Podcasts about donors

What if the people telling you AI is going to end the world are the same people selling you the AI that could end the world - and they are doing both at the same time? Erica has been lying awake reading the headlines, thinking about her eight-year-old sleeping down the hall. And today she is naming names, bringing receipts, and taking explicit positions on the AI fear machine, what happens when women are not in the rooms where this technology gets built, and exactly what she thinks we owe the next generation right now.ABOUT THIS EPISODEThis is the spiciest solo episode Erica has ever recorded, and she knew it when she sat down at her kitchen counter to make it. She covers the extinction statement signed by the CEOs of OpenAI, Google DeepMind, and Anthropic - and the fact that they went back to the office and raced each other to build faster. She covers the $140 million super PAC with AI industry money pouring into midterms. She covers NVIDIA, China, and the contradiction at the center of the 'we can't let China win' argument. She covers the Grok image scandal - 4.4 million generated images in nine days, 41% sexualized images of women - and what it tells us about who is not in the product meetings. And she covers the stat that stops her cold: women are 57% of the workers in jobs most likely to be disrupted by AI, and 13% of the C-suite leaders at AI companies. Then she gives you three moves to make this week.INSIDE THE EPISODEShould I Actually Be Concerned About AI? Erica holds both: the AI nerd who sees what this technology can do, and the mom who wants to throw every device in the lake. She sorts the real risks from the manufactured ones and calls out the people making money off of our fear.Who Benefits When We're Scared? When the CEOs selling the product tell you it could end the world, ask one question: who benefits? Fear makes you feel small and leaves it to the tech geniuses. Fear makes them look like the only ones smart enough to save us from the very thing they are selling. That is a damn good business model.The $140 Million Super PAC. Leading the Future has reportedly raised $140 million for the midterms. Its mission: electing people who want AI rules light and one national standard that overrides tougher state laws. Donors include Andreessen Horowitz and the president of OpenAI. The industry warns about extinction. The industry's money builds a nine-figure war chest to keep the rules light.NVIDIA, China, and the Contradiction. For years the rallying cry was that we cannot let China win the AI race - so we have to move fast and keep the rules light. Then the administration said NVIDIA could sell its most powerful chips to Chinese companies, including ByteDance and Tencent, as long as the US gets a 25% cut. The first shipments landed in China this summer.Grok and What Happens When Women Aren't in the Room. xAI rolled out an image editing feature and people immediately used it to digitally undress women and girls from photos found online. In nine days: 4.4 million images generated, 41% sexualized images of women. Any woman in that product meeting could have told them that was coming. Any mom could have told them that.57% Disrupted, 13% in the Room. Women are 57% of the workers in jobs most likely to be disrupted by generative AI. Women hold 13% of C-suite AI roles at AI companies. At the rate we are going, it will take 90 years to reach equal representation in leadership. A girl born today may never see that in her lifetime.Three Moves You Can Make This Week. Start using AI and let people see you use it. Parent it loudly - have the talk with your kids, use it together, tell them what happened with Grok. Follow the money and use your voice - midterms are coming, AI money is pouring into races, opensecrets.org makes it easy. If there is no woman on your company's AI council, get yourself into that room. ERICA'S RESOURCES & LINKSStart small with me inside HER Jumpstart:https://her-collective.mn.co/plans/1985289?bundle_token=60b2c61d62213cdbd16d437cdc0e4204&utm_source=manual

What if the people telling you AI is going to end the world are the same people selling you the AI that could end the world - and they are doing both at the same time? Erica has been lying awake reading the headlines, thinking about her eight-year-old sleeping down the hall. And today she is naming names, bringing receipts, and taking explicit positions on the AI fear machine, what happens when women are not in the rooms where this technology gets built, and exactly what she thinks we owe the next generation right now.ABOUT THIS EPISODEThis is the spiciest solo episode Erica has ever recorded, and she knew it when she sat down at her kitchen counter to make it. She covers the extinction statement signed by the CEOs of OpenAI, Google DeepMind, and Anthropic - and the fact that they went back to the office and raced each other to build faster. She covers the $140 million super PAC with AI industry money pouring into midterms. She covers NVIDIA, China, and the contradiction at the center of the 'we can't let China win' argument. She covers the Grok image scandal - 4.4 million generated images in nine days, 41% sexualized images of women - and what it tells us about who is not in the product meetings. And she covers the stat that stops her cold: women are 57% of the workers in jobs most likely to be disrupted by AI, and 13% of the C-suite leaders at AI companies. Then she gives you three moves to make this week.INSIDE THE EPISODEShould I Actually Be Concerned About AI? Erica holds both: the AI nerd who sees what this technology can do, and the mom who wants to throw every device in the lake. She sorts the real risks from the manufactured ones and calls out the people making money off of our fear.Who Benefits When We're Scared? When the CEOs selling the product tell you it could end the world, ask one question: who benefits? Fear makes you feel small and leaves it to the tech geniuses. Fear makes them look like the only ones smart enough to save us from the very thing they are selling. That is a damn good business model.The $140 Million Super PAC. Leading the Future has reportedly raised $140 million for the midterms. Its mission: electing people who want AI rules light and one national standard that overrides tougher state laws. Donors include Andreessen Horowitz and the president of OpenAI. The industry warns about extinction. The industry's money builds a nine-figure war chest to keep the rules light.NVIDIA, China, and the Contradiction. For years the rallying cry was that we cannot let China win the AI race - so we have to move fast and keep the rules light. Then the administration said NVIDIA could sell its most powerful chips to Chinese companies, including ByteDance and Tencent, as long as the US gets a 25% cut. The first shipments landed in China this summer.Grok and What Happens When Women Aren't in the Room. xAI rolled out an image editing feature and people immediately used it to digitally undress women and girls from photos found online. In nine days: 4.4 million images generated, 41% sexualized images of women. Any woman in that product meeting could have told them that was coming. Any mom could have told them that.57% Disrupted, 13% in the Room. Women are 57% of the workers in jobs most likely to be disrupted by generative AI. Women hold 13% of C-suite AI roles at AI companies. At the rate we are going, it will take 90 years to reach equal representation in leadership. A girl born today may never see that in her lifetime.Three Moves You Can Make This Week. Start using AI and let people see you use it. Parent it loudly - have the talk with your kids, use it together, tell them what happened with Grok. Follow the money and use your voice - midterms are coming, AI money is pouring into races, opensecrets.org makes it easy. If there is no woman on your company's AI council, get yourself into that room. ERICA'S RESOURCES & LINKSStart small with me inside HER Jumpstart:https://her-collective.mn.co/plans/1985289?bundle_token=60b2c61d62213cdbd16d437cdc0e4204&utm_source=manual

What if the most valuable part of a feasibility study is the donor conversation your consultant never has? In this episode of All About Capital Campaigns, Capital Campaign Pro co-founders Amy Eisenstein and Andrea Kihlstedt challenge a longstanding assumption about capital campaign feasibility studies: that an outside consultant should conduct confidential interviews with your largest donors.Traditionally, a consultant meets with prospective donors, gathers their opinions about a proposed campaign, and returns with a report and recommended fundraising goal. Amy and Andrea explain why they began questioning that approach and what happened when they tried a different model. In a guided feasibility study, nonprofit leaders meet with donors themselves after receiving training and support from an experienced campaign advisor. The advisor helps them prepare for the conversations, interpret what they hear, and use the findings to shape a realistic campaign plan.The change raises understandable questions. Will donors speak candidly to an executive director or board leader? Can staff listen without trying to sell the project? Where will nonprofit leaders find time to meet with 30 potential campaign supporters? Amy and Andrea take each concern seriously and share what they have learned from years of guiding organizations through these conversations.They also discuss what a confidential interview can leave out of the process. If a donor raises a concern with a consultant, the organization may receive an anonymous summary without knowing whom to follow up with or how to repair the relationship. When leaders hear feedback directly, they can ask better questions, understand the context, and carry the conversation forward. That firsthand knowledge can help them assess the campaign goal and make more informed decisions before asking for gifts.For Amy and Andrea, these interviews do more than test whether a campaign is feasible. They invite major donors to help shape the plan while giving nonprofit leaders practice in having thoughtful, strategic conversations about money and mission. A leader who has listened to a donor's hopes, questions, and concerns is also better prepared for a future solicitation. The relationship continues from a real conversation instead of beginning again after a consultant hands over a report.Andrea shares what donors told her about their preference for speaking directly with the organizations they support. Amy recounts an executive director's experience of having unusually open conversations with donors after 15 years in the role. Together, they make the case for treating donors as partners in campaign planning and for using the feasibility study to build skills that will serve your team throughout the campaign and beyond.If your organization is considering a capital campaign, choosing a feasibility study model, or wondering how to engage major donors before making an ask, this conversation will help you think through who should be in the room and what your team could learn by being there.Episode chapters:00:00 Why revisit the traditional feasibility study?01:13 How consultant-led interviews became the standard04:35 Will donors speak candidly to nonprofit leaders?09:15 Can staff conduct interviews without bias?10:53 Finding time for conversations with major donors13:15 What changes when leaders conduct the interviews14:34 What donors prefer16:29 Transparency and firsthand feedback19:01 Using early conversations to prepare for the ask21:44 Building lasting major gift fundraising skills23:43 Closing thoughts and next stepsLearn more about guided feasibility studies and capital campaign planning at https://capitalcampaignpro.com/. Follow @CapitalCampaignPro for more practical campaign guidance.#Fundraising #Nonprofits

Somewhere in your donor file, there's a group of people that's been labeled “mail-only.” Nobody tested it, so it just became the rule.In this episode, I explain why that assumption costs you revenue, especially going into year-end. I share what happened when one of my club clients added email to an established direct mail program. Donors weren't annoyed, and more gifts came in than mail alone could have produced. I also walk through the latest data from the 2026 M+R Benchmarks, Bloomerang's Giving Signals report, and NextAfter. Email grew 16%, 69% of donors say email is their preferred channel, and nonprofits raise 30–40% of their online revenue in December alone. If your mail list and your email list barely talk to each other, this one is for you.Topics:Why mail and email get siloed by accident, and how that accident starts to feel like a rule nobody questionedThe real math: for every $1 nonprofits raise online, they raise $0.66 through direct mail. Both channels drive real revenue, and both are growingWhy "our audience doesn't respond to email" is almost never a channel problem; it's a content and cadence problemFor a full list of links and resources mentioned in this episode, click here.Bloomerang is the complete donor, volunteer, and fundraising management solution that helps thousands of nonprofits like yours. Book your demo here. Read The 2026 Giving Signals Report here.  Got a fundraising question you want Christina to answer?Send the campaign problem, donor situation, email question, board issue, or fundraising advice you want a straight answer on. Christina is answering listener questions on upcoming episodes of The Purpose & Profit Club® Podcast.Submit yours at splendidatl.com/askResources:Easy Emails For Impact™: The $5K+ Fundraising Campaign SystemPurpose & Profit Club® Fundraising + Marketing Accelerator   The SPRINT Method™: Your shortcut to 10K fundraisers Instagram, LinkedIn, website , weekly newsletter  [FREE] The Brave Fundraiser's Guide: Stop getting ignored. Start raising more. May contain affiliate links

My worst December as a fundraiser?I spent it chasing a stock transfer with no name on it.My plan had been "we'll get serious after the gala."The gala ended in mid-November. You can guess how that year went.Here's what I learned the hard way. December isn't where year-end is won. It's where you find out how well you planned in October.And year-end 2026 raises the stakes. New tax rules. Donors who "bunched" their giving into last year. Complex gifts that need more lead time than ever.On this week's episode of The Intentional Fundraiser Podcast, "Stacking the Deck for Year-End Major Gifts," I walk through:What's changed for donors this year, and the one question to ask about itThe Year-End Countdown, five checkpoints planned backward from December 31A one-page dashboard and a 15-minute Monday huddle that keep your whole team focusedGive it a listen this week, then share it with a colleague who's heading into Q4 with a long list and a short runway.More from Tammy ZonkerAuthor of Calling All Heroes: Combining the Best of Donor-Centered and Community-Centered Fundraising for Greater ImpactFounder of Fundraising TransformedPresident of Modern Institute for Charitable GivingBook Tammy to Keynote Your Next EventReserve your spot at the upcoming Excellence in Major Gift Fundraising SeminarSubscribe to the Scaling Major Gifts newsletterConnect with Tammy Zonker on LinkedInResources: Show notes, links, and resources mentioned in this episode.Review my show: Please review my show. After you click the link, scroll to the bottom, first tap to rate with five stars, and then tap “Write a Review.” Then, let me know what you liked most about this particular episode or how you find my podcast helpful, valuable, insightful, or inspiring in some way.Privacy Policy: See Privacy Policy at https://www.fundraisingtransformed.com/policies

Donors at Harvard Law are pushing the school to adopt a two-year JD program. Ben and Nathan agree. Also in this episode:⬜ Can you build a law school without the ABA? The University of Austin is about to try⬜ Should you apply to law school now or bet on a stronger application next year?⬜ What makes SMU Law tick? Ben and Nathan break down the numbers, jobs, and Dallas market​Start for FreeApple Store | Google PlayWatch on YouTube“What's the Deal” segmentsWord of the Week⁠⁠ library0:00 “Have You Applied to Other Schools”6:40 Two-Year JD at Harvard 10:58 University of Austin Law School21:40 Too Slow on RC40:19 Test D Question — Company emails55:48 Tips from Departing Demons1:05:07 Opportunity Cost of Gap Year1:16:52 What's the Deal with… SMU1:25:37 Word of the Week — stultifying1:28:26 Email of the Wee

In this episode of The First Day from The Fund Raising School, Bill Stanczykiewicz, Ed.D., is joined by Angela Seaworth, Ph.D., MBA, ACFRE, Instructional Associate Professor at the Bush School of Government & Public Service, Texas A&M University, to explore how fundraisers can move beyond annual and major gifts toward transformational giving. Seaworth explains that a transformational gift is not defined by a particular dollar amount. While headlines may focus on gifts of $20 million, $50 million, or more; a $250,000 gift, or even a much smaller investment, can be transformational if it changes an organization's trajectory, expands its capacity, or makes exponential impact possible. The key is for each nonprofit to define transformational giving in the context of its own mission, scale, and ambitions. Seaworth emphasizes that transformational gifts begin with transformational ideas. Fundraisers and nonprofit leaders can sometimes limit themselves by worrying that an idea is too ambitious or an ask is too large, but donors capable of significant giving may be more inspired by bold possibilities than incremental improvements. Developing those opportunities requires an organizational culture that encourages innovation, visioning, and big-picture thinking across departments. Rather than expecting the development team to generate the next great idea alone, nonprofits can invite frontline staff, program leaders, executives, and fundraisers to imagine what greater impact could look like. Generating many ideas, including some that ultimately will not move forward, can help organizations identify the few opportunities with the greatest potential to advance the mission. Bill and Angela also discuss the importance of trust and co-creation in developing transformational gifts. Strong donor relationships involve communication, investment, and what Seaworth describes as “mutual influence,” giving donors an opportunity to share ideas and participate meaningfully in shaping possibilities without allowing the organization to become donor-directed. One practical approach is the longstanding fundraising principle, “If you want money, ask for advice.” Instead of arriving with a finished proposal, fundraisers can bring donors into conversations about an ambitious idea, ask what excites them, and listen for connections to their experiences, passions, and hopes for the organization. Seaworth notes that donors capable of making extraordinary gifts may be seeking something they cannot simply purchase for themselves: the opportunity to advance a cause they deeply value, contribute to meaningful change, and create a lasting legacy. The central takeaway is that transformational fundraising requires nonprofits to think bigger while remaining firmly grounded in mission, strategy, and relationships. One sign that a donor may be ready for a transformational conversation is the presence of multiple relationships across the organization, such as connections with fundraisers, program leaders, executives, or board members, which can deepen trust and demonstrate sustained engagement. Seaworth illustrates the point with an early-career example in which funding for something as unglamorous as a parking lot became transformational because it addressed a critical need and aligned with a donor's passion for organizational sustainability. By cultivating innovative ideas, inviting donors into authentic conversations, and defining transformation according to what will genuinely move the mission forward, fundraisers can turn long-term relationships into opportunities for extraordinary impact.

Jimmy's Monologue - Obama and Kamala have gotten the memo from donors Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this episode of Fox Across America, Jimmy Failla tells us why the donors who essentially run the Democratic Party decided to send both former President Barack Obama and ex-Vice President Kamala Harris out this week to warn about how the U.S. is going in the wrong direction. Barstool's Kayce Smith shares a few of her bold predictions for this weekend's loaded college football slate. PLUS, comedian Danny Polishchuk stops to do a deep dive into the wild story involving a lesbian bar with a mask mandate up in Greenfield, Massachusetts. [00:00:00] Obama and Kamala want more regulation [00:37:35] Kayce Smith [00:56:03] Danny Polishchuk [01:14:20] Danny part two [01:33:05] Danny part three Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The new federal Education Freedom Tax Credit could reshape the K-12 education landscape faster than most people realize. American Federation for Children senior fellow Patrick Graff's new research reveals who can fund and who can receive tax credit-funded scholarships. Ginny Gentles and Patrick discuss how the new federal tax credit works, the 52 million students […]

Send us Fan MailHow can you improve the year-end donor experience before the giving rush begins? Bloomerang Chief Marketing Officer Ann Fellman showed us where a donor's path to giving can get difficult and what to do after the gift arrives!This Nonprofit Power Week finale follows the donor journey from campaign message to donation page to the first welcome. Ann asks teams to walk through their website and giving process with fresh eyes: Can a first-time visitor quickly understand what the organization does, where a gift goes, and what difference it makes? Does a recurring donor have an equally clear path?Then comes the thumb test. Pick up your phone, scan the QR code on a direct-mail appeal, and try to give one-handed. Tiny text, unexpected steps, or a difficult form can turn an interested donor's moment of generosity into a frustrating errand.A small team does not need to rebuild everything before December 31. Ann recommends choosing one or two improvements with the greatest effect on the donation experience. As she puts it, “Pick one thing to do it and do it really well.”The work continues after someone clicks submit. Ann describes a young event attendee who made a $25 gift partly to see how the organization would thank her; she had more to give, but wanted to experience its response first. The lesson for fundraising teams is to plan the welcome, impact update, and next contact for every new donor, whether the first gift is $10 or $25.Ann also explains why a recognizable look, voice, and message should carry from direct mail and email through to the donation page. Donors may encounter only a few pieces of a campaign. Each one should help them know they are in the right place.Watch for a focused way to strengthen this giving season—and build the relationship that carries into the next.Key Takeaways- Test the full giving path as both a new and a recurring donor.- Use a phone and one thumb to check QR codes and donation forms.- Fix the one or two points most likely to stop a completed gift.- Segment messages around whom you want to reach and what they need to hear.- Plan the thank-you, impact update, and next contact before gifts arrive.- Keep campaign identity consistent across mail, email, ads, and landing pages.00:00:00 Nonprofit Power Week finale00:01:47 Ann Fellman on sharing sector knowledge00:04:39 Why the giving season needs an after-gift plan00:08:24 Test the donor journey before year end00:10:07 Try the one-thumb donation test00:11:56 Choose the fixes with the greatest donor impact00:13:54 Segment messages before building the campaign00:14:53 What a $25 gift can reveal about your welcome00:18:10 Keep campaigns recognizable to donors00:20:33 Connect mail, email, ads, and donation pages00:23:28 Do one or two things wellFind us Live daily on YouTube!Find us  Live daily on LinkedIn!Find us Live daily on X: @Nonprofit_ShowOur national co-hosts and amazing guests discuss management, money and missions of nonprofits!  12:30pm ET   11:30am CT  10:30am MT  9:30am PTSend us your ideas for Show Guests or Topics: HelpDesk@AmericanNonprofitAcademy.comVisit us on the web:The Nonprofit Show

Funding a mission is hard. Getting people to believe in it is harder. In this episode of Crowdfunding Demystified, Salvador Briggman sits down with Matthew Paneitz of Long Way Home, a nonprofit that has transformed discarded materials into schools and community infrastructure in Guatemala. You'll hear how Matthew went from a Peace Corps experience to building a global fundraising operation—and why persistence, storytelling, volunteer programs, and measurable impact can completely change your fundraising results. In this episode, you'll learn: How to get people behind your mission when you're starting with limited resources. Why telling your story enthusiastically can make fundraising more effective. How volunteer programs can create both impact and revenue. Why documenting your work can become a powerful marketing tool. How platforms like GlobalGiving can help build donor trust. Why testing, failing, and adapting are essential to successful fundraising. How measuring your impact can make your fundraising message stronger. Resources and Tools Mentioned: Book a coaching call Subscribe for Weekly Crowdfunding Tips Fulfillrite: Kickstarter and crowdfunding reward fulfillment services. They come highly recommended! Download their free shipping and fulfillment checklist The Nonprofit Funding Fast Lane Nonprofit Fundraising Hacks Book Nonprofit Crowdfunding Explained Long Way Home Website Long Way Home on Facebook Long Way Home on YouTube

At 60, Maryanne discovered her hair had been naturally wavy all along — she'd just never created the conditions for it to show. In this solo episode, she turns that surprise into a fundraising lesson: your next donor, partner, and big idea are probably already in your orbit, waiting to be activated. Key Takeaways:Capacity is usually present; conditions are what's missing."I need more" often means you haven't fully seen or used what you already have.Most people give because they were asked — the connection-to-action gap is usually a missing invitation, not a missing audience.Your email list and existing relationships outperform purchased lists and cold social media.One simple question activates a network: Who do you know that needs this?Certainty and control are myths; chasing them manufactures frustration, while experimentation makes room for something new. “Sometimes we are asked to look outside of ourselves for tools and solutions that may already be in us.” “There are people who want to act; they just haven't been asked.” “Influence isn't about forcing movement; it's about creating the conditions in which movement becomes possible.” - Maryanne Dersch Let's Work Together to Amplify Your Leadership + Influence1. Group Coaching for Nonprofit LeadersWant to lead with more clarity, confidence, and influence? My group coaching program is designed for nonprofit leaders who are ready to communicate more powerfully, navigate challenges with ease, and move their organizations forward. 2. Team Coaching + TrainingI work hands-on with nonprofit teams to strengthen leadership, improve communication, and align around a shared vision. Whether you're growing fast or feeling stuck, we'll create more clarity, collaboration, and momentum—together. 3. Board Retreats + TrainingsYour board has big potential. I'll help you unlock it. My engaging, no-fluff retreats and trainings are built to energize your board, refocus on what matters, and generate real results.Get your free starter kit today at www.theinfluentialnonprofit.comConnect with Maryanne about her coaching programs:https://www.courageouscommunication.com/connect Book Maryanne to speak at your conference:https://www.courageouscommunication.com/nonprofit-keynote-speaker

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During a funding crunch, Lucy Madden, CEO of Letters to a Pre-Scientist, recorded a video asking volunteers if they could spare $5 a month to help the organization finish the school year. That first ask brought in 300 monthly donors, and today, more than 90% of Stamp Squad members have also been penpal volunteers.We get into why this worked so well, including how Lucy embedded the monthly giving ask directly into required volunteer training, and how their word-of-mouth momentum is now spilling into fundraising, too.Recurring revenue changed Lucy's mindset about what was possible. And her biggest lesson for anyone building a recurring program? Get your tech right!Resources & LinksConnect with Lucy on LinkedIn, learn more about Letters to a Pre-Scientist, Stamp Squad, and follow them on Instagram.Want to make Missions to Movements even better? Take a screenshot of this episode and share it on Instagram. Be sure to tag @positivequation so I can connect with you.  This episode is presented by The Monthly Giving Builder.  With the Monthly Giving Builder, you can generate your comprehensive monthly giving plan and build your program step by step - with a guided companion working alongside you from start to finish. Save the date for our next Monthly Giving Summit on February 25, 2027. Apply to speak here!Applications are now open for the 2027 Mini Monthly Giving Mastermind and Retreat. If you have built a monthly giving program, join our high-touch peer coaching community for nonprofit leaders who are ready to break through.Supercharge your monthly giving program and apply for my Monthly Giving VIP Intensive session. Only 2 spots are available this fall!Let's Connect!Send a DM on Instagram or LinkedIn and let us know what you think of the show!My book, The Monthly Giving Mastermind, is here! Grab a copy here and learn my framework to build, grow, and sustain subscriptions for good.Want to book Dana as a speaker for your even...

Send us Fan MailHow can nonprofits improve donation conversion without losing sight of the donor relationship? During Day 3 of Nonprofit Power Week with Bloomerang, Kirsten Wantland examined what happens when someone is ready to give . . and what can still get in the way!Kirsten starts with a deceptively simple move: record how each donation came in. A supporter who has given digitally seven times may respond differently to a direct mail appeal than someone who regularly returns a mailed gift. That history can guide segmentation and help a team decide where a more costly channel deserves its budget. If your records are incomplete, Kirsten says you can begin tracking today and learn as the data builds.Then comes the ask itself. Donors can better picture their contribution when an appeal connects an amount to a clear purpose. Kirsten discusses giving ladders with examples at $50, $75, and $200 . . .and why descriptions beside those amounts matter more than a list of numbers alone. Specificity can reveal which part of the mission first draws a donor in. Over time, fundraisers can introduce that supporter to the organization's broader work, including opportunities to provide unrestricted support.“The best thing you can do as a fundraiser is reduce the friction,” Kirsten says. The conversation turns to online donation forms, unnecessary decisions, payment options, and the steps that can interrupt a gift after a donor has decided to make it.The episode wraps with trust between appeals. Kirsten recommends showing donors what their support accomplished and making “kindness deposits” through updates and recognition. If the only message a supporter receives is another request for money, the organization misses a chance to build a lasting partnership.Key Takeaways:Record each gift's channel so future appeals can reflect observed donor behavior.Start tracking now if historical records are incomplete.Connect suggested gift amounts to specific outcomes donors can understand.Use interest in a particular program as an entry point to a broader relationship.Review donation forms for extra decisions and steps that could interrupt completion.Report impact and recognize donor milestones between fundraising asks.00:00:00 The Ask: Making It Easier to Say Yes00:01:45 Track How Donors Choose to Give00:02:47 Segment Appeals by Giving Channel00:06:05 What If You Haven't Tracked Gift Sources?00:08:23 Make the Impact of Each Gift Specific00:12:37 Specific Asks and Unrestricted Support00:16:24 Remove Friction from Donation Forms00:18:45 Give Donors an Easier Way to Pay00:22:43 Earn Trust and Show the Receipts00:24:23 Make Kindness Deposits Between Asks00:26:05 Invite Donors to Participate#TheNonprofitShow #NonprofitPowerWeek #NonprofitFundraisingFind us Live daily on YouTube!Find us  Live daily on LinkedIn!Find us Live daily on X: @Nonprofit_ShowOur national co-hosts and amazing guests discuss management, money and missions of nonprofits!  12:30pm ET   11:30am CT  10:30am MT  9:30am PTSend us your ideas for Show Guests or Topics: HelpDesk@AmericanNonprofitAcademy.comVisit us on the web:The Nonprofit Show

Labour's Chris Hipkins has taken aim at the National Party, by pointing out that it can't spend as much on advertising as they can. Hipkins claimed the Labour doesn't have as much money as National does, which he claimed is fuelled by 'millionaires wanting to further their own interests'. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Send us Fan MailHow do you build donor trust online when supporters can research your nonprofit through websites, rating platforms, social media, and AI? On Day Two of Nonprofit Power Week, Katie Gaston, Director of Product Marketing at Bloomerang, explains how credibility, emotion, and evidence can turn donor consideration into confident action. Katie identifies two very different donor mindsets. One donor feels moved and wants to give immediately. That person needs a fast, friction-free path involving QR codes, mobile payments, and simple donation forms. The second donor studies the organization, reviews its leadership, examines its results, and compares outside sources before making a commitment.  Serving both requires more than a compelling mission statement.Katie uses the classic modes of persuasion (ethos, pathos, and logos) to create a clear nonprofit trust strategy. Ethos establishes character and credibility. Pathos connects through emotion and human stories. Logos supplies the numbers and measurable results that support the organization's claims.  “Trust really comes from showing with evidence, not just telling a donor why they should give,” Katie explains.The conversion data makes this an operational issue. According to M+R Benchmarks, fewer than one in 50 website visitors completes a donation. Research cited during the conversation also indicates that impact messaging on a donation form can increase conversion by as much as 25%, while a visible security indicator can increase conversion by as much as 126%.Katie, and host Julia C. Patrick,  also explore how inconsistent messaging and mass-produced AI content can weaken authenticity. Donors are already asking AI platforms about nonprofits, making it important to test what those platforms say, examine their sources, and ensure the organization's website communicates a consistent story.Key Takeaways:Design separate pathways for immediate givers and research-oriented donors.Answer three website questions quickly: What do you do, why does it matter, and how can I help?Combine organizational credibility, emotional storytelling, and measurable results.Add impact messaging and visible security signals to donation pages.Test the website with people outside the organization instead of relying on internal assumptions.Ask AI platforms about your nonprofit and examine which sources shape their answers.00:00:00 The Nonprofit Trust Test00:02:19 Two Very Different Types of Donors00:06:08 Ethos, Pathos, and Logos in Fundraising00:09:40 Three Questions Every Nonprofit Website Must Answer00:10:36 Why Most Website Visitors Never Donate00:11:11 Donation Page Changes That Lift Conversion00:14:10 Consistency Builds Organizational Trust00:16:34 When AI Content Weakens Authenticity00:19:39 Communicating Trust Without Saying “Trust Us”00:21:26 Test Your Website Instead of Assuming00:23:45 What AI Is Telling Donors About Your Nonprofit00:26:21 The Three-Part Trust Framework #DonorTrust #NonprofitFundraising #TheNonprofitShowFind us Live daily on YouTube!Find us  Live daily on LinkedIn!Find us Live daily on X: @Nonprofit_ShowOur national co-hosts and amazing guests discuss management, money and missions of nonprofits!  12:30pm ET   11:30am CT  10:30am MT  9:30am PTSend us your ideas for Show Guests or Topics: HelpDesk@AmericanNonprofitAcademy.comVisit us on the web:The Nonprofit Show

Send us Fan MailHow do nonprofits attract and retain donors before the first gift is ever made? This is the first of a five-day Nonprofit Power Week journey with Bloomerang, moving from donor discovery and awareness into consideration, decision-making, retention, and the upcoming giving season.Day One starts at the beginning of the donor journey . . .Discovery, Awareness, First Impressions, and Trust.Emily Kelly, National Accounts Manager with Bloomerang, joins us to explore what happens before someone becomes a donor, and why nonprofit leaders should treat that early relationship as a business asset rather than simply chasing the next transaction.  Emily puts it plainly: “The donation is just the transaction and then the relationship is the actual asset.”Potential supporters can discover an organization through social media, its website, an event, a friend, a volunteer experience, or word of mouth. That means there is no single magic communications channel. Different generations and individual donors may consume information very differently, making donor communication preferences and CRM segmentation increasingly important.The goal isn't to be everywhere. It's to understand “ . . .who already supports you, where you can reach them, what they care about, and how they prefer to engage.” Emily adds “You can't convert a donor that you can't reach.”The conversation also pushes nonprofits to rethink personalization. It isn't merely inserting someone's first name into an email. It means understanding whether a supporter prefers volunteering, events, direct giving, email, social media, mail, or another form of engagement—and recording those preferences so the organization can respond accordingly.That matters because communication that ignores a donor's preferences can weaken trust, while thoughtful interactions can make supporters feel recognized long before another ask arrives.Key Takeaways:Treat the donor relationship as the asset; the donation is one transaction within it.Start with existing supporters before pouring resources into constant donor acquisition.Identify your strongest donor demographics and build communications around how they actually engage.Use CRM segmentation to record communication preferences, interests, geography, events, and support behavior.Personalization means recognizing how someone wants to participate—not merely knowing their name.Make discovering, understanding, and supporting your organization easy from the very first interaction.00:00:00 — Nonprofit Power Week Begins 00:03:51 — The First Impression Before the Gift 00:05:06 — The Relationship Is the Real Asset 00:06:12 — Reaching Different Generations of Donors 00:08:09 — Personalization Is More Than a First Name 00:11:37 — Stop Chasing Only New Donors 00:14:02 — Trust, CRM Segmentation and Better Donor Asks 00:22:35 — Make Giving Easy—and Build What Comes NextFind us Live daily on YouTube!Find us  Live daily on LinkedIn!Find us Live daily on X: @Nonprofit_ShowOur national co-hosts and amazing guests discuss management, money and missions of nonprofits!  12:30pm ET   11:30am CT  10:30am MT  9:30am PTSend us your ideas for Show Guests or Topics: HelpDesk@AmericanNonprofitAcademy.comVisit us on the web:The Nonprofit Show

The Venezuelan government and the country's opposition are close to reaching an agreement to transfer the central bank's gold reserves, critics are scrutinising donations to UK Reform by crypto billionaires Ben Delo and Christopher Harborne, and Glencore has suspended one of its senior executives in the wake of an escalating scandal. Plus, OpenAI's listing delay raises stakes for SoftBank's $50bn data centre IPO.Mentioned in this podcast:Venezuela nears deal to move $4bn gold reserve to New YorkReform UK's mega-donor backed a friend's libel claim. Now he controls her homeGlencore suspends senior executive in review of ties to iron ore traderOpenAI's listing delay raises stakes for SoftBank's $50bn data centre IPOWant to get in touch? Email us at podcasts@ft.comNote: The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts The FT News Briefing is produced by Sonja Hutson, Saffeya Ahmed, Katya Kumkova, and Josh Gabert-Doyon. Our show is mixed by Sam Giovinco and Kelly Garry. Additional help from Gavin Kallmann, Michael Lello, Peter Barber and David da Silva. Our executive producer is Topher Forhecz. Flo Phillips is the FT's global head of audio. The show's theme music is by Metaphor Music. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Send us Fan MailDonor relationships when a fundraiser leaves can expose serious gaps in nonprofit ethics, succession planning, data security, and donor communication. When the development professional changes (but the donor's trust remains) who is responsible for what happens next?On this Fundraisers Friday conversation, Julia Patrick and Tony Beall confront one of fundraising's most uncomfortable transitions: whether donors should follow a fundraiser to another organization.Julia begins with the ethical baseline established by the Association of Fundraising Professionals: donor data and portfolios belong to the nonprofit. She also cites a striking sector concern . . .the average professional fundraiser may remain in a position for only about 19 months. That turnover makes donor-transition planning a business necessity, not a hypothetical exercise.Tony draws an essential distinction between responsibility and ownership: “We do that on behalf of, as the ambassador of, as the champion of—not as the owner of.”But organizational ownership of the database is only the first layer. Donor trust can be deeply personal, multigenerational, and connected to a fundraiser's integrity. Corporate partners introduce another dynamic: they may value a fundraiser's reliability, reporting, and responsiveness, yet their funding must still align with the new organization's mission.The conversation moves directly into nonprofit operations: controlling CRM access, preventing unauthorized data exports, preparing donor communications, assigning interim relationship managers, and making introductions before a departing fundraiser leaves. Tony recommends a “no surprises” rule so important donors never discover a staffing change through LinkedIn.A respectful, documented transition plan protects the organization, the professional, and the donor!Key Takeaways:Donor records and portfolios are organizational assets—not employee property.Personal trust may follow a fundraiser even when donor data cannot.Every development department needs a ready-to-activate departure plan.Major donors should hear about staffing transitions directly from the nonprofit.CRM access and export permissions require immediate attention during departures.Portfolio decisions should serve the mission rather than individual goals or ego.00:00:00 Fundraiser Turnover and the Donor Question00:02:00 Who Owns the Donor Data?00:06:43 Portfolio Competition, Goals, and Ego00:09:08 When Donors Want to Follow a Fundraiser00:12:44 Corporate Partners Change the Equation00:15:21 Building the Fundraiser Exit Plan00:18:02 CRM Access, Data Exports, and Integrity00:22:58 The No-Surprises Donor Communication Rule00:25:26 Hiring Pressure and the Fundraising Talent Pipeline#NonprofitFundraising #FundraisingEthics #TheNonprofitShowFind us Live daily on YouTube!Find us  Live daily on LinkedIn!Find us Live daily on X: @Nonprofit_ShowOur national co-hosts and amazing guests discuss management, money and missions of nonprofits!  12:30pm ET   11:30am CT  10:30am MT  9:30am PTSend us your ideas for Show Guests or Topics: HelpDesk@AmericanNonprofitAcademy.comVisit us on the web:The Nonprofit Show

Hour 3 for 9/16/26 Drew and Sal Albanese discuss the corrosive influence of big money in politics (1:28), the amount of money spent in the midterms (13:40), public financing (16:23), and capping donations (22:19). Then, Tim Graham from NewsBusters discusses the media bias in election coverage (28:24), Lindsay Clancy bias (43:24) and bias in local reporting (47:15). Links: mrcNewsBusters Make the Voters the Donors

https://www.plannedgivingaccelerated.com/my-book  The episode features planned-giving consultant Tony Martignetti discussing his book, Planned Giving Accelerated. His central message is that legacy fundraising isn't reserved for universities, hospitals, or large nonprofits—small and midsized organizations can launch a practical program in one week. The three-step approach: Identify your strongest prospects. Prioritize loyal, long-term donors with whom someone at the nonprofit has a genuine relationship. Consistency matters more than wealth: someone who has donated $5 annually for 20 years may be a better prospect than an occasional major donor. Start exclusively with gifts in wills. Bequests are familiar, simple, and cost donors nothing during their lifetimes. More complicated vehicles can wait until the program matures. Cultivate and ask. Begin personal conversations with the best prospects. Martignetti recommends asking directly but naturally: “Would you consider including us in your will?” Key insights: Planned giving is a conversation about life, not death. The focus should be the longevity of the organization's work and its future impact in the community. Loyalty predicts potential better than gift size. Nonprofits shouldn't restrict planned-giving outreach to wealthy or major donors. Start with donors around age 55–60 or older. Younger donors can participate later, but older, established supporters are more likely to retain the organization in their estate plans. Don't lead with tax benefits. Most modest donors will receive little or no estate-tax advantage; they give because they care about the mission. Technical questions should be referred to the donor's attorney or financial adviser. Bequests are usually unrestricted. Martignetti encourages nonprofits to place as much as practical into an endowment while balancing immediate operating needs. Specific restrictions and naming opportunities are exceptions. Discuss programs, buildings, or required gift amounts only when donors want a more tangible legacy. Monthly donors can become strong prospects, although the initial launch should remain tightly focused on the most established relationships. Donor-advised funds require succession planning. Donors should designate successor advisers or charitable beneficiaries so the remaining money doesn't simply default to the sponsoring organization. Meetings can be informal. Martignetti likes meals because their natural pacing creates room for conversation, but fundraisers should meet wherever both parties feel comfortable. The episode also discusses Martignetti's deliberately humorous, anti-academic style and a seemingly unrelated chapter documenting the 2025 “GoFundMe chaos week.” In that episode, GoFundMe created roughly 1.2 million unapproved nonprofit donation pages. Nonprofit professionals organized on LinkedIn, pressured the company to respond, and helped bring wider regulatory attention to “shadow donation pages.” Overall, the takeaway is simple: planned giving does not require a complex campaign, special website, tax expertise, or wealthy donor base. It begins when a nonprofit identifies a loyal supporter and opens an honest conversation about sustaining its mission beyond the donor's lifetime.

If you've ever wondered whether a membership model could work for grassroots organizing and not just traditional fundraising, today's guest is going to show you exactly how.The African American Roundtable (AART) won this year's Monthlies award for Strongest Sense of Community, and Executive Director Markasa Tucker-Harris is joining me to share how AART created a five-tier membership structure, inviting donors to “be the work.”That shift has influenced EVERYTHING, from fundraising and staffing to storytelling and retention, including how they think about dedicated membership roles, relationship-building with donors, and creating pathways for members to organize more people into the movement.Markasa also shares why AART's churn stays low and what nonprofits considering a membership or recurring giving model should do first.Resources & LinksLearn more about the African American Roundtable and their upcoming events.My book, The Monthly Giving Mastermind, is here! Grab a copy here and learn my framework to build, grow, and sustain subscriptions for good.Want to make Missions to Movements even better? Take a screenshot of this episode and share it on Instagram. Be sure to tag @positivequation so I can connect with you. This episode is presented by The Monthly Giving Builder.  With the Monthly Giving Builder, you can generate your comprehensive monthly giving plan and build your program step by step - with a guided companion working alongside you from start to finish. Save the date for our next Monthly Giving Summit on February 25, 2027. Apply to speak here!Applications are now open for the 2027 Mini Monthly Giving Mastermind and Retreat. If you have built a monthly giving program, join our high-touch peer coaching community for nonprofit leaders who are ready to break through.Supercharge your monthly giving program and apply for my Monthly Giving VIP Intensive session. Only 2 spots are available this fall!Let's Connect!Send a DM on Instagram or LinkedIn and let us know what you think of the show!My book, The Monthly Giving Mastermind, is here! Grab a copy here and learn my framework to build, grow, and sustain subscriptions for good.Want to book Dana as a speaker for your even...

Mars Sailors joined my coaching program, The Purpose & Profit Club®, as a graphic designer and marketing manager, not a fundraiser. The work already included telling the story of The Source LGBT+ Center across communications, social media, and email. What changed was learning how to connect those dots to donors.In this conversation, Mars shares how that mindset shift turned into a first full SPRINT™ campaign: a Give Out Day fundraiser that raised $16,000, exceeded a $15K goal, included a $5,000 match, and brought in 100+ donors.Mars also shares the story behind the Build to Belong capital campaign, which has raised nearly $700,000 toward a $1 million Phase One goal to secure a permanent home for LGBTQ+ people in California's Central Valley.This one is for every communicator, designer, or marketing manager who's been handed fundraising responsibilities and isn't sure they belong there. You do.Topics:How Mars reframed fundraising as a communications discipline, and why the stories he was already telling were halfway to a donor askThe Give Out Day campaign: a $5K match, 100+ donors, and exceeding a $15K goal with a campaign built around "Pride doesn't end in June"What it felt like to send that last email and have two donors independently close the $1,000 gap at the same timeThe Build to Belong capital campaign: $700K raised, a campus purchased, and belonging framed as infrastructureFundraising in a politically turbulent climate, and why The Source doubles down instead of going darkBeing named a PR Daily finalist alongside Make-A-Wish, Guide Dogs for the Blind, and MD AndersonFor a full list of links and resources mentioned in this episode, click here.Bloomerang is the complete donor, volunteer, and fundraising management solution that helps thousands of nonprofits like yours. Book your demo here. Read The 2026 Giving Signals Report here.  Apply here: splendidcourses.com/applyResources:Easy Emails For Impact™: The $5K+ Fundraising Campaign SystemPurpose & Profit Club® Fundraising + Marketing Accelerator   The SPRINT Method™: Your shortcut to 10K fundraisers Instagram, LinkedIn, website , weekly newsletter  [FREE] The Brave Fundraiser's Guide: Stop getting ignored. Start raising more. May contain affiliate links

Your Donors Can Tell: The Right and Wrong Ways to Use AI in FundraisingYour donors can tell when an email was written by AI. Cherian Koshy, VP at Kindsight and author of Neurogiving, returns to the show to talk about the right and wrong ways nonprofits are using AI in fundraising. Cherian shares data from his two year study of more than a thousand donors, why "human in the loop" has become a meaningless policy line, and what nonprofit leaders should actually do Monday morning if their team is already using AI without any rules in place. A practical, honest look at donor trust, nonprofit technology, and where the line should be.Cherian also shares his new Fundraising Judgment Benchmark study. Take it here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/8ZNJMMWConnect with Cherian Koshy

Got a story idea for Bloodworks 101? Send us a text message Most of us are old enough to remember September 11th, 2001. Vancouver's Chris Adams will never forget that day. That's because when tradegies like 9-11 happen, people can either feel helpless or do one of the only things that makes them feel like they're making a contribution, they give blood. Donors that day, poured into the Bloodworks Northwest Donor Center where Chris was working. Recently, he spoke with Bloodworks 101 Producer John Yeager about what he remembered about that fateful day.Support the show

About Mark: They call me the Event Maestro. Here's why that matters to you.Your last event was a success. Yet, you left a fortune on the table. The feedback was great. The room was full. And still — the mission didn't accelerate the way it could have. Not because the event failed. Because no one showed you what the room was actually capable of. For one brief window, you had your investors, donors, board members, team and community leaders in a single space. Most leaders use that moment to share updates and deepen connections.The “Event Maestro” uses that moment to activate these stakeholders. Investors who came to observe - write a big check. Donors who increase their giving without being asked. Board members who become more cooperative. Sponsors who witnessed your culture and expanded their commitment on the spot. That's not a better agenda. That's a gathering engineered to turn your mission into a movement. For 30 years, I've been in the business of turning audiences into believers — and believers into buyers.I've strategized 900+ events over three decades. I help Impact CEOs activate stakeholder engagement through immersive experiences that don't just captivate rooms — they move people to act, lead and invest. As Co-Founder of BigImpactHQ, my wife Shannon and I have trained over 3,000 leaders to harness the power of speaking and live events. Our "Speak Your Path to Cash" System has generated more than $150M in revenue for our clients and landed them on stages most people only dream about — Tony Robbins, TED Talks, CNN, The View, Brendan Burchard, Mama Gena, and more. Before BigImpactHQ, I spent years as a Senior Branding Strategist for Clear Channel, writing 1,100+ radio ads and campaigns for Porsche, Harley-Davidson, AFLAC, and Marriott. That background wired me to think in messages that cut through noise and land with precision. I've shared stages with Jack Canfield, Robert Kiyosaki, Les Brown, and others — not just because I'm a good speaker, but because I understand the science of influence and the art of transformation. My work sits at the intersection of conscious leadership, transformational influence, and the inner game of business success. I help companies live from their higher purpose, build conscious cultures, and follow the principles of Conscious Capitalism — because mission-driven businesses outperform, period.Connect with him here: www.MAGspeaks.comDon't forget to register for our limited-space 5-day LinkedIn workshop here: https://www.thetimetogrow.com/AtoEonLinkedinWorkshop

Running a successful community fundraiser requires balancing operational control with rapid growth. Emily Saffran breaks down how she expanded the GEM Charitable Trust from a casual raffle into a sold-out annual event that attracts top local donors.Scaling a grassroots initiative demands clear team roles, reliable vendor partners, and unique auction items that drive high bids. Rather than relying on massive planning committees, managing tight logistics with a small core team keeps overhead low and creates an intimate atmosphere. Donors connect directly with beneficiary representatives, turning standard corporate giving into an emotional commitment. Operators looking to build sustainable community initiatives will learn how to turn casual events into high-yield fundraising engines.For business owners planning year-end giving strategy, this conversation provides a blueprint to maximize donor engagement and local impact. Subscribe and share this episode with an organizer ready to elevate their next fundraiser.What is the biggest operational challenge you face when planning local community events?Join us every Thursday at 10 AM for all things Bentonville, Business and Bourbon!Join the community:Instagram: @thebteampodFacebook: @The B Team Podcast TikTok: @bteampodhttps://www.bteampodcast.com/

He went quiet for two months.She thought she'd blown the ask.She hadn't.The donor had watched his business take a hit, watched the news every night, and frozen. He wasn't saying no to her $250,000 proposal. He was saying he didn't know how to say yes to anything right now.Here's what she finally did.She sent a note that had nothing to do with the gift. She just asked how he was thinking about the year ahead.He called at 8:15 the next morning and talked for forty minutes. About his company. His kids. How unsure everything felt.She didn't re-pitch. She asked one question near the end: what would make a commitment feel manageable for you right now?Five years instead of three, he said. And a conversation each January.He signed for $300,000.The gift got bigger because the risk got smaller.In this week's episode of The Intentional Fundraiser, I'm walking you through the emotional layer of giving in 2026, the four conversational moves I use with anxious donors, and five gift structures that help people feel safe saying yes to something big.Here's my question for you. When a donor hesitates, is your first instinct to shrink the number or to shrink the risk?Listen to the episode, then share it with someone on your team who has an anxious donor conversation coming up this week.More from Tammy ZonkerAuthor of Calling All Heroes: Combining the Best of Donor-Centered and Community-Centered Fundraising for Greater ImpactFounder of Fundraising TransformedPresident of Modern Institute for Charitable GivingBook Tammy to Keynote Your Next EventReserve your spot at the upcoming Excellence in Major Gift Fundraising SeminarSubscribe to the Scaling Major Gifts newsletterConnect with Tammy Zonker on LinkedInResources: Show notes, links, and resources mentioned in this episode.Review my show: Please review my show. After you click the link, scroll to the bottom, first tap to rate with five stars, and then tap “Write a Review.” Then, let me know what you liked most about this particular episode or how you find my podcast helpful, valuable, insightful, or inspiring in some way.Privacy Policy: See Privacy Policy at https://www.fundraisingtransformed.com/policies

The film ended and the room went silent. Then it roared. Over the next three years, hundreds of donors gave more than $300,000 to build one young woman a home of her own.That's what belief looks like when it shows up. Max Kringen and Annie Wood of Tellwell Story Co. have spent years studying how it gets built — and it isn't luck, and it isn't a bigger ask.

In this episode of The First Day from The Fund Raising School, Bill Stanczykiewicz, Ed.D., is joined by Adrian Sargeant, Ph.D., co-director of the Institute for Sustainable Philanthropy and a pioneering researcher in donor relationships, stewardship, and fundraising, to explore what it really means when fundraisers say that fundraising is “all about relationships.” Drawing on decades of research, Sargeant explains how his own thinking about fundraising has evolved. Rather than viewing fundraising simply as raising money for a good cause, he now describes the profession as being responsible for “stewarding the human capacity to love.” That shift changes how fundraisers think about donor relationships, moving beyond traditional measures such as satisfaction, trust, and commitment toward three deeper dimensions: identity, well-being, and love. Sargeant begins with donor identity and the importance of understanding not merely why donors give, but who they believe themselves to be when they give. Simple surveys asking supporters for five words that describe themselves, and five words describing themselves as supporters of the organization, can reveal language that fundraisers can incorporate into communications. Instead of simply thanking someone for a “kind donation,” for example, an organization might thank the donor “for your kindness,” reinforcing the donor's sense of identity and creating a warmer, more personal experience. Bill and Adrian also explore three elements of donor well-being: connection, autonomy, and competence. Donors may want to feel connected to beneficiaries, a particular community, an organization's mission, a faith tradition, or even a beloved institutional brand. They also benefit from feeling that they exercised meaningful choice and personally helped make something happen. Finally, donors want to feel competent in expressing their care for others. Fundraising communications that intentionally reinforce these experiences can strengthen relationships while also producing measurable financial results. Those results can be substantial. Sargeant says that experiments incorporating identity and well-being into fundraising communications have often doubled campaign income after several rounds of testing. Even relatively simple changes in the language used to describe donors have produced increases in giving of more than 20 percent. The goal, however, is not manipulation. It is to communicate in ways that more accurately reflect who donors are, what they value, and how they want their philanthropy to feel. For organizations with limited staff and resources, Sargeant recommends starting with simple, practical steps. A short donor survey can become part of the stewardship process while generating valuable information about identity and preferred connections. Organizations can then use those insights to improve communications and segmentation: learning which beneficiaries, causes, or aspects of the mission individual donors most want to feel connected to. The approach does not require an enormous donor relations department, but it does require curiosity, intentionality, and support from organizational leadership. The central takeaway is that effective donor relationships begin with seeing donors as people rather than transactions. Philanthropy itself is rooted in the idea of “love for humankind,” and Sargeant's research offers fundraisers practical, evidence-based ways to bring that idea into everyday stewardship. By understanding donor identity, strengthening well-being, and creating warmer, more personal communications, fundraisers can help supporters experience greater joy in giving while building the kind of relationships that lead to sustainable, lifelong philanthropy.

Most stewardship programs are built around a formula: give at this level, receive this letter; give more, get invited to this event; give enough, get your name on a wall. But that model is quietly failing because donors can tell when they're being processed instead of known. In this episode of Real Talk for Real Fundraisers, Jeff Schreifels and co-host Christopher Beck have a candid conversation with Dwayne Ashley, founder and CEO of Bridge Philanthropic Consulting, one of the largest full-service fundraising and advisory firms in the world. They explore what stewardship looks like when donors are treated as partners rather than sources of capital, including why the ask should move at the donor's pace, why calling a donor for advice can be more meaningful than another impact report, and how gift acceptance and naming policies can quietly cost organizations major gifts. At the heart of the conversation is a simple idea: people give to people. Donors are evaluating your leadership, your flexibility, and whether they trust the people behind the mission just as much as they're evaluating your programs. Jeff also shares a story from earlier that morning about being on the receiving end of a permission-based ask and what it felt like to experience that approach as a donor. This is a conversation about moving beyond transactional stewardship and creating donor experiences that actually feel personal. From designing experiences people want to attend to adapting your approach across generations, Jeff, Christopher, and Dwayne make the case that effective stewardship isn't about following a formula. It's about knowing the individual donor and building a relationship that works for them. Show Highlights: In this episode, you'll learn about…  Why authentic stewardship is about knowing donors as people, not moving them through a tiered system  How permission-based asking, donor advice, and honest conversations can build deeper trust and partnership  Why gift acceptance policies, pledge practices, and organizational flexibility can either strengthen or undermine donor relationships  How to create more meaningful, personalized donor experiences by adapting to individual interests, expectations, and generations Veritus Group is passionate about partnering with you and your organization throughout your fundraising journey. We believe that the key to transformative fundraising is a disciplined system and structure, trusted accountability, persistence, and a bit of fun. We specialize in mid-level fundraising, major gifts, and planned giving, helping our clients to develop compelling donor offers and to focus on strategic leadership and organizational development. You can learn more about how we can partner with you at www.VeritusGroup.com.   Additional Resources:   [Blog] Three Critical Elements of Planned Giving [White Paper] Building a Culture of Philanthropy [Podcast] Christopher Beck: Five Questions Every Non-Profit Leader Needs to Answer About Equity 

Scarcity-driven fundraising tactics-chasing, over-following up, pushing too soon-might be quietly sabotaging your donor relationships. In this episode, Maryanne Dersch shows you how to shift from pressure to flow.Key Takeaways:Scarcity in fundraising often begins as a nervous system response to uncertainty—like being behind goal or a donor going quiet—and can drive behaviors such as chasing, over-following up, and pitching too soon, which donors experience as pressure.Maryanne's Donor Flow Framework (Awareness → Interest → Connection → Action) emphasizes moving people at their natural pace; scarcity wants to “skip ahead” to the ask, while flow means meeting donors exactly where they are and offering the next natural invitation.Shifting from pushing to curiosity, pitching to connecting, and chasing to inviting creates conditions where donors lean in rather than pull back, because they feel understood, sovereign, and not treated like ATMs.Sustainable fundraising grows from confidence, connection, and influence—trusting the value of your work, understanding what matters to donors, and creating conditions for movement—supported by intentional mindset practices like mantras about time and money that keep you out of scarcity loops. "Not responding is a response." "Scarcity tries to manufacture movement. Influence creates the conditions for movement, and that is my whole life's work in that sentence: creating conditions for movement." "Sustainable fundraising doesn't come from pushing harder. It comes from creating the conditions in which donors naturally want to move closer."- Maryanne Dersch Reference:Scarcity Donor Flow - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1F1Q-Lbp1BQ5bklAsNqAf92zScepjBBOF/view?usp=sharingAsk for and receive all you want, need, and deserve without feeling rejected, ineffective, or pushy. Learn to manage your mindset, lead yourself and others more effectively, and have the meaningful conversations that drive your most important work. Let's Work Together to Amplify Your Leadership + Influence1. Group Coaching for Nonprofit LeadersWant to lead with more clarity, confidence, and influence? My group coaching program is designed for nonprofit leaders who are ready to communicate more powerfully, navigate challenges with ease, and move their organizations forward. 2. Team Coaching + TrainingI work hands-on with nonprofit teams to strengthen leadership, improve communication, and align around a shared vision. Whether you're growing fast or feeling stuck, we'll create more clarity, collaboration, and momentum—together. 3. Board Retreats + TrainingsYour board has big potential. I'll help you unlock it. My engaging, no-fluff retreats and trainings are built to energize your board, refocus on what matters, and generate real results.Get your free starter kit today at www.theinfluentialnonprofit.comConnect with Maryanne about her coaching programs:https://www.courageouscommunication.com/connect Book Maryanne to speak at your conference:https://www.courageouscommunication.com/nonprofit-keynote-speaker

Theodore Schleifer, covers billionaires and their impact for the New York Times, talks about the impact of dark money on the 2026 midterms, why the spending source is growing, and where it's being spent. Photo: Stock image by fStop Images - Antenna via Getty Creative Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Your next donor may never visit your website!Peter Byrnes, CEO of Fundraise Up, is joining me to explain agentic giving and the shift he sees happening RIGHT now from discovery, to recommendation, to delegation. Donors are already asking AI tools where they should give, and soon they may be asking those same tools to actually make the donation for them. We get into what nonprofits need to do now to become easier for AI to find, understand, and trust, including why consistency across your website, annual reports, financial information, and outside sources matters more than ever. We also talk about Fundraise Up's free Agentic Giving Readiness Assessment, how to audit what AI is already saying about your organization, and why the goal isn't to panic — it's to prepare.Resources & LinksCheck out the Fundraise Up Agentic Giving Readiness Assessment.Connect with Peter on LinkedIn.Learn more about Peec.ai. This episode is presented by The Monthly Giving Builder.  With the Monthly Giving Builder, you can generate your comprehensive monthly giving plan and build your program step by step - with a guided companion working alongside you from start to finish. Supercharge your monthly giving program and apply for my Monthly Giving VIP Intensive session. Only 2 spots are available this fall!Let's Connect!Send a DM on Instagram or LinkedIn and let us know what you think of the show!My book, The Monthly Giving Mastermind, is here! Grab a copy here and learn my framework to build, grow, and sustain subscriptions for good.Want to book Dana as a speaker for your event? Click here!

In this episode of the Fundraising Masterminds Podcast, we're talking about how to transition nonprofit leadership — without losing donors, damaging trust, or sacrificing relationships that took years to build.Join us for a practical discussion about one of the hardest stages of nonprofit growth. From relying only on clear ROI to firing your new Development Director just 6 months early, we're covering the most common mistakes people make when it comes to transitioning leadership.Discover why the average development director lasts only 18 months. Find out how to truly measure success in development. Learn how to transfer trust between your leadership team. And uncover the sobering costs behind handing off donors too quickly. So whether you're preparing to hire a Development Director or in the midst of a transition yourself, this episode will show you how to hand off authority in a way that honors your relationships. Don't miss out!Subscribe to our channel for more nonprofit tips and tricks.ASK US A QUESTION:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.speakpipe.com/fundraisingmasterminds⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠NEED HELP WITH YOUR NONPROFIT?Most nonprofits are under-funded. Even if you think your nonprofit is doing well, we've found you could be doing much better. However, most nonprofits don't have a clear development strategy that keeps them grounded. As a result, they "get creative" and "try new things" based on what is popular or trending, or they get comfortable with where they are at and don't realize the dangers they will be facing in just a few short years.The Perfect Vision Dinner Course is a 20-week "live video" course that addresses this problem head on. The course was developed by Jim Dempsey after 38+ years as a Senior Development Director at Cru. After Jim had personally done over 2,500 vision dinners in his lifetime and raised over $1 billion worldwide, Jim and Jason have partnered together to bring you Fundraising Masterminds. Our first course, The Perfect Vision Dinner is a time-tested proven formula that will introduce our development system and grow your nonprofit to its maximum potential.The course includes 20-hours of personalized development coaching from Jim Dempsey and Jason Galicinski and also includes a real-time community group where you have access to everyone attending the course and also our Masterminds throughout the course.The goal for this course is to fully equip you with a Biblical basis for Development so that you can Win, Keep and Lift new partners to higher levels of involvement with your nonprofit. → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://FundraisingMasterminds.net⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠/discovery-callFOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA:→ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/fundraising.masterminds⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠→ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://facebook.com/fundraising.masterminds⁠⁠⁠Episode Keywords:transition nonprofit leadership, how to transition nonprofit leadership, nonprofit leadership, how to transition nonprofit leadership without losing donors, losing donors, fundraising masterminds, nonprofit growth, development director, transitioning leadership, average development director, nonprofit tips and tricks, fundraising masterminds podcast, jim dempsey, jason galicinski, gospel rescue mission, rescue mission, counseling ministry, how to transition nonrpoft leadership.

Many nonprofits believe their mission alone should inspire support. Unfortunately, donors are not mind readers.   They cannot automatically feel your impact, understand your programs, appreciate your culture, or grasp the urgency of your work simply because your organization exists. That understanding must be communicated clearly, consistently, emotionally, and professionally. And that's where many nonprofits struggle.   Some organizations are doing extraordinary work while presenting themselves with outdated brochures, confusing websites, blurry photos, weak messaging, and annual reports that look like they were assembled during a power outage with leftover clip art from COVID.   Meanwhile, organizations with half the impact and twice the marketing budget are raising significantly more money because they understand something important: Presentation influences perception.   That may sound shallow, but it's reality. Donors make judgments constantly based on professionalism, clarity, consistency, visual quality, storytelling, and emotional connection. Strong marketing materials signal competence, credibility, momentum, leadership, and trustworthiness.   Weak marketing materials signal confusion. Tune in to learn more!

On this Salcedo Storm Podcast:Amber Duke is Editor-in-chief of the Daily Caller. She's the Author of insightful book, The Snowflakes' Revolt: How Woke Millennials Hijacked American Media.

Will the UK ever rejoin the EU? Who is funding Andy Burnham? And will the bedroom tax be scrapped? In a special episode, Kiran Stacey and Peter Walker answer some of your questions. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

This week, Nachi Gordon sits down with philanthropists Yossi Hoch and Simcha Shain to talk about the world of tzedakah, from the pressure donors carry to the changing psychology of giving. They open up about what has shifted since their parents' generation, how technology and platforms like Charidy have reshaped fundraising, and why some of the most established organizations now struggle to compete with flashier, newer causes. Along the way they share candid stories about donors who quietly write six figure checks and others who give up their Shabbos soda money, and why both matter equally.   The conversation turns personal as Yossi and Simcha discuss the hidden shame that comes with losing the ability to give, the toll of unfulfilled pledges, and what it really means to give with a full heart rather than a full wallet. They also dig into Shuvu, the organization educating thousands of children across Israel, including former hostage Bar Kuperstein, and share the story of how each of them first got involved. It's a wide ranging, honest look at what tzedakah costs, what it gives back, and why every dollar, no matter the size, counts. Help Shuvu grow This episode is sponsored by:   ► PZ Deals   Never pay full price again when you download the PZ Deals app.   https://app.pz.deals/install/mpp   _________________   ► Colel Chabad Pushka App   The easiest way to give Tzedaka.   https://pushkapp.cc/meaningful   _________________   ► Amudim - What Comes Next, Live in New York   Join Nachi Gordon moderating a powerful panel on healing from abuse, crime, and trauma. Free event, limited seating.   https://amudim.org/next   _________________   ► Shopify Guru   Store looks great but not selling the way it should? Shopify Guru's Daniel gets under the hood and makes it actually work, no developer needed every time you want to make a change. Call 732-534-1404 or go to shopifyguru.io.   https://go.jcn.io/sgmp   _________________   ► Ness Vacation Homes   EDEN GARDENS' LARGEST LUXURY HOME COLLECTION. Handpicked, high-end homes available exclusively through Ness.   https://nessvacationhomes.com/   _________________   ► Rothenberg Law Firm   Personal Injury Law Firm For 50+ years! Reach out today for a free case evaluation.   https://shorturl.at/JFKHH   _________________   ► Town Appliance   Visit the website or message them on WhatsApp.   https://www.townappliance.com   https://bit.ly/Townappliance_whatsapp Timestamps:   0:00 Intro: The $7 Postdated Check That Changed a Life 2:09 Meet Yosi Hach and Simcha Shain 3:38 A Billion Dollars a Year in Tzedakah 5:03 How Communal Wealth Has Changed 6:04 Technology's Impact on Fundraising 8:27 The Rise of Charidy and Online Giving 12:12 Donor Psychology: Has Giving Gotten Too Easy? 14:19 The Shrinking Value of $100 18:01 Can a Family of Five Live on $300K? 20:00 Tuition, Tax Credits, and Housing Costs 23:51 Advice for a 22 Year Old Starting Out 26:13 Investing in Yourself 29:35 Fundraising War Stories and the Hidden Stress on Donors 36:52 A Personal Story of Loss and Gratitude 39:17 Chesed, Unfulfilled Pledges, and Giving with a Full Heart 49:20 The Origins and Growth of Shuvu 55:19 Shuvu's Alumni, the War, and How Simcha Shain Got Involved 1:04:19 Mike Tress, Parting Advice, and Vetting a Charity  

Send us Fan MailA simple donor survey is the closest thing you will get to reading your supporters' minds, yet the answers you get are rarely what you expectDonors are sitting on insights most nonprofits never think to look for. Cara Augspurger, our field correspondent and CEO of Grace Care Center Foundation, joins Jena Lynch to share what happened when her team surveyed hundreds of donors ahead of Giving Season, and what the answers revealed about messaging, trust, and the surprising link between volunteering and giving.And brace yourself - your best donors may not understand your organization as well as you think.What You'll LearnHow to build and segment a short, anonymous donor surveyWhy loyal donors can still misunderstand your programsHow the volunteer experience shapes donor trustFour steps to launch a donor survey before year-endResources and LinksConsolidate today's framework with a helpful in-depth Donorbox blog: Surveying Your Donors, How to Do It Right - you can find it hereAbout the HostsCara Augspurger has been a nonprofit leader and fundraiser since 1996. As President and CEO of Grace Care Center Foundation and a founding board member, she brings decades of hands-on experience to conversations spanning annual fundraising, capital campaigns, donor stewardship, and relationship building. A Certified Fund-Raising Executive (CFRE) and University of Illinois graduate, Cara previously served as a fundraising coach at Donorbox, where she helped nonprofits connect the dots between strategy and results.Jena Lynch, Head of Community Engagement at Donorbox, specialises in donor stewardship, retention, and peer-to-peer fundraising. She works closely with nonprofit teams to strengthen donor relationships and build practical systems that support long-term growth. As the anchor of The Nonprofit Podcast, she keeps strategy clear, steady, and actionable.Chapters00:00 – Introduction: Why Donor Surveys Matter01:15 – Timing Your Survey Before the Fall Push03:08 – Survey Mechanics: Length, Platforms, and Subject Lines06:27 – Key Questions to Include in Your Survey08:23 – How Well Do Donors Know Your Programs?12:27 – Where Volunteering Meets Giving16:35 – The Power of One Open Question19:59 – 4 Action Steps to Launch Your Donor Survey22:42 – Wrap-Up & Final ThoughtsAbout DonorboxDonorbox is a trusted online and on-location fundraising platform that helps nonprofits raise more. With easy-to-use donation forms, powerful donor management tools, and features designed to grow recurring giving, we have helped 100,000-plus organizations process more than $4 billion in donations worldwide.Enjoying the show? Subscribe for more practical fundraising strategies, leadership insights, and tools to help your nonprofit grow sustainably.The information provided in this series is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Please consult with a professional advisor for specific guidance.Support the show

What if the next generation of donors wants to give, but they want giving to feel tangible, convenient, and digital at the same time?As donor expectations continue to evolve, nonprofits have an opportunity to rethink how they engage younger supporters. While online fundraising has made monetary giving easier than ever, physical-item donations and in-kind giving can still be surprisingly difficult to organize, manage, and scale.On this episode of Nonprofit Nation, Julia Campbell sits down with Logan Vaughan, co-founder and CEO of GiftDrive.org, to talk about the changing landscape of donor engagement and what nonprofits need to understand about the way Gen Z and younger millennials want to give.Logan shares the story behind GiftDrive, a platform designed specifically to help nonprofits create online wishlists and donation drives for physical goods. Since launching, GiftDrive has supported more than 55 nonprofit organizations and facilitated more than 5,500 item donations valued at over $60,000. Together, Julia and Logan explore why physical giving resonates with younger donors, where traditional tools like online wishlists fall short, and how technology can make in-kind giving more accessible and effective.In this episode, you'll learn: Why younger donors are increasingly drawn to giving physical items instead of cash How Gen Z and millennials are changing expectations around philanthropy and nonprofit engagement  Why tangible giving can feel more accessible and meaningful to younger supporters  What younger donors expect when it comes to convenience, transparency, and technology The challenges nonprofits face when managing physical-item donation drives  Why consumer tools like Amazon Wish Lists aren't always the best solution for nonprofit organizations  How purpose-built technology can make in-kind giving easier to manage and scale  The importance of CRM integrations, automated tax receipts, reporting, analytics, and customization  What Logan has learned by building GiftDrive alongside the nonprofits it serves How nonprofit leaders can prepare for the next generation of donors About Logan VaughanLogan Vaughan is a senior at the University of Vermont and the co-founder and CEO of GiftDrive.org, a platform that helps nonprofits create wishlists and donation drives to collect physical items from their communities.Since launching, GiftDrive has supported more than 55 nonprofit organizations across the country, facilitating more than 5,500 item donations valued at over $60,000. Logan is passionate about building the nonprofit technology and infrastructure of the future and believes organizations need tools designed around the ways modern donors want to give. Resources Mentioned

Most nonprofits lose donors after the first gift and blame it on competition or a tight economy. It's usually neither. It's follow-up.Trevor Nelson sits down with philanthropic advisor Brittany Morrison to break down why donors give once and disappear, and the specific relationship moves that bring them back. From getting to know a donor before their balance sheet, to what to do the Monday after your event, to why asking for more isn't greedy, this one is a playbook for keeping the donors you already have.What you'll take away:Why the biggest missed opportunity in fundraising happens after the event, not during itHow to approach high-capacity donors without the fear they can smellWhy the sponsor kit is costing you sponsors, and what to send insteadHow to ask an existing donor for more without damaging the relationshipWhy your best next donor is already in your databaseChapters:00:00 Meet Brittany Morrison, Bespoke Advisory02:00 The mindset shift: capacity vs. aligned values03:46 Approaching high-net-worth donors: invitation, not obligation05:51 The biggest pitfalls and put-offs in the ask07:20 "Donors can smell your fear"08:38 Should you share your long-term plan?11:05 Events as a cracked door: the post-event follow-up gap14:40 Differentiation is stronger than competition18:56 Transacting vs. stewarding20:31 Getting the right people in the room23:25 Beyond the sponsor kit26:40 Why it's OK to ask for more, year over year29:33 Your best donors are already in your phone

$1,500 in lifetime giving. A million-dollar gift in the will.Tony Martignetti calls it the planned giving multiplier — the gap between what a donor gives you while they're living and what they leave you when they're gone. It's often measured in the thousands. And the donors most likely to trigger it aren't your wealthiest. They're your most loyal.

Planned giving does not have to be complicated OR expensive, and you don't need an estate attorney to get started. What if your nonprofit already has planned giving prospects sitting inside your donor database, but you just haven't asked them yet?Tony Martignetti worked with a historical society who mailed just 250 people about planned giving. SIX donors responded that they had already included the organization in their wills!We talk about how Tony built St. John's University's planned giving program to $20 million, why your best prospects are often your most loyal long-term donors, and why he recommends starting with donors around age 55-60+ and older. And yes, monthly donors absolutely belong in this conversation. Someone who has supported your organization month after month for years can make an incredible planned giving prospect.Resources & LinksConnect with Tony on LinkedIn, tune in to his podcast Nonprofit Radio, and learn more Planned Giving Accelerated.This episode is presented by The Monthly Giving Builder. If you are leaving real impact dollars on the table, sign up by August 12th for just $49.99/month and get FREE access to 3 LIVE sessions on August 17, 20, and 27 to help you stand up your monthly giving program.With the Monthly Giving Builder, you can generate your comprehensive monthly giving plan and build your program step by step - with a guided companion working alongside you from start to finish. Supercharge your monthly giving program and apply for my Monthly Giving VIP Intensive session. Only 2 spots are available this fall!Let's Connect!Send a DM on Instagram or LinkedIn and let us know what you think of the show!My book, The Monthly Giving Mastermind, is here! Grab a copy here and learn my framework to build, grow, and sustain subscriptions for good.Want to book Dana as a speaker for your event? Click here!

What should we expect from philanthropy in a time of growing conversations about wealth inequality, tax justice, and economic fairness?In this episode of Nonprofit Nation, Julia Campbell sits down with Hala Hanna, Executive Director of MIT Solve, to explore how the expectations surrounding philanthropy are changing, and what this means for donors, foundations, corporations, nonprofits, and social innovators.Today, philanthropy is increasingly being evaluated on more than how much money is given. Donors and institutions are facing greater expectations around impact, accountability, trust, and meaningful community outcomes. Julia and Hala unpack the growing public conversation around concentrated wealth and tax justice and how it is influencing the way philanthropy is viewed.They also explore the difference between philanthropy that generates visibility and philanthropy that creates lasting social infrastructure. Hala shares insights from her work supporting social innovators around the world and discusses why local credibility, community partnership, and collaboration across sectors are essential for creating sustainable change.In this episode, you'll learn:Why tax justice is becoming a central part of the conversation around philanthropyHow expectations of donors, foundations, and corporations are evolvingThe difference between visibility-driven and impact-driven philanthropyWhy trust, accountability, and measurable outcomes matter more than everHow companies are rethinking their philanthropic strategies amid growing scrutinyWhy local credibility and meaningful community partnerships are critical to lasting impactHow cross-sector collaboration can help address complex social challengesWhat the future of philanthropy could look like in an era of increasing public accountabilityAbout Hala HannaHala Hanna is the Executive Director of MIT Solve, where she works with social innovators and leaders around the world. Her work offers a unique perspective on how collaboration, innovation, and community-driven approaches can help create sustainable solutions to complex social challenges.In this conversation, Hala shares thoughtful insights on the changing expectations of philanthropy and why creating meaningful impact requires more than simply giving. She explores what it looks like to build trust, demonstrate accountability, and work alongside communities to create lasting change.Don't forget!If you enjoyed this episode of Nonprofit Nation, subscribe to the podcast, leave a review, and share this conversation with a nonprofit leader, fundraiser, or board member who is committed to building a stronger and more sustainable organization.Let's keep the conversation going!Take my free masterclass: 3 Must-Have Elements of Social Media Content that Converts

In this episode of The First Day from The Fund Raising School, Bill Stanczykiewicz, Ed.D., is joined by Ted Grossnickle, CFRE, Senior Consultant and Chairman at JGA Counsel, to explore one of the nonprofit sector's perennial challenges; meaningful board engagement. Grossnickle argues that board members often underestimate just how much influence they have on current and prospective donors, and that effective board service requires something deeper than simply attending meetings and filling a seat. He describes board membership as a “covenant” and distinguishes between mere alliance and true allegiance to the organization. When trustees approach their role with seriousness of purpose, understand the mission, and see how their service can create real impact, board work becomes not an obligation to endure but an opportunity to lead. That deeper engagement begins with thoughtful recruitment and clear expectations. Bill and Ted caution against selecting board members simply because they have a prominent name, impressive title, or substantial financial resources. Those qualities can be valuable, but research consistently points to passion for the cause as a critical ingredient. Rather than racing to fill open seats, nonprofits should use a deliberate process of conversations and discernment to determine whether prospective trustees understand the organization, care deeply about its work, and possess the judgment needed to address both successes and difficult challenges. Bill notes that when fundraising expectations are communicated during recruitment and orientation, board members are 11 times more likely to donate and fundraise for the organization, a powerful reminder that clarity at the beginning can shape engagement for years to come. The conversation then turns to what Grossnickle calls a board member's “bias for action.” That does not mean trustees should swoop in and start managing staff. Role clarity matters. Board members should focus on governance, strategic direction, advice, and partnership with staff, while also recognizing the unique contribution they can make to fundraising. They do not have to become professional solicitors, but they should be willing to tell the organization's story, introduce prospective supporters, accompany staff on donor visits, and ask, “How can I help?” Bill also emphasizes the importance of pursuing 100% board giving while avoiding mandatory minimum gifts, which can exclude passionate and valuable trustees. The goal is full participation at a personally meaningful level, allowing board members to lead by example when inviting others to invest. Finally, Ted warns nonprofit leaders against becoming victims of “the tyranny of the urgent.” Strong boards are not built by rushing recruitment, compressing important conversations, or assuming trustees will somehow figure out their responsibilities along the way. His advice is wonderfully simple, “Measure twice and cut once.” Invest time upfront in clarifying roles, discussing expectations, providing context, and preparing board members to contribute effectively to advancement. That extra care, he argues, saves time, money, and frustration later while treating trustees with the respect their role deserves. Bill closes by reinforcing the central message: board seats are special, expectations should be intentional, and when nonprofits cultivate allegiance, clarity, and a genuine bias for action, board members can become some of the organization's most credible and influential ambassadors.

Josh and Sam discuss a scenario that is more common than most realize: when a key donor or two are the only ones keeping the church afloat. The post What Should a Pastor Do When One or Two Key Donors Keep the Church Doors Open appeared first on Church Answers.