First Day Podcast

The Fund Raising School

The Fund Raising School is excited to launch the First Day Podcast from The Fund Raising School! Highlighting current news and research, this podcast provides fundraisers with the latest information in fundraising and philanthropy. Be more informed and stay up to date with the First Day Podcast from The Fund Raising School!

  1. 5 gg fa

    The Untapped Opportunity of Non-Cash Giving

    In this episode of The First Day from The Fund Raising School, Bill Stanczykiewicz, Ed.D., welcomes Jeremy Wells, Senior Vice President of Philanthropic Services at the St. Paul and Minnesota Foundation, to explore one of fundraising’s largest overlooked opportunities: non-cash giving. Fundraisers often focus on a donor’s income, checking account, or other liquid resources because, as Jeremy admits, the easiest gift to request is usually the one that can come back to the office as a check. The problem is that cash represents only a small fraction of the wealth held in the United States, just over 4%, according to the data Jeremy cites. The rest may be tied up in privately held businesses, real estate, farmland, stocks, mineral rights, intellectual property, collectibles, and other assets donors may never have considered charitable resources. Jeremy’s central message is that nonprofits are “fishing from the smallest pond” when they limit fundraising conversations to cash. Jeremy brings the opportunity to life with examples that range from the valuable to the wonderfully unexpected. One donor contributed 2,500 American Eagle silver coins purchased in 1987 and left gathering dust for nearly four decades. What the donor initially viewed as an old collection became a six-figure gift to a food service organization at a moment of significant need. Another donor contributed shares in a privately held business before a liquidity event, resulting in approximately $5.5 million for a donor-advised fund. After a positive experience, that same donor returned with another privately held business gift worth about $7.5 million. The psychological difference matters: writing a check may feel constrained by current income, while donating an appreciated asset can unlock generosity on an entirely different scale. The conversation then turns to how fundraisers can introduce these possibilities without arriving at a donor meeting armed with an asset inventory and the subtle warmth of a tax auditor. Jeremy recommends beginning with the donor’s aspirations: what would they accomplish if they could make a truly significant difference? Once the donor is dreaming about impact, the fundraiser can explore what resources might make that vision possible. Careful listening is essential. A passing complaint about maintaining an unused family cabin, for example, may open a conversation about donating real estate. These discussions generally grow from trust with established donors, not from a first-time solicitation. Fundraisers should also recognize the ethical complexity surrounding wealth. Jeremy argues that nonprofits can acknowledge concerns about wealth concentration while still partnering with people who have already decided both to give their wealth away and to work with a charitable organization to do it. Bill and Jeremy close with practical steps for organizational readiness. Nonprofits should review their gift acceptance policies, discuss non-cash assets with staff, executives, and board members, and determine which gifts they can manage internally. Organizations without the staff expertise, systems, or appetite for risk should identify outside partners before an unusual gift appears and sends everyone scrambling through old files asking, “What did we do last time?” Community foundations and other specialists can handle valuation, due diligence, documentation, liquidation, and donor intent, often for a small percentage of the gift. Jeremy also encourages fundraisers to learn which assets are especially common in their own regions, whether cabins in Minnesota, agricultural property in farming communities, mineral interests in Texas, or intellectual property on the coasts. The takeaway is not that every fundraiser must become an expert in every asset. They need to start the conversation, prepare the organization, know whom to call, and help donors discover a much larger capacity for the joy of giving.

  2. 26 lug

    Decoding the Annual Survey of Donors by Dunham & Company

    In this episode of The First Day from The Fund Raising School, Bill Stanczykiewicz, Ed.D., welcomes back Rick Dunham, founder and chairman of Dunham & Company, to unpack the firm’s latest annual survey of donors. One of the biggest findings is a disconnect between donors’ personal finances and their perceptions of the broader economy. Donors reported feeling less financially stressed personally, yet more pessimistic about economic conditions, and roughly 25% said that pessimism could cause them to reduce their giving. Rick’s advice to fundraisers is not to pretend those concerns do not exist, but to meet donors with empathy while keeping the “why” front and center. Show what a gift makes possible, tell stories that demonstrate real impact, and maintain a steady cadence of communication. In uncertain times, donors need to know that nonprofit leaders understand the world they are living in, and that their generosity still matters. The conversation then turns to a fundraising tool that apparently refuses to retire: direct mail. Despite occasional declarations that the mailbox belongs somewhere between the rotary phone and the fax machine, more than 80% of donors say they respond to direct mail. Even more striking, 93% of Gen Z donors report responding to it, and 80% say they would like to receive monthly mail from organizations they support. Rick calls this the “mailbox advantage”: while digital inboxes are overflowing, the physical mailbox is often far less crowded. But the real lesson is that direct mail and digital giving are not competing channels. Nearly half of donors who receive direct mail prefer to complete their gift online, compared with about 20% who respond through the mail itself. Rick shares one client example in which online revenue tied indirectly to mailed appeals was consistently two to two-and-a-half times the revenue returned through the mail. The warning for fundraisers is clear: measure the whole donor journey, or you may dramatically underestimate what your direct mail program is actually producing. That donor journey has to work once someone reaches the website, too. One in five donors said they have abandoned an online donation because the process was too difficult. Older donors tend to worry more about security, while younger donors place a premium on simplicity, so nonprofits need both a seamless giving experience and visible signals that transactions are secure. Bill and Rick also emphasize that a website should do more than provide information; it should make a compelling case for support. Donors frequently cite an organization’s website as a major influence on their decision to give online, and person-to-person requests remain an important driver of digital donations as well. Dunham & Company included non-donors in the survey for the first time and found a notably higher level of distrust toward charities among that group. Rick recommends building trust through impact stories, financial transparency, board visibility, and especially donor testimonials; letting current supporters explain why they believe the organization is worthy of support. Bill and Rick close by looking at two areas with major implications for the future: tax policy and Gen Z. Many donors remain unaware of newer charitable tax provisions, including the Universal Charitable Deduction, even though Rick notes that about 67% of donors likely take the standard deduction. That creates an opportunity for nonprofits to educate supporters through receipts, newsletters, and simple “did you know?” messages. Meanwhile, Gen Z continues to challenge assumptions about younger donors. Rick points to survey data showing that 40% of Gen Z respondents attend religious services almost every week, and he connects that engagement with charitable behavior. The takeaway for fundraisers is to keep one eye on the coming transfer of wealth while refusing to ignore the donors already coming up behind it.

  3. 19 lug

    Giving USA 2026: An Analysis Beyond the Headlines

    In this episode of The First Day from The Fund Raising School, Bill Stanczykiewicz, Ed.D., takes an analytical look at the 2026 Giving USA report, which reviews charitable giving in the United States during calendar year 2025. Bill begins with the headline that charitable giving reached $617 billion in current dollars, the highest total ever reported. He explains the difference between current dollars and inflation-adjusted dollars, noting that while inflation still weighs heavily on household budgets, donors nevertheless gave at record levels. For Bill, the message is clear: the rumors of generosity’s demise may be not greatly exaggerated, but greatly misunderstood. Even in a world of mortgage payments, food costs, medical bills, and general economic “oh no, the budget is doing gymnastics” anxiety, Americans continued to give. Bill then breaks down where the giving came from, emphasizing that individuals remain the engine of American philanthropy. Individuals accounted for 64% of total giving, but when bequests and the personal-family-foundation portion of foundation giving are included, Bill estimates that roughly 83% of charitable giving is connected to individuals. That is a friendly but firm reminder to fundraisers: start with people. Board members, volunteers, staff when appropriate, program participants, alumni, annual fund donors, major donors, and new donors acquired through events, mail, and digital channels all matter. Foundations and corporations are important, too, but a strong base of individual support makes an organization more sustainable and more attractive to institutional funders. The episode then turns to where charitable dollars went. Giving increased in eight of the nine Giving USA subsectors, with double-digit gains in education, environment and animals, and public-society benefit. Bill spends particular time on donor-advised funds, noting that many private-sector DAF sponsors are included in the public-society-benefit category. He connects these Giving USA findings with other research showing rapid growth in donor-advised funds, suggesting that some giving that might once have gone to private foundations may now be flowing into DAFs instead. That means fundraisers should be prepared to talk with donors about donor-advised funds, especially because many sponsors now allow accounts to be opened with much lower minimums than in the past. Bill also highlights one of the biggest takeaways from the report: bequest giving increased nearly 20% in current dollars and nearly 17% after adjusting for inflation, suggesting that the long-discussed wealth transfer may now be showing up in the data. Planned giving, he says, should not be treated like a mysterious locked attic in the fundraising house; it belongs in the regular fundraising strategy. Bill closes by urging fundraisers to study multiple years of data rather than overreacting to a single year. Since 2019, total charitable giving is up 42%, while inflation is up 26%, giving nonprofits reason to fundraise with an abundance mentality and a growth mindset. He also points to the “wealth effect” of giving, especially the strong relationship between the S&P 500 and charitable giving in the following year. After three straight years of double-digit S&P 500 gains, philanthropy has benefited from a powerful financial tailwind, though Bill cautions fundraisers to watch the market carefully as they plan for 2026 and beyond. The takeaway is optimistic but practical: fundraising is still work, and if it were easy, Bill jokes, we would let AI and the robots do it all. But the data offer plenty of flashing green lights. Donors are still generous, individual relationships still matter most, planned giving deserves attention, and nonprofits can move forward with confidence, discipline, and a deep commitment to the people, communities, animals, environments, arts, health causes, and missions they serve.

  4. 12 lug

    Cognitive Decline and Aging Donors: A Guide for Fundraisers

    In this episode of The First Day from The Fund Raising School, Bill Stanczykiewicz, Ed.D., welcomes Morgan Jessup, Director of the Walk to End Alzheimer’s for the Alzheimer’s Association in Indianapolis. Bill opens with a reality many fundraisers know well: some of the nonprofit sector’s most generous donors are members of the Boomer and Silent generations, and normal aging can sometimes bring changes in memory, communication, and decision-making. More serious conditions, including Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia, can create even greater challenges. Morgan explains how the Alzheimer’s Association supports families, caregivers, and communities while raising awareness and funding research through more than 600 Walk to End Alzheimer’s events across the country. She also reminds listeners that these events often serve as a “front door” to services such as caregiver support groups, educational programs, and a free 24/7 helpline. Bill and Morgan then explore how fundraisers can distinguish ordinary forgetfulness from behavior that may signal a more serious concern. Misplacing keys once is one thing; repeated confusion about time or place, significant personality changes, missed commitments, inconsistent stories, or difficulty managing familiar responsibilities may warrant closer attention. Morgan encourages fundraisers to learn the Alzheimer’s Association’s ten warning signs and, just as importantly, to know their donors well enough to recognize meaningful changes. A single missed meeting may be nothing more than a crowded calendar doing what crowded calendars do. A consistent pattern, however, may suggest that the fundraiser should pause, observe, and consider whether the donor needs additional support. The conversation becomes especially important when a donor experiencing possible cognitive decline wants to make an unusually large gift or proposes a contribution that does not match previous behavior. Morgan advises fundraisers to respond with compassion, transparency, and a person-centered approach. That may mean gently confirming the donor’s wishes, consulting trusted family members or advisers when appropriate, or seeking guidance before proceeding. She also recommends using the Alzheimer’s Association’s free 24/7 helpline, which is staffed by master’s-level clinicians who can help callers prepare for difficult conversations and navigate questions about dementia. Bill reinforces the central ethical principle: the gift is never more important than the donor. Protecting the donor’s dignity, autonomy, and well-being must remain the fundraiser’s highest priority. Bill and Morgan close by emphasizing that nonprofits should not leave these situations to improvisation, crossed fingers, and a hurried hallway conversation. Organizations can prepare by including cognitive decline and donor vulnerability in gift-acceptance policies, establishing clear internal reporting procedures, and encouraging development staff to consult colleagues and leadership when concerns arise. Fundraisers should notice changes, document patterns carefully, seek expert guidance, and involve the donor’s support network when appropriate. The takeaway is both practical and deeply human: fundraising is built on relationships, and those relationships require care during every stage of a donor’s life. When cognitive decline enters the picture, ethical fundraising means slowing down, asking thoughtful questions, and remembering that generosity should always be met with compassion rather than pressure.

  5. 5 lug

    How Special Events Attract, Engage, and Upgrade Donors

    In this episode of The First Day from The Fund Raising School, Bill Stanczykiewicz, Ed.D., welcomes Julianne Read, founder and principal of E and E Fundraising & Events. Bill sets the stage by naming the rumors, myths, and legends that swirl around special events: they are either the ultimate fundraising solution, they never work, or they live somewhere in that wonderfully confusing middle ground. Julianne brings clarity, strategy, and a healthy dose of event-planning sparkle, explaining that successful events are not just parties with centerpieces and chicken dinners. They are carefully designed experiences that connect people to mission, build relationships, and help nonprofits discover the next donor, the next upgraded gift, and the next meaningful ask. Bill and Julianne then dig into the different types of donors who show up at events: social donors, philanthropic donors, and first-time donors. Social donors come for the experience, the theme, the raffles, and the joy of raising the paddle in a lively room. Philanthropic donors are mission-first and care much less about the centerpiece than the “why.” But Julianne emphasizes that the most overlooked group may be first-time donors, whose attendance gives nonprofits a golden opportunity to begin a relationship. She also highlights the importance of designing events for younger generations, especially Millennials and Gen Z, who want values alignment, mission connection, and yes, a whole lot of vibe. Her example of an outdoor long-table dinner with musicians, performers, a chef, and a mission-centered food bank connection shows how nonprofits can create events that are both meaningful and memorable. The conversation also explores how photos, videos, social sharing, and post-event communications can extend the life of an event long after the last dessert fork has been cleared. Julianne notes that 360 photo booths, social tagging, video clips, newsletters, and drip campaigns help keep the experience alive in today’s attention economy. Bill adds that Millennials and Gen Z often want to share their philanthropy online and invite their peers into the cause, which makes event-generated content especially valuable. Together, they remind listeners that if a nonprofit spends thousands of dollars to gather the right people in the room, it should not let the momentum disappear the next morning. Bill and Julianne close by making the case for what Bill delightfully calls “special experience fundraising.” Julianne urges nonprofits to begin with a strategic plan, study the data from past events, understand donor behavior, involve the board, capture contact information, and know exactly why the event exists, whether the goal is fundraising, exposure, civic engagement, media attention, or donor acquisition. She also shares one of the episode’s most important statistics: 91% of first-time event donors say they will give again within 12 months, but only about 19% actually do. The gap, she explains, is often caused by weak follow-up. Her advice is practical and powerful: send an email right after the event with photos, video, and a “we’re nearly there” invitation; follow up again with totals and impact; and continue inviting attendees more deeply into the mission. The takeaway is clear: a special event should never be the end of the story. Done well, it is the end of the beginning, the first spark in a relationship that can grow into lasting generosity.

  6. 28 giu

    Giving USA 2026: The Headlines Every Fundraiser Should Know

    In this episode of The First Day from The Fund Raising School, Bill Stanczykiewicz, Ed.D., welcomes Christina Daniken, senior member of the research team at the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy and Editor-in-Chief, for Giving USA. The big headline: charitable giving in the United States reached $617.2 billion in 2025, growing 5% in current dollars and crossing the $600 billion mark for the first time. Adjusted for inflation, giving still trails the pandemic-era high of 2021, but Bill and Christina underscore the encouraging reality that Americans continued to give generously despite inflation, market volatility, tariffs, and historically low consumer sentiment. Bill and Christina then dig into where the money came from, walking through the four major sources tracked by Giving USA: individuals, bequests, foundations, and corporations. Individual giving remained the mighty locomotive of American philanthropy, rising 4.1% to $394.2 billion. Bequests delivered one of the year’s most eye-catching stories, growing 19.7% to $62.19 billion, with Christina noting that bequests have grown by about 20% in three of the last four years. Foundation giving also climbed 5.7% to $117.15 billion, staying above the $100 billion mark for the fourth consecutive year. Corporate giving grew more modestly, up 3.1% to $43.67 billion, but Christina reminds listeners not to panic: over the past five years, corporate giving has actually grown the most among the major source categories, even as it shifts toward more strategic giving, employee matching, and local sponsorships. The conversation then turns to where the money went across the nonprofit subsectors. Religion remained the largest recipient category, as it has for decades, receiving $151.58 billion, or 23% of total giving, though its share of the overall giving pie continues to shrink gradually. Human services continued its pandemic-era rise, reaching $99.5 billion and accounting for 15% of all charitable giving, its highest share on record. Education remained strong at just over $92 billion, or 14% of total giving. Christina also highlights that the strongest growth in 2025 appeared in education, public-society benefit, and environment, while health, arts, and environment/animals reached inflation-adjusted highs. Bill and Christina close by making the data practical for fundraisers, especially around long-term trends and donor advised funds. Christina explains that public-society benefit includes many broad community, civic, economic development, and philanthropic organizations, and she helps clarify how Giving USA counts gifts to donor advised funds depending on whether they are held by national sponsors, community foundations, universities, religious organizations, or other issue-specific sponsors. Bill emphasizes that the smart folks behind Giving USA work carefully to avoid double-counting gifts as they move into and out of DAFs. The takeaway is clear and wonderfully useful: the 2025 numbers offer plenty of good news, a few flashing yellow lights, and a whole buffet of data fundraisers can use for planning, strategy, and making the case for support. The Giving USA 2026 report can be accessed at https://givingusa.org/.

  7. 21 giu

    Endowments 101: What Every Nonprofit Needs to Know

    In this episode of The First Day from The Fund Raising School, Bill Stanczykiewicz, Ed.D., welcomes Karen Houghton, CEO and Founder of Infinite Giving, for a clear, lively, and highly practical conversation about endowments: what they are, why they matter, and when nonprofits should start thinking about them. Karen brings a rare mix of nonprofit leadership, technology, finance, venture capital, and board service to the topic, which means she can explain endowments without making everyone reach for a legal dictionary and a strong cup of coffee. Her big message is that nonprofits are part of the “nonprofit sector,” not the “not-profit sector,” and when organizations generate a surplus, they can use it strategically to build long-term sustainability. Bill and Karen start with the basics: an endowment is money set aside, invested, and used to provide ongoing support for an organization’s mission. In practical terms, a nonprofit might invest the principal, allow it to grow, and then draw a percentage each year, often around 5%, to support operations or programs. Karen gives the example of a $10 million endowment producing roughly $500,000 each year. The goal is not to hoard money, but to create reliable, recurring support that can keep pace with inflation and serve the mission for generations. The conversation also tackles the nuts and bolts of getting started. Karen explains that endowments do not have to be wildly complicated; organizations can often begin by setting aside funds, opening an investment or brokerage account, and creating key documents such as an endowment agreement and an investment policy statement. She especially encourages small and midsize nonprofits to consider a quasi-endowment, also called a board-restricted endowment, because it gives the organization flexibility while still establishing a long-term financial framework. But she offers one very important caution: if an organization does not yet have reserve funds, the first step is not an endowment. First build the six-month emergency reserve fund. Then move from scarcity to strategy to sustainability. Bill and Karen close by connecting endowments directly to fundraising, donor intent, and organizational confidence. Karen shares a cautionary tale about a nonprofit that turned down a $1 million endowment gift because the board wanted the money for immediate use, only to watch the donor give it elsewhere to an organization that honored the donor’s legacy vision. She also cites research showing that 69% of major donors are more likely to give to nonprofits that demonstrate strong leadership and clear financial strategy. The takeaway is crisp: endowments are not for every organization at every moment, but when the timing is right, they can help nonprofits honor donors, stabilize programs, attract legacy gifts, and plan in 10-year cycles instead of 10-minute panic bursts.

  8. 14 giu

    Nonprofit Collaboration for Impact and Fundraising

    In this episode of The First Day from The Fund Raising School, Bill Stanczykiewicz, Ed.D., welcomes Soren Kaplan, PhD, nationally regarded educator, consultant, and author, for a practical and energizing conversation about nonprofit collaboration. Drawing from Soren's 2025 article in the Stanford Social Innovation Review, the episode asks a big question: why should fundraisers and nonprofit leaders collaborate when they already have plenty to do inside their own organizations? Soren's answer is wonderfully direct: impact. Big, tangled community challenges like food insecurity, health equity, and environmental protection are rarely solved by one organization paddling alone. Bill and Soren explore what collaboration looks like in real nonprofit life, including examples from Points of Light and White Pony Express. Points of Light, founded by George H. W. Bush, served more than 3 million volunteers last year by building a network of nonprofits and corporate partners around shared goals. White Pony Express, meanwhile, worked with other food-security organizations in Contra Costa County to pool data, standardize information, and create a heat map showing where services were strong and where gaps remained. That shared picture helped open up new possibilities for collective action, which is nonprofit-speak for “Aha, now we can see the whole elephant instead of arguing over who is holding the trunk.” The conversation also digs into the mechanics of making collaboration work without turning it into a bureaucratic octopus wearing reading glasses. Soren emphasizes the value of a common goal, shared data, a clearly identified community need, and an external facilitator who can help organizations move past competition and toward synergy. He also introduces the idea of “light governance,” where each nonprofit remains autonomous but agrees to align major strategies and initiatives with the broader collaborative mission. In other words, nobody has to surrender their board, mission, or identity at the door. They just agree not to wander off into the weeds while everyone else is building the road. Bill and Soren close by connecting collaboration directly to fundraising. Donors and funders increasingly want to see innovation, scale, efficiency, and measurable impact, and a strong collaborative can often make a more compelling case than several individual organizations submitting separate appeals. Soren notes that when nonprofits pool capabilities and pursue funding together, they can sometimes access resources that would be out of reach alone, including the Measure X half-cent sales tax funding that supported underserved communities in Contra Costa County. The takeaway is clear: collaboration is not just a feel-good handshake in a conference room. Done well, it can expand impact, strengthen fundraising, build culture, and give nonprofits a better story to tell. Because when one plus one can equal five, fundraisers should probably sharpen their pencils and start doing that math.

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Descrizione

The Fund Raising School is excited to launch the First Day Podcast from The Fund Raising School! Highlighting current news and research, this podcast provides fundraisers with the latest information in fundraising and philanthropy. Be more informed and stay up to date with the First Day Podcast from The Fund Raising School!

Informazioni

  • Creatore
    The Fund Raising School
  • Anni di attività
    2018 - 2026
  • Puntate
    434
  • Classificazione
    Contenuti adatti a tutti
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved
  • Sito web del podcast
    First Day Podcast

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