First Day Podcast

In this episode of The First Day from The Fund Raising School, host Bill Stanczykiewicz, Ed.D., digs into the booming world of artificial intelligence and what its rapid rise might mean for your fundraising future. Bill highlights the many ways AI is already helping fundraisers: writing donor letters, prepping for meetings, and identifying potential major donors; all with greater efficiency and effectiveness. He shares real-life examples from colleagues like Travis Tester and Andy Price, who are saving hours of prep time each week, allowing them to meet with significantly more donors and deepen relationships.

But while the AI-powered present looks promising, Bill turns our gaze toward a looming challenge: the potential financial instability behind AI’s rapid expansion. Drawing on historical parallels like the railroad boom, the 1929 crash, the dot-com bubble, and the housing crisis, Bill warns that the current pattern of over-investment in AI, particularly in data centers and tech infrastructure, could lead to another economic downturn. High debt, investor expectations, and revenue shortfalls are forming a familiar and risky cocktail. And if AI financing collapses, the ripple effect could reach nonprofits everywhere.

What does this mean for fundraisers? Bill reminds us that recessions tend to dampen charitable giving, not dramatically on average, but enough to warrant strategic planning. Different sectors feel the impact differently: human services often hold steady or rise, while the arts may see sharp declines. He encourages organizations to review their operating reserves and endowments, consult with financial advisors, and engage their boards in proactive scenario planning. Whether the market soars, stalls, or stumbles, it pays to be ready.

As always, Bill centers the core truth: giving is driven by donor values and passion. But the “wealth effect,” how much and when people give, is shaped by the broader economy. So yes, keep watching those economic indicators, but don’t lose sight of your mission.

In this episode of The First Day from The Fund Raising School, host Bill Stanczykiewicz, Ed.D., sits down with sits down with A.J. Steinberg, CFRE, CEO of Queen Bee Fundraising and certified nonprofit rockstar, to talk about the not-so-small challenge of engaging Millennials and Gen Z as donors, volunteers, and board members. AJ opens with a truth bomb: nonprofits have talked about multi-generational giving for decades, but fear of change has kept many stuck in their ways. Older generations may be clinging to legacy and routine, but younger folks want impact and involvement.

A.J. brings the empathy and the strategy. Her secret weapon? Creating cross-generational task forces with influential voices from each age group to spark collaboration and build relationships. It's not about token seats at the gala table, it’s about co-creating something new. And speaking of galas, Steinberg makes it crystal clear: Gen Z doesn’t want to dress up for rubber chicken. Let them lead their own events and watch engagement soar. As A.J. says, Millennials and Gen Z aren’t disengaged, they just engage differently. Give them space to create, and they’ll show up, selfies and all.

But where do you find these elusive next-gen leaders? A.J. suggests you start by looking under your nose; your volunteer list and your staff. If you’re a smaller nonprofit, even better: there’s less red tape and more room to innovate. And if you’re lucky enough to have Millennial or Gen Z staff already on board, ask them who else might care about your mission. Gen Z wants to serve causes, not just organizations; so your mission better be front and center.

A.J. reminds us that attracting younger generations isn’t just a “nice to have,” it’s a matter of survival. Be clear, be inclusive, and let your mission shine through the noise. Legacy giving? That starts younger than you think, with 55 being the average age people start thinking about it. So don’t wait. Be intentional, be open-minded, and remember, t’s your impact that’ll keep them coming back.

In this episode of The First Day from The Fund Raising School, host Bill Stanczykiewicz, Ed.D., rings in the new year with a bang, and a tax code, diving headfirst into the new federal tax policies that officially took effect on January 1, 2026. While the legislation passed in mid-2025, the real fireworks are just starting for fundraisers. Bill breaks it all down, starting with the triumphant return of the Universal Charitable Deduction (UCD), now juiced up to $1,000 for individuals and $2,000 for joint filers. That’s right: even if your donors don’t itemize, they can still get tax credit for their generosity.

The new policy also brings in the “ceiling and floor.” High-income donors can now only itemize at the 35% rate, and folks outside that bracket can't deduct the first 0.5% of their adjusted gross income. Sound confusing? Maybe. But Bill reassures fundraisers: unless your donor database is loaded with ultra-wealthy supporters, this might not move the needle much. Still, if you're courting those high-capacity givers, these changes are worth a donor-friendly conversation.

Speaking of deductions, the SALT (State And Local Taxes) cap got a spicy upgrade too, up from $10,000 to $40,000. That’s a potential game-changer for itemization and, by extension, charitable giving. While taxes are never the main motivator for giving, they do play a supporting role in the drama of generosity. More itemizers = more donors who might feel nudged to give, or give more. Fundraisers, your mission is to weave this into donor conversations with a healthy dose of donor appreciation and mission alignment.

The biggest “will-they-won’t-they” question hangs over the business sector. New rules make the first 1% of pre-tax profit donations non-deductible, since businesses typically give 1%. But before anyone panics, Bill reminds us: business giving isn’t just about tax perks. It’s about government relations, employee morale, community goodwill, and, of course, good ol' fashioned marketing. The four R’s: regulations, retention, reputation, and ROI aren’t going away. If a business hints at cutting donations, maybe it’s time to pivot: is your partnership a charitable gift or a marketing opportunity? IRS Publication 513 can help you draw the line. So cue the confetti, fundraisers; new year, new tax rules, and new reasons to stay connected, adaptable, and mission-driven.

In this episode of The First Day from The Fund Raising School, host Bill Stanczykiewicz, Ed.D., sits down with Nicholas Kristock, Executive Director of Fleece & Thank You, to talk about how storytelling isn’t just an art, it’s a survival skill for nonprofits in the age of distraction. Nicholas shares how his blanket-making nonprofit went from a heartfelt request by his twin sister into a statewide movement that delivers 30,000 personalized blankets each year to pediatric patients in Michigan. But these aren’t your grandma’s quilts; each one includes a video message from the blanket maker to the child, creating a full-circle moment of warmth, gratitude, and healing.

Nicholas dives deep into the neuroscience of donor engagement and explains why breaking the script is essential if you want your message to actually make it past someone’s mental gatekeeper. Forget “Your donation helped buy 2,847 books,” we’re talking vivid, goosebump-inducing stories like a child giggling through Charlotte’s Web for the very first time. The key, he says, is connecting the gift not just to impact, but to outcomes. It’s not just about giving Miguel spaghetti, it’s about how that meal helped his mother overcome her pride and feed her family. Now that’s how you make a donor feel like a superhero.

At Fleece & Thank You, personalization is baked into the DNA, not just for recipients, but for donors too. With only four full-time staff, they’ve built a tech-savvy storytelling engine that responds to donor behavior with laser precision. Whether through text, email, or an old-fashioned phone call, Nicholas emphasizes knocking on every door until you find the one your donor opens. Enter: the “Donor SWAT Outreach Team,” a genius low-cost, high-impact engagement strategy that enlists board members and volunteers to deliver heartfelt thank-you calls and share fresh weekly stories. It’s board engagement, donor retention, and warm fuzzies, all rolled into one.

So what’s the result of this storytelling symphony? Fleece & Thank You has more than tripled its revenue since 2020 without significantly expanding its staff. The secret sauce: a donor journey mapped like a Plinko board, where every click, gift, and volunteer hour triggers a personalized path. Nicholas leaves us with two takeaways: build your donor SWAT team and dig deep for your true outcomes. Because sometimes, it’s not just about a blanket, it’s about giving hope to a child on the starting line of a race they never signed up for. And that, friends, is a story worth telling.

In this episode of The First Day from The Fund Raising School, host Bill Stanczykiewicz, Ed.D., is joined by Martin Georgi, Board Chair of the German Fundraising Association, to explore the powerful partnership between board chairs and CEOs, and how that dynamic drives better fundraising results. Martin, with a resume that spans continents and causes, shares how rebuilding trust, clarifying mission, and hiring the right CEO transformed a once-floundering organization into a thriving hub for philanthropic progress. As he puts it, “It’s not just about fundraising. It’s about changing society.”

Turns out, being a great fundraiser doesn’t automatically make someone a great board member, or CEO. Martin walks us through the German Fundraising Association’s early struggles with infighting and low-impact leadership, and how a shared purpose among new board members sparked a cultural shift. At the heart of it all was alignment with the CEO. It wasn’t about agreeing on everything, but about agreeing on what matters: passion for the mission, mutual respect, and clear communication. From WhatsApp check-ins to well-prepared agendas, Martin and Association leadership show what real teamwork looks like.

And the secret ingredient? Diversity of thought, age, gender, background, and experience. Martin emphasizes that strong boards aren’t built by cloning skill sets, but by curating contrasts. He also reminds us that leading isn’t barking orders, it’s asking the right questions. “Not everyone is good at everything,” he says. “Even great CEOs need support.” That’s why this collaborative model isn’t just more pleasant, it’s more effective. Regular touchpoints, transparency, and trust create the kind of culture where even the hard conversations lead to forward motion.

So what does all this mean for fundraising? A well-oiled board-CEO relationship creates confidence, and confidence unlocks generosity. Martin shares how they launched new giving streams, including a fund to help young professionals attend their first conference. And yes, the board leads by example, every member contributes. Because if you want others to give, the call starts at home. With wisdom, warmth, and just the right amount of tea, Martin reminds us that whether you're in Indiana or in Berlin, good governance isn’t about power, it’s about partnership.

In this episode of The First Day from The Fundraising School, host Bill Stanczykiewicz, Ed.D., is joined by the philanthropic powerhouse himself, Gene Tempel, Ed.D., Dean Emeritus and founding father of the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. Together, they dive headfirst into a question that keeps many nonprofit leaders up at night: “Is this a bad time to launch a capital campaign?” The answer? Well, let’s just say it’s complicated, but not impossible. Gene reminds us that before we start counting pledges, we’ve got to answer the most basic question: What’s the compelling case for support? It’s not about shinier buildings or more vans, it's about fulfilling the mission and addressing urgent needs in society.

Now, if you’re waiting for a perfect economy, spoiler alert: you’ll be waiting a long time. From the energy crisis to the Great Recession to COVID, Gene’s seen it all, and fundraisers kept fundraising. Instead of running from uncertainty, nonprofits should focus on preparation. That means digging into the test for readiness, planning like it’s a chess game (hello, “what-if” scenarios), and launching feasibility studies that give donors the mic. Because, as Gene points out, “not everyone is affected the same way” in tough times. Some donors are doing just fine and may even be more ready to give than you think.

Gene takes us inside the anatomy of a capital campaign and zeroes in on the often-forgotten “middle of the gift range chart,” the fundraising Bermuda Triangle. We know our biggest donors. We love our annual givers. But what about those $2,000 donors who could be cultivated into $25,000 champions? “That’s where it breaks down,” Gene says. Building systems to engage mid-level donors isn’t just smart, it’s essential. It’s also okay to fail the readiness test, pause a campaign, or renegotiate pledge timelines. Flexibility is not a weakness. It’s leadership.

Gene offers some pop-culture perspective: as Billy Joel once sang, “We didn’t start the fire,” and neither did you. History is full of crises, but capital campaigns still thrive. “If you have a compelling case, urgency, internal readiness, and donor validation,” Gene says, “then go forward.” And if things go sideways? Adjust, adapt, and keep your eyes on the mission. Because fundraising isn’t just about money, it’s about movement. And thanks to legends like Dr. Tempel, this movement’s got a playbook for every season.

In this episode of The First Day from The Fund Raising School, host Bill Stanczykiewicz, Ed.D., is joined by Darian Rodriguez Heyman and Cheryl Contee, MBA, co-authors of AI for Nonprofits: Putting Artificial Intelligence to Work for Your Cause, to demystify what artificial intelligence means for the social sector. Spoiler alert: it’s not a robot apocalypse, it’s an efficiency revolution. From donor research to budgeting, from strategic planning to personalized thank-you letters, AI isn’t just the future, it’s already on your desktop. As Darian puts it, AI is “the new electricity,” and when responsibly leveraged, it can energize every part of your mission.

But hold on to your server, there’s some fear in the air. Cheryl addresses common anxieties head-on, including worries about job loss, high costs, or that AI will take over the planet (or at least the inbox). Her response? “Sweetie, honey, baby… AI is already here.” And you’re probably already using it: think email filters, scheduling tools, and CRMs. The goal isn’t to replace humans; it’s to give them more time to do the human stuff, like building relationships and earning trust. With countless low-cost and free tools available, Cheryl argues that AI offers a chance to double your capacity, without doubling your payroll.

Of course, with great power comes great responsibility. Darian dives into the very real concerns about data privacy, accuracy, and inclusion. Whether it’s protecting donor information or acknowledging AI’s occasional habit of confidently making things up, the solution is human oversight and intentional design. He encourages nonprofits to build custom AI tools trained on their organization’s mission and voice, emphasizing that AI should always serve the people, never replace them. And while the tech is exciting, it’s not the hero of the story. The beneficiaries are. Always.

So what now? Cheryl and Darian offer a roadmap for using AI to raise more money, increase impact, and reconnect with supporters. From segmenting donors to boosting grantwriting, automating admin tasks to predicting major gift readiness, AI can help you do more with less, if you’re willing to learn the tools and keep your mission front and center. Because at the end of the day, AI doesn’t understand hunger or homelessness or the power of live theater. But you do. And now, with a little robot backup, you just might have the time to answer all those emails.

In this retention-minded, myth-busting episode of The First Day from The Fund Raising School, host Bill Stanczykiewicz, Ed.D., sits down with Erica Dollhopf, PhD, Associate Director of Research at the Lake Institute on Faith & Giving, to explore what hybrid work really means for fundraising outcomes. Spoiler alert: it's not the productivity killer some fear, it might just be a revenue booster.

Dr. Dollhopf shares findings from a recent study that analyzed frontline fundraiser performance based on office attendance policies. While conventional wisdom suggests “more time in the office = better results,” the data tell a different story. More required office time did increase donor contacts, but for key metrics like solicitations, closes, and dollars raised, fewer in-office days and more experience proved to be the winning combo.

The implications are clear: rigid attendance policies may be outdated, especially in a profession where 75% of the workforce identifies as women, and hybrid flexibility is now a make-or-break factor in retention. With longevity at an institution showing a direct link to fundraising results, allowing autonomy isn’t just a benefit, it’s a strategy for maximizing giving.

So what now? Dr. Dollhopf encourages fundraisers to use these findings to advocate for flexibility and support. For organizational leaders, the takeaways are actionable: invest in tech, nurture mentorship in hybrid settings, and be intentional about building culture, even if it’s over Zoom. Because when fundraisers are trusted, supported, and retained, giving goes up.

In this donor-focused, data-packed episode of The First Day from The Fund Raising School, host Bill Stanczykiewicz, Ed.D. is joined by Jon Bergdoll, Interim Director of Data and Research Partnerships at Indiana University's Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, to break down the latest findings from the 2023 Bank of America Study of High Net-Worth Philanthropy. Now in its 20th year, the report offers a close-up on the giving habits of households with $1M+ in investable assets or incomes over $200,000.

The numbers tell a nuanced story. While total dollars donated by high-net-worth households remain strong, the percentage of those households giving annually is slipping, a continuation of the “donors down, dollars up” trend seen in the broader population. Volunteering, meanwhile, is bouncing back post-pandemic, now at 43% (up from a 2020 low of 30%) but still below pre-2020 levels. These donors continue to prioritize religion, education, and human services, and they’re increasingly aligning their financial choices, spending and giving alike, with their values.

Local impact matters. Over 70% of high-net-worth donors report giving to causes in their own communities, compared to 32% giving nationally and just 13% internationally. Spontaneity still plays a role, roughly 85% of donors say they sometimes or always give when asked or in response to emerging needs, but effectiveness is key. Donors want to know their gifts are making a difference. Use of giving vehicles like donor-advised funds, private foundations, and IRA distributions is slowly rising, with nearly 1 in 5 affluent households now leveraging at least one structured giving mechanism.

This year’s report also introduces five philanthropic identities: Steadfast Supporters, Devout Donors, Entrepreneurs, Changemakers, and Philanthropic Experts. These profiles offer fundraisers a practical way to understand donor motivations and tailor outreach accordingly.

In this data-rich, globally-minded episode of The First Day from The Fund Raising School, host Bill Stanczykiewicz, Ed.D. is joined by researchers Dana Doan, PhD and Afshan Paarlberg, JD to explore the newly released Global Philanthropy Environment Index (GPEI). With contributions from over 170 experts across 95 countries, the GPEI paints a detailed picture of the philanthropic landscape in 15 regions worldwide. Whether you're fundraising in Frankfurt or building a donor base in Barbados, the GPEI offers insight into how policies, tax incentives, socio-cultural dynamics, and cross-border regulations impact your ability to raise funds, and why local context is everything.

The GPEI isn’t just a static report, it’s a dynamic toolkit. Dana and Afshan emphasize that the Index is designed to support both policy and practice. It measures six key factors, including the ease of operating a nonprofit, tax incentives for donors, cross-border flows of philanthropy, and the socio-political environment. Want to know what makes it hard to fundraise in one country and easier in another? The GPEI breaks it down, region by region, and even offers expert recommendations for improvement. As Dana puts it, it’s not just about understanding your own environment, it’s about being inspired by what’s working elsewhere.

Globally, the report reveals two major trends. First, the good news: cultural and social support for giving remains strong across nearly every region. Generosity is alive and well. The not-so-good news? Cross-border philanthropic flows are tightening, in part due to anti-money laundering regulations and concerns about foreign influence. Meanwhile, tax incentive structures vary wildly, even among neighboring countries, leading to uneven conditions for charitable giving. The report also dives into lasting post-COVID trends and rising priorities like climate philanthropy, offering a timely lens into what’s next for fundraisers and policymakers alike.

And it’s not just theory, it’s practice. From new platforms in Africa and Asia to transnational giving initiatives in Europe, the GPEI is already shaping action on the ground. Fundraisers across the globe are using it to make the case for improved infrastructure, smarter regulations, and stronger domestic giving. As Afshan shares, the Index is built on local expertise to ensure every score has context and credibility. Whether you're navigating political shifts or trying to unlock new donor channels, this episode delivers the tools, and the global perspective, to help philanthropy thrive wherever you call home.