One of the most frequent topics of conversation amongst fundraisers is how to meaningfully engage their board members in the fund development activities of their organization. Ali & Marie invite fellow Legacy of Generosity co-host and nonprofit consultant, Kristi Ackley, to share her insights and strategies to coach board members and help them capitalize on their own strengths and interests for a greater impact on the organization. She covers the major barriers board members have in participating and ways to overcome those barriers. She also shares how she uses Kay Sprinkel Grace's AAA model to assess boards and find the right fit for them in the donor development cycle. If you're looking for some new ideas on how to inspire your board to be more active in your fund development efforts, you don't want to miss this episode! 

In this episode we'll talk about how Minnesota’s nonprofit sector continues to navigate a world still grappling with the impacts of COVID-19, reckoning with systemic racism, economic challenges and changes in charitable giving, threats to democracy, and more. In this podcast, the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits (MCN)’s associate director Kari Aanestad shares insights, highlights, and lowlights with regard to how the nonprofit sector is faring and what could be ahead for nonprofits and the communities they serve in the coming years.

Before stepping into the associate director role in August 2021, Kari served as MCN’s director of advancement where she provided leadership to MCN’s fundraising efforts, responsive research, and philanthropic reform initiatives.

Overall, 33% of U.S. adults have a will, according to Caring.com’s 2021 wills and estate planning survey. Meanwhile, 27.5% of Black Americans have one, up from 25.9% in 2020. According to legalzoom.com Estate Planning Statistics, “the COVID-19 pandemic has increased the number of people who have created a will or estate plan, but most Americans still remain without.” Some might consider this a state of emergency, but for those in fundraising and planning professions, it is an opportunity.

Learn from Patrick Schmitt of FreeWill on how your nonprofit can lean into this month's theme and utilize FreeWill's platform to bring in more legacy commitments that support your mission. Patrick also shares stats about millennial wealth, forecast on planned gifts and the rise in crypto giving. Get some great talking points in this episode!

This episode's co-hosts are Ali Schneider, Animal Humane Society and Kristi Ackley, Fair Winds Consulting. To learn more about FreeWill, visit their website: https://www.freewill.com/

As a fundraiser you are likely pulled in a million directions, have competing priorities and a to do list that never ends. And in a time when the economy is struggling and uncertainty is growing, the pressure on you to raise funds is likely heightened. So, mastering the art of time management could be critical to reduce stress, gain a happier work/life blending AND maximize impact. In this episode, Ali & Kristi are joined by Tammy Moore of Being Moore to discuss practical approaches to better time management. While we give some focus to the unique struggles fund development professionals face, this episode will provide tools and approaches to improve your time management skills regardless of your professional role.

Tammy is the founder of Being Moore - a marketing and communications consultancy. She is a passionate storyteller, nonprofit supporter and fundraising messenger. Connect with her on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tammymooremn/

Join us for this first ever crossover episode with Next in Nonprofits podcast! Steve Boland is the host of that program, "featuring tools, technologies and trends for nonprofit growth." Carl, Kristi & Steve talk about the questions and challenges approaching and supporting large donors in making choices around big gifts to charities. One option would be to create or give to an endowment - earning money for future needs. Another would be to invest in a "big swing" - spending a much larger amount of money all at once to create a larger-scale impact that in turn ripples over time.

Our hosts discuss the conversation with those donors, the focus of nonprofit boards in how to pursue larger-scale gifts, community-centric giving models and much more. We didn't solve all the world's problems in this show, but we sure gave it a shot! 

Join us for a casual conversation about the lessons our guest, Don Hickman from the Initiative Foundation, has learned over his decades of experience working as a program manager and funder in rural Minnesota. We'll talk about the changing landscape, both past and present, and how using shared goals can be the basis for starting the conversation that leads to greater acceptance in small towns that have traditionally been resistant to change. We hope listeners will gain a better understanding of the work being done in rural MN, the different challenges nonprofits experience there and a renewed desire to keep the conversation going. Please note that our hosts, Carl & Kristi, nor our guest, Don, claim to be experts in DEI or the lived experiences of our BIPOC or LGBTQ+ neighbors. We are simply committed to learning and growing and hope this episode will aid others in that same pursuit.

The “Great Resignation” is a reality in the nonprofit world. How is it impacting your organization and your donors, and what can you do to provide a culture that rewards your team and retains their talent? Join Gay & Mark as they discuss strategies with a returning guest, Patrick Kirby!