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.

Learning from Failure by The Fund Raising School

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.

Developing Digital Fundraising Strategies by The Fund Raising School

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.

Dr. Pamala Wiepking discusses various approaches to understanding the motivations of individual donors, such as the eight mechanisms of charitable giving and the "Taste of Charity" model. By understanding a potential donor's lived experience and motivations for giving, fundraisers can develop a deeper relationship with them by personalizing communication and engaging with them according to their interests and preferences. This intentional process requires knowledge and understanding of individual donors to create conversations that get them excited about the fundraising process.

Nathan Stelter, the chair of the board of the National Association of Charitable Gift Planners (CGP), discussed the recently issued Standards which provide guidance for planned gift fundraising. The Standards, organized into three categories, outline the importance of leadership buy-in and sustainable program-building, realistic assessments of an organization’s ability and capacity to execute the program, and incorporating a donor-centric approach to planned giving donors. Stelter recommends keeping planned giving simple and realistic, understanding the donor's perspective, and treating them like family when it comes to planning a transformational gift. The National Standards for Gift Planning Success provide a framework for organizations to assess their current strategies and identify potential areas for growth in planned giving.

Bobby Donahue and Katie Duranick Stewart discuss the importance of special events in fundraising and how they fit into the overall plan of a nonprofit organization. They suggest deciding ahead of time what the organization wants to achieve from the event and building consensus among all members of the team. The hosts emphasize not treating special events as separate projects, but incorporating them into the organization's annual plan by evaluating them, following up with key donors, and engaging non-donors. They also stress the need for events to align with the organization's mission and being unique enough to excite attendees and the crucial need for follow-up after events to ensure support for the nonprofit.

Andrew Hibel discusses the role of technology in planned giving. He notes that technology has allowed for easier access to information and resources, making it easier than ever for people to learn about planned giving. Hibel also stresses the importance of using technology to streamline the planned giving process and make it as easy as possible for donors. He suggests using online platforms and tools, such as planned giving calculators, to help donors navigate the process. However, Hibel also notes that technology should never replace the personal touch of a one-on-one conversation between a fundraiser and a donor.

Dr. Sarah Nathan stresses the importance of annual giving programs in fostering relationships, raising unrestricted gifts, and enabling operational flexibility for nonprofit organizations. She emphasizes that gifts of all amounts are significant and that fundraisers must embrace inclusivity while designing annual fund programs. Key planning tools such as gift range charts, donor retention calculators, and donor measurement tools can help fundraisers optimize their strategies. Dr. Nathan also highlights the need for building and maintaining strong relationships with donors, especially during times of crisis such as the pandemic when small gifts can have a substantial impact.