First Day Podcast

Latest Episodes:

The Deplorable State Of Donor Retention Feb 25, 2024

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In this episode of the First Day Podcast, host Bill Stanczykiewicz, Ed.D. is joined by Jay Love, Co-Founder and current Chief Relationship Officer of Bloomerang. Jay emphasizes the necessity of prioritizing donor stewardship to improve retention rates. He suggests personalized approaches such as handwritten thank-you notes and phone calls, as well as involving board members in expressing gratitude to donors. Additionally, Jay stresses the significance of recognizing donors of all gift sizes, as major donors, although constituting a small percentage, provide the majority of funds. By implementing comprehensive stewardship strategies, organizations can build stronger relationships with donors and mitigate donor fatigue. The episode highlights the nonprofit sector's deplorable state with an average retention rate of only 43-44%, significantly lower than what is required for commercial businesses to thrive. This discrepancy is attributed to various factors, including high turnover rates among fundraising professionals and a lack of expertise in donor nurturing among board members. Despite the immense importance of retaining donors, many organizations find themselves on a constant treadmill of seeking new donors rather than fostering relationships with existing ones. The episode underscores the importance of treating donors as valued members of the nonprofit's family and acknowledges the need for consistent communication and recognition. Strategies such as segmenting donors and maintaining a communication plan are recommended to ensure that donors feel appreciated and engaged with the organization's mission. Ultimately, fostering a culture of gratitude and stewardship can lead to higher donor retention rates and sustained support for the nonprofit's initiatives.

What Are Donors Thinking Feb 19, 2024

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In this episode of the First Day Podcast, host Bill Stanczykiewicz, Ed.D. is joined by Erinn Andrews, the founder and CEO of GiveTeam, a consulting firm specializing in philanthropic advising. Andrews identifies a crucial gap in the philanthropic advising profession, particularly in supporting donors in the top 2 to 10% bracket. While much attention is given to the top 1% of donors, those in the slightly lower bracket often lack tailored support despite their significant contributions. Recognizing this opportunity, Andrews established GiveTeam to cater to the needs of this segment and unlock their hidden generosity. Andrews explains GiveTeam's advising model, which focuses on guiding donors through a reflective process to develop a charitable mission statement aligned with their values. Additionally, the team assists in structuring financial strategies and presents nonprofit options based on donors' priorities. By addressing the challenges donors face in strategic giving, GiveTeam aims to empower them to make more informed and impactful philanthropic decisions. The discussion emphasizes the importance of ongoing engagement and stewardship post-donation. Andrews underscores the need for nonprofits to maintain regular communication with donors, providing updates on how their contributions are making a difference. This approach not only fosters stronger donor relationships but also encourages continued support and potentially increased giving over time. Through thoughtful reflection, personalized advising, and effective stewardship, GiveTeam seeks to maximize the philanthropic impact of donors in the top 2 to 10% bracket.

Fundraising Campaigns: For The Right Reason Feb 11, 2024

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In this episode of the First Day Podcast, host Bill Stanczykiewicz, Ed.D. is joined by Gene Tempel, Ed.D. to discuss the foundational aspects that drive the success of nonprofit fundraising efforts. Central to the discussion is the concept of the "case for support," which underscores the necessity for nonprofits to articulate a clear and compelling rationale for their fundraising initiatives. This rationale is not just a narrative but a strategic alignment of the organization's mission with societal needs, serving as the cornerstone for both annual and capital campaigns. The emphasis is on the importance of this case for support, especially in capital campaigns, where the urgency and scope of fundraising are magnified to meet specific organizational expansions, such as new facilities or equipment, which directly address pressing societal needs. The conversation broadens the understanding of capital campaigns, challenging the notion that they are exclusive to large entities like universities or hospitals. It is argued that capital campaigns are a viable strategy for nonprofits of all sizes, including local theaters and homeless shelters, all of which may require significant resources to expand their services or infrastructure. This inclusivity highlights the versatility of capital campaigns as a tool for organizational growth across the nonprofit sector. The dialogue underscores the importance of strategic vision in these endeavors, positing that a forward-looking perspective, one that promises an improvement over the present state, is critical in mobilizing donor support and achieving the campaign's objectives. The podcast also addresses common pitfalls and misguided motivations that can derail fundraising campaigns, such as initiating a campaign based on envy or a perceived need to match the efforts of others without a solid case for support. Such motivations risk the credibility and effectiveness of the campaign, underscoring the need for a well-founded rationale rooted in the organization's mission and societal contributions. Moreover, the episode illuminates the broader impacts of successful campaigns, beyond financial achievements, highlighting how they can energize stakeholders, enhance the public image of the nonprofit, and lay a solid foundation for future growth and impact. This comprehensive discussion offers valuable insights into the strategic planning and execution of fundraising campaigns, emphasizing their critical role in enabling nonprofits to fulfill their missions and address societal needs effectively.

Fundraising When Leadership Changes Feb 04, 2024

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In this episode of the First Day Podcast, host Bill Stanczykiewicz, Ed.D. is joined by Gasby Brown. They explore the critical topic of succession planning in the realm of fundraising. The discussion centers on the challenges organizations face when key leaders, such as the chief executive officer or chief development officer, depart, leaving behind important donor relationships. The central theme is how to ensure a smooth transition and maintain fundraising efforts during leadership changes. Gasby Brown emphasizes that succession planning should be a proactive and strategic process, not a reactive replacement of leaders. It involves identifying and nurturing potential leaders from within the organization, ensuring a strong bench of capable individuals who can step up when needed. Brown also stresses the importance of ethical practices, emphasizing that donors support the mission of the organization, not individual leaders. She recommends sharing donor information with the team and introducing them to donors during the transition to foster a sense of team spirit. Inclusive leadership, where leaders involve their teams in decision-making and empower others, is highlighted as a key element in ensuring the organization's continuity and strength after a leader departs. The podcast underscores the ethical responsibility of leaders to develop successors and to focus on the greater mission of fundraising and philanthropy. Overall, it provides valuable insights into the importance of succession planning and maintaining donor relationships during leadership transitions in the nonprofit sector.

Hispanics And Philanthropy Jan 28, 2024

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In this episode of the First Day Podcast, host Bill Stanczykiewicz, Ed.D. is joined by Hilda Vega, Deputy Vice President, Philanthropic Practice. The organization, celebrating its 40th anniversary, commissioned a significant study through the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. The study, titled "Latinx Philanthropy: Understanding Generosity Trends Across Latinx Communities in the United States," aimed to refresh and deepen the understanding of Latino donors' roles in philanthropy. This comprehensive study was designed to answer frequent questions about the philanthropic behaviors and challenges of Latinx communities and to contribute to the broader understanding of philanthropy's diversity and evolution. The study brought to light several critical findings about Latinx philanthropy. It revealed that Latinx donors, like donors across the U.S., often give based on their values, family connections, and community needs. The research provided a unique blend of quantitative data and qualitative insights from focus groups, highlighting long-term trends in Latinx giving. Interestingly, it showed that Latinx giving mirrors broader U.S. trends, with a strong emphasis on family and community investment. However, the study also pointed out challenges, such as a decline in institutional trust and economic changes post-pandemic. Notably, the role of peer-to-peer giving, mutual aid, and remittances were underscored as significant aspects of Latinx philanthropy, with remittances playing a vital role in supporting entire communities in the donors' countries of origin. The episode also looked into the implications of these findings for fundraisers and the importance of inclusivity in philanthropic efforts. As the Latinx population continues to grow and diversify within the U.S., understanding these trends is crucial for fundraisers, particularly those from different ethnic backgrounds. The study highlights the necessity for fundraisers to build genuine relationships with donors, understand their interests, and include Latinx communities in their efforts. The research indicates that as Latinx individuals establish themselves longer in the U.S., their capacity to donate increases. This generational and residency duration factor is essential for understanding donor behavior. The episode concludes with a call for more inclusive fundraising practices that recognize the unique and evolving role of Latinx donors in philanthropy.

Storytelling For Diverse Fundraising Jan 22, 2024

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In this episode of the First Day Podcast, host Bill Stanczykiewicz, Ed.D. is joined by Nikole Collins-Puri, former CEO and current adviser to Techbridge Girls, to discuss the pivotal role of storytelling in the realm of fundraising. Nikole, recognized as a leader in the philanthropic sector, provides insight into Techbridge Girls, a nonprofit with a 25-year history, dedicated to empowering black and brown girls in STEM education. The episode emphasizes while facts and numbers have their place in conveying impact, storytelling is equally vital for advancing an organization's mission, amplifying its message, and securing the resources needed to bring about societal transformation. Nikole elaborates on Techbridge Girls' deliberate approach to collecting and organizing stories in a systematic "story bank" that includes categorization with keywords. This enables them to retrieve and share compelling stories tailored to different audiences, including donors, partners, and educators, to reinforce specific messages and goals. The organization's strategy involves training its entire staff to contribute to the story bank, ensuring that stories are gathered from various sources and channels. The podcast sheds light on the pragmatic use of Dropbox for this purpose, dispelling the notion that sophisticated, expensive tools are necessary for effective storytelling in nonprofits. Nikole highlights an equity issue in the nonprofit sector, emphasizing that stories hold cultural significance and offer a more inclusive perspective on impact, particularly in communities of color. She advocates for a broader recognition of storytelling alongside quantitative data as a valid and meaningful way to measure impact. Her advice to nonprofits seeking to establish their own story bank is refreshingly straightforward: don't overthink it; stories are everywhere, and it's crucial to capture them in whatever way possible to share the transformative work being done. This podcast episode not only underscores the importance of storytelling in fundraising but also provides practical insights on how nonprofits can implement a storytelling strategy to advance their missions and foster engagement with their supporters.

KPIs and other Measurement Metrics for Fundraisers Jan 14, 2024

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In this episode of the First Day Podcast, host Bill Stanczykiewicz, Ed.D. is joined by Muhi Khwaja, MPA, CFRE, CFRM, co-founder of the American Muslim Community Foundation (AMCF), discusses the organization's role and growth since its inception in 2017. With over $8.6 million in assets, AMCF operates numerous donor-advised funds and endowments, serving as a pivotal national platform for supporting the Muslim community in the United States. The Foundation's unique approach integrates Islamic charitable practices, like zakat, with modern philanthropy, thereby aligning donors' faith with their philanthropic endeavors. The episode emphasizes the crucial role of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) in assessing and enhancing fundraising effectiveness. KPIs serve as vital tools for predicting future performance and evaluating past results. Specific metrics like year-over-year donor retention are highlighted, showcasing their importance in setting accurate and informed fundraising goals. The conversation underscores the necessity for organizations to strike a balance between tracking these metrics and maintaining strong, personal donor relationships, a challenge that is often faced in the nonprofit sector. Addressing nonprofits at various stages of development, the episode provides practical guidance on setting up systems to track KPIs. For organizations with adequate resources, investing in Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems is recommended to efficiently manage donor data and fundraising activities. For those with limited budgets, simpler methods such as Excel spreadsheets are suggested. The key is to focus on essential metrics like cost per dollar raised and fundraising return on investment, ensuring a strategic and data-driven approach to donor management and fundraising activities.

Fundraising for the New Year Jan 07, 2024

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In this episode of the First Day Podcast, host Bill Stanczykiewicz, Ed.D., shares his thoughts on fundraising prospects for 2024. He begins by reflecting on the resilience of the United States' economy in 2023, despite earlier fears of a recession. This robust economic performance bodes well for fundraising efforts in the upcoming year, as it suggests that potential donors may have more disposable income to contribute. Stanczykiewicz also discusses factors like inflation and consumer spending, highlighting that inflation rates have been steadily decreasing, relieving some of the pressure on charitable giving. Furthermore, he points out the strength in consumer spending, as demonstrated by significant increases during events like Cyber Monday. These positive economic indicators collectively paint a promising picture for fundraising organizations aiming to secure donations in 2024. The podcast episode underscores the importance of donor relationships, emphasizing that fostering and maintaining strong connections with supporters is crucial for successful fundraising. To this end, the fundraising school is adding more curriculum on donor stewardship to reinforce this key principle. Additionally, Stanczykiewicz touches on the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in fundraising, as it continues to evolve rapidly, helping automate various operational tasks and allowing fundraisers more time to engage with donors. Lastly, the episode highlights the historical trend that charitable giving tends to increase during presidential election years, dispelling concerns that political campaign donations might negatively impact charitable contributions. Listeners can benefit from Stanczykiewicz's deep insights into the economic landscape and its implications for fundraising in 2024, along with valuable advice on maintaining strong donor relationships and leveraging AI for more efficient fundraising efforts.

Fundraising Wisdom Dec 18, 2023

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In this episode of the First Day Podcast, host Bill Stanczykiewicz, Ed.D. is joined by Mark Wilhelm, Ph.D., professor of philanthropic studies at the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, to distill over two decades of research into the world of philanthropy and fundraising. The discussion centers on the multifaceted motives that drive individuals to contribute to charitable causes. Mark identifies two primary categories of motives: collective motives, where people engage in philanthropy to create a collective product for the greater good, and private benefit motives, which encompass personal feelings of duty, satisfaction, or self-improvement. This categorization underscores the importance of recognizing the unique motivations of donors. The conversation looks at the dynamic nature of charitable giving, challenging the notion of a static donor base. Mark emphasizes that donor behaviors can change over time, and fundraisers should focus on transitioning occasional donors into regular contributors. He likens fundraising to a dynamic motion picture, urging fundraisers to adapt to evolving donor motives and behaviors. To effectively engage donors, the podcast suggests a personalized approach. Rather than crafting generic messages that attempt to address all possible motivations, fundraisers are encouraged to tailor their appeals to align with individual donor motives. This nuanced understanding of donors can lead to more effective and resonant fundraising efforts. Fundraisers are reminded that their work requires discernment and leadership in navigating the complexity of donor motivations.

Stories Of Faith And Generosity Dec 11, 2023

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In this episode of the First Day Podcast, host Bill Stanczykiewicz, Ed.D. is joined by Elizabeth Lynn, the Project Director for the Lake Institute on Faith and Giving at Indiana University's Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. The discussion centers on the dynamic relationship between faith and philanthropy. The Lake Institute's primary focus is to explore how faith commitments and values inform charitable giving and how these patterns of giving shape both faith communities and broader societal actions. Elizabeth explains the Lake Institute conducts research, supports other organizations in their research efforts, and offers educational programs aimed at helping leaders engage their constituents in faithful giving and generosity. They recognize the evolving nature of faith and giving, with many religious institutions rethinking how they utilize their resources, including property and endowments. To address this, they have launched the "Story Shelf," an online resource library containing stories of faith communities reimagining their resources, forging new partnerships, and engaging in creative acts of generosity. These stories serve as inspirational tools for religious leaders to spark imagination and foster discussions on how they can align their resources with their values. The podcast also touches on various stories available on the Story Shelf, such as a Lutheran congregation in Washington, D.C., partnering with a Jewish congregation to share their space and an Episcopal Church in Cincinnati using part of its endowment to support local social entrepreneurs. These real-life examples showcase how faith communities are adapting to changing circumstances and aligning their resources with their values. The Lake Institute's Story Shelf is a valuable resource for religious congregations and organizations seeking inspiration and new approaches to philanthropy and generosity. To access these stories and learn more about the Lake Institute's work, you can visit their website at https://philanthropy.iupui.edu/institutes/lake-institute/index.html.

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