The Build Good Fundraising Podcast #114: Is this the end of the donor pyramid? Personalization, AI, and listening to donors at scale, with Anton Lipkanou
The donor pyramid is collapsing. Individual giving is shrinking. And yet, total philanthropic revenue is still growing—just from fewer and fewer people.
In this episode, we sit down with Anton Lipkanou, President of Delve Deeper, to unpack what’s really happening beneath the surface of donor data, and how fundraisers can respond.
Together we explore:
- Why donor files are aging faster than time itself
- How the “Eiffel Tower” of giving reveals a dangerous imbalance
- What “Jobs to Be Done” means for understanding donor motivation
- How to listen to donors through data, not just surveys
- The new role of AI in personalizing donor journeys at scale
You’ll leave this episode with practical ideas to start listening like a major gifts officer — even when you’re talking to tens of thousands of donors.
Quotes:
“Donors are hiring your organization to do a job for them. It’s not about you — it’s what they can do through you.” — Anton Lipkanou
“If giving is a story of self, then our job as fundraisers is to listen for the story donors are trying to tell.” — Mike Duerksen
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Thanks for listening!
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#Fundraising #Nonprofit #Philanthropy #Marketing
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