In this episode of the First Day Podcast, host Bill Stanczykiewicz, Ed.D., shares his thoughts on fundraising prospects for 2024. He begins by reflecting on the resilience of the United States' economy in 2023, despite earlier fears of a recession. This robust economic performance bodes well for fundraising efforts in the upcoming year, as it suggests that potential donors may have more disposable income to contribute.

Stanczykiewicz also discusses factors like inflation and consumer spending, highlighting that inflation rates have been steadily decreasing, relieving some of the pressure on charitable giving. Furthermore, he points out the strength in consumer spending, as demonstrated by significant increases during events like Cyber Monday. These positive economic indicators collectively paint a promising picture for fundraising organizations aiming to secure donations in 2024.

The podcast episode underscores the importance of donor relationships, emphasizing that fostering and maintaining strong connections with supporters is crucial for successful fundraising. To this end, the fundraising school is adding more curriculum on donor stewardship to reinforce this key principle. Additionally, Stanczykiewicz touches on the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in fundraising, as it continues to evolve rapidly, helping automate various operational tasks and allowing fundraisers more time to engage with donors. Lastly, the episode highlights the historical trend that charitable giving tends to increase during presidential election years, dispelling concerns that political campaign donations might negatively impact charitable contributions.

Listeners can benefit from Stanczykiewicz's deep insights into the economic landscape and its implications for fundraising in 2024, along with valuable advice on maintaining strong donor relationships and leveraging AI for more efficient fundraising efforts.