In the latest episode of the First Day Podcast, host Bill Stanczykiewicz unpacks the highlights from the Giving USA 2023 report, recent data on charitable giving, and its implications for your nonprofit's fundraising strategy. Bill addresses the anxieties and concerns that have emerged in the philanthropic community due to this report's headline feature—a decline in charitable giving. This decline, the fourth in 40 years, rings alarm bells, especially when inflation-adjusted numbers show nearly ...
Sep 10, 2023•14 min
In this episode, Tina Nugent, President of S.I. Events, engages in a deep conversation about the crucial aspects of fundraising, diversity, and effective leadership. This episode delves into Tina's diverse background, encompassing experiences in the private, public, and nonprofit sectors. Her journey includes working with the Orlando Magic and the mayor's office in Orlando, providing her with a unique perspective on the dynamics of successful organizations. Tina and Bill explore the concept of "...
Sep 03, 2023•13 min
Discover how artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming fundraising in this insightful podcast episode. Join Bill Stanczykiewicz, Ed.D. as he sits down with Josh Hirsch, M.S., Digital Marketing Manager for The Fund Raising School. Together, they discuss the potential of AI to revolutionize fundraising practices. Dive into the world of AI and its applications, from generating content efficiently using large language models to predicting donor behavior for major gift fundraising. Learn how AI se...
Aug 27, 2023•17 min
In this episode of the First Day Podcast, join Bill Stanczykiewicz as we dive deep into the realm of social media fundraising with our guest Floyd Jones, the Director of Community and Partnerships at GiveButter. Are you a nonprofit leader seeking innovative ways to supercharge your fundraising efforts? Look no further. Floyd's expertise shines as he unveils powerful strategies that redefine the art of raising funds in the digital age. From the secrets of peer-to-peer fundraising, where the commu...
Aug 20, 2023•13 min
In this episode, Alice Ferris, ACFRE, the founder of GoalBusters Consulting, discusses the vital link between storytelling and successful fundraising. The conversation looks at the significance of emotional connections and engagement with donors through effective storytelling. Alice emphasizes the need for tailoring stories based on the audience's values and motivations, highlighting the importance of understanding donors' individual characteristics. Alice underscores the role of emotional intel...
Aug 13, 2023•15 min
In this eye-opening episode, join host Bill Stanczykiewicz and the dynamic duo of fundraising experts, Tony Pomonis and Tara Adams, as they delve into the crucial and often overlooked topic of ethical fundraising with a focus on cognitive impairments. Tony and Tara, founders of the Cognitive Empowerment Consulting Group, share their personal experiences that led them to specialize in this critical field of fundraising. They recount harrowing encounters with elderly donors showing signs of cognit...
Aug 06, 2023•16 min
Drawing insights from the recently published "Philanthropy Pulse Report" by CCS Fundraising, Allison Willner reveals eye-opening findings about the fundraising landscape. Despite revenue growth, donor retention emerged as a significant challenge for many organizations. Discover how investing in staff and optimizing donor databases for relationship building played a pivotal role in boosting donor retention and increasing giving over time. In this episode of the First Day Podcast, we unravel the i...
Jul 30, 2023•17 min
Shivant Shrestha, MA, a research associate at the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, shares insights from a research project focused on new models of donor behavior, specifically subscription-based giving. Discover how nonprofit organizations can engage new donors, cultivate deeper relationships with existing donors, and harness the power of recurring giving. Explore the benefits and challenges of subscription-based giving, drawing inspiration from successful models like Net...
Jul 23, 2023•14 min
In this episode, Aaron Conley, Ed.D. explains why the term "campaign" goes beyond capital campaigns and encompasses comprehensive campaigns in various nonprofit organizations. Learn how campaigns not only raise crucial funds but also serve as a catalyst for strategic growth and organizational improvement. Dr. Conley highlights the significance of board engagement and volunteer involvement in driving campaign success. He shares insights into the different phases of a campaign, from the silent pha...
Jul 16, 2023•17 min
Alexis Buchanan Thomas, representing Black Voters Matter, delves into the importance of saying no in fundraising. Alexis emphasizes the need to remain nonpartisan and true to your organization's mission, even when faced with substantial gifts that may not align with their values. She highlights the significance of conducting thorough research, engaging in team discussions, and creating a gift acceptance policy to ensure that the organization's fundraising efforts are in line with their mission a...
Jul 09, 2023•16 min
Dr. Gen Shaker, the Donald A. Campbell Chair in Fundraising Leadership at the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, explores the crucial role of the invitation to give in effective fundraising. The conversation delves into various aspects of donor engagement, emphasizing the significance of understanding donors' motivations and cultivating genuine connections that go beyond valuing their money. Dr. Shaker highlights that while some charitable gifts may be given without a formal...
Jul 03, 2023•21 min
Giving USA with Anna Pruitt, Ph.D.
Jun 25, 2023•18 min
Pamala Wiepking, Ph.D., Stead Family Chair in International Philanthropy; Associate Professor of Philanthropic Studies at the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, discusses the groundbreaking book "The Fundraising Reader," which offers a comprehensive and accessible resource on fundraising. Pamala highlights the challenges faced in fundraising education across different countries and cultures, emphasizing the importance of bridging the knowledge gaps. They explore the diverse ...
Jun 18, 2023•13 min
Una Osili, Ph.D., Associate Dean at the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, discusses research findings from a recent study on how donors make their giving decisions. The study aimed to understand the changes in giving decisions amidst the global pandemic, social justice movement, and economic uncertainty. The study emphasizes the importance of meeting donors where they are, particularly in the digital space, as many donors, especially younger ones, prefer digital giving meth...
Jun 11, 2023•13 min
Elizabeth J. Dale, Ph.D. discusses the philanthropic behaviors of the LGBTQ+ community, emphasizing that being LGBTQ+ is not the only factor influencing their giving. She advises fundraisers to get to know donors personally and avoid making assumptions about their motivations and interests. Additionally, she dispels the myth that LGBTQ+ donors only give to LGBTQ+ organizations and notes that they support various causes, including advocacy, arts and culture, and health. Finally, she recommends th...
Jun 04, 2023•15 min
Erik Daubert discusses the decline in smaller donors and the continued reliance on major donors in traditional philanthropy, with a decline in donor retention rates and a concerning dependency quotient. He emphasizes the need to focus on new donor acquisition and overall retention, while building good foundational donor bases and annual campaigns. Daubert also highlights the importance of thanking donors personally and sincerely, reporting back on how their donations are being used, and recogniz...
May 29, 2023•19 min
Maarten Bout and James Hodge discuss the eight-step process of effective major gift fundraising, emphasizing the importance of a benefactor-centric approach, relationship-building, and understanding the philanthropic behaviors of donors to achieve philanthropic inevitability. They stress the significance of values-based fundraising, building a team around the donor to ideate and explore their passions, and maintaining relationships with donors rather than solely focusing on fundraising goals. By...
May 21, 2023•20 min
The Giving by Generations study shows that since 2016, Millennial giving has increased by 40%, with faith-based organizations being the second most important use of their charitable giving after places of worship. Donors are increasingly supporting para-Church or para-religious organizations. While Boomers and Gen X are showing a decline in volunteering, Millennials and Gen Z are the most engaged in charitable and online giving, with direct mail still being their preferred means of engagement. R...
May 14, 2023•14 min
Dr. Patrick Rooney discusses how high net worth donors give a lot to different types of legal charities, including religious organizations, basic needs, education, social and racial justice, arts and culture, and animal and environmental causes. Additionally, he reveals that upwards of 90-95% of high net worth households donate, with only 9% having formal giving vehicles such as donor advised funds, and 30% volunteer formally through a 501(c)(3). Rooney explains that volunteering can slow mental...
May 07, 2023•12 min
Dr. Patricia Snell Herzog discusses how understanding philanthropic behavior across the generations is a complex concept due to its intersection between age, life stage, social, and historical factors. It's important to consider the context in which a group was born and major events experienced when coming of age. Fundraisers seeking to engage young people in their organizations need to offer more episodic ways to get involved and focus on the cause rather than the relationship with the organiza...
Apr 23, 2023•12 min
Jeannie Infante Sager, director of the Women's Philanthropy Institute at Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, explains that women tend to give differently than men and give more across different income, age, and race levels. She highlights that single women are particularly philanthropic and more likely to give generously. Studies show that women are involved in decision-making when it comes to charitable giving in about 80% of households. It is important to include women in a...
Apr 23, 2023•15 min
Dr. Chelsea Clark discusses a recent research study that sought to understand Americans' thoughts on philanthropy and nonprofit organizations. The study found that Americans associate charitable giving and volunteering with philanthropy and generally trust nonprofits while considering them transparent, but there is still a need for education to increase awareness of what nonprofits do. The study also showed that philanthropy means different things to different demographics, which may inform how ...
Apr 16, 2023•19 min
Dr. David King and Rafia Khader discuss the role of religion in charitable giving, noting that religion is the largest sub-sector of the charitable giving pie in the US, with 27% of donations going to religious organizations. While there have been shifts in religious affiliation patterns, spirituality and values continue to shape and motivate giving, and fundraisers should be attentive to these factors. The speakers also discuss the impact of the pandemic on religious giving and the context of r...
Apr 09, 2023•18 min
Pamela Perkins Dwyer, CFRM, discusses the significance of personalized donor stewardship in fundraising. She believes that listening to the donor, putting yourself in their position with a compassionate attitude, and remembering personal details are vital to building longer and deeper relationships with donors. Dwyer emphasizes the need to show donors how their contribution is used and celebrate their impact. Stewardship should be the starting point, not the end, of the fundraising process to su...
Apr 02, 2023•17 min
Dr. Una Osili emphasizes the importance of recognizing philanthropy as a vital part of every community, including communities of color, which have deep expertise in addressing community problems. She stresses the need to learn from the traditions of these communities related to philanthropy, which are often overlooked. Dr. Osili notes that both formal and informal giving occurs in communities of color, and mutual aid networks are a vital resource during times of crisis. She explains that while r...
Mar 26, 2023•16 min
Robert Kunzman, a professor of education at Indiana University, believes that learning from failure is crucial for leaders and fundraisers to develop and improve their skills. He emphasizes the importance of feedback, making failure public, and developing skills and habits to analyze and learn from failures. Kunzman also introduces the concept of a pre-mortem analysis, which involves anticipating and analyzing potential failures before they occur. Creating a culture that accepts and manages fail...
Mar 19, 2023•13 min
Digital fundraising requires a strategic and intentional approach that involves actively engaging with potential donors, sharing valuable content, and building a community. Building relationships, making personal connections and monitoring for future donors are some key ways to succeed in digital fundraising. Additionally, social proof can be an effective tool by quietly seeding early donations before launching a campaign, creating momentum, and encouraging people to donate more frequently and i...
Mar 12, 2023•15 min
Josh Birkholz discusses his book with Amy Lampe titled "Benefactors: Why Some Fundraisers Always Succeed," which provides practical advice for fundraisers on thriving in an ecosystem of fundraising that has been affected by advancements in data and technology. The authors discovered through research that leaders who readily shared credit and were collaborative as individual practitioners were more likely to become effective leaders. They also discuss the importance of universal character traits ...
Mar 05, 2023•14 min
Dr. Pamala Wiepking discusses various approaches to understanding the motivations of individual donors, such as the eight mechanisms of charitable giving and the "Taste of Charity" model. By understanding a potential donor's lived experience and motivations for giving, fundraisers can develop a deeper relationship with them by personalizing communication and engaging with them according to their interests and preferences. This intentional process requires knowledge and understanding of individua...
Feb 26, 2023•13 min
Nathan Stelter, the chair of the board of the National Association of Charitable Gift Planners (CGP), discussed the recently issued Standards which provide guidance for planned gift fundraising. The Standards, organized into three categories, outline the importance of leadership buy-in and sustainable program-building, realistic assessments of an organization’s ability and capacity to execute the program, and incorporating a donor-centric approach to planned giving donors. Stelter recommends kee...
Feb 19, 2023•14 min
