It’s hard to miss the fact that 2024 is an election year. The presidential race is dominating news cycles and social media, but what does it mean for your fundraising efforts? On this episode of the Go Beyond Fundraising podcast, we talk with Allegiance Group + Pursuant Chief Strategy Officer Trent Ricker about what nonprofits can expect. Organizations often fear that political giving will impact their fundraising; however, studies show this simply doesn’t happen. Instead, nonprofits should adjust their timing and approach to campaigns based on the political climate. Ricker highlights the need for nonprofits to stay agile and responsive to changing advertising policies in terms of ad content, imagery, and cost. He also stresses the power of data to inform how nonprofits address local and national issues in their fundraising. Finally, he emphasizes that while it’s important to be aware of the election, organizations should stay focused on advancing their mission and engaging their donors.

What does it take to start and scale a nonprofit? Elana Frank is still learning, and she’s sharing her lessons in this episode of the Go Beyond Fundraising podcast. Frank is the founder and CEO of the Jewish Fertility Foundation, which provides financial assistance, support, and education to those struggling with infertility. In just nine years, the nonprofit has grown to eight locations across the country. She discusses what she’s learned while scaling the organization, including the qualities she seeks in those hired to lead each location. Frank also emphasizes how important it is for founders and CEOs to work with a professional business coach, as well as why all leaders need to slow down sometimes and give themselves some grace.

The world is changing, and it’s time for nonprofits to change too — including their boards. To better fulfill your mission, your stakeholders and leaders should reflect the communities you serve. That’s why, on this episode of Fundraising Today and the Go Beyond Fundraising podcast, we’re exploring the principles behind DEIAB. Joining us are Christal Cherry and Dr. Renee Rubin Ross, who work with boards and lead inclusive workshops and conversations. They’ll define what diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, and belonging mean for nonprofits and why these principles should begin with your board. We cover how you can get started with hard conversations, including ways to engage people who may not initially recognize the value of DEIAB work. They also share advice for making sure your efforts become part of the fabric of your organization and are sustained for the long term.

In this episode of Fundraising Today and the Go Beyond Fundraising podcast, we explore how nonprofits can use Google Analytics 4 (GA4) to boost their fundraising efforts. Emil Isaakov, a data analyst with Allegiance Group + Pursuant, walks us through the significant changes that GA4 brings, such as event-based tracking and predictive metrics. Emil also outlines the steps nonprofits can take to optimize their websites for better conversions. He touches on additional integrations with Google Ads and Google BigQuery that can help organizations build on and store the data they’re getting through GA4. In addition, we’ll look at GA4 through the lens of a few specific examples: How nonprofits can determine which communication channels are giving them the biggest bank for their buck, and how they can use GA4 to grow their email newsletter.

Most nonprofits rely on volunteers, but managing this group can be tedious. In this episode of Fundraising Today and the Go Beyond Fundraising podcast, we talk with Albert Vasquez, Head of Sales and Operations for Rosterfy North America. Rosterfy is an end-to-end volunteer management and reporting tool that helps organizations onboard, engage, and track their volunteers. In this conversation, Vasquez shares how organizations like the NFL and FIFA use the platform to manage the thousands of volunteers they depend on. We also discuss the overall state of volunteerism and its impact on organizations — particularly how engaged volunteers often become passionate advocates and donors. Vasquez also offers solutions for the common challenges nonprofits face in managing their volunteers.

In this episode of Fundraising Today and the Go Beyond Fundraising podcast, we talk with philanthropist and fundraising coach Lisa Greer. Author of the bestseller Fundraising Revolution, Greer is on a mission to save giving by helping nonprofits move away from the impersonal interactions and scripted outreach that have dominated the sector for so long. In 2012, Greer and her husband became part of the 1% practically overnight and wanted to share their new wealth. In our conversation, she discusses the strange practices and frustrations they experienced for years with traditional fundraisers. Today, with her background as a successful businesswoman as a foundation, she promotes fundamental change in how fundraising works by teaching nonprofits how to do better. Greer says one of the biggest mistakes nonprofits make is not offering a recurring giving program, especially when a subscription business model is so popular among consumers. We break down ways charities can start or boost recurring giving programs to create loyal supporters, such as surprise gifts and exclusive webinars.

In this episode of Go Beyond Fundraising, we sit down with Mitch Stein. Mitch is the Head of Strategy at Chariot, a donor-advised fund (DAF) fundraising solution provider. We discuss the increasing popularity of DAFs as a giving vehicle; the challenges associated with anonymous DAF donations; and the barriers that prevent nonprofits from maximizing DAF gifts. Mitch stresses how important it is for nonprofits to understand DAFs to unlock meaningful relationships with donors who use these funds. We also delve into the controversy around DAFs, including the lack of regulations that force DAFs to distribute a certain amount annually. Throughout the conversation, Mitch highlights the tools Chariot offers to ease the transfer of funds from DAFs to nonprofits and improve donor engagement.

The beginning of a new year is the perfect time to review your systems for marketing and fundraising. But as you evaluate your processes, it’s equally important — if not more — to also evaluate how you measure success and improvement in your programs. Of course, it takes more than just logging into Google Analytics. In this episode of Fundraising Today and the Go Beyond Fundraising podcast, we’re counting the Five Fundraising Measurement Mistakes to Avoid in 2024. Allegiance Group + Pursuant agency leaders Liz Murphy, EVP of Client Relationships, and Kim Richardson, AVP of Client Strategy, share what they’ve learned in their years of experience and with clients so you can better measure your digital channels. These are the most common pitfalls fundraisers and markets can fall into: 1. Not having a measurement mark 2. No system set up for channel attribution 3. No way to integrate data across platforms 4. Not having web analytics set up properly 5. Not being prepared for the ever-changing digital landscape

Two of the hottest topics in philanthropy are the declining number of donors and the impact of artificial intelligence (AI). In this episode of Fundraising Today and the Go Beyond Fundraising podcast, we bring these issues together in a stirring conversation with Nathan Chappell, author of The Generosity Crisis. As a founder of the Fundraising.AI collaborative, Chappell discusses the role of AI in the fundraising sector. He highlights the key elements that are necessary to ensure “responsible AI,” such as reducing bias, maintaining privacy and security, and adopting a sustainable approach. He also emphasizes the importance of embracing AI as a tool to improve both efficiency and precision.

Cheers to 2024! In our first Go Beyond Fundraising podcast of the new year, we’re reflecting on the giving trends that emerged in 2023 and how they may impact the landscape in the year ahead. Is there still some uncertainty in the air? Or will things level out? And what can your organization do now to set itself up for a strong performance? Allegiance Group + Pursuant Chief Strategy Officer and President Trent Ricker led the conversation. He’s joined by Alicia Lifrak, Executive Vice President, and Matthew Mielcarek, SVP of Analytics & Insights Strategy. Alicia shares what she’s seeing through her interactions with clients, while Matthew brings the data points. In general, growth and revenue look flat; but as you’ll hear, that may not tell the whole story of where fundraising is heading in 2024.

Giving USA’s 2023 report on Charitable Giving, a cornerstone in tracking philanthropic trends, notably observed a 10.5% drop in giving year-over-year in 2022. While this data provides valuable insights, it's crucial to consider its alignment with the experiences of fundraising professionals and the true reflection of current giving trends. In this episode of the Go Beyond Fundraising podcast, our Chief Strategy Officer Trent Ricker engages in a thought-provoking discussion with Jeffrey Cain, who authored a series of compelling articles challenging Giving USA’s perspective.