Today, we’re going to discuss research into why people resist change, even when it benefits them.

Have you ever wondered why the very people who would most benefit from a change can be the most resistant to it? In the face of this resistance, how can nonprofits promote beneficial social change?

Find out on this episode.

On this bonus episode, we are going to discuss research into how fundraisers can build authentic relationships with major donors.

How do you go from meeting a donor to having a great relationship with them?

Find out on this episode.

As you may know, I read a ton of peer-reviewed journal articles in preparation for my client work, in preparation for the podcast, and just for my own nonprofit science education.

And, when I talk to my colleagues and clients, I often get asked to recommend some articles to read. Since it’s the end of the year and you hopefully have time off for some leisurely reading, I thought it would be fun to share with you my top ten favorite articles that I read this year.

When I first started writing appeals, I was taught to follow three golden rules- make it personal, make it specific, and make it urgent.

Each year, especially on December 31st, nonprofit emails are littered with phrases like- time is running out to make a difference, we need your help now more than ever, there’s just a few hours left.

With each of these messages, there tends to be a spike in donations.

What is it about these urgent messages that spur action? Do urgent fundraising messages truly cause donors to give, or is it merely coincidental that donors happen to wait until the last minute to donate, which is also when we happen to send urgent emails?

Find out what the latest research says.

Today we are joined by Dr. Crystal Fashant. She is an associate professor in the Department of Public and Nonprofit Leadership at Metro State University and just a wealth of knowledge. She has nearly 20 years of experience in the nonprofit sector and draws upon that experience to investigate social justice and environmental sustainability issues as they relate to nonprofit work.

In this conversation, we discuss why it’s important for nonprofits to pay attention to environmental sustainability, how we can improve environmental performance. We get into what motivates volunteers, how stereotypes can impede mission advancement, and so much more.

For the tenth episode we are going to do things a little differently. One of the goals of the Nonprofit Science Institute and this podcast is to bring a scientific rigor to nonprofit work.

With that in mind, today, we are going to tackle ten nonprofit myths that are holding organizations back. These are commonly held beliefs that have either been not proven or have been proven incorrect through peer-reviewed research.

When I first started fundraising years ago, the golden rule was to call donors to say thank you whenever gifts came in. At the end of each calendar year, I would spend hours on the phone, calling donors to either ask for a gift or thank them for a gift.

But, times have changed. Does anyone pick up their phone anymore?

So, should you continue to call donors? If not, who should you call and who should receive a thank you note? Moreover, does every donation require an acknowledgement? Find out what the latest research says.

The problem we are going to tackle today is one that I’ve personally struggled with as a fundraiser and one that I’ve seen my clients struggle with. With Giving Tuesday just around the corner, I thought this was a timely conversation. So the problem we’ll be tackling today is, how can nonprofits retain online crowdfunding donors?

On this episode, we are joined by Dr. Karl Besel. He is the Dean of the School of Interdisciplinary Health and Science and a Professor of Public Health and Social Work at the University of Saint Joseph. In addition to teaching both graduate and undergraduate courses, he has written two books, authored over 20 peer reviewed journal articles, and was named a Distinguished William J. Clinton Lecturer.

We do a deep dive into succession planning, discussing pitfalls, barriers, and opportunities for nonprofits to intentionally create a plan.

The problem we are going to tackle today is a big one. How can nonprofits prevent staff burnout? Burnout is a well defined syndrome characterized by exhaustion, disengagement, negativity, and reduced productivity. While burnout is not a medical condition, it can exacerbate medical conditions. Why is it that nonprofit professionals are particularly at risk for burnout and what can we do about it? Find out on this episode.