Go Beyond Fundraising: The Podcast for Nonprofits

Laura Hinrichsen, VP of Advertising specializing in omnichannel strategies, and Kacey Crawford, VP of Digital Strategy enhancing nonprofit fundraising, dive into mastering omnichannel fundraising. They highlight the importance of unified team efforts in tackling fragmented communications and enhancing donor loyalty. The duo shares insights on building consumer trust through transparent data collection and leveraging success stories of nonprofits using integrated strategies. Their practical tips offer a roadmap for nonprofit organizations aiming to thrive in a competitive landscape.

In this episode, Pursuant's CEO Trent Ricker sat down with Kevin Hagan, President and CEO of PAN Foundation, to talk about the effect of global crises on fundraising. With the current Ukraine crisis, we've seen nontraditional or so-called 'unorganized' giving, as people adopted unique ways to support and donate. In this dialogue, these nonprofit leaders discuss lessons that nonprofits can learn from grassroots efforts like these when it comes to funding specific missions.

The lines between responsibilities and budgets of the marketing and fundraising departments can often blur at nonprofits. Although each department brings important and unique assets to an organization, when they align and work together, they can create a more impactful experience for constituents. In this episode, Pursuant CEO, Trent Ricker spoke with Sue Citro, Chief Experience Officer at Best Friends Animal Society about ways leaders can encourage collaboration between the fundraising and marketing departments to create optimal stewardship experiences. As Chief Experience Officer, Sue ensures that the marketing communications, fundraising, and experience teams are working in unison to create the best experience possible for donors and people who interact with Best Friends Animal Society.

Laura Hinrichsen, VP of Advertising, and Megan Morris, Director of Advertising, discuss innovative advertising strategies for nonprofits. They emphasize the importance of a year-round ad spend rather than concentrating resources solely at year-end. By engaging prospects early, nonprofits can build meaningful relationships and increase the likelihood of support. They also share tips on lead generation and adapting strategies during the presidential election cycle, ensuring organizations remain agile and impactful in their messaging.

Alyssa Boger, EVP of Client Strategy, dives into the often-overlooked world of Generation X and their role in philanthropy. With Gen X poised to inherit $30 trillion, their unique stage in life influences their giving patterns. They prioritize immediate impact and community engagement. Alyssa also discusses Generation Alpha's early adoption of technology and their values, hinting at future fundraising strategies. She emphasizes the need for nonprofits to use personal, experience-driven methods to effectively connect with these emerging generations.

Digital advertising is full of mystery — it certainly doesn’t help that the rules seem to change every day. In this episode of the Go Beyond Fundraising podcast, we aim to make digital advertising a little easier. Our guest, Allegiance Group + Pursuant VP of Advertising Laura Hinrichsen, joins us to dispel five myths about digital advertising. From Google Ad Grants and Facebook advertising to last-click attribution and video content, this conversation highlights what you need to know for an effective digital advertising campaign. It’s time to leverage your full potential in the digital space. Listen to the full episode now.

What if the key to transforming your fundraising efforts lies in a technology many fear? In this Go Beyond Fundraising Podcast episode, we explore the bold new frontier of artificial intelligence (AI). Allegiance Group + Pursuant's Chief Strategy Officer, Trent Ricker, considers the nuanced role of artificial intelligence in enhancing human connections. Rather than replacing personal interactions, AI can be a powerful tool to augment our ability to build and maintain deeper, more sincere relationships. Trent highlights the importance of leveraging technology to organize our lives better, prioritize effectively, and ultimately become more empathetic and attentive individuals. Join us for a thought-provoking conversation that explores how AI can help us achieve the very human goal of closer, more meaningful relationships between donors and nonprofit organizations.

Recent statistics show continued declines across all types of donors from 2022 to 2023 — except those who had given seven or more gifts, which increased. This growth highlights the significance of donor loyalty. In this Go Beyond Fundraising podcast episode, Allegiance Group + Pursuant Chief Strategy Officer Trent Ricker discusses the value of fostering deep, meaningful relationships with donors. He emphasizes quality over quantity and says loyalty to an organization can lead to deep-rooted support that will last regardless of what’s happening in the short term. Trent also explains the difference between transactional and relational fundraising. He urges nonprofit professionals to return to the basics and focus on stewardship, using data and donor preferences as a guide. He even shares how a positive stewardship experience turned a planned gift from his stepfather into family-wide support for a children’s healthcare organization.

Determining the health of your organization can be tricky. The success of one campaign or a decrease in one certain metric isn’t enough to know whether your fundraising efforts are working. In this episode of the Go Beyond Fundraising podcast, we’re joined by Teena Wright, Annual Giving Director at Idaho Public Television, and Debbie Merlino, an Executive Vice President at Allegiance Group + Pursuant. Together, they outline the seven key database metrics you should track to get a better sense of where you stand. They’ll also address some common questions: - How often should you look at your data? -How can you account for seasonality as you compare one time to another? -What KPIs do you track for a campaign vs. long-term planning? Listen to the full episode now to get the seven database KPIs that will give you a clear snapshot of the overall relationship donors have with your organization.

The Fundraising Effectiveness Project’s latest Quarterly Fundraising Report™ is out, and we’re digging in! In this episode of Fundraising Today, VP of Client Strategy Kristin Priest breaks down the key findings that compare overall philanthropic giving trends in 2022 and 2023.   The report tracks macro trends in donors, dollars, and retention, then looks deeper at each category. The leading takeaway is that all three show a continued decline, but there is a glimmer of good news. For instance, in 2022, donors were down 10%; but in 2023, they’re only down about 3.4%. Join us as we discuss what the report means for fundraisers as we prep for the second half of 2024. Will we continue to see decreases, or is this the year that things start to stabilize? Kristin also shares five strategies fundraisers can use to acquire, engage, and retain donors.