In this episode of the First Day Podcast, host Bill Stanczykiewicz, Ed.D. is joined by Christy Boysen, MA, CFRM, FCEP, the founding CEO of Apex Legacy Consulting, who has extensive experience in advising nonprofits on planned gifts. Boysen emphasized that while planned giving, such as setting up charitable remainder trusts, appears complex due to its involvement of various professionals like lawyers and financial advisors, the process can be simplified through collaborative efforts. She highlighted the benefits of planned giving not only for the donors, who can make significant tax-efficient c ..read more

In this episode of the First Day Podcast, host Bill Stanczykiewicz, Ed.D. is joined by Jamila Trimuel, Founder and CEO of Ladies of Virtue, an organization dedicated to empowering young girls in Chicago. They discuss the critical role of fundraising events within their overall strategy. Initially, their annual "Leading with Virtue Cocktail Reception" accounted for up to 50% of their budget, raising around $200,000 through corporate sponsorships, ticket sales, and auctions. While still important, the event now contributes 10-20% of their budget, signaling a strategic shift in fundraising tactic ..read more

In this episode of the First Day Podcast, host Bill Stanczykiewicz, Ed.D. is joined by Ron Schiller, Founding Partner and Senior Consultant at Aspen Leadership Group. In a detailed exploration of the dynamics within nonprofit organizations, particularly between the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Chief Development Officer (CDO), the podcast looks at the evolving landscape of fundraising and leadership. The discussion underscores the critical nature of the CEO-CDO partnership in not just propelling the organization's fundraising efforts but also in enhancing the job satisfaction of both roles ..read more

In this episode of the First Day Podcast, host Bill Stanczykiewicz, Ed.D. is joined by Coco Xiaonan Kou, Managing Director of Research at the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, who discusses the Global Philanthropy Tracker, a comprehensive research project. The Global Philanthropy Tracker aims to understand cross-border philanthropic outflows from 47 countries, covering various stages of economic development. Unlike traditional measures like official development aid, the Global Philanthropy Tracker compares philanthropic giving to other major financial resource flows, highlighting the increa ..read more

In this episode of the First Day Podcast, host Bill Stanczykiewicz, Ed.D. is joined by Otis Fulton, Ph.D., Vice President of Psychological Strategies at Turnkey, who discusses the intricate dynamics of donor motivations. He highlights a significant finding: engagement in nonprofits can positively impact life expectancy, underscoring the personal benefits donors derive from their involvement. Fulton challenges the conventional wisdom that giving is primarily driven by the organization's mission, asserting that donors are motivated by their own experiences and the social validation they receive ..read more

In this episode of the First Day Podcast, host Bill Stanczykiewicz, Ed.D. is joined by Jon Bergdoll, Associate Director of Data Partnerships from the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, who offers insights into the expected trends in charitable giving over the coming years. Jon discusses a study that looks at the intricate relationship between economic factors and philanthropic behaviors. While emphasizing the importance of fostering strong donor relationships, the discussion highlights the significant influence of economic indicators, such as wealth metrics and personal in ..read more

In this episode of the First Day Podcast, host Bill Stanczykiewicz, Ed.D. is joined by Mark Ottoni-Wilhelm, Ph.D., professor of philanthropic studies at the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, who discusses the pressing issue of declining charitable giving in the United States, especially among younger demographics. The episode covers an experiment researchers conducted using fundraising materials from a nonprofit organization to measure the effectiveness of different messaging strategies in attracting new donors and retaining existing ones. The experiment compared the impa ..read more

In this episode of the First Day Podcast, host Bill Stanczykiewicz, Ed.D. is joined by Jay Love, Co-Founder and current Chief Relationship Officer of Bloomerang. Jay emphasizes the necessity of prioritizing donor stewardship to improve retention rates. He suggests personalized approaches such as handwritten thank-you notes and phone calls, as well as involving board members in expressing gratitude to donors. Additionally, Jay stresses the significance of recognizing donors of all gift sizes, as major donors, although constituting a small percentage, provide the majority of funds. By implementi ..read more

In this episode of the First Day Podcast, host Bill Stanczykiewicz, Ed.D. is joined by Erinn Andrews, the founder and CEO of GiveTeam, a consulting firm specializing in philanthropic advising. Andrews identifies a crucial gap in the philanthropic advising profession, particularly in supporting donors in the top 2 to 10% bracket. While much attention is given to the top 1% of donors, those in the slightly lower bracket often lack tailored support despite their significant contributions. Recognizing this opportunity, Andrews established GiveTeam to cater to the needs of this segment and unlock t ..read more

In this episode of the First Day Podcast, host Bill Stanczykiewicz, Ed.D. is joined by Gene Tempel, Ed.D. to discuss the foundational aspects that drive the success of nonprofit fundraising efforts. Central to the discussion is the concept of the "case for support," which underscores the necessity for nonprofits to articulate a clear and compelling rationale for their fundraising initiatives. This rationale is not just a narrative but a strategic alignment of the organization's mission with societal needs, serving as the cornerstone for both annual and capital campaigns. The emphasis is on the ..read more