is an excerpt of a conversation that was part of the Blackbaud Grantmaking 2023 Thought Leadership Webinar series. For the entire thought-provoking discussion, please watch the full webinar. Guests:  Moderator: Jacquie Ackerman, Associate Director, Women's Philanthropy Institute Dr. Monique Couvson, President and CEO, Grantmakers for Girls of Color Natanja Craig-Oquendo, Executive Director, Boston Women's Fund Marsha Morgan, Board Advisory Member, Community Investment Network and Black Women Give Back honoree Resources:  Woman's Philanthropy Insitute Grantmakers for Girls of Color Community Investment Network Boston Women's Fund Blog Post: The All-In Woman Philanthropist Full Webinar

How much impact does volunteerism have on our wellbeing?  Hear from Jude O'Reilley, CEO of VolunteerMatch, as he talks with Blackbaud's social responsiblity manager Melissa Furr about how volunteerism is closely tied to personal health and wellbeing. Jude and Melissa share how you can incorporate volunteering in the workplace and acheive the feeling of being connected to something larger than oneself. Topics covered in this episode: What is VolunteerMatch? A longing for community The four pillars of wellbeing Best practices Employee Input Physical, Financial, Emotional, Social, and Intellectual wellness VolunteerMatch's new campaign Get that Grin Resources: Get that Grin VolunteerMatch Edelman Trust Barometer Quotes: "One best practice is to think beyond the volunteer day." "We shouldn't underestimate employees themselves being the key motivator for other employees." "Most people rely on colleagures and their employer for information that they trust the most."

As part of our series on the Future of Nonprofit Finance, Blackbaud's Sarah Curry sat down with George Werbacher, the Senior Manager for Information Security at Blackbaud, to discuss how nonprofit organizations can prioritize cyber security in 2023. George talks through how organizations can see data security as an investment and highlights how implementing controls helps the organization do more to drive impact. He explains how organizations can do a “threat model” to start an open dialog about where the risks are, including who is using data and how that's being used. Resources: Full Webinar: Speed-Round: Preparing for the Future of Nonprofit Accounting – Don't Get Left Behind! Compliance Risk Management for the Empowered Nonprofit  Internal Controls Toolkit

As part of the series Future of Nonprofit Finance, Blackbaud's Sarah Curry sits down with Alex Wilson, the Co-Founder of The Giving Block to discuss why the conversation around cryptocurrency matters for nonprofit finance teams. They touch on some of the cryptocurrency trends and why organizations should think about owners of cryptocurrency as a donor demographic as well as a way to diversify revenue streams.  Topics covered: Is cryptocurrency safe? How does it work? How is it tracked? How do taxes work? Resources: Infographic: What Technological Era Is Your Nonprofit Finance Office In?

In this excerpt of a conversation with Satonya Fair, President and CEO of PEAK Grantmaking, she encourages grantmaking organizations to rethink their relationship with risk. Instead of focusing on being responsible for the foundation, she recommends looking to how organizations build deeper relationships with applicants and grantees and be poised to be responsive to the needs of the community. Resources: PEAK Grantmaking The Myth of Risk: Fear Not the Dragons, Funder Full Webinar

For the past 10 years, the Blackbaud Institute Index has tracked year-over-year trends in philanthropy and annual giving statistics—with the goal of empowering organizations to know their sector and raise more, faster. Over this time, the Index has grown to track over $51 billion from over 8,500 organizations in the United States! To celebrate we've invited some of our most trusted advisors, industry experts, and friendly faces to lead virtual fireside chats, podcast episodes, and more! Today's episode of the sgENGAGE podcast features a conversation between Steve McLaughlin, Vice President of Product Management with Blackbaud and a senior advisor to the Blackbaud Institute, and Dr. Una Osili. A global expert on philanthropy and social innovation, Dr. Osili has more than two decades of experience in leadership, economic policy and research across the public and private sectors. She serves as the Associate Dean for Research and International Programs, Efroymson Chair in Philanthropy, and Dean's Fellow for the Mays Family Institute on Diverse Philanthropy at the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. There is no doubt that the giving landscape is shifting—from the donors who are responding to the way they want to be engaged. In this excerpt from their longer conversation, Steve McLaughlin and Dr. Una Osili break down the data on the changing demographic in charitable giving and how fundraisers can leverage this information to grow alongside this new generation of donors. Topics Covered in this episode: The latest data on who is giving to charitable organizations, how they choose to give, and what drives them. Strategies to engage with a new generation of donors and prepare for the future. Resources:On demand, Blackbaud Institute Index's 10th Anniversary Celebration More from sgENGAGE and the Blackbaud Institute To receive quarterly updates on the Index straight to your inbox, subscribe to The Source newsletter. Quote: “There's a bit of a call to action for nonprofits and fundraisers: how do we engage the next generation of donors? We have four generations in the charitable landscape and a big part of our job ahead, our task ahead, and the work ahead–for all of us–is engaging that next generation of donors.” – Dr. Una Osili

Alex Budak, UC Berkeley faculty member and author of Becoming a Changemaker, joins Blackbaud's Rachel Hutchisson to discuss how to develop your mindset and leadership skills to make positive change as part of our CSR Book Club Series.  Topics discussed in this episode: What is a changemaker? How to drive change Humility in Leadership Changemaker Index Leadership book recommendations Resources: Alex Budak Becoming a Changemaker Changemaker Index Quotes: "Leaders might be scarce, but leadership is abundant."

For the past 10 years, the Blackbaud Institute Index has tracked year-over-year trends in philanthropy and annual giving statistics—with the goal of empowering organizations to know their sector and raise more, faster. Over this time, the Index has grown to track over $40 billion from over 8,400 organizations in the United States!  To celebrate we've invited some of our most trusted advisors, industry experts, and friendly faces to lead virtual fireside chats, podcast episodes, and more! Today's episode of the sgENGAGE podcast features a conversation between Blackbaud Institute managing director, Ashley Thompson, and leadership expert and coach Marc Pitman. Marc helps high performers keep their edge, emerging leaders maintain their momentum, new leaders confront the demands of their position, and established leaders find fresh strategies. In this excerpt from their longer conversation, Marc and Ashley explore the concept of doubt and how it can be embraced as a framework for developing your skills and becoming an exceptional leader.  Topics Covered in this episode: Leveraging your strengths and weaknesses to become an effective leader Storytelling as a tool for identifying your unique contributions Resources: Blackbaud Institute Index's 10th Anniversary Celebration More from sgENGAGE and the Blackbaud Institute To receive quarterly updates on the Index straight to your inbox, subscribe to The Source newsletter. Quotes: “My premise in my working with leaders has proven that sometimes, ‘what am I missing?' isn't the right question; that doubt can push us and can get so big that it pushes us to ask, ‘what if I'm the right person for this role?' ‘What if I'm exactly what the team needs?' ‘What if this organization is exactly the voice the sector needs?'” – Marc Pitman

For the past 10 years, the Blackbaud Institute Index has tracked year-over-year trends in philanthropy and annual giving statistics—with the goal of empowering organizations to know their sector and raise more, faster. Over this time, the Index has grown to track over $40 billion from over 8,400 organizations in the United States! To celebrate we've invited some of our most trusted advisors, industry experts, and friendly faces to lead virtual fireside chats, podcast episodes, and more! Today's episode features a conversation between brand strategist Ben Smithee and the Blackbaud Institute's Ashley Thompson. At The Smithee Group, Ben Smithee has been helping leaders and businesses dream bigger and achieve more. In this excerpt from their conversation, Ben shares his expert advice on how a powerful brand allows for organizations to drive higher value and cataclysmic demand. Unfortunately, as Ben points out, powerful branding like this is one of the biggest areas where organizations fall behind today. He and Ashley connect on current trends in philanthropy and the for-profit sector to outline how you can get ahead of the curve by creating a relevant, legacy-focused brand in today's digital ecosystem. Topics Covered in this episode: What is a brand and, more importantly, what isn't? Building equity by delivering on your brand's promise Growing your legacy alongside a new generation of donors Resources: Blackbaud Institute Index's 10th Anniversary Celebration More from sgENGAGE and the Blackbaud Institute To receive quarterly updates on the Index straight to your inbox, subscribe to The Source newsletter. Quotes: “A brand is a promise that an organization has the opportunity to deliver upon.” – Ben Smithee “How do we become relevant to the future of the organization and create a legacy? By focusing on the future stakeholders of the organization. We can't fall in love with how we've always done things.” – Ben Smithee

For the past 10 years, the Blackbaud Institute Index has tracked year-over-year trends in philanthropy and annual giving statistics—with the goal of empowering organizations to know their sector and raise more, faster. Over this time, the Index has grown to track over $40 billion from over 8,400 organizations in the United States!  To celebrate we've invited some of our most trusted advisors, industry experts, and friendly faces to lead virtual fireside chats, podcast episodes, and more! We couldn't have kicked off the series with a better guest than Chuck Longfield, renowned data scientist, philanthropy strategist, and the creator of the Blackbaud Institute Index! Now retired, Chuck allowed us to steal him from the golf course for a little while to sit down for a conversation with Steve MacLaughlin—lucky us! In this excerpt for the sgENGAGE podcast, Chuck shares the inspiration behind the Blackbaud Institute Index and the value of such a significant and diverse data set when determining current trends and best practices in the sector. After the podcast, check out the full webinar, available on demand, where the two discuss the lessons Chuck has learned over his 40 year career, and put their heads together about how these lessons can help organizations navigate the road ahead. Topics Covered in this episode: Origins of the Blackbaud Institute Index The Importance of benchmarking Applying academic rigor to the study of philanthropy Resources: Blackbaud Institute Index's 10th Anniversary Celebration More from sgENGAGE and the Blackbaud Institute To receive quarterly updates on the Index straight to your inbox, subscribe to The Source newsletter. Quotes: “Because there really wasn't any gold standard, different organizations can pick and choose their metrics can pick and choose the definitions of their metrics. And it causes organizations I think, too often, to come to the wrong conclusion about maybe what their next step should be. And so, for many of the years that I've been working in this area, I wanted to try to standardize these metrics.” – Chuck Longfield

Many foundations face hurdles in creating advocacy agendas whether it be convincing a board of directors, finding the time and resources, or seeking funds from grantmakers. Chynna A. Phillips, senior director of policy and research at Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina, and Melissa Levesque, senior vice president and chief strategy officer at Coastal Community Foundation, spoke with Blackbaud's Sally Ehrenfreid, government relations lead about implementing advocacy in foundations and their respective journeys. Topics covered: Introducing advocacy and policy to boards Building advocacy into your organizational infrastructure Creating an advocacy agenda rooted in core values The distinction of advocacy and policy versus politics Advice for nonprofit organizations seeking funding from grantmakers Resources: Chynna A. Phillips Melissa Levesque Sally Ehrenfried Advocacy and Awareness: 4 Tips for Virtual Campaigning Quotes: “Boards decide how fast you're going to move as an organization.” “We had our grantmaking and community leadership committee really own sort of the nuts and bolts of developing our advocacy agenda.” “A great grant proposal is really just exceptional storytelling that matches a need for financial support.” “Stay connected to your ‘Why?', build trust with your community leaders, and have honest conversation.”

The shift to remote work post-pandemic has caused many employees to feel stressed, burnt out, and out of control of their workplace dynamic. Meico Marquette Whitlock, founder of The Mindful Techie, shares tools and strategies on how to regain control and relieve the stressors that face us. Topics covered in this episode: Major impacts of the pandemic on wellbeing How values have changed How nonprofit professionals can adjust to the new workplace What leaders can do to protect their employees Tools and strategies to enhance your wellbeing Resources: Meico Marquette Whitlock The Hybrid Workplace Wellness Playbook for Grantmakers 6 Ways Nonprofit Professionals Can Conquer Post-Pandemic Workplace Stress The sgENGAGE Podcast: Creating and Sustaining a Culture of Wellbeing for Grantmakers 5 Ways Grantmakers Create Work- and Tech-Life Balance Quotes: “A lot of organizations are making assumptions of what people want, and I think the first place to start is to actually ask the question.” “You really have to just be human and be very vulnerable about what you're dealing with and to see them as a person versus an employee or a worker.” “practicing social distancing with your technology can support you in having a healthier relationship with technology.”  

Businesses emerged as the most trusted institutions in the 2022 Edelman Trust Barometer, which also showed that people expect more from businesses in solving the world's problems. So, how can companies step up to lead the charge and maintain that position of trust? Kendra Fogarty, corporate social responsibility manager at UScellular, spoked with Blackbaud's Rachel Hutchisson about the role of CSR and community engagement in building trust with consumers, employees, and community members. Listen in to hear Kendra share her key takeaways from the Edelman Trust Barometer data, how UScellular engages communities and employees, and how companies can make sure that their philanthropic programs truly meet the needs of the communities they are intended to help. Topics covered in this episode: The 2022 Edelman Trust Barometer The opportunity for companies to continue to build trust with employees, consumers, and communities The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on community connections How UScellular approaches CSR and community engagement How companies can help employees feel a sense of community and purpose Why CSR is important to institutional investors Resources: Kendra Fogarty UScellular UScellular's Afterschool Access Project Podcast: Fixing the S in ESG Blackbaud's Corporate Social Responsibility Report

Employee volunteerism has become an essential component of a company's corporate social responsibility and employee engagement strategies. In this episode, Melissa Hackmeier, global head of employee & community engagement at MilliporeSigma, joins the podcast to discuss how she launched the company's first ever global volunteer program and the best practices and lessons she's learned along the way. Topics covered in this episode: How Melissa developed and implemented MilliporeSigma's first-ever SPARK™ global volunteer program, which has more than 9,700 employee participants engaging 235,000 students in 36 countries to date How Melissa secured buy-in for their program The key's to the program's successful launch and lessons learned along the way The role of technology in enabling a successful global volunteer program The SPARK program's biggest impacts, both internally and externally Melissa's advice for other CSR professionals looking to start or grow employee volunteer programs What nonprofits looking to engage with corporate volunteers should consider Resources Melissa Hackmeier MilliporeSigma's CSR Program MilliporeSigma's SPARK Volunteer Program Blackbaud Institute Report: CSR Programs as an Employee Engagement Tool Employee Giving and Volunteering Made Easy

Research has shown that women are more prone to burnout than men for a variety of reasons, including societal expectations and  imbalances in responsibilities across work and home. This can be further intensified for women working at nonprofits and other social good organizations, which often have higher than average rates of burnout and turnover. Today's guest, Stacie Barber, is an integrative life coach and the founder of Stacie Barber Lifestyle. She joined host Rachel Hutchisson in a discussion about why it's important for women leaders, and all women, to engage in self-care practices at work and at home so they are aren't overburdened and feel healthy and productive. Topics covered in this episode: Stacie's professional journey Why women often burn out What it means to practice self-care How women can build support systems in the workplace Why it's important to delegate Taking risks and seizing new opportunities   Resources: Stacie Barber Stacie Barber Lifestyle on YouTube The sgENGAGE Podcast Episode 187: Strategies for Avoiding Tech Burnout

Open, honest, and transparent communication with grantee partners can help minimize power imbalances and help foster a sense of mutual transparency and accountability that is critical to our success as grantmakers. Hear from Shaady Salehi, executive director, Trust-Based Philanthropy Project, Lisa Maloney-Vinz, director of global community relations, Ecolab Foundation, Drexel Owusu, chief impact officer, The Dallas Foundation, and Lauren Scott, executive director, Harris and Eliza Kempner Fund about how their organizations are embracing transparency.

Why is due diligence important in grantmaking organizations? The process of satisfying legal requirements impacts many areas within an organization— mission alignment, stewardship, duty of care, reputation, outcomes & impact, and overall effectiveness to name a few. In this episode, learn from Elizabeth (Liz) Gousse Ballotte, principal at PKF O'Connor Davies, about what the staff at grantmaking organizations need to know to be compliant. Topics covered in this episode: Due diligence models Grant applications and risk identification Governance Financial information, including budgets, financial statements, and IRS Form 990 Information Technology and internal controls Streamlining operations and increasing productivity Resources Webinar: Due Diligence Defined: What ‘Being Compliant' Really Means for Grantmakers Blackbaud Grantmaking 2022 Thought Leadership Webinar Series Tip Sheet: 15 Questions Foundations Should Ask as Part of Their Grantee Due Diligence Internal Controls Resource Toolkit

ESG (environment, social, and governance) is a hot topic amongst for-profit companies and investors, but is it important for nonprofits and other social good organizations too? Today's guest thinks so. Tim McClimon, principal consultant for The Celeste Group, which specializes in corporate social responsibility and nonprofit management strategies and programs, and former head of corporate social responsibility at American Express, joined Rachel Hutchisson to discuss why social good organizations should view ESG as an operating strategy and as a way of being more transparent and accountable to their employees, donors, beneficiaries, communities, and the planet. Rachel and Tim also talked about what nonprofits can learn from companies, including Blackbaud, and how companies can help increase the focus on ESG in the nonprofit sector. Topics discussed in this episode: What is ESG? Why ESG isn't just for companies Why nonprofits need to create strategies for climate and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) Why higher education institutions have been paying more attention to sustainability How funders can help nonprofits adopt ESG practices The importance of transparency in social good organizations Expectations for transparency and impact from the newest generation of employees

Join Meico Marquette Whitlock, founder and CEO of Mindful Techie, for an interactive training that will inspire you with mindful approaches for creating sustained balance in your life. Prepare to lower your stress level, focus on getting the important things done, and be more present for yourself, your team, and your family. Click here to listen to the full webinar from the Grantmaking Thought Leadership webinar series.   Topics discussed in this episode: Wellness Survey report findings Impact of the pandemic on wellbeing How grantmakers will need to adapt Setting boundaries   Resources: Meico Marquette Whitlock Wellness Survey 5 Ways Grantmakers Create Work- and Tech-Life Balance   Quotes: "When it comes to preemption, we want to be focused on creating a culture of care (...) that we are building in strong work/life boundaries and not depending on the individual to create those boundaries." "Addressing the organizational and institutional action of this is a longer term proposition." "Many of us are making assumptions of what is required of us, but something that is actually not being expected of us."

Rachel Hutchisson is joined by Chris Jarvis, executive director of Realized Worth, to kick off our CSR Book Club Series with an article from Stanford Social Innovation Review called “Fixing the S in ESG.” Listen to learn more about quantifying social impact and what the future of S looks like. Topics discussed in this episode: Adapting to changes in world beliefs What does S want to be? Redefining what S means to include room for interpretation Increased accountability puts words into actions How consumers change their behavior according to company values Resources: Chris Jarvis Rachel Hutchisson Article: “Fixing the S in ESG” Blackbaud Corporate Social Responsibility Greater Washington Urban League Equity in Black and White Summit Quotes: “I think S should call us to move past the signaling to meaningful change that leads the next generation better.” “You have to engage the people on the ground, the people in the community you're trying to serve.” “Between E, S, and G, S is the way to involve employees at any level, anywhere, anytime.”

Chantal Forster, executive director of the Technology Association of Grantmakers (TAG), discusses the top areas where grantmakers can make the most impact in 2022 and how technology can help them achieve that impact.  Topics discussed in this episode: Who are the members of TAG and how do they impact philanthropy? The rise in the voices of the people we serve post-pandemic TAG's customer experience model Effectiveness and frequency of surveys Dependency of digital infrastructure Dashboard elements that drive success Resources: Chantal Forster Technology Association of Grantmakers (TAG) Webinar: The Rising Role of Technology—and the People Behind It—in Advancing Philanthropy's Mission How to Fund Nonprofit Tech: A Guide for Funders and Nonprofits Grant Advisor   Quotes: “Imagine if the private sector only surveyed its customers every three years.” “If philanthropy doesn't invest in tech infrastructure, then you are enabling inequity.”

As we trend towards a sense of normalcy in 2022, the convenience and cost savings of remote audits are here to stay. Whether you began remote audits out of necessity during the pandemic or have been doing them for a while, join us and Paul Preziotti, CPA, nonprofit audit expert, and Partner with Johnson Lambert, for tips on preparing for and running a successful remote audit. You'll leave knowing how to:   Topics Discussed in This Episode: -Is a remote audit what your organization needs? -Plan for what an auditor will need to see -Create a strong audit trail with documentation, naming conventions, and accessible details -Gather what you'll need and provide secure access to your auditor   Resources: Paul Preziotti, CPA Webinar: Be Audit You Can Be, Remotely: Preparing and Running a Successful Remote Audit Blog: The Final Step of the Nonprofit Audit: Presenting Financial Statements to your Board   Quotes: "As the auditee, you have the ability to mold this relationship however you want it." "I think [hybrid audits] are terrific and I think that could be a good solution for a lot of you that want the best of both worlds." "If we have an audit that's beginning the first week of May, we want to be able to hit the ground running."  

There are a lot of ways to think about how technology impacts things, as well as how different constituent types interact with it and the relationships that it helps them build. In today's episode, we'll be discussing recent research on how technology improves the relationship between schools and parents. Joining the podcast today is Chuck English, of English Marketing Works, and Linda Lawrence, of Ransom Everglades. Listen to the episode to hear what they have to say about the key findings of the recent Blackbaud study show, the expectations that people have about the technology they interact with, and how the technology profile at Linda's school came about.   Topics Discussed in This Episode Important and key findings of the study of how technology impacts the relationship between parents and schools Linda's perspective of the daily experiences between parents and technology at schools Whether the current state of the world has made parents more willing to use this technology Chuck's experience of people's expectations of the technology they use and whether that's changing. How the technology portfolio at Linda's school was developed The perspective that Linda is examining technology from The advice that Linda would give schools that have fewer technology resources, but are trying to move in that direction How Linda's school leadership helped make needed technological changes during the pandemic A change that stands out in Linda's mind that sticks out as something that's here to stay Changes Chuck is seeing with the organizations he works with that are here to stay The extent to which parents drive technology offerings   Resources: Chuck English Linda Lawrence Using Technology to Bridge the Value Gap in Private Schools Moving Forward: Enriching the Parent Experience with a Focus on Technology Infographic: K–12 Independent Schools Parent Survey   Quotes:  “Technology has a huge impact on their experience as parents.” – Chuck English “Parents have learned to become very nimble with what to expect, and we just find ways to ease into those situations at a moment's notice.” –Linda Lawrence “I think you develop alliances; you identify those super-users that can provide assistance.” –Linda Lawrence

What do you know about setting goals for yourself and your team and managing those goals? In today's episode, you'll hear an excerpt from the Skills UP webinar series. In it, you'll hear Damaris Herron-Watkins discuss best practices for creating and managing your team's goals. Listen in to hear what she has to say about the purpose of goal management, the different types of goals, and making goals SMART.   Topics Discussed in This Episode What A Better Chance does The purpose of goal management Why goals are important Creating goals for yourself and your direct reports Types of goals Cascading goals Agile goals What to do when you set goals for your team Making sure goals are motivating for your direct reports What SMART means How to make sure your goals are SMART Why you should create between three and five goals How to know if your goals are SMART Manager's goals   Resources: Damaris Herron-Watkins Skills UP Webinar Series 5 Keys for Achieving your Organization's Goals    Quotes:  “A couple of reasons why goals are important is one, they help to prioritize your work and the work of your team.” “When we're creating goals for our team, like I said, you have to make sure you know what your goals are for the year.” “SMART stands for specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-based.”

International Women's Day is on March 8th, 2022, and it's a good time to think about the state of women and girls worldwide, how current events may make violence and abuse even worse than they were, and how to move forward by empowering each other.   Today's guest is Vesna Jaric, the Interim Chief of the UN Trust Fund to End Violence Against Women. Listen to the episode to learn about Vesna's role at the Trust Fund and how current events affect the state of women and girls around the world.   Topics Discussed in This Episode: Vesna's role at the UN Trust Fund to end Violence Against Women The state of women and girls around the world How the pandemic has exacerbated violence against women The universality of violence against women How the organizations the UN Trust Fund is supporting has stepped in for women and girls The lagging of representation and resources for organizations that address violence against women How to increase resources for organizations that help women and girls How listeners can follow the research that Vesna is involved in   Resources: Vesna Jaric Learning from Practice: The Impact of COVID-19 on Violence Against Women and Girls UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women SHINE UN Trust Fund to End Violence Against Women on Twitter UN Trust Fund to End Violence Against Women on Instagram   Quotes:  “So far, the fund has supported more than 600 organizations in 140 countries and territories across the world.” “I would argue that violence against women and girls is probably the oldest and most persistent problem the world is dealing with.” “Women's rights organizations have been the first responders.”

Many organizations are struggling to hire right now. Is there a way you can set yourself and your candidate up for success? We are highlighting an excerpt from the Skills UP Webinar Series where Deb Taft, CEO of Lindauer Global, will be talking about the dynamics of hiring and how you can achieve success in effective retention. Listen to what she has to say about the Great Resignation, the rise of freelancers and gig workers, and the remote/in-person hybrid.   Topics Discussed in This Episode: Why talent is more complex than ever The Great Resignation Lack of loyalty Freelancers and gig workers making up more of the workforce 2020-21 Employee PTSD Reevaluation of life and work, work/life balance The remote/in-person hybrid recalibration Multiple interviews. Staying in communication with candidates Tax laws and wages for remote workers Pre-COVID norms have been profoundly changed Expect disruptions and plan interventions   Resources: Deb Taft Skills Up FREE Webinar Series for nonprofit managers The Future of Executive Search To Attract Talented Fundraisers of Color, Get Your House in Order CASE xChange Podcast; President and CEO Sue Cunningham interviews Lindauer CEO Deb Taft 4 Keys for Attracting, Hiring and Retaining a Successful Major Gift Team   Quotes:  “I think one of the dynamics to think about is that there is very little loyalty.” “So, hiring is on steroids, and if you are struggling to retain and hire, you are not alone.” “I just need people to understand, that employees will choose you, talent will choose you, or not, depending on what's possible.”

Public policy impacts decisions made around charitable giving. These policies can influence how people give, when they give, and how much they give. So what are the likely effects for 2022? In today's episode, you'll hear from Brian Flahaven to learn how policies have impacted giving over the past few years and what's ahead for the coming year. Listen in to hear what Brian has to say about his role in the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) and what they do, what current legislation is on the table, and whether Brian believes it will gain traction this year.   Topics Discussed in This Episode: What CASE does How charitable giving has been impacted by change over the past couple of years How current legislation can encourage donation Whether Brian expects legislation that positively impacts giving to gain traction by the end of the year Trends that CASE is seeing in giving to education Call to action for listeners   Resources: Brian Flahaven Blackbaud's Charitable Giving Report   Quotes:  “Having an incentive there, sending that signal, will encourage more Americans hopefully to give even more to charitable organizations during these difficult times.” “In the tax world, it's pretty much been a partisan game over the past few years.” “A lot of institutions are actually creating their own giving days.”

Do you need a mentor? Do you know what kind of mentor you need, or what you're looking to gain from a mentoring relationship? In today's episode, Tiffany Crumpton, Vice President of Renewals and Retention at Blackbaud and active member of Blackbaud's Senior Women's Community, joins the podcast to discuss mentorship. Listen in to learn about what mentorship means and how it differs from sponsorship, the different kinds of mentors out there, and how to get the most out of a mentor.   Topics Discussed in This Episode: How Tiffany defines mentoring and what it means to her What sponsorship means The different kinds of mentors What to think about identifying a mentor How to get the most out of a mentor The importance of checking back in One of Tiffany's experiences with a mentor relationship   Resources: Tiffany Crumpton   Quotes:  “When you're identifying a mentor, be really upfront with them about why you're asking them, why you thought of that person.” “I also believe that the best mentors are always mentees themselves.” “Look for the type of sponsor you want, the gender doesn't matter.”

Giving doesn't stay static. As things change and more innovations become available, giving changes with it, and that's true for the upcoming year too. Today, you'll be hearing about some of the changes and giving and how social good organizations and donors are affected. Sonia Nigam, Co-founder and CEO of Change, and Amar Shah, Co-founder and President of Change, discuss changes in online shopping, how social good organizations are adjusting to cryptocurrencies and NFTs, and what's going to happen going forward in 2022   Topics Discussed in This Episode: How the online giving landscape is changing How the online shopping experience is changing What is crypto is and how it's used The number of nonprofits accepting cryptocurrency How many donors are interested in giving via cryptocurrency What NFTs are and how it could be used in giving How NFTs can become a bigger part of online strategies What's going to happen in giving in 2022 Advice for social good organizations Convincing leaders and staffers to be willing to experiment How listeners can learn more about what's happening at Change   Resources: Sonia Nigam Amar Shah Change Blog   Quotes:  “I feel like one of the most interesting evolutions around giving today is how it's becoming more experience-based.” –Sonia Nigam “Social good's really at the foundation of this ecosystem.” –Sonia Nigam “I think one of the biggest things that's going to continue is the increase in online giving, either via e-commerce or even via cryptocurrency.” –Amir Shah

What do you know about cybersecurity? You're probably aware that it's a threat, but if you don't know what cybersecurity threats entail or how to increase your own security, how can you really protect yourself or your organization? Listen in to this BBCon excerpt to learn about some of the basics of cybersecurity, including what the risks and threats are, steps you can take to protect yourself, and how to implement policies at the workplace that protect your company.   Topics Discussed in This Episode: What cybersecurity is and what it's for The cybersecurity threat landscape Understanding what you're up against Types of cyber threats Remote work threats Password security measures Multifactor identification Secure wifi Protecting your company Implementing security policies   Resources: Cybersecurity Tip Sheet Cybersecurity Industry Standards Security at Blackbaud Overview   Quotes:  “Additionally, 85% of the breaches that happen involve some sort of human element.” “Bottom line, social engineering takes advantage of someone going about their usual day.” “If you receive an email, phone call, or voicemail that feels odd, it probably is.”

Trends in giving and donor retention are an important topic in the fundraising landscape, and at this time of year, it's a good idea to take a look at what's been happening in the fundraising world. Looking closely at giving and donor retention now with help you get a handle on end-of-the-year giving and some clarity about what will be coming in the new year. Listen in to this episode to hear from Erica Wassdorp about current fundraising trends, how online giving has developed in different kinds of organizations, and how to handle benefits for recurring donors.   Topics Discussed in This Episode: Standout trends in the overall fundraising landscape How picking up new donors, even at lower amounts, creates opportunities for recurring giving Where the focus on recurring giving has come from The history of recurring giving in certain kinds of organizations The proliferation of online giving Which groups to start with when it comes to moving to recurring gifting The benefits of recurring giving for donors Why you should keep monthly donation benefits simple Finding a driver for your goal   Resources: Erica Waasdorp Blackbaud Institute Retention Toolkit   Quotes:  “We have to tell them that they can make a difference even when it's with a smaller recurring gift.” “I think the other piece that has really helped with that, of course, is the whole digital, online opportunities.” “The only promise you want to make to your new monthly donor is that they're going to get updates from you.”

Are you dealing with problems in your organizations and wondering why you can't solve them, or why you can't solve them in a lasting way? Listen in to this excerpt from bbcon 2021 Virtual, where Sarah Beauregard, Senior Process Engineer at Blackbaud, discusses root cause analysis.   Topics Discussed in This Episode: Why some solutions to business problems don't work The kinds of business problems your organization needs to solve Root cause analysis technique Definition of root cause Looking at the cause-and-effect chain Problem solving collaboratively Three steps to perform root cause analysis Describe Identify the Whys Action Who can use this method   Resources: Sarah Beauregard Root Cause analysis document   Quotes:  “If we pull up the weed by the root, it won't come back.” “Also as a part of this step, we identify who those subject matter experts are that could help determine why this problem might be happening.” “The real value here comes from engaging those subject matter experts on a guided conversation to get to that root cause.”

What do social good organizations need to know about corporate philanthropy? In today's episode, you'll hear from Julia Beltran, partnership specialist from Double the Donation, to learn more about corporate giving programs and how to promote them. Listen to the episode to hear what Julia has to say about common types of corporate philanthropy, data points on matching gift programs, and how to boost a companies' matching gift percentage.   Topics Discussed in This Episode: Who Julia is and what her role is at Double the Donation Common types of corporate philanthropy How companies enable their employees to do good things in the world Employee voices in who companies support How consumers can engage with products Data points on matching gift programs How people are engaging in matching gift programs How companies can boost their matching gift percentage Guidance about promoting matching gift programs Resources to learn more about matching gifts   Resources: Julia Beltran Double The Donation   Quotes:  “Over 65% of Fortune 500 companies offer matching gift programs, so quite a lot.” “I think that people do engage in matching gift programs, but they don't nearly engage as much as they could.” “Engaging donors during the giving process, or like right when they're about to give, is a great way to encourage people to submit matching gift requests.”

Volunteering is changing. Many volunteer opportunities went virtual because of the pandemic, and like other types of work, it may never look exactly like it did in a pre-pandemic world. So what does volunteering look like now? What resources are there for professionals in this space who want to learn more about how volunteering has changed and how to rise to those changes? In today's episode, you'll hear from Ben Sampson of WeHero. Listen to the conversation to learn more about what WeHero does, the latest trends and changes in the volunteering space, and how to provide new and different volunteer opportunities.   Topics Discussed in This Episode: About WeHero What trends and changes Ben is seeing in volunteering How the global landscape is shifting Volunteering as education Making sure there are new and different volunteer opportunities Resources for CSR professionals   Resources: Ben Sampson WeHero   Quotes:  “Workers are going to come out of this really wanting agency in how and where they work, but also that ability to really connect meaningfully with people.” “One of the big pros that we noticed is we saw people from different countries, different cultures, connecting over a common cause and volunteering.” “Adobe does a really good job of building a portfolio of numerous different kinds of volunteer opportunities.”

Is donor retention different when the donor is acquired online? In this episode, you'll learn more about ways to improve donor retention for online-acquired donors. Joining the podcast today is Rachel Clemens, Chief Marketing Officer of Mighty Citizen. Listen to today's conversation to learn what Rachel thinks about building relationships between donors and organizations, the role of segmentation, and how language factors into donor retention.   Topics Discussed in This Episode: What organizations do to improve how they retain and engage online donors Building the relationship between the organization and the donor Preferences of people making online gifts How segmentation plays a role in driving the relationship The factor of language in donor retention What people want to see in brands The mindset to retaining different kinds of donors What organizations can do to focus on retaining online donors COVID-19 adaptations that might remain helpful going forward Advice for organizations to double down on retention of online donors   Resources: Rachel Clemens   Quotes:  “I always think about donor retention as part of the donation process.” “It's not a transaction. It's a relationship.” “The thing that comes to mind almost immediately is just getting their tech in check.”

The new Blackbaud Luminate Online Benchmark Report is out, and it has some significant differences from previous years. What are those differences, and what can you take away from this year's report? Listen in to learn about when and where the biggest spikes occurred, how email engagement changed, and how data in the report is segmented. Joining the podcast today are Mike Snusz, Rachael Ahrens, and Deb Ashmore of Blackbaud's Professional Services team as well as Erik Leaver, Principal Customer Success Manager.   Topics Discussed in This Episode: Background on the Luminate Online Benchmark Report The difference between this year's report and previous reports Increases in online one-time giving Growth in number of gifts, but not the amounts of the gifts Growth in first-time online donors When the biggest spikes occurred Lessons learned from 2020 Growth of email fundraising and engagement Growing sustainer programs How data is segmented in the report Lessons learned from different sizes of organizations Takeaways from the metrics The reliability of open rates   Resources: Blackbaud Luminate Online Benchmark Report   Quotes:  “Ultimately, I always like to have nonprofits know that the best benchmarks are your own.” “Be prepared for emergency giving.” “Those that grow the fastest have the most robust direct acquisition strategies.”

We are now just a little more than a month from GivingTuesday is getting closer all the time, you don't need to stress if your organization hasn't yet developed its plan. Today, Blackbaud's GivingTuesday experts Matt Connell and Jackie Zimmerman join the podcast to talk about the value of Giving Tuesday, how organizations can start planning now for a successful day, and the GivingTuesday campaigns have inspired them.   Topics Discussed in This Episode: Why Matt and Jackie value Giving Tuesday What organizations should do if they don't yet have a plan for Giving Tuesday Tips and tricks for GivingTuesday Content strategies for GivingTuesday Examples of successful GivingTuesday campaigns Resources that can help organizations with GivingTuesday   Resources: Giving Tuesday Toolkit Giving Tuesday Webinar Series   Quotes:  “While we should be giving every day of the year, let's make sure that we especially give on this particular day of the year.” –Jackie Zimmerman “If this, again, is your first experiment with it, you're not the first people experimenting with it.” –Matt Connell “Giving Tuesday is the day I make sure that my matching gift is used up for the year.” –Matt Connell