Go Beyond Fundraising: The Podcast for Nonprofits

Why all the fuss about Gen Z? This generation is primed to reshape the future of philanthropy through its values-led giving and social activism. In this episode of the Go Beyond Fundraising podcast, we’re previewing the new report, “The Nonprofit’s Guide to Engaging Gen Z.” Learn what motivates Gen Z to give so you can acquire and steward this key demographic.

In this episode, we catch up on what’s happening across the fundraising and marketing landscape as we talk through trends we're seeing. From taking a look at who 2022’s top donors were, to a new study that sheds light on donor behavior as we spring forward, and new limitations TikTok is implementing for minors, we dig into all these consumer trends: Donor Behavior Economic Insights Digital Trends

A January National Review article declared “Middle-Class Philanthropy Is Collapsing,” but is that really the case? The number of donors might be declining, but gift amounts are increasing. So, is it a decline in donors or of small-dollar donations? In this episode of the Go Beyond Fundraising Podcast, we’re taking a deeper look at this claim through the trends that are driving donor giving. Our experts are also sharing tactics to attract, retain, and re-engage donors through storytelling, personal connections, and transparency.

According to the National Philanthropic Trust, total donor-advised fund (DAF) contributions grew 48.4% between 2020–2021, from $9.7 billion to a whopping $14.56 billion. Are DAFs part of your fundraising strategy? In this episode of the Go Beyond Fundraising Podcast, we talk with Vicky Kelberer of Vanguard Charitable about why DAFs are the fastest-growing giving vehicle in the U.S. — especially for millennials and Gen Z. We’re digging into why donors choose DAFs and sharing 6 easy ways your organization can start promoting and accepting this type of gift.

It’s hard to believe we’re already nearing the end of 2023’s first quarter! These first three months have been full of headlines nonprofit professionals should pay attention to. In this episode, we’ve invited Pursuant Insights Consultant Nicholas Hedenkamp to discuss the latest trends and biggest news in the fundraising world. Four topics have been on his radar: generational giving, the loss of AmazonSmile, tips for live streaming, and Chat GPT.

Are you aware that only 7% of a person's wealth is held in cash? That means the vast majority of their assets, like stocks, real estate, and artwork, are being overlooked by most nonprofits when it comes to fundraising. In this episode of our podcast, we're diving into the world of non-cash donations with fundraising expert Dawn Galasso from Pursuant. She'll reveal how your nonprofit can tap into this often-ignored revenue stream and unlock the potential of non-cash gifts. With inflation on the rise, many people are hesitant to part with their cash. But non-cash assets offer an appealing alternative, especially since their value can fluctuate. And with the current economic climate, giving a non-cash gift can be a smart way to avoid unfavorable capital gains taxes. The key to successful fundraising is meeting donors where they are and accepting the types of gifts they want to give. Is your organization set up to receive non-cash donations? It's becoming easier every day to accept non-traditional gifts, and it's more important than ever if you want to attract younger donors.

LinkedIn is no longer a platform solely for housing digital resumes and sharing job postings. In recent years, it has turned into a space to engage with more than 800 million users from over 200 countries, making it the ultimate networking tool any nonprofit should have in its brand awareness toolbox. In this episode, we chat with Taylor Shanklin, one of the original founders of the “Go Beyond Fundraising” Podcast, Motivational Speaker and Founder and CEO of Barlele—a brand-building service, about ways nonprofits can build and enhance their brands on LinkedIn.

Concierge service is no longer just an amenity hotels offer to elevate experiences for guests, now, it is something nonprofits can utilize to heighten the giving experience for their donors too. Kacey Crawford, vice president of digital strategy, and Kristin Priest, vice president of client strategy at Pursuant discuss how concierge giving can empower you and your organization to offer donors a high-quality, personalized experience that will ensure your organization’s stability in uncertain times.

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. Where should stewardship live? “I lead a team that is a three-legged stool,” Sue explains. “Development is one of the legs, marketing communications is the second and experience is the third. We have stewardship pulled out from marketing and development, but we are all part of one bigger team together.” By pulling stewardship out of the fundraising department, Sue believes it encourages people in all departments of the organization to participate in stewardship. According to Best Friends, 4.6 million cats and dogs entered animal shelters in 2021 alone. These numbers make the work they do critically important and their focused efforts on stewardship have allowed them to gain and retain donors and volunteers. Here’s how they do it: Sue’s Stewardship Sauce: Saying thank you “It is cool to say thank you,” said Sue. Taking the time to thank your donors and volunteers at all levels will make them feel valued and continue working with your organization. Emails and calls Emailing and calling donors and volunteers to say thank you is the bare minimum. Sue suggests getting creative with these calls. At Best Friends, her staff has received notoriety for their points of contact by letting constituents know exactly where their money is going by introducing the dog their donation helped keep alive for example. Engaging with new donors and keeping them as long-term donors Rather than exclusively writing to high-value donors, Sue writes thank you notes to new donors on a daily basis. She says letting them know we value them and are excited to have them there is key to retention. Creating unique experiences Creating a memorable experience for constituents is vital to every organization. At Best Friends, donors can feed pigs and regularly engage with the animals they are helping support. This leaves a lasting impact and lets them see first-hand the value of their contribution. Put yourself in the constituents’ shoes If you were a donor or volunteer, how would you want to be treated? What experiences come to mind and how can you make that happen for your supporters? Sue suggests actually asking your constituents and putting their feedback into action. Sue says keeping the constituent journey at top of mind rather than getting caught up in “what marketing does” or “what fundraising does” will lead to the best outcome.

In this episode, we sat down for our monthly check-in with Pursuant Insights Consultant, Nicholas Hedenkamp, to get his insight into what’s happening in the fundraising and marketing landscape. With it being February, we set out to explore the top trends nonprofits may experience in 2023. Of the trends he sees coming, all have one thing in common–digitalization. Nicholas’s 2023 Fundraising Trends: Digital wallets E-commerce Crypto Leveraging LinkedIn Hybrid events Subscription-based giving SMS communication