First Day Podcast

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.

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.

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.

Philanthropy Among Communities of Color by The Fund Raising School

Learning from Failure by The Fund Raising School

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.

Developing Digital Fundraising Strategies 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.

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.