Your organization’s mid-level donors are already fueling your mission by giving as much as 10x more than entry-level supporters. These donors are loyal, passionate, and just one intentional moment away from becoming major givers. 

However, these donors often fall through the cracks. With donor acquisition getting harder and more expensive – and retention rates around 43 percent – it’s time to rethink your strategy.

In this episode of the Go Beyond Fundraising podcast, CEO Trent Ricker and VP of Client Success Ryan Carpenter explore how you can unlock the full potential of mid-level donors through smart segmentation, behavioral insights, and tailored engagement. They share how organizations can tap into this powerful donor pool and scale growth with AGP’s Mid-Level Accelerator Program.

Think about an exceptional experience you’ve had with a commercial brand. Did it seem to know precisely what you needed and when you needed it? Did its team go above and beyond to discover what you like for a more customized experience?

Most for-profits do an excellent job of providing a personalized, engaging experience to their customers, who reward them with lifelong loyalty. It’s time for nonprofits to do the same, building heartfelt connections that lead to long-lasting support.

In this episode of the Go Beyond Fundraising podcast, CEO Trent Ricker and VP of Client Success Ryan Carpenter outline why your response to a donor’s first gift is critical. They also share how to welcome new supporters in a way that makes them feel seen, heard, and valued, kicking off a lifelong relationship that’s a win-win for you both.

The challenges have come quickly in 2025, leaving many nonprofits at risk of losing funding. Donors could be impacted, too, amid job loss, tariffs, and inflation. The next step forward may not be obvious, but one thing is clear: this is no time to stand still.

On this episode of the Go Beyond Fundraising podcast, we talk with Allegiance Group + Pursuant CEO Trent Ricker about how nonprofits can navigate the economic and social uncertainty this year has brought. He explains why leaning into this moment is critical to emerge stronger on the other side.

As we learned with COVID and the Great Recession, challenges often reveal opportunities to do things differently. Ask how you can meet this moment for your constituents. Look for ways to build trust and invest in your brand to build lasting donor relationships.

Many nonprofits focus only on digital or direct mail, but you don’t have to choose — nor should you. Donors crave cohesive, consistent experiences across multiple touchpoints, and getting your digital and direct mail efforts in sync can help you deliver.

In this episode of the Go Beyond Fundraising podcast, we’re talking with David Sacchetti, AVP of Client Strategy, about how a direct mail strategy backed by a complementary digital campaign can help solve the myriad challenges today’s fundraisers face. No matter where you are with each channel, David offers actionable advice for leveling up.

We discuss the importance of storytelling across channels to guide donors toward giving, with David sharing the digital trends that fit perfectly into a direct mail–first campaign. We also cover why your fundraising and marketing teams must work together to ensure brand impressions become donations.

The recent sweeping cuts to USAID and other federal programs have rattled fundraisers across the country and in all sectors. Uncertainty is widespread as nonprofit leaders wait to see just what the fallout will be.

Whether your organization was impacted or is anticipating a budget shortfall, scaling back on riskier strategies like acquisition can be tempting. In fact, media spending, testing, and other efforts that help you reach potential donors are often the first things to go. But if you’re not seeking new donors, how will you replace those you lose through natural attrition? What about the ones who have to give less due to their own financial hardships?

In this episode of the Go Beyond Fundraising podcast, we’re making the case for prioritizing acquisition — especially when you’ve been hit with unexpected budget cuts. Two Allegiance Group + Pursuant AVPs, Erin Robertson and J.C. Bouvier, share how you can use this difficult time to attract new prospects. And if the budget crunch hasn’t hit yet, they have tips to help you prepare.

By staying true to your mission and leading into your opportunities, you can weather this storm

Video can bring your nonprofit’s message to life, making it more engaging for donors and other audiences. Finding the right people to communicate your mission doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Creating high-quality, compelling video content may be more straightforward than you expect.

In this episode of the Go Beyond Fundraising podcast, we sit down with Pat Taggart, Founder and Chief Creative at SkyBlue Creative and a twenty-year veteran of impact video. Along with practical tips, Pat shares how creating authentic video content hinges on getting people to relax on camera and creating space for them to speak from their own experiences. Ditching the script is key to building more meaningful content. 

Empowering people impacted by what you do is one of the best ways to drive support for your mission – which Pat illustrates with storytelling. Revealing some of his most successful tools, Pat explains how cell phones have leveled the playing field, putting one of the best tools for high-quality content creation at your fingertips. In fact, your cell can be instrumental in generating a potent mix of candid and professional imagery.

Nonprofits operate in a fast-paced world. To navigate the rapid changes in technology, social behaviors, and how we exchange information, it’s time to think like an entrepreneur.

In this episode of the Go Beyond Fundraising podcast, our CEO, Trent Ricker, talks with Tom Ulbrich, President and CEO of Goodwill of Western New York. Tom has extensive entrepreneurial experience, having owned and grown multiple businesses. He also ran the Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership at the University of Buffalo and was an Assistant Dean at the Schools of Management and Social Work, where he worked on social innovation.

Throughout this conversation, Tom and Trent share characteristics of entrepreneurs that nonprofit leaders can adopt to help them grow revenue and build sustainable programs. They also explore business best practices that enable organizations to better communicate their impact as they seek funding and recruit talent.

Does your organization struggle to engage donors behind gifts from donor-advised funds (DAFs)? Have you received a generous DAF gift but wondered how to thank the anonymous donor and build a lasting connection? Engaging DAF donors can be challenging, especially when anonymity creates a barrier. However, with thoughtful strategies, your nonprofit can foster gratitude, retention, and deeper donor relationships, even with DAF contributors.

In this episode of the Go Beyond Fundraising podcast, Ryan Carpenter, VP of Client Success at GivingDNA, tackles the challenges nonprofits face with DAF giving. Ryan shares practical strategies to build stronger relationships with DAF donors, despite anonymity, and highlights ways to simplify the process of accepting and stewarding DAF gifts.

With the average DAF contribution exceeding $1,100—five to twenty times higher than traditional gifts—it’s essential to position your organization to make the most of this powerful giving vehicle. Ryan explores common misconceptions about DAFs, offers actionable insights to streamline DAF gift acceptance, and demonstrates how technology can bridge the gap between your organization and anonymous donors.

Join us as we discuss:

How to proactively communicate that you accept DAF contributions.

Effective strategies for engaging DAF donors and their sponsoring organizations.

The role of technology in donor profiling and identifying untapped opportunities

Whether you’re new to DAFs or looking for ways to optimize your approach, this episode is packed with actionable advice to help you deepen connections with DAF donors and amplify your impact.

Did you know Gen Z is 10 times more likely to share their donations on social media compared to Baby Boomers? Passionate, tech savvy and socially connected, Gen Z is an audience nonprofits can’t afford to ignore.

In this episode of the Go Beyond Fundraising podcast, we talk with Michelle Boggs, Senior Advisor for Nonprofit Fundraising and Development at Classy by GoFundMe, about the surprising new research in the latest Social State of Giving report, highlighting Gen Z's significant engagement with social media for philanthropy and what that means for nonprofits.

The report found that 41% of Gen Z, 25% of millennials, and 20% of Gen X are motivated to donate by social media content. We discuss impact creators and why they are crucial for reaching younger donors, as well as leveraging AI to drive future social giving trends.

We also take a dive into new tools like Meta integration and GoFundMe profiles that enhance the donor experience and tap into the power of social sharing.

Curious about what’s next in fundraising? Connect with some of the sector’s most forward-thinking minds at the upcoming Collaborative, presented by Classy by GoFundMe. This interactive and inspiring event is your chance to expand your network and gain fresh insights into the future of fundraising.

About a decade ago, we partnered with Drs. Adrian Sargeant and Jin Chang to sponsor their research on relationship fundraising. On this episode of the Go Beyond Fundraising podcast, Allegiance Group + Pursuant’s Chief Strategy Officer, Trent Ricker, revisits that research to see what lessons still hold — and where there’s room to grow.

With donor acquisition and retention becoming more challenging, nonprofits must move beyond transactional fundraising and forge deeper connections with their supporters. By doing so, they can build long-term support and boost their donors’ lifetime value.

This conversation explores how relationship fundraising helps nonprofits increase donor loyalty and longevity, retain more supporters, and attract younger generations. We also share strategies fundraisers can use to turn one-time transactions into long-standing relationships with donors who care about your cause.

Want a deeper dive? Download a free copy of “How Relationship Fundraising Works” to unlock the potential of donor-centric fundraising in your organization.