State of Good by Pure Charity

Episode Title: Record Giving, Shrinking Base: What the Giving USA Numbers Really Tell Us

Summary: - U.S. charitable giving hit a record $617.20 billion in 2025, but the donor base continues to shrink — raising questions about long-term resilience

• Mixed fundraising signals at midyear 2026 mean your strategy and relationships matter more than the economic environment
• Nonprofits taking a coordinated, organization-wide approach to AI are seeing significantly larger returns than those experimenting in silos
• Generational giving differences demand segmented communication strategies, not one-size-fits-all appeals
• The FoodCorps and Healy Foundation story shows how transparency during crisis can deepen funder partnerships

Links: - Giving USA 2026 Key Findings: https://givingusa.org/product/2026-key-findings/

• Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy — Giving USA Report: https://philanthropy.indianapolis.iu.edu/news-events/news/_news/2026/giving-usa-report-2026.html
• Chronicle of Philanthropy — Giving USA Reports a Record High, But Here's What It Misses: https://www.philanthropy.com/solutions/giving-usa-reports-a-record-high-but-heres-what-it-misses/
• Chronicle of Philanthropy — How Economic and Political Shifts Are Shaping 2026 Fundraising: https://www.philanthropy.com/news/how-economic-and-political-shifts-are-shaping-2026-fundraising/
• Chronicle of Philanthropy — AI Alone Isn't Enough: Coordination Is What Really Matters: https://www.philanthropy.com/news/ai-alone-isnt-enough-coordination-is-what-really-matters/
• Blackbaud Institute Generational Giving Report: https://institute.blackbaud.com/the-generational-giving-report/
• Chronicle of Philanthropy — Nonprofit Leaders Have Some Blunt Advice for Their Funders: https://www.philanthropy.com/solutions/nonprofit-leaders-have-some-blunt-advice-for-their-funders/
• Chronicle of Philanthropy — FoodCorps Lost Its Federal Funding, A Foundation's Bold Bet Kept It Thriving: https://www.philanthropy.com/solutions/foodcorps-lost-its-federal-funding-a-foundations-bold-bet-kept-it-thriving/

Approximate Timestamps: - 0:00 — Introduction and episode preview

• 0:30 — Giving USA record high and the shrinking donor base
• 3:00 — Mixed fundraising signals and fall planning
• 4:15 — AI adoption: coordination beats experimentation
• 5:00 — Why donors give: generational differences in giving behavior
• 6:15 — What changed: nonprofit leaders' blunt advice for funders
• 7:00 — The bottom line and three actions for this week
• 7:45 — Good in Action: FoodCorps and the Healy Foundation
• 8:45 — Sign-off

Episode Title: Private Giving Rises While Federal Funding Falls: The Nonprofit Paradox of 2026

Summary: - Charitable giving grew 5% in 2025 even as federal funding freezes and grant terminations create budget crises for thousands of nonprofits

• 90% of nonprofit leaders report burnout concerns, threatening organizational capacity and donor relationships
• 83% of Americans experience financial stress, with only 19% finding joy in giving — signaling a concentration of giving among fewer, wealthier donors
• Millennials are reshaping philanthropic expectations, demanding impact transparency and two-way communication
• 35% of financial advisors actively use charitable planning tools, presenting untapped partnership opportunities for nonprofits

Sources Referenced: - Nonprofit Quarterly — "The Quiet Collapse: Why the Erasure of the Nonprofit Sector Threatens Us All": https://nonprofitquarterly.org/the-quiet-collapse-why-the-erasure-of-the-nonprofit-sector-threatens-us-all/

• NonProfit PRO — "What Proposed Federal Grant Rule Changes Mean for Nonprofits": https://www.nonprofitpro.com/article/what-proposed-federal-grant-rule-changes-mean-for-nonprofits/
• Chronicle of Philanthropy — "Nearly 90 Percent of Nonprofit Leaders Worry About Burnout": https://www.philanthropy.com/news/nearly-90-percent-of-nonprofit-leaders-worry-about-burnout/
• Urban Institute — "Nonprofit Leaders Reported Growing Uncertainty from 2024 to Early 2025": https://www.urban.org/sites/default/files/2026-05/Nonprofit_Leaders_Reported_Growing_Uncertainty_from_2024_to_Early_2025.pdf
• The NonProfit Times — "Beware Because Donors Don't Feel Financially Fulfilled": https://thenonprofittimes.com/npt_articles/beware-because-donors-dont-feel-financially-fulfilled/
• Capital Campaign Pro — "2026 Nonprofit Sector Research for Capital Campaign Fundraising": https://capitalcampaignpro.com/2026-nonprofit-sector-campaign-fundraising/
• NonProfit PRO — "Report: Millennials Are Driving a Shift in Philanthropy": https://www.nonprofitpro.com/article/while-nonprofits-eye-gen-z-millennials-are-shaping-philanthropic-giving/
• NonProfit PRO — "New Report Identifies Key Factors That Influence How Financial Advisers Recommend DAFs": https://www.nonprofitpro.com/article/new-report-identifies-key-factors-that-influence-how-financial-advisers-recommend-dafs/
• UC San Diego — "2026 Triton Giving Day Breaks Records, Raising $1.1 Million": https://today.ucsd.edu/story/2026-triton-giving-day-breaks-records-raising-1.1-million

Approximate Timestamps: - 0:00 — Introduction and episode preview

• 0:30 — The Big Picture: Federal funding shifts, 5% giving growth paradox, leadership burnout, and donor financial stress
• 3:30 — Why Donors Give: Millennials reshaping philanthropic expectations
• 5:00 — What Changed This Week: Financial advisors as untapped fundraising partners
• 6:15 — The Bottom Line: Three actions for the week
• 7:15 — Good in Action: UC San Diego's record-breaking Triton Giving Day
• 8:15 — Sign-off

Episode Title: Foundation Priorities Are Shifting — Is Your Organization Ready?

Summary: - The Center for Effective Philanthropy's State of Nonprofits 2026 report reveals the most challenging operational environment for nonprofits in years, with foundations redirecting dollars toward basic needs programs

• A new IRS Form 990 Transparency Initiative will change how nonprofits report activities and how the public accesses that information
• Research shows donor-advised fund donors are rarely anonymous — opening major relationship-building opportunities for nonprofits
• A Cambridge University study confirms that specific, verifiable impact claims build donor trust far more effectively than abstract appeals
• The University of Nevada's Giving Day raised over $1 million from 1,900+ donors, proving broad-based community giving is still powerful

Links: - Center for Effective Philanthropy — State of Nonprofits 2026: https://cep.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/CEP_State_of_Nonprofits_2026_FNL.pdf

• Community Foundation of Greater Memphis — National Trends in Giving and the Growing Nonprofit Crisis: https://cfgm.org/the-well-must-not-run-dry-national-trends-in-giving-and-the-growing-nonprofit-crisis/
• Inside Philanthropy — 5 Things We Know About the New IRS Form 990 Transparency Initiative: https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/home/5-things-we-know-about-the-new-irs-form-990-transparency-initiative
• American Heart Association Advisor Insights — Donor Advised Funds 2026 Outlook & Strategic Implications: https://www.heart.org/en/get-involved/ways-to-give/planned-giving/professional-advisors-and-trustees/advisor-insights/donor-advised-funds-2026-outlook-and-strategic-implications
• Cambridge University / Voluntas — Will You Trust Me? How Individual American Donors Respond to Informational Signals: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/voluntas/article/will-you-trust-me-how-individual-american-donors-respond-to-informational-signals-regarding-local-and-global-humanitarian-charities/0BA7A0086C78EDF08DE38726C1750CFD
• University of Nevada — 2026 Giving Day: https://www.unr.edu/nevada-today/news/2026/thank-you-for-giving

Approximate Timestamps: - 0:00 — Introduction and weekly preview

• 0:35 — Foundation funding shifts and nonprofit sustainability challenges
• 3:15 — New IRS Form 990 Transparency Initiative
• 4:30 — Why Donors Give: The power of specificity in building trust
• 5:30 — What Changed: Donor-advised fund anonymity is rarer than you think
• 6:45 — The Bottom Line: Three actions for this week
• 7:30 — Good in Action: University of Nevada's record-breaking Giving Day
• 8:15 — Sign-off

Episode Title: Gen Z Is Already Outgiving Other Generations — And What That Means for Your Fundraising Strategy

Summary: - New data from GoFundMe and GivingTuesday Data Commons shows Gen Z participating in philanthropy at higher rates than other adult generations, with community-powered fundraising platforms serving as their primary on-ramp

• The BBB's Give.org 2026 Donor Trust Report finds 42% of U.S. adults are open to charity outreach, but a persistent trust gap means transparency is more critical than ever
• Government funding cuts for social services are creating both pressure and opportunity for nonprofits to position themselves as essential community infrastructure
• Legacy giving research reveals that estate planning dramatically increases charitable bequests, driven by donors' desire to extend their impact beyond their lifetime
• Delco Gives raised $2.5 million in 24 hours with 300+ nonprofits collaborating in a community-wide giving day

Links: - Data Shows Gen Z Is In The Beginning Stages Of Philanthropy (The Nonprofit Times): https://thenonprofittimes.com/npt_articles/data-shows-gen-z-is-in-the-beginning-stages-of-philanthropy/

• Gen Z Philanthropy Outpaces That of Other Adults, New Data Shows (Nonprofit PRO): https://www.nonprofitpro.com/article/gen-z-philanthropy-outpaces-that-of-other-adults-new-data-shows/
• Donor Openness Near High Although Trust Gap Persists (Give.org): https://give.org/news/donor-trust-report-2026-openness-trust-gap
• Government Cuts Are Testing Nonprofits, Creating New Opportunity (The Nonprofit Times): https://thenonprofittimes.com/npt_articles/government-cuts-are-testing-nonprofits-creating-new-opportunity/
• 'Too Many Nonprofits' Is Not Our Biggest Problem (Center for Effective Philanthropy): https://cep.org/blog/too-many-nonprofits-is-not-our-biggest-problem/
• Legacy Giving Research (Foundation for Philanthropy Research): https://leavealegacy.com/research/
• Delco Gives Raises More Than $2.5M (WHYY): https://whyy.org/articles/delco-gives-delaware-county-nonprofits-fundraising/

Approximate Timestamps: - 0:00 — Introduction and episode preview

• 0:30 — Gen Z's philanthropic emergence and the trust gap
• 3:30 — Why donors give: the psychology of legacy giving
• 5:00 — What changed: government funding shifts and nonprofit sector resilience
• 6:30 — The bottom line and three action items
• 7:30 — Good in Action: Delco Gives raises $2.5M in 24 hours
• 8:30 — Sign-off

Episode Title: "Survival, Stability, and the 31% Recurring Donor Surge"

Summary: - AFP Icon conference reveals fundraisers are focused on survival strategies amid inflation, federal cuts, and tax changes

• Recurring donor bases have grown 31% since 2023, offering a blueprint for revenue stability
• The IRS announces a formal rework of Form 990, signaling enhanced transparency requirements ahead
• New research on 2,000+ donors reveals recurring givers see themselves as mission partners, not just supporters
• Action steps: diversify funding sources, optimize recurring giving, and prepare for new reporting standards

Sources Mentioned: - Chronicle of Philanthropy — "Inflation, Cuts, Tax Changes: A Tough Year Takes Center Stage at AFP Icon": https://www.philanthropy.com/news/inflation-cuts-tax-changes-a-tough-year-takes-center-stage-at-afp-icon/

• BYU Scholars Archive — "Nonprofit Leaders' Perceived Top Struggles: A Qualitative Study": https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1195&context=joni
• Nonprofit Pro — "Recurring Donor Base Grew 31% Since 2023, New Data Reveals": https://www.nonprofitpro.com/article/recurring-donor-base-grew-31-since-2023-new-data-reveals/
• The Nonprofit Times — "Reworking Of Federal Form 990 Set To Begin": https://thenonprofittimes.com/npt_articles/reworking-of-federal-form-990-set-to-begin/
• NP Tech for Good — "New Research Reveals What Motivates Recurring Donors": https://www.nptechforgood.com/2026/04/28/new-research-reveals-what-motivates-recurring-donors/

Approximate Timestamps: - 0:00 — Introduction and episode preview

• 0:35 — The Big Picture: AFP Icon, economic headwinds, and recurring donor growth
• 4:00 — Why Donors Give: The partnership mindset of recurring donors
• 5:15 — What Changed: Form 990 rework and transparency implications
• 6:15 — The Bottom Line and three action items
• 7:30 — Good in Action: Community over competition at AFP Icon
• 8:30 — Sign-off

Episode Title: The Great Donor Concentration: 80% of Giving Now Comes from Major Donors

Summary: - Major donors now fuel 80% of all charitable contributions as the overall donor base continues to shrink, according to fourth-quarter 2025 data from the Chronicle of Philanthropy

• Retained donors are seeing median gifts increase 20% year-over-year, with monthly donors showing a 71% retention rate after 12 months
• The 2026 M+R Benchmarks confirm online giving's upward trajectory, with monthly giving as the standout performer
• New research shows Christian women are the architects of household giving decisions, approaching philanthropy strategically as a family practice
• Omidyar Network's outgoing CEO warns that philanthropy is "underestimating AI" at a critical moment for governance and policy

Links: - Chronicle of Philanthropy — Major Donors Fuel 80% of Giving: https://www.philanthropy.com/news/major-donors-fuel-80-of-giving-as-donor-base-shrinks/

• NonProfit PRO — Median Gift Up 20% as Donors Who Stay Give More: https://www.nonprofitpro.com/article/median-gift-up-20-as-donors-who-stay-give-more-often-and-more-generously/
• NonProfit PRO — M+R Benchmarks 2026: https://www.nonprofitpro.com/article/mr-benchmarks-2026-what-online-giving-growth-means-for-your-donor-file/
• NonProfit PRO — Christian Women Lead Household Giving: https://www.nonprofitpro.com/article/christian-women-lead-their-households-giving-strategy-new-data-shows/
• Inside Philanthropy — Philanthropy Is Underestimating AI: https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/home/philanthropy-is-underestimating-ai-heres-how-to-catch-up
• Hawaii Attorney General — Kona Low Disaster Relief Guidance: https://ag.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/News-Release-2026-18.pdf

Approximate Timestamps: - 0:00 — Introduction and episode preview

• 0:35 — The Great Donor Concentration: major donors fuel 80% of giving
• 2:30 — Retention pays off: median gifts up 20%, monthly giving benchmarks
• 3:45 — Why Donors Give: Christian women as architects of household philanthropy
• 4:45 — What Changed: philanthropy underestimating AI
• 5:45 — The Bottom Line: three action items for the week
• 6:45 — Good in Action: Hawaii's disaster response infrastructure
• 7:45 — Sign-off

Episode Title: The Intention-Action Gap: What Donors Say vs. What They Do

Summary: - New research from Effective Altruism Australia reveals philanthropic funders claim to prioritize evidence but give based on emotional connection — pair your data with story

• Nonprofit PRO highlights how fundraising caution is costing organizations real dollars — your donors may be waiting for the right ask
• Harris Poll data shows only 1% of older Americans prioritize philanthropy in wealth transfer plans, but younger inheritors are 3x more likely — start next-gen cultivation now
• Nonprofit Quarterly identifies five distinct generosity profiles among American donors — understanding motivation matters more than demographics
• The 2026 Giving Challenge in Sarasota raised $16.7 million in 24 hours through collaborative community fundraising

Links: - Inside Philanthropy — The Data Is In: "Effective" Philanthropy Has an Evidence Issue: https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/home/the-data-is-in-effective-philanthropy-has-an-evidence-issue

• Nonprofit PRO — Nonprofit Donor Solicitation: Cost of Caution: https://www.nonprofitpro.com/article/nonprofit-donor-solicitation-how-caution-may-be-costing-you-donations/
• The Nonprofit Times — Transfers Of Wealth Might Be Excluding Nonprofits: https://thenonprofittimes.com/npt_articles/transfers-of-wealth-might-be-excluding-nonprofits/
• Nonprofit Quarterly — Why Americans Give: New Research Finds 5 Distinct Profiles for Generosity: https://nonprofitquarterly.org/why-americans-give-new-research-finds-5-distinct-profiles-for-generosity/
• Community Foundation of Sarasota County — 2026 Giving Challenge Results: https://www.cfsarasota.org/press-release/2026-giving-challenge-results

Approximate Timestamps: - 0:00 — Introduction and episode preview

• 0:30 — The evidence gap in "evidence-based" giving and donor solicitation practices
• 3:30 — The great wealth transfer reality check
• 4:30 — Why donors give: five generosity profiles
• 5:45 — What changed this week: closing the intention-action gap
• 6:45 — The bottom line and three action items
• 7:30 — Good in Action: 2026 Giving Challenge raises $16.7 million
• 8:15 — Sign-off

Episode Title: Trust Isn't Enough: Why Donor Participation Keeps Declining Despite High Confidence in Nonprofits

Summary: - Nonprofits remain highly trusted, yet donor participation continues a decade-long decline — trust alone isn't reversing the trend

• New research from the Chronicle of Philanthropy identifies five distinct generosity profiles that can transform donor communication strategies
• Charity Navigator overhauls its rating system to better capture mission effectiveness — time to audit your profile
• Matching gift campaigns outperform standard appeals 2-3x when urgency is genuine, not manufactured
• Rhode Island's 401Gives campaign raises over $5 million in 36 hours, led by Foster Forward's relationship-first approach

Sources & Links: - NonprofitPRO — "Why Fewer Donors Are Giving to Nonprofits": https://www.nonprofitpro.com/article/fewer-donors-are-giving-to-nonprofits-and-trust-may-not-be-the-problem/

• Gulf Coast Community Foundation — "New Dynamics Emerging in Today's Giving Landscape": https://gulfcoastcf.org/article/new-dynamics-emerging-in-todays-giving-landscape
• The Chronicle of Philanthropy — "Why Americans Give: New Research Finds 5 Profiles for Generosity": https://www.philanthropy.com/news/why-americans-give-new-research-finds-5-profiles-for-generosity/
• Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy — "Christian Women Are Shaping the Future of Generosity": https://philanthropy.indianapolis.iu.edu/news-events/news/_news/2026/christian-women-generosity-2026.html
• The Nonprofit Times — "Charity Navigator Updates Key Ratings System": https://thenonprofittimes.com/npt_articles/charity-navigator-updates-key-ratings-system/
• Network for Good — Year-End Giving Guide (matching gift research): https://www.networkforgood.com/resource/year-end-giving-guide/
• Brown Daily Herald — "Record-breaking 401Gives fundraising campaign raises over $5 million": https://www.browndailyherald.com/article/2026/04/record-breaking-401gives-fundraising-campaign-raises-over-5-million-for-local-nonprofits

Approximate Timestamps: - 0:00 — Introduction and episode preview

• 0:40 — The Participation Paradox: trust isn't the barrier to giving
• 3:15 — Why Donors Give: the psychology of urgency and matching gifts
• 4:30 — What Changed: Charity Navigator's ratings overhaul
• 5:30 — The Bottom Line and three action items
• 6:30 — Good in Action: Rhode Island's record-breaking 401Gives campaign
• 7:45 — Sign-off

Episode Title: The Shift from Concentration to Diversification: DAF Trends and the Small-Donor Renaissance

Summary: - New research from DAF Giving 360 reveals donors are fundamentally changing how they use donor-advised funds in response to 2026 tax law changes, with over $234 billion sitting in these funds nationwide

• Stanford Social Innovation Review's "Beyond the Mega-Gift" conversation highlights a strategic pivot away from mega-gift dependence toward diversified, small-donor revenue models
• 73% of donors say knowing how funds are used is critical to their giving decision, and transparent organizations see 53% higher donor retention
• Three action items: assess your DAF engagement strategy, conduct a donor concentration analysis, and improve transparency in donor communications
• Good in Action: UT San Antonio's 48-hour Giving Day shows how time-bound campaigns build community belonging alongside fundraising totals

Links: - DAF Giving 360 Research on Donor-Advised Fund Trends: https://www.dafgiving360.org/press-release/donor-volunteer-trends

• "Beyond the Mega-Gift" — Stanford Social Innovation Review Author Conversation: https://ed.stanford.edu/events/beyond-mega-gift-ssir-author-conversation
• UT San Antonio Giving Day: https://news.utsa.edu/2026/03/ut-san-antonio-giving-day-kicks-off-48-hour-celebration-of-community-impact/

Approximate Timestamps: - 0:00 — Introduction and episode preview

• 0:30 — DAF evolution and the 2026 tax landscape
• 2:45 — Beyond the mega-gift: the small-donor renaissance
• 4:30 — Why donors give: transparency and retention
• 5:30 — What changed this week: convergence of two forces
• 6:30 — The bottom line and three action items
• 7:15 — Good in Action: UT San Antonio's 48-hour Giving Day
• 8:15 — Sign-off

Episode Title: The AI Trust Tightrope and the Mid-Level Donor Opportunity

Summary: - AI is transforming fundraising personalization, but organizations without governance frameworks risk eroding donor trust

• Mid-level donors ($500–$5,000) represent massive untapped potential — retaining one equals acquiring 10–20 new small donors
• Social proof increases donation likelihood by 30%, especially when donors see people like them giving
• Federal policy shifts require proactive monitoring and compliance planning
• A Texas food bank boosted mid-level retention 40% by creating a dedicated engagement track

Sources Mentioned: - NonprofitPRO — "Nonprofits Risk Eroding Trust Without AI Oversight": https://www.nonprofitpro.com/article/nonprofits-risk-eroding-trust-without-ai-oversight-research-shows/

• AFP Global — "Flip the Script: Donors Down, Dollars Up Through Mid-Level Retention": https://afpglobal.org/flip-script-donors-down-dollars-through-mid-level-retention
• Nonprofit Risk Management Center — "The Fundraising Risk Issue, Spring 2026": https://nonprofitrisk.org/resources/the-fundraising-risk-issue-spring-2026/
• Maryland Nonprofits — "Federal Policy Updates Impacting Nonprofits": https://marylandnonprofits.org/2026/03/27/federal-policy-updates-impacting-nonprofits-what-you-need-to-know/
• Shang & Croson — "A Field Experiment in Charitable Contribution" (Economic Journal / ScienceDirect): https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0047272709000863

Approximate Timestamps: - 0:00 — Introduction

• 0:30 — AI adoption and the trust tightrope / Mid-level donor opportunity
• 3:30 — Why donors give: the power of social proof
• 4:30 — What changed: federal policy shifts
• 5:45 — The bottom line and three action items
• 7:00 — Good in action: Texas food bank sustainer circle
• 8:00 — Sign-off