Board members can be some of a nonprofit's most valuable fundraising assets, but that does not necessarily mean they should be the ones asking for the money. In organizations with professional fundraising staff, board members are often most effective when they open doors, build credibility, share their personal connection, and deepen relationships alongside development professionals. The board member brings access and authenticity; the fundraiser brings expertise, timing, judgment, and donor strategy.
Read MoreHow does a foundation remain faithful to its founder while responding to a world the founder could never have imagined? The answer is not in preserving old grantmaking patterns, but in preserving the purpose behind them. Donor intent should guide foundations toward enduring values while allowing the methods used to achieve those values to evolve with knowledge, circumstances, and need.
Read MoreAre fewer people really becoming less generous? Or are we simply measuring generosity too narrowly? Traditional charitable giving may be declining, but crowdfunding, mutual aid, giving circles, and everyday acts of generosity reveal a broader philanthropic impulse. The challenge for nonprofits may not be convincing people to care, but recognizing all the ways people already demonstrate that they do. Perhaps philanthropy isn't broken; perhaps our definition of it is.
Read MoreGreat advancement strategy begins with understanding people, not assumptions. The National Alumni Survey is providing one of the most comprehensive looks yet at what alumni actually think, value, and expect from their institutions. Its early findings reinforce a simple but powerful truth: graduates who feel informed, connected, and genuinely known are far more likely to become engaged donors. The future of university philanthropy may depend less on asking better questions and more on listening better.
Read MoreFor years, nonprofits have concentrated on crafting compelling messages for donors. Today, donors are paying just as much attention to where they give as why they give. A trusted giving platform has become more than a payment processor—it has become a signal of credibility, transparency, and security. In an increasingly digital world, the platform itself is now part of the donor experience.
Read MoreThe greatest governance challenge is not always an inactive board, it is an overactive one. When boards spend their meetings debating hiring decisions, software platforms, or operational procedures, they unintentionally neglect the strategic issues only they are positioned to address. Healthy organizations create a clear distinction between governance and management. The board's responsibility is not to run the organization, but to ensure it has the vision, leadership, and financial strength to thrive for years to come.
Read MoreOne of the hardest lessons parents ever teach is that not everyone deserves your trust. We want our children to believe in kindness, generosity, and the goodness of people, yet we also have a responsibility to prepare them for those who exploit those very qualities. The same applies in philanthropy, where trust is the foundation of every donor relationship and the very thing scammers seek to abuse. The goal is not to become cynical, but to pair trust with vigilance.
Read MoreWealth screening is a valuable research tool, but it was never meant to replace professional judgment. When organizations ask donors solely at their estimated financial capacity rather than at a level supported by trust, engagement, and demonstrated commitment, they confuse information with strategy. The strongest philanthropic relationships are built over years, not by algorithms.
Read MoreIn today's attention economy, fundraisers have only a few seconds to capture a donor's interest before the opportunity is lost. This blog explores how the "three-second rule" extends beyond data visualization to emails, direct mail, videos, social media, and even face-to-face donor conversations. The key is not reducing substance but communicating in layers. Earning attention first, then building understanding, and finally providing evidence. Organizations that master clarity and relevance will be better positioned to engage donors in an increasingly distracted world.
Read MoreDisaster recovery is often treated as a short-term response, but meaningful recovery requires long-term coordination, patience, and strategic leadership. Drawing on the Omaha Community Foundation’s response to the 2024 tornadoes, aligning donors, nonprofits, government agencies, and case management efforts can produce more effective outcomes than fragmented relief efforts. The lesson goes beyond disaster philanthropy: the most impactful solutions emerge when organizations focus on system design, collaboration, and sustained support rather than immediate activity alone. Recovery is not an event. It is a process that rewards discipline and thoughtful coordination.
Read MoreLeadership, fundraising, and education fail when systems become too focused on “the many” and lose sight of the individual. Research on personalized learning shows that when people feel seen, understood, and supported according to their unique needs, engagement and outcomes improve significantly. The same principle applies beyond the classroom. Donors, employees, students, and patients all respond differently when treated as individuals rather than averages. Scale effectively not by ignoring “the one,” but by building personalization into how they operate.
Read MoreSt. Jude’s $4.5 billion in bequest commitments is more than an impressive fundraising milestone. Proof that planned giving works at scale. Most wealth in America is held in assets, not cash, yet many nonprofits still focus primarily on annual giving strategies. Organizations that invest in estate and planned giving align themselves with how donors actually hold and transfer wealth over time. As trillions of dollars prepare to shift between generations, nonprofits that build intentional legacy programs today will be positioned for transformational impact tomorrow.
Read MoreHeritage societies are quietly regaining importance because they do far more than recognize future gifts, they strengthen long-term donor relationships today. Planned giving represents one of the largest and most overlooked sources of charitable revenue, yet many organizations still treat legacy donors with minimal stewardship. A well-structured heritage society creates visibility into future commitments, reinforces donor loyalty, and normalizes conversations about lasting impact. With modest effort and consistent attention, these programs can become a powerful driver of long-term financial resilience.
Read MoreHigh-touch donor experiences transform philanthropy from abstract support into tangible conviction. When donors see impact firsthand—through site visits, conversations, and immersive engagement, they develop deeper understanding and stronger emotional connection to the mission. This shift from awareness to ownership is what drives principal gifts and long-term commitment. For organizations seeking transformational support, intentional, experience-driven cultivation is not optional, it is essential.
Read MoreEmployee giving programs don’t transform through better messaging, they transform through leadership, systems, and culture. A recent example shows participation jumping from 1 percent to over 50 percent when organizations reduce barriers, increase incentives, and visibly prioritize internal engagement. When employees see impact, experience ease, and observe leadership commitment, participation follows. For nonprofits, employee giving is not just revenue, it’s a powerful signal of belief in the mission.
Read MoreThe sale of the Seattle Seahawks represents more than a record-setting sports transaction, it signals a powerful transfer of private wealth into lasting public good. By embedding philanthropy into his estate, Paul Allen ensured that major assets would ultimately fuel long-term community impact rather than remain concentrated. The proceeds from this sale have the potential to strengthen research, education, and environmental initiatives for generations. In this case, the most enduring victory may not be on the field, but in the legacy it creates.
Read MoreRecurring giving is gaining renewed attention as nonprofits recognize its power to create financial stability and long-term donor relationships. Small, consistent contributions (often automated) remove friction for donors while providing organizations with predictable revenue and stronger planning capacity. Especially in uncertain economic times, this steady support can sustain engagement when larger gifts become less certain. What may seem modest in the moment often becomes transformational over time.
Read MoreMoves management meetings often focus on activity and upcoming asks, but that emphasis can overlook the most critical factor in fundraising success, understanding the donor’s passion. Shifting the conversation to prioritize what donors truly want to accomplish changes how gift officers engage, listen, and build relationships. When teams lead with curiosity instead of transactions, alignment replaces assumption. And in that alignment, more meaningful, and often larger, philanthropic opportunities emerge.
Read MoreTrust is the quiet engine that powers philanthropy and when it’s broken, the damage spreads far beyond a single organization. High-profile fundraising scandals don’t just expose bad actors; they cast doubt on every nonprofit that relies on donor generosity. Most donors don’t parse the details; they simply question whether giving is safe at all. In an era of heightened scrutiny, transparency and ethical stewardship are no longer optional, they are essential to the sector’s survival.
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