First Day Podcast

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High Net Worth Donors May 07, 2023

Show notes

Dr. Patrick Rooney discusses how high net worth donors give a lot to different types of legal charities, including religious organizations, basic needs, education, social and racial justice, arts and culture, and animal and environmental causes. Additionally, he reveals that upwards of 90-95% of high net worth households donate, with only 9% having formal giving vehicles such as donor advised funds, and 30% volunteer formally through a 501(c)(3). Rooney explains that volunteering can slow mental decay and that charities are more likely to receive gifts from people who volunteer for them. These findings are discussed in Chapter 32 of Achieving Excellence in Fundraising.

Giving Across Generations Apr 23, 2023

Show notes

Dr. Patricia Snell Herzog discusses how understanding philanthropic behavior across the generations is a complex concept due to its intersection between age, life stage, social, and historical factors. It's important to consider the context in which a group was born and major events experienced when coming of age. Fundraisers seeking to engage young people in their organizations need to offer more episodic ways to get involved and focus on the cause rather than the relationship with the organization. Understanding different generations and their philanthropic behaviors is significant, and social actions and event participation can be a great way to engage people.

Women and Philanthropy Apr 23, 2023

Show notes

Jeannie Infante Sager, director of the Women's Philanthropy Institute at Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, explains that women tend to give differently than men and give more across different income, age, and race levels. She highlights that single women are particularly philanthropic and more likely to give generously. Studies show that women are involved in decision-making when it comes to charitable giving in about 80% of households. It is important to include women in all conversations and create collective opportunities for them to participate in campaigns. Fundraisers should engage women donors by providing advocacy, social capital, time, talent, and treasure opportunities. Engaging women donors across these five areas can lead to larger donations, and organizations should encourage women donors to advocate for their causes and endorse them to others.

What Americans Think About Philanthropy and Nonprofits Apr 16, 2023

Show notes

Dr. Chelsea Clark discusses a recent research study that sought to understand Americans' thoughts on philanthropy and nonprofit organizations. The study found that Americans associate charitable giving and volunteering with philanthropy and generally trust nonprofits while considering them transparent, but there is still a need for education to increase awareness of what nonprofits do. The study also showed that philanthropy means different things to different demographics, which may inform how nonprofits and fundraisers approach their messaging. Importantly, every donation, regardless of size, matters and should be connected to the exact impact it will have to help increase awareness and encourage more donations.

Religion and Charitable Giving Apr 09, 2023

Show notes

Dr. David King and Rafia Khader discuss the role of religion in charitable giving, noting that religion is the largest sub-sector of the charitable giving pie in the US, with 27% of donations going to religious organizations. While there have been shifts in religious affiliation patterns, spirituality and values continue to shape and motivate giving, and fundraisers should be attentive to these factors. The speakers also discuss the impact of the pandemic on religious giving and the context of religion in social justice issues. Additionally, they explore the philanthropic activity of the Jewish and Muslim American communities and offer advice on how fundraisers can connect with religious donors for the causes they represent.

Personalizing Your Donor Stewardship Apr 02, 2023

Show notes

Pamela Perkins Dwyer, CFRM, discusses the significance of personalized donor stewardship in fundraising. She believes that listening to the donor, putting yourself in their position with a compassionate attitude, and remembering personal details are vital to building longer and deeper relationships with donors. Dwyer emphasizes the need to show donors how their contribution is used and celebrate their impact. Stewardship should be the starting point, not the end, of the fundraising process to sustain donors' interest and continued support. The goal of stewardship is to demonstrate that every donation matters and encourage future giving.

Philanthropy Among Communities of Color Mar 26, 2023

Show notes

Dr. Una Osili emphasizes the importance of recognizing philanthropy as a vital part of every community, including communities of color, which have deep expertise in addressing community problems. She stresses the need to learn from the traditions of these communities related to philanthropy, which are often overlooked. Dr. Osili notes that both formal and informal giving occurs in communities of color, and mutual aid networks are a vital resource during times of crisis. She explains that while race and ethnicity can impact how people think about giving and the causes that matter to them, the decision to give and the amount given is more heavily influenced by an individual's resources and connections to the cause. To engage more diverse donors, fundraisers need to develop authentic relationships based on trust through deep listening and learning. Finally, the importance of addressing the unique fundraising needs of communities of color and providing tailored training and resources is highlighted.

Learning from Failure Mar 19, 2023

Show notes

Robert Kunzman, a professor of education at Indiana University, believes that learning from failure is crucial for leaders and fundraisers to develop and improve their skills. He emphasizes the importance of feedback, making failure public, and developing skills and habits to analyze and learn from failures. Kunzman also introduces the concept of a pre-mortem analysis, which involves anticipating and analyzing potential failures before they occur. Creating a culture that accepts and manages failure is important as it can help strengthen overall team dynamics and allow leaders to take creative risks without feeling overwhelmed by failure.

Digital Fundraising Strategies Mar 12, 2023

Show notes

Digital fundraising requires a strategic and intentional approach that involves actively engaging with potential donors, sharing valuable content, and building a community. Building relationships, making personal connections and monitoring for future donors are some key ways to succeed in digital fundraising. Additionally, social proof can be an effective tool by quietly seeding early donations before launching a campaign, creating momentum, and encouraging people to donate more frequently and in larger amounts. Utilizing these strategies is important for successful digital fundraising campaigns both during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Fundraising and the Forgiving Leader Mar 05, 2023

Show notes

Josh Birkholz discusses his book with Amy Lampe titled "Benefactors: Why Some Fundraisers Always Succeed," which provides practical advice for fundraisers on thriving in an ecosystem of fundraising that has been affected by advancements in data and technology. The authors discovered through research that leaders who readily shared credit and were collaborative as individual practitioners were more likely to become effective leaders. They also discuss the importance of universal character traits in leadership and how it can lead to better business outcomes, with forgiveness being one of the identified traits. Leaders who create a forgiving environment that encourages innovation and experimentation can increase their team's fundraising ability.

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