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.

Episodes

  1. State of Good for April 6, 2026

    6D AGO

    State of Good for April 6, 2026

    Episode Title: The Shift from Concentration to Diversification: DAF Trends and the Small-Donor Renaissance Summary: - New research from DAF Giving 360 reveals donors are fundamentally changing how they use donor-advised funds in response to 2026 tax law changes, with over $234 billion sitting in these funds nationwide Stanford Social Innovation Review's "Beyond the Mega-Gift" conversation highlights a strategic pivot away from mega-gift dependence toward diversified, small-donor revenue models73% of donors say knowing how funds are used is critical to their giving decision, and transparent organizations see 53% higher donor retentionThree action items: assess your DAF engagement strategy, conduct a donor concentration analysis, and improve transparency in donor communicationsGood in Action: UT San Antonio's 48-hour Giving Day shows how time-bound campaigns build community belonging alongside fundraising totalsLinks: - DAF Giving 360 Research on Donor-Advised Fund Trends: https://www.dafgiving360.org/press-release/donor-volunteer-trends "Beyond the Mega-Gift" — Stanford Social Innovation Review Author Conversation: https://ed.stanford.edu/events/beyond-mega-gift-ssir-author-conversationUT San Antonio Giving Day: https://news.utsa.edu/2026/03/ut-san-antonio-giving-day-kicks-off-48-hour-celebration-of-community-impact/Approximate Timestamps: - 0:00 — Introduction and episode preview 0:30 — DAF evolution and the 2026 tax landscape2:45 — Beyond the mega-gift: the small-donor renaissance4:30 — Why donors give: transparency and retention5:30 — What changed this week: convergence of two forces6:30 — The bottom line and three action items7:15 — Good in Action: UT San Antonio's 48-hour Giving Day8:15 — Sign-off

    8 min
  2. State of Good for March 30, 2026

    MAR 30

    State of Good for March 30, 2026

    Episode Title: The AI Trust Tightrope and the Mid-Level Donor Opportunity Summary: - AI is transforming fundraising personalization, but organizations without governance frameworks risk eroding donor trust Mid-level donors ($500–$5,000) represent massive untapped potential — retaining one equals acquiring 10–20 new small donorsSocial proof increases donation likelihood by 30%, especially when donors see people like them givingFederal policy shifts require proactive monitoring and compliance planningA Texas food bank boosted mid-level retention 40% by creating a dedicated engagement trackSources Mentioned: - NonprofitPRO — "Nonprofits Risk Eroding Trust Without AI Oversight": https://www.nonprofitpro.com/article/nonprofits-risk-eroding-trust-without-ai-oversight-research-shows/ AFP Global — "Flip the Script: Donors Down, Dollars Up Through Mid-Level Retention": https://afpglobal.org/flip-script-donors-down-dollars-through-mid-level-retentionNonprofit Risk Management Center — "The Fundraising Risk Issue, Spring 2026": https://nonprofitrisk.org/resources/the-fundraising-risk-issue-spring-2026/Maryland Nonprofits — "Federal Policy Updates Impacting Nonprofits": https://marylandnonprofits.org/2026/03/27/federal-policy-updates-impacting-nonprofits-what-you-need-to-know/Shang & Croson — "A Field Experiment in Charitable Contribution" (Economic Journal / ScienceDirect): https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0047272709000863Approximate Timestamps: - 0:00 — Introduction 0:30 — AI adoption and the trust tightrope / Mid-level donor opportunity3:30 — Why donors give: the power of social proof4:30 — What changed: federal policy shifts5:45 — The bottom line and three action items7:00 — Good in action: Texas food bank sustainer circle8:00 — Sign-off

    8 min
  3. State of Good for March 23, 2026

    MAR 23

    State of Good for March 23, 2026

    Episode Title: "The Hidden Crisis Undermining Your Fundraising — And What to Do About It" Summary: - Two new reports reveal how board governance failures are fueling nonprofit staff burnout and directly undermining fundraising capacity Gift bunching strategies are helping organizations maintain 87% of projected revenue ahead of 2026 tax changesA Gen Z donor calls out the nonprofit sector for misunderstanding their generation — they want authenticity and impact, not appsIdentity-based giving research shows donors who see generosity as part of their self-concept give 2-3x more over their lifetimeCornell University's Giving Day proves that peer champions, not technology, drive record-breaking resultsSources & Links: - Inside Philanthropy / Nonprofit Finance Fund, "The Heart of the Nonprofit Sector": https://nff.org/insights/inside-philanthropy-covers-nffs-new-report-on-worker-well-being/ Ohio Society of Association Professionals, "Burnout in the Nonprofit Sector Is Often a Governance Problem": https://www.ohiosap.org/news/burnout-in-the-nonprofit-sector-is-often-a-governance-problemNonprofit Pro, "Gift Bunching for Nonprofits": https://www.nonprofitpro.com/how-nonprofits-can-use-gift-bunching-to-navigate-the-2026-charitable-deduction-changes/Women's Philanthropy Symposium 2026, Indiana University: https://events.iu.edu/philanthropy/event/2053887-womens-philanthropy-symposium-2026SPMCF, "Women Are Reshaping Philanthropy": https://spmcf.org/blog/women-giving-growthChronicle of Philanthropy, "What Nonprofits Get Wrong About Gen Z Donors Like Me": https://www.philanthropy.com/opinion/commons-huseman-genzmyths-0326/Philanthropy.org, "Planned Giving and Endowment Strategy: Questions Nonprofits Avoid": https://philanthropy.org/the-endowment-questions-many-nonprofits-never-ask/Cornell News, "Record number of Giving Day 'champions' fuel fundraising success": https://news.cornell.edu/stories/2026/03/record-number-giving-day-champions-fuel-fundraising-successApproximate Timestamps: - 0:00 — Introduction and episode preview 0:35 — The hidden crisis: staff burnout, board governance, and fundraising capacity2:30 — Gift bunching strategies ahead of 2026 tax changes3:30 — Why donors give: identity-based giving4:45 — What changed: Gen Z donor calls out nonprofits; planned giving insights6:30 — The bottom line and three action items7:30 — Good in Action: Cornell's Giving Day champions8:15 — Sign-off

    8 min
  4. State of Good for March 16, 2026

    MAR 17

    State of Good for March 16, 2026

    Episode Title: $22B in Giving, Federal Funding Disruptions, and New Tax Rules — March 16, 2026 Summary: America's top philanthropists gave $22.4 billion in 2025, but much of it flowed to DAFs and foundations rather than directly to operating nonprofitsOne-third of U.S. nonprofits report disruptions from federal funding cuts, with two-thirds reliant on government sourcesNew 0.5% AGI floor on charitable deductions changes the giving calculus for mid-level donors starting in 2026Foundations are considering increasing payout rates beyond minimums — a signal of new funding opportunitiesGloria Vargas, a Florida waitress, has served 270,000 meals to homeless individuals since 2012Sources & Links: Chronicle of Philanthropy — Major Donor Giving Analysis: https://www.philanthropy.com/news/money-donated-to-and-awarded-from-foundations-and-donor-advised-funds/Forvis Mazars — 2026 State of the Nonprofit Sector: https://www.forvismazars.us/getattachment/3ec27fe9-c655-4e7e-879d-fb04b7690fa8/2026-State-of-the-Nonprofit-Sector_Funding-Your-Mission.pdWindham Brannon — 2025-2026 Tax Planner: https://windhambrannon.com/blog/2025-2026-tax-planner-key-insights-for-a-changing-tax-landscape/Wayne County Community Foundation — Women and Philanthropy: https://www.waynecountycommunityfoundation.org/blog/2026/03/10/women-and-philanthropy-four-insights-to-inform-your-practiceCenter for Effective Philanthropy — Current Context Survey: https://cep.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/CEP_Current-Context-Survey-2025_Foundations_final.pdfInside Philanthropy — Toplines March 14, 2026: https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/toplines/toplines-march-14-2026Good News Network — Gloria Vargas Story: https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/waitress-has-fed-270000-meals-to-homeless-floridians/Timestamps: 0:00 — Intro0:30 — Major Donors, Federal Funding Disruptions & New Tax Rules3:30 — Why Donors Give: Women and Philanthropy4:30 — What Changed: Foundation Payout Rates & AI in Philanthropy6:30 — The Bottom Line: Three Actions for This Week7:30 — Good in Action: Gloria Vargas and 270,000 Meals8:30 — Outro

    7 min
  5. State of Good Introduction

    EPISODE 1

    State of Good Introduction

    Episode 1: Welcome to the State of Good Report If you lead fundraising at a nonprofit, or you're the executive director, or you sit on the board, you know the pressure never goes away. Great year? The clock resets in January. Land a major gift? You're already wondering what happens if that donor can't give next year. This episode introduces the State of Good Report podcast and why it exists: to help nonprofit leaders fund their mission in a landscape that won't sit still — shifting donor behavior, disrupted government funding, changing foundation priorities, and new data every month. Every week, host Mike Rusch and the team at Pure Charity help you work through three questions at the heart of sustainable nonprofit growth: How do I fund this work?  Tracking giving data, research reports, and economic indicators so you don't have to.How do I partner with donors?  The psychology behind why people give and how to deepen those relationships.How do I care for the donors I already have?  Because the average nonprofit loses over half its donors every year, and it's fixable.Each episode is under 10 minutes. No fluff, no jargon, just actionable intelligence you can use immediately. Read the full written report (with all links and sources): go.purecharity.com/state-of-good Subscribe to the weekly newsletter: go.purecharity.com/state-of-good New episodes every Tuesday.

    4 min

Trailer

About

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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