State of Good by Pure Charity

Mike Rusch, Pure Charity
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Non-Profit

The Pure Charity State of Good Podcast is your weekly intelligence brief for nonprofit leaders and fundraisers. Each episode cuts through the noise to deliver what actually matters: how donors are thinking about giving right now, what's shifting in the sector, and the psychology behind generosity. Data-driven insights you can use immediately, in about 10 minutes, once a week.

  1. 4d ago

    State of Good for August 17, 2026

    Episode Title: "Fewer Donors, Bigger Gifts, Sharper Stakes — Giving USA 2026 and What It Means for Your Shop" Summary: - Giving USA 2026 confirms ongoing donor participation decline while giving concentrates among fewer major donors — what this means for your revenue risk profile Stanford Social Innovation Review highlights the compounding fundraising workforce crisis and its direct connection to donor retention challengesProPublica investigation reveals inconsistencies in donor-advised fund sponsor policies — practical steps to protect your DAF revenueMake-A-Will Month creates a timely window for legacy giving conversations with loyal donorsThe Pittsburgh Foundation's #ONEDAY Critical Needs Alert demonstrates the power of community-driven, urgency-framed giving momentsLinks: - Giving USA 2026: What It Means for Nonprofit Leaders — https://givingusa.org/looking-beyond-the-headlines-what-giving-usa-2026-means-for-nonprofit-leaders/ "Sustaining the Fundraising Vocation," Stanford Social Innovation Review — https://ssir.org/articles/entry/sustaining-fundraising-vocationProPublica investigation on donor-advised fund sponsor policies — https://www.propublica.org/article/donor-advised-funds-charity-contributionsFreeWill August FreeMinute: Nonprofit Fundraising Trends to Watch — https://www.nonprofits.freewill.com/resources/blog/free-minute-august-2026Cialdini, *Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion* — https://www.influenceatwork.com/principles-of-persuasion/The Pittsburgh Foundation #ONEDAY Critical Needs Alert results — https://pittsburghfoundation.org/newsrelease/oneday2026-resultsApproximate Timestamps: - 0:00 — Introduction and weekly preview 0:30 — Giving USA 2026: donor concentration risk and what to do about it2:45 — The fundraising workforce crisis (Stanford Social Innovation Review)4:15 — Donor-advised fund infrastructure and the ProPublica investigation5:15 — Why Donors Give: the power of reciprocity6:15 — What Changed: Make-A-Will Month and legacy giving strategy7:00 — The Bottom Line: three actions for this week7:45 — Good in Action: The Pittsburgh Foundation's #ONEDAY campaign8:45 — Sign-off

    State of Good for August 17, 2026

  2. Aug 11

    State of Good for August 10, 2026

    Episode Title: "$617 Billion in Giving — But Fewer Donors Are Writing the Checks" Summary: - The Giving USA 2026 Report estimates U.S. charitable giving reached $617.2 billion in 2025 — a healthy topline that demands deeper benchmarking at the organizational level The Fundraising Effectiveness Project confirms fewer donors are giving while total dollars increase, creating strategic implications for acquisition and retentionNew research from Momentive Software's 2026 Nonprofit Trends Report argues donor trust is built through operational excellence, not just communicationsWhy specific, tangible impact statements dramatically outperform abstract appeals (the identifiable victim effect)Washington state's coordinated wildfire relief campaign shows the power of building emergency giving infrastructure before disaster strikesLinks: - Giving USA 2026 Report analysis: https://philanthropy.indianapolis.iu.edu/professional-development/blog/the-giving-usa-2026-report-deserves-a-closer-look.html Fewer Donors, More Dollars (The NonProfit Times): https://thenonprofittimes.com/npt_articles/fewer-donors-more-dollars-new-methodology-at-fep/Beyond Impact Reports – AFP session / Momentive Software 2026 Nonprofit Trends: https://community.afpglobal.org/events/event-description?CalendarEventKey=37c8da9d-6df3-4a1e-95e6-019eff4574f8&Home=%2FhomeSmall, Loewenstein & Slovic – "Sympathy and Callousness" research: https://www.cmu.edu/dietrich/sds/docs/small/Sympathy%20and%20Callousness.pdfWashington wildfire relief campaign: https://www.sos.wa.gov/about-office/news/2026/washingtonians-encouraged-help-support-washington-wildfire-reliefApproximate Timestamps: - 0:00 – Introduction and episode preview 0:30 – Giving USA 2026: The $617 billion headline and how to benchmark against it2:00 – Fundraising Effectiveness Project: Fewer donors, more dollars4:00 – Why donors give: The power of tangible impact statements5:15 – What changed: Donor trust as an operations problem6:30 – The bottom line and three actions for this week7:15 – Good in Action: Washington state's wildfire relief infrastructure8:15 – Sign-off

    State of Good for August 10, 2026

  3. Aug 3

    State of Good for August 3, 2026

    Episode Title: "More Dollars, Fewer Donors: Why Retention Is Your Growth Engine" Summary: - The Fundraising Effectiveness Project's Q1 2026 data shows giving dollars up 4.3% but donor counts down nearly 1%, confirming a multi-quarter concentration trend NonProfit PRO analysis reveals repeat and recaptured donors are powering growth on a shrinking base, with a warning that the second half of 2026 could be tougherStanford researchers studied over 2 million PayPal users to understand what drives online donor acquisition at scaleThe 2025 Bank of America Study of Philanthropy finds 68% of affluent donors cite values and beliefs as their top giving motivationNew PNAS Nexus research shows social expectation and guilt avoidance are powerful drivers of charitable givingLinks: - Fewer Donors, More Dollars, and Methodology Changes At FEP — The NonProfit Times: https://thenonprofittimes.com/npt_articles/fewer-donors-more-dollars-and-methodology-changes-at-fep/ Repeat and Recaptured Donors Power Growth on a Shrinking Donor Base — NonProfit PRO: https://www.nonprofitpro.com/article/repeat-and-recaptured-donors-power-growth-on-a-shrinking-donor-base-new-data-shows/New Research Could Help Nonprofits Attract Millions of Online Donors — Stanford GSB: https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/insights/new-research-could-help-nonprofits-attract-millions-online-donorsWhat the 2025 Bank of America Study of Philanthropy Reveals About Giving Today — Giving USA: https://givingusa.org/what-the-2025-bank-of-america-study-of-philanthropy-reveals-about-giving-today/Leveraging Social Expectation for Charitable Donations — Phys.org (PNAS Nexus study): https://phys.org/news/2026-07-leveraging-social-charitable-donations.htmlPKD Foundation Increases Research Investment by 50% — PKD Foundation: https://pkdcure.org/resources/pkd-foundation-increases-research-investment-by-50-announces-2026-research-grant-and-fellowship-recipients/Approximate Timestamps: - 0:00 — Introduction and episode preview 0:30 — Q1 2026 fundraising data: more dollars, fewer donors2:30 — Retention trends and year-end planning caution3:45 — Stanford's large-scale online donor acquisition research4:30 — What affluent donors say drives their giving5:15 — Why donors give: social expectation and guilt avoidance6:30 — What changed this week: the concentration pattern is now undeniable7:15 — The bottom line and three action items8:00 — Good in Action: PKD Foundation increases research investment by 50%8:45 — Sign-off

    State of Good for August 3, 2026

  4. Jul 27

    State of Good for July 27, 2026

    Episode Title: "The Trust Advantage: Why Donors Trust Nonprofits But Not Philanthropy — and What That Means for Your Fundraising" Summary: - The 2025 Nonprofit Fundraising Study reveals donor acquisition challenges and a shift away from year-end-heavy giving patterns toward year-round digital giving New polling from Independent Sector shows 56% of Americans highly trust nonprofits, even as trust in government and corporations lags far behindA striking trust gap: Americans trust nonprofits at 56% but trust philanthropy overall at just 29% — perceived motive is the key differentiatorA House committee advanced nonprofit-related bills in a partisan markup, signaling that the regulatory and tax environment for the sector is actively in playGeorgia Tech raised a record $415 million in FY2026, pushing its campaign past $2 billion through partnership-driven fundraisingLinks: - 2025 Nonprofit Fundraising Study — NonProfit PRO: https://www.nonprofitpro.com/resource/2025-nonprofit-fundraising-study/ New Polling: 56% of Americans Highly Trust Nonprofits — Independent Sector: https://independentsector.org/blog/new-polling-56-of-americans-highly-trust-nonprofits-as-trust-in-government-corporations-remains-much-lower/Americans Trust NPOs, Philanthropy Not So Much — The NonProfit Times: https://thenonprofittimes.com/npt_articles/americans-trust-npos-philanthropy-not-so-much/House Committee Advances Nonprofit Bills in Partisan Markup — Independent Sector: https://independentsector.org/blog/house-committee-advances-nonprofit-bills-in-partisan-markup/Georgia Tech's Record Fundraising Year Propels Campaign Past $2 Billion — Georgia Tech News: https://news.gatech.edu/news/2026/07/23/georgia-techs-record-fundraising-year-propels-campaign-past-2-billionApproximate Timestamps: - 0:00 — Introduction and episode preview 0:30 — The fundraising playbook is shifting: year-round giving and retention2:30 — The trust advantage: 56% of Americans highly trust nonprofits4:00 — Why donors give: the trust gap between nonprofits and philanthropy5:15 — What changed this week: nonprofit bills advance in Congress6:30 — The bottom line and three action items7:30 — Good in Action: Georgia Tech's record-breaking $415 million year8:30 — Sign-off

    State of Good for July 27, 2026

  5. Jul 20

    State of Good for July 20, 2026

    Episode Title: "The Gap Between How It's Always Been Done and What the Evidence Shows" Summary: - A New Jersey foundation's experiment with outcome-based grantmaking is producing early results worth watching — and worth preparing for New analysis from the Fundraising Effectiveness Project reveals mid-level donors as a significantly under-cultivated segment in most donor filesBehavioral research shows familiar fundraising tactics may be backfiring with Gen Z donorsThe IRS proposes regulations clarifying 501(c)(3) requirements for educational institutions, with broader implications for charitable purpose complianceUtah's statewide giving campaign demonstrates the power of collaborative fundraisingSources & Links: - Chronicle of Philanthropy — "Philanthropy Isn't Broken—but How We Fund Might Be": https://www.philanthropy.com/opinion/philanthropy-isnt-broken-but-how-we-fund-might-be/ AFP Global — "The Overlooked Power of Mid-Level Donors" (Fundraising Effectiveness Project Q3 2025): https://afpglobal.org/overlooked-power-mid-level-donorsAFP Global — "Familiar Fundraising Tactics May Be Losing Ground with Gen Z Donors": https://afpglobal.org/news/familiar-fundraising-tactics-may-be-losing-ground-gen-z-donorsThe Nonprofit Times — "IRS Proposes Regulations Changing Education Institution 501(c)(3) Status": https://thenonprofittimes.com/npt_articles/irs-proposes-regulations-changing-education-institution-501c3-status/Utah Nonprofits Association — "UTAHGIVES 2026 Report": https://www.utahnonprofits.org/2026/07/09/utahgives-2026-report/Approximate Timestamps: - 0:00 — Introduction and episode preview 0:30 — Outcome-based grantmaking experiment (Chronicle of Philanthropy)2:30 — The overlooked mid-level donor segment (AFP / Fundraising Effectiveness Project)4:15 — Gen Z donor behavior research (AFP Global)5:45 — IRS proposed regulations for education nonprofits (Nonprofit Times)6:45 — Bottom line and three action items7:45 — Good in Action: Utah's statewide giving campaign8:45 — Sign-off

    State of Good for July 20, 2026

  6. Jul 13

    State of Good for July 13, 2026

    Episode Title: Record Giving, Shrinking Base: What the Giving USA Numbers Really Tell Us Summary: - U.S. charitable giving hit a record $617.20 billion in 2025, but the donor base continues to shrink — raising questions about long-term resilience Mixed fundraising signals at midyear 2026 mean your strategy and relationships matter more than the economic environmentNonprofits taking a coordinated, organization-wide approach to AI are seeing significantly larger returns than those experimenting in silosGenerational giving differences demand segmented communication strategies, not one-size-fits-all appealsThe FoodCorps and Healy Foundation story shows how transparency during crisis can deepen funder partnershipsLinks: - Giving USA 2026 Key Findings: https://givingusa.org/product/2026-key-findings/ Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy — Giving USA Report: https://philanthropy.indianapolis.iu.edu/news-events/news/_news/2026/giving-usa-report-2026.htmlChronicle of Philanthropy — Giving USA Reports a Record High, But Here's What It Misses: https://www.philanthropy.com/solutions/giving-usa-reports-a-record-high-but-heres-what-it-misses/Chronicle of Philanthropy — How Economic and Political Shifts Are Shaping 2026 Fundraising: https://www.philanthropy.com/news/how-economic-and-political-shifts-are-shaping-2026-fundraising/Chronicle of Philanthropy — AI Alone Isn't Enough: Coordination Is What Really Matters: https://www.philanthropy.com/news/ai-alone-isnt-enough-coordination-is-what-really-matters/Blackbaud Institute Generational Giving Report: https://institute.blackbaud.com/the-generational-giving-report/Chronicle of Philanthropy — Nonprofit Leaders Have Some Blunt Advice for Their Funders: https://www.philanthropy.com/solutions/nonprofit-leaders-have-some-blunt-advice-for-their-funders/Chronicle of Philanthropy — FoodCorps Lost Its Federal Funding, A Foundation's Bold Bet Kept It Thriving: https://www.philanthropy.com/solutions/foodcorps-lost-its-federal-funding-a-foundations-bold-bet-kept-it-thriving/Approximate Timestamps: - 0:00 — Introduction and episode preview 0:30 — Giving USA record high and the shrinking donor base3:00 — Mixed fundraising signals and fall planning4:15 — AI adoption: coordination beats experimentation5:00 — Why donors give: generational differences in giving behavior6:15 — What changed: nonprofit leaders' blunt advice for funders7:00 — The bottom line and three actions for this week7:45 — Good in Action: FoodCorps and the Healy Foundation8:45 — Sign-off

    State of Good for July 13, 2026

  7. Jun 15

    State of Good for June 15, 2026

    Episode Title: Private Giving Rises While Federal Funding Falls: The Nonprofit Paradox of 2026 Summary: - Charitable giving grew 5% in 2025 even as federal funding freezes and grant terminations create budget crises for thousands of nonprofits 90% of nonprofit leaders report burnout concerns, threatening organizational capacity and donor relationships83% of Americans experience financial stress, with only 19% finding joy in giving — signaling a concentration of giving among fewer, wealthier donorsMillennials are reshaping philanthropic expectations, demanding impact transparency and two-way communication35% of financial advisors actively use charitable planning tools, presenting untapped partnership opportunities for nonprofitsSources Referenced: - Nonprofit Quarterly — "The Quiet Collapse: Why the Erasure of the Nonprofit Sector Threatens Us All": https://nonprofitquarterly.org/the-quiet-collapse-why-the-erasure-of-the-nonprofit-sector-threatens-us-all/ NonProfit PRO — "What Proposed Federal Grant Rule Changes Mean for Nonprofits": https://www.nonprofitpro.com/article/what-proposed-federal-grant-rule-changes-mean-for-nonprofits/Chronicle of Philanthropy — "Nearly 90 Percent of Nonprofit Leaders Worry About Burnout": https://www.philanthropy.com/news/nearly-90-percent-of-nonprofit-leaders-worry-about-burnout/Urban Institute — "Nonprofit Leaders Reported Growing Uncertainty from 2024 to Early 2025": https://www.urban.org/sites/default/files/2026-05/Nonprofit_Leaders_Reported_Growing_Uncertainty_from_2024_to_Early_2025.pdfThe NonProfit Times — "Beware Because Donors Don't Feel Financially Fulfilled": https://thenonprofittimes.com/npt_articles/beware-because-donors-dont-feel-financially-fulfilled/Capital Campaign Pro — "2026 Nonprofit Sector Research for Capital Campaign Fundraising": https://capitalcampaignpro.com/2026-nonprofit-sector-campaign-fundraising/NonProfit PRO — "Report: Millennials Are Driving a Shift in Philanthropy": https://www.nonprofitpro.com/article/while-nonprofits-eye-gen-z-millennials-are-shaping-philanthropic-giving/NonProfit PRO — "New Report Identifies Key Factors That Influence How Financial Advisers Recommend DAFs": https://www.nonprofitpro.com/article/new-report-identifies-key-factors-that-influence-how-financial-advisers-recommend-dafs/UC San Diego — "2026 Triton Giving Day Breaks Records, Raising $1.1 Million": https://today.ucsd.edu/story/2026-triton-giving-day-breaks-records-raising-1.1-millionApproximate Timestamps: - 0:00 — Introduction and episode preview 0:30 — The Big Picture: Federal funding shifts, 5% giving growth paradox, leadership burnout, and donor financial stress3:30 — Why Donors Give: Millennials reshaping philanthropic expectations5:00 — What Changed This Week: Financial advisors as untapped fundraising partners6:15 — The Bottom Line: Three actions for the week7:15 — Good in Action: UC San Diego's record-breaking Triton Giving Day8:15 — Sign-off

    State of Good for June 15, 2026

  8. May 18

    State of Good for May 18, 2026

    Episode Title: Foundation Priorities Are Shifting — Is Your Organization Ready? Summary: - The Center for Effective Philanthropy's State of Nonprofits 2026 report reveals the most challenging operational environment for nonprofits in years, with foundations redirecting dollars toward basic needs programs A new IRS Form 990 Transparency Initiative will change how nonprofits report activities and how the public accesses that informationResearch shows donor-advised fund donors are rarely anonymous — opening major relationship-building opportunities for nonprofitsA Cambridge University study confirms that specific, verifiable impact claims build donor trust far more effectively than abstract appealsThe University of Nevada's Giving Day raised over $1 million from 1,900+ donors, proving broad-based community giving is still powerfulLinks: - Center for Effective Philanthropy — State of Nonprofits 2026: https://cep.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/CEP_State_of_Nonprofits_2026_FNL.pdf Community Foundation of Greater Memphis — National Trends in Giving and the Growing Nonprofit Crisis: https://cfgm.org/the-well-must-not-run-dry-national-trends-in-giving-and-the-growing-nonprofit-crisis/Inside Philanthropy — 5 Things We Know About the New IRS Form 990 Transparency Initiative: https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/home/5-things-we-know-about-the-new-irs-form-990-transparency-initiativeAmerican Heart Association Advisor Insights — Donor Advised Funds 2026 Outlook & Strategic Implications: https://www.heart.org/en/get-involved/ways-to-give/planned-giving/professional-advisors-and-trustees/advisor-insights/donor-advised-funds-2026-outlook-and-strategic-implicationsCambridge University / Voluntas — Will You Trust Me? How Individual American Donors Respond to Informational Signals: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/voluntas/article/will-you-trust-me-how-individual-american-donors-respond-to-informational-signals-regarding-local-and-global-humanitarian-charities/0BA7A0086C78EDF08DE38726C1750CFDUniversity of Nevada — 2026 Giving Day: https://www.unr.edu/nevada-today/news/2026/thank-you-for-givingApproximate Timestamps: - 0:00 — Introduction and weekly preview 0:35 — Foundation funding shifts and nonprofit sustainability challenges3:15 — New IRS Form 990 Transparency Initiative4:30 — Why Donors Give: The power of specificity in building trust5:30 — What Changed: Donor-advised fund anonymity is rarer than you think6:45 — The Bottom Line: Three actions for this week7:30 — Good in Action: University of Nevada's record-breaking Giving Day8:15 — Sign-off

    State of Good for May 18, 2026
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The Pure Charity State of Good Podcast is your weekly intelligence brief for nonprofit leaders and fundraisers. Each episode cuts through the noise to deliver what actually matters: how donors are thinking about giving right now, what's shifting in the sector, and the psychology behind generosity. Data-driven insights you can use immediately, in about 10 minutes, once a week.

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